JamesNahikian

Consider the University of Michigan (A^2 happens to be a great place to study/live, too): http://www.dent.umich.edu/about/ D. James Nahikian CHICAGO

I suspect you will love this canopy. Congrats D. James Nahikian CHICAGO

Posted for opinion and comment This thread is making me feel my age. http://www.thetatheta.com/diagpic.htm Ferris Bueller remains my hero. D. James Nahikian CHICAGO

Road trip? "No Sleep 'Till Brooklyn" by the Beastie Boys is mandatory. Gracious, you should throw-in something by the English Beat as well, say, "I Just Can't Stop It." Perhaps some Morrissey, too. BTW, Ferris Bueller is my hero. D. James Nahikian CHICAGO

Posted for opinion and comment Ignoring the fact that George Bush declined Saddam Hussein's challenge to a televised debate, Tim Dowling exclusively reveals what could have happened had they met Tim Dowling Tuesday February 25, 2003 The Guardian Tony Blair, moderator: Welcome to the first televised debate between George W Bush and Saddam Hussein, live from United Nations headquarters in New York. We will begin with a brief opening statement from each of you. Bush: First of all I would just like to welcome my evil friend to the UN, one of the great American institutions for the propulsion of freedom throughout the world. Saddam: Thank you, Great Satan. I hope that in today's debate we may find some common ground between the Iraqi people's commitment to peace and human progress and America's desire to destroy the Middle East. Bush: Do I answer that? Blair: No. The first question is quite simply this: do you have any links with al-Qaida? Bush: I do not. Blair: The question is for President Saddam. Saddam: As I told Mr Tony Benn clearly and simply, if I had links with al-Qaida and I enjoyed those links then I would not be ashamed to tell the world, but since I am ashamed to tell the world of this, it follows that I have no such links. Bush: Neither do I. Blair: The second question is for Mr Bush. Mr Bush, if America and Iraq were to go to war tomorrow, who would win? Bush: That's easy. America, right? Saddam: Even I knew that one. Bush: That's because the great United American States of America are on the side of rightliness and Americanity, against an evil Axis of Evil made up of Iraq, North Korea and... how many are in an axis? Three? Blair: I think you're allowed as many as you like. Bush: OK, Iraq, North Korea and France. Saddam: I will tell you frankly and directly that Iraq is not part of any Axis of Evil. Bush: Who am I thinking of then? Irania? Blair: Let's move on. Saddam, are you willing to destroy your stockpile of Samoud 2 missiles in accordance with UN weapons inspectors' orders? Saddam: I explain to you now that if Iraq possessed these so-called weapons, we would never destroy them, but since we do not have any such weapons, we are happy to comply, even though these non-existent weapons certainly do not exceed the proscribed range of 150 kms. I've tested them myself, and we don't have any. Blair: The final question is for George Bush. Mr President, is there any way that Saddam Hussein can avoid war, and what steps must he now take in order to reach a negotiated solution? Bush: Listen to me. It's very simple. First Saddam must compile 200% with the UN inspectorers, and I mean activated compilation, not passivist compilation. Second, he must disarm fully, in keeping with UN revelation 1441 and the next one coming, 1441B, which will require him to disarm even more fully that. Then he must destroy all Samoud missiles and any other weapons of mass destruction he is found, or not found, to be possessive of, without being asked. Finally, there is one more task he must perform, which I am not at liberty to revulge. And even that will not be enough. Blair: The translator would like to take your answer home with him and work on it over the weekend. Bush: Fine, but we require nothing less than total disarmature. Saddam: OK. Blair: Sorry, but I'm not sure that "disarmature" is a word. I defer to the UN Keeper of the Dictionary, Mr Richard Stilgoe. Stilgoe: Yes, you can have disarmature. It means, "the action of disarming" according to the OED. Bush: Exactly. He must cut his own arms off. Saddam: If it means peace, I will do it. Bush: Too late. Stilgoe: Did you know that Saddam Hussein is an anagram of 'Demands a Sushi'? Saddam: Yes, I've heard them all. Bush: I don't eat sushi. Is there a fish option? Blair: I'd like to remind everyone at home that the Monica Lewinsky-Tonya Harding fight follows after the break. Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2003

As a former denizen of the Southland myself, I'm curious whether this morning's shaker had any effect on jump operations. Or did you just tell your lover it was all you, baby? Let us know in the event you have something interesting to report. D. James Nahikian CHICAGO

