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So far in Sochi, little talk of gay rights by athletes
Sochi, Russia (AP) — Olympic competition first, gay rights maybe later.
Plenty of athletes made clear before traveling to Sochi how unhappy they were about gay rights being curtailed in Russia, particularly with its law banning gay "propaganda."
But now in Sochi, there has not been a squeak of public protest from the 2,870 Olympians — either at venues or at Friday's opening ceremony.
Outside the Olympic bubble, the plight of Russia's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community continues to dog the games.
Gay rights activists who waved rainbow flags on Friday on Moscow's Red Square and protested in St. Petersburg were quickly arrested. Three sponsors of the U.S. Olympic Committee, led by telecommunications giant AT&T, have spoken explicitly against the Russian law. Google Inc. hinted its opposition by putting winter athletes and rainbow colors on its search-page logo.
But in Sochi, largely silence.
Olympians and coaches cite multiple reasons why they feel these Olympics are neither the place nor time — at least not early on in the 17-day games — to make a stand.
Competition First: Not unreasonably, priority No. 1 is to compete. Everything else is on hold.
"We're all so focused on the task at hand," said U.S. figure skater Ashley Wagner. In the United States, Wagner spoke eloquently against the Russian law. In Sochi, she still is happily and patiently answering questions on it. She said she has also "discussed it with some athletes."
"We have a great platform to really speak out about what we believe in, but also we're here to compete," she said. "I did my part as an athlete, and did enough to make myself feel good at the end of the day."
Skating coach Brian Orser, who is gay, said: "I've avoided most of these questions about it. I don't want to come across as a hypocrite but I also just want to be here for my athletes, just be here doing my job."
"I have my feelings about it, but I don't know if this is the time or the place to voice it, although we do have a big audience, and that's sort of important as well," he said.
"So I am kind of torn."
Maybe Later: Once athletes are done competing, gloves could come off, especially if these are their last Olympics. That, at least, is the theory of LGBT activist Hudson Taylor, a wrestling coach at Columbia University who has traveled to Sochi to campaign. Taylor said he knows of "a handful of athletes who are interested in speaking out."
"I could see people feeling a little bit more comfortable, after they have gotten their main job out of the way, to speak their mind," said Wagner.
Not The Place: The mantra of the International Olympic Committee and many Olympians is that the games must be kept free of the political, religious and other schisms that divide the outside world. That philosophy discourages open discussion at the Olympics of any contentions non-sport issue, not just the anti-gay chill in Russia.
"I don't really feel like the Olympics is a place for that kind of politics," said U.S. skier Bode Miller, competing at his fifth games. "It's a place for sports and a place for cultures to kind of put aside their differences and compete."
"It's easy to get caught up in all the other stuff and forget what the Olympics is about."
Behind The Scenes: Some athletes say they are talking, but among themselves.
"We've been discussing this a lot, and it really just brings us athletes closer together. We all agree that there should be no discrimination," said U.S. cross-country skier Kikkan Randall.
But esteemed figure skating coach Frank Carroll said: "I haven't heard one single word about it. Not one. I don't see any flags or banners."
Keep Quiet: Some countries say they just don't want their athletes involved. Canada is one of those.
"We don't participate in any political debates and any controversy and anything else but sport," said Canadian Olympic Committee President Marcel Aubut.
Canadian Olympians get "a lot of training" on how to answer reporters and are made "aware of any trigger points," said Mike Slipchuk, who heads Canada's figure skating team.
"They're here to answer questions about their performance and what they're doing here," he said.
But on gay rights, "wars" and "everything," he said: "We're not here to be a spokesperson for those things."
Canadian skater Kevin Reynolds certainly got the message.
"I'm focused on doing my job and, for the time being, doing what I need to do," he said somewhat robotically when asked for his opinion.
With a curt "thanks," a Canadian press handler tried to cut off a follow-up question before allowing Reynolds to reply.
"I think the athletes will be a little bit more free to talk about that after they have done competing," the skater said.
Afraid Of Trouble: IOC rules governing what athletes can and cannot say aren't as clear as they could be. Laid out in the Olympic Charter, they say all demonstrations and propaganda are banned at Olympic sites, venues and "other areas."
