The JJW Blog

I did my first third class mountaineering yesterday under the...

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 17:45:00 -0600

I did my first third class mountaineering yesterday under the guidance of my good friend Kim Luba. She walked me through all the sketchy parts. I also celebrated Father’s Day and the first day of summer by taking in a ton of beauty. I also bruised my butt because I went into a tumble on the way down, ha.

"The whole point of insurance is to aggregate risk so that its costs can be spread. Health insurance..."

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 11:03:31 -0600

“

The whole point of insurance is to aggregate risk so that its costs can be spread. Health insurance companies do that—-but very inefficiently, because they have been permitted to cherry pick the risks, leaving government and hapless emergency rooms to pay for the uninsured. They also do it inefficiently because they permit the healthiest people to stay outside the pool. The are also unfair, because they exclude huge health care burdens and shift them back to the insured——-which defeats the whole purpose of insurance. The are also insanely uneconomic because their overhead runs to 30% of health care dollars, which compares to less than 5 % for publicly run systems. And to top it all off, they ration health care, denying coverage—-hence care—- to anyone the health care bureaucrats decree fall into to their many self-serving loopholes. In every respect public systems are more fair, more effective and less expensive than private health insurance.

The Republicans and plenty of blue dog Democrats appear to be owned lock, stock and barrel by the insurance companies. So why in the world should the rest of us listen to their worn-out self serving arguments. President Obama, take the bull by the horns and lead: abolish private health insurance and give us a single payer system like Canada’s. Go to www.singlepayerUSA.net for more information

”

- http://community.nytimes.com/comments/www.nytimes.com/2009/06/16/opinion/16brooks.html?sort=recommended

Obama's Speech in Cairo

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 06:32:00 -0600

Here are a few excerpts that I liked from Obama’s speech with a link to the full transcript at the bottom:

This was a remarkbly thoughtful insight at the beginning, namely that we must air our differences, not see each other with such taboo:

“No single speech can eradicate years of mistrust, nor can I answer in the time that I have all the complex questions that brought us to this point. But I am convinced that in order to move forward, we must say openly the things we hold in our hearts, and that too often are said only behind closed doors. There must be a sustained effort to listen to each other; to learn from each other; to respect one another; and to seek common ground. As the Holy Koran tells us, “Be conscious of God and speak always the truth.” That is what I will try to do – to speak the truth as best I can, humbled by the task before us, and firm in my belief that the interests we share as human beings are far more powerful than the forces that drive us apart.”

I loved the 2 references to our Founding Fathers (see this great book on religious freedom which also mentions them):

“In signing the Treaty of Tripoli in 1796, our second President John Adams wrote, “The United States has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion or tranquility of Muslims.”

“And when the first Muslim-American was recently elected to Congress, he took the oath to defend our Constitution using the same Holy Koran that one of our Founding Fathers – Thomas Jefferson – kept in his personal library.”

This is wise:

“And I consider it part of my responsibility as President of the United States to fight against negative stereotypes of Islam wherever they appear.”

This quote has received a lot of attention. I love the statement defining religious freedom as the ability to practice or not practice religion:

“Moreover, freedom in America is indivisible from the freedom to practice one’s religion. That is why there is a mosque in every state of our union, and over 1,200 mosques within our borders. That is why the U.S. government has gone to court to protect the right of women and girls to wear the hijab, and to punish those who would deny it.”

The Obama doctrine?

“Given our interdependence, any world order that elevates one nation or group of people over another will inevitably fail.”

Much later on the Israeli-Palestinian relationship, this statement gives me pause. Didn’t the US gain its own independence through violence?

“Resistance through violence and killing is wrong and does not succeed. For centuries, black people in America suffered the lash of the whip as slaves and the humiliation of segregation. But it was not violence that won full and equal rights. It was a peaceful and determined insistence upon the ideals at the center of America’s founding.”

Here Obama uses an Islamic blessing on Jesus! Take that Jesus:

“Too many tears have flowed. Too much blood has been shed. All of us have a responsibility to work for the day when the mothers of Israelis and Palestinians can see their children grow up without fear; when the Holy Land of three great faiths is the place of peace that God intended it to be; when Jerusalem is a secure and lasting home for Jews and Christians and Muslims, and a place for all of the children of Abraham to mingle peacefully together as in the story of Isra, when Moses, Jesus, and Mohammad (peace be upon them) joined in prayer.”

