Fellas, would you rock this?
Categories
C*G*R*Style: My Man Godfrey
Month: March 2013
I’d wager that for many, the winter weather has been a major culprit in letting go of New Year’s resolutions to make 2013 a healthy and fit year. Fortunately, this excuse is just about over. With the arrival of spring, there is little reason not to get outside and get moving!
My outdoor activity of choice is running. For me, there are few better ways to enjoy fresh air, socialize with other running friends, and get an incredible workout.
As a recreational runner, I am frequently asked about the best way to start a beginning runner’s program. I firmly believe that anyone is capable of completing a learn-to-walk or run program, provided they take it slow and steady. All you really need is a good plan, motivation, and commitment to see it through!*
Thinking about getting started? Check out these resources:
- Jeff Galloway’s 5K Training Plan: This is the easiest and most gentle 5K plan I have ever come across. In my opinion, it is superior to the popular Couch-to-5K plan, ideally suited for anyone who hasn’t been active in a while, or is looking for a less intense introduction to the sport.
- Active.com’s 5K Training Tips for Beginners: A concise overview of basic tips for new runners.
- Active.com’s Running Shoe Guide for Dummies: Runners have all manner of opinion on what constitutes the best footwear (if any) for running. Largely a matter of personal preference, but the bottom line is you should at the very least be aware of your options.
* If you haven’t been active for a while, or you have known medical conditions, you should always check with your doctor before starting any exercise program.
Jennifer is a recreational runner living in a Maryland suburb of Washington, DC. She writes about running for health and fitness at Terrapin Crossing.
Categories
The Argus II Retinal Prosthesis
Is it just me? Or does it seem like new technology is being horded at some undisclosed location and being metered out, one miraculous discovery at a time, just so we don’t become jaded regarding things of this nature?
For the first time ever the FDA has approved a retinal implant for adults with a genetic eye disease called retinitis pigmentosa, or RP. The disease causes damage to the light-sensitive cells that line the retina causing severe partial blindness. The Argus II Retinal Prosthesis System, is the result of a 10-year project funded through private and federal dollars.
A Wi-Fi-like electronic chip is implanted in the eye. The patient is then outfitted with a pair of glasses with a miniature video camera mounted on it that sends images to a smartphone-sized computer, which processes the images and sends that information back to the glasses. The eye chip then picks up the electrical signal and transmits it to the optic nerve. The brain grabs the signal, then processes it as patterns of light which enables the patient to “see” an outline mapped image of objects.
It’s not 20-20 vision of course, but researchers have high hopes for more advanced usage.
“I would say [in] five to 10 years, we’ll be able to connect video cameras directly to the brain, which will provide superb vision,” says Dr. Robert Cykiert, an opthamologist and eye surgeon at NYU Langone Medical Center.
Of course there will be risks involved, but the benefits outweigh the risks when the outcome is partial sight from total blindness.
“I’ve actually gotten many emails and phone calls from patients around the country who have asked me about this.” says Dr. Cykiert.
High school is a place where you seem to live or die by the clique you are part of. Perhaps you’re the football star or the cheerleader captain, on the opposite end of the “popularity” spectrum are the band geeks or nerds. Each clique seems to(or at least attempt) define how you act, look, dress, where you hang out, who you hang out with, and who you should never end up with or as.
A rather disturbing trend that comes along with certain cliques are what makes other cliques “uncool” or “outsiders”. Yet what makes certain groups outsiders are just human characteristics; For someone who is original, an “outside-the-box thinker”, courageous, or passionate, it does not make them “different”, “weird”, or anything close to being an outsider”.
That is what Alexandra Robbins pushes for in her book – you should not be afraid to be different and that no clique can single handily defines who you are.
The key parts of her novel center around seven unique people who each belong to a different clique within their respected schools. You have Danielle who is labeled as a Loner, Eli is the Nerd who even his own mother attacks him for not being “normal,” Mark (referred to as Blue throughout the book) is the Gamer who is barely passing school, Joy is the New Girl who is attacked for being raised differently, and then there is Noah who is the Band Geek. Interestingly enough there is also Whitney who belongs to the popular clique,unwillingly, and Regan who is not even a student but a facility member at her school. Robbins follows the characters as they make their way through the school year with a twist half way into their year that none of them see coming.
