Just as Lance Armstrong finally confesses to using performance enhancing drugs while racing, I wonder how he was able to get away with it for so long.
The New Yorker published an article about Armstrong delineating his physical traits that make him better than others in the sport (a longer femur is one example). Now he is completely disgraced and this issue should shed light on paid athletes as a whole.
When the Roger Clemens hearing was occurring, Rod suggested that the sports industry should just accept that performance enhancing drugs is part of the process now and note that info when an athlete is inducted into the hall of fame. The bottom line seems to be that everyone is doing it. A sad state of affairs for this country.
I guess I am confused about all of this. There are tests to determine if an athlete is using performance enhancing drugs -- why are so many getting away with using them then? The shit comes down in the form of Congressional hearings, or, in the case of Lance Armstrong, in the form of law suits. So, if you're a big guy, you pay the price. But there are others who are equally guilty. What repercussions result for the trainers who covered it up? Why did the whistle blowers take so long to blow the whistle?
This country needs to take a chill. Sports should be a good thing. Sure it would be wonderful to have the talent to play professional ball, but that shouldn't be the reason we let kids go to the ball park. The stakes shouldn't be so high. Little league games should be fun for all, not just the kids who are good. In fact, we need to give all kids a chance. Some of the big name athletes in football have equal talent in another sport. Those people are different from the rest. They should be admired. But when society demands that all athletes be as talented, then we create our own disaster.
I believe Lance Armstrong, despite his current mess, is still a very talented bike racer. He may even be the best. As a result of our society demanding more, more, more, we have but one more example of American greed. Doping is dumb.
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Sunday, January 13, 2013
A Change in Weather
As with millions of others, I have started the new year looking to shed several pounds. For me, the key is not just dieting but getting some exercise too. Last week that was a bit tough because it was so cold. Nevertheless, I weathered the cold and did my walk. This week has been horrible!
It's January and I don't want the weather to be unseasonably warm. The notoriously incorrect weathermen called for 60 degrees yesterday -- thankfully they were wrong. Still, we need to really think about what is happening to us, this country, this planet due to global warming.
I miss the days of my youth when we would get off the bus, run home for our skates and then back out to the lake to skate. Everyone did it. The lake was big enough to accommodate the casual skater while allowing for a hockey game on the other end. Kids were getting their exercise -- hours of it -- and generally, parents knew where their kids were. Except for the cost of the skates, it was a free activity.
These days, however, I don't think the ice freezes for more than one day at a time. My own son doesn't know how to skate because there is no opportunity to do so.
Often I hear people praising the change of weather. They shudder when it's below freezing during the winter. I just what to shout, "If you don't like the cold, move south!" I love warm weather as much as the next guy, just not in January. It would be great to have a month of 20 degree temps just to kill off a couple deer ticks.
Modern man is certainly raping this earth.
It's January and I don't want the weather to be unseasonably warm. The notoriously incorrect weathermen called for 60 degrees yesterday -- thankfully they were wrong. Still, we need to really think about what is happening to us, this country, this planet due to global warming.
I miss the days of my youth when we would get off the bus, run home for our skates and then back out to the lake to skate. Everyone did it. The lake was big enough to accommodate the casual skater while allowing for a hockey game on the other end. Kids were getting their exercise -- hours of it -- and generally, parents knew where their kids were. Except for the cost of the skates, it was a free activity.
These days, however, I don't think the ice freezes for more than one day at a time. My own son doesn't know how to skate because there is no opportunity to do so.
Often I hear people praising the change of weather. They shudder when it's below freezing during the winter. I just what to shout, "If you don't like the cold, move south!" I love warm weather as much as the next guy, just not in January. It would be great to have a month of 20 degree temps just to kill off a couple deer ticks.
Modern man is certainly raping this earth.
Saturday, January 5, 2013
The Hobbit
Thirty five years ago I read the book The Hobbit. The Lord of the Rings trilogy was all the rage and I wanted to be a part of the "in" read. It wasn't my cup of tea.
This afternoon we saw the movie. LONG!!!!
I read the review in The New Yorker so I was prepared, but it sure took a long time to set up the action. Plus, although the book was only about 300 pages, I cannot believe that Peter Jackson chose to make the movie in parts.
Again, the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings were not my cup of tea. Now I'm feeling as though I missed something. Is this movie only for those who were so into the books (you know the type -- those who know the name of every Ork and such) they could quote it?
On the plus side, the movie was a visual marvel. Bilbo Baggins' house is cool as all get out and the various places in the movie are cool. Still, it's a long movie.
