AM: Forest Park Nature Center walk with Pat. Yes, Pat is a good walker but she is 9 years older than I and is less experienced on trails. Still, she handled the hills of the outer loop easily and we took it in 1:23, the time it took me back in the “mean days” of 2021.
Later, I went to a Chiefs double header with Lynn. The games: exciting: in game 1, the Chiefs fell behind 4-0 but rallied to tie it at 4 going in the 7’th. But alas, they could not drive it in (great catch on a line drive down the first base line) to prevent the win. They then gave up 2 runs in the 8’th, got them back in the bottom of the 8’th, but then gave up 1 in the 9’th to lose 7-6.
In the night cap, the Chiefs struck first and then lead 3-1 going into the top of the 7’th. The Kernels (a very good team) loaded the bases with 1 out and scored (fielder’s choice), but the Chiefs got a strike out to win the game.
The game featured a nifty triple play by the Kernels. Runners on 1’st and second and a hard line drive was hit to right: excellent catch, then throw to first for out 2, then to second for out 3. Both runners were already at the next base upon the hit (reasonable given the line drive..at hit 99 percent of the time).
I didn’t mean this. Chiefs game was postponed. But I did get an eye appointment, got a reason for my sometime double vision (muscle imbalance) and a new prescription.
We’ll probably have the glasses in a couple of weeks.
And I did walk with Pat. The slow pace bothered my back just a bit (mild glute ache) but the second faster walk (13:40 for the Cooper, Moss, Glenwood, Laura loop) made it feel a lot better.
Note: Pat was once overweight; no hint of that now.
I decided to walk and lift today, and when I finished, it was 82 F, with 67 percent humidity. It was a steambath. So, it was my usual 4.1 mile course in 59:28 (13:28 final mile). Then I drank,
pull ups: 10 singles, 10 single chins, then 6, 6, 6, 6, 6 with pulls, chins, pulls, pulls, chins. My toes did touch the ground briefly to steady.
slant push ups; 30, 30
downstairs: Swiss bench 8 x 134, then 3 sets of 5 x 145
curls: 3 sets, shrugs: 3 sets
high incline: 10 x 84, 8 x 95, 6 x 100
weight: hanging in at 195 or so (before workout; yesterday, 191 after, and I did drink.
I did have some discomfort at mile 3; felt better when I sped up.
I admit that I spent too much time following the submersible story. Nutshell: a private company sent visitors to view the Titanic wreck and the submersible imploded; it isn’t clear if they imploded on the way down, or if they had aborted the dive and were on the way up.
OceanGate CEO, Stockton Rush: I like to be remembered as an innovator.. You're remembered for the rules you break. I've broken some rules to make this..I think I broke them with logic & good engineering..the carbon fiber and titanium..there is a rule that you don’t do that..I did pic.twitter.com/VlXkgG51qv
This especially irks me because I served on submarines. It was serious stuff. Parts exposed to sea pressure had an extra certification Parts were individually tested, labeled, traced, and work on such systems had to be signed off by multiple, highly qualified people. Fraudulent sign-offs had jail time attached.
And the training: of course the systems experts were trained, but, as the saying went: “there are no passengers on a submarine.” Everyone who rode one, even “mission specialists” had to get basic qualification (e. g. know where the damage control, life saving, and fire gear were located).
This was serious stuff for serious people.
Evidently, this was not the case here.
But then I saw this:
No, Mr. Johnson, these people were NOT heroes. Thumbing your nose at engineering practice derived from experts and prior mishaps is not bravery. It is hubris and stupidity.
The laws of nature do not care how highly you think of yourself or about how much money you have.
I admit that I see less spectacular displays of such hubris.
Tourists are told to stay away from wild animals. But she wanted a selfie with a bison calf:
And yes, I see it on my timeline. Every once in a while, someone has to take a photo behind a sign that says “keep out” or “keep on the other side”, or “stay off of the rocks”, all the while giving a smug, self satisfied smile.
Everyone, ok, many, wants to think of themselves as the “exception to the rule.”
“This family took another trail, closed to tourists, even if there was a small gate and ‘no access’ signs,” Cappelli said.
When the family reached the top of the over 4,000-feet-high volcano, Carroll stopped to take a selfie and his phone fell into the crater.
