arlen

They fit into a term like insurgents about as well as islamist terror groups fit into a term like al quaeda. Not very well, and probably not a good idea if you're trying to actually stop them. Simpler's better for press releases.

Easily the funniest show on TV. All the Japanese kids I know are embarrassed as hell of that show. Apparently they're in court a lot for injuries

I have half my retirement plan allocated to TIAA-CREF's Social Choice It was less productive than the aggro choice, before the economy went south. It's done better on many reports since then. Anyway, back to Will's question, I criticize Walmart, Exxon etc because they're wrong, and separately I avoid them when I see that I have a choice. I also pay taxes even though our current government spends it on crap I don't believe in. And why? Because if I disconnected from everything I didn't agree with and went around carping about them, that, really, would be hypocritical.

Snowshoes suck if you want to ski. If you don't want to ski, snowshoes will keep you from postholing.

kicked in the nuts

The battery will last a lot longer if you don't make a habit of running it empty before recharging it. Like IG said, there's usually fast and easy place to plug it in nearby. And if there's not, there's this: link

and other stuff (sfw)

I have yet to come across a believeable argument for the notion that Spain's new government is the one that radical islamists would prefer. I've read a lot of "terrorism experts" who conflate all terrorists with the motives of the IRA or ETA, who would like a less militant government. Seems to me that the groups lumped into al quaeda would prefer a leader that will inflame the Spanish people's xenophobia and get them to stir shit up with muslims and give them a reason (albeit a lame one) to join the whole insane jihad thing. But I found it interesting that people are finally talking about the possibility that al quaeda isn't the best way to describe the islamist terrorist groups that are the real danger, and that there are some who may in fact have goals similar to the IRA or Shining Path, etc.

There are a whole spectrum of people who take part in public demonstrations against Israeli policy, and they include a few American citizens who can criticize islamist terrorism more cogently than any of us spraymonkeys. Prolly the only reason a radical terrorist would show up at a rally is the chance that such an attack as you describe would kill innocent folks, thus furthering their ultimate goal of whipping up ordinarily reasonable people into a blind rage.

I think there was a mass migration to rc.com. It was pretty easy for the handful of regular chestbeaters to ride herd on the hapless n00bies at rec.climbing, but I wonder how they're managing with the horde of bible gymbies at rc.com.

I'll bet that even those of us who post more in Spray than any other area would say it's for the other areas that we keep coming back.

Why would radical Islamists want Western troops to withdraw from Iraq? They benefit from American presence in the Middle East, especially when it's accompanied by self-righteous blustering. Lots more angry folks stuck in poverty = more prospective holy warriors. The Spanish election would look like appeasement if we were all fighting Napoleon. But in light of the current situation, it looks a little more like the Spanish people were tired of being lied to. Maybe our leaders can't comprehend that a non-christian could get us to paint ourselves into a corner--from which we either look like cowards or build support for their cause.

Will it ever stop?

I'm still stuck in Marathon II

Hey, love the new climbing sections! Keep up the good work, guys!

I was being sarcastic. But maybe it's because I spend too much time trying to get along with my retired neighbor who harps on how his generation gave 110% blah blah blah--so props to you for saying what the rest of us farbies couldn't blurt out in this thread.

The generations before us all gave 110% to make this country great, and now it's our turn.

I hand deliver a paper copy whenever I flame someone.

Ashcroft doesn't need access to our library card records. Just round up everybody who bought the "Unlock the Power of Numerology" minibook in the Safeway checkout line.

It's just another backdoor way to chip away at a woman's right to choose. The case is pretty interesting, though, because it brings in a whole chorus of arguments about natural homebirth. I can't wait for the Law & Order episode based on this one.