JoshK

Maybe you decked scot'mammut?

Well, hell, at least I get the only mention of climbing at *all* on the list of people who suck. BTW, what route do I climb every weekend? I can't even remember the last route that I repeated.

Flywheels are the answer. I'm still trying to get a job doing the research and development of them. Quick version: take a 25 or 50 lb carbon fiber/epoxy flywheel, suspend it on magnets in a vacuum, wrap wires around the outside to get energy in and out of the system. Spin it up to around 100,000 RPM (doesn't take too long, I think well under an hour, maybe only 10 minutes.) That's your energy storage device. Use that energy to power electric motors. Not only does it get the range of a normal car, but it provides an insane amount of horsepower. Oh wait, I wasn't supposed to be talking about alternative fuels, huh? OK, this sounds very interesting. Can you point me to where I could read more about this?

Ahh...how many people is "we"?

And what about those who drive on MY roads that I paid MORE for then THEM? THat's not fair now is it. Your theory falls apart in so many ways it's funny that you can actually spew this shit and not laugh at yourself.

So, oh so wise mtngoat, since you are against forced spending for military, education, roads, social services, law enforcement, etc. please tell me what role the governemnt *should* have?

So, mtngoat, do you actually think we'd have a military if we had to pay for all of that shit out of the generosity of our own pockets? Again, there is a system of government that works exactly as you describe, it's call ANARCHY.

Dude, please do not play the Republican game of "if you don't like America, move to ________". America is s'posed to be a place where you can complain about stuff, do something about it if you care to, and try to live how you wanna. Telling people that they can leave if they don't like it is . BURN MORE SUVs! Hey, I'm simply point out that a place exactly like mtngoat want's already exists. Hell, if my dream country existed, I would move there.

I chose to not pay for our military, you jackass. SHould I have that right too? Are you a hermit? Where did you come up with this whacky ass view of how government should work. I will extend my same offer to you that I did to muffy; move to africa. You get exactly what you pay for there, and nobody is going to force you to pay *any* taxes. Of course, get ready to pay to protect yourself.

MtnGoat, this tired old argument is going to get nowhere. How many times do I have to point out we don't have a charity based government? You may not want to admit it, but the government is there to collect taxes from *everybody*. I suppose I shouldn't be paying taxes for education either, huh, since i don't have children in school? How far do you want to drag this tired argument of yours? Let me guess, you are going to reply by quoting me sentence for sentence and responding to each point in turn.

But, rob, in reality, it will actually be *easier* for us SUV haters. The yuppies that drive the things for the image won't be caught dead in a hydrogen or diesel vehicle. Thing escalade...they want the bling bling rims and the big ass amurikan V8!

I had the same understanding as iain. I think the biodesiel is already more refined than straight up mcdonals waste. Wait a minute, since when is everything at mcdonals *not* waste?!

Huh? Any diesel engine will burn biodiesel and I just learned over the weekend that its readily available here in Portland. Hell, I can have a 55 gallon drum delivered right to my house! I'm looking into fueling our Passat that way. So why is it you can't upgrade? Yup! There is a place in seattle that sells it now too. The point was a vehicle I want. word has in that the 'o4 passat will be availble with the new PD diesel engines and AWD!

Charlie, I get about 25 or so on the highway, which is where I drive it. I take the bus to work, and use the audi for my trips on weekends. I would be MORE than happy to pay a big fat tax as well. I don't expect to get out of anything that others have to pay. I look forward to being able to upgrade to a reasonably sized vehicle burning biodesiel or using a fuel cell. Unfortunatley the motivation is very little for the auto makers in today's market.

Very optimistic of you muffy. I would argue it's you that's an idiot, but that wouldn't get us anywhere, no would it? You are right, I should stop depending on the government to provide me with roads shouldn't I? I suppose I should simply band up with my neighbors to build a militia rather than relying on the police or the military huh? And the FDA isn't a good idea, clearly I should simply test all food and drugs for safety on my own. God you are clueless. Please tell me somebody doesn't actually pay you to do anything.

rr666 sums it up perfectly. I agree that we can't force people to not drive SUVs. I just want to see them taxes appropriately and forced to comply with reasonable standards like cars do. The loopholes are bullshit.