“He tried to recover it, but slipped and slid a few meters into the crater. He managed to stop his fall, but at that point he was stuck,” Cappelli said.
“He was very lucky. If he kept going, he would have plunged 300 meters into the crater,” he added.”
Yesterday’s walk was a bust. Today’s: well, no speed records, but it went much better. I was 29:00 at 2 miles (W. Peoria course), 58 at 4 then to cross a tough intersection I turned my watch to pause..found out that I had not started it back up again and I was already in lower Bradley Park.
Still I started it up again, and figuring out the distances (4.1 to the start of Bradley Park, 2.2 for the Cornstalk loop and the out and back, 1.0 to the house and 1.15 for the Cooper/Moss/Glenwood/Laura loop, call it 8.4 in 2:01; last 2.15 was in 29:18, a 13:38 pace. I had “touch and go” discomfort from 4 to 6; the hills in Bradley Park helped.
So, I added these two courses together. I felt so much better than yesterday.
The down side is that I did see 3 loose dogs today; 2 were pit bulls. I did get barked at but not chased..still, animal control in this area used to be quite good. It was rare that I saw 3 loose dogs in a year, much less in one walk.
I will have to switch back. This new stuff makes me way too sleepy.
Walk was a bit of a disaster; gave up at 3.6; walked to the W. Peoria track park and stretched (3.7). Then .9 miles home; then 2 mile drug store walk (extra on Rebecca) Total 6.6
Wednesday: Forest Park Nature Center 4.26; slow 1:01:26 outer loop, then Cardinal to Bee Tree. Lots of kids groups, families, etc. This came after deadlifts:
10 x 134, 10 x 190, 10 x 225 low (tried not to bounce reps)
Today: Warm 4.1 walk (Garmin went wild; tried to give me 3.93 for my 4.1 lower loop course, which was a slowish 59:26, with 13:44 final mile.
Then weights: 20 singles on the 10 second, 10 singles, 10 singles, 5 chin singles, 5 chin singles
Downstairs: 7 x 134, then 3 sets of 5 x 145 some shrugs high incline (careful) 10 x 64, 10 x 84, 2 sets of 7 x 95 all “touch the chest”
The shoulder feels fine; some slight discomfort in today’s walk (last mile).
Yes, in many (most? all?) fields, being an expert matters:
Some years ago, someone at a talk said "Why should I consult an expert when all the medical journals are online?" I said: "Because they were not written for you and you can't understand them without education and experience."
And, of course, many got their feelings hurt by this comment. But it is spot on.
What’s become apparent in the last few years to me, is that a lot of people find the idea that they should have a responsibility and obligation to other people around them, highly oppressive. It’s a level of egocentrism that even children would be admonished for.
Now there is much to unpack here. Yes, I broke off relations with those who did not feel the need to help stop the spread of COVID by masking, getting the vaccine, practicing social distancing, etc.
BUT, I can see, in part, where the attitude comes from. For example: in my circles, I often see memes about “hungry kids” …with no mention of the parents of said kids. It seems as if everyone wants some sort of accommodation, or exception to the rules made for them.
Not sure what the balance is.
Reminder: you don't have to clump your opinions. You can support Covid vaccines & think women's professional sports should be restricted to natal women. Substitute any 2 issues you please—my point is that you don't have to buy in to a package deal of partisan views. Go à la carte
I feel that the primary responsibility for a kids welfare resides with the parents of said kids
I decry the erosion of academic standards for whatever reason, whether it is to placate the creationists or woke social justice warrior.
I think nuclear power belongs in the energy mix.
I am a capitalist though I favor regulations to make capitalism more humane. No, you are not entitled to support from others because you want to pursue what makes you happy.
It is good to have high academic standards.
‼️ A multimillion dollar, international, cross-agency, joint-domain maritime search and rescue operation has been launched to ensure lives aren't needlessly lost in the #Titanic submersible.
Now if only this was the 700 migrants who drowned last week while authorities looked on. pic.twitter.com/3O9rA6GkP8
At times, it sure seems that way, doesn’t it? We often balk at helping the less fortunate, while at the same time, pulling out the stops to attempt to rescue very rich people who willingly took the risk to do something dangerous.
Life of an old goat 