Zennie

I believe Carl Boenish originally defined a BASE jump as one which requires a canopy in a container. Thus, by the definition, a D-bagged jump would qualify, but a McConkey, tard or wad would not. That said I still log any McConkeys or tards that I do. Trivia question: Does anyone know what Jean Boenish wanted the acronym to be when they were first coming up with it? (Tom and 460 are dq'd from this because I know they know the answer ) - Z "Always be yourself... unless you suck." - Joss Whedon

You missed you. - Z "Always be yourself... unless you suck." - Joss Whedon

Random thoughts/responses, worth approximately .21 Pesos... Personally, at this stage of the game, I think the ABP is a lame duck. The recent action has left a sour tase in many, if not most people's mouths. I think membership will ultimately suffer as a result. I personally don't plan on offering my support to the ABP. For me it's not so much about the personalities involved (notwithstanding my previous comments) as it is about organizational actions and credibility. I just dont' like the way it is currently being run. Actually, if the fired Board members were to reconvene and form their own organization, I WOULD lend my support to them. For starters, their contributions to the sport (both in terms of technology and advocacy) are far too numerous to list. All of those members have the goodwill of the vast majority of jumpers in the sport and I believe that they all honestly care about the best interests of the sport as a whole. I also think past history has shown them to be articulate and effective spokepersons and lobbyists. Finance-wise, yes, I think group funding is absolutely essential to have any sort of real impact. As far as the ABP's (re)funding goes, I have no idea how their finances stand so I really can't comment on that. As far as protests go, protests are a tool, not the end-all, to accomplish a desired objective. I think a protest done correctly and peacefully can have a very positive effect. But associated with that (and more important) must also be active lobbying of politicians who have the power to bring about real change. All said, I can't offer my support to the ABP, but I sincerely hope that the fired board members reconvene and create their own organization. - Z "Always be yourself... unless you suck." - Joss Whedon

Nah, $kin is perfectly capable of "entertaining" himself. - Z "Always be yourself... unless you suck." - Joss Whedon

Let me guess.... Marta was threatening to quit unless Jimmy was given the boot. j/k J&M... nothin but love. - Z "Always be yourself... unless you suck." - Joss Whedon

While I understand where you're coming from, I think part of the problem is sort of inverted. We have too many "leader" types. Hence the oft-quoted "herding cats" analogy. - Z "Always be yourself... unless you suck." - Joss Whedon

I personally think it does because his actions have a large bearing on his credibility. If he's trying to paint himself as a mature jumper, and then goes off and pulls stunts like that, the words pretty much ring hollow. Worse, any negative publicity he draws from such stunts, while being a professed "representative" of the community only makes everyone else look bad. - Z "Always be yourself... unless you suck." - Joss Whedon

I take it the Robin Heid who would best represent the "mature" BASE community is the same Robin Heid that pounded in at RG last year after jumping a small-ish Triathalon with a sail slider? Just checking.... - Z "Always be yourself... unless you suck." - Joss Whedon

I told her she is now an honorary Houston BASE Babe. Now I'm just trying to decide if I put her in the "Baby Oil" month or the "Lathery Soap Suds" month.... - Z "Always be yourself... unless you suck." - Joss Whedon

Hey, I said my standards were impeccable dammit. A pulse is absolutely mandatory. - Z "Always be yourself... unless you suck." - Joss Whedon

My sympathies to the jumper's family and friends. bsbd - Z "Always be yourself... unless you suck." - Joss Whedon

Maybe. I'll need to evaluate it to see if it meets my impeccable standards. - Z "Always be yourself... unless you suck." - Joss Whedon

Well I have 3 months covered thus far. Now if I can just get them to pose nude.... "This is strictly professional... HONEST!" - Z "Always be yourself... unless you suck." - Joss Whedon

Gratz Dave! - Z "Always be yourself... unless you suck." - Joss Whedon

Given how well the last one went, and the scale of the planned one, I'd say the odds are pretty significant. - Z "Always be yourself... unless you suck." - Joss Whedon

In all seriousness though, the reason 10 cops showed up at the scene had nothing to do with the "seriousness" of the crime and most likely everything to do with the fact that they were bored out of their minds at 3:45 AM. I know if I were a cop out on the beat at that hour dealing with mainly PITA drunks and then got a call on the radio about folks with parachutes I'd be going "Oh man I GOTTA check this out..." - Z "Always be yourself... unless you suck." - Joss Whedon

