Jim

Yea. Depends on the source, eh? More web wackos.

Thanks D- ...coservative meaning no down because of moisture concerns? Also - no soft shell jacket, eh?

1) there was an election, Repbups lost 2) wtf did they do about health care while having Congress and the White House for 6 years? Nada.

What's the snow now low - where were you able to drive to? Looks like a nice day.

Oh brother. Wackos coming out of the woodwork. Can you imagine the feigned outrage if something really progressive actually passed. What a bunch of clowns.

Private Icelandic banks take big risks, then turn to government handouts when their turn at the roulette table doesn't work out. Sound familiar?

Read closer. I mentioned Fannie and Freddie. Farm subsidies, I'm with you. But you were the one that touted the "structural reform", which by ample example tends to be the same. Provide bailouts to the entities that cry the loudest about "let the market figure it out" until the consequenses of their financial prowess turn downward. Then it's time for the government to step in and save their sorry asses at public expense. Then it's business as usual and profiteering until the next, inevitible disaster and the guaranteed public shakedown. Ya gotta give these guys credit. It's quite the racket.

This pretty good. Just like we did with the S&Ls, Enron, the airlines after 911, Bear Stearns, Freddie and Fannie, AIG, the auto indurstry, TARP, Citigroup, and Bank of America. Going back further we have Continental Bank of Illonis in '84 ($9.5 billion), Chrysler ($4 billion), Franklin National Bank '74 (7.8 bilion), Lockeed '71 ($1.4 billion)--- do I detect a "structural reform" pattern here. Indeed. The repeated pattern is public risk and private profit - all fed by cash through the political system to just tinker on the outside. Just keep shovelling the cash to the masters of the universe, then wail about undeserving welfare queens getting an extra $50 a month. It would be funny if not so tragic. Love the zeal there Jim, but spare a moment to consult an actuarial table or two that lays out the magnitude of unfunded entitlement spending at the state and Federal level and the price of the distortions of the nation's political economy you laid out above will seem trivial by comparison. Nice dodge. Now try and address the issues raised.

This is pretty good. Just like we did with the S&Ls, Enron, the airlines after 911, Bear Stearns, Freddie and Fannie, AIG, the auto indurstry, TARP, Citigroup, and Bank of America. Going back further we have Continental Bank of Illonis in '84 ($9.5 billion), Chrysler ($4 billion), Franklin National Bank '74 (7.8 bilion), Lockeed '71 ($1.4 billion)--- do I detect a "structural reform" pattern here. Indeed. The repeated pattern is public risk and private profit - all fed by cash through the political system to just tinker on the outside. Just keep shovelling the cash to the masters of the universe, then wail about undeserving welfare queens getting an extra $50 a month. It would be funny if not so tragic.

One of the three times I was on the traverse we got across Red Ledge and then got a major dose of fog and drizzle and we wandered back to Kool-Aid lake because we couldn't find a water source on the knoll - least not anywhere we wanted to walk to - it was the thrid week of August, however. Got up the next morning to blue skies and carried on.

Thanks - planning on a couple of your peaks.

So after not making the trip I wanted to last year because of life stuff, I planning for a couple month break this year. I've climbed in SA but at lower elevations, may get to 20k this trip. Advice on how cold to plan for in June/July has been variable. Chime in with your experience on: sleeping bag needed for minus 10 deg? down jacket type/brand - have a FF hooded helios, good NW jacket but seems too light for 20k? have Scarpa invernos, new model, seems warm enough. Not planning on overboots. Don't own mitten shells but will likely spring for some. been scanning websites and 2nd ascent for used gear, need funds for pisco.

Inquiring minds want to know!

