akhalteke

It ain't getting increased champ. Let me tell you! Our bennies are on the chopping block. Retirement is being pared and free health care culled. Now, there are those that abuse the medical system in order to get over and get disability and they are ruining it for those that actually need it. Same goes to PTSD. When you have soccer moms in California claiming PTSD after watching 9/11 on TV, it becomes a joke really quickly. In my line of work, sports medicine type injuries are extremely commonplace as are back issues. Now, the government wants us to pay a large copay to subsidize costs. As fucked up as my body is, that shit could bankrupt me! LOL So, you see, the military is a mirror image of the problems in the Nation's economy. Our decline has just been accelerating exponentially, while the Nation's economy just continues its gradually accelerating decline.

I've been shot twice, jumped out of countless airplanes, been crushed under inhumane pack loads and generally abused and am, as an active duty military member, already in excess of 30% disability (if I were to get out today). If I had no retirement/ disability to make up for my service induced inability to earn, what is the possibility that I could provide for my family into my retirement; especially if I am unable to work in my field past 40? Some might not deserve their pensions, but I, for one, think I deserve mine. If the federal government fucks with my retirement and disability benefits, I will have no choice but to leave the service and many other experienced leaders will too. They have already had us do more with less for so long, it is only a matter of time until the rumors that our paychecks will be casualties will come to fruition as well. This is a symptom of the larger problem: Output exceeds input. The system can only last for so long and the military is dealing with the same ominous destruction that the economy is facing. The military and the economy are both casualties to the political bickering of congress. This shortsightedness will cost us decades of rebuilding and we may never fully recover. And I agree. Soldiers are in a separate category, asked to do what most would not consider at the whim of soft-handed politicians. The pentagon budget needs to be cut on some of the worthless programs pushed by bring-home-the-bacon pols. Do we really need to be spending twice as much for our military as the combined rest of the world? Pensions for the troops, medical benefits, family support, and post-conflict GI benefits should be solidified and increased. It is quite different than a public desk job. Issue with the military is that a huge majority are no longer even "fighters." The beaurocracy has consumed the military. We are being told to get rid of 50,000 troops and unfortunately, we will be getting rid of the wrong ones. There are soldiers that are 300 lbs and pathetically ineffectual at a job that is not even necessary in the first place. Marry that with a federal government that insists on fighting a war, while not trying to win it is a recipe for wasted money by the trillions.

I've been shot twice, jumped out of countless airplanes, been crushed under inhumane pack loads and generally abused and am, as an active duty military member, already in excess of 30% disability (if I were to get out today). If I had no retirement/ disability to make up for my service induced inability to earn, what is the possibility that I could provide for my family into my retirement; especially if I am unable to work in my field past 40? Some might not deserve their pensions, but I, for one, think I deserve mine. If the federal government fucks with my retirement and disability benefits, I will have no choice but to leave the service and many other experienced leaders will too. They have already had us do more with less for so long, it is only a matter of time until the rumors that our paychecks will be casualties will come to fruition as well. This is a symptom of the larger problem: Output exceeds input. The system can only last for so long and the military is dealing with the same ominous destruction that the economy is facing. The military and the economy are both casualties to the political bickering of congress. This shortsightedness will cost us decades of rebuilding and we may never fully recover.

Except the government actually loses money much of the time. It is a timber subsidy of sorts. The only way you are gonna squeeze blood out of that turnip is by going after the logging profits.

Trip: Colorado- Saint Peter's Overlook: Martyr and Athenian Arete Date: 7/5/2011 Trip Report: Decided to finally give this local area a try and was amazed by the rock quality and remote feel of the area despite it being less than 20 miles from my house. The approach was not as bad as I had heard and really was just short and steep and the obligatory boulder field hop fest was actually enjoyable. Started on the Martyr (5.9+) and climbed some of the most aesthetic crack climbing I have done. It was like even steven in a more remote setting. [img:center]http://cascadeclimbers.com/plab/data/500/medium/IMG_00742.JPG[/img] We decided to jump over to the upper pitches of the Athenian Arete (5.12) but I think we traversed to late and just got a couple easy 5.10 pitches out of it. [img:center]http://cascadeclimbers.com/plab/data/500/medium/IMG_00992.jpg[/img] It, all in all, was some of the best climbing I have done in Colorado and it is very close to Colorado Springs. You can see the 'Springs in the distance in this photo. [img:center]http://cascadeclimbers.com/plab/data/504/medium/IMG_0105.JPG[/img] Descent was an absolute bastard in rock shoes. Reminded me of the Snow Creek Wall descent. All in all, a great climb. 4.5/5

I saw him and Bobby Brown together with Bigguns in Colorado Springs. I wish I would have had a CC.com t-shirt that would have fit her. Talk about advertising!

is car theft really a felony offense? didn't know that. i've had 2 or 3 cars stolen in seattle; kinda low on the crime totem pole methinks. what if what you take is taken by the government, which has taken it from somewhere else with no real representative "permission"? is that "stealing"? What if nothing. Stealing is wrong. If you steal, I hope you get shot in both kneecaps and elbows, have your eyelids carved off and get dumped in the middle of the desert to have your corneas bake off while slithering like a snake. That being said, quit being self important assholes and take your gear home with you. If you wanna cry about it getting stolen, do it alone; in your closet.

