antonija

I think it's time to do my NITROX specialty to learn these things a bit more... I understand the need for conformity. Without a concise set of rules to follow we would probably all have to resort to common sense. -David Thorne

Nitrogen narcosis, thats it. And its symptoms are (wiki): feeling of tranquility and mastery of the environment (They also resemble (though not as closely) the effects of alcohol) loss of decision-making ability and focus impaired judgment, multi-tasking and coordination And all this is apparently because of to much nitrogen in the blood. Exactly the same stuff that happens when there is not enough oxygen (hypoxia) in the blood (nitrogen levels not changed). So which one is it? Too much nitrogen or not enough oxygen? (if N2 % rises I guess O2 % must fall down, but which of these is primary cause and which one is consequence?) DCS is quite different from anything shown in those clips but thanks for the info anyway. You forgot about the ones that can come out in your brain and cause brain stroke... and death. I understand the need for conformity. Without a concise set of rules to follow we would probably all have to resort to common sense. -David Thorne

I watched these two parts and have one question: If you scuba dive and go too deep too fast, you get nitrogen high. You feel drunk, very confident, but your abilities to think properly are gone. I was taught that this is due to too high % of nitrogen in the blood. In this show same symptoms show after rapid decompression, which I suppose is lowering air pressure just like on climb to altitude (so not lower % of oxygen (or higher % of nitrogen) in the air mix, just lower air pressure overall). So is this (drunk/euphoric) effect due to excess nitrogen, or insufficient oxygen? Also what are best methods (must be some) to test if you're becoming hypoxic (probably some mental tasks but there must be few that "work for most")? I understand the need for conformity. Without a concise set of rules to follow we would probably all have to resort to common sense. -David Thorne

Hey, I'm an analytical chemist too!! And one more thing: The damage from acid on clothes (when working in laboratory) usually doesn't show until after you've washed your clothes. It may look perfectly fine before wash, but after it will be just a collection of holes held together by some fabric. So even if it looks "just fine" now it still might be damaged enough to fail when you need it. I understand the need for conformity. Without a concise set of rules to follow we would probably all have to resort to common sense. -David Thorne

So the limit for altitude is 300 ft and the instrument used is accurate to 29 m (95 ft)? Is it just me or does this look very silly choice for measurement equipment? 30% error guaranteed? I understand the need for conformity. Without a concise set of rules to follow we would probably all have to resort to common sense. -David Thorne

If they are swollen then something was "spilled" in them. Things spill when they are broken or injured. You probably have minor (microscopic) tears in finger muscles (from those bungees like you said) and it takes time to heal. Ibuprofen will help the situation in two ways: 1. it is a (mild) painkiller 2. it will reduce/slow down inflammation (which is present just about every time a trauma is present) Your fingers will still be injured though and it will not reduce a chance of injuring them further with packing, but it will relieve the symptoms a bit (a lot). IIRC ice and light exercise is advised for such injuries (if damage is not severe - just uncomfortable feeling). Developing "swollen" (permanently) fingers is just a consequence of too much minor muscle injuries. Body will apply more muscle mass to the injured part to prevent or reduce further injuries. Just like with body builders. I have no idea how moisturiser would help in this situation... except maybe for that strap on a and dildo :) EDIT: Swelling can go away only after enough blood passed through it to "wash it away". Applying ice will speed up blood flow, massage will speed up blood flow, any exercise will speed up blood flow. Ice usually does the trick. I understand the need for conformity. Without a concise set of rules to follow we would probably all have to resort to common sense. -David Thorne

If you want to eliminate friction then get the most slippery material made. PTFE or Teflon. Someone out there must be able to make a strip of woven teflon fibres... I understand the need for conformity. Without a concise set of rules to follow we would probably all have to resort to common sense. -David Thorne

I wanted to put on a camera when I had a bit under 100 jumps... I then made some more jumps pretending they are video/photography jumps and I must say I was never so surprised to hear neptune screaming in my ear to deploy. Scary stuff. I'm now "legal" to wear a camera but I think I'll wait some more before actually putting one on. Filming my own funeral is not exactly on top of my wishlist. I understand the need for conformity. Without a concise set of rules to follow we would probably all have to resort to common sense. -David Thorne

Vector has pop-top?? I thought javelin and wings were pop-top (where reserve pilot chute sits on top only held down by two flaps), vector has its reserve pilot chute hidden under many flaps. I also don't understand how could toggles creep out from vector. Secondary riser covers cover toggles completely and I honestly don't see how they could just creep out (no matter how the airflow is going around the container). Just pick the container you like the most (beauty-wise). They are all good containers, all are safe, freefly friendly, good build. I understand the need for conformity. Without a concise set of rules to follow we would probably all have to resort to common sense. -David Thorne

