Spring Flu

Holding off on early week workouts -- caught a nasty flu virus. Mostly in my head, will spare the details. Trying to take it easy at work, sitting most of the day, and keeping the fluids coming... more once I'm on the flip side.

2010 North Carolina Golf Skills Challenge


The 2010 North Carolina Golf Skills Challenge will be held at the Bentwinds Golf and Country Club, Fuquay-Varina, NC, on August 16, 2010, from 11 a.m. till 1 p.m. This site contains an application form, rules, and a printable flyer. Support our troops in North Carolina!

We had 8 years of Bush and Cheney, and you didn't get mad...

You didn't get mad when the Supreme Court stopped a legal recount and appointed a President.

You didn't get mad when Cheney allowed Energy company officials to dictate energy policy.

You didn't get mad when a covert CIA operative got outed.

You didn't get mad when the Patriot Act got passed.

You didn't get mad when we illegally invaded a country that posed no threat to us.

You didn't get mad when we spent over 600 billion(and counting) on said illegal war.

You didn't get mad when over 10 billion dollars just disappeared in Iraq.

You didn't get mad when you found out we were torturing people.

You didn't get mad when the government was illegally wiretapping Americans.

You didn't get mad when we didn't catch Bin Laden.

You didn't get mad when you saw the horrible conditions at Walter Reed.

You didn't get mad when we let a major US city, New Orleans, drown.

You didn't get mad when we gave a 900 billion tax break to the rich.

You didn't get mad when the deficit hit the trillion dollar mark.

You finally got mad when the government decided that people in America deserved the right to see a doctor if they are sick.

Yes, illegal wars, lies, corruption, torture, stealing your tax dollars to make the rich richer, are all okay with you, but helping other Americans...oh hell no.

(Source)

Week 15 | Insanity-P90X-P90X+-One on One-Hybrid Workouts
Fri: P90X Legs & Back
Sat: P90X+ Kenpo Karate Plus
Sun: Rest
My 30-Week Beachbody Hybrid Calendar

Solid Friday early morning routine. LOVE the wall squats, tons of pull-ups, and lots of leg work to boot. Works every angle, bring out a nice sweat, and on with a very rare day off to be spent with Dad and Kathy. Will's home sick, so we'll be staying in and having fun!

Saturday Karate special, then off to a final foster adopt class. Sunday... rest. Sweet rest.

Don't spend another day waiting... Let's get started.
Ready to get in shape, with my help? I can be your coach, help you via email/online, and get you started on the right foot. First, sign up here to get me as your free coach. Next, click SHOP here to get your copy of Power 90 (beginners) or P90X (intermediate) or Insanity (advanced interval training). (NBA stars, singers like Cheryl Crow and Pink, and folks like you and I are doing it! Here's Tony Horton talking about P90X.) Bolster your food plan by tracking your calories with fitday.com (guys, 2,500 cals a day, gals 1,800), and consider drinking a Shakeology shake in place of lunch -- it's like going to the salad bar with five plates. If you're already a P90X user, take the next step and be a coach with my help. Keep pushing play, bring it, A+ P90X review!

What you can learn from a lousy teacher...

If you have a teacher (of any sort) that you cannot please, that you cannot learn from, that is unwilling to take you where you need to go because he is defending the status quo and demonstrates your failure on whatever report card he chooses to use, you could consider yourself a failure. Or you could remind yourself...

1. Grades are an illusion

2. Your passion and insight are reality

3. Your work is worth more than mere congruence to an answer key

4. Persistence in the face of a skeptical authority figure is a powerful ability

5. Fitting in is a short-term strategy, standing out pays off in the long run

6. If you care enough about the work to be criticized, you've learned enough for today

Source: Seth Godin's Blog


Week 15 | Insanity-P90X-P90X+-One on One-Hybrid Workouts
P90X Yoga (Thursday Goodness)
My 30-Week Beachbody Hybrid Calendar

Ommmmm! Ommmmm!

