Jim

I'm never disappointed in the ability of the Americans to lap up media projections rather than use some sembelence of critical thinking. Why would you think this geriatic could run the economy better when he admits he doesn't know (or care) much about economic issues and his boldest economic policy is to institute a gas tax holiday and follow the lead of the Bushies and (surprise!) cut taxes?! Excellent ideas. I'm still confident that folks have had enough of the tax-cut and spend administration and are looking for a more nuanced approach to world affairs. We'll see. Either way I'll need a beer - my bet is you're paying.

Interesting tidbits on McCain's foreign policy advisor: ____In 2005, while registered as a paid lobbyist for Georgia, Scheunemann worked with McCain to draft a congressional resolution pushing for Georgia's membership in NATO. A year later, while still on the Georgian payroll, Scheunemann accompanied McCain on a trip to that country, where they met with Saakashvili and supported his bellicose views toward Russia's Vladimir Putin. Scheunemann is at the center of the neoconservative cabal that has come to dominate the Republican candidate's foreign policy stance in a replay of the run-up to the war against Iraq. These folks are always looking for a foreign enemy on which to base a new Cold War, and with the collapse of Saddam Hussein's regime it was Putin's Russia that came increasingly to fit the bill.

What's bias about an opinion piece on an on-line version of the LA Times?

Right. Who would take that offer. We certainly can afford none - we're overstretched. Heck, we can't even get more NATO troops in Afganistan. Good reason to keep your powder dry and not going off on half cocked mideast adventures.

Too bad, doesn't seem fair. No way are those little things 16. I think the average weight of the Chinese gymnasts is 71 lb!! while the US comes in at 107 lbs!!!

Private health care or private health insurance. Let's be clear wtf we're talking about. Actually that is a good point. The Swiss system is universal and private - and much cheaper and successful than ours. I'd be ok with that one. "Switzerland's consumer-driven health care system achieves universal insurance and high quality of care at significantly lower costs than the employer-based US system and without the constrained resources that can characterize government-controlled systems. Unlike other systems in which the choice and most of the funding for health insurance is provided by third parties, such as employers and governments, in the Swiss system, individuals are required to purchase their own health insurance. The positive results achieved by the Swiss system may be attributed to its consumer control, price transparency of the insurance plans, risk adjustment of insurers, and solidarity. However, the constraints the Swiss system places on hospitals and physicians and the paucity of provider quality information may unduly limit its impact. The Swiss health care system holds important lessons, including evidence about its feasibility and equity, for the United States, which is now embarking on its own consumer-driven health care system."

....is just warming up. Here's an early volley. They'll get going in earnest after the convention. "The Anticrist" "That's just what some outraged Christian supporters of the Democratic nominee are claiming John McCain's campaign did in an ad called "The One" that was recently released online. The Republican nominee's advisers brush off the charges, arguing that the spot was meant to be a "creative" and "humorous" way of poking fun at Obama's popularity by painting him as a self-appointed messiah. But even this innocuous interpretation of the ad — which includes images of Charlton Heston as Moses and culled clips that make Obama sound truly egomaniacal — taps into a conversation that has been gaining urgency on Christian radio, political blogs, and in widely-circulated email messages that accuse Obama of being the Antichrist. The ad was the creation of Fred Davis, one of McCain's top media gurus, as well as a close friend of former Christian Coalition head Ralph Reed and the nephew of conservative Oklahoma Senator James Inhofe." Remember Ralph Reed - he's the pious guy who, along with Abermoff was talking to Indian Casinos on one side of his mouth (and taking loads of cash to push their cause) while preching the evils of gambling to the Christian Coalition. Slime balls.

Yes but that'd be "socialism." Translation: corporations not being able to fleece us.

The program is funded by the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency (DARPA). ......great. More of our tax dollars being used efficiently. Probably under the category of evil-doer killer articulated assistant.

Seems that the US ranks below England: The World Health Report – Health systems: Improving performance*. *Copies of the Report can be ordered from bookorders@who.ch. The U.S. health system spends a higher portion of its gross domestic product than any other country but ranks 37 out of 191 countries according to its performance, the report finds. The United Kingdom, which spends just six percent of GDP on health services, ranks 18 th . Several small countries – San Marino, Andorra, Malta and Singapore are rated close behind second- placed Italy. One of the biggest issues: no one goes without decent care in other countries and no one is going to go bankrupt because of health costs. We could easily cover the US population with the same money we are now spending. The difference? No huge profits and CEO salaries.

I don't have any problem with hunting, heck, spent enough time in hunters camps while in school, but this area doesn't seem like a great place for hunting. It's really a sad mistake by some kid. The thing I don't get is folks that are not hunting carrying guns in the wilderness. WTF - why such a chickenshit? I'm off to AK for a couple weeks of field work near Denali. No guns, no spray. Just keep your frikkin' eyes open.

