Jim

The thing about many of the lighter weight tents is that the uppr tent is made of mesh. I've been in some windy storms in a few of these and 1) their colder, and 2) all kinds of grit gets blown into the tent. I'm debating about a new tent as well. Something like the BD Mirage or an Eldorado.

I think this just bears out what is strikingly evident now. That the Idiot and his group were very good at politics and lousy at governing. They did an impressive PR campaign for the war, getting ex-generals on board to push their positions as talking heads on the news channels, leaked false tid-bits to headline hungy reporters and then pointed to those stores as evidence of what they were saying, and generally ramped up the retoric. As far as dissent in the Pentagon - the White House made it known it was their way or the highway - which caused a stream of retirements and loss of command positions before and during the war. The necons just kept promising the flowering of democracy without any forethought regarding the region's complex history, religous divisions, or ethnic tensions. It was less naivete and more adherence faulty reasoning and idealism.

I was thinking that when I win my bet with PP regarding Mcain's flame-out in the fall that he could take me to a game and buy beer and dogs. But that may not be a good idea.

We need last weekend's weather this weekend. Friking big system in the Rockies spinning stuff into eastern WA. Doesn't look very promising for the mountains. May try to sneak in a day ski somewhere. Not sure I'm up for a potential wash out at WA pass, however.

Please don't attempt adding any clarity to Glasscowsuck's distorted view of American politics. He is...mmm...how you say...a stupid fuck mother. Let's be specific here. The Dems package included increasing the amount that would be paid for college, which has not kept up with the cost of 4 yr schools. The Dems also wanted someone who was in the reserves, went to Iraq, to be paid the cost of continuing their education. The way it works not is that if you complete your tour and finish your commitment of your tenure, but don't resign up, you lose your benefits. So the only way you can get an education is to continue sign up in the reserve and continue to get pulled over to the action. Basically it's a veteran's benefit except you don't get it unless you stay in active duty. WTF? The Repubs are "concerned" that after two or three tours of Iraq a person might feel that was enough and decide to use their benefits, get a degree, and move on to another career.

My advice would be to do it, just plan it out so you're not stuck financially when you get back. I took off 3 months back when I was 35 or so to go climb in Patagonia with a buddy who worked at the same place. We just went into the boss and made our pitch. They new we would just quit if they said no and they would have lost our skills. Now that I'm 51 I'm planning on taking 4 months off in a year and I'm not going to ask for time of I'm just going to tell them I'm going. If they want me back, that's great, if not I'm getting recruited regularly anyway. I've also managed to take off either 3 wks in a row or a month each of the last 5 years with some careful planning and some catchup time before and after. If you're thinking hard about it you should do it - it will give you a much needed rest and fresh perspective. Work is a good thing for may reasons, but you can get worn down even by a job you really like. Good luck.

That critter looks too alive to be associated with the Mariners.

BD's hybrid tent may be a choice: http://www.bdel.com/gear/skylight.php

I agree with you there. It will take decades to undo the Iditot's deeds.

Got to climb here for a day in between work in the desert. Great place. I've only climbed here once before and forgot how cool the rock is and the expanse of the place. It was pretty green thanks to winter rains. Fun routes, Dark Shadows, 10c to the left of DS(?), Y2K, and some 7ish 2 pith left of Y2K. Dark Shadows Party on DS corner 3rd pitch Start of Y2K

If the USFS doesn't fit into your usual distain of needing to "starve the beast" of government then my misgivings are misplaced. I'll keep it general then; folks shouldn't be surprised that land management agencies charge fees for access when their budgets are pared down to nothing; nor should they complain about the use of third party contractors when that directive is coming from the president's office. Cheers.

You can go research the budgets, I don't have the time, but here's what I know as fact. USFS Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie has consolidated their offices. The moved from Montlake to Everrett, have continued to cut biology staff, recreation folks, rangers, etc. And have been pushed, no forced, to contract work that that could be done more efficiently and cheaply in-house. Yes the fee system did start before the Bushies as noted by Matt, but the stripping of the natural resource agencies' budgets under the Bushies has no comparison. It's just a bit ironic that when folks are complaining about bloated government agencies and then those agencies are pushed into increased user fees, the whinning begins.

Hey - I'm just giving you the facts straight from USFS folks who work in the program. We would not be charged for permits to public land if the land resource agencies actually were alloted a reasonable budget. You want less money going to the USFS, be prepared to pay as you go.

While I'm not too jazzed about the idea of permit fees on public land, the Forest Service is the stepchild of public agencies right now, has had to consolidate beyond it's resource needs, and is being pushed hard by the Bushies to contract out portions of their work. So - the current administration is responsible for the cutbacks and the philosphy of having third party contractors.

What a bunch of crap. The only question that needs to be asked is are we in better strategic position now or before the Idiot took over the reigns. It will be nice to get some adults running the show instead of a continual PR campaign. They know how to spin extremely well. Too bad they can't seem to apply a fraction of that skill to governance or leadership.

If you're going this way you might check this Seattle source: http://www.fuelwerks.com/

If you can find it made out of recycled restaurant grease, then it's a great thing. If it's directly from plant material; corn, switch grass, etc., then it's a losing energy proposition costing more energy to produce that it provides. Add to that the greenhouse gasses used to plant, harvest, fertilize, and transport and it's just plain stupid. But it does provide crop support for the midwest. The exception is where soy is being grown for protien and the oil is a byproduct, though critics are pointing toward inflated prices drawing in producers just for the oil now. Not so green as it's presented.

Warm up? That thing beat me to a pulp last year. I would like to become a better crack climber and not have to French-free it next time. Taken to school I was.

Exhibit A: http://democrats.senate.gov/dpc/dpc-new.cfm?doc_name=lb-110-2-35 I'm getting an aneurysm over the idiots in D.C. and they're lack of fiscal sense. Why not just burn the money. And PP - if Hil and Barack keep tripping over themselves you may have a chance. But I doubt it.

It's just as much the electorate's fault. Once they pull they lever they go back to watching Survior or whatever, thinking - "well, my job is done here". Few folks want to actively participate to make any difference, and the politicials know it.

What a maverick!! Mr. McCain, who made no mention of his previous pledge to balance the budget by the end of his first term, outlined a long list of tax cuts he favored in the speech, which was delivered on the deadline for filing taxes. He called once again for making the Bush tax cuts, which he voted against, permanent, and for cutting corporate taxes, phasing out the alternative minimum tax and doubling the value of exemptions for each dependent to $7,000 from $3,500. He also proposed giving people the option of using a simpler, shorter tax form.

Watcha talking about P? Does DSL plus ISP = cable cost these days ($60/mo)?

Looking at the options. No TV cable needed just internet access. Friking comcast is $33 for 3 months then $59! Not cheap. Your exerience on DSL or cable?

Some of that may have been with a skilled eye on the market, much of it, however was dumb luck. California and Florida are now strewn with speculators who did not get out in time.

Never ran into an English Lit or History major that changed to math or science because it was too hard.