Restarting the clock today...with a cumulative mileage of 16.5 miles
Why the reboot? Well, it's the first time that I started using the IMapMyRun app since going plant strong. Moving to a vegan diet has resulted in a weight loss of around 20 lbs. so far and that's making a huge difference in my running. First off, a 10-minute mile is now well within reach and I feel that I don't have to struggle any more. And perhaps, because, it takes less effort to get to a mile, I can run further than my usual 2-3 miles. For about 2 weeks now, I have been, on each occasion, chalking up 5 miles and ending the runs with energy left to run farther, if I wanted to. This feedback from the body is unusual and unexpected for me because I am not getting any younger with each day.
To see the band of sycophants - Amitabh Bachchan, Pranab Mukherjee, and Lata Mangeskar -- sing the praises of Bal Thackeray is really a low point in the history of Bombay. Bal Thackeray was a hoodlum and a criminal for instigating the riots against innocent dwellers of Bombay and for encouraging violence against non-Maharastrians. He was a self-confessed fan of Hitler and his own actions certainly proved that he was a fascist. Love takes years and generations to take a foothold in the hearts of people -- intolerance can whisk away that feeling with one incident of insensitivity and violence. Thackeray was a low life who held people hostage by exploiting the darkest of their animal instincts. We only hope that with his departure, intelligent people will reflect on the destruction that he wreaked on one of the greatest and most diverse cities of the world, Bombay and say "never again." That thought is regrettably lost on the obsequious Mr. Bachchan.
Two articles that I stumbled into the other day:
Peace...and here's to the turkeys that gave the chopping block a slip on another Turkey Holocaust Day - November 22, 2012.
Friday, November 23, 2012
Sunday, April 01, 2012
Runner's Heights:Two Peas in a Podcast
Cumulate mileage: 25.2 (closing in on a cumulative marathon)
Resumed running after nearly five weeks following a bout of a nasty cold and a nagging calf sprain sustained during a racquetball ball. During these last five weeks, I delved into a lot of resources on injury-free running and came to the leitmotif of runner's injury-free mantra, yoga and flexibility. Every time that I read a book on yoga, I discover a new dimension to an ailment that I am having as a runner and this time it was the knee. I discovered that tight hamstrings can cause soreness in the knees. Over the last four weeks or so, I have observed a simple regimen of stretched my tourniquet-tight hamstrings and have obtained a degree of relief in my back and my buttocks. In addition, I have doing some knee and calf stretches and I have stayed injury free so far.
Two shocking and apparently race-related deaths happened in the February-March period of 2012 in two locations in the East and West coasts of the U.S. On Feb. 26, 2012 Trayvon Martin, an African-American, was shot and killed by a community-watch coordinator in Sanford, Florida and Martin's race is considered a factor in the fatal shooting. On March 21, 2012, Shaima Alawadi, a Muslim woman, was beaten to death in her home in El Cajon, California, and the murder apparently left a note, implying that it was a hate crime. Hate crimes are not uncommon in the U.S., a nation that has a chequered history in race relations. But, judging by the groundswell of protests relating to the killing of Trayvon Martin and a much sparser reaction to the Alawadi murder, it seems that their is an agenda-setting within hate crimes.
Martin's death has galvanized the nation and rightfully so. Even President Obama chimed in with his condolences adding to the voices of myriads of senators and public officials who excoriated the crime. But Alawadi's death was news for less than a week and except for some independent news sources, the media seems to have deserted Alawadi's cause. President Obama dare not commiserate with the Alawadi family lest he be labelled a Muslim in an election year. The dominant voice of the nation seems to send a message that the killing of an innocent black man is more important than that of an American Muslim. In a nearly a decade of atrocities against innocent Muslims in the U.S., following the events of 9/11 and the illegal invasion of Iraq in 2003, the leaders of the protests who cry and lament the death of Trayvon Martin should also acknowledge, in equal measure, the tragedy that has befallen the Alawadi family due to a hate crime.
Resumed running after nearly five weeks following a bout of a nasty cold and a nagging calf sprain sustained during a racquetball ball. During these last five weeks, I delved into a lot of resources on injury-free running and came to the leitmotif of runner's injury-free mantra, yoga and flexibility. Every time that I read a book on yoga, I discover a new dimension to an ailment that I am having as a runner and this time it was the knee. I discovered that tight hamstrings can cause soreness in the knees. Over the last four weeks or so, I have observed a simple regimen of stretched my tourniquet-tight hamstrings and have obtained a degree of relief in my back and my buttocks. In addition, I have doing some knee and calf stretches and I have stayed injury free so far.
Two shocking and apparently race-related deaths happened in the February-March period of 2012 in two locations in the East and West coasts of the U.S. On Feb. 26, 2012 Trayvon Martin, an African-American, was shot and killed by a community-watch coordinator in Sanford, Florida and Martin's race is considered a factor in the fatal shooting. On March 21, 2012, Shaima Alawadi, a Muslim woman, was beaten to death in her home in El Cajon, California, and the murder apparently left a note, implying that it was a hate crime. Hate crimes are not uncommon in the U.S., a nation that has a chequered history in race relations. But, judging by the groundswell of protests relating to the killing of Trayvon Martin and a much sparser reaction to the Alawadi murder, it seems that their is an agenda-setting within hate crimes.
Martin's death has galvanized the nation and rightfully so. Even President Obama chimed in with his condolences adding to the voices of myriads of senators and public officials who excoriated the crime. But Alawadi's death was news for less than a week and except for some independent news sources, the media seems to have deserted Alawadi's cause. President Obama dare not commiserate with the Alawadi family lest he be labelled a Muslim in an election year. The dominant voice of the nation seems to send a message that the killing of an innocent black man is more important than that of an American Muslim. In a nearly a decade of atrocities against innocent Muslims in the U.S., following the events of 9/11 and the illegal invasion of Iraq in 2003, the leaders of the protests who cry and lament the death of Trayvon Martin should also acknowledge, in equal measure, the tragedy that has befallen the Alawadi family due to a hate crime.
