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26 septiembre Newer and More Improved Things continue to change in the world, and things continue to change for me. As noted quite some time back, I have moved beyond, though not completely abandoned this site. In the evolution of the man known as "Pol," we started with Running Pol, right here. A faithful and exciting blog, it became merely a stepping stone in the journey. Soon, Iron Pol was born, and the journey from marathoner to triathlete began. Many followed me, most did not.
But the Iron Pol blog contained one small discrepancy. Though I had started a "career" in triathlon, the term 'Iron' was somewhat inaccurate. Referring to the Ironman triathlon, it is a title that really should be earned. And that requires the completion of a 140.6 mile race consisting of a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike, and a 26.2 mile run. Most familiar is the Ironman World Championships held in Kona, Hawaii each November. That also is something that must be earned.
After the 2006 season, during which I complete three shorter triathlons, I attempted to sign up for Ironman Wisconsin and was unable to complete the registration process before the race was sold out. Devestated at being unable to register for a race I never actually intended on running, I began to constantly monitor triathlon sites for other options.
Soon enough, a new race was announced. In 2007, the inaugural Ironman Louisville would be held. This time, I would not be denied. On the day registration opened, I was at a friend's house with three computers and a high speed Internet connection. Shortly after sign-ups opened, I had my registration confirmation. That began a 10-month journey from novice triathlete to the start line of my first Ironman.
My Iron Pol site details the events of the day as I earned the title I had so innocently assumed nearly 18 months earlier.
And then, the "blogspot" portion of the address became bothersome. As did the constraints of the system. So, it was time to move on.
That began with registering the domain www.ironpol.com and establishing a new presence on the Internet. And, as with the change from Running Pol to Iron Pol, the journey remains documented on the original sites. So, if you wander through here, know that I am still alive and kicking. In fact, I'm growing, evolving, and improving. Stop by and let me know how you found me. And perhaps you'll find something to peak your interest and encourage you to continue on this journey. 08 septiembre Are Apologies in OrderRecent news reports have former State Department official Richard Armitage admitting to being Robert Novak's source identifying Valerie Plame as a CIA operative. After three year's of investigations, with most critics directing blame towards President Bush, Vice President Cheney, and VP aid "Scooter" Libby, the truth is coming to light. It makes one wonder what impact this revelation will have.
Will all those who have directed their efforts at impugning the name of the President and Vice President apologize for their comments? Will they abandon their unsupported conspiracy theories about the White House attempting to destroy those with differing opinions (unlike liberals who support diverse viewpoints, just ask Senator Lieberman)? Will they ask that the charges against Scooter Libby be dropped, or will they continue to pursue him as a consolation prize? Will those driven by their hatred of President Bush be able to accept the admission from Armitage?
Another set of questions must be directed at Special Prosecutor Fitzgerald. When was it discovered that Armitage was the source, instead of Libby and/or Cheney, as many believed? If there are unclassified documents identifying Plame as a CIA operative, including where she worked, has any crime been committed? If we have an admission from the source of the information, with no intention of pursuing legal action against that individual, is it time for apologies to those falsely pursued and dissolution of this office of independent counsel?
In the desire to malign an administration they despise, a great many false claims and accusations have been made. The Plame's themselves filed suit against the administration because of their mistaken belief they were targeted by the President and Vice President. Apparently, their claims have less validity than they would like to claim.
Of course, any realist understands that this will all be labeled as part of the conspiracy. Armitage is being a "fall guy." Conspiracy theorists will determine that he is being paid large sums of money with lots of promises of protection for doing this. His action to protect the White House will be repaid. As usual, there will be no evidence to support this theory, but it won't take long before a few whackos present this as some sort of proven fact. And we'll start the whole process over, again.
Until then, at least, I'll be waiting to see how many apologies are printed in the same full page ads that were used to accuse the White House of illegal actions. 28 agosto Rock the VoteAs we approach election day in the United States, the political machines around the country are ramping up their campaigns. The Democratic and Republican Parties have both deemed this election as one of the most important of this generation. Of course, every election cycle is "the most important," as there are always key issues to be addressed.
This year is no different. There are a great many issues of significant importance. And true to form, various groups define their cause as the defining issue of the year, and believe votes should be cast based upon that single issue. They'll usually tell you how you should vote, as well. They are correct about one thing. You should vote. But your vote should be based on your own research and evaluation of the issues. Because their is a lot of spin going on out there, and getting to the whole truth is difficult, if not impossible. Your best bet is to read a lot of news, form your own opinions based on that news and your personal philosophy, and vote accordingly.
