billcoe

Semper Farcimus Bruther! Rough translation must be "Fail while F*d up, Brohter". Nice report Scott. I'm waiting for the full 6 book set.

Well, all this wrangling got the amount that the government spends down to $3.7555 trillion in federal spending in this fiscal year. http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/boehner-obama-deal-leaves-fy11-spending

Nice graphics. We can pay the bill now or pay the bill later. It's going to hurt more the longer we wait to get our finances in order. The politicians almost all want to shunt the issue off down the road and let our kids deal with it. Here's the Ron Paul take. http://www.infowars.com/the-nanny-state-cant-last/ "Ron Paul Infowars.com April 12, 2011 Last week, Congress and the administration refused to seriously consider the problem of government spending. Despite the fear-mongering, a government shutdown would not have been as bad as claimed. It is encouraging that some in Washington seem to be insisting on reduced spending, which is definitely a step in the right direction, but only one step. We have miles to go before we can even come close to a solution, and it will involve completely redefining the role of government in our lives and on the world stage. A compromise was struck at the last minute, but until Democrats agree to rein in entitlement spending, and Republicans back off the blank checks to the military industrial complex, it all amounts to political gamesmanship. Unfortunately, the compromises always seem to be just the opposite. Instead of the left agreeing to cut social spending and the right agreeing to cut military spending, the right agrees to more welfare and the left agrees to more warfare. In spite of all the rhetoric, we will go deeper in debt, the Fed will print more money, and the value of the dollar will continue to plummet. How long will it be before foreigners stop buying our debt, and hyperinflation arrives? Throughout history, empires have always overextended themselves through conquests and wealth transfers leading to eventual collapse, from the Roman Empire to the Soviet Union. We are headed in the same direction and it seems only the chaos of the collapse of the dollar will stop the spending spree. Arguing over funding for Planned Parenthood and NPR, though important, only shows that leadership in Washington either won’t face reality, or don’t understand how serious the problem is. Of course, an actual government collapse would create serious problems for many people who have come to depend on government payments for healthcare, retirement income, their children’s education, and even food and housing. However, these so-called entitlement programs are unconstitutional to begin with and have engendered a culture of dependence on wealth transfer payments that is out of control. It concerns me greatly that instead of dealing seriously with our situation, so many in Washington would rather allow the chaos that will ensue when all of the dependent people are suddenly cut off. Better to look reality squarely in the face and tell people the difficult truth that government is simply not capable of managing people’s lives from cradle to grave as was foolishly promised. We face trillions in deficits with any of the budgets under consideration. Keeping those promises is, sadly, just not one of our options in the long run. Better to admit the nanny state is coming to an end and we are no longer working on “compromises” but a transition – to a sustainable way of life, one that respects the constitution, the rule of law and property rights."

Nice catch Sobo, I boffed that one. It really looks like Bobs old Lowe pack too.

I think that I worked with some of those guys. Whats the story here? Steve McQueen just cruise though on a motorcycle?

I heard that you are suppose to insert a a or a when you are joking. Everyone knows that Jeff Lowe was one of the premier pack designers and Mfg in the world way back when. Better than anything, much better than some cheap assed VAude made in China crap. In fact my old climbing partner had that very pack. Even the same colour! I had an old beater ripped up Millet with very thin straps that cause excessive pain which I tried to ignore while I looked over at Bobs very cushy work of art everytime the going got tough: back when I was young. These days, as the picture indicates, Jeff is retired, in a wheelchair, and Lowe packs are not the shit, more like shit, and Grahams amazing Cilogear packs rules the big mountains and hardman routes. ie, times have changed. Got to go, the king is bringing over my old guidebooks I loaned him in @ 5 min! Woot! Going climbing Thursday boyz! Cya!

