New and Experienced Climbers over 50 #32

Having flashed a bunch of climbs on the Touchstone board last Wednesday then failing on Friday and struggling yesterday, my ego is definitely deflated. Lots of work to be done. On a positive note, this grip strength thing that I struggled to “max out” is much easier now. Can pull to the stops then pull into isometrics.

Getting stronger for sure, but not strong enough yet. Will resume heavy weights tomorrow and hike today. Weight is dropping. That’s something I suppose?

So, after the fall of the Soviet, I feel like the West became overly confident. Everyone felt like there was no wrong we could do, and that Democracy the way we interpreted it was the perfect system. Citizens and politicians alike were overconfident. And the west is attempting to “stop China” cause it’s a perfect example of what a country should do to succeed, but they’re neither European nor a so called democracy in our image. That makes them the enemy in the eyes of all Western politicians.

I’m hoping we’ve learnt something from the debacle we made of Ukraine and understand that we really f#%ked up, unfortunately most of us are still walking about with our chests out instead of a deflated ego as it should be.

The west is spending far too much on weapons and too little to fix things like the environment, too little to reduce poverty, etc.

I think that a large majority of voters made thoughtful, specific decisions about their candidate, creating a very close race that would be swayed by a relatively small number of voters. That small number was made up of people who really didn’t give close consideration to the details of the position of their candidate, instead being influenced by who entertained them more, or just made a simple, impulsive decision.

As the votes have continued to be counted, Trumps victory was only a margin of ~2.5m votes, and less than 50%- nothing close to a landslide, and a close enough race that a small number of votes could push it one way or the other. It’s a bit like the frustration that many have that out of 50 states, a very small number have outsized influences on elections as battleground states. The ‘tyranny of the minority’, as they say.

Lori Milaswrote: 

The first thing that shifted for me was taking a hard look at RFK Jr.  i’ve been watching him for years but now he’s destined to actually have some influence. His call to emphasize public health over disease, to review vaccines – – and he’s not against vaccines – – to dislodge the medical establishment from big Pharma, to look at obesity and chronic disease in a focused, and serious way… Man! That just threw the windows wide-open for me.  That rattles the jewelry of all the controlling establishments. Was any of this mentioned in all the Democratic campaigning?

While I agree with you and Kennedy that our health systems need a shake up and overhaul, Kennedy is not the one to do it. He has been steeped in conspiracy theories for a long time and just because a broken clock is right twice a day, it doesn't mean you should use it to tell time.  Some of his greatest hits:

-Vaccines cause autism

-Swine flu and H1N1 were a hoax and used to generate profits for drug companies

-Aids is not caused by HIV

-Covid-19 was targeted to attack Caucasians and African Americans 

-No vaccines are safe and effective

When two children died in Samoa when a nurse accidentally mixed a vaccine powder with muscle relaxant instead of water, Kennedy flew to Samoa to peddle his anti-vax message. Vaccination rates plummeted from 70% to 30%. Later on, a measles outbreak occurred and 80 people, mostly children died from measles. He then tried to claim the deaths were caused by the vaccines themselves. This man is a menace and I don't want him anywhere near a position of power making health decisions for Americans.

Gary Thomaswrote:

While I agree with you and Kennedy that our health systems need a shake up and overhaul, Kennedy is not the one to do it. He has been steeped in conspiracy theories for a long time and just because a broken clock is right twice a day, it doesn't mean you should use it to tell time.  Some of his greatest hits:

-Vaccines cause autism

-Swine flu and H1N1 were a hoax and used to generate profits for drug companies

-Aids is not caused by HIV

-Covid-19 was targeted to attack Caucasians and African Americans 

-No vaccines are safe and effective

When two children died in Samoa when a nurse accidentally mixed a vaccine powder with muscle relaxant instead of water, Kennedy flew to Samoa to peddle his anti-vax message. Vaccination rates plummeted from 70% to 30%. Later on, a measles outbreak occurred and 80 people, mostly children died from measles. He then tried to claim the deaths were caused by the vaccines themselves. This man is a menace and I don't want him anywhere near a position of power making health decisions for Americans.

Here is my favorite: “Polio was eradicated by public sanitation, not mass vaccination.” 