Here is a list of some of the topics that should have some impact on your vote:
Fiscal accountability - both parties claim to be for fiscal responsibility. Both have shown that the drumbeat of fiscal responsibility is generally beat by the opposition party. Republicans spent decades fighting the rampant growth of government they saw while Democrats controlled Congress. Now that Republicans have been in control for a decade, we see a bit of role reversal. Democrats are now calling out for fiscal control as Republicans generate much of the same pork they vehemently opposed in the past.
Taxation - both parties also claim to support tax cuts. The key difference is the beneficiary of those benefits. On one side are calls to transfer money from the wealthy to the poor. Many in this country pay no taxes, and therefore see no refund. Some receive "refunds," even though no taxes were paid (also known as transfer payments). The other side of the argument is to give tax breaks across the board. Those who pay some taxes receive a small break. Those who pay more taxes receive bigger breaks. Some refer to that as an equitable reduction in taxes. Others call it a tax break for the wealthy. Either way, tax policy should be a part of your decision making process.
Immigration - the issue of immigration has become a recurring theme in American politics. When the last general amnesty was granted 20 years ago, our elected officials claimed illegal immigration would no longer be a problem. Apparently, they were correct. It was no problem for people to enter the country illegally. And we now face the consequences of our immigration policy over the last 20 years. Basically, neither party is willing to address this issue. Both claim to have the solution. One thing is certain, immigration is a major topic in this election cycle. There are several takes on the subject, which can help you formulate a voting plan. First is the general amnesty plan, which nobody openly admits to supporting. Many, however, do favor granting amnesty to all who are currently here illegally. Another idea being floated around is the layered amnesty concept. Those here for many years pay a fine and receive citizenship. Those here for several years have to leave and are then allowed to immediately re-enter the country and seek citizenship. Those here less than 5 years have to leave and try to re-enter through normal avenues. (As an editorial, I would point out that "normal" for these people is to sneak across the border and be here illegally). Another option is to actually secure our borders and then enforce those laws already in place. Stop the flood of illegal immigration, and then deport anyone found to be here illegally. How you feel on the immigration issue will, to some degree, dictate your choices in the election.
The war in Iraq - separate from the war on Islamic terrorists, the war in Iraq is a hot-button topic. While debate rages about the actual events leading up to the war, a far better question for this election cycle is the actual prosecution of the war. The intelligence used to enter the war has been debated for the past several years. It is, at this point, largely moot. We are engaged with the enemy, and the conflict was entered with the support of Congress (debate surrounding the garnering of that support notwithstanding). Now, our leadership must determine the best course of action for securing long-term stability in the region, identify the circumstances under which American forces can begin to draw down, and ensure that our sacrifices in this conflict were not made in vain. Discussion of the history of the war is as counterproductive as continuing to debate whether President Bush or former Vice President Al Gore won the 2000 elections. Our energies are best directed at identifying who can better lead the United States in assisting the new Iraqi government to final victory over the aggressors in Iraq.
The war on Islamic terrorists - while some will take offense at the addition of the adjective "Islamic," it is important to remember where the "war on terror" is directed. While there are homegrown terrorists such as Timothy McVeigh, we are not truly at war with them. There are terrorists operating in the war on drugs. We aren't really at war with them. And there are enemies in many other struggles who use terror as a tool. We aren't engaged in a war on them. We are in a war against those who have hijacked the Islamic religion and declared war on the United States. This war began decades ago. Iranian extremists were fighting the war when they took Americans hostage during the administration of President Jimmy Carter. The conflict continued under President Reagan when they bombed the Marine barracks in Beirut, Leganon. President Bush (first) had to deal with Saddam Hussein's campaign to expand Iraq. President Clinton was plagued by Islamic terrorists as seen in numerous attacks in the 1990's. The Khobar Towers bombing, the USS Cole, embassies around the world, the first WTC bombing, etc. ad nauseum. And President Bush had only been in office a short time when the final "declaration of war" was made with the WTC attacks of September 11, 2001. We continue to fight this enemy, and will continue to fight for some time. The Cold War continued for more than 50 years, and some contend it hasn't even ended. To believe the war on Islamic terrorists will end in five or six years is foolish and shortsighted. That said, we must vote for those we believe will promote the best policies for addressing the issue.
Integrity and vision - something often overlooked, this should be a key factor in your decision making process. Elected officials should do more than speak out of one side of their mouth. They should live the principals they claim to support. All too often, our representatives make claims they believe to be most politically expedient. In other words, they say what they believe you want to hear. Their votes will have nothing to do with what they say, as they have already been elected. Come the next election cycle, they will again "re-mold" themselves into the package for which you are likely to vote. Rather than listening to what they say, find out how the vote and what laws the write. It is all public record. You may find that the person for whom you voted doesn't actually vote the way you believe they do. It might sway your opinion.
