A Dose of Sanity

Bona-fide

2011-03-26T15:24:00.001-07:00

Hard to believe it's been over a year since my last post. This is actually a very good thing. A lot has happened, so we'll have some perspective. Allow me to explain.

I'm a paleo beast.

My good eating habits heavily outweigh my bad ones. If anything, I need to man up and eat more raw veggies. But I'm keeping the complex carbs out of the diet, eating lots of saturated fats, and thriving from it.

I've gone from 185lb in December 2009, to 155lb in March 2011.

I've joined Crossfit, and my frame very closely resembles what it was in high school.

I'm on the brink of opening my own business. It's a specialty butcher shop, featuring grass-fed locally grown beef.

I don't know if it's believable to most people that a change in lifestyle can lead to dramatic changes in persona, but the old Michael couldn't have done those things. The biggest change in my life has been the elimination of complex carbohydrates, and the increase of saturated animal fats. Do what you like with that information.

Today at Crossfit, I did a 20 minute workout consisting of 80 Dead Lifts @ 95lbs, 80 Wall Balls, 80 Box Jumps (22 inch), and 80 Burpees.

In every way imaginable, I'm a more capable human. Look out.

Eat More Fat, Get More Thin

2010-03-08T16:18:00.000-08:00

I know, I know. It was hard for even me to believe. It goes against everything we've been told about diet. If you eat foods high in fat, you will be fat. Well this human has been eating a diet high in fat for 5 weeks and has lost 17 pounds. I'm only 12 pounds away from what I weighed in high school. I do exercise, so obviously that had something to do with it. But even conventional wisdom tells us that body composition is dictated 80% by diet. Exercise is not new to me either. If you've read this blog long enough you know I spent most of last summer and early fall running my ass off. Suffice it to say I didn't lose 17 pounds during that period, actually the results were rather negligible.

Let me run down what my usual day looks like so we have a frame of reference. Keep in mind that all these foods are organic, free range, grass fed, with no additional hormones or anything else nature didn't intend on.

Breakfast: Bacon and eggs. (I'm up to about 2 packs a week now!)

Lunch: Fruit smoothie (home made) or leftovers from dinner. Some days I'll skip lunch if I'm not hungry, or when I dabble in intermittent fasting which is rare.

Mid Afternoon snack: Almonds and/or banana chips. I usually only need a snack if I've skipped lunch which isn't all too often as mentioned above.

Dinner: Large portion of meat, salad and veggie side.

Looks pretty normal doesn't it? Aside from the fruit smoothie for lunch, that looks like a pretty standard diet. But you have to read between the lines. As I said, the foods we are eating are as close to natural as we can get our hands on. The grass fed meat is essential in order to get the right balance of omega 3s and omega 6s. The fruits and veggies are all organic. The eggs come from cage free chickens, and the bacon is sodium nitrate free (try finding that at Ralphs!). Obviously the refined starches and breads and pastas are missing, but honestly I don't miss them as much as I thought I would. And besides, I'd rather have a big filet of salmon over a slice of pizza any day!

Measuring Success

2010-02-16T13:39:00.001-08:00

Rebecca and I decided to get a scale last night. Well, we decided over the weekend but actually purchased it last night. Now, neither of us are incredibly obese or anything of that nature. Our goals, in terms of weight loss, are figure related. So, I'd never really thought of "weighing in" or anything of that nature because I just thought I'd see results (or not) and be satisfied from there. Well, we've both lost around 6 pounds, and we've only been on this officially for 2 weeks (Feb 3rd). Boy am I glad we did get the scale because knowing you are on the right path is WAY better than assuming you are. Now, if I'd relied on the mirror, I wouldn't be nearly as motivated as I am now.

So, here we are with measurable success and neither of us have any intention of letting off the accelerator. Moreover, I think we are, bit by bit, making this a lifestyle change more than a "diet". I've found myself starting several sentences with "you know what the best thing about living this way is?". So here's today's rendition. The best thing about "going primal" is that it's not a gimmick.
The reason it works, is because it's all about eating what truly is the best fuel for humans to consume. This isn't the Special K diet, we didn't go out and get gym memberships, we haven't spent tons on exercise equipment, and we are taking any supplements. Simply, we are eating real food. Our food doesn't come from a laboratory, and it's not the product of a long process. It's identifiable in it's raw form as food, and it tastes fantastic.

Summary: So far so good.

Paleo Lifespan

2010-02-11T13:47:00.000-08:00

In my post about sunshine, my friend Matt brought up that since Paleo humans only lived to be around 30 years of age, perhaps they didn't live long enough to be affected by things like skin cancer. The 30 year life span is something I recall learning in school, so it's obviously something that is pretty well excepted in the scientific community. But, in the reading I've done about Paleo humans I remembered coming across a few challenges to that assertion. Here's one such challenge... written by a doctor, not some asshole with stupid blog :P

http://paleodiet.com/life-expectancy.htm
This is really worth the read.

One solid point made is that in order for us to increase numbers, a mother would have to have upwards of 2 children. And since a breast feeding mother be

unlikely to conceive due to prolactin production, which is stimulated by an infant suckling its mother’s nipples. Prolactin decreases normal levels of the sex hormone, estrogen. This inhibition of estrogen is responsible for loss of the menstrual cycle and consequent losses in fertility among lactating women. We can only guess at how long mothers would breast feed, but it does seem likely that they would have been aware of breast feeding’s protective effect against pregnancy. Assuming that they continued to breastfeed their children to more than two years of age, and allowing another nine months for the second pregnancy, children should be spaced at least about three years apart.

