> THANKS FOR THE VERY GOOD ADVICE.WHAT IS A HOOK STICK?

A scrap piece shaped loosely like the letter "L" It allows you to choke up on the board your ripping into strips, while still pulling it. As opposed to trying to grip it along the sides and work it through the saw. This allows you to work with the featherboards and such in positioning the work against the fence(s) and through the saw, while comfortably and safely pulling on the wood to feed it.

One point was brought up, showing that I was not clear in something. When I suggested having another person around, I wasn't meaning as a wood cutting assistant. Just someone essentially supervising you or simply around so that if you get in trouble and get hurt, they are there to call 911 and render first aid. Basically, someone who can and will respond to your screams.