IMO in my opinion
This page and my webpage
I have cycled for a year and a half. Rode in two century, 100 mile, rides. Here are my riding tips.
The 2020 Boston Marathon was supposed to be my return after running it in 2018. The year of the epic winter storm. I wanted to experience a nice New England spring. I wanted the full Patriots Day Boston Marathon spring spectacular marathon experience!
I got a rescheduled to September, a cancelled marathon and now a virtual marathon. A Covid 19 marathon. I’ll run it. I need my run training motivation back.
July is my normal return to running month. Start my preparation for the CIM. I know in my heart this year’s CIM will be cancelled. How can you run a safe marathon now?
The world has changed. The world is still changing. Marathons will return. Someday. I will keep running. But without the motivation of a marathon on the calendar, I must find the joy of training.
How does one find the joy? How does one define passion? Is it discovered? Or is it made? Is it a gift endowed upon us? I think joy in running, like joys in life, are earned. Uncovered, rare and precious.
So, to run 26.2 miles in September’s virtual Boston Marathon, I start my usual training. I’ll think about where, when and how my 2020 marathon will go. I can plan the details on my runs. I will dream of Boston.
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate,
I am the captain of my soul.
BY WILLIAM ERNEST HENLEY
You only live once. But if you do it right, once is enough.
By Mae West
Stayed in bed all mornin’ just to pass the time
There’s somethin’ wrong here, there can be no denyin’
One of us is changin’, or maybe we’ve just stopped tryin’
And it’s too late, baby now, it’s too late
Though we really did try to make it
Somethin’ inside has died, and I can’t hide
And I just can’t fake it, oh, no, no
It used to be so easy, livin’ here with you
You were light and breezy, an’ I knew just what to do
Now you look so unhappy, and I feel like a fool
And it’s too late, baby now, it’s too late
Though we really did try to make it
Somethin’ inside has died, and I can’t hide
And I just can’t fake it, oh, no, no
There’ll be good times again for me and you
But we just can’t stay together, don’t you feel it, too?
Still I’m glad for what we had and how I once loved you
But it’s too late, baby now, it’s too late
Though we really did try to make it (we can’t make it)
Somethin’ inside has died, and I can’t hide
And I just can’t fake it, oh, no
It’s Too Late by Carole King, 1971
Gaslighting is a term used to describe how one person manipulates another person’s belief. Getting someone to believe something that is untrue is result of gaslighting. The manipulator, over time, little by little, can turn down the gas and get the manipulated to believe that this is normal.
Getting gaslighted is not a good thing. If we believe something untrue, we have been fooled. We have been manipulated. Our thoughts and behaviors may not be the best. And could even be harmful.
How does one avoid being gaslighted? Do not depend on one source for your information. And never stop having a healthy level of skepticism. Always remember that people’s words can become skewed by motives and economics.
Stop killing. Stop shooting. Stop being afraid.
These are my answers to the question of what do we need police to do. What is the solution to the problems of police shooting black people in the US? What do we need to do? Identify bad cops. Get rid of bad cops. Stop protecting bad cops. Stop allowing racist behaviors by cops.
Stop killing. Stop shooting. Stop defending bad cops. Stop now.
Police unions have too much power. Plain and simple. Police unions are the problem that allow bad cops to continue working unchecked. Oversight, transparency and accountability will not allow murderous cops on our streets.
About a year ago this blog was launched. From a vague notion of writing and documenting some thoughts to almost a year’s worth of daily posts. I’ve learned a few things.
Something so simple, writing and posting to a blog. Turned out to be frustrating because of the app. And it never got better over the course of a year. Even after countless updates.
Some other things I learned.
The next year may be different. How?
The world is watching. This is a more literal term than ever. The US leads and the world follows. While we have a lack of leadership from the incompetence in the executive, there is a groundswell and movement from the people.
My spine tingles to think that history is being written. That maybe real change is happening. People have awoken to the country’s, maybe the world’s lies. The hypocrisy of our words compared to our actions and institutions.
Kaepernick was right on. His message is finally out and people are done with the BS from the forces of evil.
The sky is falling. US unemployment is higher than ever. Nation failure is possible. Disruptions are extreme and will be long lasting
The Great Depression was overcome. Lessons learned from that era need to be studied.
We can survive and thrive with basic values on human needs. And cut ties with corporate influence.