Most importantly, vote. Our government was founded as a representative government, which means it represents those who vote. If you stay home on election day, it isn't actually your government. It only belongs to those who vote. But before you vote, learn. An uneducated voter who pulls levers based on what they have been told to do isn't a voter, they're a puppet. Like Pinocchio, we need to cut the strings of those who would control us, and vote for those who will best represent you.
In this post, I have attempted to suppress any bias I hold (and I do have them). While I am more than willing to share why I believe people should vote a certain way, this is aimed at getting people to think for themselves. If you have any specific questions about the various issues, please let me know. 24 agosto Iron Pol is the Place to BeIf you haven't noticed, time continues to be a strain. While the original plan was to maintain both weblogs, Iron Pol has continued to be the primary location for my blogging time. For those who remain interested in following my blogging, please stop by there. I have left the anonymous comment option open, so you can leave comments. If you leave your blog name, I'll swing by and see what's happening.
I will, however, keep this site open, and try to get at it as time allows. The triathlon season is winding down, and I have only one last marathon scheduled for late September. After that, training will take up a bit less of my time.
Thanks for continuing to stop by, and make sure you follow the link to my other site. 13 julio Finally!Well, for those of you who thought I might have died, it is nothing that serious. The long absence from posting came from two factors. First, an inability to log in to Spaces, whether at home or at work. Second is a schedule that is absolutely maxed out with work, triathlon training, and kids.
There has been so much going on, both in the training world and the political world, that needs to be covered. Time, however, remains somewhat constrained. At least being able to get here while in the office will help. A great deal of my blogging occurs before starting the work day, or after finishing.
In addition, a second blog has been started. The link is at left, and Iron Pol is where most of my training entries have been going. For those more interested in political discourse, that site will bore you. It has lots about training, and little about political issues.
So, if Spaces and work computers continue to play nicely, I'll be able to get more done, here. If not, stop by Iron Pol and see what's happening. 08 junio Another Hydra Head GoneNews of the death of terrorist leader abu Musab al Zarqawi got me to thinking about the mythical hydra. Is this the death that breaks the back of the terrorist groups operating in Iraq, or will another seven heads appear to replace him? The elimination of Zarqawi is a good thing. Only time will tell the impact of his death.
It was only a short time after the news of his death that debate commenced on whether that news is good or bad. Those determined to see every action taken by the current administration in a negative light were quick to point out that Zarqawi's "martyrdom" was certain to result in a surge in terrorist recruiting. The other side, while cautious in their optimism, seemed eager to report the beginning of the end of al Qaeda in Iraq. Neither stance is likely to be all that accurate. While Zarqawi was the apparent leader of terrorist groups in Iraq, removing him from the scene is likely to make room for other influential madmen to step into the role. It was only a short time after Osama bin Laden was forced to flee the relative safety of Afghanistan for a life on the run that Zarqawi stepped in to fill his turban. It seems safe to assume others will be ready to pick up the pieces and fan the fires of hatred bin Laden and Zarqawi kept lit.
The argument that Zarqawi's death will fuel the terrorist recruiting is likewise disengenious. Those people supporting al Qaeda's efforts need little help in feeding their hatred. The hatred exists, and has existed for some time. Killing Zarqawi might be used as justification by those outside the terrorist groups to justify the murderous rampage of those groups. It isn't needed to fuel the hatred.
So, we sit and wait. We wait to see if another "terrorist mastermind" has enough of a deathwish (or desires his 72 virgins) to step into the role of public enemy number one. Or will the death of Zarqawi be the catalyst that causes people to start keeping their heads down? Will his death be enough to make terrorists around the world consider the idea of trying another path, a path with peace as a possible destination?
The death of Zarqawi, just like the death of all others in the region, is regrettable. It is, however, different. Coalition soldiers, Iraqi police, contractors, reporters, and civilians were murdered by terrorist forces attempting to bully the people into submission. Zarqawi was a military target eliminated in an effort to promote peace. Hopefully, the deaths will soon end and Iraq can begin to build an effective and lasting peace. 30 mayo Pots and KettlesIt seems like only a few months ago that Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid was referring to the absolute corruption of the Republican party due to ties to disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Oh, that's because it was only a few months ago. Like Reid, Democrats were overjoyed at the idea of pushing the so-called "culture of corruption" theory before the American people.
Back then, I believe I pointed out that both parties are equally corrupt, and one referring to the other as lacking in morals was idiotic.
And now, it appears that Senator Reid will have his own corruption issues to address. It seems he was accepting ringside seats at boxing events while the provider of those tickets was seeking his assistance in legislative matters. Other senators took different tacts, either paying for the tickets, or recusing themselves from any action on the legislation.
Not Senator Reid. He took the tickets. He accepted them at no-charge. And he pushed legislation aimed at helping those who provided them. And who do we find at the center of all this? Jack Abramoff.
