IOWA

IOWA. YOU MAKE ME SMILE.

OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. I got this bumper sticker from our last trip to the state of Iowa in 1998, the year we got married. I have also lived in Iowa City in the early 80's.

Lunar New Year

Year of the Dragon will start on January 23rd, 2012

The 12 Pains of XMas- Bob Rivers

Weekend at Jesus'

Dedicated to Tim TeBlow AKA The White Mike Vick

50x50x50

So this past Saturday was the 365th consecutive days that I have ran at least 5K. One full year, 12 months straight, not missing a single day. I've ran roughly 96% outdoors on the roads, trails, and parks. The times that I ran indoors were mostly on the indoor track and treadmill at Bally's Total Fitness gym where I've been a member since 1998. I've ran in snow, sleet, rain, wind, hail, heat, humidity and even a couple of tornado warnings. I learned to love the summer heat here in Georgia, I actually enjoyed running in 95 degrees weather in the middle of July as I was training or practicing for the Peachtree Road Race 10K. I've learned to pace myself and limit my runs to around 3 to 4 miles range at a comfortable 9:30 pace. My longest run ever was 10 miles. This summer I was one of 14 people out of 14,000 members of the Atlanta Track Club who completed all 14 races of the Grand Prix Series and received a Bunny Award. My new goal is 50x50x50: Run for 50 minutes in all 50 states by the time I turn 50 years old. I have about 162 weeks left to do this. My first ever race was a One Mile Fun Run in Puerto Rico. It was the Ramey Fun Run held on the Ramey Air Force Base in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico 1979.

Pepper Spray Cop/ Know Your Meme

Pepper Spray Cop / Casually Pepper Spray Everything Cop | Know Your Meme

Buy Nothing Day 2011

Rock You Like A Herman Cain

Grinding It Out, One Mile at a Time

Whatever your reason, RUN!

MGBG Guide to Winter Barefoot Running

The Maple Grove Barefoot Guy: The MGBG Guide to Winter Barefoot Running: You are about to go where few of us have ever gone before.  You are not crazy.  Okay...yes, you are crazy. Snow was in the forecast a fe...

How to Run

Follow Your Bliss

"Follow your bliss. The heroic life is living the individual adventure. There is no security in following the call to adventure. Nothing is exciting if you know what the outcome is going to be. To refuse the call means stagnation. What you don’t experience positively you will experience negatively. You enter the forest at the darkest point, where there is no path. Where there is a way or path, it is someone else’s path. You are not on your own path. If you follow someone else’s way, you are not going to realize your potential." Joseph Campbell

The Iceman Cometh

(Terje Isungest-Norwegian ice musician) He'll be touring the USA in 2012.

Old Skool Hip Hop: Say it Loud-I'm Brown & I'm Proud

I don't listen to a lot of current rap or hip-hop or whatever crapola is playing on the radio nowadays, but this classic track from Boogie Down Productions (KRS-One) is still one of my favorites.

100 Facts

100 Facts

Klimchak

http://www.klimchakmusic.com/

Last night I went to see Klimchak performed at the Balzer Theater/ Theatrical Outfit in downtown Atlanta.  Here's a rundown of his playlist and some of my thoughts:

1. "To set the mood for the evening..."  Klimchak starts out at a large rustic home-built instrument upstage which consists of three 15' long PVC pipes ingeniously mounted on a see-saw device.  As soon as he plays it you can tell that these were jumbo Rain sticks specifically designed for sound effects at a theatrical performance (probably at Georgia Shakespeare.)  Klimchak continues to built more layers over the sounds with some kind of didgeridoo-like wind instrument as well as a traditional flute.

2. Next he moves on to the crowd-pleaser Marimba Lumina, (click on it for more info) which I have seen him performed many times over the last few years: outside at a park on the Atlanta Beltline and at indoor venues such as the EyeDrum space. "Country and Eastern" remains one of my favorite compositions.  It combines a catchy Chinese/Oriental melody on top of what sounds more like rock n roll than country rhythm. "The Pent" featuring some wild free jazz improv trumpet licks followed by a sort of "Scottish Jig ?" complete with the penny whistle. It's something you have to see live to appreciate how well Klimchak makes use of this electronic instrument. He plays with four percussion mallets, using both feet on pedals for drums, and then a mouth breath-controller on top of it all.

3. This was probably the first time a lot of people have seen the Theremin (click for more info) being played live.  Man, his skills on this wireless eerie electronic instrument have improved tremendously since the last time I've seen him. He could make that Theremin sing sweet expressive operatic sounds just by moving two hands.  Mesmerizing is the word I still think of whenever I see and hear Klimchak performs this instrument. Who knew that the Theremin could also be humorous?

