I have a functioning laptop again, hooray! Despite the UPS man’s best attempts to escape with it, I saw him out of my window, and chased him down the street, barefoot.
(Oh, and I didn’t throw my old one out the window, despite earlier threats. It is, however, sitting in the corner in disgrace.)
On the injustice of gear pricing and sales in the USA, and why I will find it very hard to return to Australian climbing gear prices.
As a sample, we will refer to the pricing of a Green Colarado Custom Hardware Alien. In the US (from REI, for example), they retail at $US52.50. In Australia, the RRP is $AUD148.50, equivalent to $US111.00.
We will now turn to the case of the red (number 1) C4 Black Diamond Camelot. $US62.50 at REI, RRP in Australia of $US89.
We may also note that I have NEVER seen an Alien 20% off in Australia, whereas I have purchased one for 20% off over here. And Camelots are very rarely available for 20% off in Australia. Here, it’s hard to find them full price (NOTE – possible exaggeration).
Australian gear prices are unfortunately high. I rest my case.
(I will accept orders for people who want me to buy them cheap gear; extra cut on top of gear price can come in the currency of Australian food – tim tams, freddos, caramello koalas, crunchies, natural confectionery etc are all welcome)
The Albacore fleet, and some Lasers (smaller one person boats) sail on the Potomac River a few nights a week. I went and played with them last night. (The Washington Monument and the Ronald Reagan National Airport in the background)
Down the main street of Old Town Alexandria, there are two wig shops. Yes, that’s right, two. Apparently the residents of Old Town are particularly prone to hair loss. Maybe it’s the water. But whenever I walk down the street, I glance in at the wig shops. And every time, my eye is caught by this particulary dummy:
Is it just me, or is this a woman wearing a moustache? She cuts a very dashing figure, to be sure, but she also scares me. (And on a side note, her moustache is just a bit too long isn’t it? Eating or drinking would be fairly unfeasible)
One day ‘til the Red Rocks adventure, and I’m on a hunt for new music to listen to on the plane. I’m in my little grey cubicle at work, and the man in one of the adjacent cubicles is snoring. This is the level of excitement at work. Earlier I heard a man saying “Oh, not party fun. Science fun!†(and going from sounding slightly disparaging, to alarmingly excited).
I present you with a conversation (slightly edited for ease of reading).
me says:
Americans do dodgy abseiling. From slings on trees.
Me: “Where’s the anchor?”
Them: “This dodgy handful of slings around this tree”
Me: “Excellent”
sair says:
Heheeh sounds familiar, like in Thailand.
Me: “Dan, where is the anchor?”
Dan: “Oh it’s up there on that tufa”
Me: “Ok climbing”
(Me having reached the top)
Me: “This tufa is hollow”
Dan: “Yeah you’ll be right just work quickly”
Me: “Dan my anchor is attached to a hollow tufa”
Dan: “Yeah you look totally hardcore”