For example, this gem written by one of my students:
"I think your ring tone is very big! It make me irregular."
Not a function I want on my mobile.
11/28/2008
11/17/2008
Plates = Progress
According to gym buddy Jon, "plates" are the 45 lbs/20kg weights used during bench lifting and sundry other activities. These were also a sort of milestone for me.
Let's go back about 4 weeks. Back when I first started lifting, my chest area was woefully underdeveloped. Having broken my wrist when I was younger, I hadn't tried to bench press in at least 15 years. My "enhanced" weight also meant that I rarely, if ever, did push-ups. So it was no surprise to me that when I started that the bar itself consisted of an actual set (versus a mere warm-up to get the blood going), and that 2x 25lb (10kg) was my limit.
I'll travel down a related path for a moment. It's interesting; many thinner people who look at fat people in disdain cry out "Put down the fork!" While this is fundamentally a truism, it's also cruel and cold-hearted advice that doesn't take into account that exercise and mindset are critical factors as well. While some people are content to be fat, I would venture to say that most people are not. Thus the diet fads, all of which promise the moon for little or no effort, at least at first glance.
Thus the problem I think most people face is the same one as I faced: lack of visible, trackable results. Last year, I tried Billy's Bootcamp as a method of losing weight. While I saw results (it is, I still maintain, fairly effective core training), those results were spoiled by poor eating habits. I had fallen into the trap of excusing bad eating by exercising.
This was a recipe for failure, and I think that I ended up rebounding that much harder. It is no surprise that I was fatter. Though my weight hadn't changed, my muscle mass had decreased and my body fat increased.
Getting back on track, like my weight-loss, I've seen progress in lifting weights. My first time benching I couldn't lift the 35 lbs (15kg) plates. Now I can bang out 10 with proper form. The 45s were a dream, but yesterday I did 4 reps clean and 2 more with Jon's help. While the weight itself was hardly noteworthy, it is that PROGRESS, the visible fact that A) I was lifting more, B) I am visibly more cut now, which fuels my desire to continue to work out.
In an tangential, though still oddly related, line it's the same as successful GMing, and perhaps the secret of Blizzard's success with World of Warcraft. Table-top role-players and online gamers NEED to see progress, need to see results, need to feel that the time and effort they are putting into an activity are being validated by results. My fellow blogger Rob warns me of the perils of looking at pictures of the past and being disheartened at a 20-year old physique. As he is a former Marine, I can understand his plight on an academic level. But all my childhood pictures are of me being fat. I can only look at my pictures and grin, as I am more healthy now than I have been in a decade, and possibly for at least 1/2 of my life.
In the end, this isn't a novel or revolutionary idea. Far from it, in hindsight it seems perfectly obvious. But this was an epiphany of sorts for me, and perhaps my first step into a world of better health.
Let's go back about 4 weeks. Back when I first started lifting, my chest area was woefully underdeveloped. Having broken my wrist when I was younger, I hadn't tried to bench press in at least 15 years. My "enhanced" weight also meant that I rarely, if ever, did push-ups. So it was no surprise to me that when I started that the bar itself consisted of an actual set (versus a mere warm-up to get the blood going), and that 2x 25lb (10kg) was my limit.
I'll travel down a related path for a moment. It's interesting; many thinner people who look at fat people in disdain cry out "Put down the fork!" While this is fundamentally a truism, it's also cruel and cold-hearted advice that doesn't take into account that exercise and mindset are critical factors as well. While some people are content to be fat, I would venture to say that most people are not. Thus the diet fads, all of which promise the moon for little or no effort, at least at first glance.
Thus the problem I think most people face is the same one as I faced: lack of visible, trackable results. Last year, I tried Billy's Bootcamp as a method of losing weight. While I saw results (it is, I still maintain, fairly effective core training), those results were spoiled by poor eating habits. I had fallen into the trap of excusing bad eating by exercising.