God, why couldn’t this guy have been president in lieu of Bush?

“The fourth issue that I will address is democracy.

I know there has been controversy about the promotion of democracy in recent years, and much of this controversy is connected to the war in Iraq. So let me be clear: no system of government can or should be imposed upon one nation by any other.”

But he recasts the discussion in terms of human rights:

“America does not presume to know what is best for everyone, just as we would not presume to pick the outcome of a peaceful election. But I do have an unyielding belief that all people yearn for certain things: the ability to speak your mind and have a say in how you are governed; confidence in the rule of law and the equal administration of justice; government that is transparent and doesn’t steal from the people; the freedom to live as you choose. Those are not just American ideas, they are human rights, and that is why we will support them everywhere.”

Notice that as he begins his next point here, he doesn’t launch into preaching but starts with a compliment, which is simply good diplomacy and the way to make friends.

“The fifth issue that we must address together is religious freedom.

Islam has a proud tradition of tolerance. We see it in the history of Andalusia and Cordoba during the Inquisition.”

I can’t tell you how much I believe this after reading the afore-mentioned book:

“Freedom of religion is central to the ability of peoples to live together.”

As he moves onto women’s rights he at also starts with a bridging statement, acknowledging that women who cover their heads are not automatically less equal, but then immediately confronting the issue of women not being educated.

“The sixth issue that I want to address is women’s rights.

I know there is debate about this issue. I reject the view of some in the West that a woman who chooses to cover her hair is somehow less equal, but I do believe that a woman who is denied an education is denied equality. And it is no coincidence that countries where women are well-educated are far more likely to be prosperous.”

Moving onto economic opportunity. Oh poor Obama, what a legacy burden he works under for this is a big understatement.

“And while America in the past has focused on oil and gas in this part of the world, we now seek a broader engagement.”

If you read the speech around here you may be struck that Obama has been talking about women’s rights, economic opportunities, and science and technology and very little about the American war of terror. What alternate world is this?

And now an ending plea the way only Obama can make it. This is all absolutely beautiful:

“All of us share this world for but a brief moment in time. The question is whether we spend that time focused on what pushes us apart, or whether we commit ourselves to an effort – a sustained effort – to find common ground, to focus on the future we seek for our children, and to respect the dignity of all human beings.

It is easier to start wars than to end them. It is easier to blame others than to look inward; to see what is different about someone than to find the things we share. But we should choose the right path, not just the easy path. There is also one rule that lies at the heart of every religion – that we do unto others as we would have them do unto us. This truth transcends nations and peoples – a belief that isn’t new; that isn’t black or white or brown; that isn’t Christian, or Muslim or Jew. It’s a belief that pulsed in the cradle of civilization, and that still beats in the heart of billions. It’s a faith in other people, and it’s what brought me here today.

We have the power to make the world we seek, but only if we have the courage to make a new beginning, keeping in mind what has been written.

The Holy Koran tells us, “O mankind! We have created you male and a female; and we have made you into nations and tribes so that you may know one another.”

The Talmud tells us: “The whole of the Torah is for the purpose of promoting peace.”

The Holy Bible tells us, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”

The people of the world can live together in peace. We know that is God’s vision. Now, that must be our work here on Earth. Thank you. And may God’s peace be upon you.”

For the full text see: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/04/us/politics/04obama.text.html?em

The Bolder Boulder

Tue, 26 May 2009 22:33:00 -0600

In February, I decided to run the Bolder Boulder as a first benchmark in my 2009 goal to train seriously in running and become a consistently sub 7 minute runner, particularly in distances under 10 miles. Then I found out that a group from Renee’s school, Bear Creek Elementary, trains together and runs it every year and Renee said she wanted to do it. The principal at Bear Creek loves to run and organizes groups runs every Tuesday before the race to train. The race also coincides with the 1 year anniversary of April, Renee, and myself, moving to Boulder where we all started a new life together (kind of, April and I are divorced but live close to each other for Renee’s sake). It commemorates our commitment to each other as a family, our friends and our community in Boulder. I know that is corny but the race turned out to be just that special.