I wonder if Harry Reid will now do what he has been so quick to demand of others. If he takes the advice he has been so free with, we should expect his resignation in short order. Then again, he's a Democrat. He couldn't possibly be corrupt? Could he? Training NoteNote to self:
When it's 25 degrees warmer than any recent run AND it's so humid you can cut the air with a knife AND you haven't had a good night's sleep in three days AND you haven't eaten like you are going to run 13 miles...
Don't try to run 13 miles. 26 mayo Let the Conference Fun BeginWell, it appears the Senate has finally ended debate and voted to pass a bill reforming immigration laws. We should be thankful that they were at least able to work together and pass something. Of course, using that logic, we should also be thankful when a student gets a D, since they at least passed.
The real fun, however, is yet to come. If you're unaware of the process, or unfamiliar with the specific instance, Congress must now go into Conference Committee, as the bill passed in the Senate differs from the bill passed by the House of Representatives. And it promises to be an interesting conference.
The House of Representatives, who's members face elections every two years, passed a bill that deals primarily with the issue of border security, and absolutely denies citizenship to anyone in the United States illegally. In fact, it mandates that those identified as undocumented be transported to their country of origin.
The Senate bill, which Senators are claiming as "comprehensive," makes a token effort at securing the borders, and then provides a clear and definite path for illegal immigrants to become US citizens. It also establishes a guest worker program, something the House also opposes, though less so than the issue of amnesty (I mean, Path to Earned Citizenship, which is also known as, ummm, amnesty).
The amnesty may well be the silver bullet that ensures we actually have no immigration reform out of Congress. The Senate has bowed to the pressure by non-citizens and lobbyist groups attempting to justify or outright condone the illegal actions of those immigrants. And the House, listening to the voices of voting Americans who will determine whether they return for another session, seems poised to refuse any concessions on the issue. Given an inability to find common ground, the bill dies in conference. And the U.S. borders will continue to be a sieve through which hundreds of thousands of illegal migrants pour every year.
Congress had the opportunity to address the one real issue, border security. If our elected officials had opted to address the real issue, porous borders, the other issues could have been addressed over time. Those illegal immigrants who prove that getting here was their only crime might be offered a path to citizenship (one that should start with them returning to their country). Those illegal immigrants found to be criminal in other areas could be dealt with in the justice system. And those that live here under the radar will continue to do just that.
But there would be an end in sight. With secure borders, the illegal immigrant issue will decline over time. Without secure borders, Congress has only repeated what was done 20 years ago. Renamed all illegal immigrants as citizens, and started the whole process over, again. 21 mayo Green Bay MarathonFor the first time in years, the Green Bay Marathon had clear weather during the entire race. It was a clear, sunny, slightly cool day, with temps around 45F at the 7 a.m. start. This was a nice change, and allowed me to have a long run AND stay dry. Going in to the race, my goal was to have a nice run, finish under 2 hours, and feel strong at the end. Not too much to ask for a 13.1 mile stroll through Green Bay. I settled in to a groove early in the race, completing the first mile in an 8 min 40 sec pace. The pace felt good, and another runner (Bob, who builds boats and is looking for work) was keeping pace. We talked about jobs, races we've run, and various other topics. The miles were flying by, and our pace picked up mile by mile. All the while we were talking, so I wasn't overly concerned. By watch, I was just trying to make sure that the pace was somewhere in the less than 8 min 30 sec area. By miles, here are the split paces as tracked electronically, along with the corresponding pace for that mile: Mile Mile pace Ave. Pace 1 8m4os 8m40s 2 8m20s 8m30s 3 8m19s 8m26s 4 8m13s 8m23s 5 8m24s 8m23s 6 8m08s 8m20s 7 8m16s 8m21s 8 7m35s 8m15s 9 7m36s 8m11s 10-13.1 7m41s/mile (no mats after mile 9, based on time from mile 9 to finish) At mile 7, the guy running with me pulled up with cramps and said he would be unable to hold the pace. I picked up the pace, and held it until the end of the race. And I was able to achieve the non-time related goals, as I felt strong and in-control through the end. My pace was near conversational the entire race, and I finished well under the 2 hour goal. The overall pace for the race was 8m 2s, which nearly made me beat myself in anger. A mere 30 seconds faster, and I would have broken the 8 min mark over 13 miles run. In the end, though, I am happy. I could have took off on Bob and made the sub-8 pace, but wouldn't have had as much fun in the process. And he finished the race 8 or 10 minutes behind me, and I was glad to see he made it. Despite my failure to beat the 8 minute pace, a promotional flyer for the Chicago Marathon made me feel proud. Based on my time today, I would qualify for preferred starting in that race. With 40,000 entrants, they have several corrals at the start, and a 1hr 45m half-marathon qualifies for the slowest of the preferred start corrals. It's a long way from the elite corral (of 100 men and 100 women), but it is a boost to my ego that I qualify for ANY sort of preferential placement. It was a good day to run. It almost makes me wish I had run the full marathon. Of course, had I done that, I wouldn't even be home, yet. Total HypocrisyAs the Mexican government threatens to sue the United States government if it takes actions to secure it's borders and deport illegal immigrants, Mexico is placing greater restrictions on immigrants to their country.
