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Taking orders from the administration does not have to be the same as taking orders from a political party. The primary motivations for prosecutions should NOT be to weaken the opposition party. The primary motives should be justice. I concede "justice" may be in the eye of the beholder. However, from any reasonable person's POV, trumping up charges of voter fraud, or inhibiting prosecutions of well-connected politicians can not be considered part of a quest for justice. Also, a previous controversy linked to a past president from the other party is irrelevant.

More and more it seems to be coming out that the United States Department of Justice was being given marching orders by the Republican Party. You can yammer on about how it's totally legal for the president to fire any AG he wants, but you've got to admit that using political affiliations as a determining factor in whether or not to pursue investigations and prosecutions is something that just should not be done. That's banana republic stuff. Using the domestic security apparatus to disrupt opposition political parties. If there's not a law against it, there should be. No wonder Alberto can't get his story straight. He's trying to cover up egregious acts! I don't know if it's because the Bush Administration is particularly unscrupulous or if it's just a product of unquestioning one-party rule. Whatever it is, someone's gotta put a stop to this shit and fire some scoundrels. That's why you see even Republicans getting on the bandwagon. It's the Republicans who are actually more worried about the country and self-respect than protecting the GOP.

I didn't even read the linked article JayB. I trust you that the logic is anything but logical. The premise behind my post is, "what would it cost you to outsource the work that gets done by the typical stay-at-home parent?" I don't see how one can argue that that is not value that is added to the enterprise.

The figure of interest is not how much the childcare worker makes, but how much a parent has to pay the daycare. What's a good daycare cost? I think I remember roughly $1000/month/child. It's been a while though. That's for ~40 hrs/week max, still need to cover the other 20 plus weekends. Gardeners, Housekeepers, laundry need to be added on top of that, not averaged in. I think $10/hr for all the shit work one has to do as a stay at home parent would be a bargain. If you wanted it actually done right and up to my standards, especially someone that would be as attentive competent as the parent/property owner then I think it would be hard to find somebody that would do it for $20/hr. I read the rest of the thread now. I think Archie touched on the the biggest sacrifice of stay at home parents. It's the stultifying existence of living in a kids/caretenders world. Sure there's some benefits (juiceboxes, legos), but man, I'll bet it can get ugly sometimes. I think the best analogy to kid-tending (when they're really young especially) is long distance driving. It is often dreadfully boring, yet one is forced to be continually alert. How much would a long-distance truck driver make if she were allowed to actually drive 18hrs/day, 7 days per week?

Did someone already make this calculation? 12hr days*7 days/week* 50 weeks/year = 4200 hrs/yr $10/hr -> 42K/yr $20/hr -> 84K/yr Increase it to 18hr/day for an infant-4 yrs old -> 63K/yr - 125K/yr Decrease number of hours probably after about age 13 or so.

I think it's quite possible that Rove set this up to marginalize those who are looking into the 9/11 cover-up. We are getting too close, and they needed to do something. This bridge is a fitting metaphor for their collapsing house of cards. They could have easily sabotaged that freeway section and then set up the tanker truck crash. Note how the crash happened at like 3:45 in the morning, when NOBODY would be there to witness it. Note how the driver is not available for comment. Very suspicious.

Time to invade Mideastia! Smoke 'em out.

Bush administration did it to punish Nancy Pelosi and Arnold.

Isn't there a chockstone at the ledge where you could use slings to set up a rap anchor?

Clinton's from Venus, Bush's from Mars

done!

I wouldn't be at all surprised if Bush does not veto. Issues some bullshit signing statement. Says that his hands are tied, he can't let the military go broke and endanger our fighting men and women. It would give him a get out of Iraq free card, and allow him to blame the all the ensuing chaos on the Democrats. How many times in the past year has Bush been totally adamant about something and then done an abrupt about-face? It could happen. I'm giving 1-5 odds if anyone is interested in a friendly wager.

