Pedalin’ the TWiT
Just in from a nice long run in the Sprite (wishing for the new Super Sprite). This is the second “Coat Hanger” I’ve done recently on Long Pond
The length, in fact, exactly matched that of the excellent tech podcast that has long been an integral part of my every weekend: Windows Weekly #163 with Leo Laporte and Paul Thurrott, where I was tipped off about my new default browser (for the moment at least), Minefield.
Not uncommon in the southwest shadows of the lake, the first leg is partly missing due to connectivity issues. Actual length is more like 3 miles.
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In: Health & Fitness, Long Pond, Technology
Frisky Wind
Very frisky wind this afternoon. Lots of abs work!
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In: Health & Fitness, Long Pond
C.C.I.
You would have to be there…
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Sailing the Phantom
Listening to Leo Laporte and friends while lazy-sailing on a Sunday morning. Nice.
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Spiritual Sailing
Two or three years ago, an extra heavy wind blew over my beached Hobie Cat — even though it’s mast held no sail. The mast was damaged. I sold the boat.
Today, I am sailing again. Not the high-speed hull-flying thrill of solo sailing a hobie. This time it is a much tamer Phantom 14 I picked up for next to nothing off of Craig’s list. But somehow the endorphin rush and spiritual high are just the same. It’s been a long time, but I am once again One with Long Pond.
Long Pond Reservoir is now in Google Places
Houska Houska Barefoot*
Houska Houska
Opting to take the local alternative to the Bolder Boulder this year: the Houska Houska 5K. It was a good small local crowd. A nice alternative. I think I’ll alternate between this and Bolder Boulder in future years.
While this is was not a timed race, my blackberry stopwatch indicates that my extra weight certainly has slowed me down some!
The Vibram Five-Fingers continue to work out well. I doubt I’ll ever go back to track shoes. Today’s race included a good bit of dirt trails.
– Some Recent Race Results –
| Date | Event | Time | Pace/K | Pace/M | Weight (kg) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31-MAY-10 | Houska Houska 5K | 38:49 | 7.76 | 12.13 | 84.8 |
| 6-JUN-09 | Sunrise Stampede 10K | 1:13:01 PR | 7:18 | 11:46 | 83 |
| 31-MAY-09 | Bolder Boulder 10K | 1:15:11.56 | 7.51 | 12.07 | 83 |
| 9-AUG-08 | Human Race 5K | 35:49 | 07:09 | 11:27 | 83.00 |
| 22-NOV-07 | Turkey Trot 4MK | 47:23 | 07:21 | 11:46 | 82.10 |
| 18-AUG-06 | Valley5000 | 35:24 | 07:04 | 11:19 | n/a |
| 5-AUG-06 | HumanRace 5K | 34:50 | 06:58 | 11:08 | n/a |
| 6-AUG-05 | HumanRace 5K | 34:45 | 07:09 | 11:26 | n/a |
| 3-MAY-01 | Bolder Bolder 10K | 1:18:52 | 7.8 | 12.32 | n/a |
| 3-MAY-99 | Bolder Bolder 10K | 1:15:27 | 7.54 | 11.78 | n/a |
In: Health & Fitness, Uncategorized
R.I.P. Martin Gardner
Last Saturday, Martin Gardner past away. With books such as Fads & Fallacies, and his venerable monthly Mathematical Games column in Scientific American, Martin, probably more than any one other individual, helped me begin the long and painful journey away from my ultraconservative upbringing toward a more open-minded, rational existence.
A prolific writer right up until his last hour, Martin Gardner will always garner more shelf space on in my library than almost any other. R.I.P. Mr Gardner.
—
On a related note, this morning I had the somewhat voyeuristic opportunity to “listen in” on an Evolution vs. Creation debate currently festering within the church of my childhood. What a long distance I have travelled!
In: Religion, Science, Uncategorized
Famous Tumors
While looping the lake today I listened to “Famous Tumors” from RadioLab.
In this hour of Radiolab: an unflinching look at tumors. A close examination of these anatomical aberrations reveals surprising stories of evolution, immortality, and maybe…God? Say hello to the growth that killed Ulysses S. Grant, and get to know the woman whose cancer cells changed modern medicine.
Totally Tumors
In: Health & Fitness, Long Pond, Science
Dr Novella Rocks.
One of the challenges of trying to be scientific, and an honest intellectual, is that judgment is often required in assessing a claim or topic. The problem with relying upon one’s judgment is that it is fraught, even overwhelmed, with personal bias. The “default mode” of human behavior (which means most people do this most of the time) is to construct an elaborate rationalization for what we already believe, and want to believe. The more intelligent we are, the more sophisticated and elaborate our rationalizations – giving more confidence in our conclusions, but not necessarily deserved.
Read the full article. This is my new favorite of his posts.