murraysovereign

Sure, I've slipped up on occasion, and I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. It's possible this was just a verbal slip that was quickly caught and corrected. It's also possible that he meant what he said, which would provide an interesting insight into his world-view. It's also possible that it's a complete fabrication, just like what happened with Dan Quayle. Remember the story that came out of Quayle's trip to Latin America? He was reported to have said something like "I wish I'd studied Latin in High School, so I could communicate with these people." The story spread like wild-fire, with much eye-rolling and head-shaking, and everyone agreed that poor Dan just wasn't quite ready for Prime-time. Trouble is, he never said anything of the sort. Pat Schroeder admitted to making it up as a joke at a cocktail party in DC, but it took on such a life of its own that it couldn't be stopped. What was most telling, though, was that no-one felt it necessary to question the validity of the story - everyone just assumed it was true because, well, we're talking about Dan Quayle, right? It speaks volumes about people's perceptions of Dan Quayle that to this day the story is told as if it were true, and people still believe it. Perhaps something similar is happening here - that people have such low expectations of GW that they accept these stories as true. I don't know - that's why I asked if it's true.

Good God... did Bush really say that about the French having no word for entrepreneur? When? I mean, it's funny as Hell if it's true, but it's also scary, in a kinda Dan-Quayle-ish sort of way.

Not going to go into a lot of detail here, but I've been talking with a few people around town, and we might have some kind of "program" in place for next year. I've had a couple of ideas in mind for a while now, but needed more bodies to make it work - it looks like there's enough interest that we're going to do some planning over the winter, and hope to start nailing some of these bastards.

I noticed those cloud formations also (they gotta be clouds, cause waves that big would have travelled clear across Vancouver Island, and there would have been something about it on the news by now). Pretty distinctive, wonder what causes that effect - anyone know?

...which is exactly why I SHOULD care, as should the entire world. The United States of America is supposed to stand for and aspire to a set of principles that raised the standard for the entire human race. It's heady, important stuff about the innate equality of persons and the God-given rights of the individual and the need for all of us never to lose sight of those principles, no matter what. The world, including Canada, would be a vastly poorer place without that standard to reach for. But the current administration in Washington seems all too willing to discard some of those basic principles in the name of political expediency. And that's a shame, because we'll all be worse off if we lose them. That's why I care.

"...She obstructed the U.S. army from completing a war..." There's no mention in the charges of her "obstructing the US Army" or anyone else. She's being charged with being in Iraq in defiance of an Administration that had decided it didn't want her to go to Iraq. Period. As for "manipulating the notion of freedom": lessee - life, liberty, pursuit of happiness, blah blah blah... oh, here it is: "the right to do whatever the government decides to tell you to do without questioning their purposes ever for fear of being branded a criminal and thrown in prison." Yup, there it is, right up front and centre in the "Declaration of Simpering Obedience to the State" - I stand corrected. Funny I hadn't seen it there earlier, but then a lot of that stuff is way clearer now that Ridge and Rice and Ashcroft have re-written it all. And as for Trask's observation that "it was war-time" ... frankly, so what? As Dru has pointed out, this woman would be facing exactly the same charge if she had visited Cuba instead of Iraq, despite the fact that the US and Cuba have not been at war since Teddy Roosevelt was president. By contrast, as a Canadian I can legally travel to any country that will admit me, including Iraq or Cuba, any time I want to go. Ottawa doesn't pass laws telling me I can or can't go to this or that country on any given day, and they don't have people waiting at the airport to arrest me on my return. Nor should they. The Department of External Affairs regularly issues travel advisories warning us of specific risks we may encounter in certain places, but - get this - they then allow us to make our own decisions about where we go and when. How is that at odds with "the notion of freedom?" What is Washington so afraid of that it can't allow American citizens the same freedom? Do they really think you're not intelligent enough to make your own decisions, based on your own analysis of the risks? I'm not trying to defend this woman's decision to go off and try to stop the war by standing in front of a refinery. Frankly, I think she's delusional for believing it would have had any effect whatsoever. But I question the need for Washington to pass laws telling her she can't do it, and I most definitely question the willingness of people simply to roll over and allow Washington to tell them where they can and cannot go at any given time - war or no war. This idiotic, obsessive prohibition on travel to Cuba is a perfect example: it's silly and pointless and petty. It's a completely unjustifiable restriction of your personal liberty, and you've put up with it for 40 years, for God's sake. And now you're defending Washington's right to impose and enforce more restrictions just like it. All in the defence of liberty and freedom, of course. And I'm labelled a "fucking idiot" for questioning it? "Welcome to George Bush's America - the land of the obedient, and the the home of the complacent. Now get in line with everyone else, and shut up."

Yeah, a bunch of us from Squamish went down and kicked ass ! Made the news and everything - it was great !!

Where does your government get off, telling you where you may or may not travel? And more to the point, why do you let them? For all the talk out of the US about "defending individual rights and freedoms" you seem to be surrendering basics like freedom of movement with nary a whimper. In fact, some of you are actually defending your government's right to tell you what to do. What's up with that? Rather than saying "get a rope" you should be running to defend this woman's right to go where-ever the Hell she damn well pleases. If you're going to get out a rope, I would hope you'd use it on those jackass legislators who are taking away your personal liberties.

