Slippery Jim

I used to lend stuff out, and still would lend jacket, my old one-piece. But after someone borrowed a pair of brand new gloves once, and returned them a week later, soaking wet, in a sealed plastic bag, stitching loose in places, thumb on one glove pulled inside out -- well, I'm now with those who say if you can't afford your own accessories, tough bananas. FWIW, I'd suggest never lending, or borrowing, eyewear. Too much risk of disease.

JA, unfortunately (as I would agree it should not have anything to do with the US) you're wrong on that. Given the state of race relations in my native land, and the readiness of people on both sides (of what is, let's face it, a rather nebulous line) to start screaming and pounding drums at any opportunity, however irrelevant, it's simply common sense for any large corporation to immediately disassociate itself from anything that might (rightly or wrongly) be taken up by such people as evidence of insensitivity/oversensitivity/nonsensitivity or any other tivity they can think up given 10 seco

JA, just a comment in general; surely you don't think the world lacks for stupidity? As for that KFC biz, I doubt it has anything to do with Australia, race relations in Australia, Australians (white, black or purple with pink polka dots) or anything other than a large corporation reacting to something done by an affiliate in (forgive me) a relatively small market, that could have major repercussions in its far larger home market given the state of race relations there. In other words, it was likely a decision made on purely domestic considerations. GN, I think there's quite a differenc

JA, blower snow is powder so light it sort of blows all over you as you make turns, also known as cold smoke, diamond dust, champagne powder, etc.etc.

I am not familiar with the terms of extradition agreements between the US & UK, but would certainly agree that all such agreements should be equitable, and I would without reservation support the extradition of an American to the UK if he/she were indicted on criminal charges. As an American, I expect I have more problems with some aspects of how my nation acts than most of you from other lands. At the same time, I am often amused (and at time annoyed) at comments that are obviously just kneejerk reactions with little or no substance. One of the ways in which my countrymen most

Very odd, indeed, running into steroid central like that. I like the one guy explaining how buying some of that stuff isn't a crime though possession is. That was more than convoluted.

I'd say it's got a lot to do with what you have in your jeans, yes.

Ah, thank god for that! Give me a good rerun of ``Have Gun, Will Travel'' anytime.

Jaysus, I was just hoping to find something amusing that I could put up on this, backing JA and Snowjunky, so I google'd havoc, odor... Now, this is getting far out there, and I don't think I'd want to know any of these folks: http://anabolicminds.com/forum/supplements/64462-rpn-havoc-cycle.html

At home, it's ALL about comfort.

Happy New Year to all

Good god, you don't mean you actually watch them! You're dead right on that, JA, a good horsewhipping is in order for whoever thought up that idea. I'm with Chriselle; there's not a lot that offends me, but plenty that pisses me off: people who try to get into the train the second the doors open instead of waiting for others to get off first; people who see you waiting for a taxi and walk 10 meters uproad from you and grab the next cab (that should be a capital crime with execution permitted on-the-spot); people (since this is SnowJapan) who scrape their way sideways down a powder field.

[[One of my disagreements with the US is their insistence that they have a monopoly on the definitions of "fair" and "democracy" among other terms. GWB did irreparable damage to the world when he insisted that he would determine what "democratic elections" meant in any part of the world, and that he would intervene in any area where the elections were not "free and fair" - especially of there was a load of oil in the ground there!]] I'm sure these statements aren't simply the product of your imagination, and that you have some specific facts to support them. It would be nice to see those

Originally Posted By: Go Native Onto another topic, I find it offensive when people ask me 'what star sign are you?'. I can't help but be offended that they think me dumb enough that I would stoop so low as to pander to their utter stupidity. Ranks right up there with ``What's your blood type?'' People get confused when I reply, ``X''

My guess is that it's a total play, and he gets laid quantitatively and qualitatively far more than the average guy.

Bumping again. Have been told that Yamato will accept unrestricted packages under their `Yamato-bin' banner. Plan to drop by the local service center tomorrow to find out what the deal is. Sagawa told me no problem with any size/contents of ski bags. Problem with them is the hotel I'll be at in Niseko doesn't deal with Sagawa (why? if you have to ask you obviously haven't been in Japan very long). Again, if anyone has any relevant experience/advice I'd be grateful to hear.

Difficult, Thurs. I get back 2/25 and work 27-28. How's your March looking?

Thursday, Well, I'm Niseko'ing twice in January, then Rusutsu'ing for a few days late in the month. In February, I'm Rocky Mts'ing at Salt Lake & Sun Valley. Haven't made any definite plans yet for March, although I suspect the higher elevations in Nagano will appeal more unless winter hangs around in Hokkaido longer than in the past couple of seasons.

Bumping this to ask if anyone has run into trouble using Yamato or other delivery services with the new ``all-in-one'' bags that hold skis, boots & loads of assorted clothing/accessories? Was just told by Yamato that they'll no longer accept skis & boots in the same bag. Is this just my local guy, or is it a new rule?

This is the schedule for shinkansen trains Tokyo to Nagano on weekdays (the two blue tabs next to the orange one at the top are for saturdays and sundays/holidays, respectively). http://timetable.ekitan.com/train/TimeStation/92-8_D1_DW0_SC1.shtml

Having struggled with the same issue for many years, I can tell you that you basically are SOL. Get used to baggy pants until you can make a trip abroad to buy. Thankfully, I no longer have that problem courtesy of a hearty appetite.

Where was that, Mitch, Solitude?

Does anyone know how this is going to work? Where/when the safety talk happens? Will you need beacons/probes/shovels?

Don't want to see this thread snowed under with irrelevancies. JA, I fully understand and to a great extent share the angst. Language is a living, untamed beastie, and we're not happy when it pees on our particular rug -- especially when it's a rug that really tied the room together. Anyway, that's just...like, my opinion, man.

I'm always impressed when Aussie wannabe Brits refer to the ``civilized world''