by Rupe | Aug 29, 2011 | Mad Musings, philosophy-religion, Reflections
One of the most noteworthy movies of the summer is “The Help.†Set in Jackson, Miss., in the early 1960s, it focuses on the relationships between white upper-middle-class women and the black domestics who took care of them and their children. Although many reviews of the film were quite positive, numerous critics, including some African-American commentators, have lashed out against it, arguing that the film does not deserve the accolades it has received.
Cultures function and persist by consensus. In Jackson and other bastions of the Jim Crow South, the pervasive notion, among poor whites and rich, that blacks were unworthy of full citizenship was as unquestioned as the sanctity of church on Sunday. “The Help†tells a compelling and gripping story, but it fails to tell that one.
Click source link to continue…
Source: New York Times
My Comments:
This is an awesome piece by Prof. of African American studies, Patricia Turner, a vice provost at University of California, Davis.
I have not seen “The Help” but I do intend to. I have a somewhat unique perspective on race and racism that I hope to write about in the near future as time allows. I do agree with Prof Turners insights, they are close to mine.
by Rupe | Aug 29, 2011 | Fitness
Narrative:
This is the first execution of the new workout routine that will mark the third phase of Year of the Body. These routines will take me through the end of the year. The major focus will be to increase cardio and shaping of my body. Notice the high number of reps. I have lowered the weights and increase the reps tremendously; that will allow the muscle to get toned. I have also increased or extend my overall tracker.Â
Abdominal Exercises:
As stated above, in this workout you should train your abs at the end of each session. Use these exercises:
- Oblique (L and R) Crunches – 4 sets of 25 reps
- Hanging Leg Raises – 4 sets of 25 reps
- Lying Left Crunches – 4 sets of 25 reps
- Lying Center Crunch – 4 sets of 25 reps
- Lying Right Crunch – 4 sets of 25 reps
| Monday – Arms (Time: /1min rest) |
| Biceps |
| Exercise |
Sets |
Reps |
Weights |
| Barbell Curl (bar only) |
4 |
20, 15, 12, 10 |
45,45,45,45 lbs |
| Dumbbell Curl |
3 |
15, 12, 10 |
20,20,20 lbs |
| Concentration Curl |
3 |
15, 12, 10 |
20,20,20 lbs |
| Triceps |
| Exercise |
Sets |
Reps |
Weights |
| Close Grip Dumbbell Press |
4 |
15, 12, 10, 10 |
35,35,35,35 lbs |
| Weighted Bench Dips |
3 |
15, 12, 10 |
0, 20, 30 lbs |
| Dumbbell Extension |
3 |
15, 12, 10 |
25,25,30 lbs |
Cardio:Â 75 mins
Distance: 4.0 (2.50 + 1.50)
Crunches: 500
Calories: 1651
Tracker
Total Distance: 169.49 miles (Goal 400/230.51 remain) *
Total Calories: 44,392 (Goal 80,000/35,608 remain) *
Total Crunches:Â 500 (Goal 25,000 / 24,500)
Good livin’…keep movin’!
-R-
by Rupe | Aug 28, 2011 | Fitness
Want a bigger chest? Drop to the floor—fast. Researchers discovered that performing pushups as quickly as you can is one of the best ways to build explosive upper-body strength, according to The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. This pushup method was more effective than doing plyometric pushups (think: clapping between each pushup), and fall pushups, where you drop from a kneeling position and try to push your way back up to the starting position.
So why does this move trump other pushup techniques? Take a look at a vertical jump: “If you do a quick knee bend before jumping, you’ll always jump higher than if you don’t,†explains N. Travis Triplett, Ph.D., one of the study’s researchers. The same type of action occurs when you do pushups as fast as possible. Dropping your chest down toward the ground and then pausing for only a moment will enhance the motion of pushing yourself back up—and ultimately help you build more explosive strength, says Triplett.
To put up a great front, Hartman suggests doing 3 sets of 6 to 8 repetitions at maximum speed, resting 3 to 5 minutes between sets. Increase the number of sets and reps over time. Do this one to two times a week.
