MervGriffin

Then why do you ask me to "take my anti-bolt stance elsewhere?" The only incorrect statement I may have made was whether it was within the wilderness boundaries and I stand corrected on that point. So you do acknowledge that it is sensitive or controversial? Why act surprised and outraged that someone doesn't like it? The existence of a nearby ski area does not excuse inappropriate behavior on a smaller scale. A few minutes hike away from Alpental and you're in a beautiful mountain area. Do you find the way up-valley ugly? I must disagree. Where are the lies? A lie is an intentional attempt to deceive. If I was wrong about the wilderness designation, than I acknowledge my mistake. Where are the other so-called lies? Do you think leaving gear all over the place is somehow O.K. because the site is just outside the boundary? As far as the other nearby sporty areas are concerned, I'm not familiar with them but my stance would probably be the same: keep them out of the mountains. I am addressing "Rap Wall" in particular because I personally saw this mess yesterday. The bolts are bad enough, but how can you justify leaving a mass of gear hanging from them? Thanks for the invitation. I'm sure there are several folks here who wouldn't mind removing abandoned litter. It's not a career. And the situation at Smith sucks too. Perhaps we should start by cleaning up our own backyard? P.S. Check into that "Leave No Trace" seminar. I think I might have seen a link to it on your own web-site?

What Caveman said. So...is there an official party dogma here in which apparently unpopular viewpoints are to be shown the door? REGARDLESS of whether "Rap Wall" is in a designated wilderness area or not, a lot of gear has been left (abandoned?), so whoever is responsible should go in and collect their extensive garbage which litters a beautiful mountain area. Maybe you should take an awareness workshop from these guys: Leave No Trace

Went up to the Tooth yesterday and passed that attrocious bolted overhanging "mixed climb" that someone must think is really special. If this line of closely-spaced bolts in a wilderness area isn't bad enough, it is presently festooned with quick-draws and 'biners from bottom to top. Whoever is responsible should go in and collect their garbage.

Last year their "family friendly" evening event featured a foul-mouthed "comedian"/musician that embarrassed even many adults...those that didn't whisk their young children off after a few minutes of that guy. Hopefully that won't be part of the program this time around. Otherwise it sounds like BIG FUN with BIG LOU!

R.I.P.

And the above has to do with the topic of "Girl Repellent"? And you are some sort of moderator? P.S. I bet you miss high school!

Posting replies to yourself is so 90's. Wrong! It is NEVER out of fashion! Your alpine role model here would disagree: P.S. it's spelled "annoying". In other news, Big Lou still rules Mt. Rainier!

That original post is a masterpiece! Thanks, Dwayner! And thank you, icegirl, for revisiting a topic that remains as modern as tommorrow. Ehmmic: gutter? really? what? relationships don't matter? As far as "in it's day", the original post came out in 2001 and given avatar turn-over and new site-members, there's a whole new audience to appreciate it. Bring on Big Lou Jr., Donna-Top Step's Lament, and some of them other comedy classics for others to enjoy!

Actually, it probably already has had a worthwhile effect along with a good number of other security measures. It certainly isn't as easy to get on a plane to cause mayhem as it used to be. So roll your eyes, cowboy, and pretend it's all a waste of time.

Grow up, Stonehead. Showing your I.D. is a small price to pay for a little more security on your airplane. You can blame those knuckleheads from 9-11 who woke us up from our complacency to the fact that there are actually untrustworthy and dangerous people within our borders. In other countries with terrorist potential, (.e.g Israel) you are issued a national identity card to be shown on demand. Fortunately, we haven't reached that stage yet, but it's been discussed. At this point, we don't necessarily have the luxury to board a plane without showing I.D. (which by the way, is far less intrusive then removing your shoes, being patted down, etc. which is also regularly part of the process), but you can sure go to and fro most places in this country without much of a hassle as long as you don't drive drunk or break the speed limit. You also show your I.D. when you cash a check at the bank, etc. What's the problem? Idealism needs to be tempered with a little realism on occasion. Just my opinion.