So, how old would a mother have to live in order to foster 2+ children assuming she began procreating at puberty?

A first child would be likely to enjoy its mother’s nurturing until puberty. Mom would be 26 to 29 years old by then. The next child would have a mother who was 29 to 32 years old. But that would mean that she had probably died before the second child reached puberty. If such suggestions of Paleolithic life spans were accurate, we should have numbers and be geographically restricted in ways that approximate other primate populations. Something is obviously wrong with such assumptions about the life span of Paleo Humans. The most likely alternative is that our Paleo ancestors lived longer than is currently suggested.

Again, if you're at all interested in this, and you should be, read this! Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going further down rabbit hole.

Paleo In A Nutshell

2010-02-10T16:16:00.001-08:00

Here's a couple of videos that really help detail what paleo/primal living is all about.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCFZoqmKf5M

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGXep32_qiI

Thought I'd share them.

Sunshine!

2010-02-10T14:15:00.001-08:00

I went to the beach on my lunch break, took of my shoes and shirt and just walked around for a bit (it's February for anyone keeping score). I did a few sprints here and there, but mostly just soaked in the sun and moseyed around. It's insane how easily these simple pleasures get lost while living our modern lives. For the record my actual lunch consisted of banana chips (which were awesome), and a nut/dried fruit mix (also quite satiating).

As with most things involving primal living, I was quite pleased to find that sunlight exposure is highly suggested. There's a lot of science telling us to avoid sunlight, and to lather on the sunscreen when we are exposed to it. I've always been skeptical of this, and I'm fairly pale. Obviously the sun, or sun exposure is hurting and even killing people. Here's my question: If the sun is so detrimental to our being, how did humans exist and thrive in an outdoor setting for several millenia?

Seems to me that we'd have been wiped out a long time ago if being outside for prolonged amounts of time is really that bad for us. After all, to be nomadic, and we were, you kind of have to be outside for a while. So, the real question is: What were paleolithic era humans doing that we aren't doing, and vice versa?

The quick answer is food. Maybe something in his diet protected him from anything harmful the sun threw at him. We know he ate foods high in saturated fats, and we aren't. We are eating foods high in carbohydrates, and low in saturated fats. The fats we are eating, are hydrogenated and not natural. I'll be the first to admit that this is new territory for me, and I very well may have no idea what I'm talking about. But from a common sense standpoint, perhaps if we adopt the habits and diets of our ancestors, who lived outside and did just fine, perhaps the sun can be more of an ally than an adversary.

I'm a hippie/Primal Exercise

2010-02-08T13:14:00.000-08:00

I just went for a walk on my lunch break... barefooted. I've been reading a lot about the benefits of going barefooted, and it's
compelling to say the least.

http://www.marksdailyapple.com/even-if-the-shoe-fits-forget-it/

Wish I would have read about this before I dropped 80 bucks on running shoes last July.

Yesterday was my first day trying primal exercising. I don't want to say it's unconventional, because it's a lot of the same kind of stuff other people do, running, lifting, e.g. The manner in which you do these things is what makes primal exercising unique. It's based on the fact that for the better part of our existence human beings have not participated in prolonged workouts. On the contrary, our workouts were spontaneous, intense, and considerably more brief. Imagine living 40,000 years ago. You ran after things, and from things. There was probably very little prolonged cardio going on.

Here's a summary of my workout.

Jump rope for 2 minutes
Jogged to the park, then sprinted to the monkey bars and did 10 pullups
Jogged around the park then sprinted back to the garage and did 10 pushups.

Now, obviously that doesn't look like much, but I was GASPING for air for about 2-3 minutes after I finished. I used to think that I needed to workout longer, now I'm much more focused on increasing the intensity of my workouts. After all, that is what my body is designed to do.

Going Primal

2010-02-06T19:48:00.000-08:00

A few months ago I touched on something called "The Caveman Diet". Finding it nearly impossible to follow over the holidays I put it on hiatus until the new year. Then the new year presented some difficult situations, namely my girlfriend's brother's birthday party, that made it difficult to adhere to any sort of diet.

Luckily, Stephen Colbert had a guest on this week who was living the caveman lifestyle claiming he had "gone primal". I say luckily because this was a tipping point for my girlfriend to give it a try for 30 days. Needless to say, I knew this would make my own ability to practice this lifestyle a lot easier. So, at her behest I started digging online to find out practical ways to live like our ancestors lived for the majority of human existence (within reason)

After much research, I found out that a considerable amount of human beings have "gone primal". Not only had they themselves gone primal, they're motivated to help others do the same. Before I begin citing these sources I want to elaborate on what exactly "going primal" is all about.

Simply put, going primal is about eating food. Sounds simple right? Well, only if you define food as everything you'd find in your local grocery store. Let's back up a little.

Human beings have been walking the earth for approximately 200,000 years. This is a very important thing to remember. So people, just like you and me, have been around for a long, long time. Agriculture, on the other hand, has only been around for about 10,000 years. Now, as I've said in previous posts I'm not nearly articulate enough to explain the science behind all of this (stay tuned for the sources). However, do you honestly think that your body is designed to eat Pringles, or bananas? So, when I say that going primal is about eating food, I'm not kidding around.

