base311

Well well... busy weekend. happy birthday Mr. Parker! -Gardner

Happy birthday you two. -Gardner

See VA CODE § 46.2-882. Specifically, "Law-enforcement officers using motor vehicle-based microcomputer devices or laser speed determination devices as provided for in this section shall, on request of any affected motorist, permit such motorist to observe the reading on the device. Nothing in this section, however, shall require any law-enforcement officer to allow affected motorists to observe any reading on any microcomputer device on any airplane or helicopter." My read is this: It does not specifically mention the term 'radar' in this subsection, so this might be an error of omission in the legislative act that the officer is able to take advantage of. It does say the officer must show the motorist in the case of: 1. laser speed determination devices 2. vehicle-based microcomputer devices. You may be screwed because of an oversight on the part of the legislature. Call your state representative and senator and ask them to add the word 'radar detection device' to this section. But that won't help you now if that is indeed the case. Good luck, Gardner

Here's an interesting quote from our Governor Sonny Perdue here in Georgia, who signed a statewide smoking ban yesterday (05-10-05): "There is no doubt smoking is one of the major contributors to the health problems of many Georgians," Perdue said. "Nonsmokers, typically the majority, do not want themselves or their children subjected to secondhand smoke." But Perdue added, "Giving advice on how to be healthy and safe is one thing, but we don't want or need government to mandate for us what we eat or drink or how much exercise we get or whether we engage in dangerous activities, from skydiving to smoking." The governor chose to make his remarks at the National Museum of Patriotism in Atlanta. Emphasis is mine, -Gardner

I cannot stress enough how important it is to remember what NickD just said. They're our friends. As always, you're gonna see some who don't get it... but the overwhelming majority do. Gardner

I'll send a note to my local thug to check this post. He's really nasty with engine builders who dick around with him. Maybe he'll bite. gardner

Stilton and Grits. Gardner

Also check out the Manx breed. It's the (usually) tailless breed (usually genetically tailless, but some tails make it through and are sometimes docked) with hind legs somewhat longer than the fronts, so looks much like a bobcat. Their temperment is more like a dog, and they even have a fascination with water, often climbing into the bathtub or creeks on their own. They don't put up with any shit from dogs and are very independent, but like hangin' with people. I've had many cats; the manx is the most like a dog in temperment than any other cat I've ever known. A buddy of mine has one and he's a dog person; he says it's the coolest cat he's ever seen. Check it out. Manx, Manx, and more Manx. Gardner

Tom you might wanna locked this thread it's about to get ugly. g

Waaaaaahhhhhhhh....... waaaaahhhhhhhhhh...... you're still pissed about that phat daddy sweetazzz crane downtown formerly known as Hot Wing... Now known as NOT WING. Too bad you pre-named something you've never even jumped. I got two this morning downtown. Where were you?????? Oh yeah... you were doing your weekly three hour round trip to nowhere. Love n kisses, Gardner P.S. BTW, I saw your house from the exit point.

Is that stipe a??..... a: stem supporting the cap of a fungus? b: part that is similar to a stipe and connects the holdfast and blade of a frondose alga? c: petiole of a fern frond? d: prolongation of the receptacle beneath the ovary of a seed plant? e: all of the above? -g P.S. Tom I think you should ban Baxter for bein' yella

I'm a frayed knot. See Ray's post re: Baxter's recently-diagnosed big yella streak. 'nuff said. Gardner

And they were for the drilling of rocks and placement of bolts there? Not to bag on climbers, because I think we all do what we do for fun and that's okay, but I always wondered how climbers felt about the "Leave No Trace" ethic when they toss their trash off of walls and drill into rocks to place permanent bolts. I feel guilty about just leaving a tailgate rubberband on each jump. Lou Please see my response to Avery, above, post #40. Let us do the best WE can do to minimize our impacts wherever we are. The rest will sort itself out in time.

