New and Experienced Climbers over 50 #34

While I agree in part. Apogee, especially, as I wrote earlier, that the Trumpists are just waiting for an excuse to crack down on what they call 'the left' ( anyone who disagrees with them). However, I also can't conceive of any ' coordinated, quiet, and smart' responses that will be any more effective--and not because progressives are incapable of such initiatives, but because history shows that it will take something stronger to obtain results. Please provide some examples of such potential approaches, if you have any.

Being a 'survivor' of the Vietnam protest movement, it was growing public disenchantment, as evidenced through a growing and public mass movement, that eventually ( much too slowly and at great cost) led to disengagement.  Trump won't change, but public pressure could well lead to some in Congress--in fear of losing their seats, start to respond or to them actually doing so in two years. This can only happen if there is a large, public, and ongoing response.

I very much hope this happens, because the alternatives would be much worse.

Edit to add: Post limited, so....Apogee, if there is a movement, leaders will emerge. Maybe Cory Booker made a decent start a few days ago. None of them will be perfect--none are nor can they be--but they will undoubtedly be a vast improvement over what we now have.

Protest events are not what I'm referring to...what is needed is a political movement that is coordinated, quiet and smart. A true 'Resistance' would present voters with leadership that is responsive to their core concerns (economy economy economy) and the ability build a productive life for oneself...and would support the interests of the progressive Left with reasonable balance, without letting their agenda eclipse the core principles of the democratic ideology. It will take smart, disciplined, charismatic leaders to enact this kind of agenda- I don't see many such people out there right now, although I'm sure they are out there. Perhaps they are too smart to enter the national political fray. Can't blame them for that.

Alan Rubinwrote:

Being a 'survivor' of the Vietnam protest movement, it was growing public disenchantment, as evidenced through a growing and public mass movement, that eventually ( much too slowly and at great cost) led to disengagement.  Trump won't change, but public pressure could well lead to some in Congress--in fear of losing their seats, start to respond or to them actually doing so in two years. This can only happen if there is a large, public, and ongoing response.

Another question in my mind is when we'll see any significant fraction of his supporters changing their views. So far this doesn't look promising as we're already seeing ever more ridiculous rationalizations. I've heard so many people who justified their vote last fall with complaints about inflation or the economy coming up with creative new arguments now that they can't use those and I expect this will continue.

Emil Briggswrote:

Another question in my mind is when we'll see any significant fraction of his supporters changing their views. So far this doesn't look promising as we're already seeing ever more ridiculous rationalizations. I've heard so many people who justified their vote last fall with complaints about inflation or the economy coming up with creative new arguments now that they can't use those and I expect this will continue.

There are no 'definites' , of course, but once folks really get hit in their 'wallets', some, at least will start changing their minds. Undoubtedly some will continue to believe the promises of future 'great wealth', but over time, if things go as bad as they are likely to do, I expect that a good percentage will become disillusioned---and given that Trump's margin of victory was so small ( and there are a significant number of closely-contested House seats), it won't take that big of a 'swing' to have an impact.

See---I'm not totally pessimistic---though, to be honest, I am more afraid than I am hopeful.

Anyway, I am heading off to try to clear my head ( at least temporarily) of such thoughts by climbing....it is once again, as has been usual this 'spring' here in New England, raw and rainy, so to the gym it will be!!!!

It’s an anniversary of climbing this route.  It was an exciting day climbing something pretty darn steep.  (Bottle In Front of Me)

What I also recall is that I was pretty worn out just from the scramble getting there. I wonder if I’d be good for a couple of laps today. Would be nice to find out.

Since I’m waiting for my kid to be ready to get out to go to the horse barn, and since I’ve been thinking about it, a picture of my project this spring. Hard 5.11, at a small local cliff.  But it speaks to me.  If you look closely, you can see an old bashie from when it was first aided by someone unknown.

Looks pretty good… a sport climb?

Some sort of granite?

Welcome 

Guy Keeseewrote:

Looks pretty good… a sport climb?

Some sort of granite?

