PreMDpilot

By the numbers:
Number of days spent mountain biking in the last two weekends: 4
Number of days spent climbing: 2
Number of Miles traveled by bike: 53.5
Number of Miles in Car to get to Trails: 312
Number of Hard Bouldering Problems accomplished: 6
Number of extremely tired boys: 1

So we went to Moab this weekend. It was an epic trip. We almost didn’t make it out because of a blinding blizzard. We perservered through the blizzard, and arrived in Moab at 1am in the morning. Throwing our pads and sleeping bags down, we collapsed for the night. When I next opened my eyes, I was greeted by crystal blue skies. I smiled, knowing that this was going to be an awesome day and did a little exploring while my friends snoozed. I was greeted by this view.




The first ride of the day was a trail called the Porcupine Ridge Trail. Kind of an intimidating name, but well deserved for this trail. The climb wasn’t too bad with a few technical sections but nothing special. The view at the top was amazing though.



We then went down maybe the hardest, most bone jarring downhill I have ever experienced. It was amazing. I was completely exhausted by the end of the trail, but my mountain biking skills had improved greatly, and I’m ready to buy some better shocks.

I was going to do another trail, but I was so exhausted that I decided that probably wasn’t the best idea. So I met up with my friends and we went and hung out back at the campsite. I did a little more mountain biking, burned a pasta dinner (how can you burn pasta?....very carefully) , stoked a campfire with s’mores, and promptly passed out in my tent.

I was rudely awakened during the night by a group of teenagers pulling into the campsite blasting loud, shitty music. We’re talking Britney Spears, N-Sync kinda shitty. I understand, I used to do the same stuff at their age, but I never used to do it at campsites. I mean, how stupid are you? People are sleeping in tents. Of course they’re going to come and complain and of course you’re going to get yelled at. You’re lucky we didn’t pull you out of that brand new Jeep that daddy bought you and beat living crap out of you.

I spent the morning meditating on top of a large sandstone tower and then went and rode the Slickrock trail. This is THE epic trail in Moab and I can see why. The whole trail is conducted on hard sandstone. You descend into bowls and climb out of them again. It’s really amazing and unique mountain biking. I don’t think I’ve ever had the experience of climbing at a 45 degree angle while still having purchase with both wheels. There were a lot of people, but it was really fun.




I was done after that. I didn’t really even want to move a muscle. Every part of my body hurt caused by two days in the saddle. The drive back was uneventful and now I’m back to civilization and ready for a long, well-earned sleep.

The Constitution of the United States of America is our most sacred document. It was laid down by far-sighted people who knew that governments are not there to protect the people, but to serve them. The Bill of Rights is the first set of Amendments to the Constitution also laid down by these same intelligent people. Every middle school social studies student knows this, but we seem to have forgotten the words, so here are some particularly relevant passages.

Amendment IV

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and
effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and
no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or
affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the
persons or things to be seized

Our e-mails, voice messages, text messages, and other digital property constitute our "papers and effects," and are NOT subject to warrantless wire-tapping by the government. This is a flagrantly unconstitutional program and must be stopped immediately. I don't care if it stops terrorists, it's entirely too easy to abuse by power-hungry politicians, and therefore represents a threat to the very democracy that it is supposed to protect.

Amendment V

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime,
unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising
in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time
of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to
be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal
case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or
property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for
public use, without just compensation.

The Bush Administration likes to use the war justification, but we are not at war. We are occupying another country and we are attempting (unsuccessfully) to track down terrorists, but we are not in a state of war. Nobody in our country feels the threat of invasion is imminent, and the majority now feel that we shouldn't be occupying another country at all. When was the last time you heard an air-raid siren? How about a nuclear attack drill? Are you stockpiling food and weapons for the current war? No, nobody is doing these things because the threat is not of a war-like quality. It is more of a criminal threat. You are afraid of violent criminals, but you don't allow the government to take away people's constitutional rights and throw them in a hole in Cuba for 4 YEARS because they might potentially be criminals. This is also flagrantly unconstitutional and MUST be stopped.

Amendment VI

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy
and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the
crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously
ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the
accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.

Again, throwing people in a hole for years without some form of trial is unacceptable and unconstitutional.

