From Reader's Digest:
My friend forgot his laptop on the floor of my room.
My grandma thought it was a scale.
Conclusion: My grandma weighs $950.
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Tutoring Starts With "Tee"
Dena's graphic design handiwork looks fabulous on my two newest "work" shirts. Perfect walking advertising, suitable for the hallways, streets, homes and libraries around town.
Extra thanks to Meltdown Graphix for applying design to cloth.
Bloomington-Normal Math Tutoring: bntutor.com
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Mom Tracks Down Stolen Car With Facebook
From Yahoo! Shine:
Melissa Torrez has a dramatic history with her car: It's the one she used to chase down a man who kidnapped her 4-year-old daughter in May. So when the car was stolen on July 23, the Albuquerque, New Mexico, mom took to Facebook to track down her Chrysler 300. The social media post of her missing car was shared by hundreds of family members and friends, and the next day, it was recovered by police.
The crime-fighting mom told KOB Eyewitness News 4 she was leaving a park with her friends when three men forced the group to give them their wallets and phones, and the key to her car. "One of them told us everything would be fine," she said. "I was like, 'How is everything fine if you have us at gunpoint?'"
The robbers took off in Torrez's Chrysler 300, but she wasn't going to let them get away so easily. Torrez logged in to Facebook and posted a photo of her car, tagging everyone she knew who lived in Albuquerque and within driving distance — from Santa Fe to Grants, New Mexico. She hoped someone would spot it. According to Enrique Venerio's Facebook page, who shared Torrez's post, her plan worked: Albuquerque police soon received a call about the whereabouts of the stolen car. Venerio, who helped her look for the car that night, told KOB that the car was found not too far from where it was stolen. "She was on empty," he said, "so they couldn't really drive that far."
Even though Torrez and her friends haven't recovered their wallets and phones, Torrez said she's grateful to have had help getting back her car. "That's what we need nowadays, you know, for people to look out for other people," she told KOB. (Neither Torrez, Venerio, or the Albuquerque Police Department have responded to Shine's request for an interview.)
It's no wonder she's attached to her Chrysler 300. In May, after a man snatched her daughter, Torrez jumped in that same car and chased down the suspected abductor for several miles, dangerously weaving in and out of Albuquerque traffic. According to KOAT, suspected kidnapper David Hernandez had, unbeknown to mom, pushed Torrez's daughter out of the car right after he grabbed her when he noticed neighbors screaming at him. He was arrested and charged with kidnapping and child abuse. Torrez told the Associated Press her "mother's instincts" had kicked in to find her daughter.
Melissa Torrez has a dramatic history with her car: It's the one she used to chase down a man who kidnapped her 4-year-old daughter in May. So when the car was stolen on July 23, the Albuquerque, New Mexico, mom took to Facebook to track down her Chrysler 300. The social media post of her missing car was shared by hundreds of family members and friends, and the next day, it was recovered by police.
The crime-fighting mom told KOB Eyewitness News 4 she was leaving a park with her friends when three men forced the group to give them their wallets and phones, and the key to her car. "One of them told us everything would be fine," she said. "I was like, 'How is everything fine if you have us at gunpoint?'"
The robbers took off in Torrez's Chrysler 300, but she wasn't going to let them get away so easily. Torrez logged in to Facebook and posted a photo of her car, tagging everyone she knew who lived in Albuquerque and within driving distance — from Santa Fe to Grants, New Mexico. She hoped someone would spot it. According to Enrique Venerio's Facebook page, who shared Torrez's post, her plan worked: Albuquerque police soon received a call about the whereabouts of the stolen car. Venerio, who helped her look for the car that night, told KOB that the car was found not too far from where it was stolen. "She was on empty," he said, "so they couldn't really drive that far."
Even though Torrez and her friends haven't recovered their wallets and phones, Torrez said she's grateful to have had help getting back her car. "That's what we need nowadays, you know, for people to look out for other people," she told KOB. (Neither Torrez, Venerio, or the Albuquerque Police Department have responded to Shine's request for an interview.)
It's no wonder she's attached to her Chrysler 300. In May, after a man snatched her daughter, Torrez jumped in that same car and chased down the suspected abductor for several miles, dangerously weaving in and out of Albuquerque traffic. According to KOAT, suspected kidnapper David Hernandez had, unbeknown to mom, pushed Torrez's daughter out of the car right after he grabbed her when he noticed neighbors screaming at him. He was arrested and charged with kidnapping and child abuse. Torrez told the Associated Press her "mother's instincts" had kicked in to find her daughter.
Porcelain 100-Meter Dash
I'd just left a seminar called "Starting Your Own Business" at Illinois State University, my beloved alma mater. The course was held in the State Farm Hall of Business, a superheroish sounding title of a building that didn't exist during my undergrad years. In fact the campus has undergone an impressive makeover during my many years away. I walked out the front door and into the fragrant Quad, taking in the sights with pride.
Then I noticed that I had to pee.
By now I'd paced a good 50 yards from the Hall. I'd parked in a tall garage that I wasn't exactly sure the quickest way to get to. I'd taken something of a roundabout path coming in, but could tell by the half-gallon pressure of the two tumblers of water I'd drank during the seminar that I'd need to take a much shorter distance back to my car.
Did I mention how much the campus had changed?
I ran into one dead end between buildings, then another. My previous "scenic" route turned out to actually be the shortest one... to get to my car required a nearly full semi-circle around the art and theater buildings. And now I'd lost increasingly precious seconds trying to find a shortcut to the promised land.
I started doing those silly power-walking strides, wondering how many of those power-walkers were actually searching feverishly for a porta-potty and thinking "There's no WAY I'm gonna wet my pants!" Since my arms were filled with seminar handouts, my phone, tumbler and a magazine, I must have looked like a bird trying to take flight for the first time to the handful of students straggling about.
I thought back to the one time, in first grade, when as an adultaphobe I couldn't bring myself to ask permission to go to the bathroom, with disgusting results. Then I thought, "WHY am I thinking about this???"
Defcon 5 alert. No chance of getting to my car, let alone my condo. Nearest bathroom is Stevenson Hall, a football field away.
Distract yourself. Count down the number of seconds until you get there.
Fifty... forty-nine... forty-eight...
Aw, hell... SPRINT!
I waddle-jogged to the Hall, moving at maximum non-bladder-churning speed.
Would it still be open at this late hour...? pleasepleasepleaseplease....
YES!
Hippity-hopped down the hallway.
Throw open the door.
Drop my seminar materials skidding all over the restroom floor in random directions.
Whirl toward the wall of urinals like a cartoon character.
Unzipped my fly with speed that would've dizzied the Flash.
Paydirt, and a near-wailing sigh of relief echoing off the walls that must have put quite a spook into whoever was sitting in the stall along the other end of the room. I washed my hands, rounded up my property, and slipped quietly out the door.
Even twenty years later, I continue to learn great lessons from ISU.
Then I noticed that I had to pee.
By now I'd paced a good 50 yards from the Hall. I'd parked in a tall garage that I wasn't exactly sure the quickest way to get to. I'd taken something of a roundabout path coming in, but could tell by the half-gallon pressure of the two tumblers of water I'd drank during the seminar that I'd need to take a much shorter distance back to my car.
Did I mention how much the campus had changed?
I ran into one dead end between buildings, then another. My previous "scenic" route turned out to actually be the shortest one... to get to my car required a nearly full semi-circle around the art and theater buildings. And now I'd lost increasingly precious seconds trying to find a shortcut to the promised land.
I started doing those silly power-walking strides, wondering how many of those power-walkers were actually searching feverishly for a porta-potty and thinking "There's no WAY I'm gonna wet my pants!" Since my arms were filled with seminar handouts, my phone, tumbler and a magazine, I must have looked like a bird trying to take flight for the first time to the handful of students straggling about.
I thought back to the one time, in first grade, when as an adultaphobe I couldn't bring myself to ask permission to go to the bathroom, with disgusting results. Then I thought, "WHY am I thinking about this???"
Defcon 5 alert. No chance of getting to my car, let alone my condo. Nearest bathroom is Stevenson Hall, a football field away.
Distract yourself. Count down the number of seconds until you get there.
Fifty... forty-nine... forty-eight...
Aw, hell... SPRINT!
I waddle-jogged to the Hall, moving at maximum non-bladder-churning speed.
Would it still be open at this late hour...? pleasepleasepleaseplease....
YES!
Hippity-hopped down the hallway.
Throw open the door.
Drop my seminar materials skidding all over the restroom floor in random directions.
Whirl toward the wall of urinals like a cartoon character.
Unzipped my fly with speed that would've dizzied the Flash.
Paydirt, and a near-wailing sigh of relief echoing off the walls that must have put quite a spook into whoever was sitting in the stall along the other end of the room. I washed my hands, rounded up my property, and slipped quietly out the door.
Even twenty years later, I continue to learn great lessons from ISU.
Monday, July 29, 2013
Angels Among Us: The Week In Thanks
Close to home, I'm glad that God built us with pairs of stuff. 2 eyes, ears, nostrils. So that when one's not working, you can carry on. Lately I'd add "sides of mouth" to that list, since I've got a tooth that's complaining every time I put pressure or temperature on it. My guess is that during Darwinian evolution the one-eyed version of man became extinct because he kept falling over cliffs when his eye was blurry, and the three-eyed ones just weren't mate-able.
Our neighbors coordinated a cookout/Wiffle ball game. I set a personal best, going 7 for 8 with two home runs (including a grand slam) and hitting for the cycle, and pitching three innings. It's super to have neighbors who sponsor this kind of thing. But mainly I thank... Aleve. I popped one before the game, and my joints were just fine the next day. Oh, and Neosporin for post-game knee scrapes. Drugs are good.
All three of my fantasy baseball teams moved up the standings this week. One of them even sniffed 3rd place.
My interviewers for the tutoring job at the community college were kind and it went well.
We had an entire weekend of gorgeous, humidity-free and sunshine-plentiful days.
I'm thankful for dump sites for hazardous pool chemicals. Cuz without them, we'd be up a creek trying to ditch our 5-year old chlorine and comply with state regs. Sure I have to drive 100 miles to get there, but still.
I'm thankful for upholstery businesses. The trusty Saturn is going to get a long-overdue makeover on the interior, so that passengers will no longer suspect that a cat lives under my seats and uses the roof as a scratching post.
After reading SNL's Darrell Hammond's biography, and the atrocious physical and mental abuse he suffered as a child, I'm extra reminded of what a great set of parents I had to raise me into a man.
Holy belated thanks, Batman: World champion Blackhawks in mega-dramatic fashion!
Ben Franklin invented the library. It's really an amazing concept and gift to the community. Read books for free. And it saves me all kinds of overhead cost for my tutoring business. So thanks, Ben.
This week I got my first ever referral through my personal web site, bntutor.com. Prepaid $140 in advance, which nearly pays for the site itself. Oh yeah.
I've been blessed by the gifts of massage and physical therapists. They've taught me to stay flexible and athletic as I've aged and stiffened, and repaired several aches and pains of mine during the last decade.
I'm fortunate to be a generally patient person. It makes me a better teacher and husband. It's a strength I haven't always had. My genes, mind, friends and family have brought it out of me.
Lastly, a musical note of thanks to God and Alabama, my group du jour. May your week be filled with angels too!
Our neighbors coordinated a cookout/Wiffle ball game. I set a personal best, going 7 for 8 with two home runs (including a grand slam) and hitting for the cycle, and pitching three innings. It's super to have neighbors who sponsor this kind of thing. But mainly I thank... Aleve. I popped one before the game, and my joints were just fine the next day. Oh, and Neosporin for post-game knee scrapes. Drugs are good.
All three of my fantasy baseball teams moved up the standings this week. One of them even sniffed 3rd place.
My interviewers for the tutoring job at the community college were kind and it went well.
We had an entire weekend of gorgeous, humidity-free and sunshine-plentiful days.
I'm thankful for dump sites for hazardous pool chemicals. Cuz without them, we'd be up a creek trying to ditch our 5-year old chlorine and comply with state regs. Sure I have to drive 100 miles to get there, but still.
I'm thankful for upholstery businesses. The trusty Saturn is going to get a long-overdue makeover on the interior, so that passengers will no longer suspect that a cat lives under my seats and uses the roof as a scratching post.
After reading SNL's Darrell Hammond's biography, and the atrocious physical and mental abuse he suffered as a child, I'm extra reminded of what a great set of parents I had to raise me into a man.
Holy belated thanks, Batman: World champion Blackhawks in mega-dramatic fashion!
Ben Franklin invented the library. It's really an amazing concept and gift to the community. Read books for free. And it saves me all kinds of overhead cost for my tutoring business. So thanks, Ben.
This week I got my first ever referral through my personal web site, bntutor.com. Prepaid $140 in advance, which nearly pays for the site itself. Oh yeah.
I've been blessed by the gifts of massage and physical therapists. They've taught me to stay flexible and athletic as I've aged and stiffened, and repaired several aches and pains of mine during the last decade.
I'm fortunate to be a generally patient person. It makes me a better teacher and husband. It's a strength I haven't always had. My genes, mind, friends and family have brought it out of me.
Lastly, a musical note of thanks to God and Alabama, my group du jour. May your week be filled with angels too!
A Little Bundle Of Whoa
"While my husband was stationed overseas, our four-year-old daughter decided that she needed a baby brother.
'Good idea,' I told her. 'But don't you think we should wait till your father gets home?'
She had a better idea. 'Why don't we just surprise him?'" - Kay Schmidt
'Good idea,' I told her. 'But don't you think we should wait till your father gets home?'
