tivoli_mike

Vote to see that. vote early and often

The dalai lama was in the couv today? WA? Dude you need to specifi what state/country. Yeah, he is going to be in vancouver , wa on his way to Camas to bless the Paper Mill

I want that on a t-shirt...

Curious as to that response, I go to SG myself.

Get with your retarded oversimplifications. WTF is your problem! Comeon in for the big win! Inside every Iraqi is an American trying to get out I loved Full Metal Jacket ;-)

I think American voters have demonstrated several times that dead foreigners really don't sway them...

So basically Clinton was a pussy.

snaffle game

Funnier than this? Actually, where is this photo taken in? looks like France or northern Italy... and for your spraying enjoyment: Via Ferrata discussion forum

They are pretending to be Nordic. Of course its nice to relax after a hard day of 'nordic walking'

Chinese holding them off

You know, if you're already there in the snow with those poles, at least put some f*king skis on!

Off a flyertalk.com posting in the safety/security forum... alot of discussion about 1 checked bag and a recreational equipment ban for luggage being considered... This is purely from the rumor mill, but considering the source, I would say that it is likely that some of what he is saying is at least being considered. Yesterday evening, into this morning I was waiting at ORD for my flight to MSP that had been delayed 3 hours. Clearing the security checkpoint, I had an issue with one of the screeners over what liquids were allowed as “essential” non-prescription medications. I asked for a supervisor and was pleasantly surprised when the supervisor (a three striper) backed me up and took the other screener (a two striper) behind Bart’s proverbial woodshed. Anyway, later, while waiting for my flight, I was pacing the terminal, and I came across the supervisor having a coffee. I went up to him to thank him for at least backing me up. Anyway we ended up talking about the whole water ban and the effects that it is having on them and travel. During the discussion I learned a little bit about ORD screening and what is being discussed among the screeners and the FSDs. This screener is apparently on an advisory committee that handles many of the procedural changes that TSA implements. And by procedural, I don’t mean what is allowed, not allowed, but how to manage and run the screening process. First of all, he said that the ban on liquids from a certain point makes sense, but is too much of a reaction. He said that from his understanding the likelihood of this type of plot, the mix and blow-up all on the plane is highly unlikely to succeed. However, he said the risk of the mix being done on the ground is fairly high, but the chances of being caught doing it are also quite high. He said since the ban has come on liquids and gels, the screeners are spending too much time looking for the liquid bottles that many are missing other things. His thought is that passengers should be permitted to bring with them through security any liquid or gel that is still sealed from the factory, and that unsealed items could be brought through if they could determine the actual chemical make-up of the substance. His thought is that in time, over the next couple of months the ban will be relaxed. He seems to think that they will allow liquids in small amounts, probably no container larger than 4oz/120ml. Further, he seems to think that a passenger will be allowed 1L of water as long as it is sealed at the checkpoint. From a screening standpoint, he indicated that liquids would probably be treated the same as laptops, in that they have to be removed from the bag. His other interesting comment on the checkpoint screening is that he admitted that they don’t get everything, and never will. His goal is to minimize the numbers getting through. Second he mentioned some interesting changes that may be coming to checked-luggage in the near future. Most of this he believes has been caused by the liquid ban. As has been reported the numbers of checked luggage has skyrocketed. From what he said the total checked in bags has nearly doubled. (as opposed to what the airlines are saying). Due to this increased number of bags, not all bags are going through CTX or X-Ray, some are just being given a swab test. The problem that apparently is building is that neither the CTX nor X-Ray will detected an IED that isn’t electrical in nature and has inert chemicals. His biggest fear (as well as others fear) is that someone would place the necessary liquids to make a strong chemical reaction in their bag and arrange them in such a way that they are highly likely to combine during the flight with no additional components required, in essence using a plunger, some other pressure sensitive system to move the liquids from one container to the other or a divider with a planned failure point (he mentioned the toothpastes that have the dual chambers). His opinion is that the chances of the device successfully blowing up an aircraft are remote. However, the chances that it would ignite and cause a fire are quite large. Basically, he said they are left with two choices on this; one is to open up every case that has a liquid in it, or ban liquids in the checked luggage. As they currently have no way to determine the actual substance that is in the container, he said that there is very strong commentary that liquids will be prohibited in checked luggage. He said that this is most likely to occur following a relaxation in the liquid ban in carry-on luggage. However, he said this one may come online before the lifting of the liquid ban in the cabin, and if that happens he hopes he is not at the airport when that first comes into effect Following on the checked baggage side of things, he mentioned that one proposal that TSA is seriously floating is limiting each passenger to one checked bag (no sporting equipment, i.e. skis, bikes, golf clubs etc). As I mentioned above, the TSA does not have the capacity to adequately screen all bags for explosives and IED’s. He mentioned that if they could reduce the number of bags screened by half they would be in a better situation to detect the threats. Apparently, 1 in 7 bags currently cause some sort of alarm that requires opening the bag. At ORD he said that equates to 4,000-5,000 bags per day being opened, or approximately 3.5 bags per minute. The baggage backlog is close to causing the system to collapse. If the one bag system was introduced he figures it would reduce the number of bags having to be opened to about 1 per minute. If the no liquids in the bag ban came into effect that would drop even more. He mentioned some other ideas that were being floated around that he didn’t think would come to be. He mentioned restricting access to the secure area to passengers whose flights were not within 2 hours. Alternatives were prohibiting the printing of the boarding passes prior to 3 hours to departure, and prohibiting the issuance of connecting boarding passes. (He thought these wouldn’t work as the airlines couldn’t handle it, and the passengers would revolt) Another thought was eliminating the sterile area of the airport and screening the passengers at the gates. (TSA doesn’t have the manpower to do it). He also mentioned the talk of allowing private screeners to return under TSA supervision. (He stated that it won’t happen, because the airport insurance companies are basically demanding TSA there if there is an option.) So in summary here is what I managed to glean from this supervisor. 1. Most screeners think the liquid ban is stupid, but will stay in some form or another. 2. A relaxing of the restrictions is likely, but not guaranteed, and will most likely be done in phases. 3. The liquid ban has increased the number of bags checked, and those bags are all not getting the X-Ray and CTX. 4. False alarms/bag searches are causing the system to backlog. Major cause of alarms is liquids in the bag. Conversation on banning all liquids in the checked luggage occurring, and probably will come into existence 5. To further manage the “risk” passengers may be limited to one checked bag. This is some of what he mentioned to me during our close to 30 minute conversation. And just in case you were wondering how I managed to get a supervisor for that long, it is easy when all of the checkpoints are closed, its midnight and the personnel have to be there because there are still flights/passengers hanging around. He seemed to be a decent guy, whose is in grad school studying chemistry/chemical engineering. He joined TSA 3 years ago, because as he put it, it is easy money and better than working at McDonalds. Again as I said this came from a supervisor, and should be treated as rumor. But it could be useful for us to consider what he said.

Actually bore us with the details as to which airport...

Dave Mustaine hasn't rocked since "Peace Sells..."

If you have photos, I would send them to the mounties...

which route was that on?

True, my partner got a good laugh out of all the 20 ' "sport" routes listed. There are definitely some nice lines on the rock but again in the context of a mellow climbing area with beginner to moderate routes with great views... Now the trail system, there is something to bitch about. We were befuddled by the markers that led us a hellacious bushwhack...

Nah, probably means Spire Rock, with the graffitied holds, and broken glass for the exciting sit start

Just don't place any pieces...

Redmond Vertical World is probably your best bet.

Here are two more:

Eh, just politics.