Like this? What's your point, bird-cat? I was in Oslo, Norway when the Iraq war broke out. A sizable crowd of punks arrived to throw bricks at the police who were there to protect the peaceful protesters nearby and the average citizen on the street. I watched as cops on horseback pepper-sprayed the goons and saw a german shepherd dog a few feet away from me, take down some A-pipe who ran out of the crowd to jump a cop. It was really shocking and disturbing...but you know what? I concluded that these brick-throwing, "war-protestors" got what they deserved. Protesting a war by being violent....that ain't even poetic. Physically attacking those with whom you disagree....weak. Impeding others to make your point....that's ineffective. Attacking the police who are protecting your right to protest a war or whatever...that's stupid.

Get your quotes straight, foo! "POWER is the ultimate aphrodisiac." - Henry Kissinger And it's true. Funny-lookin' guy like Kissinger got himself an attractive wife. Nancy Kissinger, Bess Truman, and that be Hank looking out at us. Dru: you don't know from American patriot, eh? The man fancied himself a violent revolutionary with the goal of destroying the "Pig Empire" of "Amerika", and having a jolly time in the process. I bought into his act briefly in my impressionable youth until I nearly got caught acting out some of the many destructive antics he shared with us in his "manifesto", Steal This Book The guy was a punk. I met him several years ago and found him to be a remorseless smart-ass. After the Vietnam conflict came to an end, he moved on to Nicaragua and other such "causes". He eventually committed suicide in 1989. This image pretty much sums him up.

I recall during Gulf-War I (Desert Storm), a bunch of 20-somethings had their dreams come true: a real war to protest just like their heroes in the '60's. "And gee whiz! The clothes and the music were really cool back then but doggone it, we wuz born too late!" Of the many imitative Vietnam-era antics performed was a bunch of these youngsters chanting the classic anti-draft lines, "Hell no, we won't go". The only problem was, in 1991....there was no draft, and there still isn't one..and noone was asking them to go anywhere except to stand up and quit blocking the highway....but I bet these earnest youngin's saw some '60's war protesters doing that in their high school social studies class and it looked really cool! Speaking of hippies and Yippies....this guy REALLY sucked!

Hey Dru. I found another perspective of JCS from a source that a guy like you would probably respect: The Bitchslap Review. Check it out: Bitchslap Review: Jesus Christ Superstar, the movie. A sample: "Jesus Christ Superstar is one of those rare films that not only entertains but also has the benefit of according a good deal of its viewers with a life changing experience. Released in the early 1970's, this film draws from two historical periods: the 1960's and the period which would later become to be known as 33 AD. While the 30 AD's did not have a great impact on the young persons of the 70's it is quite apparent that the 60's did. And it was with this thought in mind that the director Norman Jewison adapted the successful Broadway play of the same name into one of the greatest films ever made...As well as bringing the ancient text of the Bible to life this film also entertains. The singing is unsurpassed by any film in cinematic history, with songs by two legends in the industry, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. And the tie in with ancient Israel and modern day times is brilliant..." Watch it yourself and come to your own conclusions.

Actually, the 1999 television version of "Joseph" (available on DVD) with Donny Osmond is considered a masterpiece. PBS Great Performances This is my all-time favorite, however: starring Ted Neeley.

Very, very simplistic, Mr. Llama. This whole matter of the historical accuracy of the Bible is a long-standing, derisive and continuing debate. At opposite ends are scholars often characterized as "minimalist" (those who argue that the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible is of little historical value) and the "maximalists" who see the Bible as quite historically credible. Both frequently use archaeological evidence to back their points. And there are lots of people in-between these two viewpoints. Many involved on various sides of the debate are very bright people. You can get a taste of this debate by reading a few issues of Biblical Archaeology Review Both Egypt and Biblical archaeology are areas where I have conducted professional research and I tend toward the maximalist position. Folks need to keep in mind that archaeology is not always the appropriate tool for solving the many mysteries of the Bible. In fact, it is often an abused tool used to "prove" or "disprove" this or that in inappropriate ways. William Dever's got an opinion? Of course he does. Good for him. But check out this controversial new volume by a distinquished Egyptologist and Biblical scholar, Professor Kenneth Kitchen: "On the Reliability of the Old Testament." shalom, Merv P.S. And by the way, the name of the people "Israel" is indeed attested in at least one Egyptian text: the stele of Merneptah (c.1224 B.C.), listed as a group of people already in Canaan when attacked by Merneptah's army along with a bunch of other conquerees. I just bring that up because Egypt was mentioned and there are those who will even go as far as to say that Israel as a people are not to be found until relatively late.

U...GO....GURL!!!! Glad to have been inspirational to you in some way. Clippin' those B-LT's....now THAT'S something! Allez!