Monday, January 02, 2012
Runner's Heights: Death by Brigham Young
Cumulative miles: 22
Running on paved sidewalks has pro's and con's and it behooves middle-aged runners to consider the advantages and the downsides of the surface. The advantages are that it provides a safe surface to run on unencumbered by any moving vehicles. It is also an even surface, by and large, and that is helpful for runners working on their gait and for runners who like to run in low-light conditions. The downside of running on paved sidewalks is that it makes running a high-impact activity with long-term repercussions on the health of the knees. So, your gait, the cushioning of your shoes and the flexibility and strength of your knees becomes even more important factors in your continued running on paved sidewalks. Fore-foot strike might reduce the impact on your knees but it may affect your gait while too much cushioning in a shoe might cause pronators to put excessive strain on the tendons of your feet. In addition, consider increasing your mileage gradually as you work on your strength and flexibility in your legs.
I recently watched the documentary, 8: The Mormon Proposition, about the "secretive and decades-long involvement" of the Church of the Latter-Day Saints (aka, the Mormon Church) in the movement to stop, stall, and prevent gay rights. After viewing the documentary, I was more curious about the activities and philosophies of the church and especially, its leaders, who are deemed by the Mormon church to be prophets that communicate with God directly. These prophets, as it turns out, have publicly made very bigoted and racist comments in the name of God. For example, here's a "law of God," as relayed by one of their most regarded prophets, Brigham Young, on the African race and miscegenation:
"Shall I tell you the law of God in regard to the African race? If the white man who belongs to the chosen seed mixes his blood with the seed of Cain, the penalty, under the law of God, is death on the spot. This will always be so." (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, Volume 10, page 110.)
As of this writing, the Church of Latter-Day Saints has yet to apologize to the Africans, African-Americans and the world in general for these racist, hateful, bigoted, and mean-spirited words. For Mormons who consider their prophet's rantings as the genuine word of God, I wonder how they rationalize such egregious statements on race and human equality such as the quote above by Brigham Young.
Running on paved sidewalks has pro's and con's and it behooves middle-aged runners to consider the advantages and the downsides of the surface. The advantages are that it provides a safe surface to run on unencumbered by any moving vehicles. It is also an even surface, by and large, and that is helpful for runners working on their gait and for runners who like to run in low-light conditions. The downside of running on paved sidewalks is that it makes running a high-impact activity with long-term repercussions on the health of the knees. So, your gait, the cushioning of your shoes and the flexibility and strength of your knees becomes even more important factors in your continued running on paved sidewalks. Fore-foot strike might reduce the impact on your knees but it may affect your gait while too much cushioning in a shoe might cause pronators to put excessive strain on the tendons of your feet. In addition, consider increasing your mileage gradually as you work on your strength and flexibility in your legs.
I recently watched the documentary, 8: The Mormon Proposition, about the "secretive and decades-long involvement" of the Church of the Latter-Day Saints (aka, the Mormon Church) in the movement to stop, stall, and prevent gay rights. After viewing the documentary, I was more curious about the activities and philosophies of the church and especially, its leaders, who are deemed by the Mormon church to be prophets that communicate with God directly. These prophets, as it turns out, have publicly made very bigoted and racist comments in the name of God. For example, here's a "law of God," as relayed by one of their most regarded prophets, Brigham Young, on the African race and miscegenation:
"Shall I tell you the law of God in regard to the African race? If the white man who belongs to the chosen seed mixes his blood with the seed of Cain, the penalty, under the law of God, is death on the spot. This will always be so." (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, Volume 10, page 110.)
As of this writing, the Church of Latter-Day Saints has yet to apologize to the Africans, African-Americans and the world in general for these racist, hateful, bigoted, and mean-spirited words. For Mormons who consider their prophet's rantings as the genuine word of God, I wonder how they rationalize such egregious statements on race and human equality such as the quote above by Brigham Young.
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Runner's Heights: Take Back Sol Invictus and the Pagan Yule Tree
Cumulative miles: 16
The jury is still out on foot strike during running. There's a new fad that advocates going back to the age-old way of foot strike with the balls of your feet. This takes a little bit of practice if you are a heel striker. One of articles, and I can't recall which one, also recommends striking the ground with the balls of your feet especially if you have low-to-no arch. I have a complicated situation here - my left foot has no arch at all whereas my right foot has a medium arch. So, it's going to be hard to consciously switch the strike (from heel to ball) for the respective feet. Good luck if you are trying out heel strike vs. ball strike. I believe that the body and the feet will adapt to whatever is most efficient for the surface on which we are running.
It's December again in the U.S. and country seems to take a holiday from secularism. Public places - malls, stores, restaurants, and streets -- are rife with Christmas carols and paraphernalia. The sensitive and cunning businesses disguise it as "Holiday Fare" and "Happy Holidays" while trying little to acknowledge the other religious occasions that usually occur in December - Bodhi Day, Ashura, Kwanzaa, and Sol Invictus. Yes, let's talk about Sol Invictus. This is the pagan festival of the "Victory of the Sun" and by numerous historical records, celebrated on Dec. 25th. There are many accounts that note that early Christians appropriated this date to commemorate Jesus Christ's birth. It's time to take back Sol Invictus and reinstate the Pagan Yule tree, the original tree from which the Christmas tree was derived.
Here's Jon Stewart's take the preponderance of the Christmas tree in public places and the man who is protected by the enormity and severity of his ignorance, Bill O'Reilly.
Jon Stewart: War on Christmas Where Christmas is the Aggressor
The jury is still out on foot strike during running. There's a new fad that advocates going back to the age-old way of foot strike with the balls of your feet. This takes a little bit of practice if you are a heel striker. One of articles, and I can't recall which one, also recommends striking the ground with the balls of your feet especially if you have low-to-no arch. I have a complicated situation here - my left foot has no arch at all whereas my right foot has a medium arch. So, it's going to be hard to consciously switch the strike (from heel to ball) for the respective feet. Good luck if you are trying out heel strike vs. ball strike. I believe that the body and the feet will adapt to whatever is most efficient for the surface on which we are running.
It's December again in the U.S. and country seems to take a holiday from secularism. Public places - malls, stores, restaurants, and streets -- are rife with Christmas carols and paraphernalia. The sensitive and cunning businesses disguise it as "Holiday Fare" and "Happy Holidays" while trying little to acknowledge the other religious occasions that usually occur in December - Bodhi Day, Ashura, Kwanzaa, and Sol Invictus. Yes, let's talk about Sol Invictus. This is the pagan festival of the "Victory of the Sun" and by numerous historical records, celebrated on Dec. 25th. There are many accounts that note that early Christians appropriated this date to commemorate Jesus Christ's birth. It's time to take back Sol Invictus and reinstate the Pagan Yule tree, the original tree from which the Christmas tree was derived.
