by Rupe | Jan 29, 2012 | Tweets
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by Rupe | Jan 22, 2012 | Tweets
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by Rupe | Jan 22, 2012 | Fitness
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This is only a test post. I intend to get back to my normal routine next week. Pretty middle of the road cardio this morning. Â Ran the corners pretty hard. Â It was bit humid, but cool and light. Â My weight workout was pretty good. Â I added several burnout set on the triceps exercise – really good burn. Â Since I won’t be going up to Kings Bay any more in coming months I will have to reconstitute the gym at home or figure out something local.
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by Rupe | Jan 18, 2012 | Not So Recent Reads
Title: The Second World War – Milestones to Disaster by Winton Churchhill
Summary:
Churchill’s history of the Second World War is, and will remain, the definitive work. Lucid, dramatic, remarkable for its breadth and sweep and for its sense of personal involvement, it is universally acknowledged as a magnificent reconstruction.
My Comments:
Absolutely brilliantly written. If you care about history, especially history of the one of the most seminal events in all of history, this is a must read. This is the first part of several volumes. I will move on to the next soon. I very must recommend it.
Grab it from Amazon
by Rupe | Jan 17, 2012 | Health-Wellness-Sex
Could It Be Alzheimers?
It is normal for our loved ones to become a bit forgetful as they age. So how can we separate a harmless senior moment€ from a more serious problem like Alzheimer’s disease? One in eight people 65 and older have this devastating form of dementia. In its first stages, Alzheimer’s may not be obvious to friends and family. But there are some early warning signs to watch for.
Source: WebMD
My Comments:
This terrible disease runs in my family. Â Back in the day, before we realize how terrible it is, we used to just call it senility, but it is really bad juju…
by Rupe | Jan 15, 2012 | Tweets
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by Rupe | Jan 11, 2012 | Fitness
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by Rupe | Jan 8, 2012 | Inspiration
Namaste is a Hindi salutation or greeting. The word Namaste is a combination of the two Sanskrit words: nama, and te. Basically, nama means “to bow” and te means “you.”
Interpretation:
The God/Goddess Spirit within me recognizes and honors the God/Goddess Spirit within you.
Mudra of Namaste:
Hands are held together at the palms in front of the heart or brow chakra.
Head is bowed slightly downward. Eyes are sometimes closed.
by Rupe | Jan 8, 2012 | Tweets
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by Rupe | Jan 7, 2012 | Musical Words
I am still having a bit of a nostalgia here. This is one of the top songs of the 1980’s. The expression of triumph with love is timeless. Hope it is not too sappy…enjoy.
by Rupe | Jan 7, 2012 | Tweets
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by Rupe | Jan 6, 2012 | Musical Words, My Videos
To say the Bee Gees is one of my top 3 favorite groups of all times is putting it crazy mildly. I pretty much grew up having my puppy love crushes with these songs playing in the background. This is one of my favorite song as well and has not lost one ounce of ability to move me. Enjoy!
by Rupe | Jan 6, 2012 | Tweets
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by Rupe | Jan 5, 2012 | Tweets
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by Rupe | Jan 2, 2012 | Fitness, Health-Wellness-Sex
What Is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is an age-old healing practice of traditional Chinese medicine in which thin needles are placed at specific points in the body. It’s primarily used to relieve pain but also has been used to treat other conditions. More than 3 million Americans use acupuncture, but it is even more popular in other countries. In France, for example, one in five people has tried acupuncture.
Source: WebMD
My Comments:
Ok, so I am like deathly scared of needles aaight…so when my doctor suggested acupuncture as a treatment for a persistent and nagging low intensity wrist and upper back injury, I was like – are you freaking kidding me dude.  You are a full blown doctor – yes?  then why are you talking all this mumbo-jumbo stuff about – ancient Chinese medicine”…Chi and energy pathways, blah…blah…blah.  Dr Dude was calm though and said, I hear you, but how about giving it a try nonetheless, besides, it won’t hurt…(pause)…that much.  The short of the story is – I decided to grit my teeth and give it a go and I am here to say, the cynic in me has been tempered.  The freaking thing no only works, its effects are absolutely tangible.  I kid you not.
by Rupe | Jan 1, 2012 | Fitness, Health-Wellness-Sex
About 10 years ago, a friend of mine—who was a strength coach for a Major League baseball team—told me about an all-star outfielder who was absolutely crazy about fitness. So much so that the player did barbell squats in the locker room. While standing on a Swiss ball. Buck naked. Which isn’t just crazy—it’s scary.