Hey Sports! Here are some great fashion ideas you might want to consider when you're clippin' the sickness! Including: Crimp-Master School of Hard Rocks! Comp-Wear The Entire Sizzling Collection!

Your ethos Your pathos Your Porthos Your Aramis Your Brut Cologne You're writing home You are hopeless Your hopelessness Is rising around you, rising around you You like it It gives you something to do In the day time Hey buddy, you need a hobby You are tired of moving forward You think of the future And secretly you piddle your pants The puddle of piddle Which used to be little Is rising around you, rising around you You like it It gives you something to do In the night time Oh well, you travel to bars You also go to Winchell's Doughnuts And hang out with the Highway Patrol Sometimes you'll go to a pizza place You go to Shakey's to get that American kind of pizza That has the ugly, waxey, fake yellow kind Of cheese on the top . . . Then you go to Straw Hat Pizza, To get all those artificial ingredients That never belonged on a pizza in the first place Oh well, you'll go anyplace, you'll do anything You'll go to Santa Monica Boulevard, You'll go to the Blue Parrot No problem, you'll go anyplace You'll do anything Just so you can hang out with the others The others just like you Afraid of the future (Death Valley Days straight ahead) The future is scary (Yes it sure is) Well, the puddle is rising It smells like the ocean A body of water to isolate England And also Reseda The oil in patches All over Atlantis, Atlantis You remember Atlantis Donovan, the guy with the brocade coat Used to sing to you about Atlantis You loved it, you were so involved then That's back in the days when you used to Smoke a banana You would scrape the stuff off the middle You would bake it You would smoke it You even thought you was getting ripped from it No problem Ah Atlantis!, they could really get down there The plankton, the krill The giant underwater pyramid (Hear me out) The squid decor The big ol' giant underwater door The dome, the bubbles, the blue light Light, light, light, light, blue Light, light, light, light, blue Blue light blue light The seepage, the sewage, the rubbers, the napkins Your ethos, your Porthos, Your flag pole, your port hole Your language You're frightened The future, your language You can't even speak your own f*&ing language You can't read it anymore You can't write it anymore Your language The future of your language Your meat loaf Don't let your meat loaf Heh, heh, heh Your Micro-Nanette Your Brut Cologne - F. Zappa

No, pal. Neither is appropriate. I'm being satirical. Just another example of the excesses of a "free" society.

Yo! One of you sport-homies wanna give me a ride to X-38? cuz I'm jones'in to clip and The Man took away my wheels and my allowance. P.S. Please bring some Fruit Roll-Ups, a bag of pixie sticks, Rice Crispy Treats, some of that Capri-Sun stuff that comes with those Lunchables, some Pokemon cards in case we get bored, and one of those rope things you hang off of when you climb.

And while you're up there, climb it 4 Kerry!

Yah, man. Almost forget. WE'RE CLIMBERS! and we're wild and crazy and reckless, hard-drinking, wild-partyin', don't-mess-with-me-and-you-can-shove-your-opinion-up-your-butt-tough-talkin', hippie-van drivin', hanging out with a bone-in-the-nose girlfriend with hairy armpits, Whillians/Burgess Brothers/Vulgarian emulating, spit-in-the-face-of-the-reaper, buccaneers of the vertical frontier, matadors of the quick draw, desperados of the bouldering pad, Yee ha! and we don't care 'bout nothin cuz we're climbers! So don't even suggest that what I have to say might be weak because...I'M A CLIMBER, and I'm wild and crazy and reckless, hard-drinking, wild-partyin'.... Dude...he can tell you whatever he likes. And you can choose to consider it, follow it or leave it. "pope" ain't your dictator or puppetmaster. What a country! Once again....how's it been "pushed" on you? Take it or leave it. Have a nice day. P.S. Two drops of the "f" bomb in one post? Come on, man....really. You're better than that.

Beethoven's Birthday Variations (click on piece links)

Is that you ? No one is stopping you, Sparky! Like Mother Theresa, for example, and countless other religiously-inspired humanitarians who have spent much of their lives helping others? Fairy tales to you, perhaps, but many find them insightful, inspirational and a force for the good, if not factual. Most of the best, most decent and most charitable and compassionate individuals I know have some sort of religious perspective that very positively shapes their life. By the way, you aren't required to buy into "those stories". you mean like this? or this?