Crux

Best served well done. (BBQ now in progress.)

Saw more than expected between the border and Baker during the past mid-week. Like a rainbow, the deliciosum haze.

Blah fucking blah blah. China now finances the United States government.

Avoid using rubbing alcohol as a fuel. It costs too much and can burn dirty. Use methanol. Although rubbing alcohol (isopropyl) certainly can be used in alcohol stoves and burners, I've found it produces a hazy accumulation of irritating fumes. When used in an open burner in a confined space such as a hut, a garage, or big tent, the fumes from combustion of isopropyl alcohol prove intolerable. In contrast, methyl alcohol (methanol) burns as clean as can be. According to OSHA, a fire involving isopropyl alcohol may release toxic gases such as carbon monoxide. Combustion of methanol produces only CO2 and steam; thus, methanol has a distinct advantage over isopropyl alcohol as a fuel. Because methanol combustion produces no CO (as well as no irritants), it's more sutiable for use in confined spaces. A simple, improvised methanol burner can provide a safe emergency heat source in a car stranded in a blizzard, for example. Methanol is available by the quart or gallon at a big-box hardware store near you. The last time I got some, I found it at Home Depot on shelves stocked with paint thinner and other petroleum distillates. About $8/gallon. Don Johnston's Alcohol Stove Pepsi Can Stove The Home Made Stove Archives

A relocation of about 90% of New Orleans to the vicinity of the Mt. St. Helens lava dome might be relatively good risk management.

Comandeered for

According to the best transportation engineers, "monorail" and "pubic transportation" were an oxymoron. If it's true that a significant contribution to pubic transportation has never been at stake with the projected outcome of the monorail project, all that truly stood for one to approve or disapprove is the fucking over of many people. In Seattle, a confused majority approved.

works hard for the money.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prescott_Bush

Summit It's a canned meat product.

With each plunge of the spike into neve, pressure is transmitted to hand. If pressure is distributed to the palm by the relatively sharp edge of the pick rather than the relatively broad surface of the adze, then impact pressure is concentrated over a smaller area of flesh, which may cause a bruise that subsequently hampers the effectiveness of spike placement and may even weaken the handhold relied upon during the event of self-arrest. Regardless of what fatigue may or may not be suffered by the hand because of using one grip or the other, a more secure spike placement may be delivered when the hand is pushing down on the broad surface of the adze rather than pushing down upon the spine of the pick. Emphasis on self-arrest grip is one thing; emphasis on making a secure spike placement when standing in balanced position is another. Both are important, but on moderately steep snow the latter is usually the priority. It's a matter of being ready to stop a fall versus avoiding the fall in the first place. To do both, I like to be able to drive my hand down hard upon the adze when I need to exert force down the shaft, either for spike placement or for self-belay. Transitions to self-arrest grip are part of self-arrest practice, as are subsequent parts of the self-arrest procedure such as the all-important driving of the head of the axe into the center of the earth.

Ok, I'll bite. How was Clinton's nominee, Ruth Bader Ginsberg, not mainstream?

I make no stand here in recognition of nor denial of religious or spiritual activity engaged by American troops in Iraq. Of course, religion is an underpinning of American society, and it always has been. In the tradition of true, minimalist, conservative ideals, I hope the American nation forever continues to be one where individuals are free to be religious and exploit whatever power they may gain from spiritual identity. I’m not sure that a plea to God, even in times of great personal crisis, is necessarily a plea of desperation, but I am sure that prayer and spiritual identification is of central importance to many people, including a majority of the American population. Moreover, even though one might accurately mark me as being distinctly not religious, if I were at the bedside of a dying patient who ask me to pray with her or him, I would do so at the drop of a hat – as readily as I’d lock off a belay to a falling climber, no questions asked, just do it now. In response to the phrase, “Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition,” I will comment that I think religion is a lot like a loaded gun. Properly used, it can be a good thing.

