Pair Up for Health Photos (a few)

Note: I finished 71 out of 148, though only 8 40+ year olds beat me, and only 1 50 year old (who finished in the top 5!!!)

Here are some photos, most of which are NOT flattering…:)

I am really wheezing here…

I am climbing the final wall about 100 meters from the finish (the run was just under 5K). I was actually ahead of the guy in black prior to the wall, but let him go around me as I knew that I’d need some time to get my fat creaky body over the wall…

Here Theresa encourages a friend to get over the wall.

Theresa (the attractive one) and I with our “award cookies”. She is in the same yoga class that Lynn and I attend.

Moral: if you are 50 years old or older, all you have to do is show up and finish and you might win a prize (at smaller races).

Barbara, Lynn and other liberal women: It is your fault that I am a pervert!

From the June 13 edition of Premiere Radio Networks’ The Rush Limbaugh Show…

Barbara, Lynn and other liberal women: It is y…, posted with vodpod

See??? This is for you Barbara, Lynn, Wild Celtic Rose, Tammy and any other somewhat progressive women!!!! IT IS YOUR FAULT!!!

More here:

Note: if it weren’t for you women, I’d be eating big fat hamburgers, french fries, etc.

Key passages: 5-8 minutes. Note: yes, macho athletes get caught in sex scandals all of the time (think: Bret Farve, etc.)

Update: The Ed Show edited version is here.

14 June 2011 (am)

Workout notes yoga in the morning followed by a 6.4 mile walk (10.4 km) (1:29:56)

I did a few “less slow” segments and focused on posture. It was drizzling and in the low 60′s F.

Note: I have some tingles in the calf/foot/side of the leg, but no sharp pain. I’ll just have to keep stretching this area as well as my back.

Posture: I am going to have to focus on this intensely.

Wildlife: in addition to the usual rabbits and squirrels, I saw a large raccoon on Cooper st. It walked away from me warily but appeared to be injured or ill; it’s back was arched.

Last night’s debate
One of the things that I had forgotten about was this: this is super early in the election cycle; hence the average voter has yet to pay attention. Hence the candidates were really focused on appealing to those who can write big campaign checks and those who have lots of friends who can write big campaign checks; hence the appeals to “get the government off of our backs”, “low taxes”, blah, blah, blah.

The people that they were talking to have money and aren’t worried about health insurance!

Nate Silver explains this well. He also says a couple of other things:

That is not to say that Ms. Palin will necessarily engage in such a careful analysis when she decides whether to run for president. But it’s possible that she’s missed her moment — whether or not she decides to run. Rather than being a proxy for Ms. Palin, Ms. Bachmann may instead be preferred to her in the eyes of Republican voters.

*-*

Besides Ms. Palin, the other candidate whose decision will have the most influence on the race is Gov. Rick Perry of Texas. Mr. Perry — although he has some vulnerabilities — could potentially fulfill William F. Buckley’s commandment to Republicans: nominate the most conservative candidate who is electable.

I agree with Mr. Silver about Palin. But I disagree about Gov. Perry. For one, Gov. Perry has made too much secessionist noise.

Besides, his “Texas miracle” is a big sham and this is coming to light.
For one thing: states can always compete with each other as far as racing to the bottom; that is, a state can tell a business: “open up here; we have no environmental laws and we won’t tax you and you can fire workers whenever you like”. Hence national jobs don’t increase; they merely get shifted.

The other thing is that Texas is now paying the piper, so to speak:

So, to recap: Texas schools are in crisis, but the government’s response to a budget shortfall is to cut funding for education even further. It doesn’t take someone with good math SAT scores to figure out what’s going to happen next.

Once upon a time Texas prided itself on what it called the “Texas Miracle.” The state initially didn’t get hit as hard by the recession as other parts of the county, a fact that legislators claimed was due to its low-regulation, low-tax, business-friendly culture. During Rick Perry’s re-election campaign last year, the governor boasted that the state had “billions in surplus.” Less than two months later, however, the news of a gaping deficit made the miracle look a bit less wondrous, as Paul Krugman was quick to observe:

But reality has now intruded, in the form of a deficit expected to run as high as $25 billion over the next two years.