This was the first race I came into really prepared to meet my goals. My training was pretty simple and straightforward. I ran about 40-50 miles per week for about 8-10 weeks, with at least one tempo run, and one track workout per week the final 6 weeks. I also ran lots of trails the final 4 weeks, with moderate hills, and I did Mtn Athlete 2 or 3 times per week. I read Jack Daniels running formula book to learn about how to run a tempo run and how do speed reps on the track. I never did any hard intervals on the track (I hope to now). I came into the final month before the race starting to finally run sub 7 minute miles once in a while. I felt really strong and ran an impromptu marathon, my first ever, in early May. This was stupid of course, even though I did really well. I strained my calf in the 2nd training run after the marathon, and lost a week of Bolder Boulder training. I worked my way back and came into yesterday’s race feeling strong.

My wave was BB and I got to the race about 6:15, riding my bike to the start. There was a great friendly vibe everywhere, from the runners, to the volunteers, to the crowds. There was tons of positive energy to feed on. I was not that nervous, I was more confident than any race I have ever run, because I knew what I was there to accomplish. I wanted to run about a 6:45 pace for all 6 miles. If I could do better and run a few at 6:30 that would be great. I figured that miles 2 and 3 might be more difficult but my goal was to stay under 7 minute miles. I put on my headphones and pushed forward to the start. Right before the start a young 20 year skinny kid runs in with a polyester suit and a briefcase, set to run the whole course. He looked really fast. Jenny Baringer sent us off (I am a huge fan) and I was off running in my zone listening through my Iphone (I needed it to connect with family after the race), to Talib Kweli.

I knew the first mile was fast and I ran it in 6:33. I didn’t even notice the 1 mile sign and didn’t check my time until the end of mile 2. The first 2 miles flew by. They were very easy. I knew this was going to be an easy race. Mile 2 was slow however, and I could of worked a bit harder perhaps. I think I ran it in 6:52. One of the things I did was let my focus slip off my pace ever so slightly on those slower miles with the hills, something I am sure I will learn not to do as I become a more experienced runner. Mile 3 was a climb too and I ran it in 6:58. I felt strong and despite the moderate climbs, I was passing tons of people. My pace was just not rock solid, I probably could of pushed harder and stayed around 6:45. By this time I had picked a rabbit, a really young kid with great energy. At one point he left the course and did a graceful dive into the slip and slide and got up and ran right back in front of me. Mile 4 was still kind of slow and I only did 6:56. Then mile 5 I picked it up and did 6:46. Mile 6 I surged to to run a 6:36 mile (I passed my rabbit and some) for a total time of 42:05 at an average pace of 6:47. Since my goal pace was 6:45 I did well and my efforts pretty much followed the elevation profile of the course. I had dreams of running 6 6:30 min miles but my mile repeat training told me that the race would be more at 6:45 and that is what happened. Races don’t lie very often, they are proof in the pudding of where you stand as a runner and now I can’t argue with myself that I am any faster than a 6:45 10K runner. But soon I will be if I put in several good weeks of training.

Again, it was interesting to me that there was relatively a smaller amount of drama, not necessarily emotion, in this race because it was more about execution and less about pulling up this special race day energy to compensate for my lack of training. In that regard it was one of the least stressful races I ever did and felt more like taking a test than anything. Perhaps this means that I didn’t race it hard enough but I don’t think so as I finished with that barfing feeling, giving it all in the final lap around the stadium and finishing with a kick.