Gary Thomaswrote:

While I agree with you and Kennedy that our health systems need a shake up and overhaul, Kennedy is not the one to do it. He has been steeped in conspiracy theories for a long time and just because a broken clock is right twice a day, it doesn't mean you should use it to tell time.  Some of his greatest hits:

-Vaccines cause autism

-Swine flu and H1N1 were a hoax and used to generate profits for drug companies

-Aids is not caused by HIV

-Covid-19 was targeted to attack Caucasians and African Americans 

-No vaccines are safe and effective

When two children died in Samoa when a nurse accidentally mixed a vaccine powder with muscle relaxant instead of water, Kennedy flew to Samoa to peddle his anti-vax message. Vaccination rates plummeted from 70% to 30%. Later on, a measles outbreak occurred and 80 people, mostly children died from measles. He then tried to claim the deaths were caused by the vaccines themselves. This man is a menace and I don't want him anywhere near a position of power making health decisions for Americans.

Even though I wish we were talking somewhere else, I think it's so cool that we're talking!  (the whole group).  We're just trying to make sense of all the noise, and find what's true in the mix.  

What has frustrated me is that 'both sides' are vested in preventing dialogue.  So, when COVID came along, and people were dying... I realize we had to deal with this urgently.  But when other opinions began to surface, for instance Ivermectin, social media sites were prohibited from even spelling the word. (had to be spelled I*ver*ectn)  You could get thrown out of groups for suggesting it might have merit.  The conversation couldn't be had.  

I had clients, orthopedic surgeons, who were prescribing Ivermectin for their COVID patients, because it worked. (not always).  I had been prescribed Ivermectin for parasites, so I knew it was fairly benign.  A local nurse said she and her husband both got COVID and immediately took Ivermectin and recovered within a day.  So we started getting these anecdotal stories from everywhere.  But we couldn't publicly discuss it.  Just like we can't discuss whether homeopathy or supplements or herbs have any merit. 

And that's just an example.  I know we cannot go down every rabbit hole, but maybe a first step is to go down a few.  I don't know if RFK has brain worms (unfortunately, I know a person who does so it didn't seem so ludicrous). But can we listen without prejudice to concepts and ideas, and then judge? 

MEANWHILE:  US MISSILES STRIKING INSIDE RUSSIA.  

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Li Hu, you are amazing, and working SO hard on your training.  I totally understand the ego blow when it isn't perfect every time.  But you are way ahead of the pack... don't forget that.  On your own initiative you've gone after this, pretty much relentlessly.    You're climbing hard and you are an inspiration. 

I have concluded that there is no way I can continue to climb without going to the gym for regular workouts.  It's pulling teeth to give up a morning of hiking, to drag into the gym.  I went this morning, started slow... but I need this fitness and strength.  Unfortunately, this gym is filthy.  I thought they had cleaned it up... but it's worse than ever.  So, I'm going to have to drive further, find another gym.

But I'm 1000% convinced now that I cannot climb the routes I want without some gym prep.  So, gotta do it!    

If Kris would have mercy and swing by Josh to coach me up the Decompensator, that would be incredible incentive.    

apogeewrote:

I think that a large majority of voters made thoughtful, specific decisions about their candidate, creating a very close race that would be swayed by a relatively small number of voters. That small number was made up of people who really didn’t give close consideration to the details of the position of their candidate, instead being influenced by who entertained them more, or just made a simple, impulsive decision.

As the votes have continued to be counted, Trumps victory was only a margin of ~2.5m votes, and less than 50%- nothing close to a landslide, and a close enough race that a small number of votes could push it one way or the other. It’s a bit like the frustration that many have that out of 50 states, a very small number have outsized influences on elections as battleground states. The ‘tyranny of the minority’, as they say.

It’s always close, but keep in mind that even with the best of intentions and the most qualified individuals currently in office, USA and NATO really f#%ked up. EU is all but in a recession, UK is in horrendous shape.

China, India and Russia possibly Saudi and many developing nations are forming BRICS. That WILL happen. China earmarked nearly 1T dollars. That number could easily multiply if decoupled from the dollar.

Trump will attempt to do the correct thing, negotiate with them to maintain some dollar parity.

Biden would just tell NATO to “annex” Taiwan, my home country, an independently run autonomous part of China. That’ll start yet another war…on someone else’s border half a world away…

The best intentions versus a seemingly “random”, Trump. Trump may do a better job cause it can’t really get worse than this.

Trump, albeit not the best business owner, understands that until you get to the negotiating table, anything can happen. One needs to be flexible.

He’s not going to play all his cards at once, but is committed to high import tariffs if needed, and that’s a pretty big card to play with nearly every country.

