billcoe

Fortunatly Arc, you have 100% ability to effect a positive change anytime your mentality wishs it to be. Ie - heal yourself.

Caveat: These blog pictures are not of final product…we change things a bit, this is more informational than exact. I want to give you an idea of how our design evolves, not provide production patterns. Images on this page may represent patent pending design. Pretty damn nice Graham. Very interesting read, A+ material. Thanks for sharing it. BUT: it really really sucks to see this clause at the START of so many paragraphs: "Caveat: These blog pictures are not of final product…we change things a bit, this is more informational than exact. I want to give you an idea of how our design evolves, not provide production patterns. Images on this page may represent patent pending design." Put that shit at the end or at the side will ya.

I'd better post some photos, I'd like to get something that really makes my penis bigger. Attempt 329 and counting.

Thought this was interesting: "FBI taps cell phone mic as eavesdropping tool Agency used novel surveillance technique on alleged Mafioso: activating his cell phone's microphone and then just listening. By Declan McCullagh and Anne Broache Staff Writer, CNET News.com Published: December 1, 2006, 2:20 PM PST Last modified: December 1, 2006, 6:35 PM PST Tell us what you think about this storyTalkBack E-mail this story to a friendE-mail View this story formatted for printingPrint Add to your del.icio.usdel.icio.us Digg this storyDigg this update The FBI appears to have begun using a novel form of electronic surveillance in criminal investigations: remotely activating a mobile phone's microphone and using it to eavesdrop on nearby conversations. The technique is called a "roving bug," and was approved by top U.S. Department of Justice officials for use against members of a New York organized crime family who were wary of conventional surveillance techniques such as tailing a suspect or wiretapping him. High Impact What's new: The FBI is apparently using a novel surveillance technique on alleged Mafioso: activating his cell phone's microphone and then just listening. Bottom line: While it appears this is the first use of the "roving bug" technique, it has been discussed in security circles for years. Nextel cell phones owned by two alleged mobsters, John Ardito and his attorney Peter Peluso, were used by the FBI to listen in on nearby conversations. The FBI views Ardito as one of the most powerful men in the Genovese family, a major part of the national Mafia. The surveillance technique came to light in an opinion published this week by U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan. He ruled that the "roving bug" was legal because federal wiretapping law is broad enough to permit eavesdropping even of conversations that take place near a suspect's cell phone. Kaplan's opinion said that the eavesdropping technique "functioned whether the phone was powered on or off." Some handsets can't be fully powered down without removing the battery; for instance, some Nokia models will wake up when turned off if an alarm is set. While the Genovese crime family prosecution appears to be the first time a remote-eavesdropping mechanism has been used in a criminal case, the technique has been discussed in security circles for years. The U.S. Commerce Department's security office warns that "a cellular telephone can be turned into a microphone and transmitter for the purpose of listening to conversations in the vicinity of the phone." An article in the Financial Times last year said mobile providers can "remotely install a piece of software on to any handset, without the owner's knowledge, which will activate the microphone even when its owner is not making a call." Nextel and Samsung handsets and the Motorola Razr are especially vulnerable to software downloads that activate their microphones, said James Atkinson, a counter-surveillance consultant who has worked closely with government agencies. "They can be remotely accessed and made to transmit room audio all the time," he said. "You can do that without having physical access to the phone." Because modern handsets are miniature computers, downloaded software could modify the usual interface that always displays when a call is in progress. The spyware could then place a call to the FBI and activate the microphone--all without the owner knowing it happened. (The FBI declined to comment on Friday.) "If a phone has in fact been modified to act as a bug, the only way to counteract that is to either have a bugsweeper follow you around 24-7, which is not practical, or to peel the battery off the phone," Atkinson said. Security-conscious corporate executives routinely remove the batteries from their cell phones, he added. FBI's physical bugs discovered The FBI's Joint Organized Crime Task Force, which includes members of the New York police department, had little luck with conventional surveillance of the Genovese family. They did have a confidential source who reported the suspects met at restaurants including Brunello Trattoria in New Rochelle, N.Y., which the FBI then bugged. But in July 2003, Ardito and his crew discovered bugs in three restaurants, and the FBI quietly removed the rest. Conversations recounted in FBI affidavits show the men were also highly suspicious of being tailed by police and avoided conversations