Phoenixfly had a quick wingsuit proximity flying course at the beginning of april last year... maybe they will do it again this year. If they decide to do it again I'm pretty sure it will be on their website tomorow... I understand the need for conformity. Without a concise set of rules to follow we would probably all have to resort to common sense. -David Thorne

Spectra does have higher specified strength than steel wire but have you heard of anyone having torn his steel wire while pulling silver? The spectra ripcord UPT uses has some elastic inside. That means if your handle is dislodged it will pull it closer to your harness (with steel wire it just dangles there). I have it on my rig but I've never used it. I understand the need for conformity. Without a concise set of rules to follow we would probably all have to resort to common sense. -David Thorne

The thing is you never have to give your stuff away, ever. Even when copyright is over the actual work is still yours. All it does is it gives others the right to try and replicate it. While this is trivial for digital content, I very much doubt someone is going to replicate DSE's horse his great great grandfather made. And even if some one does replicate it, DSE will still be in possession of original work and can do with it whatever he likes. It's the right to copy, not the right to own. I understand the need for conformity. Without a concise set of rules to follow we would probably all have to resort to common sense. -David Thorne

Yes, it is... who are you referring to? I understand the need for conformity. Without a concise set of rules to follow we would probably all have to resort to common sense. -David Thorne

How were the duration changed? Or how long was copyright protected before said changes?? I do not have more specific terms for each one... That I will leave to the properly trained people. However I would love to see patent and copyright terms specified according to field it applies to ("short lasting" (like software) patents shorted duration, patents for "longer lasting" technology longer, etc.), perhaps to the "usefulness to humans" (patent cure for cancer should have shorter duration or different limitations for other producers) and others. I'd like to see both (patent and copyright) duration changed from "making money for ages to come" to "making money for the "active" duration" (the duration a technology/work is able to produce high revenues). This is of course a bit tricky to define, but a manual for photoshop 5.0 should have it's copyright length changed to the time interval Adobe provides support for it, or until they declare this version obsolete. It's a tricky situation and would need a lot of thinking to make it work, but it would be better for us (whole human race) and still allow people to make money and for few to become filthy rich just like today (their grand kids would probably hate it ). That said this is definitely not trivial enough topic to conjure up next patent/copyright wording on internet forum I understand the need for conformity. Without a concise set of rules to follow we would probably all have to resort to common sense. -David Thorne

I can see why you'd like patents (or technology) become available sooner, but in fact the same thing should apply to copyright. While you will not (most likely) cure cancer or AIDS with songs and paintings, the mere presence of them in just about every human culture known should argument the need of people to use (enjoy) it. Without that humans generally become "less well" (not ill just their mental state degrades into more depressed one). Nothing wrong with selling them for money, but reproduction (by anyone) should be available sooner. That is why I think that copyright should (with current ease of reproducing your work and making money of of it) be shorter or at least as short as patents (which probably make much more in total than copyrighted work). I like to be happy and feel good so I don't see the point in making laws that would make everyone (me included) less happy while only protecting selected few for ridiculous amount of time. I'd like to see shorter patent and copyright protections. I agree there is a need for both, but the length has not changed (AFAIK) for very long time (ever?), while our ability to research, produce, innovate, publish, ..., has decreased significantly. Also English is not my first language, so I might have used wrong terms in this (well defined) discussion. P.S.: Software patents (in their current form in US) suck monkey balls big time and should never be implemented the way they are (like most of current copyright law). I understand the need for conformity. Without a concise set of rules to follow we would probably all have to resort to common sense. -David Thorne

The final product would fall under patent law, but the idea itself (or plans for it, the article the idea is published in, ...) would still be the matter of copyright law. And I already said that before: there is nothing wrong with people making money of their (authored) work. The problem (IMO) is the ridiculously long period that copyright is valid for. If patents (which are the cornerstone of our current technological progress) "only" get 20 years (still too long in this time and age IMO) then copyright should probably get less than that, definitely not more. I understand the need for conformity. Without a concise set of rules to follow we would probably all have to resort to common sense. -David Thorne

