TomAiello

Check out a Mossberg 590. I'm particularly fond of the "Marine" version. It's a real combat shotgun that has seen extensive torture testing (the Marines were using them at one time--not sure if they still are--and did a bunch of sand and saltwater type immersion tests), so you know it _will_ work when you need it. For that type of gun, it's well priced, too. Most of the other shotguns in that category tend to run over $1000. I'm sure AggieDave will chime in here in a minute...he seems like the kind of guy who would have a catalog of knowledge on this subject. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I agree with you. I had taken rehmwa's first post as classing illegal substances of this nature as "drugs", distinct from the the legal substances of this nature. Perhaps I misunderstood. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I'd more say that some use of recreational substances was part of the greater journey of personal growth, for me. Everyone picks out the things that work for them, and help them. Just because some of those things don't (or do) work for one person, is no reason to think they will have similar effects for others. Still, I do find the idea that something is "bad" because it happens to be prohibited by the government in a particular part of the world to be a bit odd. By that logic, guns are "bad" because they are prohibited in many places, BASE jumping is "bad" almost everywhere, skydiving is "bad" in some places, christianity is "bad" in parts of the middle east--heck, pretty much everything is "bad". Activities, or physical objects cannot by their nature be "bad". They just _are_. It's the impact they have on human lives that make them "good" or "bad", and that impact varies depending on usage and individuals. In fact, the "bad", much as the "good", appears to spring entirely from the human context in which things are used or activities undertaken. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Depends on if you mean "illegal" here and now in the US, or "illegal" when and where I used them. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I disagree. I have had several positive life changes result from the use of hallucinogenic substances. And in general they're non-addictive. I've heard things _very_ similar to your statement that "opening your mind is that much BS to rationalize self destruction" used to describe parachuting. Some drugs are chemical, some are not. Most everybody has some they take, chemical or otherwise. A related thought: I think that classing all illegal mind-altering substances together as "drugs" makes about as much sense as classifying cigarettes and alchohol together--that is to say, very little. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Let's not turn this into a political discussion about Reagan. Please? Thanks! -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Tom, Did that suit have a single layer wing, or a double layer wing? I have some footage of you flying it that I got off Adam Hartley a long time ago. Interesting stuff. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Probably because the number of people who have actually looked for the research is vastly smaller than the number of people who just picked up a tip at the DZ. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Off topic, but I've also found Knacke's Parachute Recovery Systems Design Manual very useful, mostly in understanding pilot chutes (and rounds). -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I was going to PM you with this, but here it is. The difference, in my mind, is that those comments are generalized, where yours are usually directed specifically at another poster. Using generalized labels about political groups is a rhetorical device (not one that I personally care for). Making specific comments about a specific person involved in the conversation is a totally different animal. All I'm really trying to do is point out that winning "points" in an argument is not going to really change anyone's mind if it is done in a disrespectful manner. Those who agree with you may clap and cheer, and you may feel superior, but those who are undecided will generally be repelled by such tactics. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Nope. I meant you might consider not being rude at all. Just a thought. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

You might try selecting a bit differently. Rudeness doesn't really score you any points with anyone but yourself. It just kind of makes you look mean. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

What kind of FAQ are you looking for? Have you read the linked articles at the top of the BASE forum? If you are willing to come up with the questions part of the FAQ, I can do my best to fill in some answers. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I've got a couple. What I really wonder is if there is some way we can make him a "steering" apparatus for his legs, so that he can use his arms to manipulate them and make long free falls. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I think there is some cultural value in allowing old threads to be revived. Examples include Hol's High/Low thread, the Tit-ee Bar (sorry, Sangiro, it's part of the culture here by now), and some more personal threads (for example, someone might want to revive an old thread on an anniversary or something). Anyway, I'd be in favor of keeping old threads "revivable" for reasons of cultural continuity and sentiment. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

