Off_White

Thanks for the pics Chirp, totally inspiring. Griz, I went down Buckskin back in 1977, it was an awesome trip, practically hallucinogenic. Sounds like you've done that trip too? I suspect it's become a little more popular since then. I particularly liked the logs wedged sideways in the slots fifty feet overhead.

There's room to move as a fry cook

I think the first one is definitely yes. You've climbed the route, without falls, without weighting the rope, and placing all gear yourself. The second one I dunno, I've never given it much thought, since no one seems to give you many points for onsighting 5.10 I could be persuaded either way. The third one goes into the strange territory of sport climbing, which as I belive has been discussed around here before, has generally discarded the category of pink point, and considers a climb of a route with pre-placed draws to be a redpoint. Climbing one route to pre-place protection for another is not much different than rapping down and clipping draws, though I'd think it's more fun. In the big picture though, I think I just don't care. It might be a fun point to argue over a beer or six, but it doesn't have much impact on my life.

Everyone I know that chew admit it's nasty, but hell, jaw cancer is a personal choice and your chewing tobacco use won't give it to me. I could post a few pictures, but I'm thinking you'll thank me not to. I get my share of second hand smoke too, being fond of seeing live music. My friend's brother died of emphysema, not from smoking, but likely because he was a pit boss in Las Vegas forever and had a lifelong gambling obsession. You might as well be a smoker if you're spending 40 to 70 hours a week in those rooms. You wouldn't mind if I shoot my gun whenever I want, would you? I guarantee I'm not aiming at you, but hey, if you get in the way of a bullet, you didn't have to be there.

Spider Jerusalem

Some new studies suggest perhaps you shouldn't be quite so smug JJD. Also, be aware that Bseinfo.org is funded by the the beef industry. On the otherhand, other "foundations" out there that are more alarmist about BSE are funded by environmental organizations with an anti-cow agenda. Me, I just figure it for a good justification to eat more steak and less hamburger. UPI Story

The Center For Disease Control reports that in 2001 there were actually 2402 accidental gun deaths and 32,977 gun homicides (which does not include suicide, self-defense, or law enforcement). If you lump all gun related violence together you get 83,923. They also report 8,139 deaths due to adverse medical care, not 120,00. It's kind of a fascinating searchable database, and of course gun injuries is only part of it. Link

I had some friends start a sorority awhile back, they called it Phi Bita Dicka

I think you overreact Fairweather, J_B wasn't talking about Tele_Nut, I was the one who read the full interview and realized that Tele_Nut's job was within the scope of private security forces being discussed and asked him for his take on it. Fisk noted that some were yahoos and some were professionals, and I didn't think that the US ex-military types were the scary ones, but rather some of the others of other national origins. South Africans hired to be private security? That sounds like mercenary to me. Besides, the term is not necessarily a slur, it's just someone not directly involved in the conflict hired to serve on one side or the other. I also thought that the Fisk interview offered a rather more nuanced appreciation of the situation there, a different thing than the distant ignorance Tele_Nut said was his experience with US media reporting on the conflict in a country he had spent a lot of time.

j_b, that's a pretty interesting interview, well worth reading the whole thing. Fisk seems fairly even handed, acknowledging some of the infrastructure improvements in Iraq, and stating that some of the private security folks are on the up and up, some very secretive and sketchy, and that the large number of South Africans seem too young to be from the old apartheid regime (which contradicts the rumors).

Working on taxes and financial aid applications. but also a little climbing in the old front yard.

You mean the ones who create an additional lane by riding between the cars on the freeway?

Spelling it "ghey" is queer as a three dollar bill. Makes you sound like one of those gneiss people who hang out on boldering.com.

I'd always interpreted that line as "I'm Rick James' Bitch" but then again I've only encountered it online. Sheesh, I must be some kinda cultchural hillbilly.

Oh, is Fern talking to you again after all those rude things you said?

I don't much get called "young" these days, are you flirting with me? That said, I've been out to see music four times over the last couple weeks, and each time the bouncer has carded me. As in, pull the license out of the wallet and let him closely examine it. Maybe foonting keeps one young...

I couldn't agree more. Some may disparage the slab experience, but I love that stuff.

consider the book on tape/cd as an option for commuting distraction. check 'em out from the library, your property tax dollars at work.

I just use the admittedly unscientific "when worrying about it inhibits performance" measure.

I dunno Dru, Snargs were pretty good in their day. They seemed like a huge improvement over my old Salewa tube screws, and removed easier than a warthog. Still, I think Lowe's climbing has been more influential. I do think we're mixing our Lowes up, and some of that stuff came from George and some came from Jeff. We should just create a meta-personality by lumping those two together with the unrelated Alex Lowe, and then perhaps you could say Lowes are perhaps the most influential US climber.

What, you mean like a jam band? I don't think so. That should be a pretty damn good show.

Dru asked: I think the one on Bonanza has been repeated, I asked around here awhile back and got some feedback: Haireball said: Bonanza discussion I haven't heard of the one on Inspiration N Face being repeated, but if true that just might be due to lack of public exposure. A few more posts around here on the subject and they'll be lining up like cccommies on the Yocum.

Interesting angle, isn't that Three O'Clock Rock? Aerial photo?

I saw a great show in Portland last night (Sat 3/27) and would highly recommend it. It's all pop of one variety or another, but the combination was simply splendid, one of the best shows I've seen in quite awhile. The Deathray Davies - Guitar driven wall of sound with a propulsive rhythm section Dressy Bessy - Chunky stratocaster pop, think "Kinks" not "Beatles" The Starlight Mints - complex and layered, with a techno aftertaste, lightshow bonus points They're playing tonight in Seattle at Neumos, and tomorrow night in Vancouver at Richards, check it out.

Feel free to hate me nights too if it helps any.