Alright I'll admit, the Pringles comparison is a cheap shot. How about potatoes, or corn perhaps? Surely corn is good for you, it's one of the cornerstones of the American diet. Well, it's not. Corn has next to no nutritional value. Oh and if you ever hear someone calling corn a vegetable, smack them. It's a grain, and it's the worst grain of all.

The thing to remember is that just because your body recognizes something a food and can digest it as such, doesn't make it fuel... and fuel is exactly what we are hunting for. Sure you can survive on things at your local grocery store, but I'm done surviving. I'm ready to start THRIVING. I won't be going it alone, and it may not be easy, but I am going primal.

I know I mentioned sources, but it turns out that there is a source that ties all this good stuff together. Here's your one stop shop to going primal.

www.marksdailyapple.com

Update: A commenter Don Wiss has written this definition of Paleo living. I find it to be very concise.

http://paleodiet.com/definition.htm

The Plan

2010-01-19T14:55:00.000-08:00

There are a series of storms rolling through Southern California this week, and already there are have been deaths. One of these deaths happens to be an acquaintance of mine. I say acquaintance because we'd only met a few times, but we had a lot of the same interests, and actually hit it off quite well. A 100ft tree fell on his house and he died, he was 21. To make matters worse, he was a fire fighter, and his station was the first on scene. So all his pals got to see their colleague, well you get the idea.

These things happen, obviously. Guess it's all part of the plan.

Fuck.

Rooney Rule

2010-01-15T15:29:00.001-08:00

The Rooney Rule, established in 2003, requires National Football League teams to interview minority candidates for head coaching and senior football operations opportunities.

The first time I'd heard of this rule was earlier this week when former USC coach Pete Carrol was hired as the Seattle Seahawks new head coach. Then someone mentioned that the Seahawks first had to satisfy the Rooney Rule and interview a minority candidate. They did so by interviewing Leslie Frazier, the Vikings defensive coordinator.

Let's picture how that conversation went shall we?

Hi is this Leslie Frazier?

Yes, this is Leslie.

Hi this is the Seattle Seahawks, how are you?

I'm fine... how are you?

Good thanks. Listen, we are about to hire Pete Carrol as our head coach, but before we can do that we have to interview a black guy. Ya know the whole Rooney Rule thing.

Are we seriously having this conversation?

Listen, we've booked you a flight out to Seattle, which let me tell you is beautiful this time of year. So you're in right?

Oh oh, wait... one more thing. You are black right?

...

Ok, so we'll see you in a few days.

The Rooney Rule is a racist concept plain and simple. To mandate the hiring or interviewing of anyone, regardless of race is just plain wrong. This reminds me of the Super Bowl a few years ago when Colts and Bears were playing. It was mentioned ad nauseam that both head coaches were black. Doesn't this perpetuate racism? Can't we just talk about how they are both really great coaches, and that the color of their skin has nothing to do with the fact that their teams were in the Super Bowl?

Monday is Martin Luther King Day, let's reflect on the fact that his "Dream" was to live in a time when a person wasn't judged by the color of their skin, but rather by the content of their character. Given the existence of things such as the Rooney Rule, it's painfully obvious that we do not currently live in such a time.

Kiffy McKifferson

2010-01-14T10:51:00.000-08:00

Ok, ok. I'm not gonna do what everyone thinks I'm gonna do and FREAKOUT!!!

On the contrary I'm going to try to accentuate the positives in this whole mess. And it is a mess. I've read a lot of writers calling Lane Kiffin things like a weasel and a snake. I'll be honest, I had those same sentiments initially. Such things are to be expected I suppose. But once the shock wears off, you've got to rely on your common sense. And when someone does something you don't like, the best thing you can do is ask yourself: What would I have done. Now, everyone in East Tennessee will tell ya they'd have stuck with UT. I'm sure that's true, but Lane Kiffin isn't from East Tennessee (for the record I believe he's from Minnesota).

As I was driving up the coast this morning on my way to the office, I found myself completely understanding Lane Kiffin. It's 70 degrees today in Southern California, and it's January 14th. While getting coffee I was hard pressed to find a female I didn't find attractive. I heard a radio personality ask the question: Where would you rather live, Manhattan Beach or Knoxville? I suppose it depends on the individual, but we all know how Lane Kiffin feels, and anyone with two I.Q. points to rub together should have known before Tuesday.

With Tennessee's recruiting class beginning to resemble a building in Haiti a lot of Tennessee fans are understandably upset and worried. I'd be lying if I said I didn't share some of that sentiment. But on the other hand, I for one am somewhat optimistic. If you thought Kiffin was going to stay longer than 5 years, you are delusional. He was a stepping stone for a program that was headed in a bad direction. Some folks have said that UT would have been better off not firing Phil Fulmer in the first place, I'm not in that camp. If you watched any UT games this year you know that this team played with intensity not seen in a Fulmer team this decade.

Finally, stop hating. If you need to hate, then don't hate the player... hate the game (I couldn't resist). This is the state of college football, and UT can compete in this climate. So if you need something to help you rest your little head, then use this: The University of Tennessee has a shit ton of cash, a stadium that seats 109,000 people, and first rate facilities. It's not going to take a genius salesman to get talented kids to come to play there. It's only going to take some time, which regardless of what the calendar says, Tennessee has plenty of.