Want an entire sleeve-busting routine to follow? Redesign your upper body using this cutting-edge muscle plan.
Source: Men’s Health
by Rupe | Aug 28, 2011 | Funny Schnick!, Mad Musings
Cell phones and water don’t mix. People know this, but the tragedy plays out regularly in a variety of scenarios. It could be a slip into the toilet, a tumble in the washing machine, an overly excited leap into the pool, or a beer-based lack of judgment.
It’s sometimes possible to save the electronic lifeline you’ll pay $500 to replace, but step one is avoiding panic, because there are several “fixes†that might make sense in the moment, but could do more harm than good. In the video below, Money Talks News founder Stacy Johnson – who admits to dunking his own iPhone – talks about what you can try to restore your soaked electronics. Read on for more.
Source: Money Talks (https://s.tt/137sl)
by Rupe | Aug 28, 2011 | Mad Musings, Money Matters
Click for larger graphic
The Government is on a desperate search to put as many shekels as it can in it’s coffer. Is raising taxes on the rich the answer?
Most people don’t think so. AP conducted a poll to find out what the best solution was for the deficit problem. 62% think the government should cut spending. Only 20% think the solution is tax hikes. Also, in a recent Investor Business Daily poll, 92% of Americans think it’s important to cut government spending. If we want to put something away for our future or start saving money for a house, we have to make changes to our spending.  Shouldn’t the government do the same?  Many of think they should.
But “we†might be wrong. Maybe “we†just don’t understand. Let’s take a look at the numbers to determine what the best course of action might be.
Continue reading by clicking source link below…
Source: WealthPilgrim
My Comments:
Another conflicting topic for me. Â 50% of the population pays almost 100% of the taxes seems somewhat unfair, but there are many ways to cut this cookie, and while I have quite a bit to say on that, I won’t go into it here. Â I think the government isn’t particularly doing a good job with the cash it takes from us, and while a large percent of taxes the overall taxes collected comes from the top 1%, believe, they are barely feeling it; as all indicators show that the gulf between the rich and poor is growing ever wider.
by Rupe | Aug 28, 2011 | Military-Political, Money Matters
It sounds like a pretty good deal: Retire at age 38 after 20 years of work and get a monthly pension of half your salary for the rest of your life. All you have to do is join the military.
As the nation tightens its budget belt, the century-old military retirement system has come under attack as unaffordable, unfair to some who serve and overly generous compared with civilian benefits.
That very notion, laid out in a Pentagon-ordered study, sent a wave of fear and anger through the ranks of current and retired military members when it was reported in the news media this month.
Continue reading by clicking source link below…
Source: Military.com
My Comments:
Hmmm…I am honestly slightly conflicted by this…. I absolutely would agree with a 401k type solution with a few more additionals. Â I think the current system of not providing much support for servicemembers who have served for less than 20 years is unfair. Â I don’t support support drawing parallels to civilian systems, it simply is not equivalent. Â And I do believe that Congressional Retirement benefits should be changed before we touch the military’s.
by Rupe | Aug 28, 2011 | Military-Political
In her latest post, my colleague, Liz Economy, asks:  What will Vice President Biden find in China? I thought I’d try out my own response to this very direct question:
1. Biden will find a China whose rise depends on economic growth but whose growth model is no longer sustainable.
Bluntly put, China’s leaders know that their capital-intensive, export-oriented approach is delivering diminishing returns and threatens to become a major political vulnerability for the government. The global economic crisis provided clear evidence that China’s export-driven economy is vulnerable to dips in demand in the rest of the world. Meanwhile, its dependence on investment has introduced distortions and imbalances into the Chinese economy.
Click source link to continue…
Source: Council on Foreign Relations author - Evan A. Feigenbaum
My Comments:
I think the Chinese question is very much worthy of critical discussion. Â I think, however, that the interconnectedness of global economics make China very much susceptible to all the effects faced by large economies such as Germany, Japan and the U.S. Â Yes, the Chinese are moving quickly on many fronts, but to think that they will at some future date become the pre-eminent singular world power is somewhat foolish; besides, what does pre-eminence really means in such a connected world anyway. Â
by Rupe | Aug 27, 2011 | Health-Wellness-Sex
Obesity is most widespread in Britain and the United States among the world’s leading economies and if present trends continue, about half of both men and women in the United States will be obese by 2030, health experts warned on Friday.