4. "Sixteen Tons" his Afro-Cuban take on this coal miner folk/work song shows his confidence and ease playing around the acoustic drum set-up.  His vocal mic probably didn't need that much reverb, but hey that's just my opinion as an ex-sound guy.  This might be the only cover song that he does publicly.

5.  "Waterworks" worked wonderfully for its simplicity an beauty.  Just a mallet banging on some pot lids submerge in and out of a giant clear glass waterbowl. Added some Berimbau-like instrument played with a bow. The whole effect is very meditative and zen.

6.  A live dance accompaniment piece performed on a Magical Musical Desk with built-in instruments. "To Bring into Being" featuring Lori Teague from Emory University.

7. This is what I think is the essence of Klimchak: unique, imaginative, playful, incredibly inventive and creative in his approach to music. He said he did this "Tarzan on Acid" piece at an open-mic show about 3 years ago. It makes great use of the looper effect.  Starts out with a basic Tarzan yodel, loop or sample that, add some flute phrase, loop, add more instruments, various squeaky dog toys, mouth harp, more plastic toy instruments, everything plus the kitchen sink, plays the tambourine, do some more throat singing and scat singing. What is incredible is that he makes nothing seems out of place, this piece is seamless and effortless. The whole thing sounds so fun, modern, groovy and spontaneously organic. The audience can't help but get into it. I could watch and listen to it for hours.

8. "Knows No Brakes", a Rave Techno song done live without sequencer on the Marimba Lumina finished up the 2-hour performance.

Klimchak playing the Marimba Lumina at the Atlanta Beltline opening last year

Are we born to run?

Christopher McDougall: Are we born to run? | Video on TED.com

Funny Times

Comedy Time

Dat Phan, a funny guy, but that new DirectTV "The Whale" commercial is horrendous!

"Dat Phan, remember...He who laughs last, is surrounded by dead people."
Now that's comedy.

Born To Run Barefoot

Hey that should be the new title of this blog: Born To Run Barefoot.  Think someone will sue me?  Chris McDougal trademarked his book?
Today marks the 227 straight days of my current running streak.  Ran about 5 miles, with the last mile barefoot on the cement sidewalk on East West Connector.  This stretch of sidewalk is part of the Silver Comet trail Cumberland Connector, which will eventually connect the Silver Comet trail to Cumberland Mall and the Chattahoochee River.
If someone ever ask me why I run barefoot, these are some answers I have:

1. Times are tough, man!
2. Forgot my shoes at home.
3. Ran so fast that my shoes slipped out somewhere back there.
4. It's too frigging hot out here.
5. It's fun and feels wonderful.
6. Why the heck not?

The first & hopefully last ever Tosh.0 Treadmill Marathon

Tosh.0
Get More: Tosh.0 Videos,Daniel Tosh,Web Redemption

Another Sexist sport

Why aren't there any female riders in the Tour De France?
And, the whole thing really doesn't just take place in France, there are some legs outside of the country, right?  Sorry, cycling is another white elitist Yuppie sport like Golf that I just won't take up.  On that note, why are the Spelling Bee and Poker Tournaments shown on ESPN?  Are these even considered sports?

Brother West

Stay Classy my friends!

Or go back into the hole you crawled out of, Allen West- you ain't no Gentleman, bro.
"Family values, traditional values, Christian virtues, restoring decency"...anything else?

DWS stands for Debbie Wasserman Schultz

Mr. Imeldo Marcos

All the running shoes (& aqua socks, huaraches) in my closet at the moment:

Free Thinking

Savannah, Georgia

Reasons why I still love this city: it's mellow, rustic, mystical, unpretentious and quirky.  No matter how crowded it gets here on the weekends, I can  always find a quiet spot to sit and relax.  I watch people, read, listen, observe and just take in all the sights, sounds, and smells of this place.
I think what I really love most about Savannah is that it's pedestrian-friendly, I could walk around for hours like I did today and still not see everything there is.  I'm constantly discovering new buildings, churches, stores, restaurants and I've been coming here regularly since 1995.
The historic downtown district has changed a lot over the last few years with new construction of parking structures, restaurants, hotels, tourist attractions and everything connected with tourism. There are now way too many cars, tour buses, pedicabs, and bars. The architecture, the squares, the cobblestone streets, the churches, the old oak trees with Spanish moss, and the old houses are still abundant around here.  The locals here are polite, friendly, and talkative for the most part.  Even a homeless man said Good Morning to me when I ran past him early one day last week.