She had a better idea. 'Why don't we just surprise him?'" - Kay Schmidt
10,000 Hour Rule
Years ago, at the height of his performance as ranking as one of the best players in baseball, Albert Pujols stepped into the batters box against All-American softball pitcher Jennie Finch and whiffed repeatedly. The speed of the ball (in terms of time to the plate, given that the distance was shorter) was no different than a major league fastball. And yet he could not time the pitch. Why?
Scientific studies have shown that elite athletes on average don't have better reflexes than any of us sitting on the couch. They have just come to possess a finely-honed sense of what (in baseball, for example) a pitch is supposed to look like. Subconsciously, they are taking in data like the pitcher's arm angle, shoulder position, rotation of the ball. Digesting that data in a few milliseconds is what some might call "pitch recognition."
Training the mind to respond so instantaneously is the by-product of hours of practice. Actually, as further studies of musicians have showed, around ten thousand hours of practice. It's become more popularly accepted and has spurred the movement toward children starting their sports careers earlier.
Naturally there is application in many areas outside of sports, too.
The 10,000 hour rule might say that if you want to build a skill to exceptional levels, it would take ten years of 20-hour weeks. Which means coming home from work and putting in four hours a night for the next decade.
What do you love enough to try?
Scientific studies have shown that elite athletes on average don't have better reflexes than any of us sitting on the couch. They have just come to possess a finely-honed sense of what (in baseball, for example) a pitch is supposed to look like. Subconsciously, they are taking in data like the pitcher's arm angle, shoulder position, rotation of the ball. Digesting that data in a few milliseconds is what some might call "pitch recognition."
Training the mind to respond so instantaneously is the by-product of hours of practice. Actually, as further studies of musicians have showed, around ten thousand hours of practice. It's become more popularly accepted and has spurred the movement toward children starting their sports careers earlier.
Naturally there is application in many areas outside of sports, too.
The 10,000 hour rule might say that if you want to build a skill to exceptional levels, it would take ten years of 20-hour weeks. Which means coming home from work and putting in four hours a night for the next decade.
What do you love enough to try?
Sunday, July 28, 2013
Book Review: God, If You're Not Up There...
I stepped away from sports non-fiction to read the biography of former Saturday Night Live star Darrell Hammond in his book "God, If You're Not Up There..."
Hammond's historically long stint on SNL was grounded in his fabulous celebrity impressions, though it hadn't registered with me that impressions were almost exclusively his role.
I picked it up because of skimming his frank, uncensored behind-the-scenes recollections of his days on the show.
What fascinated me even more was his personal story. He rose from a hardscrabble, abuse-centered childhood, overcame a slew of personal demons, and made it to my favorite New York City stage.
Like many success stories, his is also an example of extremely focused dedication to his craft. Hard work and flexibility are repeated themes, and another source of inspiration for those of us searching for the formula for winning.
Two thumbs up for a best-selling, truly real story of a person with strengths and flaws that we can probably all relate to in degrees, and use as a springboard of thankfulness for almost any situation that we're in.
Hammond's historically long stint on SNL was grounded in his fabulous celebrity impressions, though it hadn't registered with me that impressions were almost exclusively his role.
I picked it up because of skimming his frank, uncensored behind-the-scenes recollections of his days on the show.
What fascinated me even more was his personal story. He rose from a hardscrabble, abuse-centered childhood, overcame a slew of personal demons, and made it to my favorite New York City stage.
Like many success stories, his is also an example of extremely focused dedication to his craft. Hard work and flexibility are repeated themes, and another source of inspiration for those of us searching for the formula for winning.
Two thumbs up for a best-selling, truly real story of a person with strengths and flaws that we can probably all relate to in degrees, and use as a springboard of thankfulness for almost any situation that we're in.
9 Surprising Reasons You Shouldn't Talk About Your Marriage Problems
By Woman's Day [This one caught my eye because of an interview question I received about gossiping, whether about marital problems or any disagreement with another person]:
It's natural-and comforting-to turn to friends and family when things go awry. But think twice before dishing about marital strife, says Scott Haltzman, MD, author of The Secrets of Surviving Infidelity. "Whenever you talk to others about your marriage problems, you risk driving a wedge between you and your spouse," he says. Read on for unexpected reasons to keep marriage drama to yourselves and better ways to address it.
1. You never know who else will find out. Unless you're absolutely sure your friend won't blab, don't be surprised when the whole world suddenly seems to be privy to your latest spousal spat. "As soon as you reveal difficulties in your marriage, you've lost control of the information," says relationship expert April Masini. "This becomes a problem on top of whatever marital issues you're having" because it's embarrassing to be the topic of whispered conversations. Bite your tongue and follow your grandmother's advice: Don't air your dirty laundry in public.
2. Your spouse could feel betrayed. Just because you feel compelled to confide in a third party-or all of Facebook-doesn't mean your partner does. And you should respect that. "Turn to your husband first when there's a problem," says Beverly Hyman, PhD, co-author of How to Know if It's Time to Go, who adds that your marriage should be your primary intimate relationship. "When you speak ill of your spouse, you're betraying his trust." Try the "fly on the wall" test before sharing: If your husband were in the room and heard your words, would he be OK with them?
3. You could turn a minor blip into a major problem. "Once, I impulsively complained to my sister-in-law about my husband's inability to show affection," says Jessie, who lives in Cincinnati. "She relayed the conversation to him, and he was horribly upset. It took us ages to get over it." A smarter tactic: When you're angry with your spouse, find ways to calm down without venting to others. "Doing something physical can help," says Dr. Haltzman. "Go for a long walk or run, or drive with your favorite music blaring."
4. A sympathetic ear isn't objective. Your pal's concern is primarily for you-not your marriage. And because you can't help but give her a one-sided view of the situation, she's unlikely to give your spouse a fair shake. "In the early days of my marriage, I'd call my best friend whenever my husband hurt my feelings," admits Janelle, of Pittsburgh. "She agreed with me on everything, which made me feel good but ultimately didn't solve any problems." So instead of firing off another "Can you believe what he did?" text, try journaling, suggests Dr. Haltzman. "It's a great way to vent without harming others." But keep it private-a public blog isn't the best option.
5. You may get bad advice. Your friend's experiences color her counsel; if she lived through the humiliation of a cheating spouse, she may assume your husband's guilty of the same offense and recommend getting a divorce, says Dr. Haltzman. But that may be a premature step. Biased outsiders aren't in the best position to judge your marriage-only you two can do that.
6. Your friend may sound the alarm to others. Gung-ho loved ones may send out an email blast to too many people, enlisting them to come to your rescue. "Before you know it, you've got a full-fledged intervention in your living room," says Masini. Tracy, of Bakersfield, CA, learned that the hard way. "My mother ended up hating my now ex-husband and turned my whole family against him," she says. "Sharing too much with her-and the strain that ensued-contributed to the downfall of my marriage." That's why it's especially wise to stay mum around people who tend to blow things out of proportion.
7. You might change your mind about your spouse, but they won't. When you paint your partner in a negative light, friends and family will look at him differently. "They may give him the cold shoulder, exclude him, even confront him-sometimes long after things are resolved in your mind," says Dr. Haltzman. "Now you have a whole new set of problems." His suggestion: Confide in a neutral third party-a certified marriage counselor, clergyperson or representative from an employee assistance program-when you want advice.
8. Their comments could hinder your marriage from healing. Even if your confidantes remain polite after you reconcile with your spouse, their remarks during your tiff will linger. "When our marriage hit a rocky patch, my mom called my husband immature and unreliable," admits Janelle. "I've forgiven him and things are much better now, but years later, those words haunt me-and sometimes plant a seed of doubt in my mind." While you can't erase what's been said, remember that everyone has her own agenda. "Your friend or relative may have said unkind things about your husband because she wanted more of your affection," says Dr. Hyman. And when comments from the past bother you in the present, focus on the positive, healthy relationship you now have with your spouse.
9. You could become the girl who cried wolf. The next time you truly need guidance, your buddy might hesitate to chime in. "If you run to family and friends after every tussle with your husband saying it's 'the last straw,' but it never is, they won't take you seriously," says Masini. It's always better to talk (and listen) to your spouse before going anywhere else with your problems.
It's natural-and comforting-to turn to friends and family when things go awry. But think twice before dishing about marital strife, says Scott Haltzman, MD, author of The Secrets of Surviving Infidelity. "Whenever you talk to others about your marriage problems, you risk driving a wedge between you and your spouse," he says. Read on for unexpected reasons to keep marriage drama to yourselves and better ways to address it.
1. You never know who else will find out. Unless you're absolutely sure your friend won't blab, don't be surprised when the whole world suddenly seems to be privy to your latest spousal spat. "As soon as you reveal difficulties in your marriage, you've lost control of the information," says relationship expert April Masini. "This becomes a problem on top of whatever marital issues you're having" because it's embarrassing to be the topic of whispered conversations. Bite your tongue and follow your grandmother's advice: Don't air your dirty laundry in public.
2. Your spouse could feel betrayed. Just because you feel compelled to confide in a third party-or all of Facebook-doesn't mean your partner does. And you should respect that. "Turn to your husband first when there's a problem," says Beverly Hyman, PhD, co-author of How to Know if It's Time to Go, who adds that your marriage should be your primary intimate relationship. "When you speak ill of your spouse, you're betraying his trust." Try the "fly on the wall" test before sharing: If your husband were in the room and heard your words, would he be OK with them?
3. You could turn a minor blip into a major problem. "Once, I impulsively complained to my sister-in-law about my husband's inability to show affection," says Jessie, who lives in Cincinnati. "She relayed the conversation to him, and he was horribly upset. It took us ages to get over it." A smarter tactic: When you're angry with your spouse, find ways to calm down without venting to others. "Doing something physical can help," says Dr. Haltzman. "Go for a long walk or run, or drive with your favorite music blaring."
4. A sympathetic ear isn't objective. Your pal's concern is primarily for you-not your marriage. And because you can't help but give her a one-sided view of the situation, she's unlikely to give your spouse a fair shake. "In the early days of my marriage, I'd call my best friend whenever my husband hurt my feelings," admits Janelle, of Pittsburgh. "She agreed with me on everything, which made me feel good but ultimately didn't solve any problems." So instead of firing off another "Can you believe what he did?" text, try journaling, suggests Dr. Haltzman. "It's a great way to vent without harming others." But keep it private-a public blog isn't the best option.
5. You may get bad advice. Your friend's experiences color her counsel; if she lived through the humiliation of a cheating spouse, she may assume your husband's guilty of the same offense and recommend getting a divorce, says Dr. Haltzman. But that may be a premature step. Biased outsiders aren't in the best position to judge your marriage-only you two can do that.
6. Your friend may sound the alarm to others. Gung-ho loved ones may send out an email blast to too many people, enlisting them to come to your rescue. "Before you know it, you've got a full-fledged intervention in your living room," says Masini. Tracy, of Bakersfield, CA, learned that the hard way. "My mother ended up hating my now ex-husband and turned my whole family against him," she says. "Sharing too much with her-and the strain that ensued-contributed to the downfall of my marriage." That's why it's especially wise to stay mum around people who tend to blow things out of proportion.
7. You might change your mind about your spouse, but they won't. When you paint your partner in a negative light, friends and family will look at him differently. "They may give him the cold shoulder, exclude him, even confront him-sometimes long after things are resolved in your mind," says Dr. Haltzman. "Now you have a whole new set of problems." His suggestion: Confide in a neutral third party-a certified marriage counselor, clergyperson or representative from an employee assistance program-when you want advice.
8. Their comments could hinder your marriage from healing. Even if your confidantes remain polite after you reconcile with your spouse, their remarks during your tiff will linger. "When our marriage hit a rocky patch, my mom called my husband immature and unreliable," admits Janelle. "I've forgiven him and things are much better now, but years later, those words haunt me-and sometimes plant a seed of doubt in my mind." While you can't erase what's been said, remember that everyone has her own agenda. "Your friend or relative may have said unkind things about your husband because she wanted more of your affection," says Dr. Hyman. And when comments from the past bother you in the present, focus on the positive, healthy relationship you now have with your spouse.
9. You could become the girl who cried wolf. The next time you truly need guidance, your buddy might hesitate to chime in. "If you run to family and friends after every tussle with your husband saying it's 'the last straw,' but it never is, they won't take you seriously," says Masini. It's always better to talk (and listen) to your spouse before going anywhere else with your problems.
What Would You Like Us To Remember About You?
I was interviewed for the second time in twenty years on Friday.
I've had the good luck to be on the interviewer's side of the table many times, hundreds of times, since I graduated from college. Many of those opportunities came from my involvement with Leadership McLean County, which was the only other time I'd been interviewed since State Farm hired me in 1994.
Now I was sitting across from the coordinator of Heartland Community College's math tutoring lab, and another tutor interviewing me for the occasion. On the whole, I was happy with how it went, and impressed by my potential future boss/co-worker.
One obvious question I hadn't considered in my preparation was "What would you like us to most remember about you?"
Maybe it was good that I hadn't prepared, because the answer shot straight and purely from the heart.
"My smile."
Yes, driving home I thought of more unique, catchier things that I could have said. Could have made reference to my acting, coaching, singing, or the fact that I've only vomited once since eighth grade. That I won academic awards in college, was a certified actuary, or taught my brother to read when we were kids.
And yet, I prize my smile as much as anything I've done. Smiles take practice, and sometimes downright hard work. They're easy to break, and so much power of happiness is lost when they do.