This news article just about says it all. It does a good job of detailing the immigration policy of Mexico. If the United States adopted the same policy and stricly enforced the borders, the screams from south of the border would be heard around the world.
It just goes to show that hypocrisy is not limited to the U.S. government. It's a world-wide problem. 17 mayo Immigration Cop-outThe debate surrounding the immigration problems facing the country has picked up in the days following President Bush's address to the nation. Oddly enough, this issue has somehow managed to split BOTH parties. Politics sometimes makes strange bedfellows.
To date, the most annoying part of this whole debate is that we remain most likely to see either nothing or a completely ineffective bill come out of Congress. With both parties divided, any bill that is drafted will most likely be watered down in every aspect. It is sad that our representatives seem so incapable of either seeing the country's best interest or hearing the voices of American citizens. They are too busy listening to the outcry from illegal immigrants, while watching the American flag fly upside-down below the Mexican flag.
Only slightly less annoying is the discussion centered on how to handle the 10-15 million illegal immigrants already in the United States. Those supporting amnesty for those unable to obey U.S. immigration law contend that amnesty is the only solution. They continue to argue that it would be impossible and outrageously expensive to round up and deport 12 million illegal immigrants. I truly wonder how people with such flawed logic manage to become leaders in this country.
This argument, which begs the greater question, simply seeks to focus attention away from the true issue. If the debate can be directed towards the cost of deporting illegal aliens, people lose sight of the cost of NOT deporting them. And they also lose sight of the fact that the supposed costs are based on fielding a massive team of federal agents to go and track the immigrants down and transport them out of the country.
Those opposed to amnesty have yet to present that as a solution. Most want two things. First, they want the borders secured. They want to know that regardless of the rest of the plan, our border will no longer represent a sieve through which a half-million illegal immigrants pour every year. Second, they want to know that those immigrants coming to this country legally receive preference over those who violated the law.
Immigration reform must first and foremost secure our borders. Many of our leaders, the President included, seem to view that as secondary. If they get their heads on straight and stop the flood of illegals coming into the country, they can deal with those already here at their leisure.
At that point, handling those already in the country is easy. If they are found to be here illegally, they can be deported. For the millions who never violate another American law, who pursue those goals which brought them here (work, good pay, security, whatever), and who stay off our radar, they will have nothing to fear. We don't need a police force to hunt down the illegals who need to be deported. They will do all the work by shining the spotlight on themselves.
But again, it seems readily apparent to the most casual observer that Congress is poised to cop-out on the whole issue. They are working hard at legislation that will do nothing. Perhaps they will shock me. Perhaps they will produce a comprehensive bill that will actually fix a national problem. But I'll remain a realist and expect nothing more than history indicates we will get. 10 mayo Border BattleA disturbing fact was recently uncovered in the ongoing saga of illegal immigration. A report in the Daily Bulletin indicates the U.S. government has been notifying the Mexican government of the location of The Minutemen, United States citizens patrolling US borders in an effort to highlight the illegal immigration issue. These reports are, as a minimum, alarming. They border on reckless and treasonous.
The stated purpose of these reports, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection is to protect migrant rights and ensure there is no lawlessness going on at the U.S. borders.
That, in my opinion, shows a complete lack of understanding of both the severity of the issue and the mission of the agency. It should be noted that stated in their name is "border protection." It doesn't state "migrant rights protection." This stance also attempts to minimize that illegal immigrants are the lawless ones. With very limited exceptions, the Minutemen have fulfilled their mission of observing and assisting. In addition to assisting the border patrol, they have assisted illegal immigrants in need of aid. While there have been a few isolated incidents (resulting in the immediate removal of the offending Minuteman) of "lawlessness" on the part of the Minutemen, every instance of illegal immigration is lawlessness in and of itself.
More importantly is the fact that the United States government appears to be working with the Mexican government to aid illegal immigrants in the process of violating U.S. borders. All while circumventing U.S. citizens attempting to shed light on the relative ease of securing those borders.