Maybe the cops up there have more time on their hands but when I got busted the cop who took me into the station thought the whole thing was a complete waste of his time. McGruff says: "Help take a bite out of crime...." - Z "Always be yourself... unless you suck." - Joss Whedon

Legal no. But there are some big walls just across the border in Mexico. - Z "Always be yourself... unless you suck." - Joss Whedon

I was really hoping Jason would weigh in on this because he has the most experience dealing with the NPS and I respect his opinion. I personally agree that the meadow packing protest is a really good idea. If I can scrounge up the money and time I'd be more than happy to participate. - Z "Always be yourself... unless you suck." - Joss Whedon

I will add one caveat. IF... and this is a big if... we were able to get the paragliders, hang gliders, rope jumpers and climbers ALL to be part of the protest... then we may have something. At that point it no longer becomes just us. And the average Joe may see that we have a point since many others are also in our corner. - Z "Always be yourself... unless you suck." - Joss Whedon

Civil disobedience only works in situations where there is substantial public sympathy for the cause. The act of disobedience brings attention to the issue and inspires the average person put political pressure on the system to remove the injustice. It's one thing to hold a march to protest rascism or sexism. Or to be a black person and sit at the front of the bus. In these cases we're talking about CLEAR injustices that tug at a person's conscience and core values. We're also talking about average ordinary people who other average ordinary people can sympathize with. And even then, the public outcry has to be on such a large scale and so overwhelming that the powers-that-be have really no choice but to eliminate the injustice. Try to place yourself in the average ordinary Joe's shoes for a second (hard as that is for some folks I know)... Do you REALLY think that this is on the level that it's going to inspire the average Joe to get mad enough to write his Senator/Congressman to express his outrage at the injustice of it all and demand legislation to end it? Do you really think that this will bring about such a substantial public outcry that the political hacks will have no choice but to end the NPS ban? OR, will he think this is just a bunch of nutcases doing something stupid and pointless? Further, how sympathetic (or accurate) has the mainstream press been to us up until now? Do you really think 100+ folks hucking themselves off a cliff is going to evoke some sort of media epiphany? Folks are going to do what they want, I know. But I personally think is like trying to shoot at the NPS while holding the gun backwards. Flame on... - Z "Always be yourself... unless you suck." - Joss Whedon

The threat of a conspiracy conviction for any involved non-jumpers is very real. It has happened in the past. - Z "Always be yourself... unless you suck." - Joss Whedon

At least a couple of jumpers have applied and they are pretty much summarily denied. That route has been continually taken and pretty much is a dead end. I've worked in government, so I have a pretty good idea how things work. Basically, if you want to change the system you have to make the system want to change. And the best way to make the system want to change is if there is political pressure on it to do so. How many times have you told someone to "fuck off" and then they actually decided to see things your way? That sort of thing tends to escalate matters, not alleviate them. I personally think our best bet is to get some politicians (i.e. Congressmen & Senators) into our corner. They can either lay the heat on the NPS to change its regs or introduce legislation to specifically permit parachuting on NPS lands. - Z "Always be yourself... unless you suck." - Joss Whedon

Rick Harrison would probably be the best one to talk to. He's a wealth of knowledgeon these issues. His email is [email protected] - Z "Always be yourself... unless you suck." - Joss Whedon

This was sort of my thinking as well. I personally think something like this could backfire in a huge way for at least a couple of reasons. First, folks such as Jason have been making inroads with the NPS to secure LEGAL jumping within our parks. Second, as "new blood" enters the NPS, there has been less of a perception of us being a pack of outlaws as is the case with the old guard. Third, if this thing is on the scale of a 100-way, I'd say the odds of SOMETHING going wrong are fairly high. Bottom line, I personally think if folks try this our door to the NPS will be slammed shut and double-deadbolted if not permanently, definitely for the rest of our lifetime. And any new NPS rangers that had been sympathetic to our cause will pretty much turn their backs on us and think that the old timers were right all along. I'm not saying give up the fight, all I'm saying is fight smart. - Z "Always be yourself... unless you suck." - Joss Whedon