Not sure how much influence anyone can have on China? Its exports to USA are currently only 11.7% of their total exports and roughly 2.7% of their GDP. That number dropped from 25% very recently thanks to Pompeo’s diplomacy and would have affected their economy back then. Not now as much. Bottom line, you sell cheap goods, you can sell to anyone, and they created new markets and infrastructure to deliver goods to developing nations.

So, the best thing is to get to the negotiating tables and see what can be done, remain flexible, go with the flow. Keep some dollar parity with BRICS.

Lori Milaswrote:

If Kris would have mercy and swing by Josh to coach me up the Decompensator, that would be incredible incentive.    

It's a bit of a trip from Wyoming, but I do have to come down to L.A. to take care of some business in the spring. Last time I flew and it was a miserable experience. This time I might drive in which case a swing through JT on the rebound isn't out of the question. We'll see.

I've been meaning to suggest that you take a look at A Woman's Work is Never Done. It has historical providence, having been first climbed by the late great Maria Cranor. In my opinion, the crux is more technical but less strenuous than Dog Day Afternoon, and it's shorter. And I'd say it's definitely a cut easier than Decompensator. A stepping stone?

After several days of temps in the teens with high winds and blowing snow, today we have sun, still air, and a balmy 45° F. here. So, I'm running outside with the dog for a while!

There is a strong impression that many of Trump's cabinet picks were chosen as sacrifices to a more serious 'second' choice (i.e. Gaetz > Bondi), and were thrown out there just to watch the Left set their hair on fire. RFK may well (hopefully) fit into this pattern.

It will be entertaining to watch the reactions of many of those here at MP when the 25% tariffs start jacking up the prices of their Arcteryx gear....

Edit to below: Michael Pollan made some comments recently about his agreement with RFK that inflamed the Left- as usual, they were taken out of context and hyperbolized. Pollan later clarified his position in this interview, which spoke to his agreement with RFK around the problems in our food supply system, but strongly disagreed with him regarding the role of vaccinations and his qualification as head of HHS. It's worth a read.

Enraged as they are by RFK's defection, the Democratic Party machine has flooded the web with massive amounts of disinformation about him. I've given up on trying to sort it, and I need a citation to believe anything at this point. What I will say is that in a general sense his message resonates with me. I'm just waiting to see his confirmation hearings, where he will either succeed or fail at defending himself.

apogeewrote:

There is a strong impression that many of Trump's cabinet picks were chosen as sacrifices to a more serious 'second' choice (i.e. Gaetz > Bondi), and were thrown out there just to watch the Left set their hair on fire. RFK may well (hopefully) fit into this pattern.

Hope you’re correct.

Kristian, it’s not his “defection” as much as his utter lack of knowledge in regard to healthcare that worries most.

It will be entertaining to watch the reactions of many of those here at MP when the 25% tariffs start jacking up the prices of their Arcteryx gear....

I’d likely purchase my gear from UK or Canada.   

Li Huwrote:

Biden would just tell NATO to “annex” Taiwan, my home country, an independently run autonomous part of China. That’ll start yet another war…on someone else’s border half a world away…

NATO doesn't "annex" countries. Taiwan is ineligible to join NATO even if it wanted to. You are just fear mongering at this point.

Kristian Solemwrote:

Enraged as they are by RFK's defection, the Democratic Party machine has flooded the web with massive amounts of disinformation about him. I've given up on trying to sort it, and I need a citation to believe anything at this point. What I will say is that in a general sense his message resonates with me. I'm just waiting to see his confirmation hearings, where he will either succeed or fail at defending himself.

The Democratic Party hasn't cared about RFK Jr for years and doesn't need to flood the web with disinformation, he has done an adequate job of flooding the web with documented nonsense all by himself.  If anything, Republicans have been trying to scrub and spin a lot of the more controversial stuff that he has said and done over the years. 

apogeewrote:

There is a strong impression that many of Trump's cabinet picks were chosen as sacrifices to a more serious 'second' choice (i.e. Gaetz > Bondi), and were thrown out there just to watch the Left set their hair on fire. RFK may well (hopefully) fit into this pattern.

It will be entertaining to watch the reactions of many of those here at MP when the 25% tariffs start jacking up the prices of their Arcteryx gear....

Edit to below: Michael Pollan made some comments recently about his agreement with RFK that inflamed the Left- as usual, they were taken out of context and hyperbolized. Pollan later clarified his position in this interview, which spoke to his agreement with RFK around the problems in our food supply system, but strongly disagreed with him regarding the role of vaccinations and his qualification as head of HHS. It's worth a read.

Arcteryx is no longer an independent Canadian company.  Acquired by Solomon years ago.  That's a French company.  There would just be a work around.