Here's Jon Stewart's take the preponderance of the Christmas tree in public places and the man who is protected by the enormity and severity of his ignorance, Bill O'Reilly.
Jon Stewart: War on Christmas Where Christmas is the Aggressor
Saturday, December 03, 2011
Runner's Heights: Are You Jew Enough?
Cumulative Miles: 13
As we get older in age, muscular stiffness is probably one of the prevalent conditions that most of us experience during or after any physical exertion. And a lot us, including yours truly, will probably try to deny the onset of this condition for as long as we can because it might be hard to accept the fact that our muscles may not be up to the task that they were just a few years ago. It is here that yoga comes into the picture. A lot of stretching exercises overlap with yoga, but yoga, in my opinion goes one step further because some of the poses such as, the warrior pose, incorporate stretching and strengthening, when done in the correct method. The long-term effect of yoga on an injury-free running regimen is indeed substantial. Just try it.
In recent times, Israel's Ministry of Immigrant Absorption had devised a campaign in the U.S. to urge Israeli expats to the homeland. The campaign ran a series of video advertisements and billboard implying that the expats lost touch with their Jewish identity and had to be rehabilitated into the Jewish creed. The ads questioning the Jewish-ness of American Jews was found "offensive", "insulting", and "outrageous" by several American Jewish organizations. The Ministry pulled the campaign this week in the wake of public outcry against the ads.
Link to the BBC article
As we get older in age, muscular stiffness is probably one of the prevalent conditions that most of us experience during or after any physical exertion. And a lot us, including yours truly, will probably try to deny the onset of this condition for as long as we can because it might be hard to accept the fact that our muscles may not be up to the task that they were just a few years ago. It is here that yoga comes into the picture. A lot of stretching exercises overlap with yoga, but yoga, in my opinion goes one step further because some of the poses such as, the warrior pose, incorporate stretching and strengthening, when done in the correct method. The long-term effect of yoga on an injury-free running regimen is indeed substantial. Just try it.
In recent times, Israel's Ministry of Immigrant Absorption had devised a campaign in the U.S. to urge Israeli expats to the homeland. The campaign ran a series of video advertisements and billboard implying that the expats lost touch with their Jewish identity and had to be rehabilitated into the Jewish creed. The ads questioning the Jewish-ness of American Jews was found "offensive", "insulting", and "outrageous" by several American Jewish organizations. The Ministry pulled the campaign this week in the wake of public outcry against the ads.
Link to the BBC article
Monday, November 28, 2011
Runner's Heights: Two Shining Stars of the Tulsa Sound
Cumulative miles: 8.56
The virtues of run-walk have been extolled ad infinitum and it is, for many of us, a solution to running without injuries. But, the jury is out on whether you should stretch in the midst of a break during your run. In this last run, I did a few quick stretches of the calves and the hamstrings and I didn't notice any debilitating effects of the stretches. So, I shall introduce a few stretches in between breaks during my run and report on the results.
J.J.Cale is one of the most low-key and laid-back rock musicians of the present day. Many rock anthologists associate his music with the Tulsa sound, a style of music with roots in Tulsa Oklahoma. Leon Russell is another well-know musician from Oklahoma and Cale and Russell have collaborated to produce some amazing renditions of Cale's work, such as After Midnight, a J.J. Cale original made especially famous by Eric Clapton.
Here's some footage of Cale and Russell jamming on After Midnight.
The virtues of run-walk have been extolled ad infinitum and it is, for many of us, a solution to running without injuries. But, the jury is out on whether you should stretch in the midst of a break during your run. In this last run, I did a few quick stretches of the calves and the hamstrings and I didn't notice any debilitating effects of the stretches. So, I shall introduce a few stretches in between breaks during my run and report on the results.
J.J.Cale is one of the most low-key and laid-back rock musicians of the present day. Many rock anthologists associate his music with the Tulsa sound, a style of music with roots in Tulsa Oklahoma. Leon Russell is another well-know musician from Oklahoma and Cale and Russell have collaborated to produce some amazing renditions of Cale's work, such as After Midnight, a J.J. Cale original made especially famous by Eric Clapton.
Here's some footage of Cale and Russell jamming on After Midnight.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Runner's Heights: Cain He Be the Human Fantasy?
Cumulative miles: 3.56
Commenced street running after a hiatus of nearly 2 years. The shoe that made the difference again was the Saucony ProGrid Stabil 6. My left foot is pretty much flat as a pancake and of late, I have had a minor irritation in the plantar fascia. So, you can understand my concern as I hit the pavement this afternoon. I made a 3.56 mile walk-run, trying to stay injury free. As they say, "if you live today, you fight another day."
The book, Revolution in the Valley, by Andy Hertzfeld, has quote from Alan Kay that I am paraphrasing -- humans need fantasy to formulate simple explanations for complex things in our lives. The best example of this, in my opinion, is religious faith. How simple it is for Herman Cain to say that God told him to run for President. It's a recurring motif -- God speaking to Muhammad, Jesus, Moses and who knows whom telling that individual that "he" is the Chosen One. So, if God told each prophet that "he" is the Saviour of our race, then is God using a universal doctrine of "divide and rule?" And, so the fantasy goes on as Herman Cain and Rick Perry, each with decrees from God, decimate each other in the public sphere with their vitriol. In the end, for the supporters of Cain and Perry, the simple answer to the complicated question, "Why do you want to be President?" is rather straightforward - "because God told me to be President!"
Commenced street running after a hiatus of nearly 2 years. The shoe that made the difference again was the Saucony ProGrid Stabil 6. My left foot is pretty much flat as a pancake and of late, I have had a minor irritation in the plantar fascia. So, you can understand my concern as I hit the pavement this afternoon. I made a 3.56 mile walk-run, trying to stay injury free. As they say, "if you live today, you fight another day."