Actually, that bridge is over the Grandview Cut, which is a rail corridor, not a waterway. So he wouldn't have been fish bait, exactly. More like a coarsely ground fish-meal, cat-food kinda substance . Unless the train was able to stop in time.

One of my early climbing partners was asthmatic. My father had been his Pediatrician, and Dad could scarcely believe that his patient had even survived adolescence, much less that he was climbing mountains as an adult. He told me it was one of the worst cases of asthma he'd ever dealt with in his 35+ years of practice. We did Mt. Edith Cavell together a few years back, when the air was thick from forest fire smoke. He had to use his puffer a bit more than usual, but he was climbing circles around me all day. So I'd tell your friend to go for it, but to check with his physician to ensure there are no complicating factors involving his specific condition, and then just go easy until he finds out where his limits are. He may be surprised to discover how hard he can push himself.

No problem, Greg. I'll be here until 6, look forward to meeting you both. I'm in the midst of some renos at the shop, and have decided to build some lockers in the spare (read "unused") bathroom while we're at it, so people will have a secure place to leave surplus gear. Charge something like a $2 donation to the Bolt Fund per locker per day (?). Won't have them built in time for this summer, but maybe for the ski season. In the meantime, I can pile a fair bit of stuff up in the rafters.

Normally the Chief posts their front page and main news items on thier website on Friday morning, as the papers are delivered. For some reason this week that didn't happen. Because the Police announcement was just a couple of hours before press time, they were only able to print the few sentences that I posted, so a link wouldn't give you any more information than what 's on this BB. You can try the "contact us" link on their site (www.squamishchief.com) to ask them for more information, or just wait until the next issue on Friday 8th August to see if they report more.

Just so you know - Monday is a statutory holiday on this side of the border, so don't expect to hear much until Tuesday, probably. As you've seen first-hand, we take our holidays pretty seriously up here

From today's "Squamish Chief": "Squamish RCMP revealed on Thursday (July 31) that the investigation into the now-infamous Canada Day incident at Kinsmen campground has taken a major step forward. Six people have been arrested and released with a promise to appear in court, Cpl. Greg Mainman said, adding that the investigation is ongoing. He noted that the RCMP has not spoken directly with the Americans and at this point the police are waiting to determine if the Americans are going to accept the offers to come back to Squamish or Vancouver for a visit. A report is yet to be submitted to Crown Counsel. Once Crown Counsel gets the report, charges will be recommended and those over 18 can be named."

Yeah, I learned years ago not to mess with my kid sister, 'specially once she's liquored up. Guess I should have warned you 'bout that...

"So what should a Washington climber do to be as safe as possible in Squamish?" Basically, just relax and enjoy your stay. Contrary to the impression one might get from this B.B., there is no on-going campaign of violence and robbery targetting US visitors to Squamish. Your chances of anything untoward happening are no worse here than anywhere else. In fact, statistically, I suspect you're a Hell of a lot safer here in than in most of the United States. By all means, exercise a little common sense, and be aware that the more remote parking areas are perfect spots for thieves and vandals. And leaving large amounts of valuable equipment in your car for extended periods of time is just as bad an idea here as it is in downtown Seattle, or at Bellis Fair, or Metrotown in Burnaby. Downtown Squamish is about as safe as any place on earth, but as you get further from the main street, you need to take more precautions like locking gear out of sight in the trunk, or leaving it someplace else, or taking it with you. And if you're really gripped about stuff you can't stash safely, by all means stop by the store here and I'll see if we can stow it somewhere for you.

The campground at the base of the Chief is run by the Squamish Rockclimbers' Association, under contract with BC Parks, on the condition that any profits must be spent in the park. It has been suggested that a number of bus depot - style lockers with the removeable key might be installed next to the manager's house. I haven't looked into how much it would cost, but it's a possibility we may investigate over the coming winter. There are some small food-storage bins at the cook-shelter that could double as storage for valuables, but they're of limited size, and may be fully occupied by groceries on any given day. The new Squamish Hostel, which is right beside Hwy 99 on the right as you come into town, has just opened, and I know Gord was talking about having day-lockers there. Not sure if he's got them in yet, but that might be worth a try. And not to use this forum for flagrant commercial plugs, but if you ask really, really nicely, there is a small amount of extra storage space in the back room of...ahem... ~Valhalla Pure~ outfitters. People have been known to leave extra gear there when going on extended back-country trips, in exchange for a donation to the Bolt Fund. But I agree, a central location with several large lockers for day-storage of surplus gear would be a hugely valuable addition to the local facilities. Stay tuned...

