TomAiello

We already have that. It doesn't appear to be working so well. What we need is some kind of program that encourages people to invest in retirement, and allows them to select (for themselves) the best options, and the rate of investment they want. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

If there are two things I don't trust our political system to manage, it's "gradual" and "partial". Four years later (heck, two years) and it's neither--in fact it's nothing. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Strictly speaking, running off to Canada would make you a deserter, not a traitor. To be a traitor, you have to be guilty of treason. Generally that's reserved for people who take active steps against their nation of citizenship. Simply refusing to do something doesn't qualify. If I were drafted, I'd go. But then again, it's pretty safe for me to say that, since I'm over 30 and have several pounds of surgical metal in my body on a permanent basis. The last time folks like me got drafted my parents weren't even born. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

So what would you do? I'm in favor of privatizing the whole thing, and allowing people to opt out for a one time (tax free) lump sum payment (which at this point would have to be some fraction of what they've put in). I'd rather pay people out less than raise taxes to give them what they put in. I think it's time to write the whole thing off as a failure, and move on. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I believe the current record is held by Dennis M., at 90 days, for a bust on NPS land following a fatality. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I'm not sure I agree with your reading of the article. This bit: This seems to imply that people with high self esteem may actually have more trouble maintaining good relationships, presumably because they think perhaps a bit too highly of themselves. It does say that high self esteem correlates to an ability to initiate new relationships--but it actually seems to imply the opposite about the maintenance of those relationships. Very interesting, though. Thanks for the link. I think I'll forward it to my Dad, who is a (very lefty) public school teacher in California (who has sat on quite a number of those government committees), but who, incidentally, is more of the "tough love" mindset. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Does it say anything about correlation between low self esteem/inability to make good relationships and tendency to criminal activity? I'll go read it now... -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

There are other ways to give to your country than serving in the military. And being allowed to dissent is an American right--one that the men and women serving in our military would die to protect. As I recall, when you join you swear to defend that right against all enemies, foreign and domestic. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

It's actually pretty easy to explain to experienced climbers. "You know the difference between leading and free soloing? Well..." -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

It would be difficult to outlaw rope jumping without banning climbing, since leader falls are essentially short rope jumps. Climbing has a long and rich history in the Valley. And the NPS has taken some steps to try to rid their nice little park of those grungy climbers. Fortunately (from my perspective, not the NPS') some of those grungy climbers who used to dive dumpsters in Camp 4 in the 60's grew up and started little companies (like Patagonia, Black Diamond, Royal Robbins, Wild Things, etc.), some of which grew into rather larger concerns. When the NPS tried to take legal action (in the 90's) they found a rather more professional (and well funded) set of climbers opposing them. I think that funding has a whole lot to do with these kinds of issues. Remember when the NPS tried to ban the replacement of fixed climbing anchors (bolts)? REI put in a call to their Senator (Slade Gorton, R-WA), who shut down the NPS budget until they reconsidered. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I've got some video somewhere of DW almost making the road. But he pulled very low. I'll see if I can dig it up, but I'm not promising anything. I've seen guys with tracking pants past the road, and (as someone mentioned) any number of wingsuit flyers are past the road on the other side. The first two I saw do that were Lukas Knutson and PL from Sweden, and I believe that was fall of 2002. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I've removed the site name from your post. Please read the Before You Post guidelines linked at the top of the page. Thanks! -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Ok, I think this has been going on long enough. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Heading correction should be your top priority after opening. Avoiding object strike should be the first thing on your mind after opening. Once that priority is taken care of, the next thing should be landing safely. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Won't you reach a point at which the stall speed will exceed the maximum speed, and the glider won't glide at all? Intuitively, I'd think there'd be load a point where it just wouldn't fly no matter what. Or is this one of those cases where intuition is just wrong? -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I do owe Miles much. I owe him (among other things) for being the first person to try to help me stay head down. I believe I made (repeatedly) the point that I like Miles, and think he's a great person. I do not agree with his BASE ethics. These are separate issues. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Thank you for posting this. It takes courage to step up and examine your mistakes, and even more to share them with others. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Johnny, I have put this into it's own thread, and re-titled it. I just wanted to make sure that everyone knows your opinion of me. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

The point of your story appears to be: "Rather than call the authorities and cooperate with them, we ought to break the law in daylight and hope we get away with it." I am not so sure that I agree. The jumper in question had around 100 jumps at the time. He's pretty much been jumping non-stop since his FJC. Sorry. It did take me more than 45 minutes to return his call. I try very hard to be on call for every emergency here, but I guess I'm just failing to help. I suppose I ought to make a point of sitting at the bridge all day, every day. I'm just not very helpful to other BASE jumpers, I guess. I _do_ feel some responsibility for my students. Was there something I said that made you feel otherwise? -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I have met a surprisingly large number of newish BASE jumpers who don't understand. And a disturbing number of BASE "instructors" who don't discuss the risk level at all with their "students". -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I think he's in Canada, so that would be CSPA, wouldn't it? -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

That's the one. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Johnny, I think we're all pretty tired of having this re-hashed. I won't allow other threads in the forum to degenerate into yet another repeat of the Johnny v. Avery saga. You've had your say, and made your points. So has Avery. Can you guys please just give it a rest? -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

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

Please, please, please do it now. No history is ever 100% correct. That' why there are later editions. Plus, if you do it now, I can make it required reading for my course next semester.