9 September 2011

Workout notes Weights then swimming.
Swimming: 500 of 25 fist/25 free, 500 of 25 free, 50 side, 25 free, 500 of 25 free, 25 back (fins), 250 pull, 250 swim, 200 of drills (fins)

Weights (which came first): lunges, rotator cuff:
Hammer rows: 3 sets of 10 x 200
pull downs: 3 sets of 10 x 140
curls (dumbbell): 3 sets of 10 x 25
bench press: 10 x 135, 10 x 150, 4 x 160
incline: 2 sets of 10 x 115
military press (dumbbell) 2 sets of 15 x 40 seated
military press: 10 x 65 (standing)
abduction: 3 sets of 10 x 180
adduction: 3 sets of 10 x 180
sit ups: 100

Posts
Science
Human origins: more information comes in

The ancient remains of two human-like creatures found in South Africa could change the way we view our origins.

The 1.9-million-year-old fossils were first described in 2010, and given the species name Australopithecus sediba.

But the team behind the discovery has now come back with a deeper analysis.

It tells Science magazine that features seen in the brain, feet, hands and pelvis of A. sediba all suggest this species was on the direct evolutionary line to us – Homo sapiens.

“We have examined the critical areas of anatomy that have been used consistently for identifying the uniqueness of human beings,” said Professor Lee Berger from the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg

“Any one of these features could have evolved separately, but it is highly unlikely that all of them would have evolved together if A. sediba was not related to our lineage,” the team leader informed BBC News.

It is a big claim and, if correct, would sideline other candidates in the fossil record for which similar assertions have been made in the past.

Theory holds that modern humans can trace a line back to a creature known as Homo erectus which lived more than a million years ago. This animal, according to many palaeoanthropologists, may in turn have had its origins in more primitive hominins, as they are known, such as Homo habilis or Homo rudolfensis.

The contention now made for A. sediba is that, although older than its “rivals”, some of its anatomy and capabilities were more advanced than these younger forms. Put simply, it is a more credible ancestor for H. erectus, Berger’s team claims.

Supernova: watch it!

Evolution in action: how a virus spreads itself. Yes, nature is brutal.

Political
Jon Stewart: the Republican base is nuts!

Remember the idiotic cheering at the mention that Texas had killed over 200 people? Yes, some on death row were innocent (didn’t do the crime that they were accused of). Here is one who made it off of death row. This is why I find the people who cheered to be stupid, ignorant or evil.

Paul Krugman
This is a link to a mostly non-technical paper he wrote about how the economists are falling down on the job; there isn’t much political here nor is there much that is prescriptive.

Note: Krugman received advance copy of what President Obama’s job plan would be; he describes how having this “insider knowledge” went to his head, even though it meant very little. Point: sometimes administrations can get favorable press by doing this. Again, this is non-political.

The Obama plan
Krugman: not perfect, but pretty good. The Republicans won’t pass it though.

Robert Reich: the plan is much too small, but he likes the “Give ‘em hell” tone.

Political Humor: pick your favorite Republican!