Yes: I just jumped out of "a perfectly good airplane."
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The above images were taken during my "Level 7" Accelerated Freefall (AFF) class on 8/13/00. Exiting the aircraft at 14,000 feet and pulling the ripcord at about 4,000 feet results in about a 60-second freefall at 120mph--plenty of time to do back-flips, docking procedures, AND enjoy the view! Later that day, I took my final, Level 8 class and graduated from the course! I am a proud, novice skydiver!
If this appeals to you (and I heartily recommend it!), find a drop zone near you by visiting the United States Parachute Association's Website. I learned to skydive at Bay Area Skydiving. Check out their Tandem skydives. This is a great, inexpensive, THRILLING way to get a taste of this sport... You might just get hooked like I did!
Update: Unfortunately, I decided to give up skydiving due to a bum knee I have (never injured through skydiving, however). A recent motorcycle accident on June 8, 2006 fractured my knee again--I 'T-boned' a red-light runner at a major intersection. . . I and my attorneys are pursuing a claim.
My other interests:
I have been an avid bicyclist most of my life (touring and commuting). I usually have several bikes to choose from; I love starting and finishing my workday with a spirited bicycle ride! This 1984 Trek 720 which I repainted and updated with modern components is one of my favorite rides:
I love 3d photography. This is truly 'old school'; we're talking 1950's era cameras such as the venerable U.S-made Stereo Realist (below), the East German-made Belplasca, the French-made Verascope, et al., which took (and still do take) 3d slides. When these images are mounted (by self) and viewed through a special back-lit viewer they are just magical! I have quite a collection of cameras and images taken. . .
Astronomy: especially the disciplines of telescope-making, deep-sky observing, film and CCD imaging. See below...
I am 55 years old; a cabinetmaker/finish carpenter foreman by trade. Here are a couple of pieces of recent work:
I've been doing this a long time: A sampling of furniture I've made
(in the 80's, or earlier!) can be found here.
I no longer do "side work." I am currently employed by
Design Workshops of Oakland, CA.,
a premier shop
specializing in high-end architectural and residential woodwork.
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I have been happily married now for twenty-three years to lovely Marie-No, a native of Brittany, France, an ancient Celtic land. Above is me and my honey at one of our favorite venues: Cirque Du Soleil. We have no children, but we had a lovebird named Slim (at right)... Now we have two Ring-necked Parakeets: Update: now we have FIVE--Lily and Rocko (below) continue to have chicks!
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A sampling of furniture I've made can be found here.
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| Though I have been interested in astronomy most of my life, it wasn't until 1988 that I purchased my first 4" telescope. Looking to join a club, I soon found John Dobson. (I had heard of the Dobsonian, but I didn't realize John was a local hero). John taught me how to make a 10 1/2" sidewalk telescope, as well as a 6" Dobsonian Sun telescope (right). |
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Though I practice sidewalk astronomy here in San Francisco, I usually travel to a dark sky site near new moon time. I often travel three hours from The City to the Sierra foothills, to observe and camp-out, often with a few deep-sky buddies. Here is bud Steve Gottlieb, for example (my scope is in the background, on the left), at our favorite deep-sky site. |
| I am an avid telescope maker. I have
helped a number of folks with the carpentry skills required for some of
the inevitable complications which seem to arise. I maintain The San
Francisco Sidewalk Dobsonian Telescope Plans Website (below) and answer
e-mail from folks around the world.
My own scopes include (at right): a truss-tube Dobsonian (17.5" Coulter mirror), complete with Takahashi 4" refractor and equatorial platform of my own construction. (Actually, I no longer have the Tak: a few years ago, I traded it and an Astro-Physics refractor for a motorcycle; but it's a killer photo, isn't it?). At right was my first (1989) attempt at the truss design; the structure that formerly housed my 17.5" mirror. Below is pictured my 13.1" telescope which collapses into a box making it "airline transportable." I have taken this scope to Hawaii twice and, most recently (March 2005), Chile. Steve Gottlieb has also taken this scope to Costa Rica twice. Plans for this scope are online. Here, you will also find advice--and links (my Dobsonian Evolution page)-- on more advanced designs. |
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