Update Minimalist Shoes

• Saucony Hattori- size 9.5
• Brooks Green Silence- 9
• Vivobarefoot Achilles M (running sandals)
• New Balance MT101 (trail) Size 9.5
• Altra Adam or Instinct (zero drop)
• Vivobarefoot Ultra M
• Brooks Mach 12 XC Spikeless- Size 9.5

Barefoot running, so easy, a caveman did it.

Tips for next year's Peachtree Road Race

1. Continue to park somewhere around Piedmont Park/ Midtown/ 10th St area (close to the finish line).  This year I found a metered space and parked for free, it's a holiday. The super secret spot was on Cypress Rd and 8th St, right by the Midtown MARTA station.  I've learned this after my first couple of years: at the end of the race when you're tired, you don't want to walk a mile and a half to get on a packed MARTA train and then ride another 15 minutes to get your car. So one year, I parked at the Arts Center station Kiss-n-Ride parking lot, another year I paid to park in the Woodruff Arts Center parking garage, still worth it.  This year I just drove around the 10th and West Peachtree St area looking for any free spaces. There were plenty at 5:30 AM. Then I simply walked one block over to the train station, paid $2.50 for a Breeze Card, and waited about 5 minutes for a Gold Line train heading North to the Lennox station in Buckhead. It took about 7 minutes.
2. Hydrate the days and nights before but not too much on the morning of the race.  This year I downed a couple of cups of water about an hour before the start. I read somewhere that it was a good idea to drink a cup right before you start the race. Well, I was about an hour early so had time to walk around, warm up, used the porta-potty. I felt bloated and heavy during the first couple of miles.  It was not a comfortable feeling. But the good thing was I didn't get overheated or thirsty for the last 4 miles. I took one cup of water to dunk on my head at the half way point.
3. Running through all the water sprays was a good idea, contrary to what many people may say about your socks getting wet and blisters.  Bah! Didn't happen. Water felt great!
4. Relax, listen, pay attention, smile, enjoy the experience.  It will go by amazingly fast.
5. Wave, high five the kids on the sidewalk.  Greet the spectators.  Cheer with them. Make a fool out of yourself. 6.2 miles of FREEDOM.
6. Stay away from those free T-shirts & frisbee throwers at Moe's, Williie's and others.  Grab free popsicles, coffees, juices, fruits, beers, yes BEER at around Mile 4. Try to run in the middle of the street if you can, I tend to straddle the double yellow lines whenever possible.
7. After being together for 20 years and being married for 14 years, maybe my wife will attempt to run her fist ever Peachtree Road Race with me next summer. It will be my 5th.
8. Wear my Statue of Liberty Green headpiece I got in New York City. Run Barefoot. Dress up as a caveman and wear a sign: "So Easy, a Caveman did it."

     9.  Thank the volunteers, the police people, and the Atlanta Track Club workers.

Make and carry this sign: Slow Runners

The Real National Anthem

At least for me:

America the Beautiful

Words by Katharine Lee Bates,
Melody by Samuel Ward

O Beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

The Ray Charles' Version

Peachtree Road Race

Some of these runners are way too serious. They take themselves too seriously about this upcoming Peachtree Road Race, the world's largest 6.2 mile race.  Except for the few hundreds elites and seeded runners starting at the front, the rest of the field of 60,000 participants will have absolutely no shot of winning anything.  There is more to life than winning a competition, someone said that somewhere, maybe Gandhi. There are just too damn many people around you to even try for a fast 10K time. Not gonna happen.
Now this is going to be my 4th Peachtree, my first one was in 2001, and I've ran the last two years in a row. My top priority will be to enjoy myself, enjoy the company, the atmosphere, and mostly the event itself as a celebration, a six-mile long non-stop party on the Fourth of July. That's all, no more no less. Not hoping for a PR, or win my age-group or anything silly like that.  Maybe next year my goal will change to run my age: 47 minutes.  But this time I think I'll keep it simple, short and sweet: Celebrate fitness, Have fun running in the middle of Peachtree Road. Enjoy the Experience.

Hello New York!

Of course it's ART

My kind of art

....DDDDDDrrrrrop!

This is quickly becoming my favorite Beastie Boys song: "In a World Gone Mad"

Competition

"It's very hard in the beginning to understand that the whole idea is not to beat the other runners." Dr. George Sheehan

Mind Gone Mad Mashup

Mashup of 2 of my favorite bands: Pixies and Beastie Boys

Finally...

....with 7 business days to spare. My 4th Peachtree 10K.