If you support Bush on any of these programs then you are nothing better than a traitor to your constitution, your country, and all the ideas that we stand for.

Step outside, breathe deep....Ahhhh. I love fall weather where I live. It is very sunny here and with the combination of the air becoming crisper and the leaves changing on the trees, my home transforms into a wonderland of color. I also think Fall describes me the best. I am not a warm summery person, but neither am the dead cold of winter. I am too cynical to be the hopeful spring, but Fall describes me perfectly. Dignified, cool, colorful, slowly and patiently preparing for the winter of my life.

What the world could've looked like had Al Gore been president on Sept. 11th

Iraq: Never would've happened. There would've been pressure from Congress, but the Democrats realize that there is a large difference between the terrorism of 9/11 and Iraq. Yes Saddam Hussein would still be in power, but the only people who really care are the ones who are now killing our soldiers with roadside bombs. The region would be much as it was five years ago. Or maybe the Iraqis would've risen up themselves. Maybe the UN Inspectors would've gone back in and found that there really weren't any WMD's and then we would be free to ignore Iraq to our hearts content and focus on Islamic terrorism in Afganistan, Lebanon, and Syria.

Afganistan: Republicans would like to argue that the Democrats would've never invaded Afganistan, but we all know better. That invasion was a necessity for finding Osama and it enjoined strong international support. Osama would've been found (even if he is in Pakistan) and would be dead instead of making videos that mock the memory of the 9/11 victims. There would still be a strong American force in Afganistan with stronger reserves at home (because no Iraq) and the current resurgence of Taliban would be brutally crushed by our anti-Taliban, anti-terrorism policies.

Lebanon and Palestine: This probably would've proceeded as happened. There's not much Democrats or Republicans can do about the festering sore that is Israel. But, the rockets that Isreal is facing are much closer to the terrorism of 9/11. Without Iraq, we would've been free to send in a stronger force to root out Hizbollah and show the world that we will not tolerate anti-Western Muslim extremists of any kind. We could also devote more resources to solving the problems between Israel and Palestine.

Economy: Impossible to predict. The Republicans like to claim credit for reversing a supposed recesssion and I may have to give them gruding credit, but I know that a lot of the pork-barrel spending that Congress has been running with, wouldn't have been possible. We also wouldn't have a 500 Billion dollar war on our hands.

Terry Shiavo: Who's Terry Shiavo? Or maybe Congressional Republicans get all foamy at the mouth and Gore has to veto them.

Stem Cell Research: Realistically, you probably wouldn't hear much about what's happening in everyday news, but scientists would be busily working away unlocking the secrets to Alzheimers, cancer, and other diseases. Six years is a lifetime in biomedical research. Thousands of embryos that were destroyed could've been used.

Another Terrorist Attack: Republicans would like to say that another terrorist attack would've occured had a Democrat been in charge. Well it certainly wouldn't have been Osama, because he'd be dead. Saddam might've been willing to give a terrorist weapons of mass destruction...had he had them. Probably not though, considering he never got along with Osama (who would be dead anyway). Airline security would've been beefed up just like it was. True, we wouldn't have secret surveillance programs, or the Patriot Act. But we also wouldn't have the flagrant abuse of power and human rights that is Guantanamo Bay or secret CIA prisons, or Abu Grahib. True we haven't had another terrorist attack, but it's tough to say that the ends justify the means.

Republicans also like to use other terrorist attacks to say "Look, those other countries have had terrorist attacks, and we haven't had any...our programs work." A closer examination (something they don't want you to do) reveals that the other countries have very large, poor, disillusioned, Muslim communities. Countries like England, India, Egypt, Jordan, and Syria all have these populations that are way more likely to produce terrorism while America does not. Not many Muslims come to America, especially not anymore.


Katrina: Tough to say, about the only thing that would be very different are all the army units that would've been here to help instead of in Iraq. All those helicopters could've made a big difference.

Basically, it all comes down to Iraq. Had Iraq never happened, the world, on balance, would be a much better place. Seems like a small decision in the course of events, but it's one of the biggest mistakes a president has ever made and it's had an broad impact. Think about that the next time you want to vote Republican. We trust these people to make important decisions and we have been let down.