Snow jumps can be some of the best ones, especially those long winter leaps from tiny Cessna's into the snowy abyss. Plus afterwards there's hot chocolate with schnaps in it. Add extra cover to your hands, head and neck and you should stay plenty toasty until touchdown. This is my Winter practice and it has kept me warm even though I wear only Teva's and ThorLow's on my feet on into the deepest snow. Personally, I don't bother with neoprene. Instead, I wear North Face "Wind Stopper" shells (without insulation) under my summer gloves. My hands stay warm enough to operate my handles and toggles, and there isn't much bulk. Get out there! D. James Nahikian CHICAGO

*cough DICK cough* Did I just use my outside voice? _________________________________________________ No, you were just being *YOU* (cough). D. James Nahikian CHICAGO

The statements are correct even if you believe they are silly. They were utilized to show a failed comparison. You _could_ be banned from flying on a commercial airliner based on your USPA membership. You could not be banned from flying on a commercial airliner because you're a Muslim. Parachuting is a privilege. Get used to this and act accordingly. D. James Nahikian CHICAGO

Traveling while Muslim is a right albeit one that may be subjected to additional regulation. Traveling as a parachutist is a mere privilege and it may be prohibited altogether. The attempted comparison fails. The burden properly resides with each parachutist who chooses to transport a rig by air. We would do well to keep this in mind. D. James Nahikian CHICAGO

You dork. Call me. I've tried to reach you for beverage service. D. James Nahikian CHICAGO

On review, how I chose to express what I had to say was shrill, at best, and it was inappropriate for fellow parachutists. This is a problem I need to work on. My basic concern was that having observed this person she clearly is the type of parachutist who is making life more troublesome for jumpers like me who _do_ exercise at least a scintilla of common sense post 9-11. The person I referred to _DID_ have an almost empty gear bag. The rig _WOULD_ have fit within the bag, no question. The Jav was being slung about like just another fashion accessory. She was trolling for attention, which I will not countenance especially post 9-11 because this _does_ make life more difficult for people who travel with their rigs regularly. Sorry to be a meany but if you know a jumper who is about to travel with her/his rig for the first time please tell the person to bag it if at all possible. The airport is not a place to showcase your skydiving passion, do this in the air and after beer-thirty. Thank you for considering my position. D. James Nahikian CHICAGO

I've traveled the globe with my rigs and never experienced a serious problem at an airport. Did get stopped in Frankfurt, Germany once while Herr Inspektor queried me about "the coil". Turns out the x-ray equipment had flagged the reserve spring on my Reflex though not the CYPRES. Was allowed to pass unhindered after I explained the function of the reserve spring. Never asked about my CYPRES, interestingly, and I've toted my gear just about everywhere. May I suggest carrying your stuff in an innocuous bag, unlike the woman I observed recently at O'Hare, who was slinging her Jav around outside her gear bag with a "who, me? newbie-skydiver-type look" on her (undeniably silly) face. Usually, I buy skydivers a meal whenever I encounter them; this person was obviously too stupid to deserve a free meal, much less respect, from lowly me. D. James Nahikian CHICAGO

I'm a Geminii, which is appropriate considering I'm a lawyer. Never had a problem arguing both sides of anything. D. James Nahikian CHICAGO

I shouldn't have subjected Chris to this. Sorry dude. D. James Nahikian CHICAGO

We use The Pill for that very reason. D. James Nahikian CHICAGO

Yacht racing. I crew on the big boys. D. James Nahikian CHICAGO

Sunshine gets points just for being Sunshine. She needs to work on her carving, but seems to obtain max altitude for the load routinely. A very popular person that Sunshine . D. James Nahikian CHICAGO

Does anybody even come close to Chris S./diverdriver? D. James Nahikian CHICAGO

Yes, I'm quite fortunate in that I personally jump with every person I named. I would add that Orly deserves first prize in the most interesting person category. D. James Nahikian CHICAGO

Best Skydivers 2002 / Overall Proficiency: 1 - Rook Nelson 2 - Roger Nelson 3 - Missy Nelson 4 - Alaska Jon 5 - Mike Swanson 6 - Olav Zipser 7 - Orly King 8 - Mike Ortiz 9 - Pfritz Pfnur 10-Dave Brown Plus some Europeans and Russians who, in all likelihood, won't read this post. D. James Nahikian CHICAGO

Appropriate for the Base forum, though I thought the coverage would interest most of you. Check out http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/2614761.stm for a story, with photos, on jumping the world's second-best B. D. James Nahikian CHICAGO

Lebowski was funny. You probably liked Kingpin, too, then. Careful not to get Munsoned-out, Dude. D. James Nahikian CHICAGO

Gattaca is my favorite movie. I can't believe somebody hasn't mentioned it. By coincidence, Gattaca also is my SO's favorite movie as was the case prior to our meeting. We both identify our life experiences with the protagonist. D. James Nahikian CHICAGO

Most comfortable rig under canopy, I would add. I love the Micron. D. James Nahikian CHICAGO