I had a brief e-mail correspondence with my Uncle Jim who lives in Missouri about Jared Diamond’s new book COLLAPSE: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed.

At the end of all my e-mails Gmail allows a ’signature’ mine is a quote about rock climbing:

“When you ride your bike, you’re working your legs, but your mind is on a treadmill. When you play chess, your mind is clicking along, but your body is stagnating. Climbing brings it together in a beautiful, magical way. The adrenaline is flowing, and it’s flowing all the time.” — Pat Ament

My uncle responded to my letter, and included an addendum to this quote:
“PARTICULARLY WHEN YOU ARE PLUMMETING TO YOUR DEATH!”