No time for blogging. The weather has been perfect for running, which is rare at this time of year. Three days of rain, and today is looking like rain, also. Man, I love all this rain, time for playing outdoors.
Work has been busy, too, but I don't like to talk about that.
...and I have a new distraction.
Stay Wet!
Recycled article cross-posted on Backroads:
Human nature is characterized by reason and tolerance. In a natural state all people are equal and independent, and as John Locke says "no one has a right to harm another's “life, health, liberty, or possessions.” " The last becoming the well-known "pursuit of happiness" guaranteed to all humans living in a just society.
With what is going on today in the in the U.S., we must remember that governmental check and balances and revolution is not only a constitutional right, but an obligation in some circumstances.
The nonsense going on with both political parties will continue until we demand and perhaps force change upon the system. These parties's, initially established to promote a set of represented ideals of our citizens, are now controlled by the money of special interest groups and have been scraping the original ideals and qualities on which they were built. These parties, in representing its member citizens, should be free of the influence of capitalism and religious groups.
Conservatism and Liberalism are the ideals these political parties are "supposed" to represent. Conservatism based on an approach to govern based on tradition and authority, and Liberalism being based on personal freedom and Progress. Usually, the Republicans have been identified as the conservative party, while the Democrats have taken a liberal approach, but we all know liberal Republicans and conservative Democrats (i.e. William Jefferson Clinton). The Liberal Republicans even claimed their own political party at one time. Of course if you go back to the origins of the Republican party, the were known as the Democratic-Republican Party at one time.
Most people don't consciously chose a side, it a reflection of their personality, in my opinion. I really don't have a choice in the direction of how believe people should be treated and governed, I use the wisdom evolution gave me and feelings of my spirit to guide me. I try to treat people the way I would like to be treated, however I've never been driven by the greed and materialism that seems to influence most people in the U.S. I've never been influenced by the promise of things, but rather by the progression of ideas. There is no right or wrong way to live, as long as you don't inhibit the rights and liberties of anyone else.
Personally, I have always leaned to the conservative side, but have a lot of viewpoints and opinions that most people would consider liberal.
I believe the best way to live is someone in middle ground of these two influences. I like tradition and routine, but believe that progress is as necessary to life as evolution. I like to have my personal liberties, but believe that some sort of government is required to limit the power, influence, and greed of those who take advantage of others.
It is best to try to balance these ideals, conservatism and liberalism, and not let one side have too much influence over the other. That is exactly what is currently happening in the U.S. It is time to balance these groups.
Thomas Jefferson was one of the most intelligent presidents the US has ever elected. In the present day, intelligent people stay far away from the nonsense of politics, but in his day it was actually an honorable profession.
That made me realize, that two of the basic founding philosophies promoted by the Republican party, in Jefferson's day, were sharp limits on the powers of the federal government, and the separation of church and state.
Look at them now. It is time to fire these imposters that have hijacked the Republican party and created a government which is beginning to give itself too much power and becoming controlled by the influence of the religious conservatives.
Under the weather
Physically, Mentally, Literally
Exhausted without cause
Cleansing rain, much impurity
The Black Dog is scratching on my back door.
Home State Premiere, August 10, at the Capri Theatre in Montgomery. Tonya S. Holly and star of the film, Lily Matland Holly will be in attendance.
Inspired by a true story. With her faithful dog and pet rabbit in tow, young Lily Strickland (Lily Matland Holly) leaves her mother (Amy Redford) and grandparents (Diane Ladd and Lee Majors) behind to embark on a purposeful journey: to find where her father disappeared at sea years ago. But she also leaves behind her mother's new boyfriend, Dean (Richard Tyson), a man with a disturbingly dark side that only Lily has seen firsthand.
Filmed in Alabama, Award Winning Independent Film: When I Find the Ocean
For showtimes and ticket information, please visit: http://www.capritheatre.org/
The film is also already available on DVD and thru NetFlix.
Ok, so the customer reviews on NetFlix aren't so great, but most complain about it being a sappy family drama, and I like those kind of movies, so it won't stop me.
One reviewer states "The dog was the best actor and deserves an oscar". Well, yeah. duh! That is enough of an endorsement for me.
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Haiku Version:
(inspired by MadHaiku)
sultry summer rush
hot wet gasping thick moist air
running in the south
Long Version:
This last Saturday's race was HOT, like last year, but more humid.
I'm so sick of this miserable heat. Please September, come quick.
Dew was still forming on my car as I drove to the race, it wouldn't dry even as I was driving, with wind hitting the windshield. The wipers on my car could not keep the outside of the windows from fogging up. It was 75 (F), which means the dew point was 75 degrees or higher. It was 85 at race time and I was sweating standing still.
SOOOOOOOO, that's my excuse for running a disappointing time, the air was just too thick to breath. My time was off by about a minute, but so was star of the show, the Alabama State 5K champion. His time was off by about a 45 seconds from his great finish last year, even the Kenyans, who usually finish in under 15:00 minutes, didn't finish as well as the past.
Three summers ago I would have been more than satisfied with that time. Then, my 5K average was around 25 minutes, and some slower race times. I thought I was past my peak, and couldn't take the heat here in the south. During a routine physical I complained to my physician of not sleeping well, sore muscles and tendons, and RLS (Restless Legs Syndrome). He noted that my iron levels were a bit low, and referred me to a neurologist to treat the RLS. I knew that my iron was low, because for the first time in my life I had been turned down for blood donation only a week before the physical. The neurologist took more blood to check my ferritin count, a component of blood iron that isn't checked during routine physicals. I received a call the next day from the neurologist's receptionist. She said that I needed to go to the store and get some iron supplements and start taking them right away. The effect was immediate, soreness disappeared, RLS stopped, and my running pace quickened without much effort. It was not just low blood iron, but low ferritin. The low ferritin was causing the low blood iron and not allowing for proper recovery after my runs. Why was the ferritin low? It was a combination of my active lifestyle, excessive sweating (I grew up in much milder climates), and a vegetarian diet. I have since modified my diet, but I still sweat too much in the summer.
Fellow Montgomery Runners
From left to right: Ron, Jim, Diane, and me (# 356)
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No time for blogging. Going on a weekend trip to the RRCA Southern Regional 5K Championship. I don't stand a chance against these elite runners, but I get to socialize with them, which is all I want to do.
This is what I want to do when I retire. No, not become a Canine Companion, raise them.
Am I losing my mind? Did I ever have sanity? Is this reality?. One voice says no, the other laughs and says "why are you asking stupid questions, fool". I wish they would just be quiet so I could sleep.
If you don't like my opinions, that's fine. They are mine, not yours. You can't have them, get your own.
If you do like my opinions, then you need to start thinking for yourself, quit letting the media control your mind.
Yes, I'm a believer, but it's not what you believe.
Best of Luck.
