tvashtarkatena

Yes, that makes sense. MSR replaced the shoes, no questions asked, no paperwork, at the factory down on 2nd St. S. They took the time to explain the design flaw and how they'd rectified it in the next version. I contrast, I had a ripped out some rivets on a pair of Tubbs snowshoes, which is also in Seattle. "Can I just come down and drop them off?" No. The only way to get them fixed is to mail them in through the original retailer. "Can you give me a repair estimate over the phone? I can describe exactly which rivets have failed." No. Send them in, then you get the estimate. Yeah, right. The whole process was such an open ended hassle that I decided to just try to fix them myself. That's fine. And that's the last Tubbs product I'll ever buy. Fortunately, they're a second pair now, and so there only for visitor use.

I see tattoos as just one more version of the 'logoization' of the society. As the population explodes, I wonder if people in a more crowded, less personal society opt for billboard displays of individuality rather than relying on personality and behavior which they feel isn't going to get noticed anyway. Logos gain one easier entry into various logo clubs: the emo club, the hipster club, the clubber club. Furthermore, people have increasingly identified with their belongings. Logos on clothing, logos on cars, logos on body. I am what I own. In other words, I'm not quite good enough as is. Just a thought.

There are about 600 snow depth sensors distributed throughout the mountains in the West. Some are manual and must be read by helicopter, but many report their findings by echoing radio signals off of meteor trails (I kid you not). I've seen one of the manual one's being checked by helo near Cloudy Pass.

Would you like to pet my monkey?

I really don't give a shit who's running. I'm voting for her:

I googled "Mike Huckabee's Wife" and came up with this gem. I'll never look at an assault rifle the same way ever again. Hotty nonsequitor

If that were at issue, Kucinich (with his hot wife) would be leading the pack. Mrs. Obama's not a bad looker.

Who's in? The forecast, except for Fri day, is nice and cold. Accomodations are really cheap in Coulee City. PM me.

OK, so who's going to Banks this weekend? I am.

Like gansta wear and so many other 'caution: danger ahead' fashion statements, tattoos have long since left counterculture for looking the part in the post modern mainstream habit of looking the part. With so many emo types sporting Russian prison tats, bankers with biker tats, and kindergarten teachers with smiley faces stamped on their asses (for real), it's hard to see most tattoos as anything more than a body art version of a Hard Rock Cafe. I've only seen one guy with ink that even approaches unique: a friend of mine sports physics equations on his arms. Do people even show each other their tattoos when they first start dating anymore? It seems like that would be like "hey, wanna see my arms? I've got two of em" these days. I can't help thinking that, 30 years from now, we'll be a nation of faded, frowning skulls, mer-manatees, and supernovaed stars.

Missed you, baby.

Just another example of The Man keepin the actin machinery down.

You don't need makeup, Hot Thang.

I'm for summary execution of all left lane blockers and rubber neckers.

Going for the thin stuff on the Deeping. Bold.

A troll? You know very well that the analysis has shown Seattle taxpayers provide way more money for the rest for the state than the other way around. FW sucking off the Seattle tax tit? Well, he does have a certain obsession in that department... Given previous historical examples like the Minneapolis bridge collapse, it always seems that the rebuild happens quicker if nature does the demolition. Perhaps we'd be better off just continuing to drive on the viaduct until an earthquake removes it, freaking out, and rebuilding it in a hurry with a large infusion of federal disaster money, than trying to do it on our own and never getting anywhere.

Responsibility for avalanche safety rests squarely on the shoulders of the backcountry traveller. Having said that, I think a voluntary avalanche awareness and education program on the part of retailers, ski areas, and others in the idustry, but most particularly, schools with snow sports programs (many of the deaths seem to be younger folks) would be a good thing with no downside that I can see. Avi awareness requires a fair bit of study and practice, and there apparently aren't enough people taking this on, nor are there enough avi course offerings. A voluntary awareness program doesn't equate to a "government ID card" (it's bizarre to me that some on this forum immediately react to increasing awareness in this fashion...the pro-ignorance lobby?). As for the Warren Miller films kill comment: Jebus, get real.