First of all, you're premise seems flawed, "seemingly brilliant"? Why would he lie about what appear to be trivial matters? Two possibilities: 1. What he is lying about is not trivial. For example, purposefully impeding an ongoing criminal case (Lam vs. Duke Cunningham and co.), and using the justice dept to spur frivolous prosecutions (NM, WA, elsewhere?). 2. Or perhaps, because he thought he could. With no accountability, you might as well have your cake and eat it too. Might as well do whatever you want and tell continue the shine sunshine up everyone's ass while you're doing it. Seems like ol' Alberto just didn't see the writing on the wall. He got lazy and didn't forsee the firestorm in this. He underestimated the public's anger. Now if he really is "brilliant", then it seems like #2 is farfetched since he did some of his best lying after the midterm elections. So we're left with #1. There really was some bad shit that happened!

Add to that list Tower 1 Route (Big Four) NorthWest Corner(North Early Winters Spire) East Face(Lexington Tower) Dreamer (Darrington) ...and how come you didn't tack Beak Beak Beak and 10% Meterological Vinculation to the top of Princely? ETA ooops, Big Four route is 10a

You can greatly improve the climb by doing the RPM start. You start on Remorse (to avoid the scary 10d RPM slab) then cut off right up to some belay bolts. The second pitch of RPM starts with a Godzilla-like RFC-corner flake, then you can either pull the 10b roof (which can be C0/1'd easily and has good pro and clean fall), or you can mantle on top of the block then exit left with an easy but exposed short traverse over to Remorse (this keeps the difficulty at 5.9). You can also make the third pitch of OS a little more interesting by starting it using the RPM corner (corner right of two OS starts) then get back on OS p3 where it intersects. Oh, and the walkoff is no problem if you have shoes, any routefinding sense, and daylight. Plus it dumps you out right at the base of Orbit so you can complete your 10-pitch day!

The new Nine Inch Nails is currently available (streaming) FREE on the interwebs.

Last time I climbed it the only bolted belays were the top of the first pitch and the base of the first crack pitch. So you'll want some gear for belays. Most places there were many options for placements, but if I recall correctly, for the belay at the top of the second crack pitch you might want a cam or three in the off-fingers to small-hands size.

If it really is a dream position, then B, no question.

Yeah physics guys, could Ivan generate 11kN with a bounce test? How about me (30% lighter)?

The addictive nature of climbing is something that I often ponder. I don't have enough time today to even try writing some masterful exposition, but spew I will do. Regardless of whether it takes a certain type of person to be snared by the addiction, I think climbing has qualities that can make it addictive. It is a genuinely difficult proposition, that can continue to challenge, no matter what level of skill you hold. Finish one project, there's always one more. It also has the requirement that one needs to practice regularly to perform well. Thus it is almost necessary to climb regularly once you have the bug if you have any "projects" at all. Unlike other team sports, there are challenges that can linger and are not dependent on finding another team of desired caliber. Another aspect to its draw is its ability to remove you from your regular existence. Get concentrating on a hard crag climb, or figuring out some route through the brush past some cliffs and you've removed your everyday problems. Add to it the fact that you're usually physically removed from people/distractions by being out of contact in the wilderness, it makes it easy to forget troubles. Like any other good addictive draw, it has the sought-after ability to forget yourself and concentrate on the fun, like reading, drugs, sex, other? Once you've achieved that blissful state of transcending your mundane existence, it's hard not to want to go there again.

more thoughts... please don't make posts whining about how someone else should be moderated. I can see whining about perceived heavyhanded moderating, but whining about moderators not doing enough post/poster altering is just plain dumb tattletale BS. We know you would handle things differently if you had supreme power, but frankly, we don't care. For those who wish to complain about moderation or lack of it, we have created a new forum:forum to complain about moderation "Me too" posts are annoying, but sometimes forgiveable, but more than one in a thread is heartily discouraged. Between the hours of 9am and 9pm please STFU if you have nothing useful to say. Posting is not about letting people know that you are here.

What do the "ultimate tensile strength" results mean? Were those slings without girth hitches?

Bagged a 9000 footer on Friday!