Short version: NPS wanted to ban replacement of fixed anchors on park service land. Climbers obviously were against this. President of REI calls his senator (Slade Gorton, R-WA). Senator Gorton calls the director of the NPS. Mentions that the park service budget is up for review soon. Also mentions that he is chairman of the senate appropriations committee, which will do that review. Also mentions that a major employer in his home state, Recreational Equipment Incorporated, is concerned that a ban on fixed anchor replacement might hurt their bottom line, cause them to hire less voters, and contribute less to the Gorton campaign fund. NPS decides that banning replacement of fixed anchors is not such a good idea. I thought I posted this last night, but apparently I never hit the post button before shutting down. Some more of the politics behind this: REI and Subaru are/were major contributors to the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Education organization, which says it reaches approx. 10 million users per year with its message of leave no trace ethic. See this link for more info. In light of what you said, and considering REI's involvement with LNT.org, I'd say there was a considerable amount of crow eaten by the aforementioned NPS Dir.

I'm pretty sure they're using the "legalese" dictionary. That means we need an interpreter (like Lawrocket, for example) to tell us what it means in our language. Paragliders are regulated under FAR 103 (Federal Aviation Regulations), regulations are very loose on the technical side (essentially anything that flies and weighs less than 155 pounds if unpowered). Could a defence of parachute being an aircraft (for purpose of beating Lake Powell rap) make a parachute into an FAR 103 regulated unpowered ultralight? Imagine ;-> jumper - "This is Mojo Bravo Alpha Sierra Echo niner niner niner with information Romeo". tower - "City Tower niner niner niner" jumper - "Requesting permission to enter City ATC. Altitude 260ft squawk 1200 niner niner niner" tower - "City Tower. Identify your locataion" jumper -"Erghh I am on top of the Best Eastern Bank tower downtown.eh..niner niner niner" tower - "Altimeter setting two niner seven five, ......"" I think that defense has already been tried in one form or another. By that, I mean it was argued in one case that a parachute was an aircraft, and in another case I believe it was argued that a parachute WAS NOT an aircraft. Further, we have it straight from the FAA that backcountry parachuting is not regulated by them because we do not depart from an aircraft; let's hope they maintain that stance. Some of our problem (or maybe it is the ultimate solution) may, in fact, be that we do not exist under any regulatory structure... bear in mind I think things should remain that way. I would prefer no regulation... but to achieve access reasonable regulation may be something we'll have to consider. -Gardner

At least two of us from the ATL... -gardner

I'm sure the NPS would love to toss climbers out, too. But climbers have enough people (and money) to have political influence. Do you know the story about the bolting ban and Senator Gorton? Avery: I share the same frustration (yeah... I'm a master of understatement, huh?), but I certainly have no desire to chart a course for our own access by underscoring the damage done - or mistakes made -by the climbing community. I think they (as a user group) realize the nature of the thin ice on which they tread, and have taken strides to change their ethic in order to reduce their impacts. Many of OUR forebears came from the climbing community (and many still do), and I think we would all do better to remain allies than become enemies. Please understand this is not a chastisement; I'm merely trying to point out that we can make our case without pointing to their problems. It's simple, really: backcountry parachuting is a non-powered, non-polluting, non-damaging, and minimally intrusive activity... and that's basically all that needs to be said. Tom: Haven't heard the story re: the bolting ban and Sen. Gorton. Please tell. Gardner

It was my understanding that those busts also included a tarp intended to act as an aerodynamic decelerator. Were they charged with aerial delivery? or is there another reg about chucking gear from the wall? Gardner

I can say with authority that the planning discussion never included killing (though 'he needed killing' is still a legitimate defense in The South). Castration was tossed about for sure... but never homicide. And the pretty girl knocked on the door about 8:30 am on a sat. morning. 311