What will the US Customs and Border Protection agency do when 1 million U.S. citizens descend on the borders to seal them? Perhaps that is what is needed. Instead of 6000 Minutemen, let's organize 100,000 or 1,000,000 of them. When the entire Mexican/U.S. border is blocked by a wall of concerned U.S. citizens, the only statement the U.S. government will have available is, "Mexico, stop your people from heading this way. The U.S. citizens have made it abundantly clear that legal avenues of migration are the only ones they will accept." Or, "The present location of the Minutemen is from the Pacific Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico covering the entire border."
In addition to covering the border, this would let the U.S. government know that the citizens don't appreciate our government helping foreigners violate our policies and laws. 03 mayo Caving in to the Soda ScareThe beverage industry announced today that it has finally caved in to the junk science being used to scare parents about obese children. Okay, they didn't word it that way. That is what it is, though.
The actual announcement is that the American Beverage Association, which includes industry giants Pepsi and Coke, signed an agreement to stop selling certain drinks in U.S. schools. The general thrust is that sweetened soda will no longer be available to kids in school.
Allow me to start by stating that I'm a bit old school. I grew up in an era when soda wasn't available in school, period. There weren't vending machines all over the building, and we got our food and drinks through one of three methods. We brought lunch from home, we bought lunch in the cafeteria, or we raided the stores before school to stock up on junk. The thought of kids being unable to buy sodas at school is of little concern to me.
What is of concern is the wholesale disregard of facts and statistics in this move. The agreement is aimed at reducing childhood obesity. That, of course, begs the question of what is actually causing increases (if any) in the level of childhood obesity.
First, the science completely fails to support any link between soda consumption and obesity. Research continually proves that, while important, diet is, at best, a minor culprit in obesity. And soda plays only a very minor part in the diet statistic. Of far greater importance is the presence or lack of physical activity.
Second, this agreement only addresses the sale of sodas. Though it discusses limiting sales to unsweetened juices and diet sodas, specifically allowed are sports drinks. As a runner and triathlete in training, the logic of that decision completely misses me.
While there are sodas in my house, sports drinks are far more prevelant, as that is the drink of choice for exercise. Sports drinks, in general, have fewer calories per 8 ounce serving. They also tend to come in larger containers than soda. A vending machine dispensing 12 ounce cans of soda spits out 150 calories per actual serving (being one can). A machine with sports drink will spit out about 140 calories, as they tend to come in 20 ounce bottles.
So, the children that are unable to purchase 150 calories in the form of soda can still get 140 calories in the form of sports drinks. The same calories could be burned off by making the child walk a few hundred feet to get the soda. In otherwords, it's pointless.
As mentioned before, I grew up in schools without vending machines. That never prevented anyone from having soda, candy, or any other junk food that was desired. There are plenty of stores in the city. Preventing the sale of soda in schools, today, might be a good move. But I'll make the bet now that it has absolutely zero impact on the state of childhood obesity.
That problem will only be resolved when we get the kids off the couch and out of the house. With the understandable exception specific medical conditions, most childhood obesity can be solved with a disciplined exercise routine.
I know it worked wonders, for me. 02 mayo Protests in PerspectiveOn Monday, an estimated one million immigrants participated in the "Day Without Immigrants" protests across the United States. And a million is a lot of people. We shouldn't, however, lose perspective of the big picture.
The U.S. government estimates there are 35 million immigrants in this country. Of that, approximately 10-15 million are here illegally. The total U.S. population, based on census estimates, approached 300 million in 2005.
That allows us to put the protests into proper perspective. This analysis assumes the government estimates to be reasonably accurate (which my be a stretch, but it's all we have).
First, let's consider the million protestors from a strictly "illegal immigrant" standpoint. Given that we have greater than 10 million illegal immigrants in this country, yesterday's protests drew less than 10% of that population. Far less if we consider that many of those protesting were either legal immigrants or United States citizens. Regardless, more than 90% of those here illegally did what they do most frequently. They kept their heads down, acknowledging that their ability to stay here is put at risk if they stick their necks too far out.
In a country governed by majorities, garnering less than 10% vote is insufficient to force change, and barely sufficient to influence change. Both the Reform and Green Parties can attest to the challenges of effecting change with less than 10% of the populace.
There is still a bigger picture to consider. That picture accounts for the total immigrant population. Using 33 million immigrants, the May 1st protests drew less than 3% of the total population. That leaves 97% who for some reason failed to support this movement. Some of those may have been fearful of reprisals. Others may have been more interested in the money from the jobs they broke immigration laws to get. And still others counter-protested, stating their opposition to the voices calling for liberalization of the immigration policy.
Finally, we have to consider the total U.S. population of 300 million. These protests drew about 1/3 of one percent of the total population. More than 99% of Americans (both legal and undocumented) stayed home. And while compared to the civil rights movement of the past, this movement seems to be losing traction. Elected representatives received considerable guidance from their constituents during their two week recess. Though some of that advice voiced opposition to further criminalizing illegal immigration, most of it voiced strong opposition to anything that smells of amnesty.