"Life's short, have fun" is part of the creed that's helped lift me from many of the black-cloud squalls of days past that used to linger for unthinkably long and thunderous stretches. Just the fact that God's on our side is good fuel for a smile.
No one likes to be rejected for a part in a play, but if it's because my personality is so sunny that someone struggles to picture me playing a dark character... and it's happened twice... I have to consider that a great success. So I smile.
Most of our lives are eternally brief flashes of light or flowers of color on this earth.
What would you like us to remember about you?
I've had the good luck to be on the interviewer's side of the table many times, hundreds of times, since I graduated from college. Many of those opportunities came from my involvement with Leadership McLean County, which was the only other time I'd been interviewed since State Farm hired me in 1994.
Now I was sitting across from the coordinator of Heartland Community College's math tutoring lab, and another tutor interviewing me for the occasion. On the whole, I was happy with how it went, and impressed by my potential future boss/co-worker.
One obvious question I hadn't considered in my preparation was "What would you like us to most remember about you?"
Maybe it was good that I hadn't prepared, because the answer shot straight and purely from the heart.
"My smile."
Yes, driving home I thought of more unique, catchier things that I could have said. Could have made reference to my acting, coaching, singing, or the fact that I've only vomited once since eighth grade. That I won academic awards in college, was a certified actuary, or taught my brother to read when we were kids.
And yet, I prize my smile as much as anything I've done. Smiles take practice, and sometimes downright hard work. They're easy to break, and so much power of happiness is lost when they do.
"Life's short, have fun" is part of the creed that's helped lift me from many of the black-cloud squalls of days past that used to linger for unthinkably long and thunderous stretches. Just the fact that God's on our side is good fuel for a smile.
No one likes to be rejected for a part in a play, but if it's because my personality is so sunny that someone struggles to picture me playing a dark character... and it's happened twice... I have to consider that a great success. So I smile.
Most of our lives are eternally brief flashes of light or flowers of color on this earth.
What would you like us to remember about you?
Morning Spark
"I rate enthusiasm even above professional skill." - Edward Appleton, Nobel Prize winner
It's a familiar dilemma.
Corporations often rate people on two scales, "results" and "competencies." The "what" you accomplished, versus the "how." Which is more important, the person with perfect talent and awful personality, or vice versa?
Sports teams need to decide whether to give playing time the player who scores more baskets or has the better attitude.
Families have children who coast to good grades but could do more, and who work feverishly to get the same grades.
In those situations I tend to find myself rooting a lot harder for the one with the star competencies, the enthusiasm. You just want them to succeed, to overcome their own limitations. Enthusiasm is contagious; pour it out through your actions and it comes rolling back to you in good time, maybe not as instant results, but surely as a seed of appreciation by others. Those seeds, once grown, cause your efforts to be multiplied beyond your own abilities. Others will help you reach your full potential.
There are plenty of talented people who limit themselves to their own abilities, confined within their own contentedness, with fire burning for nothing.
Individuals wake up every morning with a fresh day ahead and a chance to do something enthusiastically to get rolling. What's your next move?
It's a familiar dilemma.
Corporations often rate people on two scales, "results" and "competencies." The "what" you accomplished, versus the "how." Which is more important, the person with perfect talent and awful personality, or vice versa?
Sports teams need to decide whether to give playing time the player who scores more baskets or has the better attitude.
Families have children who coast to good grades but could do more, and who work feverishly to get the same grades.
In those situations I tend to find myself rooting a lot harder for the one with the star competencies, the enthusiasm. You just want them to succeed, to overcome their own limitations. Enthusiasm is contagious; pour it out through your actions and it comes rolling back to you in good time, maybe not as instant results, but surely as a seed of appreciation by others. Those seeds, once grown, cause your efforts to be multiplied beyond your own abilities. Others will help you reach your full potential.
There are plenty of talented people who limit themselves to their own abilities, confined within their own contentedness, with fire burning for nothing.
Individuals wake up every morning with a fresh day ahead and a chance to do something enthusiastically to get rolling. What's your next move?
Saturday, July 27, 2013
Elevator Pitch
In my small business roundtable group through the McLean County Chamber of Commerce I set a goal this month of developing a so-called "elevator pitch" for my math tutoring business - basically a 60-second well-rehearsed speech you can use to introduce and interest someone in your business.
Here goes:
My name's Joe McDonald, and my business is Bloomington-Normal Math Tutoring. Do you know anyone who could use help with math? I tutor students in junior high and above in algebra, geometry, calculus and other math subjects including the ACT. Math's easy to fall behind in, and teachers may not always have the time to give individual attention, so my goal is to help. My motto is "greater comfort, greater confidence, greater scores," and one of my favorite experiences these last five years was helping a trigonometry student get from a C to an A. The first hour with me is always free, so that we can start heading where you want to be.
Here goes:
My name's Joe McDonald, and my business is Bloomington-Normal Math Tutoring. Do you know anyone who could use help with math? I tutor students in junior high and above in algebra, geometry, calculus and other math subjects including the ACT. Math's easy to fall behind in, and teachers may not always have the time to give individual attention, so my goal is to help. My motto is "greater comfort, greater confidence, greater scores," and one of my favorite experiences these last five years was helping a trigonometry student get from a C to an A. The first hour with me is always free, so that we can start heading where you want to be.
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
Happiness Peaks At Ages 23 And 69
We enjoy life the most during our young adult lives and again when we are on the cusp of becoming septuagenarians.
However, the long years in between appear to present many emotional peaks and valleys. That’s according to a new study, which finds that the two happiest years of a person’s life are 23 and 69.
The results of the study are being published this week by the Center for Economic Performance at the London School of Economics.
“One theory is that the U-shape is driven by unmet aspirations which are painfully felt in midlife but beneficially abandoned later in life,” Princeton researcher Hannes Schwandt, who led the London School of Economics study, told the Daily Mail.
Other recent studies have attempted to track happiness to economic security. For example, a 2010 Princeton study found that personal wealth does affect one’s respective happiness but only up to about $75,000. Beyond that, other studies have found that personal relationships and physical health are more intricately tied to happiness.
Another article published today looks at the “10 Habits of Happiness,” which include gratitude lists, getting enough sleep and spending time outdoors.
For the study, Schwandt and his team compared happiness levels for 23,161 Germans between the ages of 17 and 85.
Schwandt said individuals enter a lowered state of happiness at around age 55, when they begin to negatively analyze the various unrealized accomplishments in their lives. However, at around age 60, the happiness level begins a steady uptick as those same people move beyond their past regrets and enter a level of acceptance.
“People in their fifties could learn from the elderly, who generally feel less regret,” he said. “They should try not to be frustrated by their unmet expectations because they are probably not feeling much worse than their peers.”
However, the study found that happiness again begins to decline as individuals move into their 70s.
And if you want to take part in your own happiness survey, there’s a new app that lets users track their personal happiness and upload data that will be analyzed as part of a larger happiness study by the Harvard University Committee for the Use of Human Subjects.
However, the long years in between appear to present many emotional peaks and valleys. That’s according to a new study, which finds that the two happiest years of a person’s life are 23 and 69.
The results of the study are being published this week by the Center for Economic Performance at the London School of Economics.
“One theory is that the U-shape is driven by unmet aspirations which are painfully felt in midlife but beneficially abandoned later in life,” Princeton researcher Hannes Schwandt, who led the London School of Economics study, told the Daily Mail.
Other recent studies have attempted to track happiness to economic security. For example, a 2010 Princeton study found that personal wealth does affect one’s respective happiness but only up to about $75,000. Beyond that, other studies have found that personal relationships and physical health are more intricately tied to happiness.
Another article published today looks at the “10 Habits of Happiness,” which include gratitude lists, getting enough sleep and spending time outdoors.
For the study, Schwandt and his team compared happiness levels for 23,161 Germans between the ages of 17 and 85.
Schwandt said individuals enter a lowered state of happiness at around age 55, when they begin to negatively analyze the various unrealized accomplishments in their lives. However, at around age 60, the happiness level begins a steady uptick as those same people move beyond their past regrets and enter a level of acceptance.
“People in their fifties could learn from the elderly, who generally feel less regret,” he said. “They should try not to be frustrated by their unmet expectations because they are probably not feeling much worse than their peers.”
However, the study found that happiness again begins to decline as individuals move into their 70s.
And if you want to take part in your own happiness survey, there’s a new app that lets users track their personal happiness and upload data that will be analyzed as part of a larger happiness study by the Harvard University Committee for the Use of Human Subjects.
Sunday, July 21, 2013
Jack's Softball Game With David Justice
Jack's softball team was somehow recruited/duped into doing a YouTube special segment where David Justice magically appears to save the day against a big rival. I say "duped" because the opposing team, despite appearances, was actually a bunch of stars strung together specifically to beat Jack's normal team. And as you can see, and baseball purists would agree vigorously, is that no one player can make that much difference. Or any difference, since the team scored zero runs.
Jack's the pitcher.
Jack's the pitcher.
Measuring Love
"Love begins at home, and it is not how much we do, but how much love we put in the action that we do." - Mother Teresa
Stuntmen At Comic-Con Rescue Woman From Ledge
San Diego Comic-Con is a yearly event where fans get to dress up and pretend to be superheroes, but this year a team of stuntmen really did come to the rescue of a person in need.
On Thursday, a team of
professionals from the appropriately named company Stunts 911 were in a
parking lot situated next to a condominium building in downtown San Diego. In a phone conversation with Yahoo! Movies on Saturday, stunt coordinator Gregg Sergeant
said they were on a scaffolding about 30 feet in the air prepping a
stunt for a party for the film "Kick-Ass 2" where they would light
someone on fire when they first saw a woman standing on the outside
railing of a balcony on the 14th floor in an apparent suicide attempt.
Crowds assembled on the ground, at
first believing it to be a promotional stunt for Comic-Con. But when it
was clear that she was genuinely in danger, the Los Angeles Times reports onlookers shouted out "Don't do it! Don't jump!"
Sergeant, along with fellow
stuntmen Scott Schecter and Amus Carver, dashed across the lot to the
building's security office. Finding it was locked, they scaled the fence
to get to the tower. They were met by security guards from the
building, and the men told them what floor they had spotted the woman
on.
Taking the elevator to the 14th
floor, they found the correct room with the door unlocked. He said they
could see her standing on the rim of the railing through the patio's
glass door. He said they were able to get out onto the patio without her
noticing, and then he grabbed her from behind and held her while the
other two got a safety harness secured around her. Then they dragged her
over the railing and back into the room. Sergeant told Yahoo! Movies,
"It seemed like she was very drunk. She was crying and hysterical."
The uninjured woman was taken to
UC San Diego Medical Center for evaluation. Sergeant, who has worked as a
stunt performer on big Hollywood productions like "Gangster Squad" and
the "Pirates of the Caribbean" sequels, said they cut the rescue as
close as anything you'd see in a movie. He said, "There's no doubt in my
mind if we had come two seconds later, she would have been gone."
San Diego police officer Lt. Kevin Mayer told The San Diego Union-Tribune
that the stuntmen truly put themselves in harm's way when they
attempted their rescue. He said the woman had been drinking and was
distraught after a breakup. Police Mayer said, "They were the perfect
guys to be there at that time... It was very dangerous. I've seen
attempted suicides when someone grabs them and is pulled over."
Movie Review: The Heat
Melissa McCarthy, the Chris Farley of her time, and Sandra Bullock star as a pair of dissimilar law enforcement agents who bond over beating the bad guys in The Heat.
It clearly deserves an R rating for McCarthy's profanity-spewing rough-edged character, and more than a few violent images. But make no mistake about it, this is a comedy through and through, one that Dena gave 4 stars out of 5.
The beginning and ending thirds of the movie have the most compelling action, as we meet McCarthy's Boston-born persona, her salt-of-the-earth family, and her crime-solving brilliance. As well, Bullock's mix of smarts and clean-cut yet abrasive personality have her both on the cusp of FBI promotion and entrenched in a lonely existence. As the two grow closer to each other, their brand of vigilante justice hunts down drug kingpins and clashes with other law enforcement officials to a dramatic finish.
The river of physical gags and snarky, cutting one-liners that flows through the story keeps it moving in most places. This one is just as easily enjoyed from the living room as it would be in the theater, and while it's no first-date movie or fitting for those easily offended, it does bring out McCarthy's comedic genius and packed the theater that we were in after several weeks running, so it will give you something to talk about.
It clearly deserves an R rating for McCarthy's profanity-spewing rough-edged character, and more than a few violent images. But make no mistake about it, this is a comedy through and through, one that Dena gave 4 stars out of 5.
The beginning and ending thirds of the movie have the most compelling action, as we meet McCarthy's Boston-born persona, her salt-of-the-earth family, and her crime-solving brilliance. As well, Bullock's mix of smarts and clean-cut yet abrasive personality have her both on the cusp of FBI promotion and entrenched in a lonely existence. As the two grow closer to each other, their brand of vigilante justice hunts down drug kingpins and clashes with other law enforcement officials to a dramatic finish.
The river of physical gags and snarky, cutting one-liners that flows through the story keeps it moving in most places. This one is just as easily enjoyed from the living room as it would be in the theater, and while it's no first-date movie or fitting for those easily offended, it does bring out McCarthy's comedic genius and packed the theater that we were in after several weeks running, so it will give you something to talk about.
Sweet Talk: The Week In Thanks
"Do you like chocolate?"
