dryad

Time to take my (limited) skillz to the hillz this weekend (either day, if conditions are decent). Anyone want to join me for some easy low-angle telemarking (or whatever)? Also looking for destination suggestions. Thank you!

Did a little looking and found a couple... REI has one but it's expensive and heavy. Campmor has a cheap and light one, but the durability is questionable. Neither website shows the back of the unit. I'd like one that has some kind of clip or strap for easy pack attachment.

Oops, I forgot that there are lots of different kinds... I'll be charging AA batteries, 4 at a time would be plenty, and I want something small and portable to strap to my pack to soak up the sun while hiking.

What's a good one?

I want to travel light and not have any checked luggage at all - that's why I ask.

Has anyone gotten away with bringing them on a plane, or are they considered a potential weapon like nail clippers? I have those rubber tip covers, if that helps.

As many of you know, I'll be travelling from Jan to June, so one of the things I have to do before I leave is get an extension for filing my tax return because I won't be around during tax time. Piece of cake, right? Just download the extension form, fill it out, and send it in, right? Well, it says on the IRS website that getting the extension allows you file your tax return later (up to Aug 15), BUT you still have to pay any taxes you may owe on time (Apr 15). But how are you supposed to know if you owe anything until you fill out your tax return????? What the hell are you supposed to do, send them a blank check?

I'm a lib, no surprise there.

Something like 60% of total big pharma costs go to marketing/advertising, not R&D, much to the dismay of drug discovery scientists. So the statement that drug prices have to be so high to support development is largely crap. At some point pharmas decided that it would be more profitable to push drugs with the biggest possible market (ie. antidepressants, Viagra, "the purple pill", cholesterol meds, etc.), than to develop cures for serious but obscure maladies with a limited market.

It's amazing how this stuff never seems to get old or lose its entertainment value.

Though considered largely a Canadian concept, gravy-cheese fries, aka "Disco fries", are also a staple of diners in NJ. Pretty tasty grease fix, actually. What's the big deal?

I set up the Kelty Ledge in my living room and it has some cool design features, but I decided the lopsided shape would cause my partner and I to fight over who gets the more vertical side. The more sloping side is a little claustrophobic and potentially soggy with the tent wall right on top of you.

Yum!

I agree that he's a fine male specimen, but I don't think the blonde pony tail and knee breeches is a good look for him. He was hotter in "LA Confidential". For prettier examples of men in 18th century garb, check out "Interview with a Vampire". Pretty bad movie, but good eye candy if you're into that .

That has to be the sketchiest advice I've ever heard of from one of those columns. Pray tell what conditions would this be useful in? So I guess that means you're supposed to turn the skins around backwards to walk back down the snow approach? Or maybe just glissade? Yeah, the whole concept sounds pretty sketchy.

I just thought of one... Stick bits to the bottoms of your furniture legs to protect a hardwood floor.

Ok, so where should I have posted this question? It's a question about skiing-related object. If I put it in spray, all I'd get would be a lot of disgusting suggestions involving dead cows and scary sado-masochistic ideas I'd rather not think about.

I have 2 ~20" pieces in stylish cowprint. Any ideas?

Another way to think about the stairs thing is that since men tend to be bigger and heavier, you'd want the guy on the downhill side so if he falls he won't take down his lady friend and squash her like a little bug.

Time for me to once again try to learn to tele. Anyone else want to go dodge 6 year olds on the bunny hill with me? I don't care where.

Ehmmic is right in her assumption. I have no intention of ever being entirely alone. Hence I don't plan to go anywhere very far off the beaten track. The expedition-style trekking kinda turns me off but I'd be fully in favor of grouping up with 1 or 2 other folks I meet in Kathmandu and maybe hiring a private guide.

From what I read, both the Annapurna and Everest regions have well-established lodge/teahouse tourist infrastructures and are suitable for independent trekking (meaning not with a big camping organized tour group, not necessarily alone). For pretty much all the less popular treks (ie. Mustang), you need special permits that are only given to tour groups, and the associated tons of camping gear, porters, etc etc.

What is the best Nepal trek for a first-time visitor?Khumbu/Everest basecampAnnapurna circuitOther Details: I have about a month to spend, I don't have any mountaineering objectives, and would prefer to travel independently rather than with a big camping expedition.

I (indirectly) bought a tent from Ed Viesturs. Woo hoo!

Someone I know was given some Gore Tex dental floss to take home from his last dentist visit. Weird.