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Snow is about a 6 hour drive away, Japan a 9 hour flight, Canada/USA 18 hours. So I want on-snow, ski in/out accommodation and all the trimmings. In Oz (besides B/C trips) we commonly stay in Caravans/on-site vans - depends who is on the trip - ladies and kids generally don't like unheated vans! Am happy to ski in any weather conditions (makes ya a better rider) except for rain - been there done it too often, and am now beyond getting soaked and riding on slush. No snob, just a different level of participation.

Off topic, but why would you complicate things by using such a system, when all that is needed, for example, is an external hard-drive and regular back-ups? (Obviously I'm not overly computer literate and prefer to use simpler, tested methods to save stuff - shit, I don't even partition HDDs!) The KISS principle applies.

No doubt the official J-response will be: 'It a tradition, like sailing down to the Antarctic and killing whales, or waging war on mainland Asia.' Seems it's all okay as long as they can fill their bellies ... so advanced in some things, yet so pre-neanderthal in others.

Yes, the whole situation shits me too. When that aloe vera strip gets wet it feels like sliding snot across your face. Go with the cut-throat and strop - that way you can kill two birds with one stone (pun intended) 1. Shave with a single scapel sharp blade that you sharpen yourself. 2. Have a handy utility piece with which to flail errant children. Ah, the good old days will return! Let Gilette concentrate on what they seems to view as more important - shit aftershave and motor GP's.

A bit of rag and a splash of methylated spirits will remove it without too much trouble. Also good to remove grease build-up around bindings, use in camping stoves, and as a last resort campfire drink!

Does depleted uranium mutate ice crystals? ... I hope they've warned Kim Jong Il (or is it Jong Kim Il? Whatever.) - don't reckon the NK's will believe that a high altitude missile explosion is for passive recreation!

I reckon lift speed is directly related to slope control and has little to do with savings related to the running costs of the lifts. For example, when there is a crowd, the lifts are slowed to control the number of people accessing any given run = safety = limited snow patrol expenses. But more importantly, it also extends the life of snow quality i.e. by reducing/limiting the average number of runs per day per rider it negates the need for heavy duty repair/grooming, and very expensive snow making. You'll notice they mostly slow lifts when the weather if fine AND there are crowds.

Seems the Western way - very wasteful in resources and energy. A close relo went on a holiday to VietNam, she found a street there that is full of shops that specialise in fixing things - from saucepans, bikes, motor bikes, etc up to toasters and mobile phones! Their society can't afford to be wasteful. Always made me wonder - people tend to update perfectly operating mobile phones because they consider them fashion accessories. What happens to them? Are they recycled or mainly dumped.

Quote: Originally posted by Bushpig: meaning what SubZero? Can't read or write any Japanese? Nope - only good (and bad) Unglish. (Being a bloke - can only do one thing well at any given moment ... alas) Be happy in your Nerdom, BP ... you're obviously not alone.

Nerd Alert! Nerd Alert, Nerd Alert!

Quote: Originally posted by fukdane: That kid is scarily 'old' - and cute too. So, you like 'em 'young' do you, FD?

Quote: Originally posted by Creek Boy: Only prob with my mitts is that they HONK! Have had them for like 7 years Ever heard of soap and water? I use gloves (skiier) because it's easier to pick my nose and pinch chicks on the rump. (Snowboarders generally wear mitts because it's easier to do high-fives, and looks way sharper when doing those mandatory rap moves.)

There's a well known ski shop in Kutchan - town closest to Niseko (short bus trip away). The shop (Sports Takiguchi) http://www.spotaki.co.jp/topenglish.html#takiguti is frequented by Aussies for relatively inexpensive and 'disposable' pow ski's and gear. It seems the prices have hiked-up in the last few years - probably due to the increased OS trade. Check their website prices and use an online currency converter to give ya the $AUD. You'll note they vary little to prices in Oz, most of the time it's cheaper to buy in Oz because claiming on warranties, etc is a lot less

Stoeckli ski's 'handmade' in Swiss-land.

Quote: Originally posted by SG: Quote: Originally posted by Mantas: (i love getting one up on the yanks, even if it's on a global venomous snake ranking list) you guys love getting one up on everyone you even take other countries stuff and claim it as your own...... You confuse us with that other break-away colony who has the star-spangled banner, surely? Anyway, we'll take all our possums back if NZ take back all their expats.