That pretty much sums it up. You're going to get a fairer comparison from two rigs from the same manufacturer, or at least both from mainstream BASE gear manufacturers. Comparing the Stunts X-treme to a Vertigo rig is a bit like saying you like American cars better than European ones because your Viper handles better than your Yugo. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Point taken. My first "real" BASE rig was a pin rig, and for a long time it was easier for me to pack that rig than any other. I totally agree with you here. I can't see how it's any easier to misroute a pin bridle than a velcro bridle. They are often going the same way, after all. I've not done any testing, but I'd hazard a guess that a pin rig with a misrouted bridle is more likely to open despite the misrouting than a velcro rig with a misrouting. I've seen pin rigs open (either on jumps or on tables) with the bridles routed top to bottom, bottom to top, out the side, and even with the pins "locked" by a tight bridle over the top). My experience has been that it's easier to maintain pack job symmetry while closing velcro rigs, both for myself and students. Jumpers who are accustomed to closing skydiving rigs often leverage on the pull up cord to get the container to close. Doing this on the top pin can twist the pack job, right at the open nose cell, and (in my opinion, but based on much observation) cause off headings. I've generally found that it's easier to teach a whole new packing methodology (velcro) than try to modify a behavior that has been ingrained by closing skydiving rigs hundreds or thousands of times. I'm not saying your wrong. I'm saying I disagree with you, and trying to explain why I disagree. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

A quick search for the terms "pin velcro" yields these results. This Thread is a good place to start reading. You also ought to search BLiNC as this has been discussed over there quite extensively as well. Short answer: Well designed 1 and 2 pin rigs are roughly equal. I personally prefer the Prism 2 (Basic Research), but many other people have different preferences. Velcro is preferred for beginners, and is generally just as good for everything except wing suit jumps and terminal aerobatics. Velcro is also easier to pack, especially if you are just learning. On wingloading: Try doing a search of this forum for "wingloading for dummies". Short answer: Textbook wingloading is .75. Ray's Rule is, in my opinion, a bit better. It says: take your naked weight, add 100, go up one size if you have bad landing areas, and down one size if you jump in wind. Hope this helps. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

A bit of my reasoning: We already have a place to have our BASE community squabbles and ego clashes. It's called BLiNC. We already have a place on DZ.com for random chit-chat. It's called the Bonfire. This forum should be for actual constructive discussions about BASE jumping. I've done some additional cleaning up here. I realize that may not be the most popular decision, and I've heard, via email, phone and PM, from several people who think both that (a) I ought to moderate more strictly, and (b) I ought to let more stuff go. I've heard that all, and I'll continue to think about it. For now, please try to keep the "I think so-and-so is a dork" comments off this forum, as well as the "he said-she said," the "you newbies have no idea what you're doing and you're all going to die" and the "I'm the greatest, no I am, no I am...." As always, this forum will continue to evolve, in line with it's use by us, and Sangiro's overall plans for DZ.com. I'd like to see it continue to evolve as a useful place for BASE jumpers to exchange information and learn from each other. I'll do my best to help it grow in that way. As a human, I possess personal feelings on many subjects, as well as flawed subjective judgment. I'm afraid we're all going to just have to accept that I'm doing my best here, and continue to muddle forward. Feel free to post to this thread with feedback, thoughts, or further discussion. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Tell y'all what... I'll move this thread to the Bonfire, where you can all post whatever you want about me to your hearts content, without fear that I will edit or remove your ramblings. Deal? -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I'd recommend a high span jump over calm water. Most of my advice is in the "Getting into BASE" article linked at the top of the pages of this forum. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I have cleaned up this thread. Everyone, before posting to it again, please read the warning stickied to the top of the forum. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Does anyone have any thoughts on if this might be different with secondary inlets? My experience has generally been that a canopy with secondary inlets can be turned even without forward speed. Essentially, because the inlets maintain internal pressure during a stall, you can collapse part of one side to turn in that direction without overall forward speed on the canopy. Thoughts, anyone? -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Just bumping this. Everyone, BASE jumper, skydiver, or just friend, please write a letter and help us out! Thanks! -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I've been on the road for the last two days, and I've just logged on to discover a very large number of useless, argumentative threads here. Let me make this clear. We are done bickering here. If you want to continue I'll ban you for a week for each offense. I'll log on at my next stop and check in. That is all. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com