this time 20 years ago, i was six years old approaching 7. i was like all other kids at that age: rowdy, obnoxious, high-strung, and in class from 8am-2:30pm. we'd learn our math, english, ohio history, and of course....science.
on this day 20 years ago, my science lesson was one of horror, that i wouldn't completely understand until i was older. my classmates, teacher and i watched on television as nasa prepared to launch the space shuttle challenger. i had no idea back then the magnitude and seeming importance of the space program, nor did i understand what they were even going to study once they go there. all i knew was there was a big space ship about ready to blast off to a place i'd never in my lifetime get to see, complete with a crew including a teacher, scientists, and others (their names and professions escape me at the moment. perhaps i should google it). sadly, they didn't get to see it either.
we arranged our chairs in rows so that everyone could see the countdown to launch and the subsequent commentary as the shuttle was to exit our atmosphere and enter the great beyond. "t-minus 10...9......8... and so on down to 1." ignition and blast off. again, i didn't understand exactly what was going on, but it sure was exciting. all that fire and smoke, and then this huge ship just lifted off the ground. 73 seconds later, it came to a tragic end.
i remember looking on in amazement, shock, and child-horror as the challenger shuttle morphed into a huge ball of fire and falling schrapnel. i can't recall any of the commentary verbatim, but the word "tragedy" was sure used an awful lot.
i saw on the news yesterday that this was the 20th anniversary of the accident. though we've made great strides technologically in the advancement of our ships, it's still a very dangerous occupation being an astronaut; and one that requires the courage only a few humans possess.
with each passing mission, and intermittent tragedies like the columbia disaster in 2003, we are learning more and more about the world and universe around us. even through such tragedies, we are still blessed with individuals that will give their own lives in the name of science and advancement. i only hope that the advancements in science and technology born of the experiments they conduct are worthy of their sacrifices. we should all be thankful that it was they, and not someone like me, that volunteered for a mission that returned them to their original ashes. may they rest in peace
http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/Biographies/challenger.html
Sunday, January 29, 2006
Saturday, January 21, 2006
Treason: The Dennis Miller Story
there was a time when all my favorite comedians, many considered icons, were on the same page. lewis black, bill maher, george carlin, and dennis miller were always the voices of my conscience. they wove the topics of sex, drugs, politics, and gender issues into a quilt of laughter. until recently.
long ago, george left us. not physically, since he's still alive. but mentally. old man's lost it. went crazy, and his most recent HBO special was among the worst "comedy" shows i've ever seen. it was so bad that i even have to use the "" around the word comedy to emphasize the point. so lewis, bill, and a few newcomers like dane cook continued to carry the load, entertaining me with insight and humor. dennis, however, is a traitor.
i'm a staunch democrat. not because i actually like any of the people in the party, but because i like many of their ideals. and they're not republicans. so maybe i'm just a staunch liberal. though i think barack obama should be made king if for no other reason than his DNC speech in '04. anyway, to get back on topic, these comedians were always the bastion of liberal thinking. nothing was off limits and the conservatives were always wrong. just like they always are.
dennis, however, went astray. i believe he was kidnapped by a conservative think-tank and anally probed to insert a microchip in his brain forcing him to recite certain propagandous, conservative messaging. over the past several years i could just feel dennis creeping to ever so slightly to the right. tonight, my suspicions were confirmed when i caught dennis' latest HBO special from vegas. dennis is a conservative.
after years of reading all his books, following his stand up act, and dutifully watching "the dennis miller show," i've been betrayed and want retribution. miller should be tried for treason, as it's obvious to anyone with a brain (read: liberal) that he is a traitor. i will watch gleefully from my couch, with my low-fat popcorn and diet soda, as dennis, anne coulter, and bill o'reilly sit before a congressional hearing for treason. though the committee will undoubtedly find them not guilty of any real treason, they will impose stiff fines and punishment for stupidity, which will be a federal crime when barack takes office and signs it into law.