There were a million loud voices in the streets on May 1st. They screamed for justice. They screamed for their rights. All while disregarding the justice and rights due others taking the legal paths to U.S. citizenship.
But there were many more voices taking a different approach. They weren't yelling and screaming for rights that don't exist. They were calmly letting their representatives know what to expect if the immigration fiasco isn't handled in a fair and reasonable manner. And those are the voices that have access to the voting booths. Those are the voices that represent a true threat to those in Congress. Perhaps our elected officials heard what was being said. 01 mayo Circular Immigration ArgumentsThe flawed logic used by those arguing in support of general amnesty for illegal immigrants continues to show as they promote protests around the country. One situation from the news wires, this morning, stood head and shoulders about the rest.
Forgive me for being remiss with names, I don't remember. The gentleman would probably prefer to remain unnamed, anyway. The circular arguments he presents are something I would certainly not want associated with my name.
In one interview, this widely known immigrant rights supporter protested quite vehemently that the term illegal should be removed from the discussion. For two reasons, he objects to the term. First, he believes those immigrants here without legal status are in no way violating the law. Second, he feels that labeling them "illegal" is based only upon the misguided belief that those immigrants don't have a right to be in the country. He feels that anyone desiring to be in the United States has a right to be here.
In a second interview, he blasted the legislation presented by Representative James Sensenbrenner (R-WI). He stated that any legislation that does not offer a means to legalize those immigrants already in the United States is unacceptable.
That was the statement that caused mental gymnastics in my head. Immigration reform must contain provisions to legalize currently undocumented immigrants? I thought they weren't "illegal." Perhaps he knows the truth of the matter better than he'd like to admit.
His protests seem to disregard one fact, anyway. There already exists a means by which foreigners can become United States citizens. Or, barring the desire to be citizens, there is a means for entering the country to work, often for years, even decades. What is this "new" means the protestors are seeking? Call it what you want, it is amnesty. They feel they have the right, as non-citizens, to demand that officials elected to represent the American people bow to their wishes. They do not have that right.
The right they do have is to enter this country through the processes already in place. I would argue they even have the right to voice concern over that process. Many Americans would agree that the current immigration, naturalization, and guest worker programs are ineffective at best. American citizens who feel that amnesty programs are bad policy are justified in their beliefs. We are a nation of immigrants. Most of those immigrants came to this nation through completely legal and normal channels. Those who came here or remain here in violation of US policy thumb their noses at the rest of us when they say anyone who opposes illegal immigration are somehow "anti-immigrant." It is quite possible to support immigration while asking it be done legally.
So, the circular arguments will continue. And it is increasingly likely that what we will get in the end is more of the same. We will continue to have porous borders allowing hundreds of thousands of foreigners to enter our country illegally. We will continue to provide public support for those already here. We will continue to face the difficult decision of how to handle illegal immigrants with US born children (who are therefore legal US residents). And we will continue to face the question of how to handle 15 million illegal immigrants every 20 years. Bored and Retarded.This morning was going to be all about the immigration debate. Other things have demanded attention, though. It's amazing the impact that morally retarded people with computers and an excess of time can accomplish.
Some brain dead moron has accomplished the rather difficult task of becoming the only slack loser to be mentioned (though nameless) in a blog entry. This is normally reserved to those who accomplish notable achievements worth emulating.
I spent the last 30 minutes or so deleting blank, anonymous comments to various blog entries. While this site welcomes anonymous entries by those concerned about negative responses to controversial posts, blank entries are the sign of a singularly pointless existence. My best hope is that these were somehow SPAM related and MSN weeded the trash out from the desirable comments. It is equally likely that this was simply someone without the mental aptitude to respond intelligently, and therefore resorts to wasting the time of serious bloggers.
For those who find some twisted pleasure in the posting of countless blank comments, my only suggestion would be to turn off the computer, leave the house, and attempt to interact with the real world. At least then, if there is an odd desire to continue to be a retarded moron, someone can point out the errors of your ways. 28 abril One of Those DaysOn the wall of my supervisor's office hangs a master reset switch. For those unfamiliar with such devices, this one is a cast iron frying pan, painted white with a red "bull's eye" suitable for pounding one's head (or pounding the head of another). Today, it looks pretty good, except I know that were I to pound my head against it, I might just damage the wall.
It's just been one of those days.
You know the kind. The days where you have the anti-midas touch, where everything that crosses your desk turns into a pile, and we're not talking gold. The days where being home with the flu seems a better alternative. The days where blogs are a lifesaver, without which you probably WOULD put your head through the monitor.