This was a recipe for failure, and I think that I ended up rebounding that much harder. It is no surprise that I was fatter. Though my weight hadn't changed, my muscle mass had decreased and my body fat increased.
Getting back on track, like my weight-loss, I've seen progress in lifting weights. My first time benching I couldn't lift the 35 lbs (15kg) plates. Now I can bang out 10 with proper form. The 45s were a dream, but yesterday I did 4 reps clean and 2 more with Jon's help. While the weight itself was hardly noteworthy, it is that PROGRESS, the visible fact that A) I was lifting more, B) I am visibly more cut now, which fuels my desire to continue to work out.
In an tangential, though still oddly related, line it's the same as successful GMing, and perhaps the secret of Blizzard's success with World of Warcraft. Table-top role-players and online gamers NEED to see progress, need to see results, need to feel that the time and effort they are putting into an activity are being validated by results. My fellow blogger Rob warns me of the perils of looking at pictures of the past and being disheartened at a 20-year old physique. As he is a former Marine, I can understand his plight on an academic level. But all my childhood pictures are of me being fat. I can only look at my pictures and grin, as I am more healthy now than I have been in a decade, and possibly for at least 1/2 of my life.
In the end, this isn't a novel or revolutionary idea. Far from it, in hindsight it seems perfectly obvious. But this was an epiphany of sorts for me, and perhaps my first step into a world of better health.
11/16/2008
Tennis Circle: The Gasshuku
During the first two years of my JET life in Japan, there were oft-talked about plans to travel to Mt. Aso. Yet somehow these plans never materialized. In my dim recollections from earlier childhood travels, I recalled a barren landscape, full of noxious smelling gas, which at the time served only to aggravate my asthma. (In retrospect, I have high suspicions that this was merely a result of my poor physical fitness. I was after all a lazy lad).
Thus this year, and specifically these last 6 months, it is amusing to me that I have visited this region no less than 3 times.
The morning was gray, and threatened to rain; bad news for people who were to play tennis later. Despite the morning chill, by the time we reached the Fukuma City Hall parking lot it had warmed considerably to a balmy 19 degrees C. I was definitely feeling over-dressed in my boots, vest, and wind-breaker jacket.
We were to travel south in a 3-vehicle convoy. All had navigation equipped, and each car had someone in charge, with a folder containing maps, contact information, schedule, and an envelope with gas/toll money. This was no last-minute jaunt out to the wilds, but a carefully orchestrated operation.
The drive out to the Aso region was enjoyable, but as the sole male passenger in the car, I was soon lost by conversation of the latest happenings in J-Dramaland. Lunch was at a yakiniku restaurant called Aka-Ushi (Red Cow), and at the associated gift shop I purchased a box of Aso-Jersey Milk Caramels. While the lunch was forgettable, the view was breath-taking. Despite living in and around mountains in Fukutsu City, there is something entirely different about the mountains that surround the Aso farming region. The mountains form a ring, and each is inspiring and beautiful. I felt somehow more alive for seeing them.
Soon we arrived at our tennis grounds. In mountain-country it was definitely chillier, and the rain that had threatened us earlier started to fall. Despite this, our mini-tournament would not be postponed, so we gathered our gear and headed to the courts. After a quick warm-up, teams were decided and off we went. The results of my not having practiced for the last 6 weeks were quickly evidenced, and out of 6 teams, we placed last. The tournament is more for fun, but the rain, which alternated from a light sprinkle to a shower, kept me distracted. Prizes were awarded, and though we had an hour left on the courts, we decided to pack up and head for our ryokan.
It's worth noting that I had forgotten my ankle socks at home, so I ended up buying a pair from a convenience store. It was that or play in my hiking socks. Thus it is especially fitting that my prize was a pair of Adidas ankle socks.
Soon we were at our ryokan, and once checked it my room-mates and I quickly changed to our yukatas, and it was off to the baths. Well not quite for me. Given my recent bout with eczema, I had lingering doubts as to whether I ought to partake or not. So instead, I decided to get a massage. There are quite new to me, but are worth every yen.