The Barefoot Running Book

The Barefoot Running Book 2nd Edition is available for download for FREE at:
http://www.mediafire.com/?mvlk66bp7i5lh7a
I already bought the first edition for the Kindle and iPad a few weeks back (for only $2.99).
The Barefoot Running Book: A practical Guide to Learning the art and Science of Barefoot and Minimalist shoe running by Jason Robillard.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution/ Atlanta Track Club Peachtree Road Race 10K is in 2 weeks. It's a race for the few hundreds of elite runners and maybe several thousands of serious running snobs. But really for the rest of us (55,000+) casual runners/ joggers/ exercise enthusiasts/ recreational athletes/ weekend warriors/ walkers, it is a giant enormous big 'ol glorified Group Run.  As in one 6 mile long party/ celebration/ cheering fans/ water firehose spraying/ bands playing/ people watching/ costume wearing/ beer drinking/ walkers puffing huffing/ cellphone talking/ picture taking spectacle. I caught the running bug after finishing the 2009 Peachtree, and started running regularly after that.  This year's race will be my 4th P'tree Road Race.
Even if I'm not running, who knows?  (I'm still waiting for my number in the mail, we moved recently and the ATC won't send it to our new address, so have to depend on the US Postal Service)  I will still be celebrating my 2nd anniversary of running. Road running, as in outdoor street running, trails running, racing 5K occasionally. Today marks the 193 straight days of running for me. My last rest day was December 10, 2010. For almost 7 months, I have not missed a single day.
My goal remains the same: to run every day.  I keep it simple, no training plan, no strict formal regimented program.  I pace myself accordingly, slow down when I get tired or strained, speed up if I feel better, and maintain the same pace if I feel good. Running should be pleasurable, enjoyable, and manageable.  It should not be a chore or a job that you got to do.  I wake up every day looking forward to going out for a run, I make time do go run for at least a mile.  That first mile is always the toughest, it gets easier after the first 10 minutes.  I usually stop after about 30 minutes or 3.1 miles on most days.  Lately, I've been doing about 4 miles minimum but slowed down my pace slightly because of the summer heat and humidity. It's just harder to breathe.

The South

Neal Boortz: “ We Got Too Damn Many Urban Thugs, Yo ... We Need More Dead Thugs“ In Atlanta

Racism.  Talk Radio. Atlanta.  Thugs.  Hillbillies Rednecks.

Neal Boortz: lawyer, talk show host, newspaper columnist or comedian who tells racist jokes?

I was just wondering what happened to his little Saturday anti-Obama rant in the Atlanta-Journal Constitution paper this past week. It wasn't there.  It seemed that the loud "Mouth of the South" just revealed a little too much of his racist self and went off about gunning down thugs (code for blacks) in Atlanta.  Man, the Republican candidate Herman Cain's meeting with Boortz is going to be awkward.

Happy Monday

Weird Al Yankovic's latest: "Perform This Way"  'cause everyday is Halloween for me...

Fathers' Day - Dia de los Padres

"My father had a profound influence on me.  He was a lunatic."  Spike Milligan

"Dad always thought Laughter was the best medicine, which I guess is why several of us died of tuberculosis."  Deep Thoughts by Jack Handey

"Don't be so humble.  You're not that great."

Laugh o' the Day

Classic "Weird Al" Yankovic:  Smells Like Nirvana

Thoughts on Washington DC

My tips for living in DC:

1)  Pay attention.
2)  Be patient
3)  Wear comfortable walking shoes

Washington DC, our nation's capital is a dump. It has that trifecta: crowded, dirty and ugly.  Not to mention boring, soulless, unfriendly and confusing as heck to drive.  I've been here for 3 days now and have been walking a lot to get around the city.  There were lots of tourists around the National Mall area. The Reflecting Pool is empty right now, being rehabilitated or something.  These Smithsonian museums are all free. I was especially impressed with the Hirshhorn Museum, they had lots of sculptures by my favorite modern artists: David Smith, Henry Moore, Jean Arp,and Brancusi. Also loved the National Gallery, Freer, Air & Space, and Natural History Museum.
The Metro is the only other  saving grace as it runs pretty smoothly and efficiently underground.  I was able to get around using the Metro one-day pass. The trains were fast, on time and it seems like there was one coming every 5 minutes.  You could get to most places using the transfer stations.

DC= Dumpy City, everyone is always so stressed, so full of fear, tension, anger, frustration and anxiety.  You couldn't pay me enough to live and work in this city.  DuPont Circle, the supposedly hip, cool and trendy neighborhood AKA Gayborhood is pretentious, overcrowded, overrated and expensive. We're staying at Thomas Circle, the closest Metro is McPherson Square, basically smack dab in the middle of DC. I've been running down Vermont or 14th St to get to the National Mall where at least I can run on the grassy and gravel area without stopping and waiting for the lights to change at every block.

