mattp

Glen - There was an interesting article in the PI this Sunday, about a guy named Gold who had been a leading writer in a conservative think tank but decided to quit because he thinks the conservatives have lost their way. He says he is against the war because he can't see how we are going to solve anything by it. He says that America, as a nation should not be flexing its' military might so much because "you don't get greatness by pusshing people around. You get it by doing great things. " He also says, however, that the "peace movement" does not interest him because the voices against the war all seem to say that the whole mess is OUR fault and the take too much of a "blame America first" approach without voicing any recognition of all the good that we have done for the world. He says that the conservatives, who say they distrust big government, are forgetting their principles when they promote new laws that allow for increased domestic spying. He notes that "old-line" conservatives like Dick Armey have joined up with the ACLU on this issue. I don't know if he's written any books or anything, but you ought to check out that article. I thought I was a liberal but I agreed with just about everything he was quoted there as saying. It was quite interesting.

PLEASE NOTE: Cavey did not punch anyone. In fact, he was freely disseminating up-to-date and completely accurate beta, he was a most pleasant conversationalist and he was, in all respects, the perfectly exemplary pub clubber (he paid his bill). I repeat. He did not punch anyone. Now can you guys leave me alone with the personal messages and calls for a police report?

Dan-wasn't there a boulder there, near and perhaps just above that snag? Maybe I'm imagining the whole thing just like I imagined the topo to match what we saw in the couloir.

Minx - They do it all the time. How do you think the stadium was built or the light-rail proposal stonewalled? It's called politics, mixed with the legal process. Where powerful interests want something done or not done, it really doesn't matter what the people want.

Trask, I couldn't agree with you more that Governor Locke sux but where are you coming from with this one? He is hardly a "tax and spend liberal" and even the republicans commended him for producing a sensible budget that was intended to reign in State spending, didn't they?

Before starting the Caveman Diet, you look like this: After six short weeks, you can look like this: Guaranteed to work!

I gotta say, the air quality WAS better in the Blue Star than it had been in Teddy's the week before. But we started out at a long table where there wasn't room to circulate, and then when we moved to the back room where it was more comfortable they decided that they couldn't adquately supervise us back there and they cut us off (I don't think anybody really looked obviously wasted, but ChucK and I discussed the idea that it was probably based only the pure number of pitchers they had delivered - I could be wrong). But I think ChucK is right: the real issue is that they just aren't really catering to our kind of crowd. Having said that, there is nothing wrong with trying some different style venues once in a while but I wouldn't want to go back to the Blue Star every week.

Actually, he was very nice to her. We even paid our bill and everything, and Cavey was on his best behavior all night. He probably would have even been nice to Allison, had she bothered to show up. But out of the blue, the waitress said "you guys have had a lot of beer and this will be your last pitcher."

Another problem with the Blue Star was that THEY CUT US OFF!!!!! Just because Cavey punched out the waitress. What the ??????

The Mount Margaret area would probably be pretty good because you could snowshoe up to the crest at about 5,000 feet without crossing any avalanche zones and there are some nice lakes up there. However, you may share part of that Rocky Run road system with snowmobilers.

Jack was quite an accomplished climber and he made some good packs, too -- the only packs I have ever seen that had a zipper on the back, a vertical zipper between the pack stays. These were great winter day-climbing or small-overnight packs that allowed you to put the thing down in the snow and rifle through your gear without getting the part that you were next going to put against your back all muddy or snowy. I would not hesitate to believe that Jack could have climbed up, down and sideways all over Big Four, and he might well have done it alone and then thought it not such a big deal as to be worty of reporting.

The Caveman Diet has turned many a mediocre gym climber into a true Cascade legend!

The Blue Star Pub is at 4512 Stoneway Ave North, just north of 45th Street in the Wallingford neighborhood. See what I mean about the decor? It's a fern bar. See you there.

Fred is quite the connoisseur of music. He was in attendance at the last show the Grateful Dead played in Seattle, and I wandered through the crowd to find him right down front, in the "golden circle" during the second set. He WAS watching a (nearly) naked girl, though she wasn't playing the violin.

What do you think that sausage is made out of? (Hint-it ain't really "horse"cock.) caveman cannibalism confirmed Are you sure Caveman doesn't eat Gu?

Mt. Erie is a good call. Vantage would be fine, too, and both are scenic but Erie is closer and in my opinion a little more suited to taking a group of beginners or a top-rope session.

Sorry, Cavey, I just can't keep my brand names straight. But the man is AWESOME! And you should have seen him working the ladies at our Christmas party. I think he lined up at least a half-dozen dates! Long live Fred!

He's like the Eveready bunny: Let's hope all of us are as fit at that age!

I'm with you, Ray. Every time I hit the Cle Elum Safeway, I pick up some of that "day old" stuff with the sale stickers. The grease has reabsorbed and it doesn't make a mess in your pack.

Question: What does Caveman eat, and if we eat like him will we be better climbers? Research indicates that he might go for meat and potato's, but discard the bun (they only get smashed in your pack anyway). Quote: "two baconburgers a day is insane" Also, be forwarned that if you climb with a caveman, you may want to carry something to protect yourself. Quote: "caveman cannibalism confirmed" Does Caveman eat Gu?

Static Point will probably have dry rock if the sun comes out the next couple of days and it can be very pleasant at this time of year. Indeed, I think some of the routes were "put up" in the middle of a mild winter. It sounds as if you were on the right road. After about a half-mile or so, there would have been a couple of big bouldersin the roadbed (this was the old parking area), beyond which the roadbed should have been completely filled in for a couple hundred yards. It must be something like a mile further on this road to the point where you head up the hill to reach the crag. After passing two or three gullies where old drainage pipes are lying next to the road, look for one that may have a cairn on it and a trail up the bank on the left. The trail climbs several hundred feet through the woods, ending with a short, steep climb that can be treacherous with icy snow, and then deposits you near the base of "On Line." The half mile access road off the main line is quickly becoming overgrown after being blocked by a fallen tree a couple of years ago, and I ama fraid that this will lead to the continuous deterioration of the route even though it is really not much more difficult than it has been for ten years. Several of us who chat on this site did some trail maintenance last Fall.

Where did this word come from. Does it have anything to do with Genghis Kahn? When I was at an exhibit of old rugs, vases and cool tiles lately, they kept pronouncing his name "jingus" and all I could think of was sporto climbers and their rad lingo.

My guitar wants to burn your dad.

My guitar wants to kill your mama.

Yeah? And sprayer's suck.