Thank goodness naked Swiss-ball squats never went viral. But I’ve found three current fitness trends that are just as scary. (If you don’t count the nudity.)
Source: Men’s Health
My Comments:
Jumping for heavyweights….that is some scary crap. Â I am tracking on all these outrageous trends.Â
by Rupe | Jan 1, 2012 | Reflections
2011 was a pretty hard year, but hope a much better 2012.
by Rupe | Dec 29, 2011 | Musical Words, My Videos
This is one of my favorite songs. I first fell in love with this song as a teenager, when Air Supply first introduced it back in the ’80s. Then Mariah came and blew it away. The one above is Mariah’s, done with English and Spanish lyrics…just absolutely well done. The one below is a montage put together over Air Supply’s version. The images brings out the meaning a bit more.
“Click on title above to see both Videos“
by Rupe | Dec 28, 2011 | Mad Musings, what the...?
To read the full story click source link below…
Source: CNN
My Comments:
The fact that a court in this day and age had to make such a ruling is troubling…you have got to be kidding me. Â Again, not to disparage any culture, but why in good heavens would a woman have to subjected to a virginity test to prove she is not a bad person. Â This is nothing short of sexual assault. Â Nothing new here though; pretty much in line with other surprising things observed in that part of the world.
by Rupe | Dec 20, 2011 | Mad Musings, Military-Political, Top Stories
Comments:
You have got to be freaking kidding me. Â These folks cannot be serious. Â I am sure in some delusional way this makes perfect sense, but it is unbelievable. Â A total mind-F#$$% of a population. Â I am now a believer…Little Kim is really “the man”.
by Rupe | Dec 19, 2011 | Health-Wellness-Sex, Mentoring
The evidence of America’s obesity epidemic is all around us. But the problem is particularly acute among African-American women.
About half of African-American women in the U.S. are obese, compared to 30 percent of white women. Black women not only carry more weight, but they start piling on extra pounds years before their white counterparts.
So when does it begin, this excess and unhealthful weight? Research suggests the problem starts early, and it may have a lot to do with when girls give up regular exercise.
Source: NPR
My Comments:
O boy…this is one that is near and dear to my heart and falls squarely in my lap. Â As father of a little Nubian Princess, I have to really keep a vigilant watch for this. Â My daughter, Cheyenne, is the consumate girly-girl. Â She likes to dress up and the slightest idea of exertion sends her in the opposite direction. Â Being someone who is very health conscious, I have to make sure I set the proper example for this little girl; it is not as if she won’t have enough challenges in life to contend with already.
by Rupe | Dec 19, 2011 | philosophy-religion
Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani, the Iranian Christian cleric facing death for the crime of apostasy against an Islamic faith he never held, has been given a temporary stay of execution. Iran’s top judge, Ayatollah Sadegh Larijani, instructed presiding Judge Ghazi Kashani to delay carrying out capital punishment for a year in order to give time for Mr. Nadarkhani to recant Christianity and become a Muslim.
The Iranian regime may be responding to international pressure. Mr. Nadarkhani’s case has become a prominent cause for the religious-rights community. His story was first reported by Christian and Iranian dissident websites, then by Western media outlets. On International Human Rights Day, Dec. 9, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton called on “every government to release all prisoners of conscience immediately and unconditionally, including Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani, Father Thadeus Nguyen Van Ly [a Vietnamese Catholic priest], and the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo [dissident writer in prison in China].† Continue reading by clicking source link…
Source: Washington Times
My Comments:
Again, I am blown away by this all or nothing approach of religion. Â A few days ago, it was the terribly upsetting act by the “central” Sunni Islamic state of Saudi Arabia, in the execution of one of its citizen for the practice of witchcraft… Â Can you believe that witchcraft. Â At the very least ex-communicate her, send her away, but killing her. Â Now here we go again with the “central” Shia state of Iran, getting ready to execute a man because he professes Christianity. Â Aren’t Christians, like Jews people of the book, according to Islamic scriptures? Â Then what is this all about. Â Again, why not excommunicate him and send him away? Â Why would God or any god for that matter require such a sacrifice? Â This is disturbing. Â This is not to say that this blatant and callous approach to humanity is limited to the Islamic faith; it is no secret that is can be found well beyond the borders of these two countries. Â My heart breaks with these stories…
by Rupe | Dec 17, 2011 | Mad Musings
Standing just over 2 feet tall, Jyoti Amge of Nagpur, India, was confirmed Friday as the world’s shortest living woman.