And that reality has implications for the nation as a whole. For Texas is where the modern conservative theory of budgeting — the belief that you should never raise taxes under any circumstances, that you can always balance the budget by cutting wasteful spending — has been implemented most completely. If the theory can’t make it there, it can’t make it anywhere.

Krugman is not exaggerating. Texas ranks 49th out of all 50 states in per capita state tax burden. There is no fat left to cut. When revenue collapses because of an economic downturn, what little social services remain must be gutted. And it’s only going to get worse, because Texas’ population is growing, and the demands for services will continue to rise.

Debate Spin
The DNC made an interesting video of the debate:

In all honesty, they caught the candidates answering the questions that was asked of them. Mr. Cain was answering the “are you uncomfortable with Muslims” question, Mr. Romeny was answering the “are you going to repeal Obamacare” question, Mr. Gingrich was answering the “space program” question (his answer is that private enterprise would have advanced us further than NASA did) and Mr. Pawlenty was asked about the “gay marriage” situation (“how would you handle the fact that some states have made it legal”).

Still, it was a hard hitting, if a bit misleading, ad.

My winner: Romney (ok, it was really Obama but never mind that)

It appeared to me that Mitt Romney flat out intimidated Tim Pawlenty; no “Obaney care” remarks from him tonight. Ms. Bachmann appeared to be the strongest “non-Romney” though she wasn’t exactly an intellectual heavyweight.

Gingrich, Cain, Paul and Santorum are non-factors and won’t be around for long. It is almost time to put Pawlenty in that group.

Republican Debate (June 13): Conclusion

Foreign Policy
Question: OBL is dead, shouldn’t we leave Afghanistan.

Romney: bring the troops home when Afghanistan can handle things (kind of Obama’s position); uses conditions on the ground. No wars of independence.
Paul: wouldn’t wait…he’d bring them home as soon as possible. No more bombing overseas. No purpose being there.
Pawlenty: “Paul said no bombing in Yemen”. “What say you”: Pawlenty: blah, blah, thanks for your service, blah blah…
(yes, I served in the Navy…)…Make us safe, yes, I’ll attack targets in Yemen.

Ooops, no mike…
question on Libya
Bachmann: said that Gates couldn’t identify a US interest in Libya. She says “we don’t “lead from behind”…we let FRANCE lead! How terrible! We lead! but we shouldn’t be there…
Gingrich: yes, the pricetag is a factor in involvement. He says that we don’t know how many Libyan rebels are Al Qeada. Totally new strategy:

Cain: make sure we understand the problem? Vital interest of the US?

Question Why the military bases all over the world? Will we shut down these bases (the non-vital ones)

Santorum: Obama’s fault.,..lack of leadership…we need to be able to confront the threats and to be nimble. Accuses Obama of embracing our enemies and turning his back on our allies? (gibberish)…

Question: why does the public think that you all suck.
Cain: they don’t know us well.

Pawlenty: said that Biden has been wrong (mentions his partition); Gov. Palin is a “remarkable” leader…she is better than Biden. (sure…)

Romney: we are all better than Obama. Says that he doesn’t have a coherent foreign policy. (wrong!)
Bachmann: who would be your VP: “American VP”
Paul: which one would I pick…he’d have to more quizzing.

Last minute: what have you learned in the last 2 hours?
Santorum: we have great candidates
Bachmann: we’ve learned about the goodness of the American people.
Gingrich: NH has good people.
Romney: economy is the issue
Paul: we can talk and be civil
Pawlenty: Burins have more heart.
Cain: all of the candidates: “it isn’t about us”.

I’d love to see the spin.

Republican Debate Part III

Question: Medicare: how do we propose to keep Medicare solvent.

Paul: it won’t be solvent point out that people take out more than they put in. Says it has to change; says we are dependent.
Takes it out of other places. Says individuals could opt out.

Pawlenty: asked about Ryan plan. His proposal, has his own plan (not Ryan plan), talks about performance pay, and allows to opt out or participate.

Gingrich: asked about his initial reaction to the Ryan. Says that he supported the Ryan proposal, says that they shouldn’t run over. He claims that he disagrees with Ryan on Medicare…allows for contract with doctors. “Not pay the crooks”.

