Joe's Button Factory
Finished the Tough Mudder!
Tough Mudder New England tomorrow!
Shoes destined for the New England Tough Mudder!
[from a conversation on Facebook, my summed up thoughts on political correctness]
I probably land somewhere to the right of center. I very much support freedom of speech, regardless of whom (who?) it offends…as long as what you say is objective and is actually supported by logic. If someone offends me with their opinion, I am usually happy to agree to disagree…I don’t think I’ve ever had the urge to call a PC Foul.
What really pisses me off about the PC movement is when it denies our children the opportunity to learn about pride in themselves and in our country. The latest crusade of some school boards where everyone gets trophies for trying is a good example. If there is no true competition or sense of achievement then how can anyone feel proud of any accomplishment?
Or the pledge of allegiance…why is there even a freakin debat on this. Part of the devotion I have towards my country was fostered by standing up every morning in class and pledging to the flag. Nowadays that is a point of contention, one reason being the “under God” part. My teachers just told kids not to say those words if they did not want to…and left it at that.
I also get pissed when something deemed as being “PC” makes no freakin sense…like that stupid State Rep. who decided to call a Christmas tree a “Holiday” tree. WTF is with that?? So is he going to call a Menorah a “holiday candle stick”. Catholic or not, a tree with ornaments, presents underneath it, and a star or angel on top is a Christmas tree.
(Source: tumblrgym, via roaarshock)
It is not the critics who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better.
The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with the cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat.
”(via roaarshock)
Here is a routine I assembled to provide some variety after doing the circuit training recommended on the Tough Mudder site for a few months.
The workout:
Complete 3 times a week, 13 exercises, 2-4 minutes each exercise. Move through the work with as little rest as possible (in between and during each exercise).
Don’t do so much weight where you cannot get at least 20 reps in the interval, however use enough weight that makes you work (heavy breathing and sweat are good indicators!!)
I suggest a # of reps for each exercise to give you and idea. The hardest parts are forcing yourself to rest little, and picking the right weights.
- Push-ups (80+) - 3 minutes occasionally replace with dumbbell presses
- Bent-over lateral raises (25+) - 3 minutes
- Jump rope - 4 minutes (very good cardio if you can jump the entire 4 minutes nonstop (I can’t yet!)
- Pull-ups (as many as possible) - 2 minutes. If you can’t do one, build up the muscles with “negatives”. Jump up and grab the bar, then lower yourself as slow as possible, repeat.
- Lunges (20+) 2 minutes. Hold weights at your sides for added difficulty
- Dumbbell shoulder press (25+) - 3 minutes. Staggering pushes (left,right,left,right, etc.) requires more focus keeping your body straight!
- Dumbbell pull-overs (30+) - 3 minutes.
- Jump rope - 4 minutes. If you can, replace this with 4 minutes on a heavy bag to mix it up.
- Dumbbell flys (25+) - 3 minutes. Do these either on a flat bench, yoga ball, or inclined bench.
- Curls (25+) - 3 minutes. Hammer, preacher, whatever you want…
- Triceps extensions (25+) - 3 minutes. Cable, dumbbell over the head, whatever you want.
- Squats (25+) - 2 minutes. Hold a weight at your chest for added difficulty.
- Abs (as many as possible) - 3 minutes. Ab roller, leg lifts, crunches, whatever you want.
I try and run on the days I do not complete the circuit.
If you don’t like the order of things…change it!
If you have your own, please share as I’ll probably get bored with this one soon enough.
The court’s decision Monday to review Arizona’s controversial illegal immigration law was just the latest addition to what many see as its most important and politically charged docket in recent years.
The court also said late Friday that it would review a contentious redistricting situation in Texas, and perhaps most importantly, a few weeks ago it said it would examine President Obama’s health-care bill.
All three rulings, on their surface at least, favor Republicans, as the GOP had been seeking to get the high court to tackle those issues.
I really resent these articles that make it seem like the Court “shockingly” has relevance in an election year. Yes, its major cases may factor into the upcoming election, but the Court should always matter in elections, as the occupant of the White House has a tremendous opportunity to reshape the Court.
If you’re going to discuss the health care cases, the immigration case, and the redistricting case, you might as well make a huge note of the fact that Ruth Bader Ginsburg is 78 and a survivor of pancreatic cancer, while Antonin Scalia is 75 and smokes Marlboro Lights. One never knows what the next four years will bring with an equal and often overlooked branch of government.
Most people forget about the judicial branch…
Congressional Approval Rating: < 10%
Congressional Incumbent Retention Rate: > 90%