on cell phones whenever possible. That led the FBI to resort to "roving bugs," first of Ardito's Nextel handset and then of Peluso's. U.S. District Judge Barbara Jones approved them in a series of orders in 2003 and 2004, and said she expected to "be advised of the locations" of the suspects when their conversations were recorded. Details of how the Nextel bugs worked are sketchy. Court documents, including an affidavit (p1) and (p2) prepared by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Kolodner in September 2003, refer to them as a "listening device placed in the cellular telephone." That phrase could refer to software or hardware. One private investigator interviewed by CNET News.com, Skipp Porteous of Sherlock Investigations in New York, said he believed the FBI planted a physical bug somewhere in the Nextel handset and did not remotely activate the microphone. "They had to have physical possession of the phone to do it," Porteous said. "There are several ways that they could have gotten physical possession. Then they monitored the bug from fairly near by." But other experts thought microphone activation is the more likely scenario, mostly because the battery in a tiny bug would not have lasted a year and because court documents say the bug works anywhere "within the United States"--in other words, outside the range of a nearby FBI agent armed with a radio receiver. In addition, a paranoid Mafioso likely would be suspicious of any ploy to get him to hand over a cell phone so a bug could be planted. And Kolodner's affidavit seeking a court order lists Ardito's phone number, his 15-digit International Mobile Subscriber Identifier, and lists Nextel Communications as the service provider, all of which would be unnecessary if a physical bug were being planted. A BBC article from 2004 reported that intelligence agencies routinely employ the remote-activiation method. "A mobile sitting on the desk of a politician or businessman can act as a powerful, undetectable bug," the article said, "enabling them to be activated at a later date to pick up sounds even when the receiver is down." For its part, Nextel said through spokesman Travis Sowders: "We're not aware of this investigation, and we weren't asked to participate." Other mobile providers were reluctant to talk about this kind of surveillance. Verizon Wireless said only that it "works closely with law enforcement and public safety officials. When presented with legally authorized orders, we assist law enforcement in every way possible." A Motorola representative said that "your best source in this case would be the FBI itself." Cingular, T-Mobile, and the CTIA trade association did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Mobsters: The surveillance vanguard This isn't the first time the federal government has pushed at the limits of electronic surveillance when investigating reputed mobsters. In one case involving Nicodemo S. Scarfo, the alleged mastermind of a loan shark operation in New Jersey, the FBI found itself thwarted when Scarfo used Pretty Good Privacy software (PGP) to encode confidential business data. So with a judge's approval, FBI agents repeatedly snuck into Scarfo's business to plant a keystroke logger and monitor its output. Like Ardito's lawyers, Scarfo's defense attorneys argued that the then-novel technique was not legal and that the information gleaned through it could not be used. Also like Ardito, Scarfo's lawyers lost when a judge ruled in January 2002 that the evidence was admissible. This week, Judge Kaplan in the southern district of New York concluded that the "roving bugs" were legally permitted to capture hundreds of hours of conversations because the FBI had obtained a court order and alternatives probably wouldn't work. The FBI's "applications made a sufficient case for electronic surveillance," Kaplan wrote. "They indicated that alternative methods of investigation either had failed or were unlikely to produce results, in part because the subjects deliberately avoided government surveillance." Now on News.com: * Microsoft's designs on Adobe's turf * Hits and misses in gadget sales * Photos: A kite to pull a cargo ship * Extra: Deal signed on .com domain's future * Video: CNET's recommended holiday MP3 player Bill Stollhans, president of the Private Investigators Association of Virginia, said such a technique would be legally reserved for police armed with court orders, not private investigators. There is "no law that would allow me as a private investigator to use that type of technique," he said. "That is exclusively for law enforcement. It is not allowable or not legal in the private sector. No client of mine can ask me to overhear telephone or strictly oral conversations." Surreptitious activation of built-in microphones by the FBI has been done before. A 2003 lawsuit revealed that the FBI was able to surreptitiously turn on the built-in microphones in automotive systems like General Motors' OnStar to snoop on passengers' conversations. When FBI agents remotely activated the system and were listening in, passengers in the vehicle could not tell that their conversations were being monitored. Malicious hackers have followed suit. A report last year said Spanish authorities had detained a man who write a Trojan horse that secretly activated a computer's video camera and forwarded him the recordings. " link to cnet story