The book, Revolution in the Valley, by Andy Hertzfeld, has quote from Alan Kay that I am paraphrasing -- humans need fantasy to formulate simple explanations for complex things in our lives. The best example of this, in my opinion, is religious faith. How simple it is for Herman Cain to say that God told him to run for President. It's a recurring motif -- God speaking to Muhammad, Jesus, Moses and who knows whom telling that individual that "he" is the Chosen One. So, if God told each prophet that "he" is the Saviour of our race, then is God using a universal doctrine of "divide and rule?" And, so the fantasy goes on as Herman Cain and Rick Perry, each with decrees from God, decimate each other in the public sphere with their vitriol. In the end, for the supporters of Cain and Perry, the simple answer to the complicated question, "Why do you want to be President?" is rather straightforward - "because God told me to be President!"
Sunday, November 13, 2011
UCUCUCUCU
UCU encoded for serine and CUC encoded for leucine.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/14/us/h-gobind-khorana-1968-nobel-winner-for-rna-research-dies.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/14/us/h-gobind-khorana-1968-nobel-winner-for-rna-research-dies.html
Friday, September 17, 2010
Runner's Heights: It's a Bird, a Plane, a Prophet!
As the title suggests, The Runner's Yoga Book by Jean Couch is one of most focused books on yoga for runners that you might find in the market today. It has a short list of yoga asanas (poses) for runners who wish to stay injury free and supple during and after your runs. I have very tight hamstrings and after working with the book for 10 days, I noticed a remarkable lack of soreness in my upper thighs, glutes, and lower back -- some day, I might be able to call these muscles by their Latin nomenclatures. But, as I find myself being able to stretch further in each asana, I am beginning to feel more and more confident in my strides and am noticing an increase in my pace. The Section 23 in Jean Couch's book has a list of asanas as part of the suggested routine before and after every run. A downside of all this is that you have to add an additional 30 mins. before and after each run, which may not be practical unless you have an extra hour to spare over and above the duration of your run.
As I live my life, I am beginning to associate a belief in a "Sky God" as akin to believing in any mythical or fairy-tale character, such as Cinderella, Snow White, Ravana, or Santa Claus. How grown adults can live their lives believing in the presence of their beloved Sky Gods despite all evidence to the contrary is simply beyond my comprehension. Is it the only delusion that we are allowed to have as adults, the last belief that we can hold on to after being told at age 11 that Santa doesn't really exist? All the traits of Santa Claus exist in the Sky Gods of our time -- they punish the naughty and reward the faithful and the good. So what's preventing Jerry Falwell from bringing back Santa in the pantheon of the Lords? It's just one more male figurehead to feature next to the Holy Trinity - the ultimate male fantasy. Hey, if Jesus can posthumously fly through the sky aided by anti-gravity or Heavenly Suction, so can Santa, Superman, and Underdog. I have seen all of them, including Jesus, fly -- in the movies.
Here's a quote from Woody Allen in the New York Times that sums up my thinking right now:
"This sounds so bleak when I say it, but we need some delusions to keep us going. And the people who successfully delude themselves seem happier than the people who can’t. I’ve known people who have put their faith in religion and in fortune tellers."
As I live my life, I am beginning to associate a belief in a "Sky God" as akin to believing in any mythical or fairy-tale character, such as Cinderella, Snow White, Ravana, or Santa Claus. How grown adults can live their lives believing in the presence of their beloved Sky Gods despite all evidence to the contrary is simply beyond my comprehension. Is it the only delusion that we are allowed to have as adults, the last belief that we can hold on to after being told at age 11 that Santa doesn't really exist? All the traits of Santa Claus exist in the Sky Gods of our time -- they punish the naughty and reward the faithful and the good. So what's preventing Jerry Falwell from bringing back Santa in the pantheon of the Lords? It's just one more male figurehead to feature next to the Holy Trinity - the ultimate male fantasy. Hey, if Jesus can posthumously fly through the sky aided by anti-gravity or Heavenly Suction, so can Santa, Superman, and Underdog. I have seen all of them, including Jesus, fly -- in the movies.
Here's a quote from Woody Allen in the New York Times that sums up my thinking right now:
"This sounds so bleak when I say it, but we need some delusions to keep us going. And the people who successfully delude themselves seem happier than the people who can’t. I’ve known people who have put their faith in religion and in fortune tellers."
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Is Religion Infiltrating our Secular Workplace?
A few years ago, at a well-known game studio in Northern California, a life drawing class for studio employees had to be relocated to another part of the studio because the class featured nude models. Can a life drawing class for adults featuring nude models be such a radical and alarming notion? It turns out that the nudity offended the religious sensibiliites of one of the employees. So, the entire class had to be moved to accommodate the wishes of an employee who brought his religion to work with him.
The Constitution of the United States guarantees freedom of religion but it also stipulates the separation of church and state. Employees at secular workplaces -- workplaces that subscribe to no religious affiliations -- should be discouraged from bringing their religious viewpoints to work because these religious views might impinge on others right to a workplace free from religious bias. It is the job of every HR department in a secular workplace to ensure that no religious bias exists -- that no religious beliefs are given special considerations.
A company in Southern California recently passed a policy preventing employees from bringing personal fridges or microwaves in their workplaces. Almost every employee complied with the policy save for at least one employee who argued for a personal microwave and a fridge owing to religious dietary restrictions. There were no questions asked -- the company just caved in and made an exception for this individual.
Do these exceptions not discriminate against others who do not hold such religious beliefs? When we make concessions to certain religious viewpoints in a secular workplace, are we not creating religious biases that are potentially at odds with our Constitution? How can religious views be allowed to trump secular corporate policy and erode the secular nature of the corporate workplace?
The Constitution of the United States guarantees freedom of religion but it also stipulates the separation of church and state. Employees at secular workplaces -- workplaces that subscribe to no religious affiliations -- should be discouraged from bringing their religious viewpoints to work because these religious views might impinge on others right to a workplace free from religious bias. It is the job of every HR department in a secular workplace to ensure that no religious bias exists -- that no religious beliefs are given special considerations.
A company in Southern California recently passed a policy preventing employees from bringing personal fridges or microwaves in their workplaces. Almost every employee complied with the policy save for at least one employee who argued for a personal microwave and a fridge owing to religious dietary restrictions. There were no questions asked -- the company just caved in and made an exception for this individual.