Guinness World Records, known as the global authority on record-breaking — albeit odd — achievements, flew to India on Amge’s 18th birthday to take final measurements and confirm the new record. The title previously belonged to Bridgette Jordan, 22, of the United States, who measures 2 feet, 3 inches tall.
Amge’s birthday was celebrated at a party in Nagpur with cake and guests from her hometown as well as Guinness representatives from London. Amge, wearing a purple sari and celebratory henna, stood proudly next to a copy of the 2012 Guinness record book and her official certificate, which was almost as big as Amge herself. Â Click source link below to continue reading…
Source: CNN
My Comments:
Given the fact that the most populous countries are both Asian – China and India, respectively, I would expect such extremes to come from either. Â At any rate, 2 feet is rather small. Â I can’t help but start wondering how all things human could fit in such a small package. Â I have lots of questions on this… Â Â
by Rupe | Dec 14, 2011 | Not So Recent Reads
Title: The Evolution of God by Robert Wright
Summary:
In this sweeping narrative, which takes us from the Stone Age to the Information Age, Robert Wright unveils an astonishing discovery: there is a hidden pattern that the great monotheistic faiths have followed as they have evolved. Through the prisms of archeology, theology, and evolutionary psychology, Wright’s findings overturn basic assumptions about Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, and are sure to cause controversy.
He explains why spirituality has a role today and why science, contrary to conventional wisdom, affirms the validity of the religious quest. And this previously unrecognized evolutionary logic points not toward continued religious extremism but to future harmony. Nearly a decade in the making, The Evolution of God is a breathtaking reexamination of the past and a visionary look forward.
My Comments
At first blush, this could be a big turnoff for the believer, but I would caution against it.  Now, lest I lead you a stray, the topic is not too far from what is to be expected.  It does deal with  possible explanation of the God-idea, but it is not definitive in any respect.  So if you believe, this will probably not change your mind, it will or may give you a slight pause and some other things to thing about on your spiritual journey.  I for one found the book very much engaging, well written and very much accessible.  I really loved the attention to details, no slight facts were overlook and one got the sense that the author was being careful in not being patronizing.  I very much recommend this to believer and non-believers alike.
Grab it from Amazon
by Rupe | Dec 13, 2011 | philosophy-religion, what the...?
A woman was beheaded in Saudi Arabia for practicing witchcraft and sorcery, the kingdom’s Interior Ministry said, prompting Amnesty International to call for a halt in executions there.
Amina bint Abdel Halim Nassar was executed Monday for having “committed the practice of witchcraft and sorcery,” according to an Interior Ministry statement. Nassar was investigated before her arrest and was “convicted of what she was accused of based on the law,” the statement said. Her beheading took place in the Qariyat province of the region of Al-Jawf, the ministry said. Click source link below to continue reading…
Source: CNN
My Comments:
I rarely make negative comments about religion in specifics, but sometimes I just cannot help myself. This is such a dark and ass-backwards act. It is actions such as these that cement in my mind the absolute absurdity of some religious values. How can one be so certain about his faith that he would take the life of some one else in serving that end. It makes no friggin’ sense whatsoever…no sense. Wherever she goes beyond this earth, won’t be too far from these clowns.
by Rupe | Dec 13, 2011 | Mad Musings
[simpleviewer gallery_id=”9″]So I have been taking it easy at home, sort of trying to get used to not having to fight the daily grind each day. Â Not sure how much of this I can take, the truth, however, is that I really need the downtime.
Our Great One is Good!
In the last few weeks I have been doing quite a bit of reading. Â I will add them soon to my reading list here at the site. Â Here are the books I have read over the last 6 weeks:
Finished:
The Year of Magical Thinking – About an author who lost both her husband and daughter; really touching read.
