Peter_Puget

Mattp - I didn't bring up any OP-ED piece BUT I have something hanging in my office from the NYT that is a op-ed piece. On Oct 19 the NYT ran an essay defending the 1994 accords with North Korea and which presented the accords as the basis for resolving the current crisis. Question:Who wrote the article? Answer:A Mr. Joel S Wit. QuestionWho is he?. Answer: A guest scholar at the Brookings Institution and formerly a State Department official. Here is a more complete bio: He was most recently the coordinator for the 1994 U.S.-North Korea Agreed Framework and was responsible for U.S. policy related to the implementation of that agreement. From 1993 to 1995, Mr. Wit served as senior adviser to Robert L. Gallucci, ambassador-at-large in charge of policy towards North Korea, where he worked on U.S. strategy to resolve the 1994 nuclear crisis, was in charge of the interagency sanctions working group, and led the U.S. effort to establish a new international organization, KEDO, to implement the Agreed Framework. Now did the NYT note that their editorialist was once responsible for monitoring NK's behavior. Nope. Note here I am not discussing the content of his editorial but on the papers nondisclosure of an important fact that would enable a reader to place the writing in a context. By the way what do you make of the whole Augusta fiasco? PP

"Economy Races Ahead at 3.1 Annual Rate in Summer," - Associated Press headline on the AP website. "Economy Grows at 3.1 percent. Consumer spending on big-ticket items fuels third quarter surge." - Washington Post. "Economy Grew at 3.1% in 3rd Quarter, Slower Than Expected" - New York Times. Hmm see a bias in the NYT. The paper of record. This is not an editorial. I just happen to have this posted in my office.

MAttp: Several years ago I heard two "Seattle" climbers interviewed in NPR. One came across well spoken, articulate and so on the other in comparison seemed dull. I saw the same two climbers on TV and the difference was even more dramatic. The funny thing is that without any doubt if I was hanging by a thread and could use one of my lifelines to ask one of those two for advice, I would have without a moments hesitation called the one who appeared to be the dull one. Without regard to intellect I would assume that a politican like Blair would be a better speaker. Indeed the hard part about politicians is wading through their public masque.

Read this!

Attn ALL CC.com users! (& Mattp too) Please believe the very worst that is said or written of me. Shamefully I never even made it to the gym. I did, however, enjoy a video taped viewing of Joe Millionaire! PP

I guess it's the difference between cognition and understanding. I just went for a cup of coffee got off the elevator and saw a great pair of legs walking by. Luckily she was going for coffee too. All the way I was thinking "man is she hot." The when I say her face I realized she was about 16 years old. The I thought:I JUST HAD A TRASK MOMENT!

Documented proof the some Japanese officers ate the livers of captured soldiers in WWII.

Of course here I am not referring to recreational eating!

No wait I also heard about people eating people in North Korea! You know the place that had 2 million of its citizens starve to death during the 90s. Thank goodness the UN has been involved there too.

Wait haven't I heard something like this before: Why yes I have - In state sponsered papers throughout the Middle East! Plainly and repeatedly those intrepid journalalist have reported the use of the blood of Arab babies in Jewish religious ceremonies! Maybe that's why the UN is involved in the Middle East a swell.

We think its a joke but we hear of it only because its people eating people and the UN sends a team out. That's truly a pathetic joke.

What's weird is that if they were just shot and left to rot we would think nothing of it.

The world is truly a sad place

Will anyone still be around after the Vertical World closes?

Heck Scott I should buy you a beer at the next Pub Club! And if Alpinek lights up we'll gang up on him.

After the hype-fest last fall I went out and climbed this route by approaching the wrong way hopefully the new guide shows the better way. My verdict: it was ok. I was expecting an over-the-top bolt mess but it wasn't so bad. Certainly some of the bolts could have been omitted but so could some of the bolts on most bolted routes. If I hadn't read critical comments about the number of bolts I wouldn't have even thought about the issue. The climbing is mostly on medium-to-large edges with a hint of friction thrown in at the crux. The hold that Smoot refers to as "possibly chipped" was certainly beat on with a hammer. The odd thing is that the route is only a bit harder when it is avoided all together, so maybe the rock was a bit decomposed there. The gun fire seems no worse the day I was there than at Index and the route is much further away from the highway than the Fun Forest. The leader can see the belayer form the top by leaning out. The sunny exposure and fun well protected climbing will make this route popular - I bet it would be fun today. To say it is the best, or even one of the best, slab pitches in Washington is an exaggeration. This claim might backfire by creating unreasonable expectations. Go to the site Northbendclimbing.com and check it out. Seems that there is a new 5.8 route nearby. I honestly don't even remember what the rock in that area looks like but if you are looking for a moderate face routes to do close to Seattle I can't think of any better ones that are easily accessible.

Keep writing! I even started a stupid article for this site who knows if I will even finish it. Why aren't we all at the rocks today!

Redeem yourself and write a TR so that I can live vicariously through you. For instance what did you do at Index yesterday? Tell us more about the Rockies! Zion! Write man! Write! Eagerly waiting to read, Peter

No DFA not bold; just gave into peer pressure. The three words more frightening/dangerous than "I love you" are "Go for it" PP

Thanks DFA. I am quite familiar with one of the potential whippers on that route although time has fogged my memory somewhat. Old age has some advantages I guess. PP

Thanks for the tips. I did get a offer for an old pair of RRs but they were too small and I am really looking looking for something that free climbs better. I would have gone for that pair at Sierratrading but they didnt have my size. Sinc ewi am not in a rush I think I will just wait hoping that this spring a new shoe will come on the market.

Does Boy Prophet still have the original bolts? Do you still need gear at the top? America thanks you! PP

Thanks. REI doesn't carry them online. EDIT: I bought my last pair there back in the '70s!

When and what store PP?

Hey all PP asked an important question in a thread titled "SMC" go check it out!