Pretty Sweet Weekend

2009-09-08T11:14:00.000-07:00

Between getting kicked out of Oktoberfest and eating the shit out of some ribs...I'd have to say this past weekend was an overwhelming success. Now back to the routine.

Lane Kiffin

2009-09-04T10:55:00.000-07:00

I'm as much a Tennessee football fan as anyone from East Tennessee, that is to say, I unabashedly (and perhaps undeservedly) live and die each Saturday they play. So it goes without saying that the turbulent months that have led up to this Saturday have been, well, turbulent. I'm really on the fence about Lane Kiffin. As much as I want to believe that his comments about Urban Meyer where part of a "plan", I just can't. I have something called a bullshit detector. And that whole scenario just smells like bullshit. I could be wrong, and I hope I am. That's not to say I don't buy the argument that he needed to draw attention to the program, I get that. But calling someone a cheater, when they aren't one...well, in East Tennessee they call those "fightin words".

No one wants to see the program get back to prominence as much as I do. But sometimes in life you don't get something because you just didn't deserve it in the first place. I have deep reservations about the some of the approach Lane Kiffin has taken to resurrecting the UT football program. Maybe he's just a whole lot smarter than I am. Maybe the Jedi-Mind-Trick he's performing really will work out for the best. Only time will the rest of that story.

Perhaps this is where not having invested one iota of anything to the advancement of the program becomes incredibly convenient. Because although I think integrity is something not to be sacrificed for winning, I don't really win or lose anything. So, in the end it doesn't really matter what I think or say about Lane Kiffin or UT football or, well, anything else I have no investment in whatsoever. I'm rambling, but I have a point...I just have no idea what it is. I guess it's this:

As much as I question Lane Kiffin's tatics and/or his personality in general, it's not my livelihood on the line. When your paycheck depends on it, no matter how you attain it, winning really is everything.

Vacation means vacation

2009-09-02T09:59:00.000-07:00

Went to a wedding in Detroit over the weekend. Just got back on Sunday and I've been too damned tired/hungover to think let alone write. I can't even begin to go into detail about how great of a time I had. Suffice it to say, I had a good time.

So, being that I was on vacation I didn't do shit. So, I think I've taken a step back in terms of conditioning for the 10k in SB on October 18th. That being said I have to really step it up if I'm going to get make it. 6.2 miles is a lot farther than it sounds.

I've been reluctant to advertise that I've taken up running (apart from this blog, which no one reads anyway). But most of my cousins on my dad's side run, and they were glad to hear that I'd taken it up. I used to always poke fun at them and say "I only run when chased". So kudos to them for not poking fun at how sorry of a runner I actually am.

So, today is another 25 minute run. I ran Monday and Tuesday, with Tuesday being a little hard because it's hot as crap here.

The Lipid Hypothesis

2009-08-19T15:41:00.000-07:00

As mentioned in previous posts I am changing my diet. I'm not "going on a diet". I'm changing it. There's a difference.

Now, I don't know how to write about this kind of stuff so please forgive the elementary wording.

Back in the 1950s a man named Ancel Keyes formed a hypothesis (known as the lipid hypothesis) that states that saturated fats and cholesterol lead to heart disease. This occurs because of the accumulation of cholesterol in the blood stream thus clogging arteries, and we all know the rest. Well, it turns out that said hypothesis may not exactly be accurate (guess that's why it's only a hypothesis). As a matter of fact, there is a mountain of evidence to the contrary. So I'm doing a lot of reading lately on the proposal that saturated fats aren't as bad as we have been told. I'm finding that a lot of researchers believe that animal fats are exactly what our bodies are designed to ingest and digest. So, this will be the first in a series of posts on this subject.

If you are interested in this subject matter here's more information. Even More information will follow as I come across legitimate sources.

First, I'm currently reading Good Calories Bad Calories by Gary Taubes. This book dives head first into the controversy. It's available at most books stores as well as online, and if you have Kindle, it's available for that too.

Here's a Men's Health article you should read.

6.1 and done

2009-08-17T12:15:00.000-07:00

As mentioned last week, the next step in my running program has me scheduled for a 20 minute nonstop run. I was supposed to do it Wed. but I've been a little under the whether, and I knew if I weren't 100% I wouldn't be able to do it, so I took a few days off. Sunday around 3 in the afternoon I decided to give it a shot. I was about to have a heart attack about 16 minutes in, but I pushed through and finished the motherfucker. Today, for the first time since starting in early July, my legs are sore...the good kind of sore.

I'm pretty pumped because Tues. is back to interval running, and I'm not even remotely intimidated by it. I should be 5k ready by months end. I just found out about a 10k in Santa Barbara in Oct. I'm weary about being part of the "running crowd", but it seems like a sensible goal. I'm not looking to do 10k or 5k runs on a consistent basis. Having a number on my shirt reminds me of a Bob Seger song. However, if I can do 3 miles three or four times a week, I'll be happy with that.

Protesting Health Care Reform...Un-American?

2009-08-17T10:51:00.000-07:00

Speaking Wednesday in Harrisburg, Pa., Sen. Arlen Specter said that the protesters are "not necessarily representative of America" but should be heard.

Protesters, not representative of America. Where have I heard that before? This kind rhetoric really irks me. Mostly because I'm not sure how to argue what is American. It's the profound vagueness of what it is to be American that makes it so hard to define. Even Webster's has a hard time with it. All it says is "a native or citizen of the United States". Well in that case, even Neo-Nazis are American. Not that it matters but I don't have a problem with that.

