Off_White

Clearly, being an asshole and a wiseass is not prohibited in Spray. If you have any doubts about your judgment with regards to what constitutes an acceptable level of offensive language, feel free to PM one of the moderators or administrators.

How much have you ridden Amtrak? The trains I've been on have been pretty full. My wife, who doesn't fly, travels to the east coast & back at least once a year. She's booking a trip right now, and the day she wants a Milwaukee to Seattle leg the train is full. All transportation is subsidized, and I think high speed rail is a viable alternative for a post air travel world, and a much more efficient use of fuel. I love those freight trains too, each one of those stacked container cars is one or two trucks that are not on the highway.

Seems like folks need a bit of a refresher course on conduct here. Offensive, abusive, misogynist insults will get you banned. It's all covered in the user agreement you signed onto when you registered here. I've just banned a user for 24 hours for using the term "flapping cunt" as an insult towards another user. If you can't comprehend why this is unacceptable, if this is all too PC for you, don't let the door hit your ass on the way out, we don't want you here. For your review, here is the code of conduct portion of the user agreement:

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Thumbs up for climbing content, nice set of vids Kev.

That's absolutely untrue in recent history, say the last 30 years or so. The thing that shocks everyone about terrorism is that a small number of people with unsophisticated weaponry can have a big impact that our billions and billions of dollars worth of high tech military widgetry cannot stop.

Looks familiar, like its been discussed before. I'm pretty sure that there is Yoder country, the bottom bits may be slimy? May have been on a different board though. It certainly looks to offer some entertainment value.

+1 for upgraded headlamps, you'll need 'em. Is that a synchro? I love the phrase "viscous coupling."

Yeah, it's a little worrisome that she pops in for the first time in four months and only posts in a thread entitled "mature relationships" and asks questions about using splints. I hope life is better than circumstantial evidence suggests!

What, the first one doesn't cut it, you don't think Tim Wilson has a cute butt?

If you start lauding and praising the Poles they're going to lose all motivation, and from there its a short slide to a Red Bull sponsorship.

Not only that, he edited out the misspelling without even leaving an "edited" footprint. What was his comment on the last misspelling he caught some one? Oh yeah, I believe the quote is, "Dumbass."

It's an uncredited retro rock song with a great dirty hammond organ riff, no commentary offered or needed...

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Friend of mine almost did something like that sleeping around a fire at a forced bivy - the back of his (borrowed) nylon rain coat puddled and ran and the old style pile jacket underneath developed a huge charred spot.

I hear the easter bunny isn't so fond of Sarah Palin either...

When have I said any different?

I've always liked that bumper sticker, "Born Right The First Time"

maybe it's because they spend half their time giving/getting head, but the buddhist monks I've met have all been pretty cool Well, and I've never met a neo-nazi who weighs in on the "okay kinda person" side of the scale, but being a pollyanna I'm gonna stick with "anything's possible."

Yeah, I noticed that too, however I do have an established protocol: "approach shoes on the sale table at my local bricks & mortar" Speaking of which, have you let your "cheap ropes" thread slide? I got my last two cords that way.

There is no subset of humanity that membership of precludes being an asshole.

I don't really have an opinion in this drama, but I like Bill's perspective. I do have a Mad Rock story to share: I bought a pair of their approach shoes on the sale table at my local bricks & mortar, The Alpine Experience in Olympia. This is my normal motif for buying shoes: what's on sale and feels good on my feet. These shoes (don't remember the model name, they're discontinued anyway) weren't flashy, no funny neon thingies, no big logo splashed all over, they were just comfy and functional. A year and a half later (already a pretty good period of time for shoes) I notice the beginning of a delamination at the heel, and looking closer, realize the sole is almost worn out; the dots are just about flush with the base of the sole and the rubber has worn thin. This isn't surprising given the age of the shoe, between working in the field as a general contractor, rural life as a sheep & goat rancher, and the usual climber out-and-about hiking & scrambling, it's pretty rare for a shoe to last beyond the one year mark. The remarkable bit is that the uppers are still in great shape - stitches aren't blown, lacing system intact (though it needs one new lace), heel tabs still there, not worn thin at the ball of the foot (my wide feet + bunion put a strain there), and no impending blowout at the upper & midsole seam. You all know the ways in which an approach tennie die. So, I emailed Mad Rock, mailed them the shoes, and they resoled them and shipped them back gratis. Looked like the resole work happened in LA, not Vietnam. It was great to get back what is now shaping up to be my favorite approach shoe ever, and consequently I've got a bit of a soft spot for Mad Rock. On the otherhand, I do appreciate that ClimbX talks about factory conditions and that this issue plays a role in their business decisions.

What Rudy said. I understand, this is about real issues, but being in the Climber's Board is sort of like being in your mom's living room, so lets all be adults.

I hear New Mexico is just full of low hanging fruit in terms of first ski descents.

Hah, I know what you mean. My wife and I listened to it on CD while driving across country, and you can't just skim over those bits when someone is carefully reading them aloud to you. The book certainly made the hot flat middle of the country much more bearable.