Race For the Cure

Yep, its that time again. Time for the Race For the Cure to support breast cancer research.

I'll be running on June 9th. If you'd; like to join me, send me an email. If you'd like to support the cause and contribute with a donation, you can do so online right here. If you would prefer, you can also send your tax-deductible contribution to the
address listed below.

Komen NC Triangle Affiliate
2314 S. Miami Blvd, Suite 154
Durham, NC 27703

A real marathon

Ho

ly

cow

North Pole Marathon.

Sahara Marathon.

Come race for the cure with me

Race for the cure info.
Email me if you will be there.

Knowing Yourself

When I had the phrase "I need to get to know myself" thrown at me during the process of separating from my ex, I questioned its meaning. I hate those words, they are nothing but a cop-out, in the same category with another meaningless phrase: "it's not you, it's me".

Yeah, I always thought "I need to get to know myself" was just a stupid thing to say. I mean, after 30 years of life, if you don't know who you are you must be braindead. Maybe you mean to say "I need to re-evaluate what I really want in my future", but certainly you must already know yourself.

I came across this quote on the Google personalized homepage literary quote of the day:

"Know thyself! A maxim as pernicious as it is ugly. Whoever observes himself arrests his own development. A catepillar who wanted to know itself well would never become a butterfly." -Andre Gide

Someone shares my opinion of the RIAA

Check out this fabulous product from Jinx.com:

Ok, so, we are STILL laughing every time we see this product on our shelves...LMAO! Nothing compares with the way it feels when that text slides across your butt. Sorry for the high price, but you're buying it for the novelty. When it comes to functionality, stick to Charmin.

Weebles Wobble But They Don't Fall Down

Remember the Weebles? I had some when I was a kid.

I feel a bit like a Weeble right now, in that my legs are feeling awfully wobbly. I played in a King/Queen doubles volleyball tournament thsi past Saturday. It was a blast but I could feel the resulting jello-ish-ness in my legs all the way through Sunday and Monday. Tuesday I couldn't take it anymore and I just decided I just had to go running before I throw away all the good progress I've made recently. I wasn't sure how far I'd be able to go on my tired legs, but I made it for a slow 4 miles. Now my legs are weebly wobbly again. :(

Speaking of old toys, I want to buy a Rubik's cube again, after seeing these people solve the cube in only seconds (I saw videos of it on the special features of the "Pursuit of Happyness" [sic] dvd.

Tackling My Biggest Flaws

Here are three things about myself that I want to change. I'm not sure how except to be cognizant of them throughout the day.

I'm too judgemental. Often times I decide that I dont like someone that I don't even know because they dress like a thug or they talk about themselves too much or they look weird.

I'm too negative about things in general, and when I get in a bad mood I spread that negativity around instead of moving on. I wasn't like this when I was younger - if something bad happened I just went on with my life the best I could. I'm not sure when this changed.

I dont know how to make (or keep) friends. I'm too shy around people I don't know. I can't be myself around them so I just don't speak (or smile). I don't keep in touch with the friends that I do have, and when I do I'm too self centered to know what's going on with them.

Let the markets regulate themselves...to a limit

Tonight's 60 minutes had an interesting story about the government "nanny state" versus self-regulation. Here's the jist.

It hit a nerve with me because of a recent discussion I had with some friends about the possibility of a new law banning smoking in NC. At the time of our "discussion", the proposal bill would have banned smoking in all indoor public places, including restaurants and bars. To me that is just ridiculous. No smoking in a bar? Thats stupid. My argument is that it is not the governments place to force such a ban on private business owners. Their argument was that smoking in those places infringes on the rights of non-smokers at the same location. I gotta call bullshit on that one though, because those non-smokers are free to visit a non-smoking establishment. By the way, I'm a non-smoker.

If tobacco were an illegal substance, sure. In truly public places (ie, town hall, the library, etc), great. But not in a business owned by an individual - restaurant or not. If someone is so offended by the cigarette smoke or they worry about its effect on their health, then they should not visit that place. Perhaps they should choose a smoke-free alternative.

Fortunately, the bill was changed. Apparently someone added a cup of common sense to the bill, which is amazingly unique in government. The new version would not ban smoking in 21-and-over-only bars. Its interesting now also because the new bill will give local governments more control - so expect no smoking ANYWHERE in Chapel Hell in the not-so-distant future. Unless its marijuana, I think everyone in Chapel Hell smokes marijuana.

Fortunately again, this proposal was pulled from the agenda last week. Maybe later the NC house can try again at trampling on the rights of the business owners in this state.

In the 60 minutes interviews, Michael Jacobsen attacks Berman saying sarcastically, "Its terrible, we have health departments that are trying to clean up restaurants, environmental agencies that are trying to clean the air in the water, its just terrible. I think its great that government sometimes protects the public's welfare."

Jacobsen is right to some extent, but he is doing exactly what Berman says he is fighting against: exaggerating and over-stepping bounds. Berman said "Government has a role, but let the marketplace self-regulate". Thats right. Let the government regulate things that the public would have a hard time self-regulating fairly (ie, CFCs, cocaine, murder), but stay away from things that restrict my personal freedoms.

If I want to smoke in a bar owned by a private business owner that wants to allow smoking, then mind ya own! Don't take away my ability to eat a big fat cheeseburger if I want one. Sure, don't put that cheeseburger on the daily elementary school menu (thats called common sense, please make a note of it) - but give me the benefit of the doubt that I may be intelligent enough adult to regulate my own food intake. Make the health effects known to me if you like, but let me choose as long as my decision doesn't restrict the rights of other people.

The inter-trestle run

I have now officially visited every mile of the American Tobacco Trail. Tuesday after work I went for a 5.5 mile ATT loop between Panther Creek and Northeast Creek trestles. This part of the trail is very peaceful. I think I did see one person during the hour or so that I was there.

My next run will be my first attempt at 8 miles starting at the White Oak Creek trailhead.

Modern technology at its finest

Oh, I'm sorry, this title is confusing. When I said "modern", I meant "modern in 1908". Unfortunately for the world, that technology hasn't improved much in the last 100 years. I'm not sure how we aren't all disgusted at the current state of the automotive industry. And what's to blame? I'll point my finger at the long history of corruption in the US Congress (Hello, ever heard of campaign finance reform? Ever heard of term limits? How many 90 year old senators do we need making laws about modern technology?).

In 1908, the Ford Model T got 25 miles per gallon. Thats much better than my Ford Truck gets today.

Avg miles per gallon of all cars in 2004: 21!

I hope the X-Prize Foundation will help open some eyes. You might remember it from the 10 million dollar prize it gave to the first private organization to enter space twice in two weeks. Now the new Automotive X-Prize aims for a 100 mile per gallon consumer (i.e. "production capable") vehicle. Awesome.