Here's what I do know, condemning dissenters for lack of patriotism is without a doubt un-American. If I worked for Webster's I'd see to it that the definition of American would include "anyone who dissents from the intentions of government". I can't think of anything more patriotic.

Update: I've given further thought into what Spector actually meant. It's only speculation, but I suppose he could have meant that protesters don't represent how most Americans feel about health care reform. Fair enough, but I think we need to acknowledge the concerns of the minority regardless of the issue at hand. I'm pretty sure the founders made provisions that protect the minority from being marginalized. How about you address the concerns of those who protest instead of just brushing them off because they (perhaps) represent the minority?

Cool Runnings

2009-08-11T15:31:00.000-07:00

Wednesday my running program has me scheduled for a nonstop 20 minute run. I'm 5 weeks in and up to this point the longest run has been (yesterday) 8 minutes nonstop, twice with a 5 minute walk in between. I think I handled it with relative ease. So obviously this will be a big push forward but I'm gonna stare it down and kick its sorry ass.

On another note I'm starting to read that exercise won't make you thin. But I'm not swayed by this at all. It's no longer about just getting thin, it's about tuning up the engine. I've seen some changes in the mirror (enough to keep me moving) but I'm nowhere near "ripped", as it were. But the biggest change has been inside. The most depressing thing about being out of shape, for me anyway, was the idea that under the right circumstances, could I defend myself. Not in a fighting type of way, but if there were a circumstances where I had to run, how would I do? Two months ago, I'd have been at the back of the pack. This is no longer true. Maybe that's where real motivation lies. I'm through with image, it comes down to this: I don't have to outrun the bear...I only have to outrun you.

It's not the low carb diet, it's the caveman diet

2009-08-10T11:58:00.000-07:00

I'm on a mission. I'm going to see to it that the majority of what I consume is either a plant or an animal. I didn't start out with a low carb mindest, it's just that most processed foods are packed with carbs, and processed foods are what I'm "trying" to avoid. I'll be the first to concede that sticking to this 100% is impossible, but I'm really gonna go for it. I mean c'mon, does eating only meats, fruits, and vegetables really sound all that crazy?

DVD Review: Fat Head

2009-08-07T11:09:00.000-07:00

This is a documentary that challenges everything we know about healthy eating. I'm not smart enough, nor am I even remotely articulate enough to explain in detail all the items covered in this film. However, I can highly recommend it. It's not just that it challenges Morgan Spurlock's assertion that McDonald's is to blame for our obesity "epidemic" (a claim also challenged in the film), but director Tom Naughton also directly challenges everything that constitutes what our government tells us is a healthy diet. Even if you aren't the type to watch what you eat, or could care less about dietary nutrition, this film is required viewing.

I Eat Puppies

2009-08-06T14:40:00.001-07:00

And I'm am against the presidents plan to reform health care. I have legitimate concerns about government interference into the any aspect of the economy (aside from the obvious lack of constitutional jurisdiction). But man, I've been called everything from a heartless son-of-a-bitch to Satan himself for disagreeing with the president on this issue. Just because you're against government intrusion into health care does not mean you lack compassion for your fellow man. This smells a lot like what happened when one disagreed with President Bush over the invasion of Iraq. I was against that from the get go, and I was harassed to no end for it. It's strange how those who fly the flag of good will can so easily resort to mean spirited attacks when someone disagrees with them.

Stossel Slams Post Office

2009-08-05T09:15:00.000-07:00

And rightly so. The Post Office is closing 700 locations. And as Mr. Stossel points out, the US Post Office has tons of advantages over private competitors, but still can't seem to make a meager profit even while maintaining a consistent rate increase.

No longer a poser

2009-08-04T19:05:00.000-07:00

I completed stage 4.1 of my running program. It's by far the hardest yet, as the first three were relatively simple. I tried it on Sunday and failed miserably, but today I kicked its sorry little ass. I can honestly say, I don't feel like a poser anymore. When the program said "cooldown" I let out the biggest yell, everyone in the park looked over and I was laughin my ass off. They probably thought I was insane. Oh well...on to 4.2...bring it on!

$0.47

2009-08-04T17:03:00.000-07:00

My blog is earning me money. Today $0.47...tomorrow the world. My fine lady and I will be dining at a Chinese buffet to celebrate my earnings.

Pandora Sabotage

2009-08-03T16:39:00.000-07:00

I have a coworker who loves Punk Rock. He uses Pandora and has his stations programmed to play the type of music he likes. Well, recently I had to move to the sales office so I sit relatively close to him. And as much as you think you like/can tolerate Punk Rock...you cannot, so don't try. This coworker of mine also happens to be a chain smoker. So during one of his many smoke breaks I decided I'd fuck with his Pandora settings. I thought for sure that he'd figure it out soon so I didn't expect much. I went in and added artists like Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake. It didn't take long for his Pandora to start including that type of music. It's been six months and he is convinced that Pandora plugs popular music regardless of the genre you tell it you like because of pressure from big record companies. And now it's completely out of control. Just today it played Chicago, Kenny Loggins, and Eddie Money. And now, since Pandora only lets you listen to a certain amount of free hours per month, my sabotage is really starting to take its toll. Punk Rock indeed!