The charter says violators can be expelled, but that has "seldom if ever" happened, the IOC says. U.S. sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos were sent home for their 'black power' salute at the 1968 Mexico City Games, when they thrust their black-gloved fists skyward on the medal podium.
In Sochi, the IOC and Russian organizers also sent conflicting signals. IOC President Thomas Bach said Olympians are "absolutely free" to speak on gay rights in press conferences. Sochi organizers contradicted Bach but then backpedalled.
The result: confusion.
"At first we were like kind of afraid to speak about it, like you couldn't even say the word 'gay' at all," said U.S. speedskater Jilleanne Rookard.
Taylor, executive director of Athlete Ally, argues that the IOC's ban doesn't extend to social media. He expects athletes in Sochi will be "tweeting or sharing pictures about these issues, too."
Media Storm: Some athletes worry that taking a strong stand will draw swarms of reporters, which could break their focus.
"I just don't want to stir the waters and don't want to comment on any side of it. Then that's something that can turn into a distraction if you get hounded by the media," said cross-country skier Jessica Diggins.
"So I'm keeping myself out of that."
by John Leicester, AP Sports Writer
AP Sports Writers Beth Harris and Jon Krawczynski in Sochi and Dennis Passa and Howard Fendrich in Krasnaya Polyana contributed to this report.
Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
The Gayly – February 8, 2014 @ 11:10am


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The first US President in Cuba in eighty-eight years, President Obama met with Cuban President Raúl Castro in Havana, Cuba, Monday 26th March, 2016, where the two held a joint press conference.
Excerpted from Time:
"CASTRO (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): Mr. President Barack Obama, we are pleased to welcome you on this, the first visit of a president of the United States of America to our country in 88 years.
"We have observed that in the 15 months that have passed since the decision was made to establish our diplomatic relations, we have obtained concrete results. We were able to resume direct postal exchanges and we signed an agreement to resume commercial flights.
"CASTRO (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): We have signed two memorandums of understanding on the protection of the environment and maritime areas, and another one to secure the safety of sea navigation. Today, another one will be signed on cooperation of the area of agriculture. At the moment, another set of bilateral instruments are being negotiated to cooperate in such areas as counter narcotics, the safety of commerce, and travelers and health. About this last issue, we have agreed to deepen our cooperation in the prevention and treatment of transmissible diseases, such as Zika, and non-transmissible chronic diseases, cancer included.
"This cooperation is beneficial not only for Cuba and the United States, but also for our hemisphere at large. Following the decisions made by President Obama to modify the application of some aspects of the blockade, Cuban enterprises and their American counterparts are working to identify possible commercial operations that could materialize in the still restrictive framework of existing regulations.
"The fact is that some have already materialized, especially in the area of telecommunications — an area in which our country already has a program designed on the basis of its priorities and the necessary technological sovereignty, one that can secure the appropriate (ph) views and the service of national interests.
"Progress has also been made toward the acquisition of medicines, medical materiel and equipment for power generation and environmental protection, these among others. Much more could be done if the blockade were lifted.
"We recognize the position of President Obama and his administration against the blockade, and his repeated appeals to Congress to have it removed. The most recent measures adopted by his administration are positive but insufficient. I had the opportunity to discuss with the president other steps that we think could be taken in order to remove restrictions that remain in force, and make a significant contribution to the debunking of the blockade.
"This is essential, because the blockade remains in force and because it contains discouraging elements and intimidating effects and extra-territorial outreach.
"I put forward to the president some examples on this, showing their negative consequences for both Cuba and other countries. The blockade stands as the most important obstacle to our economic development and the wellbeing of the Cuba people. That's why its removal will be of the essence to normalize bilateral relations. And actually, it will also bring benefits to the Cuban emigrants who wish the best for their families and their country.
"In order to move forward towards normalization, it will also be necessary to return the territory illegally occupied by Guantanamo Naval Base. Since they stand as the two main obstacles, these issues were again dealt with in the editorial ran on March 9 by the official newspaper of the Communist Party of Cuba.
"CASTRO (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): And again, only four days ago, in the press conference offered by our Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez, those pieces extensively reported by the media.
"Other policies should also be abolished for normal relations to develop between the United States and Cuba. No one should intend to have the Cuban people renounce the destiny it chose in freedom and sovereignty, the same for which you have made enormous sacrifices.