Do these exceptions not discriminate against others who do not hold such religious beliefs? When we make concessions to certain religious viewpoints in a secular workplace, are we not creating religious biases that are potentially at odds with our Constitution? How can religious views be allowed to trump secular corporate policy and erode the secular nature of the corporate workplace?
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
The Chinese Murder of Akhmal Shaik
The Chinese State called it a "death penalty" but it was actually a state-sponsored murder. Akmal Shaikh, a Briton, was executed in China on charges of drug smuggling. You have to wonder -- What right does a state have to take away the life of one of the denizens of the world for a crime, any crime? According to BBC:
China is fending off criticism of its death penalties by warning the rest of the world not to interfere in its judicial system. But the world is paying attention to these abuses of human rights. We must impose economic sanctions on a nation with such appalling laws relating to human rights. Trade embargos might be another way to send a message to the tyrants that rule China with antiquated and inhuman laws.
If you are in the U.S., and you're at your local store where you have an option between a "Made in USA" and a "Made in China" product, maybe, you should consider spending a few extra bucks to buy American. This is not about American jingoism...it is about sending a strong message to one of our biggest trading partners to "shape up or ship out."
Are we forgetting Saudi Arabia -- a nation with an alarming degree of human-rights abuse? Well, maybe, the renewable-energy revolution will bankrupt the monarchy that rules Saudi Arabia and the people of that nation will finally overthrow those fat-cats and establish a democracy in the desert. It's simplistic and naive but it's worth imagining -- Ali Baba would have spring for it.
- China executed 1,718 people in 2008, according to Amnesty International
- Last year 72% of the world's total executions took place in China, the charity estimates
- It applies to 60 offences, including non-violent crimes such as tax fraud and embezzlement
- Those sentenced to death are usually shot, but some provinces are introducing lethal injections.
China is fending off criticism of its death penalties by warning the rest of the world not to interfere in its judicial system. But the world is paying attention to these abuses of human rights. We must impose economic sanctions on a nation with such appalling laws relating to human rights. Trade embargos might be another way to send a message to the tyrants that rule China with antiquated and inhuman laws.
If you are in the U.S., and you're at your local store where you have an option between a "Made in USA" and a "Made in China" product, maybe, you should consider spending a few extra bucks to buy American. This is not about American jingoism...it is about sending a strong message to one of our biggest trading partners to "shape up or ship out."
Are we forgetting Saudi Arabia -- a nation with an alarming degree of human-rights abuse? Well, maybe, the renewable-energy revolution will bankrupt the monarchy that rules Saudi Arabia and the people of that nation will finally overthrow those fat-cats and establish a democracy in the desert. It's simplistic and naive but it's worth imagining -- Ali Baba would have spring for it.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Runner's Heights: Fairy Tales Grabbing Headlines
Cumulative mileage: 300 miles
If you have always bought shoes at chain stores like Footlocker, Sports Chalet, Dick's Sporting Goods, etc. you might have considered yourself lucky if the salesperson you were dealing with knew a lot about the right shoe for you. On a recommendation from a fellow runner, I recently had a chance to stop by the store for runners, Top to Top, in Marina del Rey. The manager, Chris Barry, asked me take off my shoes and walk up and down the aisles.
After determining that I overpronate, he asked me if I had brand preference (I said, "no") and then brought out four different brands of shoes -- Nike Nucleus, Saucony Pro Grid Stabil, Asics Gel Foundation, and Brooks Adrenaline. He briefed me on the features of each and then advised me to run up and down the street adjoining the store. I settled on the Saucony Pro Grid Stabil and it has made an incredible difference to my running. Did I say, "running"? It feels more like I am cruising. The shoes were expensive -- around $115 -- but every stride in my run makes it all worth it.
It is an interesting commentary on the religious sociology of the U.S. when two myths -- more akin to fairy tales -- are the attention-grabbing headlines in the media. The rituals around Passover and Easter are based on myths and legends that, by most scientific accounts, cannot be verified as fact. And yet again, in another evidence of irrationality, the contents of the Bible are able to dodge factual evidence, even when the incidents involve fantasies like parting of an entire sea and the resurrection of a dead individual, the stuff of fairy tales.
We all know that faith can be personal and therefore, we have laws to protect the rights of the faithful in a democratic society. The legal protection of faith is the last harbour of an individual's right to believe in the irrational and infantile. But in a secular nation, such as the U.S., why does the observance of a single faith trounce every other? Why are the only two religious holidays -- Easter and Christmas -- centered around Christianity? Why not celebrate the birth and resurrection of other prophets of other religions? That would create more holidays for all of us and provide more time for secular humanists to formulate plans to mitigate the undesirable incursion of faith-based religion into our daily lives.
'If we believe in absurdities, we shall commit atrocities'
If you have always bought shoes at chain stores like Footlocker, Sports Chalet, Dick's Sporting Goods, etc. you might have considered yourself lucky if the salesperson you were dealing with knew a lot about the right shoe for you. On a recommendation from a fellow runner, I recently had a chance to stop by the store for runners, Top to Top, in Marina del Rey. The manager, Chris Barry, asked me take off my shoes and walk up and down the aisles.
After determining that I overpronate, he asked me if I had brand preference (I said, "no") and then brought out four different brands of shoes -- Nike Nucleus, Saucony Pro Grid Stabil, Asics Gel Foundation, and Brooks Adrenaline. He briefed me on the features of each and then advised me to run up and down the street adjoining the store. I settled on the Saucony Pro Grid Stabil and it has made an incredible difference to my running. Did I say, "running"? It feels more like I am cruising. The shoes were expensive -- around $115 -- but every stride in my run makes it all worth it.
It is an interesting commentary on the religious sociology of the U.S. when two myths -- more akin to fairy tales -- are the attention-grabbing headlines in the media. The rituals around Passover and Easter are based on myths and legends that, by most scientific accounts, cannot be verified as fact. And yet again, in another evidence of irrationality, the contents of the Bible are able to dodge factual evidence, even when the incidents involve fantasies like parting of an entire sea and the resurrection of a dead individual, the stuff of fairy tales.