Sorry, I didn't mean to identify myself as law-enforcement, but rather as a member of the community who is "in the know" and who has been trying to think up a practicable solution to this problem for a number of years now. But on behalf of the law-enforcement community here in Squamish and area, I can tell you they are very much aware of the problem of trail-head breakins and vandalism, and they are as frustrated as anyone with the problem. They aren't trying to hide behind any "tough guy cop" thing. I'm not sure where that suggestion comes from, frankly. Despite their inability to "get their man" each and every time - in open defiance of Hollywood's instructions - I think our RCMP generally do a pretty good job, and in a far more open, accessible way than police forces in some other jurisdictions. Far from trying to hide the problem, they regularly make public appeals for information &/or assistance, and are quite open about the difficulties they face in dealing with it. Short of hiring hundreds of extra officers and leaving one at each trail-head, around the clock, 365 days a year, I don't know how they could possibly guarantee vehicle security around here, or anywhere else for that matter. Even setting up a "sting" type of operation would be of limited value - which of the hundreds of potential breakin sites do you stake out? On any given day, you've got about a 1 in 1000 chance of being in the right spot at the right time. In the absence of a ready solution, it is incumbent on all users of vulnerable parking areas to do everything they can to minimize their exposure. Thieves target these areas because they know there's easy pickin's to be had.

Being one of the "TOOLS" you refer to, I can assure you this on-going problem has nothing to do with us not giving a fuck. It's got more to do with the fact that this is a very difficult problem to deal with, here in Squamish, in the Rockies, in the Okanagan Valley and, yes, even in the United States. Leave a car parked on the side of a road up in the bush somewhere, with no-one around, no traffic, no way of supervising the area. Add in the fact that even the useless scum responsible for the damage can figure out that, once climbers or hikers or skiers lock up their cars and disappear into the bush, they're problably going to be gone for quite a while, maybe days, but at least for a few hours. Add to that the fact that these trail-head parking lots are located a short distance from Hwy 99, meaning the culprits can be in Vancouver or Lilloett or Bellingham before the break-in is even noticed, much less reported. Add to that the fact that there are dozens of these parking lots, and literally hundreds of lesser "pull-out" style trail-heads, scattered over a sparsely populated area the size of Oregon. What would you suggest? Instead of calling us fat drunken tools who don't give a fuck, maybe you have a blindingly obvious, easy, foolproof solution that we've simply been too stupid to think of. Or maybe it's easier just to throw insults at people, rather than trying to make a positive contribution?

Glad you were able to spend time chatting amicably with locals, and also that you managed to spend money in stores. Hopefully mine was one of them . Sorry about the rain thing, but it couldn't be helped. It was aimed at a group of Australians who had long over-stayed their welcome. A couple of them had been here for at least three days, maybe longer, and we have to draw the line somewhere. Once these infestations take hold they're nearly impossible to eradicate. Take a look at what's happened in Whistler if you don't believe it. So, while it's unfortunate you were adversely affected by the rain, I think you'll agree it was a necessary and prudent measure. Think of yourself as a front-line soldier in the on-going "War on Riff-Raff", and wear your scars proudly.

I'm not sure who that was directed at, but for my part I make no claim to know what "my" government thinks: I merely opined that it has historically contained a number of stupid, out-of-control drunks, and in fact still does.

It looks like you're trying your damndest to discredit the original poster's claim. Why? I'm sure it happened and your people and gov't. authorities are covering it up. Give it up. This kind of shit happens here in America too; what, you think you Canadians are above this type of bullshit? Fuck. Now hold on just a minute. Checking with the local paper to see if they've heard anything about this incident hardly constitutes an attempt to "discredit" anyone. Sounds to me more like someone actually trying to find out what happened. A local newspaper reporter has indicated that he's heard nothing, but will check to see what the RCMP detachment has to say about it. And you call that a cover-up? A few years ago there was a nasty incident involving a group of loggers whose jobs had been shut down by protesters in the Upper Elaho. Some of them were facing the loss of their homes, and a couple of families had broken apart under the stress, and their frustration and anger boiled over. A group of them went into the protester's camp wearing ski masks and swinging baseball bats. There was no attempt to "cover it up" on the part of the local authorites. As was reported earlier, a local lawyer was kicked to death at a New Year's Eve party. Again, there was no attempt to "cover it up". On the contrary, the RCMP appealed loudly and often for anyone with information to come forward, and after a 4 year investigation charges were laid, and two people have been convicted. Pretty lame cover-up, eh? But now a few people had too much to drink one night, and got a bit stupid. Suddenly the entire weight of the Canadian Government and all the resources of the RCMP are brought to bear in order to silence witnesses, all Police records are suppressed, the entire incident covered up? Why would they bother? Maybe this sort of thing happens all the time in the States, as you say, but it's somewhat less common on this side of the border. The biggest cover-up anyone can recall around here involved ... wait for it ... a Bingo game in Nanaimo, sometime back in the 80s, from which some of the proceeds went astray. When that one became public a few years ago it cost the Premier his job, even though he was no-where near the provincial government when it happened. No, none of us believes we're above having stupid drunks getting out of hand. Hell, we've got a long proud tradition in this country of stupid drunks getting out of hand, starting with our first Prime Minister and continuing up to the current Premiers of both BC and Alberta. But a government conspiracy to cover up a fight in a campground? I'm sorry, but that's ludicrous.