Why We Still Need Libraries and Librarians
By Jamie McKenzie

Given the literacy and comprehension challenges facing schools in this decade — especially those presented by the new information landscape — we need libraries and librarians now more than ever.

Unfortunately, there are many leaders who are ill equipped to understand these challenges or the role librarians might play in helping teachers and schools to meet them. When this lack of understanding combines with budgetary woes, we are seeing drastic reduction in force across the continent. This amounts to intellectual disarmament. In L.A., for example, as many as 44 school librarians out of a total of 150 were issued provisional pink slips according to an article, "Pink Slips—and Rumors—Fly in L.A." published in the American Libraries' Inside Scoop published March 17, 2010. The same pattern is being repeated in many districts.

This article begins by listing some of the challenges presented by the new landscape and then suggests why libraries and librarians are crucial.

Read it in its entirety here...

Week 15 | Insanity-P90X-P90X+-One on One-Hybrid Workouts
P90X Shoulders & Arms
My 30-Week Beachbody Hybrid Calendar

Wednesday means heavy lifting. Grab those 20 or 30 pound free weights and get ready to blast the arms and shoulders, P90X style. Here's a tip -- slow down. Hold each move for 4-6 extra seconds, feel the burn. Love the burn. Experienced this during a full round of ChaLean Extreme (also from Beachbody) -- lighter weights, but slower moves. Builds more muscle, but the intensity and weight have to be there, or you're wasting your time. (Now where have I heard that gem?)

Still knee-deep in ProQuest video production land, working on SIRS Issues Researcher full training. Nice.

Spring has sprung... Get ready for bathing suit season.
Ready to get in shape, with my help? I can be your coach, help you via email/online, and get you started on the right foot. First, sign up here to get me as your free coach. Next, click SHOP here to get your copy of Power 90 (beginners) or P90X (intermediate) or Insanity (advanced interval training). (NBA stars, singers like Cheryl Crow and Pink, and folks like you and I are doing it! Here's Tony Horton talking about P90X.) Bolster your food plan by tracking your calories with fitday.com (guys, 2,500 cals a day, gals 1,800), and consider drinking a Shakeology shake in place of lunch -- it's like going to the salad bar with five plates. If you're already a P90X user, take the next step and be a coach with my help. Keep pushing play, bring it, A+ P90X review!

Week 15 | Insanity-P90X-P90X+-One on One-Hybrid Workouts
P90X Plyometrics
My 30-Week Beachbody Hybrid Calendar

"Nobody said this was easy." Agreed. Plyometrics sets the bar pretty darn high for P90X users. Lots of cardio moves to get the heart pumping -- jumping, side to side moves, Mary Katherine's, the works. Came out of the final stretch with twitchy legs, minor, and on to a big breakfast to feed the muscles. Tuesday's on P90X are always intense.

Onward to more SIRS Issues Researcher full-length training video production using good ol' Camtasia software, and April newsletter content is waiting for me on next week's horizon, like a thunderhead... All good.

Week 15 | Insanity-P90X-P90X+-One on One-Hybrid Workouts
P90X Chest and Back
My 30-Week Beachbody Hybrid Calendar

Monday morning, and in most weeks, that means hitting the ol' P90X with Chest and Back. Lots of push ups, pull ups, lawmowers, and all the rest. Felt great (little wobbly at the end, but not like last week), did 15 pull ups in the first set, then 12-15 in the second.

Are you getting ready for swimsuit season? Get Shakeology to replace lunch through May and you'll be set (comes with free workout DVDs!) then get serious with P90X and join me.