"We also discussed international issues, particularly those that could have an impact on regional peace and stability. We had thought to discuss other issues, but we did not have enough time. I had planned to raise our concern over the destabilization some are trying to promote in Venezuela, something which we consider to be counterproductive to the overall situation in the continent. I did not have the chance to raise with him, I'm raising it here.
"Likewise, we talked about the ongoing peace process in Colombia and the effort to put an end to that conflict. There are profound differences between our countries that will not go away. Since we hold different concepts on many subjects such as political systems, democracy, the exercise of human rights, social justice, international relations and world peace and stability.
"We defend human rights. In our view, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights are indivisible, interdependent and universal. Actually, we find it inconceivable that a government does not defend and insure the right to health care, education, Social Security with provision and development, equal pay and the rights of children. We oppose political manipulation and double standards in the approach to human rights.
"Cuba has much to say and show on this issue. That is why I have reiterated to the president our willingness to continue moving forward with the dialogue on this matter that was already initiated.
"On December 17th, 2014, as we announced the decision to re- establish diplomatic relations, I said that we should learn the art of co-existing with our difference in a civilized manner. In my remarks to Parliament on July 15, 2015, I said changing everything that needs to be changed is the sovereign and exclusive concern of Cubans. The revolutionary government is willing to advance to a normalization of relations, for it is convinced that both countries can co-exist and cooperate in a civilized manner and for the mutual benefit regardless of existing and future differences and thus contribute to peace, security, stability, development and equity in our continent and around the world.
"CASTRO (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): Today, I reaffirm that we should exercise the art of civilized co-existence, which involves accepting and respecting differences and preventing these from becoming the center of our relationship.
"We should instead promote links that can benefit both our countries and peoples while focusing on those things that bring us closer and not on those that pull us apart. We agree that a long and complex path still lies ahead. But what is most important is that we have started taking the first steps to build a new type of relationship, one that has never existed between Cuba and the United States.
"Actually, destroying a bridge can be an easy and quick undertaking. However, its solid reconstruction can prove a lengthy and challenging endeavor. After four failed attempts and giving proof of the will and perseverance, on September 2, 2013, American swimmer Diane Nyad managed to cross the Florida Strait swimming without an anti-shark cage to protect her.
"To that exploit of conquering the geographical differences between our two countries. It was for that exploit that on August 30th, 2013, as the national anthems of Cuba and the United States were played she was presented with the Order of Sport Merit, a declaration awarded by the State Counsel. Such feat carries a powerful message.
"One that should serve as an example to honor bilateral relations. For it confirms that if she could do it, then we can do it too. President Obama, I reiterate our appreciation for his visit and the willingness of the government of Cuba to continue moving forward in the well being of our countries. Thank you very much. SOURCE
Anxious not to maximise the positives of the moment or to miss the particularly golden opportunity to etch their country's humanitarian bent and sterling moral position into the annals, reporters Jim Acosta of CNN and Andrea Mitchell of NBC posed their predictable questions. Part of Andrea Mitchell's question was:
"What is the future of our two countries, given the different definitions and the different interpretations of profound issues like democracy and human rights?"
Graciously, President Obama went to bat and then it was President Raúl Castro's turn. To me, his impatience was obvious, or maybe the impatience was really all mine, but here was his answer about human rights:
"CASTRO (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): ....Well, Andrea. I was reading here something I think about human rights, but I'm going to make the question to you now. There are 41 — there are 61 international instruments to recognize how many countries in the world comply with all the human rights and civil rights that have been included in these 61 instruments.
CASTRO (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): What country complies with them all? Do you know how many? I do. None. None whatsoever. Some countries comply some rights, other comply others. And we are among these countries. Out of these 61 instruments, Cuba has complied with 47 of these human rights instruments.
There are countries that may comply with more, those that comply with less. I think human rights issues should not be politicized. That is not correct. If that is a purpose, then we will stay the same way. Like, for example — for Cuba that does not fulfill all the rights.
Do you think there is any other — more sacred right than the right to help so that billions of children don't die just for the lack of a vaccine or a drug or a medicament. For example, do you agree with the right to free education for all those born anywhere in the world or in any country? I think many countries don't think this is a human right.