This is one of many reasons I'm thankful to be part of the NCHS basketball program. Head varsity coach Witzig is in a highly influential position but he treats you like an equal. He constantly reads to improve, brainstorms new ideas. He gets just as excited about others' ideas as his own. His job is rich with potential for micromanagement, but his reaction to suggestions is "Yeah, let's see if we can do that!" instead of to weigh the practical issues. I could learn something from that. It makes me feel appreciated. And that's a motivator for me.
The skill I may admire the most, though, is striking up conversations. His enthusiasm for getting to know people is magnetic. Unlike many, it doesn't come across with a hidden agenda, or self-promotion (again, I could learn something from that). He takes a genuine interest in others. While sitting in Culver's slurping down ice cream, it would probably never occur to me to ask someone as simple of a question as whether or not he liked chocolate. But the care it shows leaves an impression.
The coaches huddled over breakfast on Friday and talked about ways to improve the program, tossing out ideas for yay or nay feedback. I'm thankful that the guys are passionate enough about the game and each other to just hang out and "fire bullets" of ideas into the air.
Dena spent four hours in the morning heat yesterday doing a build for Habitat for Humanity, came home and worked on graphic design projects, went for some exercise, then went out for a date night that lasted until around midnight (yes, with me). So many spouses might be selfish slugs, but Dena keeps on inspiring.
I'm glad to be back involved with the McLean County Chamber of Commerce and Leadership McLean County. The programming available to network with others is a boost to the tutoring business, as well as a way to get out of the house and have new mini-adventures. I've met business owners who provide plumbing, chiropractic, magazines, painting, temp jobs, human resources, legal services, rock climbing, and insurance to name a few.
I'm thankful for sunscreen. It lets me enjoy the vitamin-D boosting rays of the outdoors, and the tranquility of nature itself, with plentiful protection against both UVA (accelerates aging) and UVB (accelerates burning) rays. My body is highly tolerant of heat and humidity, so I've feasted on these roaring summer days and the occasional dip into the pool while reading for both education and pleasure.
I'm glad that recently I have the time to meditate on the future, reflect on the joys of the past, and relish the present. Time to do the little things that feed a peaceful environment like re-organize my financial records and clean house. Time to exercise my body and mind. Time to support my friends by attending Aida. Time to give thanks.
This is one of many reasons I'm thankful to be part of the NCHS basketball program. Head varsity coach Witzig is in a highly influential position but he treats you like an equal. He constantly reads to improve, brainstorms new ideas. He gets just as excited about others' ideas as his own. His job is rich with potential for micromanagement, but his reaction to suggestions is "Yeah, let's see if we can do that!" instead of to weigh the practical issues. I could learn something from that. It makes me feel appreciated. And that's a motivator for me.
The skill I may admire the most, though, is striking up conversations. His enthusiasm for getting to know people is magnetic. Unlike many, it doesn't come across with a hidden agenda, or self-promotion (again, I could learn something from that). He takes a genuine interest in others. While sitting in Culver's slurping down ice cream, it would probably never occur to me to ask someone as simple of a question as whether or not he liked chocolate. But the care it shows leaves an impression.
The coaches huddled over breakfast on Friday and talked about ways to improve the program, tossing out ideas for yay or nay feedback. I'm thankful that the guys are passionate enough about the game and each other to just hang out and "fire bullets" of ideas into the air.
Dena spent four hours in the morning heat yesterday doing a build for Habitat for Humanity, came home and worked on graphic design projects, went for some exercise, then went out for a date night that lasted until around midnight (yes, with me). So many spouses might be selfish slugs, but Dena keeps on inspiring.
I'm glad to be back involved with the McLean County Chamber of Commerce and Leadership McLean County. The programming available to network with others is a boost to the tutoring business, as well as a way to get out of the house and have new mini-adventures. I've met business owners who provide plumbing, chiropractic, magazines, painting, temp jobs, human resources, legal services, rock climbing, and insurance to name a few.
I'm thankful for sunscreen. It lets me enjoy the vitamin-D boosting rays of the outdoors, and the tranquility of nature itself, with plentiful protection against both UVA (accelerates aging) and UVB (accelerates burning) rays. My body is highly tolerant of heat and humidity, so I've feasted on these roaring summer days and the occasional dip into the pool while reading for both education and pleasure.
I'm glad that recently I have the time to meditate on the future, reflect on the joys of the past, and relish the present. Time to do the little things that feed a peaceful environment like re-organize my financial records and clean house. Time to exercise my body and mind. Time to support my friends by attending Aida. Time to give thanks.
Friday, July 19, 2013
Why Netflix's Stock Has Tripled
Netflix (NFLX) won plaudits from Hollywood this week with its first-ever Emmy nominations.
But Netflix customers who love James Bond or SpongeBob haven’t been as
excited about the world’s biggest streaming service lately.
Over the past year or so, Netflix has been shaking up its catalog of
movies and television shows and even dropping classics like Goldfinger, Scarface and SpongeBob SquarePants.
And the cuts will keep coming, analysts warn, even as Netflix spends
over $2 billion for licensing rights over the next year.
Older movies and TV shows that are available on cable and competing streaming services are most vulnerable.
So far, the new content strategy is working great, at least for Netflix. Its original series, led by the drama House of Cards, grabbed 14 Emmy nominations
on Thursday morning -- a first for any Web-only programming. Subscriber
numbers are way up, and the company’s stock has almost tripled this
year.
On Monday, Netflix reports second-quarter earnings. Wall Street analysts expect a profit of 40 cents a share, with domestic subscribers hitting 30 million. But if the May premiere of its latest original show, Arrested Development, helped lure in even more new customers, the stock could shoot higher.
Clear strategy
So how has Netflix been able to grow so quickly while cutting back on many popular movies and TV shows?
Just in the last year or so, it shed thousands of old movies -- from those named above to classic comedies Big and Young Frankenstein to dramas like Elizabeth. Netflix also dropped TV shows from A&E Networks like Storage Wars and Pawn Stars. And last month, it shed a ton of Viacom (VIA) content, including kids' shows from the Nickelodeon channel (farewell, SpongeBob).
At first blush, it seems counterintuitive that Netflix can grow while dropping popular content -- but there’s a clear strategy behind the moves, based on data about which shows help retain subscribers or bring in new customers.
Netflix declined to make its executives available to answer questions about its content strategy. However, prior public comments and two recent surveys help shed light on the data that Netflix uses to make its decisions.
Netflix started as a DVD rental service where the goal was to carry every possible movie. That part of the business is still a cash cow for the company, though it is in decline. But streaming customers don’t watch that many movies -- 80% of the time they opt for TV shows, according to a survey of a week of viewing habits of 500 streaming customers done by research firm Gfk.
Among movies, the most-watched titles were recent releases like the Hunger Games, Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol and The Awakening, Gfk found. That may be why Netflix let go of old movie deals from intermediaries Epix, in May, and Starz, last year.
Executives have been telling investors that the company is modeling itself as the HBO for the Internet. “The goal is to become HBO faster than HBO can become us," chief content officer Ted Sarandos told GQ in February.
HBO attracts millions of monthly subscribers with a mix of hot original shows and a smattering of old movies and new releases about six months out of theaters. No one expects HBO to carry every movie ever released. That may have been a goal of the old Netflix, but no more.
“What you hear people saying is that there aren’t enough current movies,” says David Tice, who follows the media and entertainment industries for Gfk.
Value of content
In its recent deal with Disney (DIS), Netflix will get access to new releases starting in 2016, after Disney's current deal with Starz expires. Movies will be available first on Netflix, not cable, the kind of exclusive the company is seeking under its new strategy.
For TV shows, almost the opposite is true, the Gfk survey found. Many of the most-watched series have been off the air for years, like Star Trek and The X-Files. Multi-season dramatic series featuring slowly developing story lines, like Mad Men and Breaking Bad, were also popular.
And, unlike network television
audiences, the kinds of shows streaming viewers prefer are more likely
to be dramas and comedies, not reality-based programs, the survey found.
That may explain why Netflix ended its deal with A&E Networks last year for reality shows like Storage Wars, Pawn Stars and Hoarders. Amazon (AMZN) quickly picked up the shows for its growing streaming service.
Netflix executives have also explained that exclusive content is far more valuable than filling out their catalog with popular, but widely available, hit shows.
That was clear in the deal Netflix struck with Dreamworks Animation (DWA) last month. Under the agreement, Dreamworks will create new children’s shows exclusively for Netflix, drawing on its stable of cartoon characters from its movies like Shrek and The Croods, as well as older characters it has rights to like Casper the Friendly Ghost and Mr. Magoo.
That was a smarter move than renewing a contract for Viacom’s Nickelodeon shows,
which also run on other outlets, S&P Capital IQ equity analyst Tuna
Amobi says. Streaming services haven’t typically had exclusive rights
to TV shows, he notes.
“They walked away from Viacom because they felt there wasn’t enough value there,” Amobi says. “The Dreamworks deal was groundbreaking.”
The need for exclusives also helps explain Netflix's big spending on original content -- the company spent $100 million on House of Cards, for example.
Not HBO yet
More than 12% of Netflix subscribers said they signed up because of the original programming and another 8% said they would have canceled but for the new shows, according to a survey of 1,000 U.S. customers last month by Wedbush Securities.
And broadcast networks are more focused than ever on low-cost reality shows
and series that tell their stories in a single episode. That’s because
slower-developing dramas aren’t appealing to the syndicated TV market,
which thrives on reruns of police procedurals and sitcoms.
That’s not to say that Netflix will be able to maintain a perfect record of what to cut and what to add. With producers making ever-greater demands in licensing deals, Netflix may find itself on the losing end of bidding wars from existing rivals like Amazon and Hulu, or rumored new entrants like Google (GOOG) and Apple (AAPL).
And Netflix may end up cutting some junk shows viewers actually want to see, Wedbush analyst Michael Pachter points out.
“People who watch TV watch some quality content and a lot of crap -- we value the crap as filler,” Pachter says. “As Netflix refines its quality offering, it is arguable that people will actually miss some of the crap. We’ll see.”
Netflix’s quest to become 'HBO for the Internet' still has quite a ways to go. The company’s 14 Emmy nominations were dwarfed by HBO’s 108. Even lowly on-air networks CBS and NBC had 53 nominations each.
But with a dozen or more new original shows on the way, Netflix is looking to catch up quickly.
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
18 Foods That Boost Your Metabolism
By the editors of Healthy Living. Looks like my ideal weight is 170 pounds and so should eat 120 grams of protein per day.
How much protein do you need? New research suggests that many of us may need more protein than we realize. The current RDA is 0.8 g of protein per kilogram of body weight, but several studies have found that 1 to 1.2 g may be more protective against age-related muscle loss.
Use this formula from Caroline Apovian, MD, to determine the minimum amount of protein you should eat daily to offset muscle loss--and protect your metabolism--while you lose weight.
STEP 1 Estimate your ideal weight. "If you're a woman, start with 100 pounds for the first 5 feet in height, and add 5 pounds for every extra inch," says Dr. Apovian. "For men, it's 106 pounds for 5 feet in height, plus 6 pounds for every additional inch. However, if your ideal weight is less than 120 pounds, don't eat less than 82 g of protein daily."
STEP 2 Ideal Weight (in lb) ÷ 2.2 = Ideal Weight (in kg)
STEP 3 Ideal Weight (in kg) × 1.5 = Daily Protein Goal (in g)
Now that you know how much you need, check out these metabolism-boosting protein-packed foods!
Avocado
Protein content: 2 g per half avocado
The protein in this fruit contains all 9 essential amino acids, plus heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids.
Cheese and milk
Protein content: 6-7 g per oz; 9-10 g per 1 cup
Go for low-fat options-they generally contain more protein than fattier alternatives.
Tempeh
Protein content: 15 g per 1/2 cup
Its nougatlike texture makes tempeh a smart stand-in for meat. Sauté, or crumble cooked tempeh over salads.
Asparagus
Protein content: 4 g per 1 cup (chopped)
This tasty veggie is a nutrient powerhouse. Enjoy it steamed or grilled, or toss chopped spears into salads.
Legumes
Protein content: 7-9 g per 1/2 cup (cooked)
Pair dried beans (think black beans, chickpeas, and lentils) with rice or quinoa for a complete-protein meal.
Greek-style yogurt
Protein content: 18 g per 6 oz
This thick and creamy treat packs nearly twice as much protein as other dairy sources; it's great with fruit.
Tree Nuts
Protein content: 4-6 g per 2 Tbsp
A small handful of walnuts or almonds is great as a snack, mixed into yogurt or oatmeal, or on a salad.
Edamame
Protein content: 8.5 g per 1/2 cup (shelled)
A single serving packs nearly every trace mineral your body needs, including iron, magnesium, and zinc.
Whey protein
Protein content: 24 g per 1 oz
Add a scoop to smoothies or water for a quick protein hit. Avoiding animal products? Try soy protein powder.
Spinach
Protein content: 5 g per 1 cup (cooked)
Of all the leafy greens, spinach boasts the highest protein content. Try it sautéed with a bit of garlic.
Tofu
Protein content: 12 g per 3 oz
Made from soybeans, this low-cal, versatile protein will take on any flavor, from Asian to barbecue.
Fish and shellfish
Protein content: 28 g per 4 oz
Whether it's salmon, halibut, or tuna, seafood is a great catch. Aim for 3 to 5 servings a week.
Pseudograins
Protein content: 5-9 g per 1 cup (cooked)
These hearty, grainlike seeds (quinoa, amaranth, and buckwheat) have more protein than traditional grains.
Eggs
Protein content: 12 g per 2 eggs; 14 g per 4 egg whites
However you prepare them, eggs and egg whites are smart fuel for muscles.
