Sports Illustrated named Lebron James as their Sportsman of the Year. He was the MVP of the NBA regular season and the playoff finals. Lebron won the NBA championship with the Miami Heat and an Olympic goal medal, so the Sportsman of the Year sounds reasonable.
Lionel Messi, however, needs to be recognized for a level of excellence that may never be matched. As a soccer player, he plays forward for the Argentina national team and for FC Barcelona. This year, the 5' 7'', 25 year old broke the long standing record of 85 goals in a calendar year. At last count he had 91 and he's not done. Is he the best footballer in history? The debate will continue. At his best, hockey's "Great One" Wayne Gretzky, 1981-82 season, scored 92 goals, breaking the record of 72, while scoring 50 of those goals in just 39 games. But just think, Gretzky was the greatest in the history of a few million, amateur and professional, hockey players world wide, where as Messie is perhaps the greatest among billions of footballers around the globe. As great as he is, some believe, experts included, that Messi isn't even the best soccer player of the year. They"ll cast their vote for Cristiano Ronaldo, a Portugese forward, who plays for Real Madrid. These fierce rivals are scheduled to compete against each other in Madrid, March 2013, as Real Madrid takes on Barcelona.
In my humble opinion, Michael Phelps, Missy Franklin, Usain Bolt, Rory Mcllroy, Serena Williams or Andy Murray, to name just a few, are more deserving than Lebron.
My choice for sportsperson (not sportsman) of the year is Lionel Messi. Like Gretzky, Messi isn't the biggest, fastest, or strongest but there is always the potential for something very special whenever he touches the ball.
Don T
Saturday, December 22, 2012
Time Person Of The Year
Time Magazine named President Barack Obama as the 2012 Person of the Year. I am not surprised, but I do not agree with their choice. Have you ever been introduced to Selman Khan?
I think that the President has been at the forefront on climate change and is forward thinking on energy policy. As he said, green energy research is expensive, but the US must lead the way or we will continue to fall behind. Many years ago Toyota invested and lost billions in developing hybrid technology, but now is the worlds leading auto company. Isn't time that we increased our investment in research and development in an effort to reverse global warming and massive pollution? On other fiscal and economic issues, the President has been fighting an uphill battle against long odds. There is certainly enough blame to go around, and I cannot see his job getting any easier in his second term.
Although, I have always felt that the President's heart was in the right place, it bothers me that he waited for to long to speak out on gay rights and gun control. Obviously, he needed to keep an eye on the polls, but I feel that there is a time when a strong leader has to stand tall and let people know what he believes is moral and just. The tide has changed, and people around the country are speaking up about marriage equality, and the supreme court will finally have an opportunity to make it right.
The President outlined a plan to put Joe Biden in charge of gun control, and it sounds like a great plan, but where were they before? The NRA has now made their position clear, "the only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun". Every gun manufactured in America leaves the factory as a legal firearm, however, over their life time, several guns fall into the wrong hands resulting in death, either from, gang violence, domestic violence, suicide, robbery, accident or mass murder by an insane person. Several of these guns never change hands but the gun owner's life changes, and the result is the same. So how can we ever be safer with more guns, it's not possible. The only hope is to reduce the number of guns, and not just assault weapons, but hand guns that are killing young men and innocent bystanders on every street corner. The time to act is long overdue, and I hope that the politicians are ready to stand up to the NRA. God bless NYC Mayor Bloomberg for rallying other mayors from around the country in an effort to get guns off the streets.
America and countries around the world are warning Iran not to build a nuclear weapon. Have we ever considered, in a serious way, a treaty where all countries, including the US and Russia, agree to the dismantling of all nuclear weapons? Could you imagine a country without guns and a world with out nukes.
Selman Khan, is the founder of the not-for- profit Khan Academy. With 3 degrees from MIT and an MBA from Harvard, Khan left the hedge fund world to run his on line tutorial program. It all began, a few years ago, when he started tutoring his niece, via YouTube, in math. Little did he know that one of his followers was teaching his son math using Khan's lessons. As the say "the rest is history", because that follower was Bill Gates. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is now the academy's major benefactor and many experts believe that their concepts will significantly change the education models of the future. The Khan Academy is not new for 2012, but has recently incorporated several other subjects and has grown into an educational tour de force.