Happy birthday John!

hmmmmmmmmmmmm

Nick, you missed it: some of the climbing was pretty good. No stuck ropes or issues on either Epi or Frogland. OK, I made a couple of old guy dude stupid mistakes. Like: 1) I wrongly assumed that the 2 young stud muffin lookin/AMGA guides that followed close behind us on the road into Epi would be flying up so fast we wouldn't see them again (I didn't want to slow them down) so I told them to go in front of us at the 1st pitch belay after we all basically free soloed the 5.5 pitch. Then we had to wait on them and crowd their belay every pitch which must have cost us 5-20 min each of the 15-17 or whatever the hell how many pitchs that is. BUT, they were great guys and good company, and once I realized Ujohn wasn't concerned cause we were clearly going to get back to the car with plenty of daylight: I was fine with it. (We passed them on the descent), and at the car, when they came in one of them was counting min and said "Under 10 and a half hours". On Frogland, we were first there, but I forgot the 9 skinny slings we had stacked to take in the hotel room (DOHHHH- major Homer Simpson moment). I led P1, and a couple came up and while waiting, must have commented on the bolt I'd clipped with a single biner @30 feet up to Ujahn, cause they loaned him like 3 or 4 slings. I figured that we could use just the cams as they all had slings. 2-1/2 hours on route for that one, but we ran some of the 8 pitches somewhat together, and Ujahn only got F*ed up and off route once:-).

Well shit I missed this! Teach me not to go climbing and miss out on gear specials.....hmmmm, that seems upside down. Point is: I'm back in town and wondering if 8-1/2 Acopa shoes are up there or what else. Ujohn has a new pair of Lasportiva tradmasters and they suck, so make that a pair of 9-1/2 Acopas for him too. I think I'd also like a 3 and 3-1/2 WC technical friend to balance out my big cam range but am a gear whore of the highest order so will pretty much just STFU and buy any interesting rock gear you have left. Didn't see anything on sale the web site: Talk to me gearhead. Tell me whats left and how much $ and I'm soooooo yours. Don't make me go fishing in Johns garage for his old castoffs now cause I think he sold out! Thanks Bill

Saw Denis Miller in Vegas years ago: his concern and take on the whole thing, he was suspicious that when you broke down Rushdies last name, you get... RUSH to DIE Whoooohhh there. Hot pics Oly. Hey now, he's either got a 6 figure bank account or a multiple digit digit......looks like he's getting the 67 virgins (or whatever that number is ) before he leaves earth, wonder what that tells the Islamic Fanatics? That dead Ayotollas can't play Whack a Mole worth a shit?

I think that the last oweners burned lots of helpful souls for no reason. Somebody bought the site from them, and this is a start of an attempt to fix the bugs. I wish them well.

John, your charity and helpfulness has set the bar high and been an inspration to all of us. I - for instance - am trying not to be such a selfish, self centered asshole (always getting on what I want to get on and sucking belays out of strangers). Feeling pretty good about it too. But I still don't want to climb with n00bs or people who haven't been outside for at least 2 years, so maybe I haven't moved too far really. Anyway, plenty of people owe you plenty of thanks. Don't change. Later: Bill

Rudy, sounds like he did better with the cold than I did. Nice pic of Wartleys too! Here's some perspective of this lil guys' size: Take lots of pics and video, it still shocks me how fast they grow and how quickly time flies.