What is a racist, anyway?

2009-07-30T15:30:00.000-07:00

So there's a new twist to Gatesgate. Another officer from another department, the Boston Police Department to be specific, sent out a mass email referring to Gates as a "banana-eating jungle monkey". But he maintains he is not a racist. Well, now I'm just confused. I have no idea what a racist is. As a matter of fact, I'm not sure I even care. Steven Colbert, in all his genius, maintains that he doesn't see race, that people tell him he's white so he believes them. Obviously he's kidding, but he makes a good point. I think most people in the world, even America, don't give a shit what color you are. Sure people crack jokes about skin color, but at the end of the day are they going to distrust someone because of skin color? I'm not sure. Maybe it's not that cut and dry. Maybe it's circumstantial. Maybe everyone's a racist in a dark alleyway...

Again, I don't think I know, and I don't think I care.

Frist time running without a days rest

2009-07-29T17:17:00.000-07:00

Didn't mean for this blog to become a running diary, but oh well.

I usually rest in between days of running, but I feel pretty damn good after yesterdays 2.5 miles, so I'm breakin on through to the other side. And Rebecca has a client coming over with her Mormon boyfriend, and I'd rather eat razor blades than entertain him. And since I don't shave anymore, I have no razor blades, so I'll run instead. Outta my way!

William Shatner reads Sarah Palin's resignation speech.

2009-07-29T10:08:00.000-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0VpFP3FRMM

Nike +

2009-07-28T14:09:00.000-07:00

Here's an update on the running. I was having some bad shin splints and everything online says to invest in some running shoes, if you are going to run on a consistent basis. Jesus, has sneaker technology taken off or what? It kind of all started when I was playing with my iPhone 3Gs (yeah, I'm that cool) and it had something on there called Nike +. I started reading up on it and Nike apparently makes shoes that will talk to your phone, telling it things like how far you've run, what your average speed is, and how many calories you've burned. And the voice on the Nike + app sounds hot too, so when she says anything it motivates me. So my sneakers talk to my phone, and I have a pretty good idea what they're saying..."holy crap this guy is outta shape".

But, I have a little mini dude on my Nike plus page, and if I start to slack off he makes fun of me. Nothing like an internet avatar to make you get off your ass and pound the pavement.

Still enjoying these sites on a daily basis

2009-07-27T11:47:00.000-07:00

www.awkwardfamilyphotos.com

http://www.textsfromlastnight.com/

http://whythefuckdoyouhaveakid.com/

http://failblog.org/

http://thisisphotobomb.com/

Gatesgate deux

2009-07-27T10:16:00.000-07:00

I'm fascinated by this whole story. It really has taken on a life of its own. I feel the bigger point of police misconduct is being completely ignored. It's not illegal to be an asshole. Since people much wiser and more articulate than myself write on these matters, I'll just link to them. Radley Balko knocks it out of the park, as per usual.

http://www.reason.com/news/show/135039.html

Mobile blogging

2009-07-24T13:27:00.001-07:00

Is this thing on?

Gatesgate

2009-07-24T12:48:00.001-07:00

I coined the term, I want a quarter everytime someone says it.

I started running

2009-07-22T16:56:00.000-07:00

Holy crap am I out of shape. I'm about 2 weeks in and, holy crap am I out of shape. But I've crossed the threshold of dreading the run. I'm actually looking forward to it now.

Remember me?

2009-04-15T14:29:00.001-07:00

Yeah I know, it's been a while. But it's tax day and I've got something to say!

There have been a few pundits saying that paying taxes is patriotic, and that our taxes keep our country safe and strong, and other rhetorical bullshit. Here's one example: http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/04/15/begala.taxes/index.html

Now I'm sure I could easily pick apart the assertion that our country is currently strong and safe. But that's not the basis of my disagreement with taxes. My disagreement is a fundamental one. I am at odds with the very idea that any government knows how to spend it's citizens money better than it's citizens. Now before you go on about things like national security and our Justice System allow me to explain.

To say that the government is too big and that it's role should be diminished is not to say that government has no role at all. Of course we need government. We need it to do things like protect our civil liberties (not violate them, I'm lookin at you W), secure our borders, and enforce contracts through the Justice System. Outside of those and a few other items, the Founders thought that most matters should be left up to the States (see the 10th Ammendment).

This was so things like schools and roads and fire departments could be regulated at the local level. Can you honestly tell me that the Federal Government is doing a fine job educating our children? This extends further to issues of morality. Issues like gay marriage and stem cell research were never meant to be regulated by the Federal Government. Frankly, politicians are too biased to make such decisions. To quote John Lennon: "Power to the People"!

Oh yeah...taxes...right.

Currently the individual income tax represents roughly 42% of the Federal Governments annual revenue. So if we eliminated 42% of the government's...eh...role, if you will, we'd no longer need a national income tax. Impossible you say? Well the income tax wasn't implemented until 1913. Our country survived and flourished without an income tax far longer than it has survived with an income tax.

We cannot lose sight of the tennents of personal responsibility. The less we rely on government to provide for us, the more we can rely on ourselves. Adversely the more you rely on yourself the less you need government. And when we take steps toward telling the government that we don't need it to do every little thing for us, we can take steps toward eliminating the income tax.

For those who didn't want to read the whole post this will sum it up: Do you want to keep the money you work your ass off earning? If so, then you're with me.

