allison

I have a very nice Goretex MEC jacket that I hardly ever wear. If money is a serious concern, I'd skip this puchase as well. MEC is an excellent place to get a good price on the stuff you have to buy from a real outdoor store. If you can sew at all, you can make little stuff like hats and stuff sack for a fraction of the cost. Malden Mills south of downtown Seattle has a ton of fabric on a big table that they sell by the pound. The REI Garage Sale can yield some great deals, but not everything there is a bargain. Know your prices. Use your imagination, and you can get outfitted with pretty decent gear (even light) for not too much $$.

Greg, you talking on the state level? Because at the national level the Rs control the Legislative and Executive Branches, and arguable the Judicial as well. I think we'll only see the typical R agenda put forward in an even bigger way for the next two years than in the last two with the Rs picking up solid control of the Senate on Tuesday. It ought to be interesting, to say the very least.

Goat, with all due respect, you are being simplistic. I don't think the transit thing has gone at all smooth since the voters approved it in 1998, but the fact of the matter is, the thing is going to cost more than initial projections. The same thing will happen with the Monorail.

Greg, the thing is, we already approved light rail. I'm not sure that the RTA/guv has any choice but to provide it unless we repeal. So, what's our next step? As far as you not being able to talk to me, I don't know what you are talking about. I just know that I asked you to lighten up on me a few times. We can discuss this more in PM if you like, but please don't send me a pm unless you unblock me so I can respond. Thx.

Ah, Greg, you're probably right about the health care issue. I am really frustrated by this right now....I'm in beweeen a rock and a hard place with my upcoming surgery, and scared to death about it. Obviously everyone else's HMO experiences have been just fine or this would be a topic of national discussion...oh wait...never mind.

My company? I'm afraid it doesn't work that way. We have this insurance by virtue of a Taft-Hartley Trust, which is managed by a board consisting of rank and file union members and employer reps. The money in the Trust is paid as a Health and Welfare benefit by the employers, at 8% above wages. The contribution on my behalf is around $300 a month. We have exactly what we can afford to have. PPO insurance is way out of our reach, and had been for a very long time.

And one more thing: I am a middle-class blue-collar worker with full benefits. Can someone tell me how we got to the point where a person like me has to put up with mediocre at best HMO health care? The quality of care that we all should have access to is only available to people with PPO insurance, and the poor in certain cases. I guess I think there should be some sort of health care revolt going on in this country. A lot of the middle class are getting seriously screwed by the HMO system. Oh, and Greg, please leave me out of your defense. Thanks. [ 11-06-2002, 03:10 PM: Message edited by: allison ]

Several random thoughts: Having all branches of government controlled by the same party is bad news, no matter what the party. The Ds have done nothing to curry the affection of voters lately. Unfortunately we have a leadership vacuum at the moment. Not our day in politics, I'm afraid. We've had plenty of chances. To say that the 2 major parties are the same is, to my mind, naive and simplistic. Greg W is white. Cynics.....remember that Democracy is at its healthiest and most functional when the citizens are actively participating. It was designed that way. On the other hand, I wish the voters of this state would allow their elected leaders to do their job. To wit: we voted in favor of Sound Transit four years ago. Now I understand that the Sound Transit thing is a bit of a mess right now....but, yesterday we removed its major funding source. We made an unfunded mandate. Now what shall we do? Vote on Sound again? I'd like to hear from someone who voted Yes on 776 to tell me what their idea of a next move is on this.

Coondog, Yes, you can start drinking at around 7 and expect to have some company.

Now that is all said and done, I would like to NOT recommend idealphotoandvideo.com. I'll spare you the details, all in all a very shady operation.

Leave me alone, you little twink. I get out plenty.

quote: Originally posted by RopeGunHooker: Do you use it when you measure the altitude of the twinkie stand at 7-11 after you rob it? If you never gain any altitude how do you know it works? Um, in the mountains? [ 11-04-2002, 08:27 PM: Message edited by: allison ]

Pig and Whistle=walking distance from mi casa. Bueno!!

No, the post above mine speaks of avoiding Dynamic like the plague...I was asking about durability. You guys are idiots.

Please don't make jokes about my alleged promiscuty. It's bullshit. Cut it out.

No, not guns, just this and that, adverts. And for some reson my 'pop-up-stopper' program doesn't want to launch either!

Perhaps he IS Trask, but he's other people too. Don't be deceived, he is not being honest. Is anyone else getting assaulted by pop-up advertising while logged on to cc.com? This just started maybe in the last 24 hours. Ms. Thread Drift has spoken.

Rumor going around is that Schoeller Dynamic is less durable than other softshell fabrics ....maybe I read it here, can't remember...anyhow, anyone have this experience?

Matt, you should be taken to task for posting such an awful picture of dear chucK on the Internet!!

Got a good shake going on the overhead pipes here in the Paramount Theatre. Heard there was a 7.9 in Alaska a bit ago. Anyone else feel anything? It was pretty noticeable, and of course during a performance.

Complete bullshit. Cut it out. [ 11-02-2002, 05:46 PM: Message edited by: allison ]

This is a GREAT discussion!!!

....and if you ever get the chance, climb with this DavidW character. He's one of the most supportive and empathetic cats you could ever hope to share a rope with.

Nice, thanks for the tip. I've been looking for a sneaky trick to improve gas mileage!