the daily dub

Here’s the photos from my latest trip.  We went to the summit of Mt. Conness in Tuolumne Meadows (Yosemite National Park).

Mt. Conness and Young Lakes Trip Photos

Click the above image for the photos gallery.

Photos from my first trip to China:

Shenzhen

Includes some photos from Hong Kong.

I’ve posted photos from our Yosemite road trip last weekend.  Athena and I headed up Friday evening, set up camp, climbed 2 pitches of 5.6 trad on Saturday, went for a bike ride and picnic on Sunday, and then headed home.

Great trip.

Check out the photos ».

Any of my loyal (5) readers who wear contacts and go backpacking (now we’re down to 1 – me).

Note to self: AO-Sept style solution (that’s hydrogen peroxide + titanium disc) does not work in the cold. The chemical reaction of Ti + H202 reaction requires heat to progress in the 6 hours overnight time. In the absence of heat, placing those soaked contact lenses in your eyes will induce an INCREDIBLE burning sensation that will not stop until the eyes are flushed.

Ouch, that hurt! Saline solution for me next time.

Last night I made history.

A year or so ago I first heard about a candidate, a young candidate, for the presidency. One who had a lot of community support, one who spoke about change, about fighting corruption, and about progress.

Last night I watched that man give the best acceptance speech I’ve ever heard in my life.

Last night, I helped to elect the first black president in our great nation’s history.

Sadly, though, another piece of history was made last night. While the majority of the nation was saying, “let’s put the past behind us, and focus on the issues, rather than the color of our skins or our political party affiliation,” the voters of California were saying just the opposite.

Last night, California voted to pass Proposition 8. Proposition 8 makes it constitutionally illegal for same-sex marriages to be recognized in the state of California. Last night, voters told the gay community that they could not legally enjoy the same relationships that the straight community can, and for what reason? Because of their sexual preference.

Clearly, this is an issue of civil rights. And we just robbed a large portion of our state of a very basic, and necessary civil right – the right to enjoy the same level of love and commitment that everyone else can enjoy. Having just recently gotten engaged, I can only say that this very deeply saddens me. Every day with my fiance brings me joy, and to think that some of my close friends are being told by the state of California that they too cannot – no, are not allowed to – feel that joy is depressing.

I sincerely hope not one person in my family voted yes on Proposition 8.