Day: July 27, 2019

Me too and work romance

This article about “Me Too” and office romances is interesting.

Disclaimer: I met my wife of 23 years …at work. Sort of..we kept seeing each other at work and non work related events …but…we WERE work colleagues albeit in different departments.

Anyway..I do know that even in non-romantic relationships, a bit of casual flirting can be fun, and yes, there is some of that between my yoga teacher and me (it is not hidden). She has even teased about her “sexually harassing me”…

Now, of course, she isn’t my boss; either one of us can say “no”. But the point of the article: the relationship took that turn *somewhere* and in the “me too” era that can be risky.

So..the work environment is perhaps more sterile? BUT..well, do women now have a more comfortable work environment? I do not know.

As far as college teaching, well, I won’t say much except to mention that I’ve had to rethink my relationship with MALE students. Why? From time to time, say if a student comes to office hours..I might notice the build on a male and ask him how his weight lifting is going. Every time..they have been eager to talk about it. But that meant that I noticed their body.

There is no way in Hades that I’d make any remark that indicated to a female that I noticed her body; I might ask a female athlete about her sport but only if I’ve seen her compete or train.

And..that is a “sort of” double standard, isn’t it? Hmmm…

Textbook racism

I frequently attack “political correctness” and, yes, I feel that “racism” is a word that is frequently overused.

But: public figure making a statement that disparages (and incorrectly so!) a region based on it being majority black: that is textbook racism.

To wit:

Now what about that district?

Now some have criticized this response (that is, showing Trump is wrong…again). But we hear “racism” said so much…I think that a factual response is better as it shows WHY the Trump tweet is racist.

Trump made an unwarranted (and in this case, incorrect) assumption about Rep. Cummings’ district based on the fact that it is a predominately black district, and THAT is textbook racism.

Sadly, the facts will fall on some deaf ears; Trump says what a sizable portion of the country wants to say…and well, facts will not persuade…most of them (IMHO anyway). But facts MIGHT persuade some who aren’t in this camp.

First 20 of the season

It was warmer than I gave it credit for:

I started off gently and tried to increase the pace. It was sort of humid at the start and then warmed up to 86 F, 49 percent humidity when I finished. Yeah, I’ve finished in worse.
This was really my 16 mile course with the extra out and back spur from the Tower to Sheridan/Northmore and back. I was 2:42 at 10.2, 3:12 just past mile 12 and 5:09 at “almost 20 (19.9) the final 5 was 1:14:20 and the final 4 in 59:25. Basically, this was like my 16.3 course with the 1:01 added on for the spur.

Pace: 15:38, or somewhat slower than some of my 20’s last year. BUT I am doing this with heavier legs (more mileage midweek) and my course is somewhat more challenging due to adding the Grandview hills.
But, in reality…this WAS more difficult than the 16 milers ..I felt the difference.