Friday, June 25, 2004
I recommend Fahrenheit 9/11 to all. A great, great movie!
... not to be off-topic or trying to spread far-left propaganda ;-)
Jean: I've read of several helicopter rescues on Mt. Rainier this year.
... not to be off-topic or trying to spread far-left propaganda ;-)
Jean: I've read of several helicopter rescues on Mt. Rainier this year.
Good article in today's Wall Street Journal re: Lou Whittaker's RMI monopoly on Rainier. Apparently IMG and Mt. Rainier Alpine Guides want a piece of the action. The Park is considering it as they need to generate more revenue.
Thursday, June 24, 2004
Terry perhaps the poor girl just had a wardrobe malfunction beside the waterfall and the picture was a cautionary image for those who take the go-lite ideal too far.
By the way the obscure park story was an award winner...without nudes.
Ken thanks for te tip - I've seen it on the shelves and now that I know there's a SJC connection I'll pick it up.
By the way the obscure park story was an award winner...without nudes.
Ken thanks for te tip - I've seen it on the shelves and now that I know there's a SJC connection I'll pick it up.
"In context"??? Gimme a break!! What context? I can just see the editors sitting around..." Hmm, let's see, we have articles on hiking across tundra, obscure National Parks and new high tech hiking boots..........so,obviously,we need a picture of a nude chick by a stream for the cover!" Of course, if the articles had been about hang-gliding, trout fishing and rock climbing then they would have needed a cover picture with 2 nude women in it.
Touche Terry! And that nude was tasteful and in context you prude!
Dave - a bit harsh on Outside, they are a business after all and therefore have to attempt to pander to an audience that they know they can have. I can think of plenty of other magazines, whether they are in Asia, Europe or yes even Canada that play to their particular audiences and the signifigance of various "adventures" on their readers.
For example Canadians don't like sex, therefore I cancelled my subscription to Outside. Okay that, and the fact that writing simply isn't as good as it was a few years ago. I mainly bought Outside for the writing.
Yo would have enjoyed one of the panel discussions at last years Banff Festival. On the panel was Peter Miller expeditions editor of National Geographic, Helen Churilo from The Mountaineers Press, Mike Roberts editor with Outside and Ed Douglas - Their topic was "Is adventure dead?" The concensus seemed to be that they were all tired of seeing the same story over and over again - the "walked into the woods-turned right-looked up-looked down' sort of txt that has been the staple of western adventure writing for well over three centuries. What they saw was a narrowing of that broad perspective towards a more personal and personality driven content flow.
I guess I would argue that this is a western phenomena, due in no small part to our comparitively larger leisure class and if this is true I wouldn't expect to see it reflected in the writings from other places.
Does this make it better or worse? No just different.
Interestingly it was Ed Douglas who had the harshest criticism for the genre and mentioned a story he had seen about a trip to Burma. It started out as a travelogue and descended into a soccer game that played out as morality skit referencing the problems faced by that country.
As for Alpinist, I love it and was even quoted in one of the early editions.
Dave - a bit harsh on Outside, they are a business after all and therefore have to attempt to pander to an audience that they know they can have. I can think of plenty of other magazines, whether they are in Asia, Europe or yes even Canada that play to their particular audiences and the signifigance of various "adventures" on their readers.
For example Canadians don't like sex, therefore I cancelled my subscription to Outside. Okay that, and the fact that writing simply isn't as good as it was a few years ago. I mainly bought Outside for the writing.
Yo would have enjoyed one of the panel discussions at last years Banff Festival. On the panel was Peter Miller expeditions editor of National Geographic, Helen Churilo from The Mountaineers Press, Mike Roberts editor with Outside and Ed Douglas - Their topic was "Is adventure dead?" The concensus seemed to be that they were all tired of seeing the same story over and over again - the "walked into the woods-turned right-looked up-looked down' sort of txt that has been the staple of western adventure writing for well over three centuries. What they saw was a narrowing of that broad perspective towards a more personal and personality driven content flow.
I guess I would argue that this is a western phenomena, due in no small part to our comparitively larger leisure class and if this is true I wouldn't expect to see it reflected in the writings from other places.
Does this make it better or worse? No just different.
Interestingly it was Ed Douglas who had the harshest criticism for the genre and mentioned a story he had seen about a trip to Burma. It started out as a travelogue and descended into a soccer game that played out as morality skit referencing the problems faced by that country.
As for Alpinist, I love it and was even quoted in one of the early editions.
Bruce, glad to hear that you don't want to be associated with a publication which tries to 'sex itself up'. Next thing you know they will try putting nudes on the cover (albeit in some outdoors setting).
Lori,I'll make the appointment.
Lori,I'll make the appointment.
Dave, well said. But Outside is just what it is. That's why I watch the BBC news on our local public tv. At least we get some news around the world. I just love Fox news when they go around the world in 60 seconds. If that isn't the most arrogant piece of news coverage of the rest of the world!
I gave my son a subscription to the Alpinist. I think it is a great mag. Read several back issues while visiting him.