Don't spend another day waiting... Let's get started.
Ready to get in shape, with my help? I can be your coach, help you via email/online, and get you started on the right foot. First, sign up here to get me as your free coach. Next, click SHOP here to get your copy of Power 90 (beginners) or P90X (intermediate) or Insanity (advanced interval training). (NBA stars, singers like Cheryl Crow and Pink, and folks like you and I are doing it! Here's Tony Horton talking about P90X.) Bolster your food plan by tracking your calories with fitday.com (guys, 2,500 cals a day, gals 1,800), and consider drinking a Shakeology shake in place of lunch -- it's like going to the salad bar with five plates. If you're already a P90X user, take the next step and be a coach with my help. Keep pushing play, bring it, A+ P90X review!

Shakeology Creator Video:
Awesome Nutrition & Weight Loss from Beachbody

Spring NC style... Enjoying NC blue skies!



Rock your weekend -- rest time, beautiful days ahead, ahhhhh....

Glenn Beck Deconstructed...

Part One:

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Intro - Progressivism Is Cancer
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Health Care Reform

...by John Stewart. Dead on. Time for Glenn to get some counseling, medication, and some time off.

Part Two:

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Conservative Libertarian
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Health Care Reform

Week 14 | Insanity-P90X-P90X+-One on One-Hybrid Workouts
P90X Legs & Back (Get your DVD's!)
My 30-Week Beachbody Hybrid Calendar

Took it easy today, yesterday's insane trail ride very much in effect on the ol' legs. Feeling strong, a little sore around the edges, and spent. Just how the ol' bod likes it.

Without pushing limits from time to time, there's no real gain. Also adding an extra small meal to my diet, thinking my recent bout of dizziness/light headedness may have been linked to too much exercise and not enough food. Also keeping my water intake as high as I can. No sense in starving the body of what it needs, right?

Ahhh... 70 degrees+ and sunny today in NC. Feeling good, will wind out a few miles over lunch again on the trail to keep the calorie burn in full effect. Grandpa Joe and Grandma Kathy coming to hanging with William this weekend -- looking forward to it!

American Tobacco Trail
Open from Wake to Durham Counties


So great... Our NC tax dollars put to excellent use. Grab your bike, head to your nearby trail head, and get yourself moving. Click this link or the map above to see my usual route (be sure to click satellite to overlay this!) -- it's long, medium-tough, and full of exercise/outdoor goodness. One of my Top 10 Reasons for Loving North Carolina. Truth.

This route was recorded on my shiny new Android phone using the free Google My Tracks application. Beyond just GPS tracking my route, it also told me: my route was 10.46 miles, took 47 minutes to cover, my avg. speed was 14 MPH (max was 17 MPH), and even charted my speed over time. Love... it.

Don't miss my list of Top 10 apps for all new Droid owners... you'll be glad you downloaded all of these. Heck, they're free.

Week 14 | Insanity-P90X-P90X+-One on One-Hybrid Workouts
P90X Yoga X + ATC Mountain Bike Ride
My 30-Week Beachbody Hybrid Calendar

Thursday... Always a great day for some Yoga with Tony Horton and pals, P90X style. Stretch, stress all the major muscle groups, breathe deeply... can't go wrong. Love the burn in the legs, the pump in the arms, and the endorphins all around. So good.

Warning: And now, I step on my political soap box for a few seconds...

Glad to see new support cropping up for the health care bill before Congress. It's amazing our friends in the tea parties and on Conservative talk radio think anyone who thinks differently than they do (as in, "NO to all things OBAMA") are looking for a handout. Too easy, folks. I think health care is a basic human right; we all pay in, we all benefit. Having shareholders of for-profit companies legally entitled to profits over the health and on-going life of their customers is wrong.

Just look how this tea party group verbally and physically assaults a man with Parkinson's. This guy doesn't say a word; he was born with this disease.



Like most Conservative Republicans, the answer is "no handouts, go get 4-6 jobs, everyone can, you're lazy!" God forbid anyone in their families gets cancer or any genetically-based disease. They'll cut off their own kin in the name of not helping ALL Americans get the basic health care they need. It's shameful. Here's hoping the bill passes, and soon.