Once again, I feel as though I'm not part of the "in" crowd all because of the Middle Earth.
This afternoon we saw the movie. LONG!!!!
I read the review in The New Yorker so I was prepared, but it sure took a long time to set up the action. Plus, although the book was only about 300 pages, I cannot believe that Peter Jackson chose to make the movie in parts.
Again, the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings were not my cup of tea. Now I'm feeling as though I missed something. Is this movie only for those who were so into the books (you know the type -- those who know the name of every Ork and such) they could quote it?
On the plus side, the movie was a visual marvel. Bilbo Baggins' house is cool as all get out and the various places in the movie are cool. Still, it's a long movie.
Once again, I feel as though I'm not part of the "in" crowd all because of the Middle Earth.
Friday, January 4, 2013
Bullying boy behavior
Tyler arrived home from school yesterday with an injury. He had been hit in the face with a piece of ice that the kids were throwing around during dismissal. However, Tyler's injury wasn't an accident.
While the snowballs were flying, Tyler stood behind a kid and in jest said he was using the kid as a human shield. This was not exactly true since the snow was not being thrown in the direction of Tyler. Yet, when Tyler went to get on the bus, he heard his name called. When he turned to see who was calling him, his human shield said, "This will teach you to use me as a human shield" and he threw the ice in Tyler's face.
Tyler is embarrassed and did not want me to make a fuss. Still, one of the dreaded duties I had as a teacher was bus duty. That meant that I had to stand outside during dismissal and wait until all students were on the buses before going back indoors. Obviously it sucked having bus duty in the cold months, but a job is a job. Duty calls. Whatever. Where, then were the people on duty when Tyler was getting on the bus?
I am not so naive to think that the presence of a teacher would have kept Tyler fully safe; however, I suspect the kid who threw the ice at Tyler would not have done so where he did. Standing on line to get on the bus is a place teachers would be looking...or would they?
Rod and I watched the end of a Without a Trace episode that showed a kid who tried to commit suicide because he was so constantly bullied at school. While I don't believe Tyler is bullied to that extent, I am beginning to wonder how bad his school day really is. Boys being boys is rough. When a kid doesn't want to go to school I have to wonder about the connections.
While the snowballs were flying, Tyler stood behind a kid and in jest said he was using the kid as a human shield. This was not exactly true since the snow was not being thrown in the direction of Tyler. Yet, when Tyler went to get on the bus, he heard his name called. When he turned to see who was calling him, his human shield said, "This will teach you to use me as a human shield" and he threw the ice in Tyler's face.
Tyler is embarrassed and did not want me to make a fuss. Still, one of the dreaded duties I had as a teacher was bus duty. That meant that I had to stand outside during dismissal and wait until all students were on the buses before going back indoors. Obviously it sucked having bus duty in the cold months, but a job is a job. Duty calls. Whatever. Where, then were the people on duty when Tyler was getting on the bus?
I am not so naive to think that the presence of a teacher would have kept Tyler fully safe; however, I suspect the kid who threw the ice at Tyler would not have done so where he did. Standing on line to get on the bus is a place teachers would be looking...or would they?
Rod and I watched the end of a Without a Trace episode that showed a kid who tried to commit suicide because he was so constantly bullied at school. While I don't believe Tyler is bullied to that extent, I am beginning to wonder how bad his school day really is. Boys being boys is rough. When a kid doesn't want to go to school I have to wonder about the connections.
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Happy New Year!
Although it's but a date on the calendar, I like the opportunity to get a fresh start. For me, resolutions are about getting myself on track. This year that means losing weight and getting into a healthier lifestyle.
Losing weight may seem like vanity, but at this point it's about economy. I have slowly grown out of my clothing. It'll take even longer to shrink back down to size. And, now that I'm 50 I really need to take a look at the way I live. If I want the rest of my days to be good, I better take care now. Sure, I should have been doing that all along, but I cannot erase what I've done in the past.
So, here's to a happy, healthy new year. May employment be just around the corner.
Although it's but a date on the calendar, I like the opportunity to get a fresh start. For me, resolutions are about getting myself on track. This year that means losing weight and getting into a healthier lifestyle.
Losing weight may seem like vanity, but at this point it's about economy. I have slowly grown out of my clothing. It'll take even longer to shrink back down to size. And, now that I'm 50 I really need to take a look at the way I live. If I want the rest of my days to be good, I better take care now. Sure, I should have been doing that all along, but I cannot erase what I've done in the past.
So, here's to a happy, healthy new year. May employment be just around the corner.
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