Steve Jobs – Biography of Steve Jobs
Stiff – about what happens to the dead
Reading now:
The Evolution of God (reading this right now)
History of the American People (reading this right now)
My Next Reads:
Hannibal: One Man Against Rome (Unabridged)
The Civil War: A Narrative,Volume I
The Second World War
One Second After
23 Things They Don’t Tell You about Capitalism
The Ascent of Money
The Adventure of English
by Rupe | Dec 13, 2011 | Fitness
So I have not posted anything on my physical fitness here in about 6-8 weeks.  Yep, it has been a pretty busy period lots of transition on the  professional front.
Well, there is more to it than that though.
So about eight weeks ago I messed up both my left wrist and right elbow while lifting some serious weights in the gym…a couple of light strains to be exact. Â Now, a normal person would just chill out , go easy for a while and let the strains go away, but oh no! “Little Rupie” could not wait, being invincible and all, I continued lifting through the pain. Â Obviously the slight strain turned into major problems.
To make a long story short, I was down – absolutely no lifting over the last month or so. Â So there it is, the last few weeks have been lazy weeks for me.
Not fully true tho..Iam still in relatively good shape, but I need to get back on the grind.
It has gotten pretty cold now that we are pretty much in winter, so getting up for morning runs are much harder. Â At any rate, my body feels much better now. Â My left wrist is about 90% back and my right elbow is about 75. Â I will keep away from heavy lifting, but I will kick in the cardio.
by Rupe | Dec 6, 2011 | Money Matters
by Rupe | Nov 25, 2011 | Not So Recent Reads
Title:Â Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach
Summary:
An oddly compelling, often hilarious exploration of the strange lives of our bodies postmortem.
For two thousand years, cadavers (some willingly, some unwittingly) have been involved in science’s boldest strides and weirdest undertakings. They’ve tested France’s first guillotines, ridden the NASA Space Shuttle, been crucified in a Parisian laboratory to test the authenticity of the Shroud of Turin, and helped solve the mystery of TWA Flight 800. For every new surgical procedure, from heart transplants to gender reassignment surgery, cadavers have been there alongside surgeons, making history in their quiet way.
In this fascinating, ennobling account, Mary Roach visits the good deeds of cadavers over the centuries from the anatomy labs and human-sourced pharmacies of medieval and nineteenth-century Europe to a human decay research facility in Tennessee, to a plastic surgery practice lab, to a Scandinavian funeral directors’ conference on human composting. In her droll, inimitable voice, Roach tells the engrossing story of our bodies when we are no longer with them.
My Comments:
Probably one of the weirdest books I have every read; and I probably would not have purchased it, had it not been on sale.  I must admit, however, that I found it quite interesting and admittedly engaging.  Ms Roach does have a knack for making the bizarre pretty accessible.  If you every had thoughts about donating your body to science or any other purpose, this book might give you pause or at least give you another thought point.  It is hard not to recommend, but be prepared for the unexpected…ruhaaahhaaaahh!
Grab it from Amazon
by Rupe | Nov 20, 2011 | Not So Recent Reads
Title: The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion
Summary
“Life changes fast….You sit down to dinner and life as you know it ends.” These were among the first words Joan Didion wrote in January 2004. Her daughter was lying unconscious in an intensive care unit, a victim of pneumonia and septic shock. Her husband, John Gregory Dunne, was dead. The night before New Year’s Eve, while they were sitting down to dinner, he suffered a massive and fatal coronary. The two had lived and worked side by side for nearly 40 years.
The weeks and months that followed “cut loose any fixed idea I had about death, about illness, about probability and luck…about marriage and children and memory…about the shallowness of sanity, about life itself.”
In The Year of Magical Thinking, Didion explores with electric honesty and passion a private yet universal experience. Her portrait of a marriage, and a life, in good times and bad, will speak directly to anyone who has ever loved a husband, a wife, or a child.
My Comments:
Probably one of the most important books I have read. Its insights are quite profound, as if one was given the chance to look in on someone being emotionally dissected. Ms Didion is an exquisite writer who is almost mythic in some respects. Being able to stand back from the pain of loosing loved ones and garnering the courage to share that experience is telling. I absolutely admire her for that. She is truly great and I very much recommend this book.
Grab it from Amazon