Santorum: says that the Republicans shouldn’t slow down (Gingrich says we should). He supports to Ryan’s plan (Part D). Claims that Obama’s payment advisory board is bad…..uses the R-word (rationing).

Cain: we don’t need to slow down. Says “sir, you aren’t going to get your money back”. Supports the Paul Ryan program…gets on the Democrats for demagoguery.

Question Specifics on Social Security reformation.

Cain: personal retirement account. Brings up Chile. Says about 40 years… won’t raise the retirement age.

Question Credit limit…raise the debt ceiling.

Romney: won’t raise the debt ceiling ….says that Obama needs to lead on the spending, excesses of government, etc. Says “entitlements” are 60 percent and accuses the President of not having ideas.

What happens if we don’t raise the ceiling? He won’t answer the question. Spending, blah, blah, blah….

Bachmann: “what is your pricetag”; says that she will vote “no”. Misleads on the increase on the debt (much of it comes from previous obligation)

Question Separation of church and State:

Pawlenty: says that we are a “nation under god”; more gibberish (protects believers from state versus the other way around)

Santorum: uses “faith and reason”; will converge if correct. Whines about people of faith are pushed away.

Paul: faith: says it doesn’t separate church and state.

Question The Muslim question; directed to Cain

Cain: I wouldn’t be comfortable with a Mulsim; “the militants are trying to kill us”, Sharia law, brings up Sharia law

Cain: makes it clear says he would ask Muslims certain questions that he might now ask others.

Romney: says “of course Sharia law” won’t be applied (Thank you!) Mentions religious tolerance.

Gingrich: makes a comment about the Pakistani and says that the Pakistani lied: talks about loyalty oath…brings up fear.

Break…I need pink bismuth…

Question Bachmann: gay marriage…
Bachmann: would she attack state laws to allow for gay marriage? “Marriage is between a man and a woman”. Mentions children. But doesn’t answer the question. She won’t challenge the state laws…doesn’t see it as a role of a President.

Constitutional Amendment to ban marriage:

Cain: up to the state.
Palwenty: Amendment.
Paul: get the government out
Romeny: Constitutional Amendment.
Santorum: Constitutional Amendment
Bachmann: Constitutional Amentment
Gingrich: Constitutional Amendment

Question: DADT overturned…would we return.

Cain: leave it alone; too many other things
Pawlenty: listen to the military
Paul: blah blah…”rights don’t come in group”
Romney: didn’t answer; should have kept DADT
Gingrich: meets with military and go back.
Bachmann: go back
Santorum: “repeal”

Question: prolife question
Santorum: asked: did Romeny deliberately flip-flop? Brings up Romeny’s background when he held office.
Says that he would push the issue.
Romney: says that his last campaign said it all, and would appoint pro-life justices.

Others: case closed.

Question
Bachmann: pro-life…what about rape and incest? “Only god”…right to life …she waffles.
Pawlenty: brings up NRO: Pawlenty was the most pro-life candidate…says he is “solidly pro-life”.

Question How do you prevent illegal immigrants from using our welfare systems (education, health care, etc.)

Santorum: won’t require states to require state government to provide services.
Paul: no mandates, no easy citizenship, protect borders, brings up the economic issues…freedom, blah blah blah…
Cain: “birth right citizenship”: he is against it for kids of illegal immigrant parents. Empower the states to deport them.
Pawlenty: let the states do it if the Federal government wont.
Gingrich: “what would you do…some path to status?” He says: break this down, control the border. Use the National guard, take half of Homeland Security to the Mexico border states. Says that extreme answers are not helpful.

Question Bill that restricts the state’s ability to use eminent domain for energy uses.

Paul: Laws never meant to take from private and give to private. Get the courts out of the way.
Romney: land shouldn’t be taken a private person to give to private corporations; talks to natural gas, more drilling, “clean coal”, “nuclear power”…blah blah…

Question Senate to abolish ethanol tax credits.
Santorum: phase out the subsidies over a 5 year period of time, and phase out the tariff on ethanol.

Republican Debate Part II

Question Federal Government gives subsidies to private enterprise.