In Cuba, all children are born in a hospital and they are registered that same day because when mothers are in advanced pregnancy, they are — they go to hospitals days before, many days before delivery, so that all children are born in hospitals. It doesn't matter if they live in faraway places or in mountains or hills.
We have many other rights — a right to health, the right to education. Do you — and this is my last example that I will mention. Do you think that for equal work, men get better pay than women just for the fact of being women? Well in Cuba, women get same pay for same work. I can give you many, many examples, so I don't think we cannot use the argument of human rights for political confrontation. That is not fair. It's not correct.
I'm not saying that is not honest, it's part of confrontations, of course. But let us work so that we can all comply with all human rights." SOURCE
Back in the USA, where financial/military/prison/medical/race/academic/energy- industrial complexes are eating their own, where presidential candidates appear to be competing with each other to expose a festering economic and social morass so punishing to the vulnerable, that many Americans are no longer as prone to combusting at the mere mention of the words socialism and revolution, but instead its young people are giving the socialist, Bernie Sanders their rapt attention and support.
Here is Bernie Sanders in his interview last night with Anderson Cooper of CNN. Whether or not he is successful, as an American who dares to reveal that he is capable of self-reflection, he stands among those who increase my hope for his country and the rest of the world.
Uploaded by Democratic National Committee
How people decide to live life is completely up to them, so best wishes to the people of Cuba. I have no reason to believe that in their hearts and in the struggle and their efforts to protect the revolution, their leaders have not always wanted the best for their people, so I also believe that these changes today are not a departure from that, but reflective of their continuing concern for the country's welfare. The seeds have been sown, and even if the change renders them unrecognisable, even to themselves, I know that a memory, a heritage, a word of respect and gratitude and a salute will remain. Perhaps that is the only victory that can ever be hoped for or won by individuals and nations alike. With very little this country has achieved marvels which detractors will continue to deliberately ignore or reluctantly acknowledge. To all the people of Cuba - ¡Que Dios los acompañe! May their minds, their spirits and their hands remain their own.
"Patria est communis omnium parens" - Our native land is the common parent of us all. Keep it beautiful, make it even more so.
Blessed is all of creation
Blessed be my beautiful people
Blessed be the day of our awakening
Blessed is my country
Blessed are her patient hills.
Mweh ka allay!

subset: commoncrawl


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Manley has been in business since 1966 producing aftermarket and OEM engine internals, supplying such cars as the Ford GT. Manley's premier connecting rod series is the Turbo Tuff line which was designed to be the best money can buy. Manley Performance is synonymous with winning and their products power some of the fastest cars around. Manley H-Beam rods are a lower cost alternative to the Turbo Tuff series, they are partially produced in China and then finished in the US to reduce costs but retain quality. These rods are an excellent alternative to Eagle rods, both of which should be considered when buying either one. Manley H Beam rods are weight matched within +/- 1.5 grams of each other and both ends of the rod are rounded perfectly. These are the perfect rods for street applications pushing up to 600 wheel horsepower.
Manley Performance H-Beam Steel Connecting Rods


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Portal:Atrazine Exposed
Portals: Koch Exposed · FrackSwarm · CoalSwarm · OutsourcingAmericaExposed · ALECexposed · NFIBexposed · Fix the Debt · State Policy Network · All Portals
The Atrazine Exposed Portal
Documents obtained by the Center for Media and Democracy, recently unsealed as part of a major lawsuit against Syngenta, reveal how the global chemical company's PR team investigated the press and spent millions to spin news coverage and public perceptions in the face of growing concerns about potential health risks from the widely used weed-killer "atrazine." This clearinghouse is for information about the company's PR campaign to influence the media, potential jurors, potential plaintiffs, farmers, politicians, scientists, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the midst of reviews of the weed-killer's potential to act as an endocrine disruptor, over the past decade or so.
The U.S. Geological Survey is one resource for citizens to look at the levels of atrazine in water nearby and in other regions. Click here for an interactive map.
