Day: February 5, 2022

Who is wrong?

I think Bill Maher gets some important things right. But he is spectacularly wrong here:

Yes, some are more vulnerable to COVID than others; in fact, I tell my students that I have to take precautions that might not make sense for them.

But…with his take on what President Biden said about the vaccines: the vaccines DID have 90-95 percent efficacy with respect to getting infected..PRE DELTA. New variants came along, and now, the efficacy with respect to infection appears to be 50 percent or so, though efficacy with respect to death is about 95 percent.

Now his swipe at the hypocrisy of leaders and politicians (bipartisan): ok, THAT was well deserved.

Maher also seems to discount morbidity; even if you are young, COVID can cause conditions that can become chronic. This country will need a lot of oxygen tanks in the near future.

Workout notes

some slight shoulder soreness…I wonder…seems to coincide with doing too many “to the floor” push-ups. Glute: tingles still there, though I did feel a pop and some relief last night..and I noticed that when I stretch the back in different ways, the pain is relieved or alternately, reproduced. So there is an interplay with the lower back.

Today: light stretching, deadlifts:

10 x 134, 10 x 184, 10 x 234 (latter was more work than I had anticipated ..but no back pain, at all)

then 3 sets of 5 with 280, new set every 3 minutes, used a belt. These were ok, but were work. I had some in the tank when I finished, but..maybe next week, IF all goes well, seek a 4’th rep. on set 5?

In defense of the anti-vaxxers …

Before you think I’ve lost my mind:

  1. I am vaccinated and boosted..and I wear the best mask I can when around others or indoors.
  2. I am in favor of mask AND vaccine mandates; the reason for the latter will be clear when I finish this post.

Now that being said, what I am I talking about?

Imagine your social pool being, say, highly religious people or people who are deeply skeptical of THE GOVERNMENT.

Then add to that some of the ridiculous stuff that comes from the left. Add to that the changing official CDC advice (yes, I know, the virus changed, we know more, etc.)

Add to that the polarization and just how unpleasant the left can be.

Then add to that: openly advocating for vaccines and/or mitigation measures can mean all but certain ostracization from friends, family and neighbors…when THAT is your world…

Bucking the trend is very difficult, and possibly life changing.

Would I have been able to do it?

And that leads me to mandates: IF the vaccine is required for the job…”well, I am sorry I got the jab but I need the job…”
It gives people social cover to get the shot.

Brrr…

Just getting caught up; due to a snowstorm we had classes online on Wednesday and Thursday; back to “normal” today. So, I went to my office in my sweats (short walk).

The snow was deep enough to get inside my tall boots; snow on the rug was from my socks.

Tonight: made a women’s game; hardly anyone there. Indiana State got so many second chance points; they raced to a 30-14 lead though Bradley cut it to 7 at the half.

But alas..back to a 65-47 lead going into the 4’th and the final ended 83-63. Rough year.

Yes, I hate cold weather, but the work..well. slowdown gave me time to relearn stuff and I enjoyed the math and interacting with students.

COVID 19

Down to 100 new cases a day…deaths were from the previous surge, including 2 in my age group and 4 in my spouse’s.

Workout notes first, note my Ned Flanders like neighbor used his snow blower to clear off part of our driveway and to do most of the sidewalk on the street! That is so sweet…really. I shoveled some more and it did set off the glute…though the cold, slippery walking didn’t help either. But the spinal twist stretch before bed helps, a LOT.

Shoulder: mostly ok.

Note: I’ve returned to the naproxen as it does take away a LOT of the body-ache.

Now about the workouts:

Wednesday: weights…it was COLD…managed 8 reps on the pull up bar; called it quits. strong wind, blowing snow..ugh.

Still got rehab and 4 sets of 25 push ups
bench press: 5 x 154, 5 x 154, 5 x 159, 1 x 181 (hips down); most I’ve done since April.

dead lift: 10 x 134, 10 x 184, 10 x 234 then 8 inch: 10 x 270

Thursday 1:02 for 22 fake miles; 10 min medium then 15 reps of 1 hard, 1 easy, 4 reps of 1 easy, 4 medium, then finish medium, followed by a ton of rehab (clamshell, banded walks)

Friday Upper body: 4 sets of 5 singles, set of 10 (gloveless), sets of 5/5 singles to get to 50 reps, then 2 sets of 5 chins.

Inside: rehab and 4 sets of 25 push ups

bench: 3 sets of 5 x 161 hips down, 3 sets of 10 rows (60 each arm)

3 sets of 10 curls, 3 sets of 10 x 99 shoulder (better depth)