TomAiello

I am just returning from the PIA symposium. The french wingsuit wind tunnel results (with Loic's suit) were presented. Very detailed, and quite interesting. I wish someone would get the V-1 into a wind tunnel. Maybe we can convince the French military that they ought to give Phoenix Fly a big grant to fund the research? -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

To paraphrase DW: Ground whuffo: "Whuffo you want to jump out of them airplanes for?" Skydiving whuffo: "Whuffo you want to jump off them cliffs for?" BASE whuffo: "Whuffo you want to do them flippy do's, or pull low, or fly wingsuits for?" Life whuffo: "Whuffo you bother getting off the couch?" If you understand the risks (and I believe you do), the choices are your own to make. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

He posted a good discussion of the incident in this forum when it happened. You might just try PMing him and asking. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Just came back from a Starbucks jaunt with him (his third on the day), where I too experienced the joys of Chantico. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I think that's it, but I don't really know. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I'm at PIA, so no scale and no weigh in. Plus, the fact that Sangiro has bought me dinner twice in the last three days can't be helping my weight loss. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Anyone who reads the BASE forum will understand why I am howling with laughter right now. Maybe I ought to send a link of this thread to Avery and Johnny, and then claim that I'm too busy at PIA, and Remster will have to moderate the ensuing madness... -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Dude, have you been to San Francisco? That's a right wing propaganda piece by comparison with most of the stuff that goes on there. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

The information is good, and though provoking. But what's the point of making that poll? Trolling? Flame Baiting? -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

It's pretty much proliferated all over by now. There's even a (now locked) thread in incidents discussing it. An interesting object lesson in releasing carnage video. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I don't know Ted, but I'm about to have a PM exchange with him regarding this comment. Consider this your only warning. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

If you want to discuss the things you personally dislike about American culture, or you want to talk about various parts of it, go for it. If you just want to generally label an entirely cultural group daft, I'd advise against it. If you're thinking of trying to label specific individuals posting in this forum that way...well, please don't. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I agree with Ray. Or perhaps there is a different "right" reason for each person. Your "right" reason just has to be something that's important enough to you to pay the price. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

That's the Norgies course. It's organized by the Stavanger BASE Klubb. It's taught by various people, but mostly by whoever the full time instructor is (Douggs, in this case). You can get more info at BASEKjerag.com -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Yes. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I've called them for sunset loads before with no problems. I'd hate to not call, and then have an accident and have them want to know why we didn't call. Perhaps call shortly before sunset, and just let them know that you're jumping, and will call back when you finish? I've told them we were jumping all night, on a full moon, before, and when I explained that it was a full moon, they seemed to understand. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Boise is closer than SLC. But flying into TF is very convenient. One gate, no lines, no charge for parking. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

This morning (1/14) I was at 175.5. That's about 5 pounds down this week. Started at 212.5. I've lost 37 pounds so far, and have 12.5 to go. Does anyone know about the settings on the Tanita scale? Mine has a "adult/athlete" setting. On "adult" it says I have 21% body fat. On "athlete" it says 12%. According to the manual, if you do more than 60 minutes of aerobic exercise daily you ought to use "athlete" (I do about 90 minutes of swimming each day), but I don't really buy it. Anyone know how the settings effect the calculation? Things that are working for me: 1) Weighing myself every morning and every night. Quick feedback on what I've done each day can be a good check-in. 2) Exercise. I've been swimming 90 minutes or so a day. Wednesday of this week I hit the pool twice, and totalled 9100 yards. I'm also stretching out a lot (about 45 minutes a day, in two sessions), which helps me survive the exercise (until Thanksgiving, I hadn't worked out in almost a decade). 3) Eating alone. When I eat with my wife, I find that I'm eating more, since I give us both "normal" sized portions. If I eat alone, it's easier to scale back my serving sizes (although, I bet it works in the reverse way for many people). Anyone have any feedback on a good body fat goal? I've never known what "good" is, and I'm wondering if I need to set a goal in that way, too. I think I'll get some other check to backup the Tanita, though, as I'm not sure I like it with that discrepancy. Happy weight loss! -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Dude. Just had it for the first time at the Starbucks in SLC airport on my way to PIA. Holy crap. I love chocolate. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Well, there are no formal rules that I know of, but I lack Sam's rules: Climb out and pack every jump for yourself. The 17 was packing all of them, with 2 rigs, riding the boat. Depends on how fit you are for the climb out, and how fast you pack (or how many rigs you have), I suppose. Yes, as well as during the winter months. The moon helps, but the truth is that the road lights on top do an ok job of lighting the landing area, as long as you land far enough down to be out of the shadow of the bridge. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

So Avery does that mean you wish you had never started? I'm asking, because I read that as you telling someone else that it's not worth it. Is that truly the way you mean it, or is it just your way of saying "evaluate the risks"? I'm with Avery, too. I'd never recommend that someone take up BASE jumping. It's not "evaluate the risks." It's more like "understand that there will be costs--and you will have to pay up eventually." -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I have metal from T-12 to L-2. It's still in. I'm pretty ok with the openings. Repeated (6 or 7) slider down openings in one day can be a bit rough, but I think you'll be fine. I started jumping again about 9 months after they put the metal in (and it's still in today). I did mine being stupid too--I agreed to be the low man on a 2 way with Dwain Weston (now that's freakin' stoooopid). -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

What he said. I'd take the Norwegian's course. There are two good reasons (aside from the obvious "it's their home turf"). 1) It's cheaper. 2) You get to mingle with the other jumpers more, which both leads to good feedback and valuable contacts. The BR expedition often ends up a bit more insular, so you don't get as much interaction. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Most counties have an online record system that records (and can retrieve) that information. Sometimes you have to pay a fee for it (usually monthly, usually in the neighborhood of 10 bucks). -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

That's a great attitude, which will keep you alive. Hurling yourself off of cliffs and buildings is definitely not something to rush into. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com