Obesity is fast replacing tobacco as the single most important preventable cause of chronic non-communicable diseases, and will add an extra 7.8 million cases of diabetes, 6.8 million cases of heart disease and stroke, and 539,000 cases of cancer in the United States by 2030. Click source link to continue….
Source: Reuters
My Comments:
No love loss here. Â I am an adamant anti-obesity supporter. Â I don’t think we necessarily need to tax the food, I think we need to charge people over a certain weight a fat tax. Â I know some of my fat-challenged friend are gonna come at me for saying this, but why tax the food, when you can eat it responsibly and done bulk-out. Â I think that is unfair. Â Tax those who don’t want to workout to keep healthy.Â
by Rupe | Aug 25, 2011 | Fitness
Still giving arms a bit of rest. Did a mix of upper and lower body. Felt pretty strong…I will need to settle down and get back on track next week.
Workout: Day 61 (Th25/Upper/Lower Body ) – 60mins/1min rest
Chest Press Machine Incline – 3×12 (90s)
Chest Press Machine Decline – 3×12 (70s)
Bench Dips 3×25
Bicep Curls (just long bar) – 10x
Hack Squats – 3×12 @270
Seated Calf Raises – 3×25 @ 90
Weightless Squats – 25x
Mixed Shrugs – 3×15 @ 140
Cardio:Â 30 mins
Distance: 2.50
Pushups: 0 (at least 50 per day)
Calories: 747
Tracker
Total Distance: 165.49 miles (Goal 250/84.51 remain) *
Total Calories: 42,741 (Goal 50,000/7259 remain) *
Total Pushups: 1,880 (Goal 10,000 / 8,120)
Good livin’…keep movin’!
-R-
by Rupe | Aug 24, 2011 | Health-Wellness-Sex
That ringing in your pocket might turn out to be a death knell for your sperm, says a review published online in the Journal of Andrology that examined the links between cell phone radiation and your swimmers.
Researchers throughout the U.S. and the world have looked at the impact of your mobile phone’s electromagnetic frequency (EMF) radiation on sperm, and the results—though not yet conclusive—present a compelling case that cell phones damage sperm quality, says the Italian review.
Continue reading by clicking source link below…
My Comments:
I will never look at my cellphone the same again…I think I’ll just have to divorce my trusty ol’ mobile phone. At any rate, what about females do cellphones destroy their eggs?
Source: Men’s Health
by Rupe | Aug 23, 2011 | Health-Wellness-Sex
Marriage and Divorce Trigger Weight Gain:
Marriage Leads to Weight Gain for Women, Divorce Prompts Gain in Men
Marriage and divorce may trigger weight gainin men and women for very different reasons.
A new study shows marriage often prompts weight gain in women, while divorce is often the time when men pile on the pounds.
This weight gain is not as frequent in younger people, but researchers say the effects may pose a health risk later in life when people settle into certain patterns of physical activity and diet.
“Both marriages and divorces increase the risk of weight changes from about age 30 to 50, and the effect is stronger at later ages,” researcher Dmitry Tumin, a doctoral student in sociology at Ohio State University, says in a news release. “As you get older, having a sudden change in your life like a marriage or a divorce is a bigger shock than it would have been when you were younger, and that can really impact your weight.”
Continue reading…Â Source:Â WebMDÂ
My Comments:
I am not one to make much about what people should do with themselves or their bodies for that matter. I find obesity to be a problem, not just to the individual, but society in general. It is not just about civil or individual rights to carry around huge amounts of body mass, it eventually becomes a problem to society as these people age and develop medical problems cause by their overweight-ness. That aside…I find this article very telling. Anecdotally it is very true; I see very many women carrying around huge amounts of unheathy fat that is not just unsightly, it is downright unhealthy as well. Yes, there are lot a fat guys out there in the same condition, but I quickly admit a guy-bias…I don’t notice much about other guys (and no…it is not homophobia).   I think most married couples get too lax and comfortable with each other…they stop eating properly, they eat out too often, they don’t staying active, and before you know it their body mass skyrockets.  Bottomline – watch what you eating and stay active…that’s it.