About the Atrazine PR Blitz
The Center for Media and Democracy has analyzed the emails, invoices, and other PR documents unsealed by the court. Read more by clicking the articles below published in CMD's PRWatch:
- Syngenta PR's Weed-Killer Spin Machine: Investigating the Press and Shaping the "News" about Atrazine, by Beau Hodai and Lisa Graves
- Syngenta's Paid Third Party Pundits Spin the "News" on Atrazine, by Sara Jerving
- Atrazine: A "Molecular Bull in a China Shop", by Rebekah Wilce
- Syngenta Celebrates Earth Day by Ladling on the Pesticides, by Rebekah Wilce
Key Documents EXPOSED
- Dossier on Huffington Post reporter Danielle Ivory
- Emails in response to queries from Danielle Ivory
- The Solicitation for PR help in the period August/September 2009 when the New York times, NRDC, and Huffington Post were documenting spikes in atrazine levels in drinking water.
- Emails about wanting someone pro-atrazine to write on Huffington Post
- Emails about the New York Times story
- Emails about how to respond to the New York Times reporter's public radio interview
- Emails showing coordination between ACSH's Whelan and Syngenta
- Emails about countering the New York Times
- Emails about the PR Team's view of ACSH
- Email from ACSH about Syngenta's funding level
- The proposal for more money from the American Council on Science and Health
- Email from Steve Milloy seeking Syngenta's talking points
- Emails about payments to Steve Milloy, a pundit who has appeared on Fox
- Plans to deploy Milloy and Avery as "Third Parties"
- Strategy plans around 2003 SAP
- Q & A about contracts regarding the EPA's Scientific Advisory Panel
- Payments from Syngenta to Hudson Institute's Avery Family
- Q & A Draft from Jayne Thompson & Associates on Syngenta funding Triazine Network
- Emails about Syngenta's top scientist ghostwriting a chapter in a book about atrazine for the American Enterprise Institute
- Emails about plans to hire an investigative reporter to rattle cages at the EPA
- Emails about the PR Team's "third party" tactics
- Email about the fee for a single paper from a University of Chicago professor
- Spreadsheets showing payments to Richard Fawcett from Syngenta
More PR Documents
To read more of the PR documents unsealed by the court, click below.
Latest News
- Beyond Pesticides, "Common Herbicide May Increase Risk of Rare Disorder in Infants," (October 2, 2012).
- Clare Howard, "EPA Oversight: Weighing the Parts, Ignoring the Whole," 100 Reporters (Feb. 15, 2012).
- Clare Howard, "Pitchfork Rebels: Organic Farmers Take on Big Ag," 100 Reporters (Feb. 15, 2012).
- Clare Howard, "Downwind: The Second-Hand Smoke of Big Agriculture," 100 Reporters (Feb. 14, 2012).
- Clare Howard, "Coming Clean: Water Companies Call Industry to Account," 100 Reporters (Feb. 14, 2012).
- Rachael Moeller Gorman, "Glass half empty: Is your tap water safe?," MSNBC and Good Housekeeping (Feb. 14, 2012).
- Penelope Jasessar Chaffer, "Tyrone Hayes + Penelope Jagessar Chaffer: The toxic baby?," TED, Ideas Worth Sharing (Feb. 14, 2012) (video).
- John Sundquist, "Let's stop aerial spraying of poison on forestland Guest viewpoint ," Register Guard (Feb. 10, 2012) (op-ed).
- Paul Fattig, "Pesticide rallies intended to spread concerns," Mail Tribune (Feb. 9, 2012).
- Scholars & Rogues, "Steve Milloy is still a fact fighter for hire," ScholarsandRogues.com (Feb. 9, 2012).
- Jeff Mapes, "Behind the PR curtain: Oregon firm played part in effort to counter attacks on herbicide," The Oregonian (Feb. 8, 2012).
- Steve Myers, "Firm investigated HuffPost reporter's motivations for critical stories," Poynter (Feb. 7, 2012).
- Jon Entine, "Over-Regulation Fever at the White House," Forbes (Feb. 9, 2012) (Entine is one of the people mentioned in the unsealed documents as a potential "third party" spokesperson for atrazine, as noted in the PRWatch article available here.)
- Rich Keller, "Smear campaign against atrazine and Syngenta," Ag Professional (op-ed) (This is a trade magazine that promotes information from Syngenta press releases; this online magazine includes a promo ad that says, "Ag Professional, sponsored by Syngenta.")
Key Reports about Atrazine in Water
Here are some of the reports about the spikes in atrazine levels in drinking water. These stories indicate that the company and EPA knew about the spikes but that the general public was not informed.