Pics of Rumrs lil boy, knee high to a grasshopper, climbing (following for now) Wartleys last weekend. Bet that would impress the most hardened of you out there. Did me. Yup. You heard it here first. Cute lil fella: the next gen of CC.com sprayers has arrived: better brace yourselves. BTW, any good pics anybody has for anything would be good too. My camera is in Ujahns bag (hopefully), but I think I might have snapped a good one on Monkeys west face I can post later.

My son bought the extended Applecare warrenty for a used 40gb ipod he bought from a kid who got 2 for Christmas. We have been to the store and it has been replaced 7 times. We schedule an appoint on the computer, walk in 2 min in advance, the genius checks it out, trades ipods and we walk out with a new one. Shit is great for a 15-16 year old who wants to take the damn thing skateboarding and snowboarding. That being said, second son is an Apple fanatic, but I couldn't go for the big bucks for the Apple when #1 daughter moved to college, she got the $500 special. Toshiba rules. I have not forgiven Dell for the no lubrication small print ass-fuc*king we got when I bought the company server from them. Turns out they had fu*ked with it so we couldn't load our paid up viable Windows 2000 pro on the machine for an OS, and had to buy MS server 2003. Fuc* them. Never again. BTW, my buddy had a paid-for good copy of server 2003 so we skated around the $800 operating system fee or whatever the hell they wanted when I traded him a shotgun for the OS. The previous 2 Dells we had bought seemed to have funny little issues too. Fu*k Dell. HP makes awesome stuff too IMO for MS stuff.

Ummm (lusting thoughts) I had a buddy who ran a store in a low life area of town, and I was discussing this very topic with him once. He thought that the most important consideration is being able to access it quickly. When I thought about it I had to agree, and when I suggesed to him that he couldn't get to it quickly right then if a low life came in, he disagreed with me, when I reiterated my point he pulled up his shirt and showed me a pistol that he had been carrying the whole time we had been discussing this issue. He could have drawn it in a nano second (and he did practice this very thing). Furthermore, if someone had gotten the drop on him (a very high likely hood) them not being aware that he was a threat would also be critical to his survival. So, having faast access to it, but not letting others know. Like you, I've handled firearms my entire life, but I was shocked to say that when his shirt dropped boack over it, I had to strain to believe I could see a slight bulge, but I wasn't sure even then. It was some kind of small pistol, I'm thinking it might have been a 38, in a small holster - but it was damn small. I would get to a couple of the biggest gun stores in town and ask them to address your special needs. You prpbably don't need a Glock that has 18 or 20 rounds, you might need 3-5 shots in your worst case scenario? Big would be counterproductive in your case, unlike a police officer, where they want that intimadation factor to help them not have to pull it, and then when they do, to have the kind of firepower to walk away from a worst case scenario. Course many officers carry shotguns as well for that very thing. If hiding it isn't an issue, then you have less likly hod of taking down an innocent when that .45 cal round passes through some lowlifes chest, then through a wall and car window. : This is a nice and relatively small version, Mossberg. Pretty cheap too, I got mine for $160 bucks used. Course, there is always the fact that an unarmed couple of lowlifes can swarm you and thus become armed lowlifes. edited to add: Hmmmmmmm images didn't come through. Good luck turning around your recent events.

You kidding, this is better than all those Spokane threads! Swear to God it is.

Wow. After I'd read the great Jerzey Kosenski novel of post WW2 Poland, "the Painted Bird", I was having a discussion with a friend from Minn. of how bad people often treat others, especially strangers. He was adamant that stuff doesnt' happen, ever. I said I lived in a small town in Colorado as a pup and have seen it in this country with my very own eyes. Unfrigganbeliveable. At least most of us in the US have moved on and grown up, maybe the Borat film is a reminder to all of us that we in the US are not as all on the same page as we'd like to belive and imagine.