..in case anyone is so inclined. http://www.stopdodo.com/environment-jobs/field-assistants.1074.htm Practical, organised and unflappable, you'll have what it takes to work in the most challenging climate on Earth - enabling us to conduct successful scientific research across Antarctica. Excellent mountaineering skills are essential, as is the ability to effectively lead expeditions. You must also be a natural problem solver and a strong team player who can respond effectively to ever-changing situations. Your core task will be to conduct scientific colleagues safely and efficiently within the polar environment on both the continental ice shelves and glaciated mountains. Of course, you'll also have to attend to many other duties, including assisting in scientific work, organising camp sites, handling radio equipment and ensuring sno-mobiles continue to work. Qualifications: As you would expect, this unique role demands a range of skills. Excellent mountaineering skills are essential, as is the ability to effectively lead expeditions. You must also be a natural problem solver and be a strong team player who can respond effectively to ever-changing situations. Duration: 9 or 18 months Salary: Salary package will be from £23,700 per annum pro-rata plus a possible performance bonus when your return to the UK. Application forms are also available from the Human Resources Section, British Antarctic Survey, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0ET. Tel: (01223) 221508. We welcome applications from all sections of the community. People from ethnic minorities are currently under-represented and their applications are particularly welcome. You will need to be physically capable and medically fit to work in Antarctic conditions. Please also send a CV of your climbing experience and other useful related experience e.g. Outdoor pursuit instruction Please quote reference: BAS 03/10 . Closing date 16th May 2010 Scheduled Interview Dates: w/c 21/06/10 and w/c 28/06/10

If that guy was our goalie we would have won.

..and I notice at least one picket for protection in the photos. Soo - IMO, it's a matter of choice and your route selection. Pickets can be good protection if used properly, as with any piece of protection. I've found them useful for traversing steep snow above crevasses when the consequece of a fall would be fatal - I'm just not that bold I guess; or on steep snow/ice climbs where there was little choice and I did not feel comfortable running it out.

I don't get it either. Even when I work in AK none of us carry firearms, unless required to by the agency we're working for. I have made sure I had pepper spray in instances I knew were were going to spend time in bear infested places. One state biologist we worked with carried a rifle when he worked for the feds and was charged by a big boar they surprised near a creek. He got the rifle off his shoulder, the bear charged to within 5 feet, stood up on it's hind legs towering over him, then got back down on 4s and wander off. His statement of why he didn't fire? "I knew he was going to stop" Seems that folks would rather spend the money to gain the false security of a pistol rather than learning about the elements they step into. In general, I'm bemused about the parnoia and fear of gun toters.

This shows how little you really understand about the world around you Fairweather. You assume that private, for-profit business employment success is based on performance. Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, private business regularly pays exorbitant sums of money to essentially incompetent people. When these people are discovered as incompetent, they are often given staggeringly large sums of cash as severance pay. The intellectual hurdle you have yet to overcome is this: Modern capitalism encourages waste and inefficiency. The only real difference is that different people benefit. For some reason you have decided that 1 wasteful ceo who destroys the livelihoods of thousands is worth more than 100 admin. assistants providing social services. And please do not misunderstand my taking the time to disagree with you as any validation that you have a point. The difference, Joe, is that the CEO works for private shareholders, while the bureaucrats supposedly work for us. The rest of your post is just mindless carp. Except the present day example of the finance and insurance industry. Private profit with public risk. Who wouldn't take that offer?

Duh. Sorry - my mistake. This is what happens when you no longer drink caffine.

You're off base on this one. I'm married middle school teacher with an MS in a science field, who worked in the private industy for 15 years before making the switch to teaching. She says when she made the switch her hours of work doubled and her pay was cut in half. Grading/planning evenings, weekends, and breaks while officially getting paid for a 6 hr day. There's likely some coasters in other parts of the state government - but not teachers. And by any yardstick the level of incompetence by the private industry over the past couple of years is astounding AND none of them lose their jobs AND they still get million dollar bonuses (WTF!) AND they have thier snout in the public trough.

Except 16 of the 22 times it was used, reconciliation was used by a Republican majority. Hmmm.

It's Friday. Thanks for this great word of the day!!

Bt why didn't you use the ?

Technically (according to the sign) you're not supposed to use the cat track going up hill to reduce skier collisions I suppose. But climbers are there pretty early, and there is a trail that branches from the cat track on the west side of the valley. Did see the Apeltal cop chase hikers away as I skied into the lot.