I then took a shuttle back to the start to meet April, Renee, Renee’s best friend Sacia, and Julie, Sacia’s mom, to run the race with them. This would be Renee’s first race and I honestly thought she would try to walk as much as possible and just goof off with Sacia. Uhh no. They took off running right from the start with smiles and great energy and with painted faces and tutus. Julie and April took off with them them and I started walking to finish my coffee. When I tried to catch up with them by jogging about 10 minutes later I couldn’t until mile 4, they were so fast and had such a big start on me. I had to keep calling April and Julie to see where they were These girls were kicking it. When I caught up to Renee I couldn’t believe my eyes. My daughter had a running game face on. I have never encouraged Renee to run that much, and she has never seemed to show much interest. But here she was in her running shorts kicking it with her friend in a nice relaxed and athletic looking running gait. They were picking off the waves in front of them, only resting for 3 or 4 seconds at a time or to stop momentarily to look at the occasional costume or band. They both were cracking jokes but were serious about their race. The final mile I thought for sure they both would crack but no. Renee ran right up the final hill. Sacia pulled ahead a bit at the end and Renee called ahead to Sacia to slow down. I told her “Renee, run your own race”, meaning worry about yourself. Renee didn’t let Sacia run out ahead but quickly caught up with her. This made me so proud. Renee pushed up the final hill into the stadium and then she and Sacia ran into the stadium. I could of burst into tears but I was beaming with pride too much to do that. They ran right together across down the track as I flashed pics and then across the finish line casually putting their arms around each other in a genuine expression of their morning accomplishment. I have rarely been a more proud Dad and I saw the power of friendship on display between those 2.

April and I then ran back to find her parents. I had run 12 miles at this point, not a big deal, as the last 5 were at 10 minute pace but still my legs were tired. I did the obligatory Boulder Creek leg soak and I felt really refreshed. April and her parents finished together and it was just a great family day of running.

We all then sat together and watched the festivities. I actually felt very proud to be an American since I have been reading about Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin and Madison and how powerfully intelligent men they were, who loved this country and used their genius to give it a good start. I thought if they could be proud of their country, so could I so I cheered on every display of patriotism. The rendition of Taps was very moving and it brought in thunder and soon rain. We all got soaked walking back home but we very proud of ourselves when we finally collapsed at home. It was a special end to a year of getting to know Boulder, our new neighbors and friends, and our home for a long time to come.

bendmeover: via www.tendrebulle.fr In case you didn’t...

Tue, 26 May 2009 21:46:37 -0600

bendmeover:

via www.tendrebulle.fr

In case you didn’t know, sex isn’t bad.

chagrin: (via smut-to-go) I am a big fan of this type of...

Mon, 25 May 2009 19:52:10 -0600

chagrin:

(via smut-to-go)

I am a big fan of this type of body…and behavior.

nevver: Unconditional Surrender: May 8, 1945

Fri, 08 May 2009 11:13:46 -0600

nevver:

Unconditional Surrender: May 8, 1945

mattpayton: Hilarious photo that I ffffound of the day entitled...

Mon, 04 May 2009 12:27:53 -0600

mattpayton:

Hilarious photo that I ffffound of the day entitled They Are Going To Hell.

-Praying to Jesus as I grind out a last rep after 2 full months...

Wed, 29 Apr 2009 11:55:00 -0600

-Praying to Jesus as I grind out a last rep after 2 full months of Mtn. Athlete completed today.

I am considerably stronger than when I started. When I started I could only do 4.9 pull ups in a row, I barely missed the last one. Now I can do heavy dead lifts, push-presses, tons of push-ups, 60 pounds sandbag get ups and 14.9 pull ups in a row, probably more as I the only time I tested was at the end of a very tough workout where I had done lots of weighted pull ups and lots of heavy lifting. That is a 3x increase in 2months. I have developed overall musculature and flexibility. It is weird to walk around and feel muscles all over my body. I have been relatively lean and in shape from running and biking for the last 3 years, but I have never really known to this degree what it is like to be functionally fit.

I am confident that this base of fitness, which I will continue to hone and maintain, will go a long way to keeping me fit and healthy in all my mountain adventures, the first of which is a 26.2 mile trail run (and hike, at least for me) through the Collegiate Peaks this Saturday, with Rachel, Naz, Ralph and Scott. I have not trained at all for marathon distance, but on top of Mtn. Athlete I have been running very solidly, following a Jack Daniels running program of around 45-50 miles per week, with quality tempo runs and lots of recent trail runs, all under 90 minutes. I am interested to see how this combination of shorter running fitness and functional fitness holds up (I don’t expect to be competitive) over the race course.

I rode my bike today today to Mtn. Athlete, and of course,...