I hate to bring up climbing, but had a good day at New Jack. The rock is just so interesting. Lots of sidepulls, slopers, some wonderful crimps and jugs. Never know what’s coming next :-)

Plus a cool unworldly atmosphere, dark skies, despite the proximity to LA.
Saw a great shooting star last night.

The majority of politicians in the US are more worried about reelection and poll numbers than they are about facts, reality and the future. RFK and his theories on health are a complete joke as we all know that the right would rather see a bunch of unhealthy, uneducated and easily influenced constitutes so I wouldn't be surprised to see the guy start pushing snake oil from someone like the MyPillow guy. More than likely everyone Trump appoints will either quit, get fired or arrested as history shows us so really people should be thinking ahead one move instead of getting sucked into the reelection/he bad she bad game.  Remember how Mike Pence as VP was the scariest VP pick ever according to most sources and it turns out he kinda helped saved our democracy?

Major pre-turkey gym sesh today, rainy 38 degree day, nothing better to do... on to cleaning up the property tomorrow so we don't look like complete hillbillies when friends come over for Thanksgiving . 

M Mwrote:

The majority of politicians in the US are more worried about reelection and poll numbers than they are about facts, reality and the future. RFK and his theories on health are a complete joke as we all know that the right would rather see a bunch of unhealthy, uneducated and easily influenced constitutes so I wouldn't be surprised to see the guy start pushing snake oil from someone like the MyPillow guy. More than likely everyone Trump appoints will either quit, get fired or arrested as history shows us so really people should be thinking ahead one move instead of getting sucked into the reelection/he bad she bad game.  Remember how Mike Pence as VP was the scariest VP pick ever according to most sources and it turns out he kinda helped saved our democracy?

Major pre-turkey gym sesh today, rainy 38 degree day, nothing better to do... on to cleaning up the property tomorrow so we don't look like complete hillbillies when friends come over for Thanksgiving . 

You’re not wrong   

Mark E Dixonwrote:

I hate to bring up climbing, but had a good day at New Jack. The rock is just so interesting. Lots of sidepulls, slopers, some wonderful crimps and jugs. Never know what’s coming next :-)

Plus a cool unworldly atmosphere, dark skies, despite the proximity to LA.
Saw a great shooting star last night.

Yea. I feel like I'm in the wrong place. but this is what we've been up to the last few days: 

Those are really cool rock features 

Mark E Dixonwrote:

Happy you had a great time Mark….. sorry you didn’t have time to go see these unusual Rock Formations a tad farther west… 

Note… not sure why MP dosent work like it did at one time. For some reason if I post a picture it goes straight to the top. ???

Mark next time you are out this way we would be happy to show you these, and many more places. 

Yurywrote:

ed esmond, you have a good memory and have memorized talking points of the US States Department quite well.

It's not a war between Ukraine and Russia.
It's a war between the US and Russia where Zelensky volunteered Ukrainians to fight on behalf of the US.

Ukraine gave up their nukes because US/NATO already planned expansion into Ukraine, and having nukes in Ukraine was too dangerous.
I do not believe that I need to provide more information here.
I already shared a couple of links in my original comment.

At this point, I need some help here from the "more internet savvy" among us: can I legitimately tell "Yury" to "put down the crack pipe...????"

"Zelensky volunteered Ukrainians to fight on behalf of the US..."  

I'm not sure dropping the pipe would actually help...(Hope you're getting paid in dollars and not rubles.)

I doubt there's any "more information here" anyone could provide that would help Yuri's sorry a$$ed argument.

You are right: I do have a good memory, and am also pretty good at following facts (which may or not be someone's "talking points..") to a reasonable and straightforward explanation of those facts.  What I'm not good at the mental gymnastics needed to make facts fit a wacky pre-conceived view.  Obviously, some people are very adept at this...

About 10 years ago,Russia, obviously back into a corner by the evil West and NATO, shot down a civilian airliner, with no connection to the conflict and from a totally neutral country, in internationally recognized air space, with passengers for all over the world, and  a civilian airliner transponder turned on. About 300 innocent humans (includingt 80 children) perished.

Be honest, it's  war of Russian aggression.  Almost a carbon copy of Russian inference in Georgia, Chechnya, Transnistria, Dagestan, North Yemen, and Syria.

Admittedly, America has done (way too many..) similar interferences in our history, but it doesn't make Russia's current actions acceptable.

Ed "Yuri, Rock on with your bad self..." E

ps. it's not climbing, or old people's medical issues, but stupid should be confronted...

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