[ahecht]

I basically wanted to summarize my stance on these tethers:

-- Entanglement should be ruled as originally stated in FRC -- if it can wrap around an axle with reasonable force, it can entangle. This would disallow tape measures and wires, but wires sheathed in pipe, telescoping booms, "scissor lift" devices, lexan tiles (such as ours and 302's), "tent pole" devices, etc. would be allowed. Especially, devices that FIRST specifically prohibited, such as the tape measures and wires listed above, shouldn't be allowed now at the regionals.

-- Tethers shouldn't get special treatment -- they should be built to withstand being run over or spun on. If robots themselves have to be built to withstand impact, so should these devices. Therefore, there should be no rules about blocking such devices -- except in cases of obvious intentional entanglement, and I think the judges should be very careful before DQing a team for damaging a tether.

P.S.: Amy, we have no hard feelings towards you. We understand that at the scrimmage, the judge's job is to prepare us for the worst case scenario at the regional.