Because, folks, what is the true cost of inaction on health care reform? Watch this...

Week 14 | Insanity-P90X-P90X+-One on One-Hybrid Workouts
P90X Shoulders & Arms
My 30-Week Beachbody Hybrid Calendar

Back on the P90X horse with some awesome upper-body lifting. Felt great, used 30 pounders for the first 2 sets, and then 20's for the rest. Didn't over-do it, came out OK, and glad to be back. Are you getting ready for swimsuit season? Get P90X and join me!

Don't spend another day waiting... Let's get started.
Ready to get in shape, with my help? I can be your coach, help you via email/online, and get you started on the right foot. First, sign up here to get me as your free coach. Next, click SHOP here to get your copy of Power 90 (beginners) or P90X (intermediate) or Insanity (advanced interval training). (NBA stars, singers like Cheryl Crow and Pink, and folks like you and I are doing it! Here's Tony Horton talking about P90X.) Bolster your food plan by tracking your calories with fitday.com (guys, 2,500 cals a day, gals 1,800), and consider drinking a Shakeology shake in place of lunch -- it's like going to the salad bar with five plates. If you're already a P90X user, take the next step and be a coach with my help. Keep pushing play, bring it, A+ P90X review!

Clay Shirky on Cognitive Surplus



Internet access, I think we can all agree, is a benefit and a boon to society. Here Shurky talks about what happens when millions of us turn our brains to contributing online, bringing our cognitive surplus and abundant free time to the virtual world. Watch out!

Love that he calls I Love Lucy (and TV viewing in general after WW II) as a massive collective "heat sink" for our free time/built-up thinking that might have built up and caused society to overheat.

We're waking up from this now, thinking about our cognitive surplus and free time as an asset, and not a surplus. We're now looking for ways to better channel our free time and cognitive surplus to better uses than watching TV. (Transcript)

Re-posting: Driveby culture and the endless search for wow

From Seth Godin's Blog, worth a read. This guy really gets it about Internet marketing and culture.

The net has spawned two new ways to create and consume culture.

The first is the wide-open door for amateurs to create. This is blogging and online art, wikipedia and the maker movement. These guys get a lot of press, and deservedly so, because they're changing everything.

The second, though, is distracting and ultimately a waste. We're creating a culture of clickers, stumblers and jaded spectators who decide in the space of a moment whether to watch and participate (or not).

Imagine if people went to the theatre or the movies and stood up and walked out after the first six seconds. Imagine if people went to the senior prom and bailed on their date three seconds after the car pulled away from the curb.

The majority of people who sign up for a new online service rarely or never use it. The majority of YouTube videos are watched for just a few seconds. Chatroulette institutionalizes the glance and click mentality. I'm guessing that more than half the people who started reading this post never finished it.

This is all easy to measure. And it drives people with something to accomplish crazy, because they want visits to go up, clicks to go up, eyeballs to go up.

Should I write blog posts that increase my traffic or that help change the way (a few) people think?

Should a charity focus on instant donations by texting from a million people or is it better to seek dedicated attention and support from a few who understand the mission and are there for the long haul?

More and more often, we're seeing products and services coming to market designed to appeal to the momentary attention of the clickers. The Huffington Post has downgraded itself, pushing thoughtful stories down the page in exchange for linkbait and sensational celebrity riffs. This strategy gets page views, but does it generate thought or change?

If you create (or market) should you be chasing the people who click and leave? Or is it like trying to turn a cheetah into a house pet? Is manipulating the high-voltage attention stream of millions of caffeinated web surfers a viable long-term strategy?

Mass marketing used to be able to have it both ways. Money bought you audience. Now, all that buys you a mass market is wow and speed. Wow keeps getting harder and dives for the lowest common denominator at the same time.

Time magazine started manipulating the cover and then the contents in order to boost newsstand sales. They may have found a short-term solution, but the magazine is doomed precisely because the people they are pandering to don't really pay attention and aren't attractive to advertisers.

