Bronco

My partner failed to drink the cold Rainier I offered him on Saturday upon returning to the truck. He's on double secret probation until further notice.

Read this yesterday and thought it was interesting. Standing up to animal terrorists By Cynthia Pekow Special to The Times In the mid-1980s, a vaccine was developed to prevent feline leukemia virus, an infection deadly to cats. I was employed in a small-animal veterinary practice, where too often I had seen the virus claim the lives of my patients. The new vaccine inspired a change in my career direction. I wanted to learn about and participate in efforts to create and test the treatments we rely on for the health of our pets and ourselves. Today, I am a laboratory animal veterinarian: a part of the profession dedicated to humane, proper and safe care and use of laboratory animals. I work with caring people whose daily actions reflect compassion for animals. These are not individuals who show their concern for animals by carrying placards in public demonstrations. Nor do they engage in acts of terrorism in the name of animal liberation. Rather, they come to work each day and go about the important business of caring for laboratory animals. Who really cares about laboratory animals? If actions speak louder than words, it's not the animal-rights advocates. The compassionate people are the ones inside the biomedical research facilities. Consider mouse 151L. He is one of a family of mice genetically prone to diabetes. 151L was bred specifically for research on the role of diet in the development of diabetes. He receives a treatment (in his drinking water) that is believed to delay the onset of the disease. 151L is observed daily, and is regularly checked for signs of diabetes. Before the research began, a funding agency deliberated on the value of the knowledge to be gained in exchange for the lives of the animals involved. An animal-care committee evaluated the humane aspects of the proposal, specifying the signs and symptoms that would indicate that 151L might be suffering, along with the methods for handling those possibilities. If he becomes ill, or at the end of his normal lifespan, 151L will be humanely euthanized, and his tissues will be analyzed and compared to those of animals that did not receive the treatment. The results can point us to, or steer us clear of, preventive measures for diabetes in genetically prone people and animals — an enormously important advance, since diabetes is one of the most costly incurable diseases of modern times. At work each day, I see the care provided for 151L and the thousands of other animals, mostly mice and rats, whose quality of life depends on our actions. Every day — holidays and weekends, during blizzards and hurricanes and national emergencies — dedicated people attend to the husbandry and welfare of animals such as 151L. These technicians not only provide clean housing, food, water, bedding and toys; they also observe and interact with the animals. Scientists make headlines with medical breakthroughs, but it's the animal caregivers who provide the foundation on which the science depends. There is a key assumption that separates those working inside research facilities from those carrying placards outside to protest the work. We who choose to work with laboratory animals understand their critical importance to advances in biomedical research. We see how the benefits of research extend to both people and animals. The greater life expectancy and quality of life we enjoy today stem from developments such as vaccines, antibiotics, surgical techniques and a better understanding of nutrition — all results of research involving animals. We continue to count on research for better treatments, for ourselves and for animals, for afflictions such as cancer and kidney failure and traumatic injuries. Each person has his or her own — often deeply felt — level of comfort and acceptance regarding the many aspects of human/animal relations. Arguing about how we can or should relate to animals is as unproductive as arguing religious belief. What is more useful is to speak in terms of animal welfare rather than animal rights. Polls tell us the majority of Americans do accept the necessity of using animals in biomedical research. In return, they want to be assured that 151L's life will be used to good purpose, and that he will be treated in a way that meets his needs and prevents suffering. People also want to know that animals are used only when there are no alternatives for answering important research questions. On this point, science is clear. Cells living in test tubes and systems modeled on computers can assist and direct research efforts. For the foreseeable future, however, these methods cannot replicate the complexity of living organisms. And, when our children's and our pets' health is at stake, we dare not rely on research based on inadequate testing. Animals such as 151L, whose lives we take in the name of science, deserve our utmost respect and care. Personal integrity is the bottom line. In 17 years in this field, I have been consistently impressed by the commitment of all involved — scientists, research technicians, veterinary staff and animal caregivers alike — to be humane and considerate of the animals. In contrast, consider how the actions of animal-rights activists affect the well-being of animals such as 151L. Outside research facilities and scientific meetings, activists carry signs and chant slogans. Or worse, they scream obscenities, spit on, and attempt to provoke and intimidate people entering and leaving the buildings. Some groups, such as the Animal Liberation Front (ALF), proudly claim credit for acts of arson, bombings and sabotage at research facilities — violence that is dangerous to research animals as well as humans. Groups such as Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty (SHAC) engage in acts of intimidation and threats. In Seattle, smoke bombs were set off during business hours in two downtown high-rises, ostensibly because insurance offices there did business with research labs. Locally based animal-rights groups regularly picket the homes of researchers in the Seattle area. Slurs and graffiti have been painted on scientists' cars and property. Across the U.S. and here in Washington state, research facilities have been broken into and vandalized, and animals have been stolen — in some cases "liberated" to die, hit by cars or killed by predators. Whose actions show compassion? Research facilities have to respond to terrorist threats by putting increased resources into security, using funds that otherwise might have been dedicated to research or to enhancing the animals' environment. 151L's quality of life will not change because of additional surveillance cameras at the door. Liberation will not improve his well-being. Compassion for 151L is shown not by the "liberators" but by those who work constructively to improve the science, technology and humanity of animal care: the people inside the research facilities. Cynthia Pekow is certified as a specialist in laboratory animal medicine and is a clinical associate professor in the Department of Comparative Medicine at the University of Washington. She is a member of the Northwest Association for Biomedical Research and president of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science. She is a doctor of veterinary science.

pot'teryx rocks and so does his website!

one way speed ascent of mt. si in my plastic boots with a speed descent trundleing myself off the haystack. Gps coordinates and Larry da Tool will verify it.

nice! makes me want to bash some ice.