Poultry and pork
Protein content: 28 g per 4 oz
Family favorites like skinless chicken and pork make it easy to score plenty of protein at each meal.
Hemp seeds
Protein content: 10 g per 2 Tbsp
Great for soups and salads, these seeds have 8 of the 9 essential amino acids that build muscle.
Cottage cheese
Protein content: 14 g per 1/2 cup
Eating a scoop doesn't mean you're on a diet--it means you're muscle savvy. Try adding it to smoothies.
Beef
Protein content: 28 g per 4 oz
Look for the absolute leanest cuts, like round roast or top sirloin. Try bison for a leaner red-meat alternative.
How much protein do you need? New research suggests that many of us may need more protein than we realize. The current RDA is 0.8 g of protein per kilogram of body weight, but several studies have found that 1 to 1.2 g may be more protective against age-related muscle loss.
Use this formula from Caroline Apovian, MD, to determine the minimum amount of protein you should eat daily to offset muscle loss--and protect your metabolism--while you lose weight.
STEP 1 Estimate your ideal weight. "If you're a woman, start with 100 pounds for the first 5 feet in height, and add 5 pounds for every extra inch," says Dr. Apovian. "For men, it's 106 pounds for 5 feet in height, plus 6 pounds for every additional inch. However, if your ideal weight is less than 120 pounds, don't eat less than 82 g of protein daily."
STEP 2 Ideal Weight (in lb) ÷ 2.2 = Ideal Weight (in kg)
STEP 3 Ideal Weight (in kg) × 1.5 = Daily Protein Goal (in g)
Now that you know how much you need, check out these metabolism-boosting protein-packed foods!
Avocado
Protein content: 2 g per half avocado
The protein in this fruit contains all 9 essential amino acids, plus heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids.
Cheese and milk
Protein content: 6-7 g per oz; 9-10 g per 1 cup
Go for low-fat options-they generally contain more protein than fattier alternatives.
Tempeh
Protein content: 15 g per 1/2 cup
Its nougatlike texture makes tempeh a smart stand-in for meat. Sauté, or crumble cooked tempeh over salads.
Asparagus
Protein content: 4 g per 1 cup (chopped)
This tasty veggie is a nutrient powerhouse. Enjoy it steamed or grilled, or toss chopped spears into salads.
Legumes
Protein content: 7-9 g per 1/2 cup (cooked)
Pair dried beans (think black beans, chickpeas, and lentils) with rice or quinoa for a complete-protein meal.
Greek-style yogurt
Protein content: 18 g per 6 oz
This thick and creamy treat packs nearly twice as much protein as other dairy sources; it's great with fruit.
Tree Nuts
Protein content: 4-6 g per 2 Tbsp
A small handful of walnuts or almonds is great as a snack, mixed into yogurt or oatmeal, or on a salad.
Edamame
Protein content: 8.5 g per 1/2 cup (shelled)
A single serving packs nearly every trace mineral your body needs, including iron, magnesium, and zinc.
Whey protein
Protein content: 24 g per 1 oz
Add a scoop to smoothies or water for a quick protein hit. Avoiding animal products? Try soy protein powder.
Spinach
Protein content: 5 g per 1 cup (cooked)
Of all the leafy greens, spinach boasts the highest protein content. Try it sautéed with a bit of garlic.
Tofu
Protein content: 12 g per 3 oz
Made from soybeans, this low-cal, versatile protein will take on any flavor, from Asian to barbecue.
Fish and shellfish
Protein content: 28 g per 4 oz
Whether it's salmon, halibut, or tuna, seafood is a great catch. Aim for 3 to 5 servings a week.
Pseudograins
Protein content: 5-9 g per 1 cup (cooked)
These hearty, grainlike seeds (quinoa, amaranth, and buckwheat) have more protein than traditional grains.
Eggs
Protein content: 12 g per 2 eggs; 14 g per 4 egg whites
However you prepare them, eggs and egg whites are smart fuel for muscles.
Poultry and pork
Protein content: 28 g per 4 oz
Family favorites like skinless chicken and pork make it easy to score plenty of protein at each meal.
Hemp seeds
Protein content: 10 g per 2 Tbsp
Great for soups and salads, these seeds have 8 of the 9 essential amino acids that build muscle.
Cottage cheese
Protein content: 14 g per 1/2 cup
Eating a scoop doesn't mean you're on a diet--it means you're muscle savvy. Try adding it to smoothies.
Beef
Protein content: 28 g per 4 oz
Look for the absolute leanest cuts, like round roast or top sirloin. Try bison for a leaner red-meat alternative.
Habits Of The Rich Vs. The Poor
A study of hundreds of rich and poor people by a financial planner determined that habits play a larger role in success than luck:
44% of the wealthy rise 3 hours before work starts.
88% read for self improvement at least 30 minutes per day, vs. 2% of poor.
76% exercise at least 4 days per week, vs. 23% of poor.
81% maintain a daily to-do list, vs. 19%. The wealthy cross off about 70% of those activities in an average day.
70% set long-term goals, vs. 3%.
55% network during lunch, vs. 2%.
57% count calories, vs. 5%. And 70% eat fewer than 300 junk-food calories per day, vs. 3% poor. And generally have less than 2 alcoholic beverages per day.
Only 6% spread gossip, vs. 79%.
33% spent more than 1 hour watching TV per day, vs. 77% of poor.
That helps explain why a late riser like me was an ill fit for a 9-to-5 job. It's easy for me to rise 3 hours before work now. I can easily get back into the habit of maintaining a daily to-do list. I've been scheduling more networking events for myself. I may have to tighten the screws to meet that junk-food standard, but counting calories would help. Reducing TV watching would be a major lifestyle change that I've not often considered, but the gossip one is definitely one that I've thought about and improved upon.
A great meal for thought to start the day!
44% of the wealthy rise 3 hours before work starts.
88% read for self improvement at least 30 minutes per day, vs. 2% of poor.
76% exercise at least 4 days per week, vs. 23% of poor.
81% maintain a daily to-do list, vs. 19%. The wealthy cross off about 70% of those activities in an average day.
70% set long-term goals, vs. 3%.
55% network during lunch, vs. 2%.
57% count calories, vs. 5%. And 70% eat fewer than 300 junk-food calories per day, vs. 3% poor. And generally have less than 2 alcoholic beverages per day.
Only 6% spread gossip, vs. 79%.
33% spent more than 1 hour watching TV per day, vs. 77% of poor.
That helps explain why a late riser like me was an ill fit for a 9-to-5 job. It's easy for me to rise 3 hours before work now. I can easily get back into the habit of maintaining a daily to-do list. I've been scheduling more networking events for myself. I may have to tighten the screws to meet that junk-food standard, but counting calories would help. Reducing TV watching would be a major lifestyle change that I've not often considered, but the gossip one is definitely one that I've thought about and improved upon.
A great meal for thought to start the day!
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
Substitute Teaching Article
Article dated January 31, 2013:
NORMAL — Susan Grimes of Bloomington missed teaching, so she thought being a substitute would be the answer — until she found out how much it would cost her.
With all of the medical tests, background checks and certification requirements she would have to pay for upfront, she would have to substitute for three full days just to break even. If she didn’t have her teaching certificate, which many substitutes don’t have, the fees would have been hundreds of dollars more.
“I wasn’t so interested,” Grimes said.
Being a substitute teacher these days is harder and more expensive than it used to be, and that has created a shortage school districts are trying to fill by recruiting more people to do the job.
For example, Grimes, who taught English as a Second Language as a volunteer tutor for 13 years, attended a job fair this week sponsored by McLean County Unit 5. The Normal-based district was looking for substitutes, teaching assistants, food service personnel, custodians and others.
Within the first two hours, eight people had been interviewed for substitute and teaching assistant jobs. Some, like Grimes, found out being a substitute wasn’t for her.
“It’s a hard job,” said Diane Wolf, assistant superintendent for the Regional Office of Education for DeWitt, Livingston, McLean counties. It’s far from just baby sitting students, she said.
[ROE site]
[ISBE Substitute Teaching Certification]
[ISBE Licensure FAQ]
[ISBE Certification Application Form]
[Illinois Licensure Testing site] - with documents explaining TAP test
Nate Cunningham, Unit 5 assistant superintendent of human resources, attributes the decline in the substitute pool to a combination of a stronger economy, a recent change in state requirements for how substitutes are licensed and how the timing of that sudden state policy change hit the regional offices of education.
At one point, Unit 5’s substitute pool was as low as 246 people, but it has rebounded to about 290 now. That’s still well below the 400 Cunningham would like to have on hand for covering holiday seasons, flu outbreaks and times when teachers are required to be out of the building.
While Bloomington District 87 doesn’t have “too many unfilled positions” with a substitute pool of about 226, there are specific days and specific classrooms where there is an unmet need, said Superintendent Barry Reilly. For example, he said it’s harder to find substitutes in specialized areas such as special education.
Some people left the substitute pool because they got full-time jobs elsewhere, and many longtime subs were angry about the new requirements and quit, Cunningham said.
A state law passed last year requires substitute teachers to pay for their own fingerprint and police background checks. School districts often absorbed those costs in the past.
Candidates also must prove they have had physicals and tuberculosis tests within the past 90 days.
If a candidate has a bachelor’s degree but not a teaching certificate, he or she must obtain — and pay for — substitute teaching certification. That alone can cost $500.
While the requirements have increased for the job, the pay hasn’t, said Reilly. Both Unit 5 and District 87 still pay $80 a day.
Before 2012, individual schools handled processing their own substitute teachers, but now the regional office of education handles the paperwork for the districts. Since July, the regional office in Bloomington processed 325 substitutes for DeWitt, Livingston and McLean counties.
December graduations have brought some new applicants this month. One such graduate attending Unit 5’s job fair was Isaac Shields of Pontiac.
“I know it’s a process,” he said of all the requirements, adding he was glad to met officials at the job fair. “Now I’m more than a name on a screen.”
Then there were candidates at the job fair like Angela Roop-Lawler of Bloomington, who retired about three years ago after teaching for 35 years in Rantoul, and Ann Gullixon of Bloomington, a stay-at-home mother who wants to have time off that coincides with her young children’s school vacations.
They said they are prepared.
Chiddix Junior High School Associate Principal Jennifer Hamilton, who interviewed candidates at the job fair, said, “I think the candidate pool is strong.”
- A valid Illinois teaching certificate, if you have one. One is not required for substitute teaching.
- Evidence of a bachelor’s degree (sealed official transcript)
- If you do not hold a valid teaching certificate, a completed application for substitute teaching certificate, which requires a fee
- Complete certificate registration form
- Evidence of recent medical/physical (within previous 90 days)
- Evidence of a recent negative T.B. test (within previous 90 days)
- Fingerprint criminal background check
- Statewide sex offender database check
- Statewide child murderer and violent offender against database check
NORMAL — Susan Grimes of Bloomington missed teaching, so she thought being a substitute would be the answer — until she found out how much it would cost her.
With all of the medical tests, background checks and certification requirements she would have to pay for upfront, she would have to substitute for three full days just to break even. If she didn’t have her teaching certificate, which many substitutes don’t have, the fees would have been hundreds of dollars more.
“I wasn’t so interested,” Grimes said.
Being a substitute teacher these days is harder and more expensive than it used to be, and that has created a shortage school districts are trying to fill by recruiting more people to do the job.
For example, Grimes, who taught English as a Second Language as a volunteer tutor for 13 years, attended a job fair this week sponsored by McLean County Unit 5. The Normal-based district was looking for substitutes, teaching assistants, food service personnel, custodians and others.
Within the first two hours, eight people had been interviewed for substitute and teaching assistant jobs. Some, like Grimes, found out being a substitute wasn’t for her.
“It’s a hard job,” said Diane Wolf, assistant superintendent for the Regional Office of Education for DeWitt, Livingston, McLean counties. It’s far from just baby sitting students, she said.
[ROE site]
[ISBE Substitute Teaching Certification]
[ISBE Licensure FAQ]
[ISBE Certification Application Form]
[Illinois Licensure Testing site] - with documents explaining TAP test
Nate Cunningham, Unit 5 assistant superintendent of human resources, attributes the decline in the substitute pool to a combination of a stronger economy, a recent change in state requirements for how substitutes are licensed and how the timing of that sudden state policy change hit the regional offices of education.
At one point, Unit 5’s substitute pool was as low as 246 people, but it has rebounded to about 290 now. That’s still well below the 400 Cunningham would like to have on hand for covering holiday seasons, flu outbreaks and times when teachers are required to be out of the building.
While Bloomington District 87 doesn’t have “too many unfilled positions” with a substitute pool of about 226, there are specific days and specific classrooms where there is an unmet need, said Superintendent Barry Reilly. For example, he said it’s harder to find substitutes in specialized areas such as special education.
Some people left the substitute pool because they got full-time jobs elsewhere, and many longtime subs were angry about the new requirements and quit, Cunningham said.
A state law passed last year requires substitute teachers to pay for their own fingerprint and police background checks. School districts often absorbed those costs in the past.
Candidates also must prove they have had physicals and tuberculosis tests within the past 90 days.
If a candidate has a bachelor’s degree but not a teaching certificate, he or she must obtain — and pay for — substitute teaching certification. That alone can cost $500.
While the requirements have increased for the job, the pay hasn’t, said Reilly. Both Unit 5 and District 87 still pay $80 a day.
Before 2012, individual schools handled processing their own substitute teachers, but now the regional office of education handles the paperwork for the districts. Since July, the regional office in Bloomington processed 325 substitutes for DeWitt, Livingston and McLean counties.