Relationship Between Love Marriage and Weight
by Rupe | Aug 22, 2011 | Recipes
Despite a shaky stock market and an uncertain future, Americans still prefer gourmet coffee over any other, according to a new study from the National Coffee Association. And from teenagers to senior citizens, most people still drink coffee daily.
This daily grind can get expensive, but it doesn’t have to be. Consumer Reports just released a taste test with the most popular coffee brands. They sampled more than 1,000 cups of joe and came to a startling conclusion: Walmart coffee is as good as Starbucks, and it’s better than Maxwell House and Folgers.
Continue reading by clicking source link below…
My Comments:
I recently started buying my coffee from Walmart, but now that it is confirmed that Starbucks is no better, I am sold. Â Go ahead Walmart….go ahead.
Source: Â MoneyTalks
by Rupe | Aug 22, 2011 | Fitness
Ok cardio workout. I have not really pushed my workout now for a week; in fact, I did not do anything all of last week because I giving my arms (left wrist and right bicep) a chance to fully recuperate. I will continue to watch both, but I will definitely keep my cardio up for this week.  Â
Workout: Day 60 (M22/Cardio-Abs) – 61mins/1min rest
Obliques – 100 (w 45lbs)
Leg Lifts – 100
Reverse Crunches – 100
Leg Hikes – 100
Lying Crunches – 100
Lying Left Crunch – 100
Lying Right Crunch – 100
Cardio: 30 mins
Distance: 3.3
Pushups: 0 (at least 50 per day)
Calories: 1000
Tracker
Total Distance: 162.99 miles (Goal 250/87.01 remain) *
Total Calories: 41,994 (Goal 50,000/8,006 remain) *
Total Pushups: 1,880 (Goal 10,000 / 8,120)
Good livin’…keep movin’!
-R-
by Rupe | Aug 20, 2011 | philosophy-religion
Even if you believe in God, you might still be atheist. That’s what Penn Jillette argues in his new book God, No! Signs You May Already Be an Atheist and Other Magical Tales.
The louder half of the magician duo Penn & Teller — of Showtime’s Pen & Teller: Bull – – – –— frames his new book as the atheist’s Ten Commandments. In it, he wanders from rants about the war on drugs to stories of eating shellfish and bacon cheeseburgers with Hasidic Jews.
Continue reading by click source link below….
My Comments:
Pretty interesting piece; I think I will take the book for a spin. Â I for one don’t necessarily believe in religion in its organized fashion. Â I also don’t necessarily believe that we are here on this rock in the middle of the universe by accident. Â I believe to be an atheist, one has to be presumptuous, arrogant and not to mention ignorant. Â I think it fine to say – dammit…I just don’t know.
Source: NPR
by Rupe | Aug 19, 2011 | Mad Musings
Everything you wanted to know about bug sex (but didn’t bother to ask) is explained in a new book by insect expert Marlene Zuk. Sex on Six Legs: Lessons on Life, Love and Language from the Insect World, describes a world of small — but surprisingly sophisticated — insect behavior.
Insects are not mindless robots; they can learn just like other animals, says Zuk, a biologist at University of California, Riverside. “An ant who finds a food source will come back to recruit others to go to the same food source,” she tells Fresh Air‘s Dave Davies. The ant that knows where to go will show the others what to do. “It looks like a parent teaching a child how to ride a bicycle. … They steer the other individual and will actually wait for them to catch up and make sure they’re going in the right direction.”
