KaskadskyjKozak

Buying property AND investing is more diversified than renting alone. Liquidity? You mean like the 20% tax hit from early withdrawal on a 401(k)? Or maybe you mean the "loan" that you must pay-off IN FULL if you leave your employer (or are laid off or fired). No risk there, eh? And so liquid! Or I guess you could completely forgo the tax benefit of the 401(k) for the "liquidity" of your own investment account - outside of retirement. But wait, then you'll lose those matching funds. Oh dear!

Keep waiting... and watching... and you'll get zero return.

guacamole is a good reason to mix up margaritas... mas tequila por favor!

and I disagree profoundly... owning a home is a great long-term investment, and a great way to ease your tax burden, enabling you to put more money into retirement, and have the ability to fund those expensive college educations down the road (HELOC, or down-size home, etc) This is the common perception, but it's not one I've heard offered forth by many folks who know what they're talking about that don't have their livelihood tied to the construction, sale, financing, etc of homes in one way or another. Money in a diversified portfolio constructed by someone that knows what they're doing produces better real returns with lower risk than residential housing in every long-term scenario that accurately measures total costs and total returns. Most people will buy a home for a multitude of reasons, some financial, some non-financial. For those who buy, buying a smaller home than you can afford and putting the difference in a diversified portfolio - ideally in a tax advantaged retirement account of some sort - will be a better choice than maxing out your mortgage payment on a primary residence or a combination of a primary residence and a second home in just about every conceivable long term scenario. http://finance.yahoo.com/real-estate/article/102603/why-your-home-is-not-the-investment-you-think-it-is What pundits say is one thing; reality is another. And anything in the aggregate blurs the possibilities of the individual. I made much more money off my 1st home than I did off of 10-15% stashed into a 401(k), Roths, and other investments over the same time frame (yes, factoring in the amount of $ going into each). And then there is that pesky, intangible quality of life issue...

Yes. I probably like Fireball the best. In Rock, of course is a perenniel favorite.

Iron Butterfly fucking rocks. They were an early metal band along with Deep Purple. I have them on vinyl. Schweet. Purple is my all-time favorite band. Ever.

and I disagree profoundly... owning a home is a great long-term investment, and a great way to ease your tax burden, enabling you to put more money into retirement, and have the ability to fund those expensive college educations down the road (HELOC, or down-size home, etc)

The only bet I'd consider relates to the property value increase on my home as per zillow.com

In the meantime, I'll enjoy my growing equity. ;-)

did you join in, Gary?

Isnt' that Dru?

Bud Selig did not clap for BB. Did anyone?

no

I sincerely doubt this. It may have the same cholesterol lowering effect, but cannot contain a synthetic compound such as Atorvastatin. "Red yeast rice when produced using the 'Went' strain of Monascus purpureus contains significant quantites of the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor lovastatin which is also known as mevinolin, a naturally-occurring statin", according to Wikipedia. aromatic hydrocarbons, hydroxyl groups, carboxylic acids... it's all coming back now

Linky

clackety clack

Diamond Dave looks like crap

Yes, that's what I was thinking. But I don't want to collect a lot of gear either. The more I do, the more I want to do and end up doing, so waterfall ice is not out of the question in the future either.

Put it this way: every climb I have done to this point has been grade II, very moderate. The steepest slope might get up to 40 or 45 degrees for a short stretch (mostly snow). Now I plan on getting up some grade III alpine routes (or even steeper grade II) where a second tool would be nice. Think N. Ridge of Baker, Adams Glacier, Fuhrer Finger, maybe Edmunds Headwall and Liberty Ridge. That'll keep me busy for a couple of years. I don't plan on doing vertical waterfall ice in the imminent future, but who knows - never say never. Thanks for the advice!

Thanks CC!

who doesn't?

The marketing online for axes like the Aztarex make a point of the straight shaft being better for "penetrating" snow. Thanks for the insight (though the sarcasm was not necessary). There is also the weight issue, which would be nice to hear some comments on. Aztarex and Grivel Light Wing make a point of this, as I recall. If it's more market-speak w/o a real need or any other downside, that'd be good to know. And yeah books are great - but just one resource.

Kid Rock

Basics aren't taught how to place pro, or in general how to build anchors unless it involves slinging an enormous tree. For snow anchors they are shown how to build a good dead man, and a bollard, and shown the limits of pickets. In the course of a basic climb the basic will never build an anchor, but only clip into an anchor built by a more experienced climber. Nor will they place pickets for running belays. That said some of the more focused inquisitive ones do ask good questions, which I'm usually happy to answer, or refer to someone who knows more than I. Intermediates are taught more on snow anchors, and ice screws (with the caveat that only with oodles of experience will you learn to evaluate ice.) For rock anchors the standard was a 3 point equalized coordalette, and they've transitioned to John Longs Equalette this year, with the caveat that every situation is different and you need to think about/evaluate your anchors for direction of pull, stability, etc. They learn to build belay anchors. The person who would suffer from bad / insufficient instruction there would be the leader who relies on that belay - not the student belaying from it. Hence, it is on the instructor to make sure the anchor is sound before he climbs a route from it.

Just how many years of experience and certifications are required to teach people to tie in to their harness, read a topo map, tie knots, and discuss gear, clothing, hydration and food for climbing? Sorry but one year is enough. If you're talking about LEADING climbs that doesn't happen after one year.