dryad

CBS brought this thread to my attention and suggested I weigh in.

Yup, I took 6 months off to travel in 2004. My job offered me a leave of absence but couldn't promise to hold my position for when I got back, and sure enough, they didn't. But since I was technically still employed while on leave, and got laid off when I got back, I didn't have a huge gap in my resume and collected unemployment when I got back. Better deal than if I had just quit, which I was willing to do anyway. I can't say I was heartbroken about losing that job. After a somewhat depressingly long period of unemployment, I went on to get a much better job in Boston at almost 2x the salary, way more time off (5 weeks/yr when you add up vacation, personal days, and company Xmas closure), better job security, less stress, and all that good stuff. And to top it off, after moving I was able to reconnect with an old friend who has since moved in with me and last night baked me a pie. I can't promise that you too will meet a wonderful pie-baking man upon your return, but taking time off to travel was a great experience and I have absolutely no regrets. Go do it!

Rumor has it that the plot involved Coca Cola and Pop Rocks.

Just went ice climbing for a couple days for the first time and I may be hooked. Looking for recommendations for some tools for someone with really small girlie hands. This would be for waterfall ice in New England, not glaciers, not any general slogging. I was using Aztars and they were pretty comfy to hold, but I think I might want something more curvy than that. Also considering leashless. Similarly, I'm also looking for crampon recommendation for little girlie feet, although that may be less of an issue. Thanks!

Personally, I can't wait to see it, but I'll probably be disappointed that the hot gay cowboy sex isn't explicit enough. There, I posted. You happy now?

Figures you wait for me to move to the opposite side of the country to do this trip. Wish I could have been there.

Isopropanol is completely harmless. Rub it on your hands as much as you want to get the sweat and oils off. The only downside is that it tends to dry out your skin so wash your hands and moisturize after climbing to prevent cracked bleeding cuticles and other such unpleasantness.

That's catbird's back hair

ditto

Hmmmm....interesting. If Invernos are supposed to be better than Asolos, and rbw1966 doesn't like Invernos either, then what other boot would be better than Invernos? In other words, what plastic boot is best for walking in? BTW, please don't tell me that all plastics suck and I should get leathers. I already have leather boots and I specifically want plastics to keep my feet warm.

I'll be arriving whenever my designated driver comes to pick me up. CBS?

These are mountaineering boots I'm talking about.

Yesterday I went for a hike in the snow to test out my new plastic boots and I found that when walking downhill my shins were banging on the tongue of the boots and it really hurt. Is this a fit problem with the boots, or is it just the nature of plastic boots and I have to learn how to walk in them better? Did I have the ankle strap cinched down too tight? Not tight enough? Does it matter than I seem to have freakishly thin ankles? Any other advice for dealing with this problem?

"Indeed, it has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all those other forms that have been tried from time to time." -Winston Churchill

CBS, you frame your argument in an unnecessarily partisan way that really misses the point. The real question is this: Does our jury system work? Are average people with no legal training capable of coming up with unbiased, fair, and consistent decisions, or are they too easily swayed by arguments that appeal to their emotions?