I Want You

Barefoot Running Video

An Art Education

Guess who's the token Asian person?

Atlanta Track Club 3000M

My first race on a high school track since......1982, Hoover High in San Diego, California.
ATC's 3000M Track & Field Classic. This was at Westlake High School in Atlanta.

unofficial 3K Time= 14:10

Funny Sign

I should put this sign in my Art Room at school.

A regular Einstein

 Einstein Quote of the Day:

"Give up the idea of a personal God in favor of cultivating the Good, the True, and the Beautiful in humanity itself"


Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school. ~Albert Einstein

Heaven

kd Lang & the Siss Boom Bang performs Talking Head's "Heaven"

This Rapture Thing

I'm kinda hoping that "The Rapture" would really happen tomorrow.

Imagine how light the traffic would be on Monday morning.  And Work, man, nobody at my school will be there. It's gonna be one helluva nice party every day.  But really I've been enjoying some funny writings in the blogs and music on the radio about this Apocalypse, Armageddon, End Times, Doomsday, Judgment Day, End of the World as we know it. People really just got to lighten up.

Minimalist Running Sandal

From RunBranca.com

Mission "finally" Accomplished!

Now let's go home.
Moral of the story:
President Obama is one badass MoFo. Do not eff with him.  I mean the Republicans.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump is requesting to see the Death Certificate...

Osama, Obama, or Yo Mama
Don't matter who it is to me.
I'm going to continue to live my life,
With Kindness, Compassion,
And a healthy dose of humor.

Technology

News Flash

This just in:
Obama defeated the Birthers and Teabaggers, again, with the release of his long-form birth certificate. Just get over it. You lost,Republicans.  Learn to handle the truth like grown-ups do. Wait......

Trump: Been Wrong, Is Wrong, Always Wrong.
That should be his 2012 campaign slogan.

2012 End o' the World?

Happy Zombie Day AKA Easter!
Welcome back Jesus.

Big Mike Breaks the Deficit Down

Overachieving

Two words:  Unrealistic Expectations.

Shame on you Georgia regarding the Anti-Immigration law.  As it has always been, the problem is the big businesses and the people who hire the workers.  They are the real criminals who are getting away with it. Just like the big 'ol giant corporations who paid no taxes and had record profits this year.  GE anyone?  Why do Republicans hate the middle-class, the poor, the elderly, the young and the foreigners so much?  It's a serious and sincere question.

George Carlin said it best, and this had me chuckling all day yesterday.
It took a lot restraint for me to not post it on facebook on Good Friday.
"I wouldn't want to be a member of a group whose symbol is a guy nailed to the cross."

Anyway, Happy Easter tomorrow, if you celebrate that sort of thing. As for us heathens, we celebrate life every day. I especially celebrate Reality, Science, Arts, Kindness and Decency in People and Animals.

Aging

I've been alive through 6 decades. Six! The 60's, 70's, 80's, 90's, 00's, and 10's. Somehow I don't feel that old.  Age ain't nothing but a number anyway.  Actually I'm in better shape now at 46 than when I was 26.

One Nation, Underdog

Canada is looking better every day, doesn't it?

Doctors practice Medicine, Lawyers practice Law, Artisans practice their Craft, I practice Running. Every single day, the streak continues: today marks the 130th consecutive day of running at least 5K a day.  I feel grateful and lucky that I've been able to accomplish it so far.  My previous streak of running was 8 days in a row. I am not training for anything.  My goal is to NOT ever run a half-marathon, full marathon, triathlon, ultra races, or Ironman so I can prove that I'm a badass.  I run to find peace, to create a sense of euphoria, instead of racing against myself or others.  As Gandhi once said: "There's more to life than increasing its speed."

Trump rhymes with Dump.  What a Nincompoop!
"Trump" is how you spell moron.
Trump/Palin '12.  Yeah, Let's go!  LET'S ROLL.

Elevated, Imminent, or Just Kidding.

New Zero Drop minimalist shoes

Saucony  Hattori 

Cobb County

Current slogan:  Expect The Best

New proposed slogan:

• Expect The Stress
• Expect the BS
• Let's Be Realistic Here!
• Do More (With Less)

Budget Cuts

Tax the Rich more.  I don't have a problem with that at all.

Say, Mister O, please return your Nobel Peace Prize immediately, as you're currently fighting 3 wars.
You are also the worst negotiator ever.  Although it looks like you finally found your cojones when you gave the speech this week.