Wed, 22 Apr 2009 18:34:22 -0600

I rode my bike today today to Mtn. Athlete, and of course, riding home was the hardest part. Today was a stamina workout with a 60 and 90 minute option. The 60 minute kicked my ass, I can’t imagine lasting 90 minutes. Mtn. Athlete keeps your heartrate up around VO2max the whole workout. Here was the workout:

4 rounds - Medicine ball complex 10x, Alligator pushups 10x

4 rounds - 1x run around complex, ok I can’t remember these damn workouts. It’s a rush of kettleball swings, pullups, feet to ankles, more pullups, running, it was just damn tought.

"My thought process,” Justice Souter said, “is I would rather have the kid embarrassed by a strip..."

Wed, 22 Apr 2009 17:27:30 -0600

““My thought process,” Justice Souter said, “is I would rather have the kid embarrassed by a strip search, if we can’t find anything short of that, than to have some other kids dead because the stuff is distributed at lunchtime and things go awry.””

- http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/22/us/22search.html?_r=1&th&emc=th

This is ridiculous! Isn’t a strip search a violation of some basic human right to privacy? Aren’t kids going to get drugs if they really want them? How do we keep them from wanting them? Improve basic education in this country. Stop the war on drugs and put the money into drug prevention and care centers. Obviously drugs should not be allowed in school but in my opinion the attention should focus more on specific behaviors like dealing or doing drugs at school, and not resort to measures like strip searching. If a student needs a strip search perhaps they should be removed from school and taken to a drug care facility where the strip search can be done professionally. The supreme court really dissapointed today and come off sounding like a bunch of idiots.

Overdose, the emerging Hungarian star, is now 12-0, at a time...

Sun, 19 Apr 2009 21:15:00 -0600

Overdose, the emerging Hungarian star, is now 12-0, at a time when the country must feel like it’s own record is 0-12.

labarceloneta: ohryankelley: Guidelines for Successful Social...

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 09:59:12 -0600

labarceloneta:

ohryankelley:

Guidelines for Successful Social Network Posting

(via: notthatkindagay: skimmingthesurface)

Re FB, I will RT @hotdogladies (Merlin Mann): “A Facebook friend can’t buy you a beer, hold your kid, or help you move. But he’s great at drawing the logo for his funk band on your wall.”

"Federal agents say about 90 percent of the 12,000 pistols and rifles the Mexican authorities..."

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 14:38:16 -0600

“

Federal agents say about 90 percent of the 12,000 pistols and rifles the Mexican authorities recovered from drug dealers last year and asked to be traced came from dealers in the United States, most of them in Texas and Arizona.

The Mexican foreign minister, Patricia Espinosa, in talking with reporters recently, accused the United States of violating its international treaty obligations by allowing guns to flow into the hands of organized crime groups in Mexico.

”

- http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/15/us/15guns.html?hp

This is the story that pisses me off the most these days. Whenever I think about America being a violent gun-toting country, I always check myself with “well, at least we aren’t as bad as Mexico.” Wrong, we are supplying 90% of the weapons in the current conflict in Mexico! This makes me angry as hell. So I wrote the following to my US senators:

Senator Bennett,

I am writing you because I am very concerned about reports that 90% of weapons used by the drug cartel are from US sources. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/15/us/15guns.html?hp. Please support immediate legislation to stop the flow of weapons to Mexico that is fueling the violent rampage terrorizing our sister country. I have not researched where you stand on gun control but this is a case where our lax gun control laws are preventing us from clamping down on illegal gun sales. Detractors claim that the drug cartel members are wealthy enough to get their guns elsewhere and that tighter gun regulations would only stop people who really need guns. But why would drug cartel members go elsewhere if they can get them so easily from us? Let’s make not be a partner in this historic level of violence afflicting Mexico. I also agree that we are violating international norms of gun exports as the Mexican foreign minister has recently claimed.

Americans themselves also don’t need guns, they need heath care, education and jobs. We should clamp down on gun sales in general, especially in light of the gun violence that has recently racked our own country. I agree with Bob Herbert’s recent take on this violence, http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/14/opinion/14herbert.html?_r=1: “Murderous gunfire claims many more victims than those who are actually felled by the bullets. But all the expressions of horror at the violence and pity for the dead and those who loved them ring hollow in a society that is neither mature nor civilized enough to do anything about it.”

