catbirdseat

We are led to believe by our government that the terrorists want only to destroy us and our way of life. They may wish this, but it is not their primary goal. Al Qaida has been pretty clear on what they want from us: 1) US out of Saudi Arabia, the Holy Land home of Mecca and Medina 2) US out of Iraq and Afghanistan and all other muslim countries. 3) US to stop supporting the Israelis at the expense of the Palastinians 4) Overthrow of the Saudi Monarchy, which they see as being propped up by the US. What they want for themselves is a Pan Arab single state under a single government ruled by Islamic Law (Sharia). These people are Wahabbites. They don't really care so much about the primarily Shiite countries, such as Iran. In fact they have shown a willingness to shed Shiite blood as in Kandahar. The question is both can we and should we accomodate them. What can we do that is both in our own interest as well as removing that which fuels Al Qaida? We can stop writing a blank check to Isreal. We can insist that they remove all settlements from the occupied territories. Why don't we? Because there are many powerful jews in this country who believe for religious reasons that it is Israel's destiny to acquire all of Palastine, without regard for others who may have lived there for 1000 years. We can pull out of Saudi Arabia and we are doing this, albeit slowly. Where would we put out forward bases? That's a toughie, but right now Iraq is preferable to Saudi Arabia. Can we get out of Afghanistan? Maybe, once we have killed or captured Bin Laden and Sheik Omar. The key to success there is the Pakistani army, and building up the new Afghan army. Can we replace the monarchy? It is unlikely. The monarchy and the fanatical mullahs feed one another, need one another. I'll leave that for others to argue over.

Two very nice trip reports. People only dislike writing because they think they are no good at it, or because it forces them to come to grips with their feelings, but you are good at it. From the descriptions of the snow conditions it didn't sound as though anyone, no matter how strong, was going to get to the summit via GB that day. The day we did it last Feb. it took us two and a half hours just to get on the ledges, but we didn't have thigh deep snow when we got there (in fact it was 8 AM). This was because the wind had been out of the NE rather than the NW. Even had you succeeded in reaching and traversing the ledges, you might well have been avalanched on the exit chute. People have died there. There is no shame when the mountain turns you back. Still you might have gone a little further just for the sake of checking out the route. You aren't all that committed until you approach that exit chute.

No doubt about it. The terrorists scored a huge victory. They will be greatly encouraged to commit additional acts in countries such as Poland, Italy and Great Britain.

They are all end runs around FDA regulations. They can tell you to "see your doctor" for a specific illness and they can talk about a specific drug, but they cannot tell you to take a specific drug for a specific illness. It's wacky.

That's cold, man, cold.

So you carried a "Standard Rack" plus pins? More or less?

"When all else fails, read the directions". In other words, follow the harness manufacturer's recommendations.

I agree. It seemed harder than Seven Virgins and a Mule, 5.7. Those two routes need to swap ratings.

Eric, have you scored a new bike yet? Anybody got an unused bike they want to get rid of? I'll volunteer to take it up to him.

I don't think that Eric is laughing. According to State driving law, if you are caught driving while suspended you are subject to arrest and your vehicle may be impounded.

Bummer man. That's pretty serious what they got you on.

Professor Klenke has his Ph.D. from Schwack University. He postdoc'd with the famous Dr. Stefan of the Krumholtz Institute. He is currently Guest Lecturer at the Bush Academy.

Dru is talking about Decimus Brutus.

English translation: "Does any one know how Probable Cause works and whether it applies to driving? More specifically, can one be pulled over if he is not breaking the law? "

Without looking them up, which is more correct? Farther or Further Farthermost or Furthermost Farthermore or Furthermore Thaw or Unthaw

That was certainly disturbing.

There is an entire detailed thread on it here .

Who's going to pull the bodies out of the camp fire?

Climb: Castle and Pinnacle Peaks-South Face Date of Climb: 3/13/2004 Trip Report: JGowans, matthew and I drove down from Seattle and arrived just after the gate opened at 8 am. After a fair amount of fiddlefarting around at the Narada Falls parking lot we were off at 9 am. The snow was hard enough that we carried our snowshoes, but half way up the slope we started postholing and had to put them on. Walked Stevens Creek road to Reflection Lakes and caught up with a couple of older gentlemen who were out to climb The Castle. They asked us to kick a good set of steps up the snow slope for them. They weren't quite as fast as we, but made pretty good time. We reached the Saddle at 10:45 am and left some of our gear there. We did a level traverse on soft snow across the south face of Castle and turned up a gully and onto some 4th class rocks for about a pitch and onto the slopes of the east face where the two older gents had caught up to us by taking the more direct route. The five of us chatted a bit on the summit. Of of the guys was climbing with one lung and a heart condition. He told me he had 55 years of climbing experience. His partner Steve told me that he had been on the FWA party of Pinnacle with Ed Cooper. He said that Ed was the ropegun that day on the East Ridge. It was really cool meeting these guys. They were inspiring. We downclimbed the 25 ft or so down to the snow and decided to traverse the snow slopes of the North Face to get back to the saddle (to avoid the postholing on the south side). After a break at the saddle for lunch we traversed the south face of Pinnacle to a sort of gully where we turned up and onto a short section of fourth class rock. At the top of this we found a small tree with red slings around it. We continued up easy snow to the summit which we reached at 2 pm. I belayed my partners half a rope length down from the tree and then rappelled myself. We were back to the car by 4 pm. Beers at Copper Creek Inn by 5 pm. Home for last supper. Gear Notes: Don't need a rope for Castle, you are confident at downclimbing. Most would want a rope to descend from Pinnacle. Brought crampons, but didn't really need them. Brought a picket and fluke- used the fluke once below the gully on Pinnacle. Brought a small rock rack, but didn't need it. Approach Notes: Need snowshoes or skis for the hike out on the road.

Post deleted by mattp

I was doing my ironing, if you must know.

Most likely April 15.

Oh, oh, I detect partner problems...

There's a line up of nuns for confessional. The priest asks the first nun Sister Karen what she has to confess, to which Sister Karen replies, "Forgive me father for I have sinned, I touched a man's penis with me finger." "Well then, I am sure it must have happened in a crowded elevator, sister", said the priest". "Ah, yes, father, it was something like that, just the tip of me finger". The priest says, "Okay, dip the tip of your finger in the Holy Water, and say ten Hail Marys, and you will be forgiven. " The next nun is a little reluctant but declares, "Forgive me father for I have sinned, I fondled and stroked a man's penis with me 'and." The priest says, "Surely the man must have been injured by his fly zipper and had come to you for care". "Ay, it was something like that", says the nun. "Okay, dip your hand in the holy water and say 100 hail Mary's and you will be forgiven." All of a sudden there is a lot of commotion in the line of nuns. One nun is pushing her way to the front of the line. When she reaches the front of the line the priest comes out and says "Sister, Sister what seems to be the rush??? " The nun replies, "If I'm going to have to gargle that Holy Water, I want to go before Sister Mary sticks her arse in it!!! "