Twitter is an interesting platform. I’ve seen liberals complain that they wish “cancel culture” was real because someone that they don’t like still has a platform.
The reason is simple: The then “Dixie Chicks” angered their fans; Ted Nugent didn’t.
In short, IF others have something you want or need (e. g. business) then those people can cancel you; those who have nothing you want or need cannot cancel you.
Think about it: remember the scientist who wore a bad shirt when they announced about landing a probe on a comet? He got “canceled” because he angered his own tribe. Think about it: do you think some right wing law prof who was worth 40 million dollars would give a damn about what a bunch of liberal proffies had to say?
BTW, I think that is some of the appeal that Trump and the R’s have: they “stand up” to the libs…even if they are outrageously wrong.
I remember back in my college days, a couple of guys got drunk, saw this movie, and spent the better part of the night trying to get the “Kill Bond. NOW!” right.
And I am binge watching the Bonds; I still have two Craig Bonds to go before I can say that I’ve seen all of them. I’ll say more later.
I did lift over the past couple of days;
Yesterday: deadlifts and farmer’s walks. (4 reps of .12 miles each with 134)
Locally, COVID19 numbers are looking better and better; fewer than 20 new cases per day (we WERE over 100 not too long ago..and we still have some deaths from that nasty surge).
So…is this finally winding down? It feels like it.
I wonder if there will be some changes in society. I have read about some employers having trouble finding employees (NOT the case in higher education..right now) and I wonder: have people had enough of awful situations?
Time will tell; it would be great to see a happier society emerge.
And yes, I am talking about the US.
Workout notes; shoulder bothered me this morning..no so much at night. Felt the “crackle pop”..kind of like the swishing one gets in a cooler filled with ice. The good news is that it seems to through that phase just before getting better.
Swim: 1800 yards (1 mile) done in the following way:
200 free (gentle), 300 of 75 kick drill, 25 free (fins), 200 alt free/pull, 300 of 75 kick drill, 25 free (fins) 200 side, 300 of 75 kick drill, 25 free (fins), 4 x 50 side on the 1:30 (1:12-1:15), 100 dolphin kick (fins).
12 k on the bike in 23:13 (19:34 for 10k) Lots of stretching; tingles from the piriformis early (not on the bike).
I am an academic and am liberal…that is, liberal by the standards of the United States on the whole. My liberal arts colleagues would probably consider me to be a conservative or at least an out-of-touch fossil.
I lead with that paragraph to head off the question: why do I harp on these sorts of topics instead of, say, the last President who lost reelection, or the gym owner who represents a Georgia district in House of Representatives?
The answer is pretty clear: I want nothing to do with the current Republican party. Aside from a Mitt Romney here or a Liz Cheney there, there is nothing I find honorable. That isn’t my house.
Besides, my “speaking out” does, what, exactly? We are way too polarized for a Republican to care anything at all about what I have to say. That might prove to be unfortunate as, given that Illinois lost a House seat and Cheri Bustos is retiring after having very, very narrowly defeating her Republican opponent, I am likely to be represented by a Republican in the House..in the very near future.
So, I might end up trying to persuade ONE Republican (not likely to be able to)
But back to the Democrats and to liberals: that is my house. So I want a say and I’ll continue to talk about things.
And yes, I do share many of the long term goals that many liberals have, but I think we have to be smart about how to achieve said goals.
“Cancel culture is essentially a boycott. Its refusing to participate or support those that promote racist, homophobic, sexist, transphobic, or otherwise ignorant behavior. Protest is at the heart of this country and it shouldn’t be limited in the name of making already powerful people feel safer to spew ideas that are not tolerable in today’s society.”
Ok: who decides what is “racist, homophobic”, etc.? Sure, there are some things that are universal: slurs directed at people, not hiring someone based on the color of their skin, sex, sexual expression, gender identity, etc.
But the collection of “xx-ist” things is really a fuzzy set.
Skim through all 36 parts; it is hilarious..and from the media..not from nobodies on Twitter:
Part of my reaction is a reaction to the personalities of the wokes themselves: they appear to have “I talk, you listen” attitude. The remind me a lot of the more sanctimonious Bible Beaters.
Part of my reaction to wokeness is the attitude of degree, punishment, and atmosphere.
I’ll give you an example from my past, oh, 23 years ago or so (the professor in question has long since retired)
I was taking a class and an Asian student (not from the US) asked if we would have to code on the exam. The prof sarcastically answered the question by saying “No coding..” but in an affected accent to mimic the student.
An undergraduate student (of Asian descent) said “I heard that Asian accent..”..laughing…the prof said “I didn’t do that” and the student laughed and said “oh, yes you did.”
And, to my knowledge, that ended it. That prof never did that again (to my knowledge) which, IMHO, was the goal. No inquiry, no provost involvement..an otherwise good man who had a moral slip was called out..and corrected himself.