December graduations have brought some new applicants this month. One such graduate attending Unit 5’s job fair was Isaac Shields of Pontiac.
“I know it’s a process,” he said of all the requirements, adding he was glad to met officials at the job fair. “Now I’m more than a name on a screen.”
Then there were candidates at the job fair like Angela Roop-Lawler of Bloomington, who retired about three years ago after teaching for 35 years in Rantoul, and Ann Gullixon of Bloomington, a stay-at-home mother who wants to have time off that coincides with her young children’s school vacations.
They said they are prepared.
Chiddix Junior High School Associate Principal Jennifer Hamilton, who interviewed candidates at the job fair, said, “I think the candidate pool is strong.”
Becoming a sub
Applicants for a substitute teaching job in Illinois must present the following to their Regional Office of Education:- A valid Illinois teaching certificate, if you have one. One is not required for substitute teaching.
- Evidence of a bachelor’s degree (sealed official transcript)
- If you do not hold a valid teaching certificate, a completed application for substitute teaching certificate, which requires a fee
- Complete certificate registration form
- Evidence of recent medical/physical (within previous 90 days)
- Evidence of a recent negative T.B. test (within previous 90 days)
- Fingerprint criminal background check
- Statewide sex offender database check
- Statewide child murderer and violent offender against database check
Diary Of A Substitute Teacher: Reading Comprehension
Dear Diary,
So today I spent a lot of time researching the requirements to become a substitute teacher in the state of Illinois. They are not too bad, though a little expensive. Anyway, it looks like I might have to pass a "test of academic proficiency" in order to get certified for 5 years.
Part of the test is about reading comprehension. There was a sample question which had an article about the U.S. Founding Fathers that looked like it was straight out of a history text book. So basically the question is, which of the answers looks most like it would fit into an elementary school history text book? All of the answers except B made me laugh. This could be a fun test!
Love,
Joe
12. Which of the following sentences, if added between Parts 6 and 7 of the second paragraph, would be most consistent with the writer's purpose and intended audience?
A. Some folks knew better than to jump on Hamilton's bandwagon, which was sure to face a bumpy road once the country really got going.
B. On the contrary, many people living in the United States, including Thomas Jefferson, did not want their
new nation to become heavily industrialized.
C. How anybody could fail to see the fact that Hamilton clearly had the best plan for the future of this country is totally beyond me.
D. Rather, there were those who viewed the Federalist geopolitical and economic strategy as a movement
toward tyrannical despotism and away from democratic ideology.
Asiana Pilot Fake Names Trick News Show
Okay, forgive me Lord, I debated on this one.
But the ingenuity behind these fake pilot names used to trick the news station are just... too... just listen.
But the ingenuity behind these fake pilot names used to trick the news station are just... too... just listen.
Monday, July 15, 2013
Today's Enthusiasm
"A person can succeed at anything for which there is an unlimited enthusiasm." - Anonymous
What is it that truly "enthuses" you? Can it sustain the many impediments to it along the way? Do those setbacks cause you to shrug your shoulders and continue on, instead of draining your steam much? Does the vision of what you can achieve burn brightly under the darkest cloud, more than enough to fuel your fires of success?
What does a great TODAY look like for you? Do you have what it takes to bring it to life?
What is it that truly "enthuses" you? Can it sustain the many impediments to it along the way? Do those setbacks cause you to shrug your shoulders and continue on, instead of draining your steam much? Does the vision of what you can achieve burn brightly under the darkest cloud, more than enough to fuel your fires of success?
What does a great TODAY look like for you? Do you have what it takes to bring it to life?
Modern Marvels: The Week In Thanks
We're a few weeks into summer, and Illinois served us up a few days of ideal weather. Today the blazing blue skies are still here, and with the humidity cranked up to instant-wet-shirt level as normal, it gets me reflecting on the technology that I'm lucky enough to have been born into.
Electricity rather than fire for light and heat.
High-definition television with thousands of entertainment options at the click of a remote control.
Digital thermostat, air-conditioning, and remote control fan for keeping the temperature cool and dry.
Phone to talk or exchange messages with someone almost anywhere in the world instantaneously.
Camera to take photos and videos.
Laptop computer to check the weather, educate myself on any topic, listen to any music, upload and download pictures and videos, manage our finances, track basketball statistics, write business correspondence, develop web sites, and blog the occasional semi-meaningful thought.
Microwave and conventional ovens, refrigerators, washers/dryers.
Then there's non-electronics "technology." Things like modern furniture, cutlery, cars, planes, medicine.
It's such incredibly easy comfort, which was available to no one 100 years ago and still not to billions of people today.
In other news...
I'm glad that our bodies run on water (which is free) and not, say, motor oil (which is not).
Friday's opening night of Aida at Community Players underscored for me the "Community" part of the name. When I got home I counted more than 20 theater friends that had been either on stage, in the background, or in the audience. A caring, creative, talented, energetic bunch.
The Cubs have a better record than 7 other major league baseball teams. That feels like improvement.
The gift of an analytical mind helped me bore through pages of legal documents to help determine how to manage repair costs for our condominium association through a few amendments to the by-laws.
Ken Burns' documentaries are a gift to us all. I've been watching his storytelling of the history of baseball and World War II. I've got my eye on the Civil War one.
My Facebook friends proved once again to be a resourceful think tank for ideas, this time to get our wedding VHS tapes converted to DVD. By the time all was said and done I had about seven different options, from friends I'd met through extremely different walks of life. Which goes to show the blessings of the kind of people I've been brought into contact with through the years.
This week I launched about three hundred basketball shots, rebounded a hundred more, played three hours of flag football, and had no injuries. That's a fortysomething white-collar gold medal right there. Which reminds me to be thankful for stretching, and Aleve.
In three months we'll be off to California to visit Jack and his softball chronicles. So the horizon, though atmospherically hazy this fine morning, has as much brightness as ever.
Cheers!
Electricity rather than fire for light and heat.
High-definition television with thousands of entertainment options at the click of a remote control.
Digital thermostat, air-conditioning, and remote control fan for keeping the temperature cool and dry.
Phone to talk or exchange messages with someone almost anywhere in the world instantaneously.
Camera to take photos and videos.
Laptop computer to check the weather, educate myself on any topic, listen to any music, upload and download pictures and videos, manage our finances, track basketball statistics, write business correspondence, develop web sites, and blog the occasional semi-meaningful thought.
Microwave and conventional ovens, refrigerators, washers/dryers.
Then there's non-electronics "technology." Things like modern furniture, cutlery, cars, planes, medicine.
It's such incredibly easy comfort, which was available to no one 100 years ago and still not to billions of people today.
In other news...
I'm glad that our bodies run on water (which is free) and not, say, motor oil (which is not).
Friday's opening night of Aida at Community Players underscored for me the "Community" part of the name. When I got home I counted more than 20 theater friends that had been either on stage, in the background, or in the audience. A caring, creative, talented, energetic bunch.
The Cubs have a better record than 7 other major league baseball teams. That feels like improvement.
The gift of an analytical mind helped me bore through pages of legal documents to help determine how to manage repair costs for our condominium association through a few amendments to the by-laws.
Ken Burns' documentaries are a gift to us all. I've been watching his storytelling of the history of baseball and World War II. I've got my eye on the Civil War one.
My Facebook friends proved once again to be a resourceful think tank for ideas, this time to get our wedding VHS tapes converted to DVD. By the time all was said and done I had about seven different options, from friends I'd met through extremely different walks of life. Which goes to show the blessings of the kind of people I've been brought into contact with through the years.
This week I launched about three hundred basketball shots, rebounded a hundred more, played three hours of flag football, and had no injuries. That's a fortysomething white-collar gold medal right there. Which reminds me to be thankful for stretching, and Aleve.
In three months we'll be off to California to visit Jack and his softball chronicles. So the horizon, though atmospherically hazy this fine morning, has as much brightness as ever.
Cheers!
Sunday, July 14, 2013
Now You See Me
Dena and I enjoyed our pick of the magic-filled "Now You See Me" in theaters last week.
The story locks onto four talented but mostly small-time magicians brought together by an unseen mastermind, whose brilliance is demonstrated in the opening sequence through incredible visuals inside of a dilapidated apartment.
A year later, the so-called "Four Horsemen" (including Jesse Eisenberg and Woody Harrelson) find themselves on stage with significant financial backing, a Las-Vegas-ready series of increasingly amazing tricks, and an underlying motive that's both unknown and anti-establishment. Consistently one step ahead of bumbling FBI agent Mark Ruffalo and his Interpol partner, the Horsemen rob the rich, give to the poor, and wisecrack their way toward wealth of their own.
The plot moves ahead steadily, with what I thought was a fair mix of action along both the what's-gonna-happen-next and the bad-guys-on-the-run variety. And, to the delight of the average fan and the curse of the average illusionist, the secrets to the tricks are all revealed almost immediately, mostly by Morgan Freeman, a reputed magician in his own right.
Because of the visual effects and the frequent viewpoint from an audience point of view, I'd recommend seeing this one in the theater while it lasts, but it would still be a good rental for the whodunnit mystery of it all, including some "no WAY" moments in the final reveal of the show.
The story locks onto four talented but mostly small-time magicians brought together by an unseen mastermind, whose brilliance is demonstrated in the opening sequence through incredible visuals inside of a dilapidated apartment.
A year later, the so-called "Four Horsemen" (including Jesse Eisenberg and Woody Harrelson) find themselves on stage with significant financial backing, a Las-Vegas-ready series of increasingly amazing tricks, and an underlying motive that's both unknown and anti-establishment. Consistently one step ahead of bumbling FBI agent Mark Ruffalo and his Interpol partner, the Horsemen rob the rich, give to the poor, and wisecrack their way toward wealth of their own.
The plot moves ahead steadily, with what I thought was a fair mix of action along both the what's-gonna-happen-next and the bad-guys-on-the-run variety. And, to the delight of the average fan and the curse of the average illusionist, the secrets to the tricks are all revealed almost immediately, mostly by Morgan Freeman, a reputed magician in his own right.
Because of the visual effects and the frequent viewpoint from an audience point of view, I'd recommend seeing this one in the theater while it lasts, but it would still be a good rental for the whodunnit mystery of it all, including some "no WAY" moments in the final reveal of the show.
Saturday, July 13, 2013
Hairspray, Spelling Bee Alumni Reunite At Opening Of Community Players Theatre's Aida
Director Alan Wilson (director of Hairspray in 2012), assistant director Kelly Slater (Tracy Turnblad in Hairspray and Logainne Scwhartzandgrubenierre in 2013's Spelling Bee), producers Chris Terven (Hairspray's Mr. Pinky) and Mark Robinson (Wilbur Turnblad), stage manager Wendi Fleming (Hairspray's Velma Von Tussle), choreographer Wendy Baugh (Hairspray and Spelling Bee), prop manager Dorothy Mundy (Spelling Bee), Rachel Grampp (Hairspray) and the rest of a talented crew backdropped an exciting debut of Community Players Theatre's production of Aida, a cast reunion of past CP musicals ambitiously disguised as an Elton-John-styled musical of forbidden and doomed love amidst the Egyptian pyramids.
The overtures of Mark's wife JoLynn, bolstered by the musicianship of Sean Stevens (Hairspray White Council member), Tim and Corinne Zehr (Hairspray and Spelling Bee) set the beat for a sound track of upbeat and soulful numbers about love, angst, joy and despair.
At the forefront, Austin Travis (White Council and Spelling Bee's Leaf Coneybear) starred as the fabulous bare-chested Captain Radames with the head-turning angelic tenor in the most tender moments, as he courted Jennifer Rusk's (Hairspray's Motormouth Maybelle) typically soul-stirring vocal rendering of the slave girl (and erstwhile Nubian princess) Aida.
Meanwhile, Jennifer Stevens (White Council) and Aimee Kerber (White Council and Spelling Bee's Rona Lisa Peretti) captivate the audience with their multi-octave talents in their portrayals of the wistful Amneris and ultra-loyal Nehebka, respectively. Tony Smith's (Hairspray's Black Council and Spelling Bee's assistant director) impeccable comic timing is finally unleashed for all to enjoy in the character of Mereb the Nubian slave.
The supporting cast is rife with powerful vocals and electrifying dancing from the likes of Samm Bettis (White Council), Sequita and Katrice Bridges (Black Council and Hairspray's Little Inez, respectively), Christie Vellella (Black Council), Chris Stanford (White Council and Spelling Bee's Mitch Mahoney) and Kallie Bundy (Spelling Bee's Olive Ostrovsky). The sound of the full cast on stage during the bows was a fitting crescendo to an energetic evening.
The appreciative audience included Brett Cottone (Hairspray producer, Spelling Bee director), Sara Schramm (Hairspray prison matron), and Dennis Gotkowski (Spelling Bee musical director).
The event was the ushering debut of Joe McDonald (Hairspray's Corny Collins and Spelling Bee's Douglas Panch).
The overtures of Mark's wife JoLynn, bolstered by the musicianship of Sean Stevens (Hairspray White Council member), Tim and Corinne Zehr (Hairspray and Spelling Bee) set the beat for a sound track of upbeat and soulful numbers about love, angst, joy and despair.
At the forefront, Austin Travis (White Council and Spelling Bee's Leaf Coneybear) starred as the fabulous bare-chested Captain Radames with the head-turning angelic tenor in the most tender moments, as he courted Jennifer Rusk's (Hairspray's Motormouth Maybelle) typically soul-stirring vocal rendering of the slave girl (and erstwhile Nubian princess) Aida.