My fear is that the endless search for wow further coarsens our culture at the same time it encourages marketers to get ever more shallow. That's where the first trend comes in... the artists, idea merchants and marketers that are having the most success are ignoring those that would rubberneck and drive on, focusing instead on cadres of fans that matter. Fans that will give permission, fans that will return tomorrow, fans that will spread the word to others that can also take action.

Culture has been getting faster and shallower for hundreds of years, and I'm not the first crusty pundit to decry the demise of thoughtful inquiry and deep experiences. The interesting question here, though, is not how fast is too fast, but what works? What works to change mindsets, to spread important ideas and to create an audience for work that matters? What's worth your effort and investment as a marketer or creator?

The difference this time is that driveby culture is both fast and free. When there's no commitment of money or time in the interaction, can change or commerce really happen? Just because you can measure eyeballs and pageviews doesn't mean you should.

In the race between 'who' and 'how many', who usually wins--if action is your goal. Find the right people, those that are willing to listen to what you have to say, and ignore the masses that are just going to race on, unchanged.

Chile & Haiti Country Reports:
Earthquakes & Culture



iPhone or Droid users, get the ScanLife free application, then point your camera at the above to get CultureGram's 2010 country reports for Chile and Haiti. (Or, just click the above to get to the page.)

Using this page to show off what ScanLife can do. Very interesting for sure, especially now that smartphone browsers are up to snuff and our 3G/4G networks make always-available Internet access a reality.

Week 14 | Insanity-P90X-P90X+-One on One-Hybrid Workouts
Recovery & Rest
My 30-Week Beachbody Hybrid Calendar

Looks like our smart U.K. cousins have discovered the essential truth about exercise -- even if you're time-starved, think about getting Tony Horton's 10 Minute Trainer.

New research shows that short bursts of intense exercise (10 minutes at time, funny enough!) can give you great results, in the same class as an hour a day, like P90X. Don't make excuses, get 10 Minute Trainer (click SHOP/Fitness Programs) today.



In other news...

Nice weekend, took it relatively easy. Final Foster-Adopt class Saturday, two play dates for William after (one that went wayyyy late!), followed by a restful Sunday, with an outing to RuaGamer and Sushi Thai with good friend David P.

Physically, feeling a bit better, but there's still something wrong upstairs. (Yea yea, I know, you've known it all along. LOL!) A little dizzy/unsteady on my feet, but managing better than Fri./Sat. Hoping I'm seeing the tail end of it. Taking a break, eating great, and allowing my body to heal up before getting back on the P90X horse here. Hate to take any breaks, takes a full week to get back to max capacity. Ahh well.

Rock you week(s) people!

iPhone & Droid w/Google: Evenly Matched...

It's taken time, but Motorola/Google's Droid smart phone matches Apple's iPhone in all the ways that count. And today a Droid can be had for a mere $50. (Already have a Verizon phone? Call them, ask them to match the $50 cost for a single Droid phone, and upgrade today. You won't regret it.)

Best of all, the Droid runs the open Android OS system software, and it's not locked to an app store or Apple which ends up owning all of your apps and ties you to a weaker phone network.

I've set up my Droid in a few hours, and it does everything an iPhone can do, for $0 out of pocket for apps. The most useful are free. I'll post a longer thread about my experience and the apps I've installed soon.

The next few months will be interesting in the iPhone (AT&T) vs. Droid (Verizon) brawl in the marketplace.

Get an inside look at the iPhone vs. Droid situation here.

Keyboard Cat V2.0: Back & Better



Weekend of rest, final foster adoption class at LFS... Must nap....

Ironman 2: Briefcase Armor Animated GIF


Have to admit, I'm excited for this upcoming popcorn flick. RDJ *is* Tony Stark. Ironman, you rock. New suitcase version of the classic armor? Super-insane. Click above (or here) to see it in action.