Welcome 

Just good old Pennsylvania sandstone…and a sport route for sure! I top out at 5.8 trad on a really good day!  If I get it done, it’ll be my hardest lead ever, though definitely one of the shortest.

Editing to add that this is also the first route that a friend had bolted, maybe twenty years ago?  I definitely whined a bit about the third bolt to him when I first tried it two years ago. I believe he responded with something along the lines of “suck it up.” Hah!

Wow, bashies in sandstone? Sounds like someone was desperate to gain some experience quite some years ago!

There's a cascading effect of stupid and stupidity is terminal, right?  "And that's that's the issue that we have right now, is you have a terminal administration that thinks that stupidity is policy, right. and fantasy is fact. And when you have people that are like that making policy choices, we're in really big trouble."

Listening to an interesting podcast regarding Fentanyl and the inventor and mass marketing campaigns for it by Johnson & Johnson.

Interesting that big business as long as it’s in the USA is t to blame, but entire countries are being punished for the actions of a few bad actors.

I’m still laughing at Trump’s response to China’s 34% Tariff of goods from the USA, as well as restrictions to minerals required to build advanced military equipment without which even a B747 would look stealthy to a radar lacking those materials. He must be shiting burgers cause all he could say was “China played it wrong…”   

Sorry Guy but you voted for a fucking idiot who also happens to be a rapist...  Unfuckingbelieveable... 

I see cult members still talking about Biden being some kind of molester when in fact nobody has ever accused him of anything like this besides the FauxNews crowd. These folks are so far beyond gullible it's incredible.

The so called biden crime family was in fact completey made up and the one charge that they hit Hunter with almost every single Maga Moron who has bought a gun through the system told the exact same lie on that form. You sign a piece of paper saying that you have never done illegal drugs.

“Still, Trump is holding the course. On Saturday, he implored followers on his social media platform Truth Social to “HANG TOUGH.”

“THIS IS AN ECONOMIC REVOLUTION, AND WE WILL WIN,” he said.”

If the poor don’t starve first.

Poor defined as anybody earning less than 400,000USD   

When do you get your DOGE checks?   

On a climbing note, yesterday I TR'd a grade 22 clean (5.11c) that' considered hard for the grade. I've tried it about 7 time before over the years. Time to try and lead it now. It's hard for me and very 'beta dependant).  I've only been taking creatine for about a week (g grams a day) but I FEEL stronger and my muscles do look fuller. I know it's supposed to take three weeks to feel an effect unless you load but I'm quite small really (65 kilos) so maybe it takes less time? Dunno. 

Nick Goldsmithwrote:

The so called biden crime family was in fact completey made up and the one charge that they hit Hunter with almost every single Maga Moron who has bought a gun through the system told the exact same lie on that form. You sign a piece of paper saying that you have never done illegal drugs.

That is not how it is worded. At least be honest.

Carl Schneiderwrote:

When do you get your DOGE checks?   

On a climbing note, yesterday I TR'd a grade 22 clean (5.11c) that' considered hard for the grade. I've tried it about 7 time before over the years. Time to try and lead it now. It's hard for me and very 'beta dependant).  I've only been taking creatine for about a week (g grams a day) but I FEEL stronger and my muscles do look fuller. I know it's supposed to take three weeks to feel an effect unless you load but I'm quite small really (65 kilos) so maybe it takes less time? Dunno. 

Nice!

I’ve lost a bit of weight, but up and down. Currently 90kg but feel like I should be able to drop to 86kg quickly if I can limit my meal sizes. Tough to do with three “all you can eat” meals per day.

K Mwrote:

That is not how it is worded. At least be honest.

"Are you an unlawful user of, or addicted to, marijuana or any depressant, stimulant, narcotic drug, or any other controlled substance?"

Reference:  ATF Form 4473 Section 11e.

Brian in SLCwrote:

"Are you an unlawful user of, or addicted to, marijuana or any depressant, stimulant, narcotic drug, or any other controlled substance?"

Reference:  ATF Form 4473 Section 11e.

I wonder why ATF specifically named Marijuana?