Click source link below to continue reading…
My Comments:
No, it is not a slow news day, nor do I think this is weird.  I ran across this article from National Public Radio (NPR) that I thought was quite thoughtful. It had me thinking how much time we spend in academia studying things like “bugs buggin’ out”. Any way, I found it quite interesting, don’t think I care that much to buy the book, but would read it if I ran across it at the library.Â
Source: NPR
by Rupe | Aug 17, 2011 | Computing
25,000 complaints. That’s the number the FBI-affiliated Internet Crime Complaint Center registers each month. Whether it’s identity theft, financial fraud or outright scams, we are all potential victims. So what can you do? Gary McAlum, USAA’s chief security officer, offers five tips.
Build a Wall
The holy trinity of computer security is a firewall, anti-malware software and automatic updates. Chances are you have all of these installed on your machine. Modern computers and routers have firewalls built in, and you can download an anti-malware program online, but whichever one you choose, be sure to keep it up-to-date. (USAA offers a discount for the McAfee® security suite, and numerous free options are available, but beware of “look-alike” programs that can actually harm your computer.) Finally, keep all your applications and your operating system secure by installing updates.
Continue reading by clicking source link below…
My Comments:
Pretty good computing advice from USAA. Â They just upped their cyber guard program…pretty good.
Source: USAAÂ
by Rupe | Aug 17, 2011 | Mad Musings
More than 8 million Americans were the victims of identity theft last year, according to a recent study by Javelin Strategy & Research. But protecting yourself doesn’t have to be complicated. “Common sense combined with a high-quality cross-cut paper shredder goes a long way,” says Lt. Col. Gregory Conti, director of West Point’s Cyber Security Research Center. Here are seven practical tips to help you guard your information and stop identity theft.
1. Install anti-virus and anti-spyware software.
If you are tricked into clicking on a phishing email or otherwise leave an unprotected computer open to attack, criminals will try to download malicious software, or malware, that will track your keystrokes and use your computer as an identity-theft tool. “If your hard drive is running all the time, you probably have malware on your PC,” says Tom Shaw, vice president of fraud and anti-money laundering at USAA.
Continue reading by clicking source link below…
My Comments:
Pretty good advice  on ID Theft from USAA.  Â
Source: USAAÂ
by Rupe | Aug 13, 2011 | Not So Recent Reads
Crime and Punishment focuses on the mental anguish and moral dilemmas of Rodion Romanovich Raskolnikov, an impoverished ex-student in St. Petersburg who formulates and executes a plan to kill an unscrupulous pawnbroker for her money. Raskolnikov argues that with the pawnbroker’s money he can perform good deeds to counterbalance the crime, while ridding the world of a worthless parasite. He also commits this murder to test his own hypothesis that some people are naturally capable of, and even have the right to, do such things. Several times throughout the novel, Raskolnikov justifies his actions by connecting himself mentally with Napoleon Bonaparte, believing that murder is permissible in pursuit of a higher purpose.
My comments:
This is a pretty extensive read…still reading.
Grab it here
by Rupe | Aug 13, 2011 | philosophy-religion
Let’s go back to the beginning — all the way to Adam and Eve, and to the question: Did they exist, and did all of humanity descend from that single pair? According to the Bible (Genesis 2:7), this is how humanity began: “The Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” God then called the man Adam, and later created Eve from Adam’s rib. Polls by Gallup and the Pew Research Center find that four out of 10 Americans believe this account. It’s a central tenet for much of conservative Christianity, from evangelicals to confessional churches such as the Christian Reformed Church.
Click source link below to continue reading…
My Comments:
I suppose questioning the existence of Adam and his female unit – Eve, can be tantamount to questioning the existence of God, but not really. Â This is a pretty important reading regarding the modern Christian view of faith. Â I think it is very insincere for some to hide behind dark ignorance and not lob questions at their belief system. Â I for one am amaze at the resolute stubborness of some who profess to have answers to the divine…to know what will happen in the hereafter…to them I say…go away from me at once and in thine own ignorance wallow. Â Pretty cool biblical speak huh…?