I gave my son a subscription to the Alpinist. I think it is a great mag. Read several back issues while visiting him.
Dave - Have you ever read National Geographic Adventure? Just curious about your opinion of it. I have not ever seen The Alpinist but will pick up a copy when I do. BTW, I purchased a copy of Against Giants from Greg at Top of the World Books. Thanks for sending some copies over to the US of A for us to purchase. Greg was great to do business with.
Wednesday, June 23, 2004
OUTSIDE magazine: well isnt it like them putting Alex Lowe on the cover and touting him as the world's greatest mountaineer? OUTSIDE panders to a 90%+ Anglo-Saxon American base of readers and is probably enslaved to the idea that readers are only interested in reading about American mountaineers, or for that matter, just Americans. How often is a non-American featured on the cover? Or a non-Caucasian?
Adventures in OUTSIDE feature 99% of the time stories of Anglo-Americans doing their thing in other people's countries. How often do you get perspectives of how the ' natives' think about their own adventures or their own abilities in doing these adventures?
They commoditise adventure and the outdoors through gear advertising, superbly detailed trip reports and Best of the World type features. For those fed on this diet, for example, Nepal probably means nothing more than: Mt Everest, Ama Dablam, The Everest and Annapurna Basecamp/circuit treks and some white water rafting.
People like the idea of superlatives, editors, even more so. By reducing countries' adventure attractions to the 'best of', you get the nearest form of adventure package holiday mentality that you can buy.
If you can digest OUTSIDE with this meta-frame, it isnt too bad. But, IMO, the mag is written with the above-mentioned frame in mind.
Off my soapbox
PS; ANyone seen or read issues of THE ALPINIST? It's a pricy , large format magazine which focuses on the best achievements, photos and writing on modern mountaineering. Great breath of fresh air
Adventures in OUTSIDE feature 99% of the time stories of Anglo-Americans doing their thing in other people's countries. How often do you get perspectives of how the ' natives' think about their own adventures or their own abilities in doing these adventures?
They commoditise adventure and the outdoors through gear advertising, superbly detailed trip reports and Best of the World type features. For those fed on this diet, for example, Nepal probably means nothing more than: Mt Everest, Ama Dablam, The Everest and Annapurna Basecamp/circuit treks and some white water rafting.
People like the idea of superlatives, editors, even more so. By reducing countries' adventure attractions to the 'best of', you get the nearest form of adventure package holiday mentality that you can buy.
If you can digest OUTSIDE with this meta-frame, it isnt too bad. But, IMO, the mag is written with the above-mentioned frame in mind.
Off my soapbox
PS; ANyone seen or read issues of THE ALPINIST? It's a pricy , large format magazine which focuses on the best achievements, photos and writing on modern mountaineering. Great breath of fresh air
Grover...Yip, even if it's "afraid knot". Barbarism, whether served with milk and honey or straight up, is still the same. Anyone who has had the misfortune of seeing the video or still pics of the recent decapitations in Iraq and Saudi Arabia knows that somethings simply resist sweetening. Erin Go Braugh!
Tuesday, June 22, 2004
Not to mention that Outside is running a feature on Lance Armstrong for the 5th year in a row. I agree the guy is a great story, but it's a bit much.
Greg Childs piece on South Africa climbing was very good though.
Greg Childs piece on South Africa climbing was very good though.
Bruce - We receive too many magazines at our house these days so when a new one comes along that we want, we give up an old one. After seeing a few issues of NGA when it first came out, we, too, gave up our Outside subscription for NGA. No regrets, it's an excellent magazine and the only one we get that I read cover-to-cover.
Monday, June 21, 2004
Thinking of me while at Costco, well gosh Lori old buddy thanks for the glowing endorsement of my early mid-life crisis. Just exactly the words a guy wants to read as he logs onto the the Internet.
Did you pick up Cahill's "Hold the Enlighenment..." or "In my backyard"? The most recent book I read was Peter Mattisson's "In The Spirit of Crazy Horse". I had the pleasure of seeing him live in Banff last year and very quickly started reading and in some cases, re-reading his work.
I also picked up a copy of "Stupid White Men", this weekend - it should be a good one.
It is with sadness that i report the cancellation of my Outside subscription in favour of National Geographic Adventure - but when NGA offers one issue with Cahill, Quammen and Roberts, you have to be impressed. That, and I'm not that crazy about Outside's new layout or direction. They've tried "sexing up" before and it failed, I wonder what makes them think it will work this time.
Did you pick up Cahill's "Hold the Enlighenment..." or "In my backyard"? The most recent book I read was Peter Mattisson's "In The Spirit of Crazy Horse". I had the pleasure of seeing him live in Banff last year and very quickly started reading and in some cases, re-reading his work.
I also picked up a copy of "Stupid White Men", this weekend - it should be a good one.
It is with sadness that i report the cancellation of my Outside subscription in favour of National Geographic Adventure - but when NGA offers one issue with Cahill, Quammen and Roberts, you have to be impressed. That, and I'm not that crazy about Outside's new layout or direction. They've tried "sexing up" before and it failed, I wonder what makes them think it will work this time.