I saw the opening sequence on You Tube where he introduces what appears to be an 89 year old woman from Kazakstan as " dis my mother, she's 46", and then drives off in a car being pulled with a horse. It was freakin hilarious. Now I just read this: "Borat Repulsive Comedy Sells but Can We Afford the Price 2006-11-10 -- WDC Media News -- (AgapePress) - If a deeply-accented reporter from Kazakhstan approaches you and asks to film the two of you while you use your occupation to teach him about American culture -- run. You are about to get punk'd. Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan is the creation of edgy comedian Sacha Baron Cohen, who also is the man behind the character "Ali G." Borat's fan base consists of the kind of people who find funny immensely vulgar comedy which produces its laughs at the expense of often completely innocent people. Unfortunately, there are many such fans. Borat had such a gargantuan per-screen average in its opening week that Fox is more than tripling its number of screens in its second week of release. I am sure that Cohen would like nothing more than to be labeled a morally subversive envelope-pusher, and there is a side to his comedy which does force Americans to confront the worst in themselves. But self-evaluation can be achieved by more constructive means than mere debunking, and the movie is much more likely to pander to some college students' desire to watch a morally noxious film (while feeling superior to the mostly middle-class dupes that are Cohen's targets) than it is to turn them into the kind of reflective citizens who would want to repair this damaged world. At its worst, Borat desensitizes people to the very behaviors that need to be challenged (racism and religious bigotry, for example). Mirror The purported object of Borat's "humor" is to show, unmercifully, America to itself. The film begins in Borat's little Kazakhstan village populated by a materialistic competitive neighbor, an incestuous prostitute, a fondly-regarded village rapist, and a mechanic who moonlights as the town's abortionist. A village festival focuses on fearful anti-Semitism, culminating in children kicking and beating upon a "Jew egg" out of which a dangerous "Jew chick" will hatch if it is not first destroyed (Cohen expects a pass here because he is Jewish). Once we've all had a look at Borat's superstitious, racist, misogynistic culture, it is off to America, where Borat's journeys intend to demonstrate that all we find vile in Kazakhstan is plentiful in the United States. Immediately upon arrival Borat encounters New Yorkers who are violently fearful of strangers. Then Borat heads south where he finds people who are both racist and violently anti-homosexual. The most disturbing interactions occur right before Borat sings his own national anthem at a Salem, Virginia, rodeo to the tune of "The Star Spangled Banner." In discussing his country's treatment of homosexuals, which is to hang them, the American on camera suggests that this is what he'd like to see done to homosexuals here in America. When Borat tells a car salesman that he wants to purchase a car that will make women want to have sex with him, or when he asks a gun shop owner which type of gun is best for killing Jews, neither salesman misses a beat. They answer his questions without flinching or, as would have been proper, recoiling in disgust at the suggestion. Finally, Borat has to hitch a ride to California with a group of college students from the University of South Carolina, who proceed to get drunk with Borat, introduce him to pornography, and offer their opinions on the desirability of reinstituting the slave trade. The persuasive power of the film lies in the selectivity of the images and interviews. What the viewer never knows is how much footage was shot of people who would not take the bait, or who demonstrated appropriate outrage at Borat's cultural suggestions. Instead, viewers are left with the concocted, purposefully edited view of middle America as a place where the only power is the dollar, where people pine for an oppressive past, and where prejudice is universal. Debunker There is certainly a place for cultural critique in humor, but Borat's approach appeals to the lowest possible denominator. C.S. Lewis once argued that the easiest form of critique is debunking: the process of saying that something presented to you really just isn't so. It is simple because, despite professed cultural virtues, there are always plenty of exceptions available as fodder for criticism. All Cohen had to do to engage in debunking was look around, trick people into agreeing to be filmed by using guerilla tactics (including, according to some of the unwilling participants, outright deception), shoot a lot of film (after all, he would have to edit out any level-headed people), and find the folks that fit his predetermined assessment. Stitch them all together in the editing room, and Cohen has his movie. Americans claim a superior culture, but look at all the stupid Americans -- and don't you feel superior for being in on the joke? Debased and Desensitized Comedy serves a variety of functions. Sometimes it can be used redemptively -- as when humor arises from pride and the errors that follow on the road to the proud person recognizing his or her folly, and ultimately changing or making amends. Examples include films such as Bruce Almighty, Cars, and even Nacho Libre. While we may revile aspects of the main characters' lives, the