Paul: shouldn’t have any. Says that private companies should do R & D.

Cain: once supported TARP. He is being asked about. He complains about how TARP was administrated; he conflated it with the auto-bail out (different thing)

Question: Romeny was asked about the bail-out program.

Romney says that the bail out program wasted money. He would have let them go bankrupt…at least mentioned the Bush administration.
Claims 17 billion dollars was wasted and claims that Obama gave the company to UAW.

But Romney said that you could “kiss the industry goodbye”….won’t admit that he was wrong……the companies are healthy now.

Santorum: says he wouldn’t have done either. Unions are the bad guys.
Bachmann: “was in the middle of the debate” and backdoor with Secretary Paulsen. She says that TARP was wrong.

Question Gingrich: what role should the government play in the space program?

Gingrich: NASA is bad….private sector would have done it better. We would have had all of these neat things had private industry been allowed to do it. NASA is in the way.

Pawlenty: says we shouldn’t eliminate the space program.

Gingrich: gets on Pawlenty for saying to get rid of the space program.

Romney: government doesn’t know as well as the private sector.

Question: home mortgage crisis

Pawlenty: get government out of this mess….(how did they get us into it?) Get the government out of it…blah, blah, blah…

Paul: do less, sooner. We should let the prices fall.

Question: food safety.

Cain: look at the FDA and steamline it. He thinks that we should have FDA.

Romney: asked about Joplin; thinks that Federal government is too large but won’t talk about the Joplin disaster….blah, blah, blah, blah….

Round two: facepalm.

13 June 2011: which Republican wants to lose to Obama? Part I

First question Jobs?

Herman Cain: zero capital gains tax, more corporate tax breaks….

Santorum: won’t criticize Pawlenty, says that Obamacare is “oppressive”. Regulations are horrible! He just contradicted himself…

Pawlenty: question on 5 percent a year growth claim: still won’t say how tax cuts will help. Talks about growth rates of the US versus countries with less mature economies. He didn’t answer the question.

Romney: says that Obama didn’t created the recession, but made it worse? Says that Obama has failed.

Gingrich: higher taxes hurts job creation; invokes Ronald Reagan….calls Obama’s agenda “anti-American”.

Bachmann: talks about repealing Dodd-Frank, announces that she is running. Didn’t answer the question.

Paul: can’t name one thing that Obama did right, calls the current problem a “Keynesian bubble”.

In other words: no answer.

Next question: How to repeal Obamacare?

Bachmann: will repeal Obamacare. Says that the CBO says that Obamacare will kill 800,000 jobs. This claim is false.

Romney: my plan is better and only a state level.

Pawlenty: claims that Obama broke his promise to cost-contain. Slams the mandate. Pawlenty is back peddling on his term “Obamney care”.

Romney: says that Obama’s plan isn’t like his.

Gingrich: asked about mandate; says that it is unconstitutional therefore back peddles on his previous position; mentions that one needs Congressional approval, especially in the Senate (filibuster proof majority)

Next question: wonders where the “balanced approach” to governing.

Santorum: talks about the Contract with America, says he can get it and lead; says that the Tea Party is great….calls it the backbone.

Bachmann: mentions that she is the Tea Party caucus head and says that the tea party consists of disaffected Democrats and independents. says that Obama IS A ONE TERM PRESIDENT.

Cain: Tea Party isn’t too critical, says that he will take it to the people….his business skills will get the people involved.

Question: how do the candidates plan on returning manufacturing jobs to the US?

Paul: goes back to currency and wants the Fed to quit printing more money, less regulation, less tax, blah, blah, blah….

Pawlenty: Fair trade, make the burdens on industry low…Obamacare is too burdensome. “get the government off of their bock”, blah blah.

Bachmann: job creation: US has the second highest corporate rate in the world. But loopholes are rampant.

Santorum: blah blah…

Question Right to work?

Pawlenty: he supports “right to work” legislation for the nation. He throws Limbaugh a bone.

Gingrich: Defund the national labor relations board; says to defund it now. Keeps it “right to work” at the state level.

Cain: right to work….keeps it at the state level, says that the National Labor relations board is killing the economy.

Now for some fluff and a break…

Gads…this was pathetic.