Have been there twice - don't need a face mask. If you feel the cold (a subjective thing), best to use a neck-warmer and pull it up under your nose. Powder shots in the face is one of the enjoyable parts of riding - beats the cold water and ice we get in OZ! If you find the need to get a mask, catch the local bus to Kuchan and do what every other Aussie does - visit the cheap gear shop and buy one, along with the almost mandatory 'disposable' powder ski's.

... here posting on SJ - sad but true! HAPPY 2007 Everyone! (It's Midnight here in Sydney)

Quote: Originally posted by rach: What will you be doing on Christmas Eve evening? Wrapping Chistmas presents. Currently got the Christmas Pudding bubbling away on the stove - soaked the fruit overnight in about half a litre of rum, so the aroma is fantastic! We're a very multicultural family, so today is made up of cooking for tomorrow's (Christmas Day) lunch table. We'll have: Roasts (chicken & pork); curries (chicken & beef); seafood; Russian, Vietnamese and Jewish foods, probably some Thai; and all the usual sweets/desserts. For me, the presents come a distant second!

Quote: Originally posted by Ocean11: Terra Preta de Indio , the charcoal rich, carbon sinking, man-made soil of the Amazon and other areas looks like a potential solution too. I reckon the really practical, harmless solutions will be ones that anybody can contribute too. I'm going to be trying to produce a small area of Terra Preta in my neighbourhood. Many old-time (50+ years ago) sugar cane farmers used a similar method - after burning the cane to remove litter/vermin and harvesting the crop, the 'off-season' crop were usually potatoes, beans, or peas/lucerne (legumes). Potatoes

Quote: Originally posted by redvaseline: What would you do ..if You are waiting for a lunch table with 3 japanese guys sipping on a half-full coke glass for almost an hr and only to find them napping? Imagine being in a restaurant at lunch time on a slope. As the others suggested. Otherwise, start early - have big high carb. dinner the night before, a big breakfast, carry some fruit/choco bars/water and forego a sit-down lunch. We do this - get more runs in because most of the slope/lift queues empty at lunchtime/s, keep warm and alert because of the carbs and bulk, don't get tired i

Quote: Originally posted by Ocean11: Oyuki kigan, there is a solution to the totally artificial problems mentioned in that interesting article. Joel Salatin at Polyface Farm has a model that creates soil, thereby sequestering CO2 (and providing meat). There's actually no mystery to it. The problem is not choosing the correct raft of solutions to reducing GHG's (there's no single fix-all), it's that politicians in all tiers of government are pissing in the pockets of industrialists. It's glaringly obvious in Australia and England, and a matter of normal operating procedure in the

We always get the backwards and forwards Anglo-Saxon comments on this forum, it would be nice to hear from people whose background is not so, i.e. representatives from the remainder of the planet. For example, after centuries of ‘unhappiness’ India decided they couldn’t cohabitate with Islam, so generally supported the creation of Pakistan and Bangladesh (but still they don’t have peace because of militants – mainly Islamic ones – funny that.) Are there any Scandinavians, Western/Easter Euro’s, South Americans, and non-Tiger Asians out there to provide a broader perspective on the is

We always get a real pine tree for the one or so months involving Christmas – besides the lovely perfume of pine, rather than body-odour during 40C temperatures, it’s the sense of power in killing a micro-ecosystem, whilst adding to the greenhouse effect, which truly stimulates a sense of warmth and hope in the global brotherhood during this festive season. We also enjoy the one or so months of exterminating all the crawlies that come in with the tree, and a few who decide to make it their new (very temporary) home. (One year I was up a ladder placing the mandatory star on top, holding th

Quote: Originally posted by soubriquet: Soubriquette specialises in western style, but has some traditional lines too. Apologies - I didn't realise it was Soub'ettes shop. Considering the background you've provided on her in other posts (travel, OS working, etc), the cakes should taste as good as they look. So I suppose you're her offically unofficial taste-tester, then? (Do you need an apprentice?)

You actually like the squawking budgie?? (Your likes seem to be diametrically opposed - hotrods and suspect-pop divas) Where's a dose of polonium when ya need it! Good luck to you anyway - takes all types I suppose.