- The Natural Resources Defense Council has documented information about this weed-killer and its level in drinking water. Click here to read NRDC's reports on atrazine, including its breakthrough investigation "Poisoning the Well" and its follow-up report, "Still Poisoning the Well."
- The New York Times' reporter Charles Duhigg did a major investigation of atrazine in drinking water as part of a series called "Toxic Waters." Click here to read his story about "Debating How Much Weed Killer Is Safe in Your Water Glass."
- The Huffington Post Investigative Fund's reporter, Danielle Ivory, wrote about the failure of the Environmental Protection Agency to let Americans known about the spikes of atrazine in their drinking water. Click here to read her story, "EPA Fails To Inform Public About Weed-Killer In Drinking Water."
Related SourceWatch Articles
Portals: Koch Exposed · FrackSwarm · CoalSwarm · OutsourcingAmericaExposed · ALECexposed · NFIBexposed · Fix the Debt · State Policy Network · All Portals


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Air Pollution Affects Plants, Animals, and Environments
Air pollution does not only damage the air; it also damages environments on Earths surface and their inhabitants. Plants and animals are harmed by air pollution. Sometimes it is the pollutants themselves that cause damage. Other times pollutants combine and change the resources that plants and animals depend upon such as water, soil, and nutrients. Read on to learn more about the ways that air pollutants can damage environments and the living things within them.
Acid rain harms living things
When an air pollutant, such as sulfuric acid combines with the water droplets that make up clouds, the water droplets become acidic. When those droplets fall to the ground as rain or snow, the acidity of the water can have damaging effects on the environment. When acid rain falls over an area, it can kill trees and harm animals, fish, and other wildlife. Acid rain destroys the leaves of plants. When acid rain infiltrates into soils, it changes the chemistry of the soil making it unfit for many living things that rely on soil as a habitat or for nutrition. Acid rain also changes the chemistry of the lakes and streams that the rainwater flows into, harming fish and other aquatic life.
The thinning ozone layer harms living things
Air pollutants called chlorofluorocarbons(or CFCs) destroy ozone molecules in the stratosphere. This has left places in the layer where the ozone is thin. These areas of thin ozone are called ozone holes. The ozone layer, located in the stratosphere layer of Earths atmosphere, shields our planet from the Suns ultraviolet radiation. Ultraviolet radiation causes skin cancer and damages plants and wildlife. In recent decades the number of CFCs released into the atmosphere has decreased significantly due to an agreement between the nations of the world called the Montreal Protocol. Although it takes a long time to see the impact, the ozone holes might someday be smaller.
Tropospheric ozone harms living things
Ozone molecules in the troposphere damage lung tissues of animals and prevent plant respiration by blocking the openings in leaves, called stomata, where respiration occurs. Without sufficient respiration, a plant is not able to photosynthesize at a high rate and will not be able to grow. Ozone is also able to enter the stomata and decay plant cells directly.
Global warming harms living things
Our planet is currently warming much more rapidly than expected because of additional greenhouse gases that are released into the atmosphere from air pollution. When fuels are burned, some of the pollutants released, such as carbon dioxide, are greenhouses gases. Through the process of photosynthesis, plants convert carbon dioxide into oxygen and use the carbon to grow larger. However, the amount of carbon dioxide released by burning fuels is far greater than plants can convert. Cutting down forests exacerbates the problem.
Global warming is changing climate globally and is causing significant changes to various regions of the world. For example:
- Polar ice melt and permafrost melt are causing changes in the habitat and resources for plants and animals living in polar ecosystems.
- Ocean warming, rising sea levels, increasing runoff, and coral diseases are causing change in shallow marine ecosystems such as coral reefs.
- Less rainfall in the dry interiors of continents due to global warming is limiting water resources for plants and animals.


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I love Fall! I skip the Pumpkin Spice Lattes (gross) and the Pumpkin Beer (even grosser) but I love Halloween and Thanksgiving and pumpkin pie and cooler weather. I love the fall leaves and crisp air. And I love getting re-focused on my fitness goals.
For me, I tend to gain weight in the summer time and lose weight in the winter time (kind of the opposite for most people). Part of that is summer BBQs and vacations and indulging. And part of that is that in the summer time my fitness switches to the outdoors–hiking, biking, running. So lots of cardio and less weight lifting. Once the weather turns bad, I move my workouts indoors and focus on weight lifting.