We all know that faith can be personal and therefore, we have laws to protect the rights of the faithful in a democratic society. The legal protection of faith is the last harbour of an individual's right to believe in the irrational and infantile. But in a secular nation, such as the U.S., why does the observance of a single faith trounce every other? Why are the only two religious holidays -- Easter and Christmas -- centered around Christianity? Why not celebrate the birth and resurrection of other prophets of other religions? That would create more holidays for all of us and provide more time for secular humanists to formulate plans to mitigate the undesirable incursion of faith-based religion into our daily lives.
"The legal protection of faith is the last harbour of an individual's right to believe in the irrational and infantile."A quote from Voltaire:
'If we believe in absurdities, we shall commit atrocities'
Voltaire
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Runner's Heights: The Wisdom of Colin Powell
The shin splints are back with a vengeance -- like the scummy and vicious politicking of some members of the Republican Party over the last few weeks in the American elections. Today, Colin Powell, addressed a disease afflicting his fellow GOP members that has taken the party down the slippery slope of religious- and racial-bigotry. We are referring to a steady stream of religious and racial insinuations that are being inveighed at Senator Obama by GOP supporters while their party looks away in quiet consent.
Here's the exchange at a McCain rally that illustrates the fervor and magnitude of this bigotry:
GOP supporter to McCain, "I don't trust Obama...He's an Arab."
McCain stood shaking his head as she spoke, then quickly took the microphone from her.
"No, ma'am," he said. "He's a decent, family man, a citizen that I just happen to have disagreements with." '
Was McCain implying that law-abiding, American citizens of Arab descent are any less decent than other citizens?
A New York Times article today succinctly and stridently demonstrated that religious- and racial-bigotry is not cool. Here are some excerpts from the article about the death of a Muslim soldier, Kareem Rashad Sultan Khan, of Manahawkin, N.J., who was killed in Iraq on Aug. 6, 2007, and whose remains are buried in Arlington.
"Mr. Powell mentioned Mr. Khan’s death to underscore why he was deeply troubled by Republican personal attacks on Mr. Obama, especially false intimations that he was Muslim.
Mr. Obama is a lifelong Christian, not a Muslim, he said. But, he added, “The really right answer is, what if he is?”
“Is there something wrong with being Muslim in this country? No, that’s not America,” he said."
Thank you, Colin Powell, for articulating a matter that Senator Obama should have had the courage to address many months ago.
Friday, September 19, 2008
Runner's Heights: Prop. 8 Licence to Hate
Cumulative mileage: 205 miles
So, we have some answers about the tingling feet, pins and needles, or numbness in the foot during running. I checked several runner's forums and some of the observations seem to be:
* Tight shoes (solution: wear thinner socks; get a larger shoe-size; loosen the laces; be sure that your heel is right against the heel-cup of your running shoe by kicking a wall with the back of your shoe)
* Tightness in the calves -- this was the case during my last run (Solution: stretch your calves midway through your run; try stretching exercise with emphasis on the muscles around the calves)
* Tightness in the veins/arteries around your ankles (Solution: please talk to a qualified sports therapist or an orthopedist)
There might have been a few other recommended solutions but the bottom line is this. If it happens a lot during your runs, please see a doctor or a specialist. Today, I got some Nike, moisture-wicking, thin socks and I will try these on a run because I am really not keen on buying another pair of running shoes.
In this election year in California, one of the hot potatoes is probably going to be Prop 8. In effect, it is a Same-Sex Marriage Ban and implies that "Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California." Once again, it is an effort by religious bigots to decide what the morality and meaning of marriage is. It is not enough that these religious fanatics and sheep are content with following some ancient scripture in deciding what to do with their scripted lives, but they have to define it for others who don't subscribe to their canned-life-out-of-a-holy-book lifestyle. If the Same-Sex-Marriage opponents are so fired up about saving marriage as an institution why don't they use their energies to fuel a California Proposition that makes divorces illegal? For every issue that they raise, the Religious Right conjures up a passage from the scriptures to convince the people that they in morally right. Not too long ago, many sections of the Christian church justified and condoned slavery by conjuring up a relevance between the institution of slavery and biblical morality. Today, they are doing the same, using morality to deny the joy of two same-sex couples who want nothing more than to enjoy the benefits of marital bliss, a right and a choice that should be guaranteed to all citizens of a certain age who wish to enter into matrimony. Talk about dogs in the manger!
To see what happens when theocrats decide on matters of state, just look to Iran and Saudi Arabia. The founding fathers of this nation were right in separating the church from the state. Religious ideologies and dogma have no place in social governance of an egalitarian society composed of believers and non-believers, straight and gay.
Say no to Prop 8!
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Runner's Heights: A Moose in the Crosshairs is Worth Two in the Bush
Cumulative Mileage: 202 miles
I am still trying to find out whether it is more effective to take electrolytes (Gatorade, Zym, etc.) before my run or after it. I am not sure that I will ever find out the answer unless I am in a laboratory with a hundred sensors strapped to my body as I try to keep my 10-minute-a-mile pace. I have discovered that, after a run, I crave the sugar and the tangy taste that over-the-counter electrolytes. But like I said, I am never sure whether I need the magnesium, potassium, and sodium before, or after, the run. My guess is that I might need it before the run to minimize cramps and stitches but then, I am only guessing.
So, how about that? It's been some weeks that a bible-thumping, backwoods politician who calls herself a "feminist" has charmed the U.S. media. Sarah Palin is such a study in contrasts that the media cannot stay away from her from the time being. She is pro-life and yet she engages in hunting and guns, which cause loss of life. She professes that she is a feminist and yet she is against a woman's right to choose. She claims to be distant from Washington outsider and yet she parrots the same right-wing, Republican Christian hard line that Creationism should be taught in schools. She exhorts the armed forces to fight an illegal war that has caused hundreds of human casualties because she is yet to realize that there was no established connection between 9/11 and Iraq. All this makes her sound like an ignorant bigot and a religious zealot, quiet like the religious clerics that resent and oppose the egalitarian society of the U.S. In times like these, when the U.S. is hit by a serious economic and political downturn, we need a pragmatic leaders, not religious ideologues and fanatics like Sarah Palin. She and her supporters need to understand that the separation of church and state is entombed in the U.S. Constitution and the people of America will resist her vision of turning America into and evangelical Bible belt.