This book is a great read if you have ever felt out-of-place in high school, misunderstood in class, bullied in the halls, or left alone in the cafeteria. Every story is unique in its own way and will leave you shocked, angry, happy, proud, or at times depressed.
It sounds just like high school.
Twitter is buzzing with this new song from Beyoncé. She released the song earlier tonight on her website since then, everyone is talking about Bow Down.
Here’s a line from the new song: “I took my time to live my life but don’t think I’m just his little wife/ Don’t get it twisted, get it twisted/ This is my sh– Bow down, bitches.”
This is definitely not the regular pop and dance Beyoncé you’ve come accustomed to. Wanna hear something different from Mrs. Carter? Click play below.
Imagine that a group of conservatives get together to talk about pressing issues, deliberate about a leader that will take them into the near future and debate their organization’s role in world affairs. Of course, I’m talking about the Conservative Political Action Conference. Or the recent conclave of Cardinals. At this point, the two are interchangeable.
That’s the problem for conservatives.
As far as the College of Cardinals is concerned, now that we finally have the answer to all of those prayers, we can reveal the Almighty’s intentions. The Holy One clearly prefers that a rather old man from Argentina, who is so humble that he names himself after an even more humble saint, run the Church.
Adonai, if I can be so informal, also clearly wants the red hats to come back to Rome sooner than later (will Francis make it to 90?) to choose yet another man so the Church can gauge how long it can stall on 1. reforming itself, and 2. including ALL of the world’s Catholics in its warm embrace. Until then, enjoy and rejoice as the world celebrates the second most famous Argentinian in the world today (after Lionel Messi).
As for the conservative Republicans, their meeting this week reflects the brawl that was the 
Who came out to him. Two years ago. No hurry.
Yes, put another nail in the “it’s a lifestyle choice” school of determining gayness. I can’t imagine the Portman house being anything other that hetero-centric. Maybe the Senator can talk to Dick Cheney about it.
The GOP’s problem is that it’s out-of-touch with what most Americans want for their future and the future of the country. They scold, seem to be anti-everything, and don’t see that adapting to the world in not surrender of your core beliefs. It’s called tolerance and respect, and it doesn’t matter if it’s Mitt Romney or Rick Santorum or Marco Rubio saying it, the message is the same. The messenger will lose in 2016 if they don’t change.
Liberals took a hit this week too, as Mayor Bloomberg’s soda gambit was snuffed out by the courts although he promises an appeal. And he should. Further, Twinkies will soon be back in stores after Hostess sold the brand for $410 million dollars, so the score stands at Junk Food 2-Health Food 0. Oh, and the new Twinkies will still have the Hostess name on them so as not to confuse anybody.
Meanwhile, President Obama’s visit with the Congress produced some positive reviews, but to expect a change of heart among the true believers would require a Providential act. Maybe a trip to Israel is not a bad idea, or is really part of the plan.
For more, go to www.facebook.com/WhereDemocracyLives and on Twitter @rigrundfest
Categories
Soul Mate
A deeper feeling than what beats in your chest
Something rarer than gold that’s harder to find
A connection between two of heart, body and mind
A soul mate. Your love. Your one romance
Your life. Your love. Your only desired chance
Your missing link. Your missing piece
Your calming aura. Your discovery of peace
Your attachment. Your Passion
Your reason to love. Your source of compassion
Your love that is unconditional
Your desire that is irresistible
Your soul mate.
WASHINGTON (AP) — House Speaker John Boehner says he “absolutely” trusts President Barack Obama — not that they don’t have their differences.
Boehner tells ABC’s “This Week” that the two have a good relationship and that they’re “open with each other … honest with each other.” But the Ohio lawmaker says they’re trying to bridge some big differences.
One issue they agree on: The U.S. doesn’t have an immediate crisis in terms of debt.
Some conservatives criticized Obama when he said last week that the country doesn’t have an immediate debt crisis.
Boehner says a debt crisis does loom in the years ahead because entitlement programs are not sustainable if they aren’t changed.
He says balancing the budget will help the economy.
Greek soccer player Giorgos Katidis has been slapped with a lifetime national team ban after celebrating a goal for AEK Athens by giving a Nazi salute.