I can tell you from experience, that "sucking weight" really ... sucks! When I was a senior, we had a state champion wrestling varsity in my weight class of 141 and so I decided to cut to 135 mainly because I could easily thrash the varsity guy at that weight class. I cut and cut and starved and got to where I could see every little (and I mean little) muscle in my body and "challenged" the 135lb starter. I was so weak that he whipped my ass and nearly pinned me. So, I wrestled 141 JV for the rest of the season. I think that if I would have stayed at 135, I would have improved as my body adjusted, but it was too miserable to maintain that weight.

An old dead shrub backed up to an old existing ring pin driven into dirt that I could wiggle with my fingers. We should have downclimbed.

I think I saw the Grivel compact 3rd tool at Pro Mountain Sports Last week.

Not if you ask me.

I ain't fallin fer that one again Leroy...

PINKO COMMIE FAGGOTS!

From www.animalliberationfront.com "ALF Mission Statement / Credo The Animal Liberation Front (ALF) carries out direct action against animal abuse in the form of rescuing animals and causing financial loss to animal exploiters, usually through the damage and destruction of property. The ALF's short-term aim is to save as many animals as possible and directly disrupt the practice of animal abuse. Their long term aim is to end all animal suffering by forcing animal abuse companies out of business. It is a nonviolent campaign, activists taking all precautions not to harm any animal (human or otherwise). Because ALF actions are against the law, activists work anonymously, either in small groups or individually, and do not have any centralized organization or coordination. The Animal Liberation Front consists of small autonomous groups of people all over the world who carry out direct action according to the ALF guidelines. Any group of people who are vegetarians or vegans and who carry out actions according to ALF guidelines have the right to regard themselves as part of the ALF " Seems to me like they've fallen short on their mission this time. And it also seems to me that they are all about the LIBERATION OF ANIMALS. I heard from a local out here that the the road kill of minx imediatly after the "liberation" was pretty disturbing.

Who defines what constitutes eco-terrorism ? If I were the ruthless CEO of a company intent on developing and effectively destroying a rock climbing area, would that constitute eco-terrorism? A) I don't know but if I had to guess, probably the Feds. B) Call up and ask the FBI.

Is certainly not doing these animals any favors - News Update: Most minks back on the farm SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER STAFF Owners of a Sultan mink farm targeted in an apparent eco-terrorism attack in August have recovered about 9,000 minks, but they are now grappling with another problem -- cannibalism. Since the break-in, police have been flooded with reports of dead, trapped or loose minks -- including attacks on a menagerie of exotic birds, a Labrador retriever and a flock of chickens. While those calls are tailing off, the minks have also been seen eating fish in local rivers; one even turned up at a fruit stand on the edge of town last week. Farm workers are also finding the occasional rib-skinny straggler from the estimated 10,000 animals turned loose from their cages six weeks ago. About 1,000 are still missing or presumed dead. Because unrelated animals tend to attack one another when housed in pens together, the bigger problem now is keeping the recovered minks from killing each other. Before the break-in, only siblings were kept in cages together. After escapees were rounded up, workers couldn't tell which animals were related anymore. "The mink are fine when they're littermates together, but when they're not, they're quite vicious and they're cannibals," said Kate Roesler, whose husband co-owns Roesler Bros. Fur Farms. "They do eat each other, and that's what we're battling." In an e-mail, the Animal Liberation Front, a network of animal rights activists who engage in economic sabotage of fur farms, pet stores, laboratories and other commercial enterprises, took credit for the mink release. The FBI is still investigating, and no arrests have been made.

Libra crack at Index kicks my ass all the time.

Why dont you just lose some weight? I hear those shoes are just not made for 200 pounders.

I got a message for you -

check your email

I've had very good experience with the 3 pairs of New Balance trail runners I've had. I don't run trails a lot, but, have put 500 miles of running on each pair with no problems.

Sounds like Adrian got carried away with the "light and fast" approach. Did you guys consider just soloing the route? Did you find any natural pro? Just wondering. Too bad about your knee, hope you heal fast.

The times are fine for slow fatboy climbers like me!

erik: Dude, you're going to be ok! You should drink some water and try to lie down. It would help to know what color the pills were that you took. Don't resist the big guys with the white coats, they are your friends, just go with them...

Did some driving over the weekend and looked at the colors.