Someone needs to get a sense of humor.
Dear Mr. Neal Boortz, are you reading this blog?  If so, please leave a comment.  It seems like every Saturday's edition of the Atlanta-Journal Constitution he writes about the exact thing that I was writing in my blog the previous week.  I don't know, it could just be coincidental.

Teachers, FaceBook and Such.

What I do on my own time outside of school is my business.
Period. End of sentence.

What's my size?  Extra Medium.

Birthers & Teabaggers

Hey Donnie Trump, ya know who wasn't born in the U.S?
Mister Johnny McCain, that's who.
Donald, you're fired!

To Run or Not to run

Upcoming races: ( Atlanta Track Club's Grand Prix Series)

• April 9, 7:30 AM, ATC Spring Has Sprung 8K, Inman Park
• April 30, Jonquil City Jog 5K, Smyrna (probably pace my wife for her 2nd 5K race)
• June 4, ATC Track Classic 3K, * Westlake High School *
• June 18, ATC Father's Day 4M Run, Turner Field
• July 4, AJC Peachtree Road Race 10K, Buckhead
• July 16, Decatur-Dekalb YMCA 4 Mile, Decatur
• August 6, Atlanta's Finest 5K, Centennial Olympic Park
• August 13, ATC Grand Finale 5K, * Chastain Park * 

Run Wild 5K

 Kathy and I at the finish of last weekend's Publix Run Wild 5K  at Zoo Atlanta. (Kathy's first ever 5K race)

The Little East

WhoConn from the Big Least will be playing my team San Diego State Aztecs for the first berth in Elite Eight tomorrow night at 7:15 PM Eastern.
Final Score prediction: SDSU 67- UConn 59.  You saw it here first.

I am I am I am SuperMoon...

• Got a hand-written birthday card from my Congresswoman today.  A little creepy, stalky or flattering? Only met her one time when she went door to door canvasing before the election last year.
• "You look wayyyy better on facebook."- as seen on a T-shirt at Rev Coffee. Not me, what you see is what you get. Personally, I think I look worse on facebook.  I'm not that photogenic, although the wife says I'm vain. 
• Tomorrow will be day #99 of the streak.  Running at least 5K every day since December 11, 2010.
• I still have NO desire or need to run a marathon.  I know that I can do it, but why do I have to enter a race just so I can prove it to thousands of total strangers?
• March Madness began last night. 16 games. Sixteen more games tonight on CBS, TNT, TBS, and TruTV ? This year my team is the San Diego State Aztecs. Just because I lived there in the early 80's, graduated high school, and came back after college in the early 90's, did a season of "Temple of Boom" at KCR-Radio, San Diego State University's radio station.  Other than that, I don't really know why I root for them. 

I'm Winning!

Welcome to America.

Abort the Supreme Court. 
Regarding today's decision by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Charlie Sheen or Mike Huckabee, which one is nuttier?  Hard to tell.

Breakfast for dinner tonight because I didn't eat lunch.  French toasts and scrambled eggs never tasted so good.  The streak continues-Consecutive days of running at least 5K a day:  82 days.

Run for your life

74 Consecutive days of running at least 5K a day.  Since December 11, 2010

Madison, Wisconsin

Love this city.  I can't believe that it's almost 20 years since the last time I was there. Time really flies by the older you get. I spent two summers in Spring Green, Wisconsin working for American Players Theatre and on the weekends I would go into Madison, about 35 minutes drive.  My father went to grad school at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the 70's.
This week's events brought back some awesome memories of my time strolling around the campus of UW, the city's 5 lakes and the State Street downtown area, of sitting at cafes drinking coffee, reading zines in bookstores, and perusing music stores when they still had records and cassette tapes. Grunge scene had just started in Seattle and the Pacific Northwest. I volunteered at WORT-FM radio station, and did a couple of late night shows subbing for some regular DJ. The music director, Michelle, later went on to work at KPFA in Berkeley I think. Madison had this cool, hip progressive liberal vibe very much like my other favorite US cities: Santa Cruz, Portland, Burlington and Asheville.
My kind of towns:

1. Portland, Oregon
2. Portland, Maine
3. Santa Cruz, California
4. Burlington, Vermont
5. Madison, Wisconsin
6. Asheville, North Carolina 

( Yes, I have been to all of these cities) 

Saw this sign at the protest:  "Tea Parties are still for little girls. Grow up!"

Wing Nuts

Apparently the adults are not in charge around the state of Wisconsin and Cobb County, Georgia. Like I said before, you reap what you sow.  You people elected those fools, and now you complain the loudest.  Accept your mistake, embrace it and move on already.