Sunday, June 20, 2004
Here's something in a book that jumped out at me when I was reading the other day --
“The whole problem with people is –“
“They don’t know what matters and what doesn’t,” I said, filling in her sentence and feeling proud of myself for doing so.
“I was gonna say, The problem is that they KNOW what matters but they don’t CHOOSE it. You know how hard that is, Lily? …The hardest thing on earth is choosing what matters.”
Sue Monk Kidd
The Secret Life of Bees
If you haven't read it, a very nice read.
Today, I read "The Five People You Meet in Heaven" by Mitch Albom. A Wonderful little novel that you can read in one day if you ignore everything else you're supposed to be doing, two days if you're a responsible person. I rarely recommend novels, and I don't think I've ever recommended one here, but I think I'm going to buy about 6 copies of this book and send it to some dear family & friends. It's that good.
(I'm sure you won't be surprised, but you can get it at Costco for a discount, if you're a member.)
Ok, that's it for this week's wrap up. I'm off to try to do what matters this week.
“The whole problem with people is –“
“They don’t know what matters and what doesn’t,” I said, filling in her sentence and feeling proud of myself for doing so.
“I was gonna say, The problem is that they KNOW what matters but they don’t CHOOSE it. You know how hard that is, Lily? …The hardest thing on earth is choosing what matters.”
Sue Monk Kidd
The Secret Life of Bees
If you haven't read it, a very nice read.
Today, I read "The Five People You Meet in Heaven" by Mitch Albom. A Wonderful little novel that you can read in one day if you ignore everything else you're supposed to be doing, two days if you're a responsible person. I rarely recommend novels, and I don't think I've ever recommended one here, but I think I'm going to buy about 6 copies of this book and send it to some dear family & friends. It's that good.
(I'm sure you won't be surprised, but you can get it at Costco for a discount, if you're a member.)
Ok, that's it for this week's wrap up. I'm off to try to do what matters this week.
Dave, Alaska Airlines. Our international travel is limited to Canada and Mexico. We can't get you from there to here...unless you take a right at the Bering Straight. (And while you’re there, can you stop at Bering Land Bridge National Park and pick up a couple post cards for Carrie & me?). I recommend traveling soon, while there’s PLENTY of light. Then we'd be pleased to pick you up in Nome or Kotzebue. From there, we can take you to many sunny sun drenched (and margarita-infused) destinations, the East Coast and even right up to Bruce & CST's front door.
And, we fly all over inside the state of Alaska, which is phenomenal to see, even from a coach seat at 40K feet. I highly recommend a visit. Every part of the state I see, I fall in love with. Each is different, but each magnificent.
Terry, still working on the husband about my early retirement. You know how much he likes my paycheck though. He says that given that I'm over 25 years from receiving social security, I should not be thinking about retiring. He's selfish like that.
The delay in my getting back on SJC this week was due to deep depression over Game 7. How are you holding up anyhow?
Bruce, thought of you today in Costco. The gross consumerism, the crazy people pushing each other out of the way to get the free samples of tiny pieces of unusual microwaveable frozen food, calling Search & Rescue before I pulled into the parking lot, letting them know that I likely wouldn't make it out alive... no wait, that's not it. I finally picked up Tim Cahill's book.
(Ok, I'm a bit behind. I've been reading history and current events for the last few years.)
Bob, I have a large wooden cross intertwined with Celtic knots hanging on living room wall. Does that qualify as a barbaric crucifix? Is the symbolism of empty cross (like most Protestant churches have) the same as the crucifix?
Terry, yes that nun DOES know about all those transgressions. And you still have not made a true and proper confession, so you’re still carrying around that sin. You better make an appointment with your local Catholic authorities soon (allow some time).
And, we fly all over inside the state of Alaska, which is phenomenal to see, even from a coach seat at 40K feet. I highly recommend a visit. Every part of the state I see, I fall in love with. Each is different, but each magnificent.
Terry, still working on the husband about my early retirement. You know how much he likes my paycheck though. He says that given that I'm over 25 years from receiving social security, I should not be thinking about retiring. He's selfish like that.
The delay in my getting back on SJC this week was due to deep depression over Game 7. How are you holding up anyhow?
Bruce, thought of you today in Costco. The gross consumerism, the crazy people pushing each other out of the way to get the free samples of tiny pieces of unusual microwaveable frozen food, calling Search & Rescue before I pulled into the parking lot, letting them know that I likely wouldn't make it out alive... no wait, that's not it. I finally picked up Tim Cahill's book.
(Ok, I'm a bit behind. I've been reading history and current events for the last few years.)
Bob, I have a large wooden cross intertwined with Celtic knots hanging on living room wall. Does that qualify as a barbaric crucifix? Is the symbolism of empty cross (like most Protestant churches have) the same as the crucifix?
Terry, yes that nun DOES know about all those transgressions. And you still have not made a true and proper confession, so you’re still carrying around that sin. You better make an appointment with your local Catholic authorities soon (allow some time).