Turn to clean coal baby! Clean coal aka "Solid fuel" and Oil too!!! Woot! http://ec.europa.eu/energy/energy_policy/doc/factsheets/mix/mix_de_en.pdf

Contents revealed on ST: http://www.supertopo.com/climbers-forum/1465850/Contents-of-Jeff-Lowes-Pack-Revealed-after-20-years "On Saturday, April 2, 2011, Jeff opened the backpack and withdrew the contents one by one, along with a gritty sand like material…, which turned out to be oxidized aluminum. • 1 white Scott motorized goggles (a fan for defogging) • 1 Thermarest stuff sack • 6 Mazda AA alkaline batteries • 1 Vau De prototype jacket designed by Jeff Lowe • 1 Pair of wool socks • 1 carabiner • 1 small black stuff sack • 1 pair glove liners • 1 pair very thin/light glove liners • 1 medium blue stuff sack • 1 lithium battery dated 1/91 • 1 Black Diamond Red Lithium Battery Headlamp • 1 Medium sized food bag (pretty trashed, but one Mars Bar and one snickers bar remained intact) • 1 small black stove bag • 1 large pink stuff sack for pots • 1 hanging stove made by Jeff Lowe • 2 nested pots, oxidized through on one side • 1 potholder • 1 small purple plastic cup • 1 Ziploc bag • 1 fuel canister • 1 16 oz. white plastic Nalgene pee bottle • 1 small zip lock with small roll of TP intact • 1 compass • 1 silver insulated water bottle bag • 1 large purple stuff sack • 1 medium blue stuff sack • 1 pink and beige zippered side pocket • 1 small pouch with repair kit • 1 small clear plastic box with assorted safety pins (10+) • 1 small tube sun cream • 1 small film canister with a tissue and 3 pills - disintegrating • 1 glasses case with signature Jeff Lowe glasses, large, thick lenses with a Croakies attached to them • 1 small can of vitamin C tabs • 1 2” roll of medical tape • 1 cut off 8” metal mill bastard file • 1 extra ice pick (unattached) • 1 hammerhead (unattached) • 1 shovel head • 1 green HelSport one man bivy tent with poles • 1 black Vau De compression stuff sack • 1 pink and purple Vau De sleeping bag (still frozen) "

Please explain to me how the average desk jockey benefits from fishermen? So we have fresh sushi? Whatever - I don't see any difference between fishermen who push it in marginal weather with poor equipment and climbers or recreational boaters who do the same. That said -- It should be noted that one of the climbers was an F-16 pilot, so when he pressed the button he had the full attention of the military who responded in the same way they would have in Afghanistan or Iraq. C-130s and Pave Hawks aren't just sent out in marginal conditions for anymore. You've never opened a can of tuna fish? Whooh! F-16 pilot, call everyone. We have a shit load of scratch invested in the dude. Did you know that it is illegal for a GI to get a tattoo? Yeah, it damages government property and you can be charged and face military justice. No joke. Ask Sam. If you get a couple more of these pilots calling in, they will soon tell them: "NO MORE CLIMBING". THE END. Thats' how they roll.

Blah, big deal: don't think you're too good for the rest of us as he's only half black anyway. You could have voted for Hillary cause she'd be the first bi/gay woman President. I'd have given you some points. I figured that Obama got elected cause as a country we always go for whatever the last President didn't have. Obama is very smart.....and a great speaker too. Which is how we got Bill Clinton (twice) as well I suspect. I don't think Obama is getting the 2nd election win though. 1 term dude. That's Bush's fault of course. 1 term unless they hire the Bush election folks and they manipulate the votes like they did for Bush. Let me show you some software work. Why and how Bush got his 2nd term Ps, interesting that I heard (this comes from someone who got it from Bush, that Barak calls GWB every week or 2 to chat). To me, this indicates Obamas strength, his intellect. He can converse with an "arch-rival" and learn from the experience, not only converse, but call up and ask for info.

