RayInJapan

There were shoes in those pictures?

No apology needed mate. Obviously a touchy subject. I figured my post is bound to rile up a few folks but the intent is to draw a few laughs the same as satirical cartoons do... But I'm serious - I really do understand why the French don't want to fight now. Though I think that maybe a few "Made in France" stickers might be found here and there in Iraq might have something to do with it too.

now now db - don't shoot the messenger - I didn't write that stuff - just reposted it here cause I thought it was funny. I don't really want to turn your comments into a long drawn out series of posts about who did what so I will simpy say: Yes - Technically, the US "lost" in Vietnam You're wrong - the UN OBJECTIVE was to boot the Iraqis from Kuwait and thats what THE COALITION did. The US doesn't have autonomous operational authority within Pakistan and doesn't want it. The Pakistani's appear to be doing just fine so why would we want to interfere with that? The US has

This is funny - after reading the last line of my post on the French Army, I read the second paragraph of this link that points to France - I guess they really do love cheese.

I was watching on the French President on TV last night. He was explaining how the French people are opposed to war of all kinds and therefore had no choice but to veto the US/UK/Spain resolution on Iraq. After reading the following item from another forum, I completely understand the French position on war: The History of the French Military: Gallic Wars - Lost. In a war whose ending foreshadows the next 2000 years of French history, France is conquered by of all things, an Italian. Hundred Years War - Mostly lost, saved at last by female schizophrenic who inadvertently creat

Hi Iggy - we usually go through Aomori City then through Hirosaki to get there. Its on the slopes of Mt Iwaki near the Sea of Japan. My driving times are conservative - I'm the guy who gets passed all the time on the expressway cause I don't like winter driving - I grew up in Hawaii, and I know more than a few folks up here who have wrecked their cars this winter. When the roads are dry, I speed with the best but when its cold, wet/icy/unknown cause its dark out - I drive to alive, especially after the JASDF lost 4 guys coming back from APPI last year...plus my tall lift-kit fit

Well Nekobi - seems like you just might beat us after all. I head to Okinawa on 27 March to have a bulging disc removed in my neck so my snowboarding season will be over shortly. I figure I can go March 15/16 and 22/23 and then I'm done for this season. The real bummer part though is my jet skiing won't start until at least July depending on how well the surgery goes...so much for getting back into surfing this year too. Not really complaining though - had an awesome snowboarding season this year...

My most impressive trick is that I can actually snowboard at age 42. Most folks doing it are in their teens/20s - I rarely see anyone my age snowboarding let alone trying to learn tricks. I have perfected the art of getting air and then landing in a heap with a great big "unghhh!" drowning out the piped-in music in the snow park. I have to admit that I have gotten in better shape as the season wears on and after a fall I now get up within 30 seconds instead of the 5 minutes it used to take me.

We have one of the most active volcano's on earth back home on the big island of Hawaii. It started erupting in Jan 1983 and has been erupting continuously ever since. I remember being home and watching 1000 foot high fountains from my back yard. Volcanos are definetly cool.

Looks like it might be alot of fun on the "bunny" slopes but could dangerous on chopped up steeper slopes. Sk8ers would love them in the park/half pipes I bet.

I'm wagging here Nekobi but I'm guessing we'll get out 4 more times this year - 6 tops if we go every sat/sun this month. April snowboarding is still iffy for me at the moment - at some point here, I have to start getting my jet skis ready for the spring/summer/fall...

Iggy - I like Ajigasawa the best but the drive is a killer, 3-4 hours one way, so it's not a day trip for us. I like Okunakayama, and Hachimantai Forrest too - both are about the same driving distance. APPI is good on a week day - too crowded for me on the weekends. Hakkoda is good when the weather is good - about the same as getting to Okunakayama if the roads are in good shape. This saturday we're going where the sun is shining - if its blue skies, we're headed to Hakkoda. If its overcast, we're headed to Okunakayama. So far this year, we've been to the following places her

23 for us so far this year... Ice - did you pick that name from the movie?

hmmm..."local"...for me that would be Okunakayama up here in Iwate-ken but the best "local" resort that I've been to is Hachimantai Forrest. Its fairly famous but since it has only 3 lifts and you have to walk up to the next one, has meager eating facilities and no "lodge", I think it qualifies as "local". If I lived an hour closer to it, it would definetly by local.

I can't - its a work related, mandatory thing...I think I'll just run a little slower instead, though its not like I'm "fast" - only about 10Kmh...

Thats terrible news.

We left Misawa under blizzard conditions early sat morning and drove to Ajigasawa Ski Resort/Prince Hotel over on the north west side of Tohoku. Before leaving, I snow blew just enough of the driveway to get Momos Surf out and came home last night to find my Delica buried, the "cleared" driveway recovered in snow, and the whole street side front of my house/driveway plowed in 3 feet thick and 3 feet high. But I'm getting off the topic... Ajigasawa was awesome - it was our 4th overnighter there this season, great place to stay - They had the blizzard conditions on Friday night, and

Hey SBF! PADI - Put Another Dollar In - seems like the downside but at the same time - instead of paying a lot to learn things you don't need to know, you only pay for what you want to know. Another reason I stopped teaching was the insurance was too expensive so I had to charge higher prices to make up that cost plus some for my time as well. Finally decided it wasn't worth it part time. Might do it again someday after I retire from my current job but the thought of giving up my weekends all the time doesn't sit well right now. Diving in Thailand should be fun. I've never been ther

Apples? Are you from Aomori-ken Echineko? My hometown back in Hawaii is famous for macadamia nuts and papayas. Misawa is barely a town but they are famous for being rude. The first place I've been in Japan where it seems that more often than not, you do not hear "irrashaimase" when you walk in the door of a business...drive 20 minutes away and everyone is polite and friendly again...

I find it interesting there are "millions" who targeting the US and UK in peace protests but it seems not a single one is protesting against Saddam and his murdering regime. Its doubtful the protests will change the course of the US/UK planning...but, If perhaps 500 million around the world protested against Saddam - ya think he would step down?

You have to have been to the Phillipines, or know someone from there to understand this, as they confuse Ps and Fs like the Japanese do Rs and Ls... Which country has the most "Pride"? The Phillipines - they have pride chicken, pride pish, pride eggs....

SBF - Do you do much diving down there? I'm a PADI certified Master Scuba Diver Trainer but I haven't taught since 1997. The teaching every weekend was getting in the way of jet skiing and my own pleasure diving. I haven't dove up here in Northern Japan yet - its drysuit water most of the time...just waiting to go back to Okinawa where the diving is amongst the best I've ever done. Hope to make a trip down south one of these days...a place called Dangerous Reef...always wanted to know what it feels like to be caged prey...

I think it will start next week... Would Saddam Insane kill his own people, try and blame the US and UK in order rally his people to his cause? Yes.

Started with the promise of 50cm+ in snow for today and tomorrow but its raining outside right now...heading off to Ajigasawa Ski Resort for what will probably be the last overnighter of the season and it looks like Rain and Wind instead of snow snow snow

I've only been snowboarding for one year, so I dont' have any old snowboarding stuff to chat about but I do have a 1995 SeaDoo XP jet ski that I have modified over the years and become very attached too. I want to sell it this spring cause I don't need it, barely ride it any more, and could use the money to mod my other skis. But everytime I put eyes on it with the intention of selling it, the eyes well up and I go back into the house...lots of good memories, and its how I met my wife. (they are babe magnets these things are...)