Maybe you are the same. Or maybe you are ready to make a change in your life and want to kick start the plan before the mad-rush of January 1st!
So no more excuses! Here are some ideas on how to get started (or restarted) on your path to fitness!
Schedule It
If you are new to fitness or trying to get back on the bandwagon after a break, I think the best way to get into the habit of working out is to schedule it. I've done this since the beginning. I schedule my workouts in my Google Calendar like appointments that can't be missed! It makes it a lot harder to skip the workout!
I know a lot of people say "never miss a Monday" because it sets the mood and motivation for the week. I kind of agree with that. But if it's not your thing, maybe Mondays are the hardest day of the week for you, make your workout week start on Tuesday. Maybe you aren't a morning person–schedule your workouts during lunch time, or go after work if you can. Figure out what works for you and what you will stick with, and do it!
Fit It In When You Can
Sometimes you just don't have time for an hour long sweat session. In the past, I would have tried to make it happen no matter what, but since I had my son and went back to work full time, I am finding it harder to make that happen. Weekends are my long workout times because I do have more time. But during the week I just don't anymore. I work long hours and when I get home I have about an hour or so to spend with my baby before he goes to bed. So I fit in my week day workouts during my lunch break at work. It's not the same as before, but it's better than nothing! And if you are really short on time, try interval/HIIT training or kettle bell training.
I have access to a shower at work, so that makes it easier. I have a bag of toiletries that I keep at work (travel sized) and mini hair dryer. I keep some towels at work, too. All of that makes it easier to workout at lunch. If you don't have access to a shower, my tip: BABY WIPES! You can clean up and freshen up before going back to the office.
There are actually a lot of weight and body weight exercises you can do without belonging to a gym!
I was talking to a friend recently who is dealing with an injury that is lingering. I suggested that she try and find something she can do, if nothing else, for her mental health. I've been through too many injuries to count. I remember the worst, when I couldn't run at all for months, I still had to find some kind of exercise I could do. That was when I started lifting weights. I needed some activity to maintain my fitness level and to help stave off depression from lack of activity. I focused on upper body weights and core and it made a huge difference!
8 Mistakes I Made While Injured
Try Something New
If I lived in a place where the weather was a little more predictable, I would totally sign up for a Turkey Trot type of race. I think it's a great idea! Signing up for a 5k in the Fall is a great way to give you something to focus on, a goal to work towards.
It's even better if you can get a friend your partner to sign up with you! Doing something like a Halloween costume 5k or Turkey Trot with a buddy makes it more fun. Even better if you can get that person to train with you. Having an accountability partner can do wonders to staying on track.
If running isn't your thing but you are lacking motivation to do fitness on your own, sign up for a fitness class you've been curious about!
Another way to get back on track for Fall is that clean up the diet. This is especially important this time of year before the holiday "eat everything bad" season starts! Here are a few of my favorite recipes for fall:
Slow Cooker Black Bean and Rice Soup with Lime and Cilantro
Garlicky Broccoli and Spaghetti Squash
Pecan and Wild Rice-Stuffed Squash
QUESTION: What are your favorite ways to get fit in the Fall?


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I Made This on a Mac
I made this on a Mac.
That statement is pretty common these days. But there was a time I would have never imagined creating something on a computer. Sure, I had some friends type up one of my essays or a college application on their parents' Compaq computer, the glowing green letters clicking across a deep black square. They typed. My words came out of the printer. But it wasn't creation. It was typing. The actual creation couldn't be done on such an uninspiring, lifeless machine.
When it came to creating, I stuck with my ball point pen and a pad of lined paper. That's how it was until the 80s when I got my first Mac and I saw how a computer could be a tool so powerful and yet so unobtrusive that it almost felt like extension of myself. It was easier to use. It looked better on my desk. It was better. It was made by someone who cared that it was better.
I got rid of my pens. Everything I created from then on, I created on my Mac.
It seems so obvious now. Yeah, of course. You create stuff on your Mac. But back then, the people to whom that seemed obvious were part a tiny club. We only made up a couple percent of computer users. We'd see each other at small, dank Mac stores and wonder why the rest of the world didn't see what we could see.
