Off_White

I got through the first paragraph and thought "this isn't TomTom writing, what is this, Whinehold Messner again?" No offense to your writing skills TT, it's just that obsessing over "directissimas" hasn't really been an american pasttime.

Posted at Kix' request: When a group of climbers decide to go to New Zealand to bolder, they learn that a major area is shut down temporarily. They decide to postpone, and head to Hueco Tanks, Texas for the first time in seven years. After rediscovering what makes Hueco the best bouldering in the US, they finally make it to New Zealand to climb at one of the most unique and magical areas in the world- climbing or otherwise- Castle Hill Basin. Best of the West and Big Game are playing as a double feature. Starring Chris Sharma, Nate Gold and Boone Speed, with guest appearances by Jason Kehl, GP Salvo, Ivan Greene, Anna Burgos, Bret Lowell, Steve Maisch, Tim Kemple, Cynthia Levinthal, Lauren Lee, Chris Tartaglia and many others. Seattle: Varsity Landmark Theater November 2, 8:00 $10 Portland: Hollywood Theater November 3, 8:00 $10 more info: mc@movementfilms.com

Rumur, Pope's just afraid, and rightly so, that we don't think about him all that often.

Was that you I saw sucking straight out of the taps at Lovefest on Friday night?

Timm@y should simply hack Dru's postcount number to the horizontal figure 8 infinity symbol and be done with it.

There, you see, thass a big prroblem in this country, activerest judges.

uh-oh, sounds like someone has plans!

That's just flat out bleak, I'm so sorry to hear of it.

Thank you, I've enjoyed your stories and our random Mt. Triumph meeting. No Smiffyfest for you? Have fun, don't forget to write.

Yes indeed, Foraker.

I'll say it before Fairweather does: redistricting is a dirty tool that both parties use. The recent Texas one was pretty notable, in that it achieved the goals of the party in power, but I'm sure a little research will turn up occasions when the Democrats gave the pendulum a good push in their direction somewhere or other. The problem is more the mechanics of redistricting itself, rather than the machinations of either party. DRUeling hounds, you know, two dogs fighting to exhaustion when neither will admit they could be wrong.

Rat's recommendation of Days of Future Passed is right on. If you're not climbing 5.10, you can yard on the bolt down low to get into the crack. I thought the climbing above was more like 5.8 than 5.6, but quite doable. I can't recall if the bolts on the last pitch are 1/4 or 3/8. It's a great way to get on top of the End Pinnacle. Don't miss the inner passage between a couple of the Rockfellows. I can't recall which passage, but I think it's one more chasm south of the End Pinnacle gap. Best done altered and in the dark, don't forget long pants for the horizontal squeeze chimney. Beware of Kerry's guide, word from those who know is that it's rife with errors and outright bullshit. If you do Beeline, bring some gear to remove the dastardly hanging midstation belay that was added in the middle of the charming fingercrack. That bit of public service would be widely applauded. Have fun, the Dragoons are an awesome range.

You're such a skeptic Sobo! Looks to me like she might have mistaken you for someone of Chinese extraction, and hence a possibly friendly face and easy first contact here. Doesn't look to me like she has anything to sell. She's likely not real familiar with your posts though, aren't you a middle aged married guy with Sobo being short for Soboleski or some such? Anyway, judging from her linked TR's, I'd guess mazegirl might be legit, so there's no reason to be anything but polite at this point. On the other hand, it's also possible that Chaps got bored and crafted a troll just for you using some poor bystander's postings on another public board to prop up a new avatar's pseudo legitimacy. If you have any questions, PM mazegirl on that other board.

Looks more like Mr. Layton to me, doesn't he favor that shade of chartreuse?

Use a file to sharpen one side and then you've got a sporkife!

Wayne speaks the truth.

I saw Frith years ago at Evergreen, it was very entertaining watching what he did to make all those noises. At one point he asked "Why is everybody laughing?" There was a huge disconnect between what it sounded like, and watching him thread kite thread between the strings and drop rubber bands all over the guitar. Mostly, it lay on a table rather than around his neck. Good mention Dru, he's certainly an uber guitar-nerd superhero.

I can't believe no one has mentioned Nigel Tufnel yet.

Right, that's why the name rings a bell. Did he do one of those west face howser routes with Galen Rowell, the one he wrote about in The Seventh Rifle? Bummer, sad to hear it.

I'll be out of town next week. Lights are mostly a joke, though a few folks have tried to stretch things out with headlamps as the days grow shorter. The evenings feel much more frenzied than those long slow June afternoons.

Fred Cole, Greg Sage, Link Wray

Heating is nothing, it's the cost of cooling the proposed geodesic glass dome during the summer on this south facing crag that's going to be the biggest operational expense. Yes, climbing was had last night.

Looks good

tick tick tick tick Seriously, I thought you could use a little diversion, since without your Mom on board it'll be tough to get anything to change in that situation. You could always add a little extra butter and salt to everything he eats, that's legal.