Calling Katidis’ actions a “deep insult to all victims of Nazi brutality,” Greece’s soccer federation put an immediate end to the player’s international career, The Associated Press reported.
Images of Katidis – right arm fully extended with palm upwards – making the hateful gesture after netting his team’s 2-1 winner against Veria quickly went viral on Saturday – the same day Greece marked the 70th anniversary of the beginning of the deportation of its country’s Jews to Nazi extermination camps during World War II.
“He is a young kid who does not have any political ideas. He most likely saw such a salute on the Internet or somewhere else and did it without knowing what it means,” the German manager said, according to The Daily Mail.
Fans of AEK Athens have been less supportive than Lienen and are calling for the club to give Katidis his outright dismissal. Team officials are expected to decide his fate in the upcoming days.
Irish Lamb-And-Barley Soup
Total Time: 40 mins
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 30 mins
Ingredients:
cooking spray
1 1/4 lbs lean boneless leg of lamb, cut into 1-inch cubes
2 (10 1/2 ounce) cans beef broth
1 cup water
2 cups coarsely chopped green cabbage
1 cup chopped carrot
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup chopped peeled rutabaga
1/3 cup uncooked quick-cooking barley
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 bay leaf
Directions:
1. Place a Dutch oven coated with cooking spray over medium-high heat until hot.
2. Add lamb; cook 5 minutes or until browned. Add broth and remaining ingredients; bring to a boil.
3. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 20 minutes or until the lamb is tender, stirring occasionally.
4. Discard bay leaf.
So much infighting going on in the Republican party right now, one can get whiplash trying to keep up. The latest battle was launched by failed Republican vice presidential candidate, Sarah Palin as she delivered her 2013 CPAC speech. On a roll with her criticizm of everything from President Obama to Bloomberg’s Big Gulp Soda ban, Palin got carried away and attacked some in her own party.
One of these attacks referenced, though not by name, Karl Rove and his failed attempts in the last election to get more Republicans elected. In her attack, Palin said;
“If these experts who keep losing elections and keep getting rehired and getting millions — if they feel that strong about who gets to run in this party, then they should buck-up or stay in the truck. Buck up or run. The Architect can head on back to the great Lone Star State and put their name on some ballot –- though for their sakes, I hope they give themselves a discount on their consulting services.”
Of course, Karl Rove was not going to take this laying down. Rove went on Fox today and pushed back in an interview
“I’m a volunteer and I don’t take a dime with my work from American Crossroads and pay my own travel expenses out of my own pocket and I thought she was encouraging volunteer grassroots activity and I’m a volunteer,” Rove said. “Second of all, look, I appreciate encouragement I ought to go home to Texas and run for office and, it would be news if I did to have her support. But I don’t think I’m a good candidate — a kind of balding, fat guy. And second, if I did run for office and win, I would serve out my term and I wouldn’t leave office midterm.”
A definite zing to the failed governorship of Sarah Palin, who left office half way through her first term.
Knowing Sarah Palin like I know Sarah Palin, expect her to quickly run to her Facebook page or even an appearance on Fox to respond to Karl’s attack. Expect it in 3,2,1…
STEUBENVILLE, Ohio — Two high school football stars were found guilty on Sunday of raping a 16-year-old girl last August, in a case that drew wide attention for the way social media spurred the initial prosecution and later helped galvanize national outrage over the episode. The town’s obsession over its football team, many said, had shielded other teenagers who did little or nothing to protect the girl.
One football player, Trent Mays, 17, who had been a quarterback on the powerhouse Steubenville High School football team, was sentenced to serve at least two years in the state juvenile system, while the other, Ma’lik Richmond, 16, who played wide receiver, was sentenced to serve at least one year. Both could end up in juvenile jail until they are 21, at the discretion of the state Department of Youth Services. Mr. Mays’ minimum sentence is twice as long as Mr. Richmond’s because he was found guilty of two different charges.
After Judge Thomas Lipps read his decision, both boys broke down and sobbed. Mr. Richmond turned to his lawyer, Walter Madison, and said, “My life is over.”
Both Mr. Mays and Mr. Richmond apologized to the victim and her family. Mr. Richmond walked over to where they were sitting and said, “I had not intended to do anything like this. I’m sorry to put you through this,” before he broke down, unable to speak any more, and embraced a court officer.
