New and Experienced Climbers over 50 #35
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I haven’t been posting much but have been keeping up with the thread. I’ve actually enjoyed the political discussion - especially the differing perspectives. I agree with others that if we ban political talk we may as well ban all the other ‘off-topic’ discussions (nutrition, gardening, books….) and the thread would become much less interesting. It seems like most posting has been pretty respectful aside from a couple negative comments which for sure were not ok. As a group, we do a pretty good job of self-moderating and letting people know when they’ve overstepped. I would hate to see people like Phylp, Guy, Kristian, Kim leave due to these comments - they add so much value to our discussions here. Here’s a climbing photo from the other day. David and I would never have met if it weren’t for this thread and OLH starting the COR gathering. |
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Alan Rubin wrote: Leave it to this venerable gentleman to much more diplomatically sum up my concerns, which were perhaps expressed with a bit more broad-brushed judgment (referencing Gabe O) than was useful. As with other dictators and autocrats throughout history, there will be a right side and a wrong side to have been on. However, I didn't expect to change anyone's mind (referencing Guy saying at a certain age you don't care how people think of you). But I'd like to think this group can handle some variety in perspectives, and I'll try to keep any future contributions less personal. I meant what I said about missing moderate republicans, this nation is healthier when both sides are strong and in good faith trying to compromise, not destroy each other's accomplishments (which is objectively what is happening right now, and what Democrats will surely do in the future when they get their turn in power, sadly, so the cycle will continue) |
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bryans wrote: "venerable gentleman"--better 'old fogey' or 'crusty rusty'--much more apt. Anyway, when you bemoan that "in the future" ( if there is such a future) if they have the opportunity, the Democrats will 'destroy' the current Administration's "accomplishments", I, to a large extent, feel that in these circumstances such an approach will be appropriate and necessary. Since so many of such 'accomplishments' so far, have been the destruction of things of value--such as important agencies, valuable policies, respect of the rule of law, amongst others, I do very much hope that such ' Trump wins' are reversed or destroyed. As you yourself have noted, what we are now experiencing is far removed from the normal political give and take and compromise. If some of what is being done leads to real savings and increases in efficiency--probably more by accident than actual thought, then great, that should be continued, but otherwise if we ever have the opportunity to actually move on from MAGA, then it will be tough, if not impossible, to salvage so much of value that has already been destroyed or seriously damaged. Back to climbing, after a wet morning, conditions here at Breaks are rapidly improving---I may even have to shelve my plans for a full, and much needed, rest day and get away from my phone and back onto the stone. |
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Started to work on my finger locks. Weighted onto a toe lock and finger lock without too much difficulty. Hoping to be able to get some 5.11- cracks soon. 1-3-5-7-9 on the campus knobs have helped me hit low/mid mid-5.12 and V7 moves without straining anything. Hoping to get on harder climbs and more comfortable when I get back to Joshua Tree and Tahquitz. No issue with people posting USA politics here, as the topics are quite relevant to everyone in the world. Most people around the rest of the world now think that relevancy has to change thanks to the past 9 years. |
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My favorite way to get the weather forecast is the point forecast at NWS. I have the layer set to topographic map, so you can see the elevation. But now the NWS has highly degraded the topo view. Despite trump's lie that he was not going to implement project 2025 to destroy government. |
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Heading home from Arizona today. Failed again on my project. I do take inspiration from Dave MacLeod’s great book “Nine out of ten climbers make the same mistakes.” “The idea that ‘failure to fail’ regularly in climbing is the ultimate failure to realize one’s potential…Tell people your goals…You won’t manage all of them or maybe any. And make sure that you admit publicly that you couldn’t manage them (this time at least).” |
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Old lady H wrote: To quote Mr. Spock, "Fascinating." Speaking of whom, I worked with Nimoy in the studio more than once, and I can tell you that he was type-cast for that role. I'm no sonar tech, but I'd expect there to be some significant differences between the acoustical properties of fresh water and sea water, but what do I know? And speaking of great atrocities of times past and present, we have developed and been living with the capacity to commit the ultimate atrocity for some 70 or so years now. Nuclear Armageddon. My observation is that we are far closer to this ultimate catastrophe than ever, and the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists supports that conclusion. I suggest subscribing to their newsletter. |