BINGO! Spot on the money what Kirk W says. Anyone who has climbed in the Alps will know that you are pretty much free to kill yourself anyway you want. That the Euros are already freer than US climbers should stick in the craw of any thinking American IMO. Should you find yourself FUBAR FUBAR defined over there without having made pre-arranged plans or lined up the readily available insurance (which you are free to do), then you'd better have friends or relatives or pay the price -because it's no ones concern otherwise. Have there not been examples of Swiss guides sitting in a hut drinking pilsners while climbers froze to death because they had not pre-arranged? I believe we should all support our local SAR (Search And Rescues), and that government can be of great assistance, but should be relegated to a communications only role. ie, a call goes into 911 (HELP) and they dial the correct SAR and other folks and followup with them for results and perhaps help co-ordinate media, additional emergency calls and volunteers: telling them what they know and directing them to the correct folks. If the gov. is going to fill this role, eventually we will have SAR just dry up and go away as they will not be needed, whereas I feel the reverse should occur. Should the guard - or down here the 304th Air Force, want to line up a training mission, they can ask local SAR orgs to call them if and when they are needed. I don't know anyone who would turn down that kind of help. I do know that they are looking for missions like this, my neighbor is a PJ who's helicopter rolled down Mt Hood on a climber pickup mission not that long ago. I've met most of those guys and they're all awesome dudes, I'm fine with them going on missions but I think it should be clearer that is a a secondary line and role for them, and clearly voluntary on both sides. I don't compare rescues of fishermen, who are in many ways economically forced to head out in marginal weather (plus the actual benefit that they provide to all of us), to climbers, who's endeavors are strictly optional and in many ways selfish. If the Coast Guard wants to rescue boaters fine by me. Historically anyone in the vicinity (even if that means a tanker turns out of it's way hundreds of miles), will go help a boat in need, even if it's just a pleasure craft. Whom ever has the capabilities and is close should go and assist. Naturally, this is my opinion only: certainly your results will vary based on your life's history and knowledge. This is how I see it.

The mans going to get you some healthcare for Gods sake Sam. Besides, he got us out of Iraq didn't he? What? He didn't? Well he wanted too. That's the thing. Good intentions. Just like agreeing to approving, in advance, the Bush tax cuts on the wealthy. They were set to expire Pat, they are no longer the Bush tax cuts, they are the Obama tax cuts for the wealthy, done with a full on demo congress and senate. What amazes me, is people who diss on the repubs thinking that they are somehow different than the dems. As I see it - all that shit Bush brought to the table: Obama is serving up second helpings on. Same-Same. Not different.

The government should stay out of the rescue business. If these guys had private insurance, I'd be fine with it. But they didn't, and so we all wind up paying, and looking at added government intrusions and restrictions for us all in the future. That is all.

Not as of last week as I detailed on another thread. All gone. It's primarily in a leveraged fund that shorts T-Bill yields on margin with the balance in commodities and TIPS (inflationary protected T-bills) funds. If interest rates, commodities and inflation goes up I'll do great. Interest rates drop and inflation stays low... I'll have to move into your basement. I don't recommend this high risk strategy for anyone else as my situation is unique. LOL. As I bet on inflation coming and the dollar dropping with almost every nickel I have, if I margin the rest into rental property and we see deflation or home values drop further.... eeek! Part of this craziness was caused by the exposure of both my wife and I having our retirements fully (ie, 100%) in the stock market, and my desire to try and achieve balance and response to the fear of the future I think I see approaching. As I know she won't rebalanced her stuff, I took mine off the table and overweighted it. If stocks go up (the Dow is @12400 now) from here, interest rates drop below the .25% currently and I get slammed, I'll be riding her coat tails. If I could get an additional income producing rental or 3 here or there to add to the 2 currently and inflation hits I'll be smoking big cigars and sipping expensive brandy. The reverse and house prices continue down ...ouch. I rolled the dice and am holding my breath. Any thoughts on the macro-economic swirl we are all looking at? Where's this country heading and what do we do to brace for it?

All this talk of inflation (which is almost non-existent at this time per gov't statistic). Anyone else thinking that the time to get some real estate with long term fixed loans lined up and dialed in? ...any thoughts on this subject?

It's why I like having your posts handy Jay. Too many idiots, perhaps the majority, in this corner of the site think that if you say something different than what they believe, all they have to do is start name calling and the conversation will end. It does end, but although they consider themselves the "winner", is not resolved, nor is anything learned. Only stupidity and childishness is exhibited. We do agree on plenty of things I'd suspect. BTW, I'm not calling you an extremist either:-) Thanks again

btw, everybody with half a brain can see that you are a liar, Bill. From the sequence of posts in this thread it is clear that I didn't attack anybody until your goon KKK came after me. I am onto your smear tactics. My kids stopped acting like this so long ago that I just don't know what to say to you jb. They all went off to college. 3rd grade was a long time ago, for them. I'm hoping for grandkids soon, then maybe I can relate to your butt hurt mindset. Till then, keep up the whining - ta ta.