Sincerely,

John Wright
Boulder, CO

(via chvnx) This picture says to me: “Be naked, get...

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 14:15:12 -0600

(via chvnx)

This picture says to me: “Be naked, get comfortable in your own skin”, something I was talking about with April today. So here is to being naked more often.

mattpayton: - An excerpt from the blog of Matt Taibbi Required...

Mon, 13 Apr 2009 16:15:44 -0600

mattpayton:

- An excerpt from the blog of Matt Taibbi

Required reading.

And I liked this that Taiibi said about the Abraham sacrificing his son story, one of those deeply unmoral stories in the Bible: “You’re a little kid, listening at bedtime in your pee-jays to the story, expecting that Abraham is going to tell God to go fuck himself because he loves his children so much, and be rewarded for doing so. Instead it’s exactly the opposite, the father in the story is rewarded for being willing to carve his innocent son up with a knife, the moral of the story somehow being not that God is an insane murderous psychopath, but that God is just and wise and should be obeyed. When the story is over, Dad tucks you in to bed and says he’ll see you in the morning. Now that’s realism for you.”

Mtn Athelete Barbell Torques “You do not determine your...

Fri, 10 Apr 2009 13:26:00 -0600

Mtn Athelete Barbell Torques

“You do not determine your success by comparing yourself to others, rather you determine your success by comparing your accomplishments to your capabilities. You are “number one” when you do the best you can with what you have, every day.”

-Zig Ziglar

"Iowa will set the standard for equity in the Midwest,” she said to applause."

Thu, 09 Apr 2009 22:00:04 -0600

““Iowa will set the standard for equity in the Midwest,” she said to applause.”

- Carolyn Jenison, executive director of One Iowa, at an April 3rd rally.

http://www.iowastatedaily.com/articles/2009/04/04/news/state/doc49d7ad9ecf87d321383993.txt

"If you take a look at history, the court’s job has always been to protect the minority. Whether it..."

Thu, 09 Apr 2009 21:49:31 -0600

““If you take a look at history, the court’s job has always been to protect the minority. Whether it was women’s right to vote, whether it was an African American doesn’t have to be a slave. An African American has the right to marry a white person. That’s what this is about.””

- -Iowa House Speaker House Speaker Pat Murphy

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20090409/NEWS/90409012

Mtn. Athlete workout

Thu, 09 Apr 2009 07:56:00 -0600

Today was the first day I worked out at the new Mtn Athlete gym. The gym is fantastic, a total body transformation palace, just walking into it made me ready to work after seeing all the kettle balls, sandbags, the new weight racks, the high ceilings, and the music blaring. It has a garage style door that opens up to let in fresh air and allow us athletes to do things outside like jingle jangles and wall balls (don’t ask). The workout today was a stamina workout. The warmup involved some knee to elbows (hang from a bar, touch your knees to your elbows) which I actually did 3 out 70 completely. Those things are damn difficult. For the first main round we strapped on backpacks with a kettleball (or 2) in them and stepped up on a bench for 10 minutes straight. Then we did 2 more rounds involving jingle jangles, supermans, plank walks, and more. Today I learned 2 new exercises. We did Romanian deadlifts with the kettle ball and we learned how to do a snatch. I have done a snatch or 2 but never in the weightlifting context.

For the bonus round we did this very intersting exercise involving a long plastic pipe, about 10 inches in diameter and 8 feet long, filled about 1/4 of the way with water. The goal is to hold it for over a minute. Sound easy? Well consider that the water sloshes from one end to another so in order to pull this off you have to have a very strong core and sense of balance.

If you are interested in the workout, here are some pics to give you a taste of what goes down:

Me doing Jingle Jangles

Ever wonder what are Wall Balls? Now you know.

Betsy doing our warmup, I can’t remember what these are called but obviously she is doing a pushup here.

Mtn. Athlete loves sandbags.

If you want to get in some serious shape, contact me at mrjjwright@gmail.com and I will introduce you to the program. Read more here.