I tried these potato chips the other day and they were the blandest potato chips that I have ever had. Baked potato chips are a compromise in taste but this item is freeze-dried. It may be low in calories but it is rock-bottom in taste. In fact, it doesn't taste like a potato chip at all. The freeze-drying must have sucked out the last drop of flavour from these potatoes. But try it yourself...and here's a picture of it. They call it new and revolutionary -- I think it is a new low-point in taste!
I am still trying to find out whether it is more effective to take electrolytes (Gatorade, Zym, etc.) before my run or after it. I am not sure that I will ever find out the answer unless I am in a laboratory with a hundred sensors strapped to my body as I try to keep my 10-minute-a-mile pace. I have discovered that, after a run, I crave the sugar and the tangy taste that over-the-counter electrolytes. But like I said, I am never sure whether I need the magnesium, potassium, and sodium before, or after, the run. My guess is that I might need it before the run to minimize cramps and stitches but then, I am only guessing.
So, how about that? It's been some weeks that a bible-thumping, backwoods politician who calls herself a "feminist" has charmed the U.S. media. Sarah Palin is such a study in contrasts that the media cannot stay away from her from the time being. She is pro-life and yet she engages in hunting and guns, which cause loss of life. She professes that she is a feminist and yet she is against a woman's right to choose. She claims to be distant from Washington outsider and yet she parrots the same right-wing, Republican Christian hard line that Creationism should be taught in schools. She exhorts the armed forces to fight an illegal war that has caused hundreds of human casualties because she is yet to realize that there was no established connection between 9/11 and Iraq. All this makes her sound like an ignorant bigot and a religious zealot, quiet like the religious clerics that resent and oppose the egalitarian society of the U.S. In times like these, when the U.S. is hit by a serious economic and political downturn, we need a pragmatic leaders, not religious ideologues and fanatics like Sarah Palin. She and her supporters need to understand that the separation of church and state is entombed in the U.S. Constitution and the people of America will resist her vision of turning America into and evangelical Bible belt.
I tried these potato chips the other day and they were the blandest potato chips that I have ever had. Baked potato chips are a compromise in taste but this item is freeze-dried. It may be low in calories but it is rock-bottom in taste. In fact, it doesn't taste like a potato chip at all. The freeze-drying must have sucked out the last drop of flavour from these potatoes. But try it yourself...and here's a picture of it. They call it new and revolutionary -- I think it is a new low-point in taste!
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Runner's Heights: Olympic musings...
Cumulative Mileage: 180 miles
Irony of ironies...I ran the least during the last two weeks of the world's greatest sporting event -- the Olympics. Anyway, watching Usain Bolt was a revelation, his legs reminding me of the giant pounding machines of the Terminator. And, in my opinion, the team sport that captured the imagination of this Olympics was volleyball. I predict that, one day, NCAA Volleyball will be as big and as exciting as the NCAA basketball or football and I hope the NCAA Women's volleyball gets a word in, edgewise, to popularize this amazing, minimal-contact sport among the citizens of the world. American football is barely a world sport, as evidenced by the very few nations that engage in it, and that is just as well, because it is more about brute force than pure atheleticism. Now, that's going to rile a lot of fans of this so-called sport but just look at how scant the popularity of this game is around the world. The rest of the world is crazy about basketball, baseball, and volleyball but American football...umm, sorry, no takers. And what's with the name anyway...why is it called football when most the time, the players are grappling with the ball with their hands?
The Democratic convention is on and Obama hagiography is in full swing this week. Hillary Clinton gave the best speech so far and it makes you wonder why, with 18 million votes to her credit, she was passed over for the veep position. Strange are the mores of politics.
"That's it, Joe...Let's join our corporations with your jumbo stapler!"
Irony of ironies...I ran the least during the last two weeks of the world's greatest sporting event -- the Olympics. Anyway, watching Usain Bolt was a revelation, his legs reminding me of the giant pounding machines of the Terminator. And, in my opinion, the team sport that captured the imagination of this Olympics was volleyball. I predict that, one day, NCAA Volleyball will be as big and as exciting as the NCAA basketball or football and I hope the NCAA Women's volleyball gets a word in, edgewise, to popularize this amazing, minimal-contact sport among the citizens of the world. American football is barely a world sport, as evidenced by the very few nations that engage in it, and that is just as well, because it is more about brute force than pure atheleticism. Now, that's going to rile a lot of fans of this so-called sport but just look at how scant the popularity of this game is around the world. The rest of the world is crazy about basketball, baseball, and volleyball but American football...umm, sorry, no takers. And what's with the name anyway...why is it called football when most the time, the players are grappling with the ball with their hands?
The Democratic convention is on and Obama hagiography is in full swing this week. Hillary Clinton gave the best speech so far and it makes you wonder why, with 18 million votes to her credit, she was passed over for the veep position. Strange are the mores of politics.
"That's it, Joe...Let's join our corporations with your jumbo stapler!"
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Runner's Heights: Beer with Me
Yes, yes...I know...I have been a slacker and I haven't written in ages. But I swear that I wuz writin'...Between the last time that I made a new post and now, I must have written over a hundred e-mails, signed scores of receipts, and scribbled on plenty of pages in meetings. As for the cumulative running mileage...who knows! So, let's just start with 200 miles which is an understatement because each month since January--which is when I last blogged here--I have run about 40-50 miles a month. So, 200 miles it is...and that includes the 6 miles that I ran yesterday in a beautiful, cool, summer evening caressed by a misty breeze from the ocean. I have switched to a North Face Arnuva Running shoe and I am quite happy with the shoe although it is, technically, a trail-running shoe. It has a fairly wide toe-box, ample support and a robust outsole -- all in all, a comfortable, yet rigid, construction.
Today, I must thank a Miller Genuine Draft Light beer billboard for inspiring me to get back to my blog. Now, this beer is advertised as being only 64 calories. I don't know about you but when I am enjoying a beer, I am usually enjoying the taste of the beer, the company I am with, or the conversation that goes along with it. Who really cares about the calorific content of a beer? I thought beers were supposed to be about the taste, the hops, and the brew. Only in America would the greatest selling point of a beer be its calories. Beers repeating!
Today, I must thank a Miller Genuine Draft Light beer billboard for inspiring me to get back to my blog. Now, this beer is advertised as being only 64 calories. I don't know about you but when I am enjoying a beer, I am usually enjoying the taste of the beer, the company I am with, or the conversation that goes along with it. Who really cares about the calorific content of a beer? I thought beers were supposed to be about the taste, the hops, and the brew. Only in America would the greatest selling point of a beer be its calories. Beers repeating!