What happened to the indians happened a long while ago. It was a travesty. So was slavery. I suppose you are going to argue that the people of this country (and thus the government that represents them) hasn't changed in the past 200 years? Keep trying, it's funny.

Nelson has it written up in selected climbs II. He called it the cauthorn/wilson route. Looks neat, tho from the pics I've seen of it, it's never looked like WI5 to me. More like easy 4, but pics can be very decieving, so i'd love to hear from anybody that's done the route. I'm very interested in it. I know jens and loren went up to the base of it last year but turned around do to death cornices and wet ice and the like.

Their vehicles fit in several loopholes. They have to meet less stringent fuel economy requirements, emmisions standards, crash standards, safety standards, etc. etc. etc. Do some research. As for your second comment, I disagree. Taxing shit like this to help the general public I am all for. I'd love to see a $1 a gallon gas tax to *really* get people in alternative energy vehicles. I belivee we need to make some sacrifices to help this planet which we have already shit on, and unfortunately most people out there are too selfish to do this on their own. I am all for having the government "persuade" them to. YOU FIRST...how about you give away everything you own quit your job and go live on the street. when are you going to learn that the government progrmas that are out there DON"T WORK, not well at any rate. the more we "trust" the government to take carew of us and the business of living and beeing the less personal power we have. Look at it from this prespective... how did the governmenbt do in "taking care" of the indians? do you realy want those same ideas and practices perpitrated all over our society? You want less government, Muffy? Go move somewhere in Africa. It's every man and woman for themselves there.

because all of your energy is focused on what OTHERS are doing Yes, I would like to see this world improved for EVERYBODY, not just me. That means no saddam hussein, no george bush, and less use of fossil fuels and tearing down of rain forests? What the fuck is your point? Are you advocating we all just live according to our best interests and fuck everybody else? Whatever, muffy.

Their vehicles fit in several loopholes. They have to meet less stringent fuel economy requirements, emmisions standards, crash standards, safety standards, etc. etc. etc. Do some research. As for your second comment, I disagree. Taxing shit like this to help the general public I am all for. I'd love to see a $1 a gallon gas tax to *really* get people in alternative energy vehicles. I belivee we need to make some sacrifices to help this planet which we have already shit on, and unfortunately most people out there are too selfish to do this on their own. I am all for having the government "persuade" them to.

In your specific case, no, because I could really care less about 4 runners and stuff. They have existed for a while. Teh pandemic of the suburban/yukon/edpidition that exploded in the late 90s is the real problem. To answe the more general question, yes, I would be stereotyping, and considering it is correct 90% of the time, I would just have to live with the fact that I am wrong the other 10% of the time. Those out there like you will know who they are, and realize the message isn't too them. It's the rest of the people trying to keep up with the jones that I would like to see get a clue.

Huh!? How the hell did I prove your point?

Rob, I don't think anybody would have a problem with your ownership of said vehicle for it's purposes. To add new life to this already god-awful thread, I pose this question. If SUVs were taxed more according to their above normal usage of fuel, road wear and danger to other vechiles, thus making the cost of ownership more in line with the cost to society as a whole, would SUV owners object? Yes, this would mean more cost to people who actually use them, but it would hopefully discourage joe and jan suburbia from community around in a tank. Thoughts?

Muffy, your point might hold water if it weren't for the fact that this war was prosecuted for the self-serving reasons of our president and his chronies. If you are dumb enough to think it's for the betterment of the iraqi people, I have some waterfront in arizona I'd set you up with for a reasonable price. In fact, interestingly enough, the same people who push SUVs (the auto industry) are lining the pockets of the republican party just as is the pro-war oil industry. Feel free to look up campaign contrubitions or do a little research on the matter.