Dinner was standard ryokan fare: seafood and a variety of Japanese vegetables and tubers. However, this being Kumamoto, I was treated to my first ever basashi. Basashi is raw horse. I am game to try most meats raw, and so I had no qualms about eating this. That said, it seemed a bit gamey for me, and there was a strange aftertaste. I didn't dislike it, but I didn't particularly like it either. I'll have to hold off judgment until I try to quality basashi. Also surprisingly delicious was the salted-backed yamame (or mountain-woman salmon). No doubt some distant salmon cousin, it was 100% salty goodness.
Afterward, we retired to our rooms, but in the meanwhile I decided that I would go and bath. Upon returning I found most of the circle had gathered in my room, and beers and snacks fueled deep conversations about the decline in leadership skills displayed by Japanese people.
That night was uncomfortably passed on futon mattresses, and I woke up with a crick in my neck. After a hearty breakfast consisting of eggs, sausages, rice, bread, and a large salad, I wandered down to the massage chairs for a quick 10 minutes. While they are no replacement for the real deal, it nevertheless worked out the crick and I was back to being a happy camper.
The second day of our trip involved a trip to a water tunnel converted to a community art gallery, the fountainhead of the Shirakawa River, the Aso Farmland Resort, and a visit to the Kikuchi Gorge. Of these, I had visited Kikuchi Ravine before, and it was interesting to compare the place between my visit during the summer and now. I'll say that Kikuchi Glen reminded me a lot of camping in the Algonquin, and I again felt a measure of peace while there. Also notable is that the literature on the various signs, pamphlets, and maps cannot decide on whether it should be called a gorge, ravine, or gully. I did not see any signs for Kikuchi Canyon though.
Tired but satisfied, we returned home to Fukutsu around 7pm. The two days were enjoyable to say the least, and I hope that I am around next year to do it all again.
Pics here, or you can click on the slideshow in the sidebar.
Thus this year, and specifically these last 6 months, it is amusing to me that I have visited this region no less than 3 times.
The morning was gray, and threatened to rain; bad news for people who were to play tennis later. Despite the morning chill, by the time we reached the Fukuma City Hall parking lot it had warmed considerably to a balmy 19 degrees C. I was definitely feeling over-dressed in my boots, vest, and wind-breaker jacket.
We were to travel south in a 3-vehicle convoy. All had navigation equipped, and each car had someone in charge, with a folder containing maps, contact information, schedule, and an envelope with gas/toll money. This was no last-minute jaunt out to the wilds, but a carefully orchestrated operation.
The drive out to the Aso region was enjoyable, but as the sole male passenger in the car, I was soon lost by conversation of the latest happenings in J-Dramaland. Lunch was at a yakiniku restaurant called Aka-Ushi (Red Cow), and at the associated gift shop I purchased a box of Aso-Jersey Milk Caramels. While the lunch was forgettable, the view was breath-taking. Despite living in and around mountains in Fukutsu City, there is something entirely different about the mountains that surround the Aso farming region. The mountains form a ring, and each is inspiring and beautiful. I felt somehow more alive for seeing them.
Soon we arrived at our tennis grounds. In mountain-country it was definitely chillier, and the rain that had threatened us earlier started to fall. Despite this, our mini-tournament would not be postponed, so we gathered our gear and headed to the courts. After a quick warm-up, teams were decided and off we went. The results of my not having practiced for the last 6 weeks were quickly evidenced, and out of 6 teams, we placed last. The tournament is more for fun, but the rain, which alternated from a light sprinkle to a shower, kept me distracted. Prizes were awarded, and though we had an hour left on the courts, we decided to pack up and head for our ryokan.
It's worth noting that I had forgotten my ankle socks at home, so I ended up buying a pair from a convenience store. It was that or play in my hiking socks. Thus it is especially fitting that my prize was a pair of Adidas ankle socks.