final push in the film is toward morality, humility, and nobility. If we see a version of ourselves at the outset, these films find a way, through humor, to persuade us that we can be better people. Other times films serve to mock virtue, and the humor comes from flaunting morality and getting away with it. In such films, such as the American Pie series, and more recently My Super Ex-Girlfriend and John Tucker Must Die, the criterion for coolness is lots of partying and wide-ranging sexual escapades (the more immoral the better). Authority figures (parents, teachers, police officers, etc.) are buffoons whose only reason for existence in the film is so that the cool kids can cleverly avoid them. These kinds of films teach viewers that only chumps are chaste, and that morality is for suckers. But the kind of comedy Borat strains for is even worse. It belongs to the Pulp Fiction variety of humor. Pulp Fiction director, Quentin Tarantino, managed to get entire audiences to laugh at an accidental shooting in a car that took off the back of a man's head with graphic realism. Incessant exposure to extremist humor ultimately has a desensitizing effect on the viewer. In Borat the situations -- some of which are so vile and vulgar that I cannot begin to describe them in a family publication -- are just as likely to produce gasps in the audience as they are to evoke laughter. But the mixture is deadly to moral thinking. Borat fans come to wonder, "What's the big deal? Can't you take a joke?" To which Christians should respond, "Is nothing sacred?" Laughter is a wonderful gift, but if there is no place to draw the line, if there are no topics that deserve reverence, when everything is funny or able to be ignored in the pursuit of a gag, comedy can become morally damaging to its viewers. Proverbs 26:18-19 best sums up the destructive intent: "Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows and death, so is the man who deceives his neighbor, and says, 'Was I not joking?'" In addition to complicity in debasing the viewer, Cohen's stunts were costly, and in one instance, dangerous. Dharma Arthur, the producer tricked into putting Borat on a local newscast, claims in a recent edition of Newsweek that the stunt caused friction between her and her supervisor, resulting in her early release from employment with the station. Mike Psenicska, Borat's driving instructor, claimed in The Baltimore Sun that Cohen's stunts behind the wheel put other drivers in danger. One Odd Moment There is an odd moment late in the film in which Borat attends a Pentecostal revival meeting. While the camera lights on Christians in various expressions of religious fervor (running the aisles, dancing, speaking in tongues), when Borat goes forward to "receive Jesus" he seems oddly discomfited. He makes no wild jokes; he doesn't sucker-punch anyone. He simply tells them that he is headed to California to claim his bride (never hinting that his intended is Pamela Anderson). It is only at the end of the film, back in Kazakhstan, once there is plenty of geographical distance between Borat and the unsuspecting Christians, that Cohen drops the other shoe. Borat explains that since the village has now converted to Christianity, they no longer have "The Running of the Jews" through town. The camera immediately cuts to the replacement tradition -- crucifying a Jew while the neighborhood folks poke at the hanging man with pitchforks. Laughter was sparse in my Southern California screening, and not a few "boos" were heard. Nevertheless, it won't be enough to derail the film. Borat's a Hit -- So Graciously Hit Back There is no denying that Borat will be a towering financial success. In its opening weekend it had already rocketed into profitability, and shows no immediate signs of stopping. In a bizarre sort of way, its own success could kill a sequel. As more and more people, even those who will not see the film (and you shouldn't) are exposed to the media attention Borat is receiving, Cohen will not find people so readily able to be duped a second time. Everyone will be more wary if anyone comes along with a participant agreement that simply must be signed now ("You don't need to read it; it's just boilerplate"), which is a good thing. But what should our response be when someone asks if we have seen this "hilarious" new film? It would be easy to slip into self-righteousness, sniff, and say, ""I would never be seen at a film like that!" Instead, some questions might be more helpful, such as: "What parts of the film did you find funny?" Wait for a response, then add, "I heard that the movie depicts Jews as monsters, and that children kick a 'Jew egg' to keep it from hatching a 'Jew chick' -- was that funny? I also heard that a Jewish man is crucified and attacked with pitchforks -- did you laugh at that? Did you think it was funny that Borat tells the happy-go-lucky local rapist to cut back a little, or when he pointed to the area mechanic who uses his tools moonlighting as an abortionist? What about the gun shop clerk who advises Borat on the best caliber bullets with which to kill Jews? Was that a laugh riot?" Say it with a smile on your face, and make them defend their reaction to the film. Some may slink away from the conversation mumbling "killjoy," but don't be dismayed. You might have just performed a community service -- helping some people rediscover one of their suppressed, yet valuable, character traits: conscience." Link location: Borat review