Week 14 | Insanity-P90X-P90X+-One on One-Hybrid Workouts
Rest
My 30-Week Beachbody Hybrid Calendar

Just before lunch yesterday I stared feeling dizzy... and it hasn't stopped. Off to the doc today to see if it's an ear infection/something else? Very disconcerting. Taking a break from my workouts until I get some clarity. Pushing things makes me queasy/dizzy -- body needs to rest and heal. Rock your Friday, people.

On another note, found an amazing deal on a DROID phone, will arrive today. Deb is very, very excited, researching apps and, heck, last night dreaming about them. Yikes. Will let her cradle the new techno love first then tweak it out. Some incredible uses for this device, can't wait to participate in the mobile Internet revolution!

Week 14 | Insanity-P90X-P90X+-One on One-Hybrid Workouts
P90X Yoga X
My 30-Week Beachbody Hybrid Calendar

Two days of biking + a pair of P90X workouts = Yoga very much needed today. Legs were trembling from the start, but solid. Lots of groaning and focusing on breathing throughout to make it happen. Came out much more flexible, awake, and pumped full of all-natural endorphins. No pain anywhere, just stretched-out goodness. Man, who's legs are these, anyway? So good. Thanks P90X and Tony Horton!


Newegg.com, now offering the iCat!

Flat Stanley Visits North Carolina



This California cousin enjoyed grits, hush puppies, biscuits, and eastern BBQ -- before heading out on the trail to ride it all off with the McLain's of Apex. Safe journey back to Tiburon, Flat Stanley -- we'll miss you!

Week 14 | Insanity-P90X-P90X+-One on One-Hybrid Workouts
P90X Shoulders & Arms
My 30-Week Beachbody Hybrid Calendar

Came into this morning more tired than usual, with sore triceps and upper back. Still recovering from the monster bike ride on Monday? Yup. No problem. Maxed the reps, hoisted those 30 pound free weights, and made the most of it. Lowered the weight in the second half, both arms complaining a bit, and ready to rock a full day.

Hitting 70 today, sunny, before some rain tomorrow. Must... hit... trails... again today. And adding calories to compensate for the double workout. Perfect.

Don't spend another day waiting... Let's get started.
Ready to get in shape, with my help? I can be your coach, help you via email/online, and get you started on the right foot. First, sign up here to get me as your free coach. Next, click SHOP here to get your copy of Power 90 (beginners) or P90X (intermediate) or Insanity (advanced interval training). (NBA stars, singers like Cheryl Crow and Pink, and folks like you and I are doing it! Here's Tony Horton talking about P90X.) Bolster your food plan by tracking your calories with fitday.com (guys, 2,500 cals a day, gals 1,800), and consider drinking a Shakeology shake in place of lunch -- it's like going to the salad bar with five plates. If you're already a P90X user, take the next step and be a coach with my help. Keep pushing play, bring it, A+ P90X review!

Week 14 | Insanity-P90X-P90X+-One on One-Hybrid Workouts
P90X Cardio X
My 30-Week Beachbody Hybrid Calendar

Woke up this a.m. with some minor back tweaks. No problem. Went so hard yesterday, was key to give Cardio X a go. A little less-insane than Plyometrics, but still a good burn for 40 minutes or so. Came out a bit wasted, maxed the reps, and got a nice burn to start the day.

Still enjoying my Shakeology-only lunches (get yours), and want to be sure you've got your copies of Power 90 (starter), P90X (for serious folks), or Insanity (you're a monster!) to help you get ready for Summer right along with me.

Begins: American Tobacco Trail Rides 2010

...began today with a BANG. Two cranky old dudes maxed out the trail, crossing from Wake to Chatham to Durham County and back again in one ride, maxing out just over 20 miles. First ride of the season win. Wow.


Here's where we ended, about a mile from the *real* end of the trail near Southpoint Mall in Durham? Monsters, I tells you. MONSTERS.