Soon we were at our ryokan, and once checked it my room-mates and I quickly changed to our yukatas, and it was off to the baths. Well not quite for me. Given my recent bout with eczema, I had lingering doubts as to whether I ought to partake or not. So instead, I decided to get a massage. There are quite new to me, but are worth every yen.
Dinner was standard ryokan fare: seafood and a variety of Japanese vegetables and tubers. However, this being Kumamoto, I was treated to my first ever basashi. Basashi is raw horse. I am game to try most meats raw, and so I had no qualms about eating this. That said, it seemed a bit gamey for me, and there was a strange aftertaste. I didn't dislike it, but I didn't particularly like it either. I'll have to hold off judgment until I try to quality basashi. Also surprisingly delicious was the salted-backed yamame (or mountain-woman salmon). No doubt some distant salmon cousin, it was 100% salty goodness.
Afterward, we retired to our rooms, but in the meanwhile I decided that I would go and bath. Upon returning I found most of the circle had gathered in my room, and beers and snacks fueled deep conversations about the decline in leadership skills displayed by Japanese people.
That night was uncomfortably passed on futon mattresses, and I woke up with a crick in my neck. After a hearty breakfast consisting of eggs, sausages, rice, bread, and a large salad, I wandered down to the massage chairs for a quick 10 minutes. While they are no replacement for the real deal, it nevertheless worked out the crick and I was back to being a happy camper.
The second day of our trip involved a trip to a water tunnel converted to a community art gallery, the fountainhead of the Shirakawa River, the Aso Farmland Resort, and a visit to the Kikuchi Gorge. Of these, I had visited Kikuchi Ravine before, and it was interesting to compare the place between my visit during the summer and now. I'll say that Kikuchi Glen reminded me a lot of camping in the Algonquin, and I again felt a measure of peace while there. Also notable is that the literature on the various signs, pamphlets, and maps cannot decide on whether it should be called a gorge, ravine, or gully. I did not see any signs for Kikuchi Canyon though.
Tired but satisfied, we returned home to Fukutsu around 7pm. The two days were enjoyable to say the least, and I hope that I am around next year to do it all again.
Pics here, or you can click on the slideshow in the sidebar.
11/13/2008
Perfect DUI Test
While I am certain this is staged, I found it funny nonetheless.
EDIT: Now that I think about it, I'm almost sure this is Super Troopers or something.
EDIT: Now that I think about it, I'm almost sure this is Super Troopers or something.
11/10/2008
Hydrate or die.
OK, maybe not die, but at least slough off some skin in a fit of itching and blood.
Yes blood.
The last 3 weeks or so have seen me suffering from an eczema flare-up. At times better, at times worse, but over the last 2 days it has become particularly alarming.
No one really knows why eczema happens, and there are more treatment options than I care to name. I've tried a lot. The best, but possibly most harmful, was a topical cream called Celestoderm. A powerful cortical steroid, I usually saw good results (less itching, redness) within 24 hours. Sadly, my large jar of it got used up, so I'm left with lesser products.
Moisturizing of course doesn't really help. Anything alcohol or Urea -based will serve to inflame my skin even more. Milder solutions, like Glaxal-base work to stave off dryness (for a while), but do nothing about the ITCHINESS, which at times is unbearable. Scratching that itch feels good. I mean, it REALLY feels good. Euphoric even. Until you stop and notice your hand is stained red.
From blood.
That's where I am now. I have a constantly healing set of scabs on my elbow-pits (?), on my knees and forearms, on my upper calves. As they form, the reduce skin flexibility. They break apart from the surrounding skin and become itchy. I scratch. I bleed. The miserable cycle continues.
Thoroughly nauseating as this post may be, it is part of my daily life, and is notable in the one aspect of my health which seems to have gotten worse since I came to Japan. I have attributed this to the change in seasons...but an epiphany of sorts struck me last night around 11pm.