Rock over London
Rock on Chicago

The case for Barry Bonds

2008-04-03T21:39:00.000-07:00

Let me begin by saying that I came to this conclusion via a conversation that I had with my girlfriend who knew nothing about baseball...

Does Barry Bonds have legitimate claim to the home run record?

Yes.

Here's why...

The issue with Bonds is steroids. Let's cut the bullshit. Steroids are by definition (in terms of professional and amateur sports) a "performance enhancing substance". I would submit that Gatorade is the very same thing. Obviously they are not equivalent in the effect they have, but they are identical under the definition. The only difference between Gatorade and steroids then, is that one is a legal substance, and the other is not. This reduces everything to the issue of legality.

I further submit that the legality of a substance has nothing to do with it's consideration for being a "performance enhancing substance". Therefore, if we are to condemn Barry Bonds for the (supposed) use of a performance enhancing drug, be it legal or illegal, we must condemn all uses of such substances. So the question is; where do you put the first asterisk? Where in the record books do you draw the line?

Let's face it, as fans we secretly love steroids. Well, not steroids perhaps, but most certainly the performances of those who are more than likely using steroids. I'm not a Barry Bond's fan, and I would be upset if I had a child who looked up to him. But the reasoning behind not giving him a legitimate claim to the home run record simply holds no water. Until we force the athletes of today to use the same equipment, adhere to the same diets, and play the same amount of games as their predecessors, the numbers just don't equate. I doubt seriously that Barry Bonds could have had the same success under the same conditions that those whose records he has surpassed lived (and thrived) under.

So is Barry Bonds as great a home run hitter as Hank Aaron? No one will ever know. I would prefer to think no but that's of no consequence. As long as new technologies are available to athletes, their accomplishments cannot and should not be compared to those of previous generations. I guess it's like comparing apples to oranges. (For the record I really didn't want to write that last line but I'm to fuckin tired to come up anything better to tie it all together)

Sorry about the lack of posts

2008-03-13T11:54:00.000-07:00

Like you care. A lot of things have happened this week, and I have a lot of opinions about those things. All in all, I have news fatigue. I honestly cannot keep up with all the fuck ups, all the excuses, and all the ignorance being spat out by the mainstream media. I actually had an epiphany earlier this week about the futility of being educated on the issues. What good has it really done me? Ignorance is bliss indeed. I wrestle with the idea that our society is too stupid to save itself. Often times I concede the point. But sometimes I'll see something or read something that gives me a flicker of hope. This usually doesn't last long. I guess at this point all I have to say about this whole thing is that the ball is in your court America. Put up or shut up. I'm done trying to convince people of anything I may be right or wrong about. Do what like, I'm gonna go play video games.

Vatican lists new sinful behaviors...who cares!

2008-03-10T11:31:00.000-07:00

So the Vatican came out and gave us some more rules to live by today. I got news for ya Papa, no one follows your old rules...not even your followers. What makes you think anyone is going to follow new ones? Honestly, why is this news? On top of that, how bout you clean up your own house before you go telling me how dirty mine is! Until you publicly condemn the molesting of children by your priests, you don't get to tell anyone how to conduct themselves on any level!

Fuck the Vatican, Fuck the Pope!

Update on slowing of the earth:

2008-03-09T21:03:00.000-07:00

Well, I couldn't sense that the earth had slowed down all that much over the weekend. I guess Jesus didn't think I deserved it. Then, last night, my girlfriend reminded me that we move the clocks forward. So not only did Jesus not slow down the rotation of the earth, he sped it up. Crap.

Holy living fuck!

2008-03-07T14:17:00.000-08:00

It's Friday, it's a beautiful day, and I'm stuck at work. On top of that it's incredibly slow. Someone please blow my brains out because this is driving me batshit crazy. And I've still another 2 1/2 hours to go.

Lord Jesus, please speed up the rotation of the earth until 4:30 p.m. PST. At that point could you please slow the rotation of the earth until 8:00 a.m. PST on Monday at which point I would like for you to speed it back up until 4:30 p.m. on that same day. Do you see what I'm getting at here, Jesus? I don't ask you for much...for that matter I haven't asked anything of you in a long time. Do me this favor and I'll never masterbate again.

Amen

Settle down kids, I'll explain it to ya.

2008-03-04T20:07:00.000-08:00

Ok, so gas prices are high. And everybody seems to be pointing fingers at the oil companies. Well, let me just say that I don't blame the oil companies for high gas prices. I don't blame them because it isn't their fault. I'll tell ya why.

Lets start by talking about some simple economics. Specifically, inflation. The basic rule of inflation is that the more you have of something, the less it is worth. Simple, right? The other way to look at it is the less you have of something, the more it is worth.

Now, inflation is related to gas prices in two different ways. The first way is the fact that we currently have more oil in reserve than at any point in the past 15 years. Now, as I said above since there is a lot of oil, ideally it should be cheaper. Why then is it more expensive ? Why, since there is a ton of freakin oil, are gas prices so high? Well...

This is where the other aspect of inflation affects the price of oil. See inflation applies to everything...including your money. And since our money has no backing, like gold for instance, it loses it value each time more money is printed by the Federal Reserve. This is why everything, including oil, is going up in price. It's not because of the value of the product is going up, it's because the value of your dollar is going down.