To me, that was a proportional response. I honestly think making everything into a severe transgression may well make some LESS likely to speak out.
I believe in correction and redemption…and only calling in HR and “the suits” when the transgressions are repeated or egregious.
I used “strength level” to see what the computer might predict for my 1 rep max for the high handle trap bar deadlift..and when I didn’t change my age group, it called me a “novice” lifter, given my lift, and my weight and sex.
And that explains why I look so…well, weak. If I were a young guy my current size, I would be considered weak. My muscular appearance is in line with what I can actually do.
Basically, the age group stuff just says that “sure, you are weak but that is to be expected.”
Commentary: as we come out of the pandemic, the health club is making adjustments. Starting 1 June, you cannot reserve a lane in the pool; it will be like it always had been.
I fully understand why they are doing that and I can see the pros of going back. But I’ll miss the ability to reserve a lane and have it to myself; it disciplines me.
Workout: weights only today;
pull ups (chin ups too): mostly garbage, but I got my 50 reps
push ups: 40, 40, 30
deadlifts: 10 x 134, 10 x 184, 10 x 224, 10 x 251 (high); spouse tried to talk to me..
curls: 3 sets of 10 x 50
close grip shoulder presses: 3 sets of 10 x 70 (need to keep ROM shoulder friendly)
Ok, Sunday: after deadlifts, I took Tracy to a ball game. The Chiefs lost to the River Bandits 5-2, in a game that featured the starting Bandit pitcher (and first reliever) shutting the Chiefs down completely. Though he got a “no decision”, he pitched 4 scoreless innings, keeping his ERA at 0.00 and struck out 9 and allowed no base runners. The next one pitched 2 scoreless innings, allowing 1 infield hit.
It was 2-0 going into the 8’th with the teams giving different pitchers action. Then the next Chiefs pitcher gave up: HR, double, HR before striking out the side.
But in the bottom of the 8’th, with 2 out, a Chief legged out an infield single and I remarked that the next Chief would hit a home run..which he did! (the one time one of my outrageous predictions actually came true). But 5-2 is where it remained.
Commentary The Chiefs now allow vaccinated fans to not wear masks and have increased capacity to 60 percent. But attendance is kind of low; I wonder if it is because the pandemic was still raging at the time they usually set up the group outings (e. g. OSF, Bradley, Caterpillar, Church, etc.)
Workout notes
Monday: 1700 yard swim (mix of drills and swimming), weights
50 reps of pull ups (not that bad), 40, 40, 30 push ups, rows (3 sets of 10 x 134), shoulder rehab stuff, shoulder presses (3 sets of 10 x 80 “to the eyes”), 3 sets of 10 curls.
Tuesday: overslept yoga. 1800 swim: 200 swim, 3 x 100 kick drill/swim (fins), 200 swim (mix pull, free), 3 x 100 kick drill/swim (fins), 200 side, 3 x 100 kick/drill swim (fins), 4 x 50 on the 1:30 (55, 56, 56, 54) 100 fly-kick.
cycling: 10k in 19:24 (indoor) down from 23:20.
Weight: 202 (too high…but I knew my 200 post colonoscopy was artificially low)
Shoulder: the stretching appears to be helping. The sleeping on a towel puts bad pressure on my spine so that will stop.
deadlifts and farmer’s walks:
10 x 134, 10 x 184 (warm up)
Work sets:
Low: 10 x 224, 3 x 251, 3 x 256, 3 x 256, 3 x 256, 3 x 261
high: 3 x 274, 1 x 301
farmers walk: 4 1:30 walks from the laundry room extension to the alley and back. Approximately 42-44 yards each way.
I focused on “no bounce” and all reps, save the 1 x 301, felt good. The latter: I quickly forgot about trying for another 1-2 reps; felt just a bit in my back.
I can honestly say that on the first few “heavy” sets, it was the first rep that was hard; the next two were easier, even with a pause (no bounce) at the bottom.
Note: last night, I had some glute cramping while sitting on the couch! It was on/off this morning as well.
And Bradley beats Illinois State again: 3-1, on the strength of 3 home runs, including one that cleared the second fence and went out of the park.
Yes, no masks at the seats, and the Chiefs are not requiring vaccinated patrons to wear masks. I might bring one with me anyway.
Workout notes shoulder: made a doctor’s appointment…might move back as it is when my jury duty starts. AND doing shrugs from a bench and stretching my chest appears to be helping.
Today: pull ups (went ok); 10 singles, set of 10, several sets of 5 with different positions, push ups (40, 35, 30) , bench shrugs, rows (3 sets of 10 x 134), curls (3 sets of 10 x 50), shoulder: 3 sets of 10: 70, 70, 80.
I’ve got some…saddle soreness from the bike …seriously.
Life of an old goat 