Legislative Policy Analyst - Georgia Legislature -gardner

Hey I thought we all wuz friends, man.... cracker azz cracker

Some atlanta humor - Enjoy!: This is for anyone who lives in Atlanta, who has ever lived in Atlanta, has visited Atlanta, ever plans to visit Atlanta, knows anyone who lives in Atlanta, knows anyone who has ever visited Atlanta or anyone who has ever heard of Atlanta, Georgia. Atlanta is composed mostly of one way streets. The only way to get out of downtown Atlanta is to turn around and start over when you reach Greenville, South Carolina. All directions start with, "Go down Peachtree" and include the phrase, "When you see the Waffle House." Except that in Cobb County, all directions begin with, "Go to the Big Chicken and ." Peachtree Street has no beginning and no end and is not to be confused with Peachtree Circle, Peachtree Place, Peachtree Lane, Peachtree Road, Peachtree Parkway, Peachtree Run, Peachtree Trace, Peachtree Ave, Peachtree Commons, Peachtree Battle, Peachtree Corners, New Peachtree, Old Peachtree, West Peachtree, Peachtree-Dunwoody, Peachtree-Chamblee, or Peachtree Industrial Boulevard. Atlantans only know their way to work and their way home. If you ask anyone for directions they will always send you down Peachtree. Atlanta is the home of Coca-Cola That's all we drink here, so don't ask for any other soft drink unless it's made by Coca-Cola. And even then it's still "Coke." A carbonated soft drink isn't a soda, cola, or pop...it's a Coke, regardless of brand or flavor. Example: "What kinda coke you want?" Gate One at Atlanta's Hartsfield International Airport is 32 miles away from the Main Concourse, so wear sneakers and pack a lunch. It's impossible to go around a block and wind up on the street you started on. The Chamber of Commerce calls it a "scenic drive" and has posted signs to that effect, so that out-of-towners don't feel lost...they're just on a scenic drive." The 8:00 AM rush hour is from 6:30 to 10:30 AM. The 5:00 PM rush hour is from 3:00 to 7:30 PM. Friday's rush hour starts Thursday afternoon, and lasts through 2:00 AM Saturday. "Sir" and "Ma'am" are used by the person speaking to you if there's a remote possibility that you're at least 30 minutes older than they are. A native can only pronounce Ponce De Leon Avenue one way, so do not attempt the French or Spanish pronunciation. People will simply tilt their heads to the right and stare at you. The Atlanta pronunciation is "pahnss duh LEE-on" The fall of raindrop makes everyone forget all traffic rules. If a single snowflake falls, the city is paralyzed for three days, and it's on all the TV channels and radio stations as a news flash every 15 minutes for a month. All the grocery stores will be sold out of milk, bread, bottled water, toilet paper, and beer. If there is a remote chance of snow, and if it does snow, people will be on the corner selling "I survived the blizzard" tee-shirts, not to mention the fact that all schools will close at the slightest possible chance of snow. The pollen count is off the national scale for unhealthy, which starts at 120. Atlanta is usually in the 2,000 to 4,000 range. All roads, vehicles, houses - everything - is yellow from March 28th to July 15th. If you have any allergies, you will die. But other than that, it's a great place to live! There are 5,000 types of snakes and 4,998 live in Georgia. There are 10,000 types of spiders. All 10,000 live in Georgia, plus a couple no one's ever seen before. "Onced" and "Twiced" are actual words. It is not a shopping cart, it's a buggy. There ain't no such thing as "lunch." There's only dinner - and, then, there is supper. 'Jeet-jet?' is actually a phrase meaning "Did you eat yet?" You install security lights on your house and garage - and then leave both unlocked. The local papers cover national and international news on one page, but need 6 pages for local gossip and sports. You know whether another Georgian is from north Georgia, south Georgia or middle Georgia as soon as they open their mouth (Albany = All benny). Going to Wal-Mart is a favorite past time known as "goin wal-martin" or off to Wally World" Sweet Tea is appropriate for all meals and you start drinking it when you're 2.

Gotta admit you guys are growing on me. But I have to say.... You're in IDAHO. You mean to tell me you guys couldn't find a 100 lb sack of potatoes? WTF? Loved the Atta Boy Dog food, though... heh heh. So, there it is: any sack of "Atta Boy" dogfood can make a basejump. Gardner

Whatchya askin' for 'em? Gardner

Wow cool photo and good omen. You were awfully close on the names. Ibex. a.k.a. Steinbock. Capra ibex. -Gardner