http://www.pcworld.com/article/2027066/12-great-pc-games-even-your-grand
mother-could-love.html
"You need not do anything. Remain sitting at your table and listen. You need not even listen, just wait. You need not even wait, just learn to be quiet, still and solitary. And the world will freely offer itself to you unmasked. It has no choice, it will roll in ecstasy at your feet."- Kafka
Friday, June 14, 2013
17 'How-To' Vine Videos That Won't Teach You Anything
http://mashable.com/2013/06/12/how-to-vines/
I know, my most recent posts make me sound insufferably earnest and
obsessed with self improvement. (As Tyler Durden says in "Fight Club"
(the novel), "Self improvement is masturbation."
So here's some doggone silly sh*t to enjoy.
I know, my most recent posts make me sound insufferably earnest and
obsessed with self improvement. (As Tyler Durden says in "Fight Club"
(the novel), "Self improvement is masturbation."
So here's some doggone silly sh*t to enjoy.
Thursday, June 13, 2013
Sunday, June 9, 2013
Barefootin' Redux
This has its ups and downs, I admit.
This morning, decided to combine the dog's morning constitutional (did I mention we had a new dog? We totally have a new dog) with the next barefoot session - 15 minutes out as usual, and then 15 minutes or so back barefoot. Yes, in the rain, but so what?
Well, the neighborhood we went through has a different mix for their sidewalks - some weird sort of pebbly mix - and the first five minutes were excruciating. I was just starting to feel proud about how far I'd come toughening my feet in a few days...well, this kept me humble. Jesus.
Oh, and here's the dog:
This morning, decided to combine the dog's morning constitutional (did I mention we had a new dog? We totally have a new dog) with the next barefoot session - 15 minutes out as usual, and then 15 minutes or so back barefoot. Yes, in the rain, but so what?
Well, the neighborhood we went through has a different mix for their sidewalks - some weird sort of pebbly mix - and the first five minutes were excruciating. I was just starting to feel proud about how far I'd come toughening my feet in a few days...well, this kept me humble. Jesus.
Oh, and here's the dog:
 |
| ...no doubt wondering what the delay is this time. |
Thursday, June 6, 2013
Barefootin' (again)
My attempts to go barefoot last year were cut short by a savagely hot June - going outside to train and going down to Norris Jr. High's football field to walk on well tended grass suddenly seemed stupid. Also, my feet often ended up bleeding from various cuts in spite of my attempts to build up carefully and gradually on the "nice, soft grass".
But I picked up another book on the subject ("Barefoot Walking") and liked the authors' progressions and approach (even if I didn't care for the entitled New Age granola eating hippie vibe) and decided to put them into practice.
The most important thing difference: instead of staying on grass, I went on concrete sidewalks after the first day. This seemed counterintuitive, but the authors insist that doing it on concrete and asphalt force you to assume a "lighter"and more sensitive step...AND it toughens your soles and feet faster.
It took a lot of mental persuasion to overcome my fears and step onto the sidewalk barefoot on Day 3...(Tuesday), but it panned out. The 2 block walk wasn't especially pleasant, but it wasn't intolerable. And my baby soft feet weren't ripped to shreds. As long as your feet start out and remain relatively dry, they can stand up to the sidewalk much better than you would think.
Another upside to walking on a sidewalk is you can see potential hazards in front of you - nothing is hidden in the long blades of grass to ambush you. (I once picked up a nasty metal sliver in the grass on the side of a hill in a cemetery). So steering clear of problems is easy as long as you pay attention. And 2 sessions later I am up to 8 blocks and have no bleeding gashes to report.
There are some stretches and mobility and strengthening drills for the feet specifically (and the rest of the body to help with alignment etc) but the authors think that just walking barefoot and gradually building up to 30 minutes over the first 3 months is the best bet. Also interesting is that they argue that the drills should be done on non walking days at first and later AFTER the walking, so the feet aren't tired when you start out.
This is exciting. I don't think I've walked 8 blocks barefoot on concrete, well, EVER (I remember being quite prissy on the subject even as a 9 year old). If I can get this particular deficiency addressed, I may well be on my way to being as good as "normal" by the time I die.
But I picked up another book on the subject ("Barefoot Walking") and liked the authors' progressions and approach (even if I didn't care for the entitled New Age granola eating hippie vibe) and decided to put them into practice.
The most important thing difference: instead of staying on grass, I went on concrete sidewalks after the first day. This seemed counterintuitive, but the authors insist that doing it on concrete and asphalt force you to assume a "lighter"and more sensitive step...AND it toughens your soles and feet faster.
It took a lot of mental persuasion to overcome my fears and step onto the sidewalk barefoot on Day 3...(Tuesday), but it panned out. The 2 block walk wasn't especially pleasant, but it wasn't intolerable. And my baby soft feet weren't ripped to shreds. As long as your feet start out and remain relatively dry, they can stand up to the sidewalk much better than you would think.
Another upside to walking on a sidewalk is you can see potential hazards in front of you - nothing is hidden in the long blades of grass to ambush you. (I once picked up a nasty metal sliver in the grass on the side of a hill in a cemetery). So steering clear of problems is easy as long as you pay attention. And 2 sessions later I am up to 8 blocks and have no bleeding gashes to report.
There are some stretches and mobility and strengthening drills for the feet specifically (and the rest of the body to help with alignment etc) but the authors think that just walking barefoot and gradually building up to 30 minutes over the first 3 months is the best bet. Also interesting is that they argue that the drills should be done on non walking days at first and later AFTER the walking, so the feet aren't tired when you start out.
This is exciting. I don't think I've walked 8 blocks barefoot on concrete, well, EVER (I remember being quite prissy on the subject even as a 9 year old). If I can get this particular deficiency addressed, I may well be on my way to being as good as "normal" by the time I die.
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