rob

Oh, and bring DEET. For real.

Railay, for sure. Ton-sai is sort of the defacto climbing hangout there, but there are other good areas too. Pick up a climbing guide at King Climbers at Railay when you get there. You can rent a rope there, too -- so you don't have to lug your rope and bother getting it fucked by the salt and UV. Check out Groove Tube (6a). Great fun. Most climbs are in the 10a range or higher, it seems. I managed to find some 9s. It's all in the french rating system so it's retarded anyway. Bring old sections of rope to replace tattered threads (some climbs are protected with rope/cord threaded through natural holes in the limestone, but the salt and UV degrades these pretty quickly. I broke one with body-weight). Bolts: Try to pick climbs retro-bolted with new titanium glue-ins. You can tell because they are U-bolts, and they use a kind of pink-glue. Or, pick climbs protected with threads, and plan on replacing some of them, or at least re-tieing the bullshit knots some euro-sportie used (I saw one loop made with a square knot!) You can get digs at Tonsai, or in the Highlands there are some cheap bungalows. There are resorts on Railay East and West which are VERY nice and actually not too expensive, if you've got some money. While you're in Railay, check out the Stone Bar (there is a wicked night life at the bars in Railay). Also, if you're looking for something to smoke, ask the bartender at the Gecko bar. He'll hook you up. Or, you can ask any of the million Thai bob marley look-a-likes. Despite what you've heard, don't expect quality. Oh, and don't fuck with that shit in Bangkok. For real. You'll go to jail for, like, ever. Bangkok: Don't bother with khao San road unless you don't want to see Bangkok and only want to see rich European tourists with fake dreads and too much money. Get a room at Suk 11 hostel, or at Phranakorn-nornlen instead. You can find their contact on the web. Phranakorn-nornlen is much nicer, but Suk 11 is kind of more central (I found). They're both fucking nice, and cheap. Take my advise. Also, check out the Grand Palace while you're there. If you really want to find something to smoke in Bangkok, check out the raggae bars on Trok Mayom road, near Khao San road. But be careful. Taxis in Bangkok: Make sure your driver agrees to use the meter. He'll almost always try to negotiate some fixed price. Don't -- it will almost always be higher than the metered price. Many drivers will refuse to use the meter. Let them leave. Another driver will take his place, and you'll find one who will use the meter. But if you're there for a few days, you might just get a sky-train pass. It's more convenient for long treks in the city. When buying trinkets and stuff from street vendors or at the flea markets, ALWAYS negotiate. It's expected. However, in western-style shops (like the mall) you don't. Stay away from the fucking malls anyway. WTF? When in Bangkok, check out the Chatuchak Market -- it's only on weekends, but it's FUCKING CRAZY HUGE and you can find anything. Don't forget to negotiate. I usually just cut their price in half and start there. They'll laugh at you, but they expect it. Also, strangely, you can just say "Best Price?" and they'll come down quite a bit. Also, you can check out the night bazaar (Suan Lum?). It's pretty cool. If you have extra time, take a flight up to Sukothai. There are ~thousand-year-old ruins of the ancient Thai capital and old temples, and it's fucking amazing.

wow porter, that must be some video, it's already unavailable....

Like, cops have NEVER been charged with battery, manslaughter or other criminal offenses linked to police brutality. They ALL just get a free pass, REGARDLESS OF CIRCUMSTANCES!!

Dude, you're so full of shit it must be seeping out your eyes. Sure, police brutality is real and I'm no fan of the swine, but you are so way over the fucking top you sound like a total asshat. Regardless of the circumstances? You actually believe that? So, you believe a cop could walk up to a 5 yo girl at a school crosswalk, and for no reason at all fire 50 bullets into her head, and he would be legally protected, REGARDLESS OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES? Fucking hyperbole

badass brother. Nice work You've been missing some beautiful days in leavenworth! When are we going?!

P.S. I've climbed with this joker, he gives a fine belay. Someone go out with him. I would myself but my life sucks right now

the 5.7 crack (corner flash) across from toxic shock is not a good lead for a beginning leader, IMO. I find that the protection is kind of funky near the deck. Maybe you're thinking of who put the purr in my pussy? That's nearby, and a good climb, I think it goes at 5.8

Thanks for bringing buns, porter! Can I stick my wiener in them?

yay! Medium is my size.

do you have any in size ROB?

woot! Who's excited to see me? You know you are. I'll be bringing some nathan's hotdogs, a few vegan sausages, and my amazing wit and charm.

I had plans up there next weekend, but the weather is looking unfriendly.... Ivan, could you talk to somebody about that for me? KTHXBAI

I was going to solo reality bath but I got to the base and decided it was too moderate for me.

I started my daughter climbing when she was 4. She loves it, but hates being lowered. This spring we're going to practice lowering on the ramp out at Schurman Rock.

Isn't he nearing 600 now?

Is this why I often see construction guys standing around? I'm in the wrong industry....

my coworkers point out this means I have 48 hours of slack time. Clearly they don't know me very well.

This morning, I receive a call from an employee at a Charlotte, N.C. company informing me that he's receiving all of my corporate email. Turns out that his company was recently aquired by mine, and his new corporate network alias is identical to my alias, save for two letters. And now he's getting my mail. He called helpdesk and reported the problem, and they closed his service request, stating that they couldn't do anything to help and advised he "wait and see if it resolved itself on its own." WTF? Thinking it's probably NOT going to resolve itself on it's own, I called up helpdesk myself and complained that somebody else is receiving my VIAGRA spam. So what does the guy at helpdesk ask me to do? That's right -- reboot. I'm able to convince him to put the bong down, and that the problem is unlikely to be at MY end, and so he escalates my issue to tier 2. OOOH, Tier 2! That sounds serious. They're not messing around. He informs me that tier 2 will contact me within 48 hours -- and guess just how they will contact me? That's right, by EMAIL. I asked him just how, exactly, were they planning on contacting me via email? There was silence at the other end, followed by a blank "what do you mean?" Exasperated, I say "You know...cause I'm not GETTING any email." Confused, he repeats the mantra: "Tier 2 will assist you via email within 48 hours, sir." Do they all sit around and get high over there, or what?

I think east coasters are bunch of fucking whiners. "Whaaa, seattle people are so cold, whaaaa" fuckin wankers

trick question. He's not wearing a harness.

As I understand it, and from talking to brew supply shops, the high-cost of hops has a lot to do with a disasterous 2006 growing season combined with a large warehouse fire which destroyed 4% of the entire US crop. On top of that, as grtmtnchic points out, a lot of hop farmers quit the business a decade ago when there was a glut of hops on the market, but now all that oversupply has been depleted, allowing no relief to the awful season of 2006. The big brewers tend to manage their own hop farms to ensure consistent "quality" so I think its mostly micro-brewers and home-brewers being hit by the rising cost of hops.

I remember last year some really good lookin' guy named rob brought some vegan sausages.

A lawyer telephoned the governor just after midnight, insisting that he talk to him regarding a matter of utmost urgency. An aide eventually agreed to wake up the governor. "So, what is it?" grumbled the governor. "Judge Garber has just died" said the lawyer, "and I want to take his place." Replied the governor "Well, its OK with me if its OK with the undertaker."

If you drink too much and throw up in the sink, are you bulimic?