If you ever got into private enterprise, I could see this being the jb bus. Somehow, all the rest of us grew out of name calling in elementary school. Truthfully, it shows that you have absolutely nothing of substance or intelligence that all you can do is toss out personal attacks, then when someone responds in kind act all butt hurt. The fact is that many if not most first and second generation immigrants do have not learn the deep ingrained sense of butt hurt entitlement which you feel you are owed jb. It doesn't make them wrong, they just bring with them a different perception.

Yes, for the rich, for everyone else, it's like you have a hole in your pocket and everything that falls out gets grabbed by the rich.

No, it means that you will get a regressive corporate shill no matter what you do. Predestined and preordained. At least the Obama tax cuts for the richest 1% will not be in jeopardy. It's one of those rare things jb and I agree on. I've been considering paying myself only capitol gains, and not salary so I can join the "Free Ride" party and stop getting fucked royally in the ass sans happy jelly. Have a nice day.

No need, we're about to blow up from the inside. "The federal government’s cash-flow situation was summed up pungently in Senate Budget Committee testimony by Erskine Bowles, who served as chief of staff to President Bill Clinton and is now the co-chair of President Barack Obama’s National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility. (See video below.) [video:youtube] “I'm really concerned,” Bowles told the committee last month. “I think we face the most predictable economic crisis in history. A lot of us sitting in this room didn't see this last crisis as it came upon us. But this one is really easy to see. The fiscal path we are on today is simply not sustainable. “This debt and these deficits that we are incurring on an annual basis are like a cancer and they are truly going to destroy this country from within unless we have the common sense to do something about it,” said Bowles. “I used to say that I got into this thing for my grandchildren,” Bowles said. “I have eight grandchildren under five years old. I'll have one more in a week. And my life is wonderful and it is wild. But this problem is going to happen long before my grandchildren grow up. “This problem is going to happen, like the former chairman of the Fed said, or the Moody's said, this is a problem we're going to have to face up,” he said. “It may be two years, you know, maybe a little less, maybe a little more. But if our bankers over there in Asia begin to believe that we're not going to be solid on our debt, that we're not going to be able to meet our obligations, just stop and think for a minute what happens if they just stop buying our debt. “What happens to interest rates?” asked Bowles. “And what happens to the U.S. economy? The markets will absolutely devastate us if we don't step up to this problem. The problem is real, the solutions are painful, and we have to act.” "The U.S. Treasury has released a final statement for the month of March that demonstrates that financial madness has gripped the federal government. During the month, according to the Treasury, the federal government grossed $194 billion in tax revenue and paid out $65.898 billion in tax refunds (including $62.011 to individuals and $3.887 to businesses) thus netting $128.179 billion in tax revenue for March. At the same, the Treasury paid out a total of $1.1187 trillion. When the $65.898 billion in tax refunds is deducted from that, the Treasury paid a net of $1.0528 trillion in federal expenses for March. That $1.0528 trillion in spending for March equaled 8.2 times the $128.179 in net federal tax revenue for the month. The lion’s share of this federal spending went to redeem Treasury securities that had matured during the month—most of which were short-term Treasury bills that have terms of one-year or less. In fact, during March the Treasury redeemed $705.3 billion in Treasury securities of which $623.9 billion were short-term bills with a term of one year or less. After the disbursements made to pay off the $705.3 billion in loans that came due in March, three of the other top four federal spending items for the month were entitlements programs. The other top item was payments to defense contractors. The Treasury paid $49.8 billion in Social Security benefits in March, $47.4 billion in Medicare benefits, and $22.575 billion in Medicaid benefits. It also paid $37.9 billion to defense contractors. To help pay off its $1.0528 trillion in monthly bills on only $128.179 in monthly tax revenue, the Treasury turned primarily to new borrowing. During the month, according to the Treasury statement, the government sold $786.5 billion in new securities. It also drew down its cash balance from $190.6 billion at the beginning of the month to $118.1 billion at the end of the month. It also reaped $18 billion from the sale of assets in the Troubled Asset Relief Program."

