Off_White

NOHHH shit.... one of the biggest hypocracies of modern times. Yeah, how can anyone be AGAINST offing an innocent fetus and FOR frying someone who rapes and murders a 12-year old? Incredible! Definitely "one of the biggest hypocracies of modern times." Now, I'm not a believer, much less a theologian, but I would think that old testament bit about "Thou Shalt Not Kill" would seem pretty clear. Did I miss the part where it said "unless they deserve it" or "unless your secular ruler tells you to" or "unless they aren't in your clan" or any of the other loopholes people imagine they get to use? I think it pretty much means that any Christian (Jews too, right? Doesn't the old testament apply to them as well?) who supports the death penalty is an out and out hypocrite who for damn sure can't criticize anyone else about moral relativism.

The Yosemite Decimal System was actually developed at Tahquitz, so one could assert that the grades there are really the standard. I don't recall them being notably stiff or sandbagged, that was always the Joshua Tree 5.9, but it's been a long time since I was down there. I think the point is that even routes with seemingly moderate grades will be fun and exciting. You could do White Maidens Walkway at 5.1 or Ski Tracks (5.3 I think) and still have a hell of a good time.

If you've got more than one day, also consider Suicide, right across the valley. It's more about face climbing as opposed to Tahquitz's plethora of cracks. Serpentine, Sundance, New Generation, and Valhalla (in ascending order of difficulty) are all stellar multi-pitch outings.

Perhaps this will help staunch the flow?

A lot of those law enforcement fundraising things are actually scams, and the respective agencies net a very tiny percentage of the take. It's boiler room telemarketing, and the folks involved have nothing to do with law enforcement.

Yup, I am a parent, and I did think it was sort of funny. My kids thought it was funny too. It's funny precisely because it preys on a parent's worst fear, and as a modification applied to items in common use it has a long tradition. Sort of reminds me of that picture of a screw you could get to apply over the heart image on one of those "I heart chihuahuas" bumper stickers. Seems like most humor has something at it's core that someone finds offensive, it's just the way people are wired. It wouldn't be funny if everyone thought it was funny.

I rather enjoyed my visit to the Flesh Pits. I thought the bones and rawhide added a certain ambiance, and at least nothing was bloated and flyblown. Missed the condoms and graffiti though, as well as the rabbit plunkers. Random gunfire in a boulder warren would tend to negatively color my experience.

Yeah, what's the deal Merv? You make fun of sport climbers, but babies are off limits?

Wednesday is becoming my favorite day of the week.

Because I thought my line was pink, and I didn't want to get into some kind of pink and blue gender embarassment. Mine is definitely the, umm, err, red line. The angle of the photo Scott used, similar to the picture in the CAG, compresses the width of the face. The other photo is more like what you see on approach.

Here's a pic from Uncle Tricky in the Gallery, original supplied by Dru. Gato Negro on the right. Scott, UT wasn't sure about the line, does this look correct?

Listened to today while grouting tile and running trim: The Deathray Davies: Midnight at the Black Fingernail Polish Factory Moutain Goats: We Shall All Be Healed Raveonettes: Chain Gang Of Love Rocket From The Crypt: assorted stuff mashed together on a cd Ramones: Anthology

I don't think there are that many folks on this board who take bouldering that seriously. Distel is certainly your most likely candidate. I grew up in San Diego, so one of my criteria for great bouldering was something you could go to for an afternoon or after work. As I now live south of Olympia, there is no great bouldering. Well, actually, there is one very clean white granite erratic in front of the office at the Quality Rock quarry just west of Tenino. It would be available after hours, and has perhaps 8 problems on it. It took the two largest loaders at the pit working together to lift it a foot off the ground, so it's a fair size chunk of stone. Last time I asked, they didn't want to sell it. Bouldering has never really been a destination sport in my mind, so even if you spilled the beans about the treasures of the Okanogan I'd be unlikely to travel 6+ hours for it. Granted, I think there are more and more folks who feel differently, but it's more a diversion than a passion in my book. I can appreciate someone else's love of it though, so I won't slam you for the particular climbing niche that gets you psyched.

You need to post a link to your turd's TR of Cutthroat, that'll cinch the deal.

I think my two longest falls were held by a #10 hex and a 1/4" bolt. I double the comment about the finger through the hanger. Getting "de-gloved" is no laughing matter.

No, Caveman has not been banned in quite awhile, his limited presence here of late has been voluntary.

Yeah, that should help offset those 30,000 unregulated Mexican trucks they're letting in. But you're right, it sounds like a good thing.

Everybody has to believe in something. I believe I'll have another beer.

Repo Man quote. If you've never seen it, you really should.

Wasn't that a Fox special, "When Excercise Machines Attack!"

Enough with the tantrums everyone, go take a cold shower.

I think Libertarians are interesting because the defy the common wisdom of a scale that runs from Liberal to Conservative that everyone fits on somewhere. They're all over the map, and as such are a genuinely different party, not at all a fringe offshoot of either of the major parties.

I saw your title and assumed you were talking about Royal Robbins.

I've always liked the juxtaposition of a Grateful Dead sticker with an NRA emblem. Olympia has a fair number of gun toting hippies, so I've seen it on a number of different pickups.

Will, where in Capitol Reef is Classic Handcrack? Is that the obvious crack on the right side as you enter Grand Wash? Gorgeous place, but the few climbs I did had a dusty feel that made them seem a grade harder than they looked. Good, ummm, bouldering though. I guess I don't do a lot of repeats either, with the obvious exception of some of the routes in my front yard. Fortunately, they require a reasonably intricate choreography such that they stay enjoyable even with frequent repeats.