My eczema had almost disappeared during the late summer. Odd in the sense that increased humidity and heat usually made it worse (due to sweat causing discomfort thence itching etc.). As such, I attributed my worsening to the change in seasons, with autumn bringing in unwanted allergens, then moving into dry winter weather. As I had run out of Celestoderm, I assumed that this was the most logical of explanations.
But that epiphany changed that. During the late summer (that's October over here), I started to drink a lot of water. This was part of my diet routine. Constantly having to process water means your body is in a constant state of metabolism, or at least I think that's how it works. I'll leave the true facts to those more erudite than I.
About a month ago, however, the weather started to get cooler, and I no longer toted my Nalgene bottle with me. It was still hot enough that I didn't need the extra weight when biking, and my dieting was going smoothly.
2 things started to happen, which now seem obvious in hindsight. My weight-loss plateaued, and my eczema started to flare up.
I had intended to visit the doctor, to see what he might prescribe for me. But for now, that's on hold. I need to see if my reasoning holds true, and that by hydrating (that is, drinking at least 2 litres of water every day) my eczema settle down. Call it an experiment.
Yes blood.
The last 3 weeks or so have seen me suffering from an eczema flare-up. At times better, at times worse, but over the last 2 days it has become particularly alarming.
No one really knows why eczema happens, and there are more treatment options than I care to name. I've tried a lot. The best, but possibly most harmful, was a topical cream called Celestoderm. A powerful cortical steroid, I usually saw good results (less itching, redness) within 24 hours. Sadly, my large jar of it got used up, so I'm left with lesser products.
Moisturizing of course doesn't really help. Anything alcohol or Urea -based will serve to inflame my skin even more. Milder solutions, like Glaxal-base work to stave off dryness (for a while), but do nothing about the ITCHINESS, which at times is unbearable. Scratching that itch feels good. I mean, it REALLY feels good. Euphoric even. Until you stop and notice your hand is stained red.
From blood.
That's where I am now. I have a constantly healing set of scabs on my elbow-pits (?), on my knees and forearms, on my upper calves. As they form, the reduce skin flexibility. They break apart from the surrounding skin and become itchy. I scratch. I bleed. The miserable cycle continues.
Thoroughly nauseating as this post may be, it is part of my daily life, and is notable in the one aspect of my health which seems to have gotten worse since I came to Japan. I have attributed this to the change in seasons...but an epiphany of sorts struck me last night around 11pm.
My eczema had almost disappeared during the late summer. Odd in the sense that increased humidity and heat usually made it worse (due to sweat causing discomfort thence itching etc.). As such, I attributed my worsening to the change in seasons, with autumn bringing in unwanted allergens, then moving into dry winter weather. As I had run out of Celestoderm, I assumed that this was the most logical of explanations.
But that epiphany changed that. During the late summer (that's October over here), I started to drink a lot of water. This was part of my diet routine. Constantly having to process water means your body is in a constant state of metabolism, or at least I think that's how it works. I'll leave the true facts to those more erudite than I.
About a month ago, however, the weather started to get cooler, and I no longer toted my Nalgene bottle with me. It was still hot enough that I didn't need the extra weight when biking, and my dieting was going smoothly.
2 things started to happen, which now seem obvious in hindsight. My weight-loss plateaued, and my eczema started to flare up.
I had intended to visit the doctor, to see what he might prescribe for me. But for now, that's on hold. I need to see if my reasoning holds true, and that by hydrating (that is, drinking at least 2 litres of water every day) my eczema settle down. Call it an experiment.
11/07/2008
Obama's Cabinet Leaked to the Press
Had me laughing out loud in the staff room.
Original Link here:
http://www.236.com/blog/w/lee_camp/barack_obamas_notes_on_his_pot_10107.php
Original Link here:
http://www.236.com/blog/w/lee_camp/barack_obamas_notes_on_his_pot_10107.php
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