TomAiello

I've also seen people "fluff" down their numbers. I regularly post follow ups in BASE when some "new" poster with no information entered says something, and no one here would recognize that they are actually super experienced. I have even had to explain that Slim's 1250 jump number does not, in fact, include _any_ of his skydives. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I find I visit the Bonfire a lot more than I ever hung about in Talkback. The weird thing is I check Speaker's Corner a lot more than I ever looked at Talkback, too. That might have something to do with volunteering to help mod it, though. I think it also might be because Bonfire is down in the part of the forums where I mostly hang out, but I had to scroll way up to the top to see Talkback. Anyone else on more (or less) in the new system? Just curious... -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I have some video of a couple Aussies doing a two stack off a popular Norwegian cliff a few years ago. You might want to post to the ABA forum if you want to get in touch with them. BASE CRW is pretty rare, mostly because of the lack of reserve. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Emphasis added by me... What he said. Big difference between hanging around the bonfire spinning yarns to fit in and giving bad coaching that will get someone hurt or killed. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I disagree. First, Moral Rules need not be derived from Religious Beliefs. Second, even if they were, it would be theoretically possible to replace them with moral rules derived from scientific study. Where do moral rules come from, absent some kind of faith based answer? They come from the evolution, over thousands of years, of human society. We all learned to live together, and our "moral" rules are simply the cumulative result of this societal learning (whether they are written or unwritten). If we wished to simply disregard the moral rules that have organically evolved through use (a bad idea, if you ask me), it should be theoretically possible to study human interactions in order to create a new set of "moral" rules intended to furnish us the most efficient interactions. That "scientifically" (sociologically?) constructed set of rules would probably look remarkably similar to the "evolved" or "divinely mandated" (depends on your point of view) morality we now generally accept. In other words, it doesn't matter if God said to do it, or we just did it--it works for us better than anything else we've found. The justification for the moral rules lies in their efficiency and usefulness for organizing human behavior. They are not made somehow less useful if you "scientifically" contradict one possible explanation for them. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Switzerland. There are secret preparations going on right now to launch the invasion and claim the strategic chocolate resources. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Perhaps PMing the moderator of this forum would be a better way to ask? -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Ok, I finally got to a computer where I could watch the video. Day-um. Them dudes is crazy. But, as you say, not BASE. So, I'll move it over to the Bonfire... -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Kinda drifty here but I think I should mention that folks do this all the time with California. 3rd largest state in the Union yet folks seem to think we all think alike. Yup. Having lived most of my life in California, but still spent a fair amount of time outside it, I know what you mean. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Actually, clownburner said that. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Idaho. State Senate: 28 Republicans, 7 Democrats State House: 54 Republicans, 16 Democrats BASE jumping all year: Legal. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Ah, that must be why I'm moving out of B'ham before the election--so that my vote will matter. Oh, wait, I'm moving to one of the most heavily republican states in the nation. I guess my vote won't matter much anyway. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Because of the alternative. I'd gladly take a Libertarian over Bush. But I'll gladly take Bush over Kerry. Have you read the man's platform? Taxes? Socialized Medicine? Scary stuff in there, from my (political) point of view. I might also take issue with you decision on which president in the last 40 years has done most to erode personal freedom. There are an awful lot of good candidates for that title. Plus, all in all, it's the legislature that has done the most to erode freedom, not the executive. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

What if you have an "inflatable structure" that is inflated by air pressure from free fall? I'm picturing something like Yves' inflatable wing, but where the inflation was done via a one way valve, by freefall airflow. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

No! That's horrible news. First we lost Dean, now we've lost Nader. If we're not careful, all the lefties will come out and vote for Kerry. I believe it is the duty of all conservatives, anti-statists and libertarians to give monetary contributions to the Greens, Socialists, and Progressives. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

The Eastern/Central time zone break runs down the Georgia/Alabama border. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Yeah, but Southerners are like Asians--they all look the same. It's interesting the number of people who stereotype whole regions of the country. Down here in 'bama we got runnin' water last week. Pa says we're gonna git that 'lectricitee stuff next. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Yes, although I'm not sure if the relationship is formal in any way. There's a group of BASE jumpers in Oslo who call themsevels the Cartoon BASE Heroes. Offheading is run by Spiderman, and onheading is run by Batman. Superman is a carpenter, so I'm not sure if he has a web site. The Norwegians are a great bunch of people. I'll pass on your offer to host the videos. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I haven't seen it at all today. Problem solved, perhaps? -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

But letting the other guy put out your eye just leaves you blind--and him free to abuse you however he likes, then go on and blind someone else. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Just a note for those reading this thread. Try to go easy on the offheading.com link. Apparently traffic driven from this site has overloaded the server there. I've removed the link in the BASE forum at the request of the webmaster over there. Thanks. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

It's a mountaineering garment. A one piece full body suit made of a waterproof, breathable, non-insulating material. Here is an example. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I've not tried just the back protector. However, I knew a very experienced jumper who wore one regularly. He performed aerials and made wingsuit flights wearing it on many occasions. It's probably a decent compromise. It's the most important part of the protection, and still allows good flexibility. Easily. Yes, although it restricts motion somewhat. If you want to do fast spinning (i.e. slider down) aerials, it may get in the way of a tight tuck. I haven't tried a twisting aerial wearing one, but I'd imagine that might be tough, too. For more specific info about back protectors and aerials, I'd try posting to the ABA forum, because I know at least one very experienced jumper down there has worn back protection for advanced aerials. Yes, but the difference isn't as much as you'd think. You really ought to consider pin tension for any configuration--clothes, armor, whatever. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

What he said. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I have removed the "BASE Culture" thread at the request of the webmaster of the linked site. It was driving too much traffic for the server. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com