No, not the power grid. The propaganda grid. It was 10 years ago that we unplugged the television in our house. We were insulated from 24/7 coverage of: Monicagate, the 2000/2004/2008 election cycles, 9/11, the Global War on Terror. We stay informed: high-speed internet, two daily newspapers, and countless magazines. It's interesting to note how perception of events change over the course of time. When you're not part of the hype cycle, you have the luxury of reflection and contextualization.
I guess that makes us happier, as well. At least according to this study
Friday, November 21, 2008
Monday, November 10, 2008
In the beginning...
The beginning of another training season. I race bicycles. My racing season runs from March through the end of August. September and October are for yardwork and just putting around on the bike. November is when I start training for next year. So I started off with my baseline test to see where I'm at and will chart my progress over the next 4 months. I'm recording it here so I can refer back to it later. You may or may not be interested.
My T60 power is 248 watts. "T60" is the level of effort I can sustain for 60 minutes. I also weighed in at 68 kilos, so my power/weight ratio is 3.65 W/kg. Horrible numbers, but you have to start somewhere.
My T60 power is 248 watts. "T60" is the level of effort I can sustain for 60 minutes. I also weighed in at 68 kilos, so my power/weight ratio is 3.65 W/kg. Horrible numbers, but you have to start somewhere.
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
Yes We Can
I've been trying to avoid politics on this blog, but I can't not talk about last night. I feel as though a great weight has been lifted from this country. Instead of casting our eyes downward and backward, we can now look up and forward. Our disastrous experiment in the deconstruction of government is at an end. We now begin the task of putting our country back together.
People, in general, like government when it does things for them; and dislike it when it tells them what to do. We like it when the roads are in good repair, the environment is protected, and markets function efficiently. We don't like it when we're told how to worship, or who we can or cannot marry. The last administration demonstrated what happens when government stops working. Abu Ghraib, Katrina, the failure of the financial industry. Government is not always the problem. Sometimes government is the solution. A good first step would be to stop blowing up infrastructure in countries around the world and start rebuilding it here at home.
It's been eight years since the departure of the man from Hope. Eight years of fear, cynicism, and despair. Now, a young man from Chicago has brought Hope back. The election is over, together we now undertake the hard work of governing. Yes we can, and yes we will.
People, in general, like government when it does things for them; and dislike it when it tells them what to do. We like it when the roads are in good repair, the environment is protected, and markets function efficiently. We don't like it when we're told how to worship, or who we can or cannot marry. The last administration demonstrated what happens when government stops working. Abu Ghraib, Katrina, the failure of the financial industry. Government is not always the problem. Sometimes government is the solution. A good first step would be to stop blowing up infrastructure in countries around the world and start rebuilding it here at home.
It's been eight years since the departure of the man from Hope. Eight years of fear, cynicism, and despair. Now, a young man from Chicago has brought Hope back. The election is over, together we now undertake the hard work of governing. Yes we can, and yes we will.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