So lets summarize. The price of oil is going up because the decline in value of the U.S. dollar. Now it's time for you to go to your presidential candidate and ask them what they are going to do about inflation and the devaluation of the dollar. Then, listen to them bullshit for a couple minutes. Then go to http://www.ronpaul2008.com/issues/inflation-tax/ and you'll hear a presidential candidate who not only understands the affect of inflation on a nations economy, but also knows how to fix it.

http://www.ronpaul2008.com/issues/inflation-tax/

R.I.P. Jeff Healey

2008-03-03T14:30:00.000-08:00

Most people probably have no idea who Jeff Healey was. He's only one of the most amazing guitar players I've ever seen. And, he's freakin blind! He taught himself to play guitar as a child by laying the guitar across his lap sort of like a steel guitar. He was a brilliant musician and from everyone who knew him he was also very generous and had a wicked sense of humor. If you have some time go check out some of his tunes. I know he is on myspace as well as having his own personal web page, www.jeffhealey.com. Oh, and lest I forget, he was in Road House. Don't act like you've never seen Road House, and don't act like you don't love that fuckin movie. So yeah, use some time to listen to some Jeff Healey tunes. He also does a bitchin cover of "While my Guitar Gently Weeps".

Holy crap, the new Indian Jones trailer!

2008-03-03T10:58:00.001-08:00

Hell to the yeah, I love Indiana Jones movies. I just saw the new trailer and, although I saw it in low quality, I am officially psyched about this movie. I'm thinking a reviewing of the original trilogy is in order. So it written, so shall it be done. If you know anyone who doesn't know about Indiana Jones, then I charge you with the responsibility of education said person by requiring them...not asking...requiring them to watch the first three films. Oh and for those with children, I just checked http://www.imdb.com/ and it looks like they are all PG-13. If you wanna see the new trailer go here...

http://www.apple.com/trailers/paramount/indianajonesandthekingdomofthecrystalskull/

Do it!

Gone Country?

2008-02-29T20:14:00.000-08:00

What the hell is this show about? I'm watching all these old pop/rock stars getting yelled at by some guy in a cowboy hat that i've never seen before. This is the first i've seen of this show. On this particular episode the contestants have written country songs of their own and the cowboy hat guy is critiquing the songs. After Dee Snider's song played the guy said the lyrics were weak, he added that Dee was a "wizard" with lyrics and he was disappointed in the effort. Hang on...Dee Snider...a "wizard"... with lyrics? Don't get me wrong, I love Twisted Sister. But it's not because of the lyrical wizardry. He made the same assertion with Sisco. This is the same guy that wrote "The Thong Song". And to finish things off he threatened the last girls life. He hated her song and told her he would "kill for country music". I guess that's dedication. I don't think I'll be going country any time soon.

Some days you just need a lot of fuckin coffee.

2008-02-28T13:27:00.000-08:00

And today is one of them. I'm on my 5th cup, and I show no signs of stopping. Call Guiness, I'm going for the record. If you are going to be driving South on the 101 freeway out of Carpinteria, CA around 4:30 today...keep an eye out for a guy in a grey Nissan truck and stay out of his way!!!

McCain and Obama bicker about al Queda in Iraq

2008-02-27T14:27:00.000-08:00

Well here we go. On Tuesday night during the democratic debate Barrack Obama said he would attack al Queda in Iraq if they had a base in that country. Wisely John McCain pointed out that al Queda already has a base in Iraq, to which Obama replied that al Queda wasn't in Iraq until George Bush and John McCain decided to invade Iraq. It's a very smart tactic by Obama to associate McCain with Bush, and it's not unjustified. John McCain has made it clear on several occassions that he supports the president when it comes to Iraq. I don't understand why anyone in their right mind would think that Americans would vote for John McCain over Barrack Obama. I mean, we are talking about a country obssessed with vanity. Just take a look around the next time you are in line at the grocery store and you'll see what I mean. I think even if Obama supported the Iraq War he would still whip McCain's ass.

Is it still the economy, stupid?

2008-02-27T11:52:00.000-08:00

If it is, and it should be then Ron Paul still seems to display the most firm understand of the economy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EQ1sg6GhZE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gldETRlhiXk

So much for that.

2008-02-27T10:13:00.001-08:00

After becoming the number one team in the nation on Monday, my beloved Vols decided it was far too much pleasure for me to enjoy. So they lost to Vandebilt last night, a team they had beaten by 20 points in their first meeting. I'm not to terribly put off by it, I still think they can compete for an NCAA championship. I think the thing I was most upset by was seeing Vanderbilt fans enjoy the victory. I've said serveral times that one of the reasons I like sports is seeing fans whose team has just lost. I get joy out of seeing the utter agony on the faces of these folks, most of whom have gone way out of their way to get tickets to begin with. I can't be the only person who feels this way. Anyway, so much for that.

So this is blogging?

2008-02-26T15:34:00.001-08:00

Let me begin by saying that I do think that having a blog is a bit arrogant. So perhaps by starting a blog I'm in some way admitting that I am in some sense...arrogant. You decide. But that doesn't explain why someone would have a blog. So the question I had to ask myself was: why are you starting blog? It's quite simply actually, I want you to know what I think. So don't overthink it, and don't get confused about its purpose. I'm going to comment of a range of topics from news about politics, sports, religion, science, and whatever else I think merits discussing. So here's hoping that this little blog can be a source of information, opinion, and perhaps even entertainment.