Really? Can we contribute to this fund using Paypal? Jus askin is all... it's obviously not his fault at all if he yells "FIRE" in a crowded Whitesnake concert and people are too stupid not to get trampled in the rush for the doors.....we all have our freedom of speech is all I'm sayin'..

TOTEM CAM APOLOGY Did you guys ever have one of your buddies tell you to go see a movie cause "IT WAS THE BEST MOVIE EVER MAN YOU JUST HAVE TO SEE IT!!!!!!111’ Later when you go see it you are disappointed. Had you just gone and seen it with no hype, you might have loved it, but instead you feel let down. In one respect I got pegged by that on the Totems and I owe these guys part of an overdue apology. See, hearing that they would be a safer/better (40 degree holding angle claimed) replacement for the offset Aliens on aid, I got the ‘BEST MOVIE EVER” riff layed out on my feet but for the Totem cams. My disappointment runs through out my rant up thread. But I had the opportunity to run mega high mileage long free climbing crack routes in Red Rocks and I totally have to pull my foot out of my mouth because it changed my view. (head out of ass syndrome). Sure they worked great in vertical cracks, but they really preformed well in some the strange features Germaine to Red rocks. In particular, flared horizontal seams and various solution pods. The grabbing and inserting Powderhound discusses above was quickly adapted to and we didn't notice them harder to place when running fast up long routes with these units. They didn't slow us down at all. Unlike the new DMM Dragons. We brought along some new DMM Dragons which surprisingly disappointed everyone. That's another rant I’ll save for later though. Would I buy a set of these if I didn’t have them. Yes, but as you all know, I’m a gear whore with more money than brains. Based on the higher price do they outperform the BD’s or Metolius cams enough to make it worthwhile...ummmm...well, maybe not, but I’m not giving mine up. I was too harsh on the Totems, and I apologize. As far as the recall, being for anodizing the full cam lobe, including the business end that touches the rock, these things were grabbing well when new, not slipping at all, and they are scuffed up enough that I'm not worried at all. In fact, plenty of other cams do anodize all or part of their lobes (ie Wild country Technical Friend picture below, Wild Country has been doing this for a long time and will be doing it to the new Helium cams as well) [img:center]http://images.buzzillions.com/images_products/01/82/wild-country-technical-friends-cams_615609_175.jpg[/img] and it's never been an issue. I think the Totem folks were suggesting that on marginal slick Limestone placements it could be an issue, and they should be commended, thanked and supported for their candor and commitment to excellence. It's certainly a welcome change from the Colorado Custom Hardware experience. Furthermore, to me, these cams do not appear as easy to get stuck as other cams. Someone noted that and pointed it out, and I believe it's true. Unfortunately, when your buddy Ujahn stuffs your #4 Camalot into that 3" placement on Epinephrine again, you still are screwed and will have to wrestle with it for 20 min to get it out cause Totem doesn't make anything close to that size. LOL Regards to all bill

I think anyone who can get up any route clean that has otherwise not gone clean before has an obligation to others to widely see that info disseminated. Furthermore, I'd like to see them indicate any crazy or less normal things that they had to do to achieve this goal (ie, brought a long stickclip, specially mfg or ground hooks, used large offset cams mandatory for 2 moves, Alien offsets needed, etc etc, so that others can follow. Especially at Smith, I'm with everyone here on the page that we should be clean climbing everywhere possible. If climbers thinks a route still goes on pins, they'll take them along and most likely use them. It's not quite as bad at Beacon although degradation occurs there too, but the Smith cracks get trashed fast. It was difficult to see the Great Roof crack still get bashed when it would go clean, but with the internet we can and should share that info. I'm not bagging on anyone cause the odd pin or 2 used here or there ain't going to ruin civilization (love the TR too BTW), just suggesting that we should all consider this as the way we should be....our protocol as it were. Regards to all!

Holy crap Radek, what's the story there?