in addition to being forced to donate money to the pro-choice cause and coerced into championing the gay marriage issue, they will also be losing out on a lot of money, since stupidity (or "conservatism" as i call it) will be outlawed and no one will be permitted to read, watch, or listen to any of the bullshit they once spewed. their pocketbooks will hurt as much as their pride and it'll be perfect justice for me; because, dennis has betrayed me. and now he must suffer.
fuck off, flip-flopper.
long ago, george left us. not physically, since he's still alive. but mentally. old man's lost it. went crazy, and his most recent HBO special was among the worst "comedy" shows i've ever seen. it was so bad that i even have to use the "" around the word comedy to emphasize the point. so lewis, bill, and a few newcomers like dane cook continued to carry the load, entertaining me with insight and humor. dennis, however, is a traitor.
i'm a staunch democrat. not because i actually like any of the people in the party, but because i like many of their ideals. and they're not republicans. so maybe i'm just a staunch liberal. though i think barack obama should be made king if for no other reason than his DNC speech in '04. anyway, to get back on topic, these comedians were always the bastion of liberal thinking. nothing was off limits and the conservatives were always wrong. just like they always are.
dennis, however, went astray. i believe he was kidnapped by a conservative think-tank and anally probed to insert a microchip in his brain forcing him to recite certain propagandous, conservative messaging. over the past several years i could just feel dennis creeping to ever so slightly to the right. tonight, my suspicions were confirmed when i caught dennis' latest HBO special from vegas. dennis is a conservative.
after years of reading all his books, following his stand up act, and dutifully watching "the dennis miller show," i've been betrayed and want retribution. miller should be tried for treason, as it's obvious to anyone with a brain (read: liberal) that he is a traitor. i will watch gleefully from my couch, with my low-fat popcorn and diet soda, as dennis, anne coulter, and bill o'reilly sit before a congressional hearing for treason. though the committee will undoubtedly find them not guilty of any real treason, they will impose stiff fines and punishment for stupidity, which will be a federal crime when barack takes office and signs it into law.
in addition to being forced to donate money to the pro-choice cause and coerced into championing the gay marriage issue, they will also be losing out on a lot of money, since stupidity (or "conservatism" as i call it) will be outlawed and no one will be permitted to read, watch, or listen to any of the bullshit they once spewed. their pocketbooks will hurt as much as their pride and it'll be perfect justice for me; because, dennis has betrayed me. and now he must suffer.
fuck off, flip-flopper.
Friday, January 13, 2006
It's not just them
ignorance is america's worst problem. or maybe it's arrogance. or maybe it's both. on my most recent visit to a cardiac specialist, i saw perhaps the most disturbing sight i've ever seen in a doctor's office: kids younger than me receiving ekgs and other heart-related testing.
i was patiently waiting in the lobby for my name to be called, i noticed a kid, maybe 17, enter a patient room with his parents. i could see through the open doors that the nurse practioner had wheeled in an ekg machine. though HIPPA prohibits me from knowing the exact reason for the kid's visit, it did get me thinking....
americans must be the dumbest people on earth. or the most arrogant. or the most ignorant. pick your word that ends in "ant," and we're probably that. for a country's citizenry to be so proud of all its scientific, business, and educational advancements over the past 200+ years, and to still be completely in the dark about how to simply take care of themselves is utterly inexcusable.
we all take it for granted that old people are the ones that will experience health problems, given the body's propensity to break down over the years. but what does it say about us when a 26 year old like me, or a 17 year old like the kid in the office today either have a heart attack or need to see a doctor to prevent a potential one? simply means that we don't get it.
we work longer than everyone else. we sleep less. we consume more goods, especially food, than everyone else on the planet. yet, we're continuously surprised at the increasing number of health problems plaguing us as a society.
