gerard

Tea party's got their eyes on congress.... Actively trying to hijack the republican party in some cases in fact. Seems like the old guard - guys like Carl Rove - aren't quite right wing enough.

Originally Posted By: Black Mountain I'm beginning to think this was all publicity to promote the DPJ... I think Kan winning was a foregone conclusion from the outset of this 'election'. Like a conspiracy? Do you think they're that smart?

Yea, the guns are OK but those breasts are frightening.

Wonder what Ozawa's gonna do when he loses.

>In some of the pics I find her kind of hot.... People say that. Very disturbing. >She will have wide appeal to the lowest common denominator in the US and a whole lot of above that. Yeah, but I can't agree with the "whole lot above that" part. >She cant be dumber then George W I don't think George was ever particularly gifted but I think he was a little sharper as a young man. Judging by the way Palin speaks though, I think she is truly as dumb as George ever was. What's that I hear in the background..... Jeb ???? Yeah.... but I think the US ne

Silly skier

Sarah Palin? I think I've heard the name before. Is this her?

They must be getting turns elsewhere then, too. I've always wanted to ski Jackson Hole. Has a good rep. A cool dude and incredibly well-travelled, solid skier named Paedde (he posts here and there occasionally) said that 'Corbet's' was the only run he's ever seen that he decided to turn away from (because of the mandatory air before the first turn).

Brutal

In the US I've skied mostly in Vermont and the Pacific north-west. Maybe there's more attitude in places like Colo but I've always found people who hang around mountains to be really cool and easy going. I dunno. I guess I know what you mean. But one thing I can say is that Americans are much better at queuing than Japanese. Anyway, a good general rule in the US is that the closer you get to Canada, the cooler the people.

Originally Posted By: panhead_pete Less Americans, more Japanese. I know which I prefer. So which is it?

I've seen him doing the interview rounds... I'll read that one.

No rain here but the wind is switching to a northernly and humidity and temps are coming down a bit

Liftlines. Sure.

Compared to Canada/US West Japan has.... -->Incredible snow with powder on an almost daily basis when it starts going off -->Short lifts that are sometimes shockingly poorly organized -->No 'extreme' terrain/double diamond steep stuff on piste -->BUT, lots of easy access trees and sidecountry It's worth it for the snow, plus you can get a little J-culture too.

Plus there's the altitude in itself. From sea level to 3776 in a day is a good challenge.

Oh, I do that from time to time. So what did you say, anyway?

What?

I'd think the first ranges around Toyama would take the brunt. Dunno. Either way, it seems like it's gonna hit pretty strong in an area that doesn't usually get hit. Stay safe and enjoy it for what it's worth. Hope it brings a trough of cool air down behind it.

Originally Posted By: Tubby Beaver I'm actually off the bevvy just now....been 9 days and counting. Dunno how long I'll go for, just want a bit of detox after a very lush summer of drinking. This hot weather really puts me into temptation as well but gonna be strong. Cool. I guess you were still on the sauce when you came up with that 'signature', eh?

They just test you going down a 32 degree groomed slope too don't they? I remember skiing with these level-one guys saying why don't we go down such and such course... Nevermind heading into the trees, they were like "Oh, no. We can't do moguls..." I don't even particularly like the 'form' that they aspire to. -That hyper-correct overstated look-how-pretty-I-am look. (Rant over)

They've realized recently that they lost track of several dozen old people over the years and they're trying to clean the books now. On TV they say that it's another symptom of social decline in the modern age. Could be true in some situations - like when someone is collecting benefits for their mummified granddad but a lot of these people are like 150, 200 years old, etc. They've been dead for decades, maybe during WW2, so it really doesn't have much to do with the modern age.

Originally Posted By: panhead_pete Thanks Metabo - really appreciate the info. I can understand a handicap in golf but who keep scores when you are boarding or is it just some sort of classification for competitions etc? Just a little note about Japanese culture, Pete. They LOVE tests in general and you can take level tests for just about everything. So if you're hobby is skiing then you can practice up and challenge one of four level tests depending on your ability. It's really a bit silly imo.

Ha. Yeah, you're stoopid enough.

Originally Posted By: thursday Never broken a bone in my life so far and don't intend to. AND I used to play county Rugby. As well as being well-ard, I'm also not stupid enough to have a bone breaking situation. Really? Even when you were 17 years old? I was certainly stupid enough for most of my younth.