I'm also sure that the few selected ones would like to keep copyright laws the way they are. Mostly people from show business and entertainment (like the ones you listed). And I didn't say copyright is less valuable... if anything it's more valuable since we spend way more than we have in the past. But the value of original copyright laws was to protect intellectual property which was scarce at best in those days. There was some author music (you could probably list all authors on one sheet of paper), some paintings, some books. That was it. That was all human race had as far as authors went and we had to protect that at all cost. Today copyright is not used for what it was designed, but only for making money. There's nothing wrong with making money but doing so and being protected much more than anyone else trying to make some money is wrong... Also copyright does not stop at the theater door or bookstore entrance. It covers _everything_ that was made by humans. While it may seem like a good idea to have a copyright on your favorite picture (and not having others copy it or even making money from it) I'm pretty sure you'd be pissed if someone came up with super-duper-skydiving-safety-device-that-saves-you-no-matter-what, make one for himself and tell everyone else to f**k off. Under current laws he has every right to do so and no one can even attempt to copy him or else he'll sue you. So the thing that would save lives is not only invented and unavailable to anyone but the author, it will remain to be unavailable 70 years after the prick dies if his family is as nuts as he is. That is not cool and having laws that promote such behavior is wrong. I understand this was extreme hypothetical case, but the same goes for a picture I shot and threw away. 70 years after my death? Really? If you can't make profit from your work while you're alive (and everyone you listed has done just that) than you probably shouldn't hold back those who could. There will be change... and it will not be good for authors. Currently authors are treated like endangered species and are being protected more than any truly endangered species could even dream of. Of course we'll still need some kind of copyright (since there will always be people who will use others' work to make money) but the current form is bad for everyone except for selected few. And this is coming from a guy whose career depends on authorship of his work. I understand the need for conformity. Without a concise set of rules to follow we would probably all have to resort to common sense. -David Thorne

I don't understand why would handing over the negs mean he handed his copyright as well. Photo is the final product, and photo was handed to OP. If handing negatives means author gave away his right, then handing photo should mean the same. Anyway this example only shows how stupid and inefficient current copyright laws are. I agree it was reasonable to have 70 years after death copyrights when books were scarce and it took lots and lots of money, materials and man-hours to make them. They were expensive things and very valuable (as history has shown). Today we don't live in that world anymore and we managed to change most of our obsolete laws (like racist one US had etc.) except for copyright. It will have to change soon(TM). If it doesn't we'll only see more "piracy" (not "yarr" piracy... copyright infringement). I mean using the photo taken 20 years ago by a photographer who basically threw it away shouldn't pose a moral dilemma in anyone's mind (except some copyright nazis). It is however still illegal to use it for commercial purposes regardless of the fact that you will not be able to find out original author (ever) and ask him for permission (ever). It's down right silly. I understand the need for conformity. Without a concise set of rules to follow we would probably all have to resort to common sense. -David Thorne

"This DVD combines the skills learned in the previous DVD's (Backfly & Sitfly) and blends them into the prerequisite exercises to evolving to Head Down flying." This is what their website says about Transitions I. I probably misunderstood the part about HD. I understand the need for conformity. Without a concise set of rules to follow we would probably all have to resort to common sense. -David Thorne

All I can say is that STF is an awesome place to be Bunkhouse is (compared to other DZs I've been to) 5 star suite. Very very clean (it's cleaner then my place was before I got me a girlfriend), no noise, comfortable beds, ... top notch. Jumping at STF was awesome too. Weather didn't seem to notice that I wanted to do more jumps than I did, but that's the weather. I got some great coaching, met some great people to jump with... You guys rock!! I hope to come to STF again! I understand the need for conformity. Without a concise set of rules to follow we would probably all have to resort to common sense. -David Thorne

I decided I'm gonna rent a car (I found one for half the price with insurance included, some last minute thingy) and drive myself to STF tonight. Thanks to everyone who offered me the ride from ATL to STF! I understand the need for conformity. Without a concise set of rules to follow we would probably all have to resort to common sense. -David Thorne

Transition I is the Head Down video... isn't it? I understand the need for conformity. Without a concise set of rules to follow we would probably all have to resort to common sense. -David Thorne

If you can prove in court (s)he messed with equipment in a way that could result in death, I don't see why not. Maybe not murder but manslaughter (if (s)he proved it was "only a joke", not a murder attempt)... But if I found some one messing with my rig (with a knife like in this case) I would consider seriously hurting the stupid fuck and making sure his ability to talk and walk would be impaired indefinitely. I understand the need for conformity. Without a concise set of rules to follow we would probably all have to resort to common sense. -David Thorne

Mould in general is quite tame creature that likes to poison everything around it It is also very tough creature, able to survive changes in temperature, pH and even an attack with chemical "weapons" such as common solvents (alcohols, acetone, ...). This is not true for every type of mould, but some are really that nasty. And deadly. This is what I found on www.mouldfacts.ca about cleaning: I'm the "overly concerned" person mentioned I understand the need for conformity. Without a concise set of rules to follow we would probably all have to resort to common sense. -David Thorne

I'm out of popcorn. Anyone got extra stock of popcorn? And beer, definitely need beer for this one! I understand the need for conformity. Without a concise set of rules to follow we would probably all have to resort to common sense. -David Thorne