we need to be re-educated. ideally, such information should be demonstrated from an early age while kids are in school. they should learn how to eat properly, exercise, and how to take care of themselves. it's such a simple concept. the government went through such trouble, maybe an entire day, to put together the food pyramid (which, mind you, has recently been updated). the least we could do is use it. nah.
most people visit their doctors once a year at the max. can we really depend on them to fully educated us about what is going on with our bodies, with our lives? their advice helps, but in the end the answer is a resounding "no."
how 'bout morgan spurlock, mr. "super-size me?" well, his efforts were wrought with good intentions. but alas, he's not my pal, so his words mean very little to me.
ultimately, you are responsible for you. no one else will take care of you the way you can. or should. it's up to each of us to find the information we need to make better choices concerning our health. surely there are people willing to help, but how much legwork do you think they'll put in?
i was told recently by a friend of mine that my ordeal has made him rethink his lifestyle. he's since made significant changes and even picks my brain from time to time about what i'm eating, how much, etc. he gets it. i get it. now it's your turn to get it while you're still young and able to comprehend it. health problems aren't just for old people anymore.
i was patiently waiting in the lobby for my name to be called, i noticed a kid, maybe 17, enter a patient room with his parents. i could see through the open doors that the nurse practioner had wheeled in an ekg machine. though HIPPA prohibits me from knowing the exact reason for the kid's visit, it did get me thinking....
americans must be the dumbest people on earth. or the most arrogant. or the most ignorant. pick your word that ends in "ant," and we're probably that. for a country's citizenry to be so proud of all its scientific, business, and educational advancements over the past 200+ years, and to still be completely in the dark about how to simply take care of themselves is utterly inexcusable.
we all take it for granted that old people are the ones that will experience health problems, given the body's propensity to break down over the years. but what does it say about us when a 26 year old like me, or a 17 year old like the kid in the office today either have a heart attack or need to see a doctor to prevent a potential one? simply means that we don't get it.
we work longer than everyone else. we sleep less. we consume more goods, especially food, than everyone else on the planet. yet, we're continuously surprised at the increasing number of health problems plaguing us as a society.
we need to be re-educated. ideally, such information should be demonstrated from an early age while kids are in school. they should learn how to eat properly, exercise, and how to take care of themselves. it's such a simple concept. the government went through such trouble, maybe an entire day, to put together the food pyramid (which, mind you, has recently been updated). the least we could do is use it. nah.
most people visit their doctors once a year at the max. can we really depend on them to fully educated us about what is going on with our bodies, with our lives? their advice helps, but in the end the answer is a resounding "no."
how 'bout morgan spurlock, mr. "super-size me?" well, his efforts were wrought with good intentions. but alas, he's not my pal, so his words mean very little to me.
ultimately, you are responsible for you. no one else will take care of you the way you can. or should. it's up to each of us to find the information we need to make better choices concerning our health. surely there are people willing to help, but how much legwork do you think they'll put in?
i was told recently by a friend of mine that my ordeal has made him rethink his lifestyle. he's since made significant changes and even picks my brain from time to time about what i'm eating, how much, etc. he gets it. i get it. now it's your turn to get it while you're still young and able to comprehend it. health problems aren't just for old people anymore.
Tuesday, January 03, 2006
Ready. Set. Lift!
it's been a trying couple of weeks, but i've slowly and surely (with help of friends and family) been putting the pieces of my life back in order. i've finally accepted taking 6 pills a day as a fact of my life and, save for not eating anything with fat, sodium, or cholesterol (taste is optional too), i feel like i'm just about ready to get back into the swing of things.
you see, i used to be quite the gym rat. not that i was ever in great shape, but i did go often enough to maintain my body while i slowly killed it with shitty food, alcohol, and, regrettably, cigarettes. anyway, i'd spend an hour or 2 in the university gym trying to work off all that extra weight, with moderate success. i moved to chicago and kept on a regimen of lesser intensity, but eventually i got fat and lazy and gave up (i still like to blame this on the continual "sweet" weather that engulfs that city, making it virtually impossible to get motivated to do anything. but i digress). thankfully, i was able to pick up cycling when i moved to denver. but that hobby proved short-lived also as summer turned to fall (when i typically get sick), and fall to winter.