Source: NPR
by Rupe | Aug 13, 2011 | Health-Wellness-Sex
Strategies for Happiness: 7 Steps to Becoming a Happier Person
A popular greeting card attributes this quote to Henry David Thoreau: “Happiness is like a butterfly: the more you chase it, the more it will elude you, but if you turn your attention to other things, it will come and sit softly on your shoulder.”
With all due respect to the author of Walden, that just isn’t so, according to a growing number of psychologists. You can choose to be happy, they say. You can chase down that elusive butterfly and get it to sit on your shoulder. How? In part, by simply making the effort to monitor the workings of your mind.
Research has shown that your talent for happiness is, to a large degree, determined by your genes. Psychology professor David T. Lykken, author of Happiness: Its Nature and Nurture, says that “trying to be happier is like trying to be taller.” We each have a “happiness set point,” he argues, and move away from it only slightly.
And yet, psychologists who study happiness — including Lykken — believe we can pursue happiness. We can do this by thwarting negative emotions such as pessimism, resentment, and anger. And we can foster positive emotions, such as empathy, serenity, and especially gratitude.
Continue reading by clicking the source link below…
My Comments:
This is a pretty good read that I ran across at WebMD. Â I also found another article titled – “3 Tips for Being Happy” that was also ok. Â I included the links below to both. I believe that happiness is important to fully experience life, no less than love. Â I am not sure if I believe in a happiness gene, but then again, since there are or might be genes that controls depression, a similar gene might control how good or bad / happy or sad one feels toward stimuli in the environment. Â This is a pretty interesting topic.
Source: WebMD and 3 Tips
by Rupe | Aug 12, 2011 | Fitness
Felt relatively good; sitll having a bit of nagging pain in right bicep and left wrist. At any rate, really good workout. Unlike last week deadlifting 180 with some struggle, this week was much easier. I definitely felt much stronger. I have to be careful here though I don’t want to increase too fast, body might break.   Â
Workout: Day 59 (F12/Upper Body II) – 50mins/1min rest
Pull down (close grip) 2×12 @ 130,140
Pull down (wide grip) 2×12, 8Â @ 130,140
Deadlifts – 2×12,12 @ 180, 180 (*) o’yeah!!
Hammer Machine 1 – 2x 10 @90, 110
Hammer Machine 2 – 2×10 @90,110
One arm DB rows 3×12 @ 60,65,70
Barbell Bentover Rows – 10@110
DB Shrugs 1×12 – 60lbs
Smith Machine Shrugs – 2×15 @ 110,110lbs
Smits Machine Reverse Shrugs – 2×15 @ 110lbs
Seated Shrugs – 3×15@90,110,110
Preacher Curl – 2×12 @ 20lbs (2x10s) – got to hold back until biceps are healed.
Barbell Curl – 1 @12 (Long Bar with 10s) – wanted to do more, but I got a twitch in my upper rear delt.
Standing DB Curl 2×12 – 20lbs – used to supplement other bicep movements
Cardio: 60 mins
Distance: 5.0
Pushups: 0 (at least 50 per day)
Calories: 500
Tracker
Total Distance: 159.69 miles (Goal 250/90.31 remain) *
Total Calories: 40,994 (Goal 50,000/9,006 remain) *
Total Pushups: 1,880 (Goal 10,000 / 8,120)
Good livin’…keep movin’!
-R-
by Rupe | Aug 11, 2011 | Fitness
Really awesome cardio/abs day. Unlike last week, the intensity and reps were up; felt really good. Felt really good coming back from a lackluster last week. Having a bit of pain in left wrist from bicep curls last week, as well as a nagging hum in my right bicep. Will just have to watch them.
Workout: Day 58 (Th11/Cardio-Abs) – 90mins/1min rest
Obliques – 100 (w 45lbs)
Leg Lifts – 100
Reverse Crunches – 100
Lying Crunches – 100
Lying Left Crunch – 100
Lying Right Crunch – 100
Cardio:Â 60 mins
Distance: 5.0
Pushups: 0 (at least 50 per day)
Calories: 1100
Tracker
Total Distance: 159.69 miles (Goal 250/90.31 remain) *
Total Calories: 40,494 (Goal 50,000/9.506 remain) *
Total Pushups: 1,880 (Goal 10,000 / 8,120)
Good livin’…keep movin’!