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It's nice to know there's a rational, consistent leader in the WH to hold the nuclear weapon codes at this delicate point in history. (/obvious snark) |
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And speaking of great atrocities of times past and present, we have developed and been living with the capacity to commit the ultimate atrocity for some 70 or so years now. Nike missile base in the small town where I grew up. The Cuban Missile Crisis - interesting and frightening to see trucks driving through town, pulling flatbeds loaded with more missiles for the base. Covered with tarps but unmistakable. |
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Beautiful spring day in the subarctic. Migratory waterfowl returning. Soft snow up high. No greening on the birches yet. White mountains |
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Climbing a crimpy (easy-ish) Green at Urban Climb and trying to downclimb it. I’d climbed and down climbed it twice in this session previously. I downclimb a LOT of boulder problems, it’s good training and saves my knees. |
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Carl Schneider wrote: Nice, Carl! I especially like that smile at the end! Okay, smart people. I saw Carl's post hours ago (dont ask, I'm fine, but it's unfun drama with a friend time again), which made me wonder what time he posted. So, google Adelaide time. No surprise, it's morning for me, here in Boise, and night now for Carl. But! Sunrise! Boise is 6:43, Adelaide 6:49, only minutes apart, as we roll around to it, of course. But it's a whole hemisphere different season??? Sunset, Boise 8:43, Adelaide 5:36, so there's Carl's winter approaching. But how is it that the full load of seasonal daylight seems to be on the sunset end of things? Here, I will be gaining both ways. Yes, I sorta kinda generally know how this stuff works. But not really. Helen |
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California-- it's not just my home, my state. California is my country. I can hear the Blues Breakers sax strident and mesmerizing, wailing in the moonlight, as we traverse ecosystems in search of new rock new friends. Which we surely find.
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"Perhaps the greatest achievment . . . the affirmation of their humanity. This was their true common language: the shared values of decency and dignity, of tolerance and respect." Atkinson on Churchill and Roosevelt " Appetite unbridled, ambition unmeasured . . . There is no end of the appetite of this wicked man." Churchill on Hitler |
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"True terror is to wake up one morning and discover that your high school class is running the country." Vonnegut |
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trying to get ready for a road trip somewhere warm and dry. thinking Gunk's and RRG? wanted to hit Seneca as well but probably not enough time... Trying to time the dry days and travel days and Seneca not cooperating. this is what it looks like at my house right now.... |
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Despite its reputation for roofs, the overall angle of the Gunks is not so great in the rain. On the other hand, there is plenty of overhanging stuff that stays dry in the Red. You can always get on something even if it is above your pay grade if you don’t mind climbing bolt to bolt and resting. Lots of steep stuff with fixed draws so yiou can bail at any point. |
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China thanks the Trump and Biden’s CHIPS act. Thanks to isolationism and “bringing jobs back to America”, companies such as NVidia et al will be laying off highly paid workers. And if greedy American executives who had off shored manufacturing jobs to begin with bring back the USA manufacturing sector, those workers will be lucky making 1/20 their previous salaries. Wonderful news, right? Great thinking, America! In the name of defence, Viva La bringing back low paying wages!
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For those who feel that we have been exaggerating when some of us warned that the current Administration is a real threat to our climbing resources, I have learned that at few days ago Trump signed an executive order, to speed up the Environmental Impact Statement, to permit the transfer of the Oak Flat ( Queen Creek) area, currently administered by the Forest Service, to the Resolution Copper Company to enable them to create a huge open pit mine there. Oak Flat is one of the major climbing areas near Phoenix and for years was the site of the Phoenix Bouldering Contest. It is also sacred ground to the Apache people, and a very scenic location. While the fight over this land transfer has been going on for years, and will undoubtedly continue, this is a major and very negative development---but fits totally with his support for aggressive resource exploitation. |
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I’d guess that Resolution Copper Company would allow its employees to climb out there? Everyone here who climbs there, a new career in open pit mining is waiting for you! M M wrote: Definitely sounds like a Vonnegut quote. |