These are the days that make me laugh. Co-workers sometimes think I'm nuts because I look at the complete mess created by others and shrug it off. I always find some way to bull my way through the garbage and straighten things out, regardless of how painful it becomes.
It's something like marathons. I've always found what was needed to get to the end of a race. Whether it's massive amounts of sugary foods chased with cups of gatorade or finding a moving body in front of me on which to focus, I've always found my way to the finish line.
It's Friday. The weekend is here. Go and find something else to occupy your mind, and leave the messes until Monday. There are laps to swim and miles to bike and run.
Go. Train. The races are almost here.
26 abril Public Service - Blind SpotsThough a bit off topic for this blog, here is a reminder from which we can all benefit.
When changing lanes in your car, remember to check your blindspots. And let's be honest with ourselves about how consistently we actually do that. Anyone who has been driving more than five years has probably gotten lax, anyone driving more than 10 years tends to forget blindspots even exist.
I got to watch a wonderful example of failing to check blind spots (or even not-so-blind-right-next-to-you spots) on the trip home from work, last night. A few miles from home, a police car behind me hit his lights and siren. I pulled into the right lane and slowed down. When I pulled over, the lady in front of me saw the car, and also pulled over, fairly rapidly.
So rapidly, in fact, that she missed the large pick-up truck that was right next to her. She hit the truck so hard she forced it up the curb and off the road. The driver of the truck, showing amazing presence, managed to push back onto the road, thereby avoiding the shiny new F150 sitting in a driveway. Whatever call the officer was headed for would have to wait. He had a new incident to address.
As I sat there, waiting to see if the officer needed any information from me, I considered how well I had checked the other lane before I pulled over. To be honest, I was probably lucky. While I always try to be aware of my surroundings, I can't swear that I actually looked to ensure I had a clear lane.
So, this public service announcement. Remember that there are blindspots surrounding your car. Check them every now and again, particularly when changing lanes in a hurry. Otherwise, you might be the next good crash to be blogged. 19 abril Rank DebateIt appears the high school from which I graduated is caught up in a ridiculous phenomena sweeping the nation. The school board in Neenah, Wisconsin is debating the idea of eliminating the class ranking system for graduating students. It is a practice that is growing in popularity. And it is a practice sure to do more damage than good.
The common argument for eliminating the class rank structure is that such rankings damage the self-esteem of those students who rank lower. This somehow damages them in the future. A second argument that occassionally rears its ugly head is that ranking systems can be inherently unfair when course load and course difficulty are not considered. Both arguments are flawed, and pressure needs to be applied across the country to ensure that our young adults face the prospect of being compared to others.
Much of what we do in life subjects us to ranking. Some would argue that ranking students is bad. Yet how prepared will students be for real life if they have never competed against their peers? While in the Navy, my promotions were very much a function of my performance compared to that of other electricians in my field. When applying for jobs, whether one is hired is a direct result of competition with others competing for the same position. Elected officials face the prospect of votes every election cycle, a very public means of competing against others.
All through our lives we face the prospect of being measured against our peers. Yet the movement in the school system is to ensure we avoid anything that might affect the self-esteem of students. The last time I checked, we still keep scores at sporting events, we still determine winners and (gasp!) losers at debate tournaments, and there is only one state champion in any given event. All run the risk of having a negative impact on those who aren't "number 1."
The second argument is likewise silly. Truthfully, there are thousands of students every year ranked below students with less academic ability. In my high school, they used a straight 4.0 GPA scale, with no adjustments for honors courses. Students struggling through college level courses often found themselves ranked below students enrolled in all "basic" courses. Even so, it is the scale that is flawed, as opposed to the ranking system. Had my school simply used a 12.0 point scale with adjustments for honors courses, the ranking system would have been accurate.
And the "flawed" system used by my high school had no lasting impact on my career. Those who care about my academic record took the time to examine the entire picture. And my psyche somehow managed to recover from the extreme damage to my self-esteem.
The movement to eliminate all ranking from our lives is part and parcel of a movement to attempt to make "all things equal." In my mind, it is an insidious attempt to convince our youngsters that nobody should consider themselves as better than another, or deserving of more. If the children can be convinced that the hardest worker is the same as the laziest slug, then the push to redistribute other benefits of labor becomes easier.
All things are not equal. Some work harder and do better than others. And they deserve the rewards of that effort. And being at the back of the pack doesn't destroy the average person. As a runner, I can tell you a lot about being at the back of the pack. There is absolutely no chance of my ever winning the Chicago Marathon. But I keep running it. And I don't expect the winner to share their earnings with me. School is no different. Students should be aware of how they are performing when compared to their peers. If they don't face that in school, they are in for a very rude awakening when they enter the work force. |
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