We had a case here (Garden of the Gods) where a climber blew a perfectly placed cam. Rock shattered but luckily the glued in monster bolt saved his ass. Guy was an idiot though and climbed right after a afternoon rainstorm (turns the sandstone to paste). Looks like it might be pretty wet around the anchor.

We already saw the video of the Hobbit cleaning draws off of a 5.14 at Smith. Where there is a will, there is a way. If someone is going to go through the trouble to steal draws off a hard sport route in daylight, what makes you think that someone wont steal quickdraws off a route some people free solo when you left it overnight(s)? Sucks that the cocksucker stole your stuff. You did leave them out and knew the risks. I hate when people "project" 5.13's and .14's. Doesn't mean that I think that their shit should be stolen, but you tempt a theif and he will steal.

Can you blame him?

Watch it, hey?

Fresh, magical yoga chick shit. Namaste...

Down time on Kilimanjaro, Tanzania

I'll be reenlisting again. Thanks.

Ridiculous group of hacks. Sucking the government tit while raking in their active duty pay. Classic. I can understand drafted vets being disgruntled but we have been at war for over a decade and the average enlistment is 2-4 years. I am pretty sure each and every one of these "soldiers" knew what they were getting themselves into and is duty bound to serve out his commitment as promised to his country. You don't like the Army? Easy fix. Pound out your next couple years and get on with your life. Thanks for your service. You want to pull this crap? Served you time and then want to bash the service of others? Bet you don't have the guts to say it to your former squad leader's face; your peers. Until you do, you can shove your "confidentiality" about your treason up your whorish asshole. That is all.

Afghanistan. We pulled out "all combat troops" out of Iraq how long ago. Let's just say I know a guy who might be going there soon. This shit pisses me off so much. Let's say something were to happen to a soldier now. In the last decade, public awareness of the harm that soldiers were in was high and soldiers have been taken care of. Now, with politicians blatantly lying about drawdowns and the media following blindly, how likely is there to be vocal support if God forbid, a soldier becomes an amputee or dies and the government tries to hose him? I'll tell you. Nothing. Public outcry is the only reason that ramshackle hospitals and substandard care have been fixed. Now, we have zero visibility and a still (admittedly less so) hostile area with little transparency with the American public. [/end rant]

Me and the Mrs. just did that route. There is a mysticism in that gorge that is hard to explain. I feel blessed to have this in my backyard now. Great TR.

You would have to ask Longfellow. Though technically neither as they came via river. Two lanterns were used.

WILCO

I'm higher than you!

Disgraceful.

Perhaps before you start running your suck, just remember that some here have been there/done that before you were born, and speak from experience young jedi. Get bent prick. I stand behind what I said. You have no idea what I do. I suggest you shut YOUR suck hole. Doing a mandatory tour because of selective service doesn't give you carte blanche for posting pictures of dead children to further one's point on a pointless thread.

Says the guy who has never fired a shot in either conflict, nor seen either country. Where do you get your opinions from? The very media you continuously cite as of il repute? Profit is in anything. It is human nature. To state that war is only to obtain profit is naive and overstated.

the 100% was just my own. I have been lucky to deal only with very black and white situations. I do not argue with the premise that intentionally hiding information/ inflamatory material for propaganda's sake is wrong. I do feel that utilizing a dead child to make one's point is gravely classless. The average citizen will never end a war. The nation building aspects are areas where we might be able to affect change. Bush didn't have a plan for nation building in either conflict and Obama hasn't changed the equation either other than adding another conflict with no plan for nation building and then quickly leaving. Point is, what happens after the regimes topple is now more than ever more important than the actual conflict. Essentially, troops are in limbo holding off the hordes until the nations can be rebuilt. Unfortunately, the government doesn't really understand/ listen to the needs on the ground and has not made any great efforts to rebuild the nations other than their military and police. There are still fuckers that need to be killed over there, don't get me wrong, but the more important issue is bringing Afghanistan into at least the 20th century(roads and schools) and ending sectarian strife in Iraq (extremely difficult. It would help if Pakistan weren't taking a huge percentage of our shipments into Afghanistan (not only humanitarian aid, but weapons and military equipment) and handing it out to Pakistanis as well as militants. IMHO, Iraq is about as good as WE can get it. The rest is up to them. Their own ethnic conflicts and their xenophobia are their major hang-ups. Afghanistan either needs to be left as the tribal area it is, or trillions need to be spent to make the country an actual country instead or a patchwork of different ethnicities and tribes fighting to keep their way of life with nothing unifying their respective clans. Westerners not doing heroin would help a hell of a lot. Good luck stopping that. So, I guess, after my ramblings, there ain't a hell of a lot to do but try and convince decision makers that spending needs to change to effect change in situations that differ from past conflicts and will not respond to the same stimuli.