OMG and I was going to go see it too..... Sh*t, ya just peed on my shoes.

Microjism is about to spend a fortune from it's warchest of stockpiled $$$$$$$$$ from it's monopolistic practices to toss an elbow into the music market. ipods rule that game, and in typical MS fashon they will keep tossing $$ until their players stop crashing when you play Beatles songs, and the format they have been supporting (play for sure) gets ported so that it will eventually work with a Zune player...maybe later, but not now anyway: but why not open source and non-restricted Mp3s like emusic.com e-music or Rockbox Rockbox for your player Discuss?

BTW Kev: I'm glad your post said there is nothing wrong with the spray part of sharing it. I think in your early posts, everyone, and I mean Everyone who read them thought that you thought that there was something wrong with sharing our climbs for the year, and that implied we should all just shut the Fu*k up because it bothered you for some reason. So you know, I voluntered at the VA hospital for 2 years in the 70’s. I sometimes felt bad, because I was doing it for the good feeling it gave me of helping others. That is, I was doing it for selfish reasons. Pretty strange eh? But the other side of the coin was that it really was a good thing at it’s core. Like the tick list thread that way, strange in that manner. No? I think a lot of life is that way. Stange. Strange and short too. Real short. So why get all worked up?

Kevbone asked: I will try and take a shot at this one. Apparently

Good advice up there. My best rap time was the 14 full length raps in 45 min off the Oasis with 2 ropes and 4 people as we were staring at the sun dropping over the edge and no one had a headlamp. Dohhh. One of the group timed it. Just too damn lazy and stupid to carry headlamps and extra ropes I suppose. What helped us was to strive for effecincies: no knots on the ends, everyone has a daisy and a locker (or use a sling girthed to the harness like we did. ) Nobody is just standing around. 1st guy zips down untangles and threads getting ready for the next rap, then IMPORTANT PART makes sure that each member gets clipped off properly as they come screaming down the lines. It's happening fast and that part is important. Last person down and the best people in position (not a single person btw) pull the rope. Speed and effeciancy matters. Nice you're preplanning it, 4 ropes and leapfrogging should speed it up for you.

Is it me or do others think Phil's post seems random, rude and uncalled for? ______________________________________________ Pink - hope the cheek is feeling better. Surprising that theres still loose rock there after all these years, but of course it is Smith. I almost killed Jim Anglin when our trailing rope pulled a flake at the top of the 3rd pitch belay on Zebra-Zion. It use to be my favorite route there, but I haven't done it since as it's so crowded underneath that thing any more. One of my best falling efforts was @ a lead fall 25-30 footer on an FA that looked to be total air but ended when both the rope tightened/piece held simutanious to my right ass-cheek smacking the only ledge @ 5 feet below my belayer. It made a curious bruise later that was an exact replica of an archery target, replete with alternating rings of purple and yellow that for some stange reason my wife found utterly hilarious and engaging. Thanks for the reports CBS et al, great pics Mark!

OMG!