-R-
by Rupe | Aug 10, 2011 | Fitness
Sort of a mixed workout in so many ways. Started out relatively strong as usual and got pretty tired towards the end.  Â
Workout: Day 57 (W10/Upper Body I) – 61mins/1min rest
Bench press 3×12,10,10 (45s,70s,80s)
Incline press 3×10,10,10 (45,45,45)
Smith’s Close Grip Presses – 3×12 (45s)
Chest Press Machine Incline – 3×12 (70s)
Chest Press Machine Decline – 3×12 (70s)
Decline press 3×12 (45,45,45)
Front Military Press 1×12 (45)
Bench Dips 1×25
Push Down 3×12 (110,110,110) + 8s from 100 – 40
Pec-Rear Delt 3×12 (70,100,100)
Fwd Str Arm Push Down 3×12 (70)
Forward Arm Raises – 1×10 (15)
Punches – 2×15 (15lbs)
Bent-over Lateral – 3×12 @15
Cardio:Â 17 mins
Distance: 2.15
Pushups: 0 (at least 50 per day)
Calories: 748
Tracker
Total Distance: 154.69 miles (Goal 250/95.31 remain) *
Total Calories: 39,394 (Goal 50,000/10,606 remain) *
Total Pushups: 1,880 (Goal 10,000 / 8,120)
Good livin’…keep movin’!
-R-
by Rupe | Aug 9, 2011 | Inspiration
So often we daydream and think of some far-off goal that we would like to achieve. “I want to play the guitar in a band,” “I want to run a marathon”, “I want to be better at my job,” etc. It’s not difficult at that point to break it down into short-term goals… practice some chords in the evening, run on the weekends, or arrive an hour earlier at work. You get in a groove and suddenly you’re on the way to reaching that long-term goal.
However, there are so many other goals where that groove is tougher to find once you get started. You begin to feel overwhelmed as you think about the long journey ahead. Continue reading.
My Comments:
This is an ok article from my Sparkspeople daily reads. It is not earth shattering, but an ok read nonetheless.
by Rupe | Aug 9, 2011 | Health-Wellness-Sex
Up until you’re 21, you’re told that drinking alcohol is bad. Then you’re suddenly told that, really, it’s drinking alcohol and driving that’s bad. The latter is definitely true. But the former? Scientists aren’t so sure.
Case in point: During a five-year period, lifetime alcohol abstainers were 19 percent more likely to die than regular drinkers—defined as having one or two drinks, three or more days a week—say Virginia Tech University researchers.
Those who never touched the bottle were also roughly 56 percent (!) more likely to experience coronary heart disease than regular drinkers, found the scientists, who crunched data from a government survey of nearly half a million Americans.
Click source below to read the full report
My Comments:
This is awesome news. I always felt good after drinking beers, but it’s great to know that it’s good for you. The only thing that sucks is that you have to stop at only two.
Source: Men’s Health
by Rupe | Aug 8, 2011 | Fitness
Really good leg workout. Minimize number of movement per body part, so I was able to complete without a total meltdown at the end. Lifted a bit too hard on straight-leg deadlift, felt a little twinge and had to pull back some. Finished up with a 20 min eliptical.Â
Workout: Day 56 (M8/Lower Body) – 61mins/1min rest
Hack Squat 3×15 @ 360
Smith’s Squat 3×12 @ 150,160,180
Stiff-Legged Dead lift 3×12,10,10@ 180,180,180
Seated Leg Extension 3×15 @ 135,135,135
Hamstring curl – 3×12,12,12,6@100,90,80, (70-40)lbs
Seated Calf-raise 4×15 @ 90 (2×45’s)
Cardio: 20 mins
Distance: 2.10
Pushups: 0 (at least 50 per day)
Calories: 800
Tracker
Total Distance: 152.54 miles (Goal 250/97.46 remain) *
Total Calories: 38,646 (Goal 50,000/11,354 remain) *
Total Pushups: 1,880 (Goal 10,000 / 8,120)
Good livin’…keep movin’!