"Whenever you find that you are on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect." -Mark Twain

Running Shoes collection

The current running shoe rotation:

L to R:
Brooks Ghost, Saucony Pro Grid Triumph 5, Brooks Launch, Mizuno Wave Ronin 2, Brooks Mach 11, K-Swiss K-Ruuz, and Brooks T6 racing flats.

How to write a love song

The Axis of Awesome

The Axis of Awesome: How to Write a Love Song - watch more funny videos

Valentine's Love songs

1. "Cactus"- Pixies
2. "Fade into You" - Mazzy Star
3. "Creep"- Radiohead
4. "Sometimes Always"- Jesus and Mary Chain
5. "Joey" - Concrete Blonde
6. "Fever"  Peggy Lee
7. "Fly Me to the Moon" - Frank Sinatra
8. "Love will tear us apart"  - Joy Division

I run because I like it

"The Song of the Ungirt Runners"
by Charles Hamilton Sorley

We swing ungirded hips,
And lightened are our eyes,
The rain is on our lips,
We do not run for prize.
We know not whom we trust
Nor whitherward we fare,
But we run because we must
Through the great wide air.
The waters of the seas
Are troubled as by storm.
The tempest strips the trees
And does not leave them warm.
Does the tearing tempest pause?
Do the tree-tops ask it why?
So we run without a cause
'Neath the big bare sky.
The rain is on our lips,
We do not run for prize.
But the storm the water whips
And the wave howls to the skies.
The winds arise and strike it 
And scatter it like sand,
And we run because we like it
Through the broad bright land.

News Flash

Rush Limbaugh is STILL a big fat idiot.  He's a freaking racist too.

On a completely different note: 
... excerpt from an art teacher digest forum:


" As an art teacher, it is certainly appropriate to be an advocate for our own discipline and choice in life... While I want to help them understand the pros and cons of being an artist, I am also believe it is crucial to have real passion for what they decide to do. 
Creative art experimentation and discovery learning in art does offer a lot of mind building advantages needed in science. While you can be a good lab assistant in science by being a smart and careful technician, real scientists have to have strong divergent thinking abilities. Without creativity and innovation, they are doomed to be technicians who wash the test tubes and clean up behind the actual scientists. In many labs, the actual scientists are doing the thinking while the assistants are doing all the work.

A scientist at MIT tells me that his grad students are very smart and technically capable, but when they get an unexpected result, they are slow in their ability of figure out what they have discovered. He says their greatest need is to become more creative. A scientist at Rice U. tells me that when her grad students get unexpected results they mistakenly assume that they have made a mistake, so they repeat the lab work only to get the same unexpected result (wasting years of work). She says their science classes in high school and college have not given them practice in making discoveries. They have learned to be careful to avoid mistakes, but not how to learn from mistakes. They lack the imagination and creativity to see their own discoveries when they happen. She says they waste time and energy because they have not learned to actually experiment. Their science classes assigned them lab work where they already knew the answers before they did the lab work. 
It is easy to be critical of science education, but did these science students have enough art teachers that challenged them to be creative, or did their art teachers also show them the examples before they did the project? Did their art teachers require them to learn to observe and express their own experiences, observations, and imaginations; or did their art teachers allow them to copy?"
Marvin Bartel, art educator writer and artist (retired art teacher)

How to be Happy

Peachtree City 5K

Atlanta Track Club Peachtree City 5K Race.  24:56     Temp: 26 degrees



One of the secrets of life is knowing when to stop and say enough is enough. More is not better, bigger and faster are not necessarily better for you. Many runners, myself included in the past, tried to do too much, too fast and too soon.


I find that I'm most comfortable running at around 9:30 per mile pace.  My best runs are usually without the MP3 or music.  I get in a zone or a groove after about 3 miles and just go into that auto-pilot mode.

Good night and Good luck, Keith Olbermann

• World's Worst Person Lifetime Achievement Award= MSNBC for letting KO go.
• 43 consecutive days of running at least 3 miles/day. The streak continues.
• They called me "The Weatherman".

Repeal This!

The Party of No is hard at work again, wasting everybody's time and effort by voting to repeal Health Care Bill.  They hate America and don't care about the middle class.  But guess what, they are not willing to give up their own government health care that they're currently getting.  Yeah, repeal this, bunch o' bozos.   I got your repeal right here, hypocrites.

Clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose.  Watched one of the last three episodes of the final season of Friday Night Lights tonight.  There was no football game at the end and I was surprised I didn't miss it.  I always tell my wife when we were watching this show together in the past to wake me up for the last 5 minutes so I didn't miss the football action. But this time watching it alone, I paid more attention to the music, the dialogue, the pauses, the story line and the cinematography.  The show brilliantly captured the small town feel of an enormous place like Texas.  If you have ever been to Texas or have lived in Texas like I have (Houston and Dallas) then you know what I mean. And it really isn't about high school football. I used to think it was cheesy and sentimental.  Now I think it's one of most well done shows on TV, but I'm no expert.

Running in Snow & Ice

These are the shoes I ran in every day this week. The Atlanta metro area was blanketed with up to 6 inches of snow in some places.  Schools were closed for the entire week, most people couldn't even get out of their driveways. Roads and sidewalks were covered in solid sheets of ice for 3,4 consecutive days.  I ran every single day, the streak is still on.  I managed to run at a park across the streets from our house several times. The first day right after it snowed, I ran in the middle of the roads on Monday Rush hour, there were no traffic, of course.  One day I went to Silver Comet trail, ran on the snow for a couple of hours.  The ground was still covered with ice and several inches of packed snow, but I took it easy and stay under control wearing these shoes with sheet metal screws into the treads.  They worked great and I think I will keep them on and use them for running on the trails at the Chattahoochee River later on. I forced myself to run every single day despite the facts that the roads and sidewalks were frozen solid with a couple inches of snow and ice.  The important points were traction, speed and proper form.  I try to land midfoot, under my center of gravity and stay relaxed throughout by bending the knees and focus on each step.  It was invigorating, frightening, fun, and challenging all at the same time.

Home-made Cross-Country trail snow running shoes, using 3/8 inch sheet metal screws

running on the Silver Comet trail with about 4 inches of packed snow on the ground

Upcoming Races

• January 22, ATC Peachtree City 5K, Peachtree City
• February 12, ATC Hearts and Soles 5K, Decatur
• February 20, Locomotive Thunder 5K, Kennesaw
• March 5, Chattahoochee Road Runners 5K, Sandy Springs
• March 12, Silver Comet 10K, Mableton
• March 19, Publix Run Wild 5K, Grant Park
• April 9, ATC Spring has Sprung 8K, Buckhead
• April 30, Jonquil City Jog 5K, Smyrna

Gun Control

$5000 Bullet.  Too Soon?

Welcome to Georgia

Y'all

Bill Maher on CNN

"Guns are not great and we do not need more of them."
 One of a few times I can watch CNN is when Bill Maher or Michael Moore is on as a guest.

“America put the crazy people who got us into this mess back in charge"   Bill Maher

* Metro Atlanta's population is about 5 million people.  There are currently 8 snowplows.  Tell me again why we need SMALL government?  I haven't heard a peep from the tea baggers or anti-government folks during this Snowstorm that Startled and Stunned Southerners.

Future Running Shoes

1. Brooks Green Silence
2. Altra Instinct
3. Mizuno Wave Universe 3
4. Merrell Barefoot Trail Glove
5. New Balance MT101 
6. Salomon XR CrossMax Neutral
7. Vibram FiveFingers Bikila or Speed

Special Comment

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

No Guns Allowed Here

Sarah Palin, you got blood on your hands.
In honor of those who died today in Arizona, we now have to pass the Health Care Bill.

Note to Self

• This Halloween I'll be dressing up as Juan Willams.
• Bring on the cold weather and SNOW. I love running in the snow: so quiet, peaceful and relaxing.
• While Boehner was reading the Constitution today I yelled out:  You lie!  According to the 18th Amendment to the US Constitution, I've violated it every day this week.
• You can do one thing well, or do everything poorly.
• 5K a day keep the doctor away.  I've been running every day for the past 27 days, at least 3.1 miles (5K) a day.  One of my goals this year is to run 3 miles a day, outside, inside, gym, treadmill, Wii, mall, track, school, trails, park, wherever.
• People read and listen to Neal Boortz?  Why?  I guess I read his column because it's right there on the back page of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution every Saturday, but also because I like nonsense.
• Re: Neal Boortz-  Obama=bad community organizer, You=smart know-it-all 'ol country lawyer talk show host who thinks he's funny, Us=fools who believe everything we see or hear.  Anything else you got?

Who you calling illegal, gringo?

Resolutions (Updated)

1. Refuse to Grow Up 
2. B E   C L E A R
3. Enjoy running at least 3 miles every day
4. Simplify
5. Balance play, work, rest
6. Do art, music and sports
7. Find Humor in everything & everyone everywhere.
8. Embrace Life 
9. Do not ever take myself too seriously