The Mac looked better. It felt better. And everything looked and felt better on a Mac. The Mac was inspirational. The Mac was a place to create. Documents looked better. When the web showed up, it looked better too.
For years, long before the "switch" campaign, I spread the gospel. I tried to convince my friends, family, classmates and coworkers to see the light and use a Mac. A few designer-types trickled over to the Mac world, but the rest always had some excuse to keep using Windows. But none of these excuses ever made sense to me. I never, ever considered using anything but a Mac from the first day I touched one.
When my then girlfriend agreed to be my wife, I told her it was time to have the discussion about her converting. She said, "Don't worry, I've already talked to the Rabbi and started the process of becoming Jewish. I know our kids will be growing up in a house without a Christmas Tree and I'm okay with that."
But that wasn't the conversion I was talking about. I explained to her that our kids would be growing up in a house without Windows-based PCs. And then I gave her my old Mac Plus and said, "Lady, this is your life now."
She joined my small club.
Then Steve Jobs came back to Apple. And slowly, as the new iProducts came, Steve and I converted more and more of my friends and family. One by one they all came over. Those old faces from the corner Mac stores were now joined by millions in lines outside of grand Apple stores.
What was all the excitement about? The same thing it was about the first time I used a Mac. Inspiration and creation. It's about a guy making something awesome and by extension telling you to go make something awesome yourself.
Since Steve Jobs died, I've already seen hundreds of writers and designers thank him for helping them live creative lives. A few folks have called Steve Jobs the modern day Leonardo da Vinci. Maybe that's true. But more importantly, he made the products that unleashed the da Vinci in all of us.
And he left an army of us. Our numbers can be seen in the flowers left by the inspired and lined up outside of Apple stores and in the messages that blanket the Internet and in the companies that will make tomorrow's technology.
Like a few flowers, these words are hardly a fitting tribute. But right now, it's the best one I can make.
And tomorrow I'll open up my Mac and try to make something else.


text: DOES THIS DIAPER MAKE MY BUTT LOOK BIG? - Baby Bodysuit design silscreened onto a blue RABBIT SKINS Bodysuit . Printed on 5 OZ. 100% Ring-Spun Cotton and printed with water-based inks for ultra-softness. Three-snap bottom closure and Flatlock seams Double-needle ribbed binding on neck armholes shoulders and bottom (white is sewn with 100% cotton thread).


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Enermax has really taken the cake with their new Platimax 1200W PSU, so named because it carries an 80+ Platinum rating. That high of an efficiency rating is very rare and is usually seen on PSUs in the 500W range but Enermax has more than doubled it. You get over a half dozen 8pin PCIe power plugs as well as a plethora of SATA and other power plugs. If you need this much power for your rig it is worth investigating this level of power efficiency as it will save you money eventually. [H]ard|OCP gave this PSU a Silver Award, missing out on Gold due to pricing only.
"Enermax is one of our long time favorite brands when it comes to PSUs. Enermax has proved over and over again that it is one of the world's premier PSU builders. Today it steps into a realm that is tough to compete in and in fact has not ever been seen by any other PSU builders as of yet. 1200 watts that is 80 Plus Platinum certified."
Here are some more Cases & Cooling reviews from around the web:
- Corsair TX750M 750 W @ techPowerUp
- Corsair 750W Enthusiast Series Modular PSU @ kitguru
- Corsair TX750M Power Supply Review @ Hardware Secrets
- Thermaltake Toughpower Grand 1050W @ VR-Zone
- Topower 1000W Gold @ [H]ard|OCP
- VisionTek 700W @ [H]ard|OCP
- LEPA G700-MA 700W Modular Power Supply Review @ Real World Labs
- Corsair Enthusiast Series TX850 V2 @ [H]ard|OCP
- Antec High Current Power 850w Review @ HardwareLOOK
- Super Flower Golden Silent 500 W @ techPowerUp
- SilverStone Strider Plus 500 W Power Supply Review @ Hardware Secrets
- Thortech Thunderbolt 850 W Power Supply Review @ Hardware Secrets
- OCZ ZS 650W Power Supply @ Pro-Clockers
- Seasonic Power Supply Units Roundup. Part 2 @ X-bit Labs
- ADD2PSU @ Bjorn3D
- Add2PSU Daisy Chain Power Supply Adapter Review @ Legit Reviews