Off_White

So what's your solution? Drop a MOAB on the whole bunch and let God sort 'em out? Send Bruce Willis in to save them all? It only takes one pure hero, right? Right makes might, isn't that the Republican gospel according to St. McCain? What the fuck makes you see something partisan in this hideous event?

I don't see as how the media is "lying" but they are making choices in terminology. Do you think that by calling them "militants" or "hostage takers" the media is endorsing their actions? Even if you determine that the media has "lied" I don't see as how it has any effect on the body count, in sharp contrast to President Bush, whose outright lies have killed many many people.

better still is the hike on the other side of the valley. You take forest road 52, which crosses the nisqually and heads off to turn into the Skate Creek Road, an awesome shortcut to Packwood. There's a dirt road that turns off to the right and heads up the hill, the same little pocket range that includes High Rock Lookout. Check out some maps to get more detail. You'll take the trail past Pothole Lake, up the hill to Bertha Mae (wonderful lake) and continue on to Granite Lake (the best of the bunch), all of about 2.5 miles in from the trailhead. There's some awesome swimming with a sandy bottom (keep looking until you find this spot), great views, and few people. I've been up here when the sign was out declaring Paradise full, and seen no one. A great dayhike for minimum effort.

In Florida anyway, though RobBob may want to reconsider that barbeque party this weekend.

seeing as how you're a shaka emblemed donor, consider it done... ...even though John Wayne was a fag, as was J. Edgar Hoover.

Taholah? It's the center of the universe, on the west coast of Vancouver Island, roughly half way up.

In the Sobo "don't mind if I say so myself" vein I'll offer: Black Elvis Futility Bill Twenty Inches of Monkey

RBW, I thought that was only gay men

Not to mention that bowhunting is for pansy asses who were never weaned from their mommas. Real men use pocket knives, or maybe just their teeth.

No_Nodder? I think I'd prefer No Tea.

I always liked "Snotty Iain" even if it is only a 3rd class route on Mt. Hood.

Is that worse than posting oversized photos? Inquiring minds want to know....

I agree completely. I also appreciate the fact the Snowbyrd edited out her insensitive comment.

I think Snowbyrd's question about a helmet is worth asking. I freely admit that as an old fart who dates back to the era that anyone worth their salt wouldn't wear anything more than a bandana or a little Royal Robbins (before he had a clothing line) billed cap, I've been really lax about wearing a helmet outside the alpine arena. I've been intending to get better about wearing a helmet for leading rock routes, especially since I've heard tales from climbers I know having their bacon saved by their helmet, even on "safe" sport routes. Maybe if I get one of those sleek foam jobbies I can make the leap, since all I have now is the model so stylishly modelled by Snowbyrd. I'm long past the romantic stage where I think dying while climbing would be anything less than horrible. Oh, and I think this thread is about response to an accident, and I have no problem with dissecting the incident. Maybe it's just that the people involved both survived, but I think making this a "teaching moment" is not without value. There's no need to make the victims feel stupid about it, and it does sound like the belayer may well have saved the leader's life (kudos due), but there are things worth examining here, especially on a popular moderate route, perhaps even one of the best easy routes in the state. Also, stellar work by Chris and all others involved, you all .

An elderly lady phoned her telephone company to report that her telephone failed to ring when her friends called, and that on the few occasions when it did ring, her pet dog always moaned right before the phone rang. The repairman proceeded to the scene, curious to see this psychic dog... or the senile old lady. He climbed a nearby telephone pole, hooked his in his test set, and dialed the lady's house. The phone didn't ring right away, but then the dog moaned loudly and the telephone began to ring. Climbing down from the pole, the repairman found: 1: The dog was tied to the telephone system's ground wire with a steel chain and collar. 2: The wire connection to the ground rod was loose. 3: The dog was receiving 90 volts of signaling current when the phone number was called. 4: After a couple of such jolts, the dog would start moaning and then urinate on himself and the ground. 5: The wet ground would complete the circuit, thus causing the phone to ring. Which goes to show that some problems can be fixed by pissing and moaning.

What, you mean contingency plans to invade Iran don't count?

Hah, only great album the Cure ever made, though I was more partial to Grinding Halt.

You know I'm all pacificist and shit, I'm not likely to be slinging bricks at anyone, you're most welcome to remind me if I ever cross that line. Anyway, any mob bigger than a moshpit tends to make me anxious, so I avoid them, and I'm contrarian enough I won't do what the vocalist tells the audience, much less chant in unison with the masses.

Other peoples insults hardly make me go all weepy.

Somebody needs a visit from the fatty blunt fairy. Are you this violent and confrontational in person, or is this just some internet schtick? Wait, wait. I want to be there when you find out. Tickets $5 a pop. Too bad it would last about 1.2 seconds. And prove nothing about anyone's opinion. I don't doubt Gotterdamerung could beat me up or worse, but that doesn't make him right, and since the world is full of people with that capability, it doesn't make him special either. The posture does make it easy to dismiss the person behind it as an asshole though, and for me it completely undermines the value of their opinion. Fear is not the noblest of human emotions, and Ares was always Zeus' least favorite child.

Well, looks like somebody has too much time on their hands then! Just goes to show there's amusement to be had all over this board, even in the "who's online" section.

Yeah, come to think of it, there's two times you've gotta show id at the airport: at check in with the airline, then in the screening process with TSA. There must be some loophole though, since one of my employees lost his wallet while at a wedding in Sitka, and they did let him fly home. Maybe the return leg of a roundtrip ticket can get you a little slack?

It doesn't even matter if it's exactly true, that's hilarious. Squirrels are nasty things.

You've been here before, you know how it works. If you want to pat yourself on the back, don't be surprised when someone gives you a kick in the butt.

Peter Puget said: yes it was, and always a pleasure to see you PP!