We are a commune of inquiring, skeptical, politically centrist, capitalist, anglophile, traditionalist New England Yankee humans, humanoids, and animals with many interests beyond and above politics. Each of us has had a high-school education (or GED), but all had ADD so didn't pay attention very well, especially the dogs. Each one of us does "try my best to be just like I am," and none of us enjoys working for others, including for Maggie, from whom we receive neither a nickel nor a dime. Freedom from nags, cranks, government, do-gooders, control-freaks and idiots is all that we ask for.
The
contemporary world is not very well built for a large chunk of males. -
See more at:
http://marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2016/05/what-in-the-hell-is-going-on.html#sthash.KafpzXWg.dpuf
…whoever refuses to obey the general will will be forced to do so by the entire body [the public and the state]; this means merely that he will be forced to be free…[if the leaders of the state say to the citizen] “it is expedient for the state that you should die,” he should die.
Well, I used to identify as a ham sandwich and before that as a bird dog, but now I identify as a 32 year old, 6'2" tall, dark and handsome male with an IQ equal to my weight of 178 lbs of pure muscle and $40 million in my checking account. Call me crazy.
The world, in all its imperfection, will have empires of one kind or another. Not one will always be a force for good. But there is better and worse, and if we are sane, we will allow that in our time the American power has been a blessing
It's a good discussion. I have several problems with their conclusions, but by free will I have decided to put my tomatoes out instead of writing my thoughts. I guess you could claim that my genes and neurons made me make that decision.
Jumping is one of the best and most demanding calisthenic/cardio-endurance exercises. It is harmless to knees and hips because it is on toes.
Like most things, it takes practice to get to the point where it is useful. I am working towards a repertoire of jumps, but it is more difficult than it looks and I am not highly-coordinated. (If you think you are, try double unders sometime and let me know.) Also, I find just two minutes of speed rope to be quite fatiguing. That's why I embed a minute or two of rope in a circuit of calisthenics. Cardio and calisthenics are a waste of time without intensity.
This guy is an expert. It's like watching a dancer. His double unders are great. Three things to watch: 1. His body stays in a relaxed athletic posture with no tension 2) The rope usually maintains a steady pace regardless of what his legs and feet are doing (he is mostly not doing speed), and 3) His hands and arms remain in the same position.
Fridays are still mostly moving/calisthenics day for me. It's always a different mix.
After a five-minute elliptical warm-up:
- 4 sets of increasing wt leg press (to try to improve my barbell squats next week) - Then what I call a circus: 5 go-rounds of a circuit of ladder drills, heavy ball floor smashes, and jump pull-ups. Whew. I still can not get 10 regular pull-ups, but getting there. A goal. - Then 4 rotations of heavy ball wall smashes alternating with jump rope variations (singles, running man, and practicing one-footed jumps)
Total body fatigue in one hour, barely able to move. Good stuff, highly stressful and exertional. If I were not doing my program, my life would contain no extreme physical exertion.
Unlike most commenters on microaggressions, I view the entire concept as a joke. And I feel it is a joke that anybody takes the idea seriously. And nobody hardly does, outside of the peculiar testosterone-challenged administrators on American campi.
Here's the deal: Since no real aggressions are anywhere to be found, some people invented the micro. Next will come nanoaggressions. Why? Because the victim/oppressor narrative must continue. It's, like, you know, the System.
In sum, microaggression catalogs are a form of social control in which the aggrieved collect and publicize accounts of intercollective offenses, making the case that relatively minor slights are part of a larger pattern of injustice and that those who suffer them are socially marginalized and deserving of sympathy. [The social conditions that give rise to this form of social control] include a social setting with cultural diversity and relatively high levels of equality, though with the presence of strongly superior third parties such as legal officials and organizational administrators… Under these conditions, individuals are likely to express grievances about oppression, and aggrieved individuals are likely to depend on the aid of third parties, to cast a wide net in their attempt to find supporters, and to campaign for support by emphasizing their own need against a bullying adversary.
One of the greatest delusions of many people is that freedom and ‘voice’ in one’s life resides chiefly in, and is secured chiefly by, the right to vote. In fact, freedom and voice in one’s life resides chiefly in, and is secured chiefly by, the rights of private property (and the associated law of contract and tort).
As one of my best friends said yesterday, “If any of them were real Republicans they’d be using their shock, outrage and vitriol to attack Obama and Hillary and Bernie every second of every day. They’d be condemning the Democrats over this horrible economy. We’re all drowning. Instead Republican leaders are in panic over Trump? Are you kidding me?”
Six months from now, being #nevertrump is going to be the mark of Cain, regardless of the election outcome. If Trump loses conservatives will blame these traitors for the defeat. If Trump wins, the #nevertrump loons will be packed off to the labor camps. Well, we can dream. Still, life is not going to be fun for these people if Trump is in the White House. There’s just no obvious upside to this #nevertrump nuttiness, other than the craven cash grab.
I think power can act like a drug, and promote the most self-indulgent or sociopathic character traits. Not so, however, in those determined to be on best behavior. What sorts of people seek power over others?
Human nature stays constant as the material world continually transforms. People are not pawns of history or pilgrims skipping up some radiant celestial arc. Sometimes the people, ideas, and movements of the twenty-first century prove better, and sometimes far worse, than those of the past—and they will likewise again when framed against the future.
All it took for Hungarian cowherds to add to their stewpot was ground chili pepper - Paprika. Thus it was just plain stew until the Spanish brought peppers to Europe from the New World in the early 1500s.
Pizza Hut To Replace Waiters In Asia With Robots – And They Don’t Need $15/Hour To Do Their Jobs… 
Money: 
Image stolen from 
Are You Raising a Little Criminal? 
All it took for Hungarian cowherds to add to their stewpot was ground chili pepper - Paprika. Thus it was just plain stew until the Spanish brought peppers to Europe from the New World in the early 1500s.