[an aside: i haven't completely given up on cycling. i'll pick back up when the weather gets better and am aiming to finish the 32 mile elephant rock course this year.]
but now, i have a renewed motivation. i like to call it "not dying." not dying involves following doctor's prescriptions for a new lifestyle. and thus, i've entered step 3 in the successful steps for not dying program. steps 1 and 2 are simple: step 1 is to take all required medications. step 2 is to not eat food with any taste, but that is quite healthy. step 3 takes this all one, um, a step further: incorporate steps 1 and 2 with a workout routine.
though i've yet to be cleared by my doctors to go back to work full time or do anything remotely stressful (physically or mentally), i've done some housekeeping and taken care of some other important things--namely applying for admission into club health, the completion of step 3.
club health is an exclusive club with many different names. it's a club where a member's standing is directly proportional to his (or her) BMI, percent body fat, and bench press max. Often the club goes by silly names like bally, gold, or the ambiguous moniker, "y." nevertheless, it is my intent to join the ranks of the fit and gain admission to this exclusive club. and for $35 a month, i think i'm well on my way.
i'm now a pledge in the 24 hour fitness chapter of club health. the club was nice enough to offer me 5 personal training sessions for the low, low price of $300. but, come to think of it, it's probably a hell of a lot cheaper than a funeral.
i'm awaiting clearance from my doctor to resume physical activity on monday. when the paper is signed and the handshake received, it's time to get ready. get set. lift!
www.24hourfitness.com
www.americanheart.org
you see, i used to be quite the gym rat. not that i was ever in great shape, but i did go often enough to maintain my body while i slowly killed it with shitty food, alcohol, and, regrettably, cigarettes. anyway, i'd spend an hour or 2 in the university gym trying to work off all that extra weight, with moderate success. i moved to chicago and kept on a regimen of lesser intensity, but eventually i got fat and lazy and gave up (i still like to blame this on the continual "sweet" weather that engulfs that city, making it virtually impossible to get motivated to do anything. but i digress). thankfully, i was able to pick up cycling when i moved to denver. but that hobby proved short-lived also as summer turned to fall (when i typically get sick), and fall to winter.
[an aside: i haven't completely given up on cycling. i'll pick back up when the weather gets better and am aiming to finish the 32 mile elephant rock course this year.]
but now, i have a renewed motivation. i like to call it "not dying." not dying involves following doctor's prescriptions for a new lifestyle. and thus, i've entered step 3 in the successful steps for not dying program. steps 1 and 2 are simple: step 1 is to take all required medications. step 2 is to not eat food with any taste, but that is quite healthy. step 3 takes this all one, um, a step further: incorporate steps 1 and 2 with a workout routine.
though i've yet to be cleared by my doctors to go back to work full time or do anything remotely stressful (physically or mentally), i've done some housekeeping and taken care of some other important things--namely applying for admission into club health, the completion of step 3.
club health is an exclusive club with many different names. it's a club where a member's standing is directly proportional to his (or her) BMI, percent body fat, and bench press max. Often the club goes by silly names like bally, gold, or the ambiguous moniker, "y." nevertheless, it is my intent to join the ranks of the fit and gain admission to this exclusive club. and for $35 a month, i think i'm well on my way.
i'm now a pledge in the 24 hour fitness chapter of club health. the club was nice enough to offer me 5 personal training sessions for the low, low price of $300. but, come to think of it, it's probably a hell of a lot cheaper than a funeral.
i'm awaiting clearance from my doctor to resume physical activity on monday. when the paper is signed and the handshake received, it's time to get ready. get set. lift!
www.24hourfitness.com
www.americanheart.org
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