Working in the Coast Range over the next two days, summit tagging on Sat. Sat - Play hard, Sun - ReCharge!!

Exactly! I want more, and I want it now. Friggin A, nothing wrong with fiscal responsibility already.

My several business trips over the next couple months: Salem, OR, Salmonberry River Basin - Oregon Coast Range, Cape Lookout State Park, Oregon; Denali State Park, AK; Boise and the Snake River Canyon. Not so bad.

Oh sweet Jesus. Here we go again. This is the kind of stuff you're going to hear once the GOP slime machine picks up steam after the convention. Let's start the debate about who's label pin is bigger already. She, like a majority of Americans, think we can do better than the slime ball politics and world strategy mis-steps that have dominate the past 8 years. Rather than talk about any substantial issues facing the county lets talk about Obama's bitter wife. Unbelieveable. But sadly predictable.

Frikin' A man - you are just packin' in the excitement here! Makes our snooze atop seem pedestrian. Glad you guys are OK.

The new little things like the pocket rocket are very light and efficient. My main complaint is that you can't refill or recycle the dang canisters.

Ok Jim. I really would like to see your research. Since you clearly have such a first person definitive knowledge of what this group is and what its purposes are... Would really like to see where you are getting your information. You don't believe the FARC is a wacko group? Hmmm.. As far as the SOA - just open up a book for Christs sake. My suggestion would be: The School of the Americas: Miltary Training and Political Violence in the Americas. Lesley Gill - this one I've read. or School of Assassins: The Case for Closing the School of Americas and for Fundamentally Changing U.S. Foreign Policy. by Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer If these are a bit too inaccessible for you there are some good magazine articles as well.

Gimme a break already. If you think the right-wing death squads trained by the SOA were just going after bad guy commies you're kidding yourself. Again. The FARC is a wacko group - just as unethical and immoral as some of the death squads trained at the SOA.

No. I can point you to some reading if you're interested, however. I was merely supplying some history because you didn't seem aware that the SOW started in Panama, then moved to GA.

FYI - SOA used to be in Panama until it got booted in 1984. The School of the Americas (SOA), in 2001 renamed the “Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation,” is a combat training school for Latin American soldiers, located at Fort Benning, Georgia. Initially established in Panama in 1946, it was kicked out of that country in 1984 under the terms of the Panama Canal Treaty. Former Panamanian President, Jorge Illueca, stated that the School of the Americas was the “biggest base for destabilization in Latin America.” The SOA, frequently dubbed the “School of Assassins,” has left a trail of blood and suffering in every country where its graduates have returned. Over its 59 years, the SOA has trained over 60,000 Latin American soldiers in counterinsurgency techniques, sniper training, commando and psychological warfare, military intelligence and interrogation tactics. These graduates have consistently used their skills to wage a war against their own people. Among those targeted by SOA graduates are educators, union organizers, religious workers, student leaders, and others who work for the rights of the poor. Hundreds of thousands of Latin Americans have been tortured, raped, assassinated, “disappeared,” massacred, and forced into refugee by those trained at the School of Assassins.

I've had this for over a year now and taken it on a number of trips. The good - it carries very well and balanced even with big loads. The bad part just out-weigh the good for me. The strap systems, meant to be versitle I suppose are very cumbersome and not intuitive. Working on things in the early morning or evening with a headlamp I found difficult to figure out the complicated strapping system. If you like to fiddle this is your pack. If you just want to put it on and go - it isn't. The ice axe holders are a clip system instead of a simple loop. They require putting in the ax from the bottom and cliping in. they hold the ax loosley and it kinda jiggles around. Why not use just a dang loop? And there is not tie down poing for the ax shaft!! WTF? So you have to make some add on. The top pocket does not adequately pull down over the main compartment and I've had snow drift into the main compartment. Likely there have been changes to this pack but mine will be going on Craigs List soon.

A most excellent adventure!!! Mine: Seneca Rocks 1979- some third pitch of a 5.7 that I was climbing with a wacko who wore out his climbing shoes so he wore them on the opposite feet - and still led 5.10!!! He pesuaded me to lead the crack, and I proceeded to take 4 falls on a number 3 chouinard wire. We couldn't budge it with a pick. So we came back up the next day with a rock stuck in my painter's pants pocket and used the rock to wang on the pick. I think that bent wire thing is still on the rack. Now it's a good luck charm.

Oh that's great. We said "We'll be mildly uncomfortable for 5 hours or so, no will lose any fingers, and it's better than stumbling around in the dark while being tired". It's not an adventure unless the outcome is uncertain.

95% snow free. We did take out the axes and had to kick steps one short (60 ft) long gully just below our bivy perch.