Trip: Lillooet - Rambles Right, Marble Canyon Date: 1/7/2008 Trip Report: Lillooet Redux Jan 5-6, 2008 Boldy defying a semi-tropical forecast of zero C for Lillooet, Rob and I headed north Friday night. Rob doesn’t look like he smokes pot, he looks like he’s made of it, so the helpful Canadian border guards kindly pulled us aside after mentioned that we “looked like fine people, so we just want to make sure that you’re still fine people”. What’s with their new flak jacket SWAT-wear, anyway? Is there some kind of border hard man fashion competition going on? Rifling through the trash pile that is my car must have been a joy. “What the heck is…oh my gosh, it’s a petrified teriyaki chicken wing” Zero degrees? We rode into town to a soggy 40+ F. Puddles everywhere. Instinctively, we headed for Marble Canyon, which was pushing 39 F at midday. The ice, however, was in near perfect condition. The author on Icy BC, pitch one Rob on Icy BC, pitch one Although the ice was in good condition, not all of the routes were. Icy BC pitch two appeared to be a stout pillar with some water flowing inside. Halfway up the outside of the pillar took on a tympanic ‘bong’, so I shifted right. Near the top what appeared from below to be a small window turned out to be a body sized doorway camouflaged by a quarter inch of ice which lead to the pillar’s dark, inner secret: I was perched on a giant, thin-walled tube of ice enshrouding a very active waterfall. Fortunately, the right side was reasonably solid. The delicate part came in stepping up and off the pillar, and onto some mixed terrain, and directly over the hatchway that lead to being cry-flushed down into the netherworld. Spicy BC, pitch two. Leashless? Try headless…and, in spots, iceless. That evening we met Jeff, Tom, Alex, and Raffi for dinner at the Reynolds. I had the “everything in town” or something like that burger: two patties, fried egg, bacon, cheese. Don’t. It was like eating a cannonball. Anyway, the boys recommended Rambles Right for the following day, so, after breakfast at, surprise, the Reynolds, served up by the world’s perkiest waitress, we headed up the Duffy. Temperatures had dropped into the twenties, so the ice was a fair bit more brittle. Rob led the entrance pitch, which exhibited a wide variety of ice in a short distance and required some delicate movement. Rob, self portrait. Rambles Right. Up higher, the ice at Rambles Right, with the exception of the far left weeping chandelier, was in perfect condition. I climbed up about 15 m before I realized that I was missing a couple of 17 cm screws. I’d already placed my 22 and 17 cms, and had to rap off a couple of 13 cm V threads. Rob from the base of the route: “Why don’t you put your V thread tool in a 22 cm screw?” I usually do, but usually isn’t always good enough. Lesson learned. The author approaching the Rambles Right smorgasbord Get in there, MF! Rambles Right On the way home I took the wheel 3 km before the border.

This tool's either really fucking stupid or really fucking out of it.

obsessed Mousetrap!

Hey Professor, it's a line from The Big Lebowsky. You've got to be the only sprayer who doesn't recognize it. You really don't get out much, do you? PS...LOVE your JDL threats. I'm sure their best attorneys will get right on this one. What, do you and Fairweather get together on weekends to come up with this material?

Fairweather: More of your fictions! BTW, that's a barred rock, not a chicken.

I didn't rule out Edwards, I just said that his message is dated and that I didn't think it inspires the electorate enough to win him the nomination, IMO. His tone and message are pretty different than Obama's. If he's the nominee, I'll get out the vote for him and feel good about it.

The metal cross piece just behind the pivot part is ripping through the decking. Design flaw. They should have reinforced it there.

If Iowa is any indication, Huckabee would get the thumper vote, but I don't think he'll survive the process to be the candidate. The GOP's gonna do everything it can to get an insider nominated. As for the dems, I'm hoping Obama will ride his momentum to become the nominee. There's too much disatisfaction with Hills, it seems, and a strong "anybody but Hillary" feeling from the other side. Edward's message is a bit dated...I don't think it lights enough people's fire for a nomination. Obama could garnish a fair number of centrists and disenchanted Reps, and his showing in Iowa indicates that he can generate some voter turnout. As a minor consideration, Kucinich and Nader (OK, not running, but you have to understand his kooky supporters to know why this is necessary) have pledged their followers to Obama, and thats a few million more votes. Finally, Ron Pauls' progressive pitch hitters would probably switch to Obama more than anyone else in the race.