Meanwhile, Jennifer Stevens (White Council) and Aimee Kerber (White Council and Spelling Bee's Rona Lisa Peretti) captivate the audience with their multi-octave talents in their portrayals of the wistful Amneris and ultra-loyal Nehebka, respectively. Tony Smith's (Hairspray's Black Council and Spelling Bee's assistant director) impeccable comic timing is finally unleashed for all to enjoy in the character of Mereb the Nubian slave.
The supporting cast is rife with powerful vocals and electrifying dancing from the likes of Samm Bettis (White Council), Sequita and Katrice Bridges (Black Council and Hairspray's Little Inez, respectively), Christie Vellella (Black Council), Chris Stanford (White Council and Spelling Bee's Mitch Mahoney) and Kallie Bundy (Spelling Bee's Olive Ostrovsky). The sound of the full cast on stage during the bows was a fitting crescendo to an energetic evening.
The appreciative audience included Brett Cottone (Hairspray producer, Spelling Bee director), Sara Schramm (Hairspray prison matron), and Dennis Gotkowski (Spelling Bee musical director).
The event was the ushering debut of Joe McDonald (Hairspray's Corny Collins and Spelling Bee's Douglas Panch).
High Ground
The term "high ground" has military roots. An army perched on high ground such as a hill commands clear fields of vision and fire over the ground below. Occupying high ground always provides a tactical advantage.
Can the same be said for daily battles or one sort or another? Imagine the difference between watching an argument on television, and being part of a similarly tense situation. Detachment makes the first situation easy on the blood pressure. What's to stop us from exercising a similar detachment in the second?
The ability to "float" above our own situation, to elevate to a higher ground, could instill a new found peacefulness.
Can the same be said for daily battles or one sort or another? Imagine the difference between watching an argument on television, and being part of a similarly tense situation. Detachment makes the first situation easy on the blood pressure. What's to stop us from exercising a similar detachment in the second?
The ability to "float" above our own situation, to elevate to a higher ground, could instill a new found peacefulness.
Good Win
The term "Pyrrhic victory" comes from the ancient king Pyrrhus, who defeated a Roman army but lost so many men in the process that he quipped, "One more such victory and I shall be lost."
There are easy victories all around for the taking, many in the form of taking advantage of others by stealing from, obstructing, or demeaning them. At what cost these small victories?
We reap what we sow. We win the long run by sowing patience and love. It will return. The conquest of our own selves is the best kind of win.
There are easy victories all around for the taking, many in the form of taking advantage of others by stealing from, obstructing, or demeaning them. At what cost these small victories?
We reap what we sow. We win the long run by sowing patience and love. It will return. The conquest of our own selves is the best kind of win.
Acting Successful-Lee
When Confederate General Robert E. Lee was defeated by a vastly superior Northern army at Antietam, he could easily have withdrawn. But the North was only superior in numbers, not in attitude. History says that he simply refused to act as if he'd been beaten afterward. And indeed, his tactical genius helped extend the Civil war for several years against overwhelming odds. Eventually, his counterpart Ulysses S. Grant adopted an attitude of grimly marching troops deep into the South to eventual victory.
Determination leads to success.
Determination leads to success.
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
Small Business Roundtable
Just attended my first meeting as a member of the Chamber of Commerce's small business roundtable. Those present included:
Joan Garber, Mary Kay sales director with a unit of 31 sales reps.
Axel Jimenez, State Farm agent. 6 employees.
Bryne Wille, chiropractor for AlignLife. 5 employees.
Sam Lewis, owner of PrideStaff staffing company.
Tim Leighton, managing director of Leighton Legal Group. 5 employees.
Emilie Shoop, Shoop Training & Consulting.
Anthony Barnes, CEO of Bandana's Bar-B-Q.
Mark Muehleck, CertaPro Painters.
J.R. Lelm, Yoli Better Body Company
Seth Zeller, Zeller Electric. 7 family owners, 20-40 journeymen electricians.
Very helpful group!
Joan Garber, Mary Kay sales director with a unit of 31 sales reps.
Axel Jimenez, State Farm agent. 6 employees.
Bryne Wille, chiropractor for AlignLife. 5 employees.
Sam Lewis, owner of PrideStaff staffing company.
Tim Leighton, managing director of Leighton Legal Group. 5 employees.
Emilie Shoop, Shoop Training & Consulting.
Anthony Barnes, CEO of Bandana's Bar-B-Q.
Mark Muehleck, CertaPro Painters.
J.R. Lelm, Yoli Better Body Company
Seth Zeller, Zeller Electric. 7 family owners, 20-40 journeymen electricians.
Very helpful group!
Suspicious Meeting Fuels Rumors In Galva, Illinois
A congregation of outsiders interrogated Galva, Illinois resident Evelyn Gibson for nearly three hours Monday evening, mystifying locals ahead of bingo night.
Some sort of second-hand six-passenger vehicle rolled up to Gibson's quaint home at 5:00, luring her off of the humid porch and into the front seat before winding toward the Corner Table Cafe.
"The six of 'em surrounded her in the back corner," said Violet the server. "She couldn't go nowhere if she'd wanted to."
It was unclear whether or not Gibson's companions were prior acquaintances, despite the inferences from the ringleaders that there was a relationship.
"They kept sayin' stuff making it sound like she was the old guy's mom, but that makes as much sense as men on Mars," Violet continued. "Evy couldn't be ten years older than his wife."
Snippets of conversation appeared to cover her distant past. She was shown several old photos and alternately lectured and grilled about them in menacing tones, according to the server.
"One of those goons was six and a half feet of muscle if he was an inch. She's eighty-three years old. They made her talk nearly the whole time. What nerve!"
More than two hours into the episode Gibson launched a glass of ice water at her captors, but eventually they wrested away a prized family photo from her and whisked her into the vehicle.
After dropping her off at home, she ran inside and closed the door behind her. The vehicle proceeded to drive in a wild circle through nearby cornfields before careening out of town.
Some sort of second-hand six-passenger vehicle rolled up to Gibson's quaint home at 5:00, luring her off of the humid porch and into the front seat before winding toward the Corner Table Cafe.
"The six of 'em surrounded her in the back corner," said Violet the server. "She couldn't go nowhere if she'd wanted to."
It was unclear whether or not Gibson's companions were prior acquaintances, despite the inferences from the ringleaders that there was a relationship.
"They kept sayin' stuff making it sound like she was the old guy's mom, but that makes as much sense as men on Mars," Violet continued. "Evy couldn't be ten years older than his wife."
Snippets of conversation appeared to cover her distant past. She was shown several old photos and alternately lectured and grilled about them in menacing tones, according to the server.
"One of those goons was six and a half feet of muscle if he was an inch. She's eighty-three years old. They made her talk nearly the whole time. What nerve!"
More than two hours into the episode Gibson launched a glass of ice water at her captors, but eventually they wrested away a prized family photo from her and whisked her into the vehicle.
After dropping her off at home, she ran inside and closed the door behind her. The vehicle proceeded to drive in a wild circle through nearby cornfields before careening out of town.
All Will Yet Be Well
"Without the assistance of that Divine Being who ever attended him, I cannot succeed. With that assistance I cannot fail. Trusting in Him who can go with me and remain with you and be everywhere for good, let us confidently hope that all will yet be well." - Abraham Lincoln, in his farewell to Springfield to depart for Washington to take the Presidential office
This afternoon I had a fleeting thought of regret about something I'd done months ago that could come back to be hurtful in the future. When I read this paragraph above I was comforted, though. Destiny is written, almost always in warmer tones than my mind sometimes conjures up that it might be. In any event, "all will yet be well" by God's plan.
This afternoon I had a fleeting thought of regret about something I'd done months ago that could come back to be hurtful in the future. When I read this paragraph above I was comforted, though. Destiny is written, almost always in warmer tones than my mind sometimes conjures up that it might be. In any event, "all will yet be well" by God's plan.
Becoming Mr. Tomorrow
"You are constantly in a state of becoming. You become what you think." - Anonymous
Unfortunately I banged up a toe nail playing basketball the other day. These things take about 10 months to heal. I spent only a few minutes picturing the damaged nail, and then moved on to my plan for keeping it healthy until next year, and well beyond.
What we are today is often not as important as what we envision ourselves to be in the days ahead. Dwelling on our imperfections is a sure way to grow and perpetuate them.
Unfortunately I banged up a toe nail playing basketball the other day. These things take about 10 months to heal. I spent only a few minutes picturing the damaged nail, and then moved on to my plan for keeping it healthy until next year, and well beyond.
What we are today is often not as important as what we envision ourselves to be in the days ahead. Dwelling on our imperfections is a sure way to grow and perpetuate them.
Monday, July 8, 2013
One Man's Code
"Bring some, get some. You want love, bring it. You want peace, bring it. Be honest with others and with yourself. Aspire and inspire." - Ron Finley, creator of LA Green Grounds which grows produce in urban areas
Slice Of Homily Pie
"As we go forth into the world this week as lambs among wolves, let us center ourselves in Christ."
This paraphrase from Mass on Sunday translates for me into something like this. People and our own thoughts will work against us from time to time this week, probably daily. Let's endure those moments by centering our thoughts on the gifts that God has given us: Strength of mind to turn our thoughts in any direction of our choosing, from destructive ones to productive and peaceful ones. Strength of body to heal almost anything. Strength of time, which always brings brighter tomorrows to those willing to wait and work for them.
This paraphrase from Mass on Sunday translates for me into something like this. People and our own thoughts will work against us from time to time this week, probably daily. Let's endure those moments by centering our thoughts on the gifts that God has given us: Strength of mind to turn our thoughts in any direction of our choosing, from destructive ones to productive and peaceful ones. Strength of body to heal almost anything. Strength of time, which always brings brighter tomorrows to those willing to wait and work for them.
Massterful Thinking: The Week In Thanks
What better place to assess this week's many sources of thankfulness than during Mass at Epiphany Catholic Church?
So first off, the Life Teen band had all its members present, which is a toss-up for an 8 person troupe. The sound was full and rocking and the energy was high. Plus, the husband-wife band leaders are terrific and the magnetism of the young priest often draws a crowd of 1,000. I should also note that my musical experiences through the years have taught me how to appreciate a situation like this much more so then when I was younger, trading on my perfectionism and leadership cravings for simple happiness to be there in a more minor role as part of a terrific sound. The congregants are more vocally appreciative, and surprisingly so to me, than anywhere else I've performed too. Plus I like the dress code compared with my Catholic schooling days... shorts!
I already blogged about the national anthem performance, but here it's worthy to share thankfulness for the Cornbelters' organization's willingness to give us amateurs a chance, for pristine weather, for Dena's support, and for good health that day.
Good health was another theme for the week. Besides anthem day, the usual aches and pains of a fortysomething were mostly in remission this week: arch sprain, back & knee pain. Plus Dena's celebrating nearly a 30-pound weight loss due to Weight Watchers.
I'm grateful for Dena's tradeswoman instincts - this weekend she decided to caulk the bathtub.
The little gifts that give me opportunity to bring a smile to others' faces, like my voice and even my own smile.
On a holiday weekend in celebration of American rights, I'm especially glad for women's rights. At least two women friends of mine are in divorce proceedings, and the fact that they are not dogmatically shunned or abused in American society but given many freedoms, inside and outside of the divorce, is a blessing.
Always glad to have the old car and computer chugging along. The car just reached its 14th birthday last month. The computer about 5. So both are fairly ancient, resilient and fortunate for me.
I'm lucky that Avanti's is in this town. It's a moderate American legend, at least for those who've grown up near the area. It's cheap and delicious (to me), my favorite.
Thankful as ever for State Farm. Not only for bettter-than-Allstate rates on my property, but also for the funds they've pumped into this town and my financial accounts. The freedom of these last two months has been invigorating and the pursuit of my teacher's calling has been a dream.
For clean, endless supply of water in my own home. It would be a Third World extravagance.
Finally, for the Founding Fathers of our nation as well as for my and Dena's fathers. The patriots' daring sacrifice put their lives on the line in very uncertain environment, their Constitution was designed in brilliant and remarkably enduring fashion. And our own birth fathers paid their own price not only with contributions in armed service, but in raising and defending us in countless other ways to make us into the happily married couple that we are.
Until next week's Massward musings, may your face find the sun and the breeze in the right direction for you!
So first off, the Life Teen band had all its members present, which is a toss-up for an 8 person troupe. The sound was full and rocking and the energy was high. Plus, the husband-wife band leaders are terrific and the magnetism of the young priest often draws a crowd of 1,000. I should also note that my musical experiences through the years have taught me how to appreciate a situation like this much more so then when I was younger, trading on my perfectionism and leadership cravings for simple happiness to be there in a more minor role as part of a terrific sound. The congregants are more vocally appreciative, and surprisingly so to me, than anywhere else I've performed too. Plus I like the dress code compared with my Catholic schooling days... shorts!
I already blogged about the national anthem performance, but here it's worthy to share thankfulness for the Cornbelters' organization's willingness to give us amateurs a chance, for pristine weather, for Dena's support, and for good health that day.
Good health was another theme for the week. Besides anthem day, the usual aches and pains of a fortysomething were mostly in remission this week: arch sprain, back & knee pain. Plus Dena's celebrating nearly a 30-pound weight loss due to Weight Watchers.
I'm grateful for Dena's tradeswoman instincts - this weekend she decided to caulk the bathtub.
The little gifts that give me opportunity to bring a smile to others' faces, like my voice and even my own smile.