That's like saying Jesus of Nazareth was a Christian: there was no U.S.of A. at the time of the American Revolution. My limited understanding has it that the current climate of religious fundamentalism pales when compared to that time: as school superintendent, Jefferson mandated the Judeo-Christian Bible as a text. Yes, yes, Jesus didn't call himself a Christian and there was no Christian tradition until over one hundred years after his death. So, enough about this great mythological character of Middle Eastern legend, and more about the Americans. Americans called themselves Americans before and during their revolution. Moreover, at the time of the Revolution the western world perceived Americans to be a distinct population with a unique heritage -- they were, indeed, Americans. Nevertheless, arguments contrary to this simple fact are to be expected and for that occasion, to evaluate the relationship between surges in fundamentalism and occurences of national crises, we can step forward by a measure of four score and seven years. The Civil War was arguably a time of stress and peril greater than any other suffered by the nation, yet despite that I find no indicator of a spike in fundamentalist activity or influence on American politics at that time. In short, I don't think stress and peril to the nation has anything to do with any rise in fundamentalism or religious extremism in America, nor has it ever. Simply stated, my assertion is that we cannot at one handily and responsibly dismiss people who today complain that fundamentalism is presenting an unprecedented and dangerous trespass upon American political tradition. These people have a good case. We may do well to listen. If you say that fundamentalism and religious extremism has always been intimate with American politics, especially in times of crises, you come across as either a fundamentalist yourself or as a secular person who is whistling in the dark.

Surely the American Revolution was a time of great national stress and peril, yet the historical record clearly shows that religious fundamentalism persented no spike whatsoever during this episode. On the contrary, what emerged was a liberal doctrine that has prevailed for centuries and which clearly separates itself from religion.

"a growing element with a secular, intolerant view."...that would be the antithesis of a religious intolerant view... no? Thus, the speaker denies that there is an unprecedented rise and influence of fundamentalism in the country. By circumlocution, the point is made that the only thing new here is the unwarranted complaint expressed by liberals, progressives, and secular conservatives that domestic religious extremism now has a growing and unprecedented role in shaping American politics, in opposition to the founding principles and traditions of the country.

...Utterly to the point! ...Aw don't think anybody expected there ta be no weapons of mass destrushction in Iraq. Aw don't think anybody spected there ta be any attack using airliners. Aw don't think anybody expected tha levees ta break... Aw fully unnerstand yer problem, rilly, aw doo. Kush yuk yuk... that good peepul uf New Orlins are rilly impatient now. Aw know I'd be too. Rilly.

In the wake of the flood, the economic consequences of malfeasance trickle down. (Debate)

Or how 'bout the Snaffle of Solipsism? Point taken in regard to FEMA problems. I've also wondered if in Sri Lanka, was there random gunfire before the tsunami?

Thus has spoken the FEMA of Fatuity.

When you spend the day posting to ascensionist?

Deal!

Close call.

Looking at a similar situation for myself that will extend over the coming months, I focus on the essentials: How and where to attain income to replenish vital resources; how and where to shower, shave, and sleep; where to study and do computer work (of all things); and how and where to eat. Admittedly, I'll probably be couch-hopping from time to time, but I'm not counting on it. I got where I'm at with a year to go before graduation and my dirt-bag ways have caught up to me. Better that than getting dumped, I suppose. But with good health and some minimal resources, you can find the urban byways around here are actually pretty forgiving. If I were driving these days, and in a fix and unsure about what to do next, I might go get reoriented at some place in the foothills. Index was already mentioned, and such an area is almost close-in and provides a lotta room to stretch. There's some really good dirt-bag parking around North Bend too, and it's still closer to the big Seatown, a place with a lot of good choices to get dialed into. Healthcare is becoming my thing; maybe good for an ex-paramedic too. As it is, I'll be getting around on the bicycle. I call that a bargain.

From N. Fk Sauk to White Pass, then directly to draw of White Chuck glacier...then walk over the ice to the Glacier Gap and then up... was interesting in late Sept, expansive Wilderness...