Pushups, Editing, And New Writing Opportunities

Just posting an update on some of my goals and progress notes.  I recently managed 255 pushups.  Well above my last update of 220.  I accomplished it in two jumps, the first a quick one to 240, and then a gradual build up to my new heights.  As part of my effort I did 75 pushups over 5 minutes, broken into 5 sets.

Other updates... I've done some light editing to my book.  After rewriting the opening I've now reworked what I think of as the secondary, "soft" opening.  As if I get to make such editorial choices as creating "soft" openings.

I answered a call for guest posts on the blog http://www.ordinaryparent.com/, and so soon you'll be seeing a post about what its like to be a Dad to triplets on that site.  I'm also thinking about writing a piece for the Good Men Project on fertility issues from a man's point of view.

Publishia: Rowling Works Her Magic, Again

First she reworked the publishing industry by introducing a pint-sized wizard, now J.K. Rowling is doing it again, remaking the publishing industry by offering her Potter book series through her own website in formats that make them accessible to e-book readers!

This raises a question, though: Is there anyone left who wants to read the Potter series but hasn't yet?

Anticipating Hunger

I'm patiently/anxiously waiting to see Hunger Games.  I probably won't see it until it comes out OnDemand, but I'm already excited.  Now, saying that, I'm hoping the anticipation doesn't kill it. 

The last movie I was pretty phyched up for - Atlas Shrugged, Part I - I couldn't get through.  Now, Rand refluxed through most of the first quarter of it, and after that we were so exhausted we bagged it, but its not like I ever went back and watched it.  Without making this into a movie review, it felt like a made-for-TV movie.  Maybe it was the small budget, or the material, or maybe my anticipation doomed it from the start.

Anyway, what are you currently excited about?

Manufacturing Problems

There are 100 reasons why all those people who rail about manufacturing jobs in China are wrong: misplaced Nationalism and related fear of scary foreigners is one reason, Ludditism, lack of economic understanding; the list goes on and on.  But next time one of your friends complains that we are shipping all our manufacturing jobs overseas or that we are hollowing out the core of our country, keep this in mind (or recite this to them)*:

"Compared to1990, the total value of U.S. manufacturing output, adjusted for inflation, was up by 75 percent in 2010 -- despite a drop caused by the Great Recession."

Ravi verdict: I can't live with it*

The press paints it as a "guilty" verdict, which to the uncritical eye it is, but while Ravi is guilty of invasion of privacy, he is not guilty on most of the bias intimidation questions.  And lets face it, it was the bias intimidation charge that was the focus of the entire thing.  Ravi is guilty of invasion of privacy and evidence tampering (no real question on the second, or the second, really, but the logic of going after them is open).  The jury largely finds against bias intimidation, but holds him liable on one of bias intimidation.  No one prosecutes this case as an invasion of privacy or evidence tampering case absent the bias charges.  In fact, absent the "victim" being gay, no one so much as blinks at this case.  I'm guessing this type of behavior - "peeking" into your own room - probably happens quite a bit. 

I later come to learn that because Ravi was found guilty of at least one of the bias intimidation charges, he could still get 10 years in prison.  It's outrageous that Ravi could get 10 years for a 5 second prank "peep" into his own room.  A case so poorly put together and fact barren that the prosecution essentially lost, but managed just enough to hook one count.  Sure, if you charge a guy with 50 counts of something, you'll probably manage to get the jury to convict on 1 of those counts.

I think prosecuting a college-age kid for what amounts to 3 to 5 seconds of "video chatting" his own webcam to view his room is a crazy standard to set.  The video cam was out in open display.  The roommate had to know what it could do.

Honestly, do we really want to live in a world where every prank, every immature and silly thing we do is a violation of the law.  Do we really want to live in a world where any accidental youthful misstep makes someone a criminal?

I would say no.  We shouldn't prosecute kids for "peeking" into their own living spaces, and we shouldn't prosecute kids for "peeking" into their neighbors house (nor should we prosecute the neighbor, if he/she happens to be naked).  I wasn't at the trial, but certainly from various press reports (and the jury's general verdict) it doesn't seem like teh the prosecution demonstrated a good bias intimidation case.

A crime too far

I am, or at least consider myself to be, gay-friendly. I've have and have had gay friends. I can't say any were my best friend, but so be it. Still, this prosecution bothers me. If Ravi isn't found innocent, I'll be sad. It's a bad, sad story all around, but I'm not sure how ruining this kids life makes anything better, especially not for pretty typical 18 year old hijinks that wouldn't be an issue if the kid didn't kill himself for unknown reasons. Note: testimony indicates the mom rejected the boy when he came out, but there she is behind the prosecutor, and no charges for her.

Tea Champs

The North American Tea Championships were recently held, apparently. Neither adagio nor teavana won. I can't tell if either even entered. Though I would think they would. Some of the teas, as you might expect, are pricey, though some are reasonable. http://www.teachampionship.com/index.php/champions/2011-hot-tea-fall-tea-champions

King No More

I wish I could cloak the post in black; or more appropriately, chocolate brown.

King-sized Snicker's bars, a one-time favorite of mine, have become a victim of King-sized guilt about obesity.  Mars LLC will now only sell candy bars coming in at sub-250 calories, making the 510-calorie King-sized version a big no no.

Which is all fine and good - except for the intrusion into my life and purchasing habits and proclivities - minus the fact that now to treat my triplets, I will have to buy 3 candy bars at 250 calories a piece, rather than a single 510 calorie.

Lets see: a 250 calorie treat (1 candy bar per child at 250 calories) or a 170 calorie treat (1 at 510 calories split 3 ways (510 / 3 = 170) with an added side of sharing and negotiating.  I guess I'll be spending more to buy additonal, smaller treats and giving my kids more calories.  Thanks.