On a holiday weekend in celebration of American rights, I'm especially glad for women's rights. At least two women friends of mine are in divorce proceedings, and the fact that they are not dogmatically shunned or abused in American society but given many freedoms, inside and outside of the divorce, is a blessing.
Always glad to have the old car and computer chugging along. The car just reached its 14th birthday last month. The computer about 5. So both are fairly ancient, resilient and fortunate for me.
I'm lucky that Avanti's is in this town. It's a moderate American legend, at least for those who've grown up near the area. It's cheap and delicious (to me), my favorite.
Thankful as ever for State Farm. Not only for bettter-than-Allstate rates on my property, but also for the funds they've pumped into this town and my financial accounts. The freedom of these last two months has been invigorating and the pursuit of my teacher's calling has been a dream.
For clean, endless supply of water in my own home. It would be a Third World extravagance.
Finally, for the Founding Fathers of our nation as well as for my and Dena's fathers. The patriots' daring sacrifice put their lives on the line in very uncertain environment, their Constitution was designed in brilliant and remarkably enduring fashion. And our own birth fathers paid their own price not only with contributions in armed service, but in raising and defending us in countless other ways to make us into the happily married couple that we are.
Until next week's Massward musings, may your face find the sun and the breeze in the right direction for you!
Saturday, July 6, 2013
Faith And Fate
"It's really just a matter of faith. You'll either survive it, if the Lord is willing, or not. So there's nothing that you can do, and you just take it." - WWII American soldier
It's interesting how close the words "fate" and "faith" are in sound (they are derived from different Latin roots though: fatum meaning "to have spoken" vs. fides meaning "to trust"). Our faith in God is to trust our fate in God's hands. Whether that's on the beaches of Guadacanal in 1942, or in far lesser conflicts in our own circumstance.
It's interesting how close the words "fate" and "faith" are in sound (they are derived from different Latin roots though: fatum meaning "to have spoken" vs. fides meaning "to trust"). Our faith in God is to trust our fate in God's hands. Whether that's on the beaches of Guadacanal in 1942, or in far lesser conflicts in our own circumstance.
American Attitude, American Victory
"Attitudes are more important than facts." - Anonymous
I can only imagine the overwhelming facts that faced the soldiers that defended our country during World War II and other foreign wars.
Their attitude of resolve has benefited all Americans today immeasurably.
It's a great, patriotic weekend to give thanks to God and these men and women.
I can only imagine the overwhelming facts that faced the soldiers that defended our country during World War II and other foreign wars.
Their attitude of resolve has benefited all Americans today immeasurably.
It's a great, patriotic weekend to give thanks to God and these men and women.
What Kobe Posted When Howard Left
By Kelly Dwyer:
Minutes after it became official that Dwight Howard had agreed to sign with the Houston Rockets on Friday evening, Los Angeles Lakers All-Star Kobe Bryant reacted by posting this photo on his Instagram account:
The hashtags? "#vamos #juntos #lakercorazon #vino"
In light of a pretty rough year, I think we can all agree that Bryant and Pau Gasol's championship-winning relationship is pretty darn special. Sound, and classy move, Kobe.
(Of course, this is before Kobe downs a 12-pack and really starts firing stuff off on Twitter.)
Minutes after it became official that Dwight Howard had agreed to sign with the Houston Rockets on Friday evening, Los Angeles Lakers All-Star Kobe Bryant reacted by posting this photo on his Instagram account:
In light of a pretty rough year, I think we can all agree that Bryant and Pau Gasol's championship-winning relationship is pretty darn special. Sound, and classy move, Kobe.
(Of course, this is before Kobe downs a 12-pack and really starts firing stuff off on Twitter.)
Your Cardio Routine Is Making You Fat
By Jim Karas, Yahoo! Health:
Are you interested in gaining weight? If you are, perform cardiovascular exercise, and a lot of it.
Are you interested in losing weight? Then you should cut back on classic cardiovascular exercise.
Shun it, even. Abolish it. Throw out your treadmill or better yet, give it to someone you don’t like as cardio doesn’t work if your goal is long-term weight loss.
There truly is only one reason to exercise: To increase your metabolism in order to burn more calories 24 hours a day, seven days a week. What is the only style of exercise that accomplishes that goal?
Strength training. Increasing your metabolism through strength training is the key to successful, permanent weight loss.
Why? Because a classic diet coupled with cardiovascular exercise will result in weight loss, but it will come at a cost as 60% of the weight loss will be fat (that's good!) while the remaining 40% will come from muscle (that's really, really bad!).
To further complicate things, after the age of 20, the average person loses one-half to seven-tenths of a pound of muscle a year. That’s 5 to 7 pounds a decade.
As women approach menopause, the rate at which they lose muscle doubles, which is why so many women begin to gain weight right around that time of life.
After the age of 70, the average person loses 3 pounds of muscle—per year! And you wonder why some of our formerly lean celebrities blow up before our eyes. Did I hear William Shatner? Come on, did young Captain Kirk look like he had a weight problem?
Why is this weight gain happening? It's simple—muscle loss. When you lose muscle, your metabolism is destroyed.
You are also decimating your metabolism by dieting without exercise or dieting with cardio. Your successful weight loss formula is dieting plus strength training. Period.
Are you interested in gaining weight? If you are, perform cardiovascular exercise, and a lot of it.
Are you interested in losing weight? Then you should cut back on classic cardiovascular exercise.
Shun it, even. Abolish it. Throw out your treadmill or better yet, give it to someone you don’t like as cardio doesn’t work if your goal is long-term weight loss.
There truly is only one reason to exercise: To increase your metabolism in order to burn more calories 24 hours a day, seven days a week. What is the only style of exercise that accomplishes that goal?
Strength training. Increasing your metabolism through strength training is the key to successful, permanent weight loss.
Why? Because a classic diet coupled with cardiovascular exercise will result in weight loss, but it will come at a cost as 60% of the weight loss will be fat (that's good!) while the remaining 40% will come from muscle (that's really, really bad!).
Natural Muscle Loss After Age 20
You never want to lose lean muscle tissue. It's simple mathematics.- One pound of muscle burns six calories per pound per day.
- One pound of fat burns two calories per pound per day.
To further complicate things, after the age of 20, the average person loses one-half to seven-tenths of a pound of muscle a year. That’s 5 to 7 pounds a decade.
As women approach menopause, the rate at which they lose muscle doubles, which is why so many women begin to gain weight right around that time of life.
After the age of 70, the average person loses 3 pounds of muscle—per year! And you wonder why some of our formerly lean celebrities blow up before our eyes. Did I hear William Shatner? Come on, did young Captain Kirk look like he had a weight problem?
Why is this weight gain happening? It's simple—muscle loss. When you lose muscle, your metabolism is destroyed.
You are also decimating your metabolism by dieting without exercise or dieting with cardio. Your successful weight loss formula is dieting plus strength training. Period.
How Cardio (Negatively) Effects Your Body
In 2007, my book The Cardio-Free Diet was published and went on to become a New York Times best-seller. The original title of the book was CARDIO KILLS, and to this day I believe that was a far more effective representations of my opinion. That book represented a revolutionary, highly controversial approach to exercise, which continues to gain a huge following. I firmly believe that classic cardiovascular exercise is a total waste of your time because it has adverse effects on your body in the following ways:- Your Joints: An article about "boomeritis" in The New York Times reveals that the number two reason baby boomers visit their doctor is because of an exercise-related injury, most of which are attributable to the punishing nature of classic cardio.
- Your Posture: Do you really want the rounded shoulder, chin jutting alignment of a runner, stair stepper or spin fanatic?
- Your Immunity: Want to get sick and tired? Blast the life out of your immunity, which is what happens after 20 to 30 minutes of classic cardio. Why do you think so many marathon runners get sick post event or during training?
- Your Lungs: A brilliant article by Men's Health called “Dying Breaths” proved that while exercising in a heavily polluted area, such as Central Park or along Lake Shore Drive in Chicago (my hometown), you are gulping down gallons of toxic air. You might as well put your mouth over the exhaust of your car as that is the quality of what you are breathing. Just think of what those toxins are doing to your insides? How about the wrinkled, gray pallor of most runners’ faces. Ever wonder why?
- Your Shape: If you are shaped like a pear and do manage to lose a few pounds with cardio, what do you end up looking like? A smaller pear. This won’t get me out of bed and into the gym with gusto as cardio does nothing to change your body’s composition and often results in a big old muffin top from all the stress.
- Your Muscle: After 20 to 30 minutes, most classic, steady state cardiovascular exercise begins to chew up your precious, calorie-burning muscle. Shocking to realize that something you believed was the ultimate weight-loss tool ends up being the ultimate weight-gain tool because the moment you chew up that muscle, you are in a metabolic free fall.
Star-Spangled Fun
Last night I checked another item off the bucket list - sang solo the national anthem before a ball game, namely before a Normal Cornbelters semi-pro baseball game. I've sung the song in the shower and around the house a thousand times and always thought that it was a good fit for my voice.
I geared my day toward having a well-prepared voice for the 7:00 performance.
Drank a glass of water every hour. Scaled back on the usual dosage of starchy or salty foods, consumed no sugar, but did eat regular-sized meals throughout the day.
Ditched sunbathing even though it was a gorgeous day for it.
After my tutoring appointment ended at 2:00, knowing that I'd be largely idle of physical activity and risking a body cool-down over the next five hours, I hopped into a sweatsuit to stay regulated. Then a half hour prior to leaving for the stadium, I strolled outside in the sweatsuit to see if it would be too hot (which it was, I went with short-sleeves).
And of course, I rehearsed the song. Mindful not to overdo it and tire my voice, but I did walk around outdoors to simulate the environment during a couple of the practice runs. Played around with different break points to breathe, with different pitches, different ways of squeezing my diaphragm to get the most relaxed yet steady sound.
Earlier this week I had come across a "worry stone" - something that Mom gave me to help me sleep as a child, by rubbing my thumb over the smooth-worn surface of the quarter-sized flat rock. This one had the word "Courage" inscribed on it as well. And it actually did add some confidence to me, so that I was holding it in one hand while performing.
God gave me plenty of support too. The weather was ideal. A friend of mine happened to be standing near the field entrance to give me something to occupy my mind leading up to the kick-off moment.
Finally, I found myself behind home plate facing center field with a video camera in my face and a stadium of fans, ballplayers and umpires silently waiting for me to lead them, as my name was announced over the loudspeaker.
In short, it went great.
Dena recorded the moment on my phone, and the applause sounds surprisingly loud to me. It was cool to be able to do it as part of the 4th of July weekend for a little added emotional significance. The umpires thanked me, the Cornbelters manager shook my hand, a few fans complimented me on the walk back.
I have a feeling I'll be crossing this one off my bucket list a few more times in my life!
I geared my day toward having a well-prepared voice for the 7:00 performance.
Drank a glass of water every hour. Scaled back on the usual dosage of starchy or salty foods, consumed no sugar, but did eat regular-sized meals throughout the day.
Ditched sunbathing even though it was a gorgeous day for it.
After my tutoring appointment ended at 2:00, knowing that I'd be largely idle of physical activity and risking a body cool-down over the next five hours, I hopped into a sweatsuit to stay regulated. Then a half hour prior to leaving for the stadium, I strolled outside in the sweatsuit to see if it would be too hot (which it was, I went with short-sleeves).
And of course, I rehearsed the song. Mindful not to overdo it and tire my voice, but I did walk around outdoors to simulate the environment during a couple of the practice runs. Played around with different break points to breathe, with different pitches, different ways of squeezing my diaphragm to get the most relaxed yet steady sound.
Earlier this week I had come across a "worry stone" - something that Mom gave me to help me sleep as a child, by rubbing my thumb over the smooth-worn surface of the quarter-sized flat rock. This one had the word "Courage" inscribed on it as well. And it actually did add some confidence to me, so that I was holding it in one hand while performing.
God gave me plenty of support too. The weather was ideal. A friend of mine happened to be standing near the field entrance to give me something to occupy my mind leading up to the kick-off moment.
Finally, I found myself behind home plate facing center field with a video camera in my face and a stadium of fans, ballplayers and umpires silently waiting for me to lead them, as my name was announced over the loudspeaker.
In short, it went great.
Dena recorded the moment on my phone, and the applause sounds surprisingly loud to me. It was cool to be able to do it as part of the 4th of July weekend for a little added emotional significance. The umpires thanked me, the Cornbelters manager shook my hand, a few fans complimented me on the walk back.
I have a feeling I'll be crossing this one off my bucket list a few more times in my life!
Friday, July 5, 2013
The Power Of Appreciation
By Jon Gordon:
The Power of Appreciation
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For
years I searched for my 9th grade lacrosse coach, Tony Caiazza. Little
did I know I was simply spelling his name wrong and that’s why I
couldn’t find him. When Coach John Brubaker, a fellow writer and
speaker, found his information for me, I sent Tony this email.
His response:
I responded with this email.
Tony responded with an email that taught me the power of appreciation. He wrote:
After
reading Tony’s email, I realized how important it is to reach out to
those who made a difference in our lives and let them know. They need to
hear it more than we think and so do their families. This was an email I
received the other day from Tony’s wife.
I asked
Tony and Patti if I could share our story and correspondence with you.
They said yes because they, like me, realized that something very
special happened between us. The power of appreciation caused a ripple
effect that not only impacted Tony, me and our families but also those
who heard Tony’s daughter’s presentation. Our hope is that this ripple
effect will continue by inspiring you to thank someone who made a
difference in your life. By sharing the power of appreciation you will
create your own positive ripples in the lives, hearts and families of
those who need to hear your encouraging words.
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