Off_White

Thanks for the review link Dru. I particularly liked the quoted line from the book: "The climbing tribe, according to Coffey, ‘deeply mourns its dead’." This of course is in contrast to everyone else on the planet?

Yeah, Off, what's with your boss? Fuck that guy, get with your fellow employees and demand a retirement plan from the business owner...oh, wait, you work for yourself...Bwahahahahahaha!!!!! Buy savings bonds... Hey, I do have $1400 in an IRA, does that count? Actually, my strategy involves local residential real estate, so I hope to not wind up too dependent on the kindness of strangers. I suppose being a slumlord and real estate speculator is no more ethical than investing in GloboChem. As for the lottery, I've always thought of it as a tax on people who aren't too good at math.

Actually, Juan there gets about $.04 per pound for his raw beans, though the prices fluctuate wildly.

I may be liberal, but I'm also working class. No stocks, mutual funds, 401k etc. Couldn't tell you what my wife's retirement is in, she's with Washington State under Pers II and I haven't a clue what they invest in. I'm not that pure about things anyway. Oh, I bought gas from an Exxon station the other day, I didn't flinch. They're the only station in my small town, and I'd just as soon see them stay open.

What is this, Resurrection Flashback Spray Week? C'mon, call in folks and re-post your favorite spray threads of all time. Here at station KCCC, it's all Classic Rock drivel all the time.

Yes, there are relatively few common things more disgusting than a fat tick. I had one behind my ear once.

Birthday: 4/1

I think you mean "gum the rope"

SO = significant other ISO = insignificant other

I lost my deposit on a rental house once for reinforcing the head casing with some 8d nails trying to avoid just such a thing. Sheesh, I was just trying to be thoughful.

Damn! That's one of those things I've always worried about too, though I'd never heard of it happening before.

Lummox said:

Well, that would cut down on the weekend use of a lot of N. Cascades and trim the hordes on Rainier, might just have to train those goats to pack.

In space, no one can hear you scream.

yeah, I liked that sun showing on a walk in the woods.

Hmm, good point about E Butt El Cap, it is still March, isn't it? Middle Cathedral descent gully would suck if it was full of snow. Aaron, I suggested the long routes specifically because they are one of the things that stand out about Yosemite. There is good cragging all over the country, but few enough places that can offer the kind of long consistent quality routes you can find down there. Of course, there is some stellar bouldering in Yosemite....

So Doc, which of the four potential projects you posted have you sent? Which are you most likely to be able to send in the future? You've got a day to kill, which are you most likely to get on? If time, money, ability, and inclination are no object, I assure you, it all tastes like chicken.

Ummm, maybe you need to work more? Really, I suppose it depends on what your level of obsession has been lately. There is more to life than climbing, so maybe you just need to attend to some of the other things that make your heart sing.

Dustin, I knew I could count on you to weigh in and alleviate Greg's anxiety. Thanks!

You're a sharp guy Greg, no doubt you got the allusion to the fact that Bush the lesser was appointed, not elected. Hey, just noticed your new title. Are you sure you didn't mean #1 Stalker?

Camp 4, aka Sunnyside, is the logical place to both sleep and locate partners. There are various dirtbag/free/illegal camping strategies, but they may not be ideal if you're looking to cultivate social contacts and possible partners. There is a bulletin board, but trolling the campsites may work just as well. I'd recommend you look at some of the moderate grade IV's as ideal outings: E Butt Middle Cathedral or NE Butt Higher Cathedral as shady side routes, E Butt El Cap or Serenity Crack/Sons Of Yesterday for sunnier side routes. I think any one of those routes would make for a satisfying quick trip.

That thing would be just the ticket for commuting from Ballard to Wallingford.

Sisu never has never been a prolific poster, and of late he's become very disenchanted with Bush. I think that's as powerful an indictment of the man as anything else posted on the board. I haven't noted any particular changes in Greg, unless the outing of his passion for clogs has changed your perception of him. Out of the right wing contingent, I miss Mtn Goat and Fairweather (though FW did just pop in the other day), and it's too bad Caveman doesn't much talk politics anymore. At the same time, I've been largely absent from politcal debate lately too, just too damn much work going on (thankfully) to spend time crafting arguments.

The desire for revenge is understandable, and I can easily imagine any number of scenarios where I could be consumed by it, but in no way does that make it a noble response or exemplify the best of what makes us human. I believe that your presence in the situations you describe is largely voluntary, something you've sought out for your own reasons that have little to do with empathetic humanitarian impulses. As such, your opinion carries no more weight than anyone who hasn't lived through it. Most of the people you are ostensibly wringing your hands over have had no choice in the matter.

I think Distel is just trying to do his part to alleviate Greg_W's distress over excessive un-rebutable Bush bashing by generating some spray on other topics. Good work, and have a great trip.