-R-
by Rupe | Aug 7, 2011 | My Videos
(This song is originally done by Alicia Keys. I love how she sings it, but Blair’s version kills as well.)
Unthinkable lyrics
Moment of honesty
Someones gotta take the lead tonight
Whose it gonna be?
I’m gonna sit right here
And tell you all that comes to me
If you have something to say
You should say it right now
You give me a feeling that I never felt before
And I deserve it, I think I deserve it
Its becoming something that’s impossible to ignore
And I can’t take it
I was wondering maybe
Could I make you my baby
If we do the unthinkable would it make us so crazy
If you ask me I’m ready, I’m ready, I’m ready
If you ask me I’m ready, I’m ready, I’m ready
I know you said to me
“This is exactly how it should feel when its meant to be”
Time is only wasting so why wait for eventually
If we gonna do something about it
We should do it right now
You give me a feeling that I never felt before
And I deserve it, I know I deserve it
Its becoming something that’s impossible to ignore
Its what we make it
I was wondering maybe
Could I make you my baby
If we do the unthinkable would it make us so crazy
Or would it be so beautiful either way I’m saying
If you ask me I’m ready, I’m ready, I’m ready
If you ask me I’m ready, I’m ready, I’m ready
Why give up before we try
Feel the lows before the highs
Clip our wings before we fly away
I can’t say I can’t compare
I’m suspended it the air
Won’t you come be in the sky with me
I was wondering maybe
Could I make you my baby
If we do the unthinkable would it make us so crazy
Or would it be so beautiful either way I’m saying
If you ask me I’m ready
If you ask me I’m ready
by Rupe | Aug 6, 2011 | Bahrain, Military-Political
MANAMA, BAHRAIN — 147 Bahraini detainees are set to be released within a matter of hours, the head of the kingdom’s independent commission of inquiry told The Washington Times in a phone interview Saturday night.
“I confirm that I have been promised that,†said Cherif Bassiouni, the Egyptian-American head of a recently launched inquiry into alleged human rights abuses that took place during the protests of February and March and their aftermath. The new mass release follows the freeing of 41 prisoners last week.
Click source link below to read full article…
My Comments:
Good move on the part of the Bahrani government. Â A bit more hopeful sign that they are not all idiots; besides, it not like they have much of a choice really.
Source: Washington Times  (By Ben Birnbaum); 5:59 p.m., Saturday, August 6, 2011
by Rupe | Aug 6, 2011 | Not So Recent Reads
Title: The Memoir Project: A Throughly Non-Standardized Text for Writing and Life by Marion Roach Smith
Publisher’s Summary:
Whether or not one has lived an exceptional or dramatic life, we inherently understand that writing memoir—whether it’s a book, blog, or just a letter to a child – is the single greatest portal to self-examination. Stop treading water in writing exercises or hiding behind “writer’s block†and learn how to write with intent. Marion Roach Smith’s disarmingly frank but wildly fun tactics offer you simple and effective guidelines that work. Your legacy beings now.My Comments:
Really awesome book if you intend to take writing up as a serious venture. Â It is a must have in your tool box…again…if you intend to write seriously. Â I loved it….I recommend it strongly. Â
Grab it Now at Amazon
by Rupe | Aug 6, 2011 | Inspiration
Everyone likes a pat on the back every once in a while. And there’s no better time to get one than when you’re out of your comfort zone, challenging yourself to improve, nervous about whether you can succeed.
Most people approach changing their health habits from a position of “pain”. They constantly nag themselves, berate themselves and expect nothing but perfection, no matter how much progress is made. Tools of the trade are guilt, doubt, shame and self-flogging. Instead of celebrating the 24 pounds they’ve lost, they see the six they still haven’t lost. Sound familiar? To people used to beating themselves up, it may seem like the best way to get motivated. But consider this: if you attempted to motivate an employee like that, how long do you think they’d stick around? How successful would they be?
Continue by clicking source link below…
Source: Sparkepeople