Monday, January 14, 2008
Runner's Heights: Easy on the Cheese
Cumulative mileage...134 miles.
Still recovering from the cold and sore throat and yet the day's short run was remarkably easier. Maybe, it was because I paced myself a slot slower, at about a 12-minute-mile. No shin splints and no undue stress on those old muscles, only a reinvigorating feeling after. One thing didn't change however and that was the amount of trash scattered around the Ballona Creek. I hear that the rains bring in more of the debris from connected streams and rivulets, but this is really an eye sore in the last remaining wetlands in West Los Angeles.
It seems like a serendipity, but I might have finally stumbled upon a cheese-less pizza that is delicious, healthy, and fairly easy to buy at Trader Joe's. Despite the fact that it is a frozen pizza, you can still taste the bell peppers and the mushrooms that are the toppings. And of course, you don't feel so heavy and bloated (especially if you are lactose-intolerant) because there's no cheese! I added a few toppings of my own with a sauteing a package of Trader Joe's soy ginger carrots and sliced, baked tofu. Takes less than 20 mins. and is just scrumptious and mostly cholesterol free.
Still recovering from the cold and sore throat and yet the day's short run was remarkably easier. Maybe, it was because I paced myself a slot slower, at about a 12-minute-mile. No shin splints and no undue stress on those old muscles, only a reinvigorating feeling after. One thing didn't change however and that was the amount of trash scattered around the Ballona Creek. I hear that the rains bring in more of the debris from connected streams and rivulets, but this is really an eye sore in the last remaining wetlands in West Los Angeles.
It seems like a serendipity, but I might have finally stumbled upon a cheese-less pizza that is delicious, healthy, and fairly easy to buy at Trader Joe's. Despite the fact that it is a frozen pizza, you can still taste the bell peppers and the mushrooms that are the toppings. And of course, you don't feel so heavy and bloated (especially if you are lactose-intolerant) because there's no cheese! I added a few toppings of my own with a sauteing a package of Trader Joe's soy ginger carrots and sliced, baked tofu. Takes less than 20 mins. and is just scrumptious and mostly cholesterol free.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Runner's Heights: The Cold or the Soot?
Cumulative mileage...131 miles.
This mileage above includes a 2-mile run in near-freezing weather in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and some runs on a treadmill in a hotel in Chicago. But, I am discounting the run on the treadmills because there are some purists who are puritanical about running on terra firma only. Yes, I am bowing to the purists but the point that I would really like to make is that running in cold weather is a whole new game, as I discovered the hard way. Unless you have proper gear in cold weather, your body reacts to the cold by stiffening up the muscles and that makes for a very strenuous run and makes you a very likely candidate for a sore muscle or shin splints. And since the air is colder, it is seemingly heavier and you have to strain harder to fill your lungs.
The one big difference between Chicago, Chapel Hill, and Los Angeles is that the air appears to be much more clean in Chicago and Chapel Hill around this time of the year. When I returned to LA from my trips to Chicago and Chapel Hill, I promptly experienced allergy symptoms from the dust and pollution. So, take your pick...freezing cold weather, or dust and pollution in a warm setting. It's a tough choice when you wish to be outdoors all the time.
This mileage above includes a 2-mile run in near-freezing weather in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and some runs on a treadmill in a hotel in Chicago. But, I am discounting the run on the treadmills because there are some purists who are puritanical about running on terra firma only. Yes, I am bowing to the purists but the point that I would really like to make is that running in cold weather is a whole new game, as I discovered the hard way. Unless you have proper gear in cold weather, your body reacts to the cold by stiffening up the muscles and that makes for a very strenuous run and makes you a very likely candidate for a sore muscle or shin splints. And since the air is colder, it is seemingly heavier and you have to strain harder to fill your lungs.
The one big difference between Chicago, Chapel Hill, and Los Angeles is that the air appears to be much more clean in Chicago and Chapel Hill around this time of the year. When I returned to LA from my trips to Chicago and Chapel Hill, I promptly experienced allergy symptoms from the dust and pollution. So, take your pick...freezing cold weather, or dust and pollution in a warm setting. It's a tough choice when you wish to be outdoors all the time.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Runner's Heights: Ode to Mama Lade
Cumulative mileage: 124 miles...right on!
The shin splints are back and with a vengeance...After a 5 mile, both the legs are throbbing like two V-8 engines on high-octane gasoline. But this race car is not meant to stop, baby. I am going to cool it with some ice and then keep going every alternate day. It helps to have a rest day in between runs -- gives the shins some time to chill and heal. But, as I writing this, I realize that it might be the cooler weather. So, tomorrow, I am going to try running in track pants and see if it makes a difference.
I love marmalade, not just because I love sweets and oranges, but because marmalade is a metaphor for life -- bitter and sweet, messy and clear, grainy with the rinds and smooth due to the pulp. Marmalade is the anima/animus and ying/yang and I seem to have a predilection for British marmalades. I tried marmalade made out of kiwi fruit (why even call it marmalade?) but it was not the same. A kiwi fruit may be a chock-full of Vitamin C, but it still does not have the sensory variety of an orange -- bitter, sweet, sour, and pungent. To marmalade, to life.
The shin splints are back and with a vengeance...After a 5 mile, both the legs are throbbing like two V-8 engines on high-octane gasoline. But this race car is not meant to stop, baby. I am going to cool it with some ice and then keep going every alternate day. It helps to have a rest day in between runs -- gives the shins some time to chill and heal. But, as I writing this, I realize that it might be the cooler weather. So, tomorrow, I am going to try running in track pants and see if it makes a difference.
I love marmalade, not just because I love sweets and oranges, but because marmalade is a metaphor for life -- bitter and sweet, messy and clear, grainy with the rinds and smooth due to the pulp. Marmalade is the anima/animus and ying/yang and I seem to have a predilection for British marmalades. I tried marmalade made out of kiwi fruit (why even call it marmalade?) but it was not the same. A kiwi fruit may be a chock-full of Vitamin C, but it still does not have the sensory variety of an orange -- bitter, sweet, sour, and pungent. To marmalade, to life.
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