I believe, however, that the Person of the Year should be the same each and every year. They are those who have sacrificed their lives or have put themselves in grave danger to protect others.
God bless the families of our true heroes,
Don T
I think that the President has been at the forefront on climate change and is forward thinking on energy policy. As he said, green energy research is expensive, but the US must lead the way or we will continue to fall behind. Many years ago Toyota invested and lost billions in developing hybrid technology, but now is the worlds leading auto company. Isn't time that we increased our investment in research and development in an effort to reverse global warming and massive pollution? On other fiscal and economic issues, the President has been fighting an uphill battle against long odds. There is certainly enough blame to go around, and I cannot see his job getting any easier in his second term.
Although, I have always felt that the President's heart was in the right place, it bothers me that he waited for to long to speak out on gay rights and gun control. Obviously, he needed to keep an eye on the polls, but I feel that there is a time when a strong leader has to stand tall and let people know what he believes is moral and just. The tide has changed, and people around the country are speaking up about marriage equality, and the supreme court will finally have an opportunity to make it right.
The President outlined a plan to put Joe Biden in charge of gun control, and it sounds like a great plan, but where were they before? The NRA has now made their position clear, "the only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun". Every gun manufactured in America leaves the factory as a legal firearm, however, over their life time, several guns fall into the wrong hands resulting in death, either from, gang violence, domestic violence, suicide, robbery, accident or mass murder by an insane person. Several of these guns never change hands but the gun owner's life changes, and the result is the same. So how can we ever be safer with more guns, it's not possible. The only hope is to reduce the number of guns, and not just assault weapons, but hand guns that are killing young men and innocent bystanders on every street corner. The time to act is long overdue, and I hope that the politicians are ready to stand up to the NRA. God bless NYC Mayor Bloomberg for rallying other mayors from around the country in an effort to get guns off the streets.
America and countries around the world are warning Iran not to build a nuclear weapon. Have we ever considered, in a serious way, a treaty where all countries, including the US and Russia, agree to the dismantling of all nuclear weapons? Could you imagine a country without guns and a world with out nukes.
Selman Khan, is the founder of the not-for- profit Khan Academy. With 3 degrees from MIT and an MBA from Harvard, Khan left the hedge fund world to run his on line tutorial program. It all began, a few years ago, when he started tutoring his niece, via YouTube, in math. Little did he know that one of his followers was teaching his son math using Khan's lessons. As the say "the rest is history", because that follower was Bill Gates. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is now the academy's major benefactor and many experts believe that their concepts will significantly change the education models of the future. The Khan Academy is not new for 2012, but has recently incorporated several other subjects and has grown into an educational tour de force.
I believe, however, that the Person of the Year should be the same each and every year. They are those who have sacrificed their lives or have put themselves in grave danger to protect others.
God bless the families of our true heroes,
Don T
Saturday, December 15, 2012
Tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut
There are just no words to describe the pain and sorrow that the parents and friends in Newtown, Connecticut are feeling today. To harm innocent children in this way is a tragedy that exposes us all to a numbing sense of grief, anger and bewilderment as to what to do.
I have always been in favor of a no gun policy. I believe that private citizens should not be allowed to own guns, but that is not what I want to write about today.
There are some people living a life full of pain, misery and hatefulness. They manage through life one step in front of another, hardly noticed, accomplishing very little and when their time comes they'll pass on and make room for the next generation. It's a very sad situation, yet once in awhile, luck or a guardian angel will step in and turn their life into something so much more meaning full. Once in an extremely long while, we get the opposite, a loner who all of a sudden wants to become famous, punish the world, and make everyone suffer his pain. With the economy at the breaking point and stress levels at such a high level, it seems that this is becoming an all too familiar event. Mental health services have also been cut back to a great extent, and there are many in need who are unable to get assistance. Veterans, returning from the longest wars in our history, are suffering in profound ways and are also not getting the mental health services that they desperately need. Our prisons are filled with nonviolent drug offenders who are not being treated for their addictions but are in an endless no win cycle of incarceration.
When will this all stop? Will we ever return to a time of compassion, community, and hope?
Last night we attended a holiday party sponsored by a small group of parents in support of our high school science research program. There was a discussion about canceling the event due to the tragedy in Connecticut but we held the event and had a very nice time. Every parent there had a child involved in an extensive research project. The connection between parents, all through our children, was such a beautiful thing. The understanding of the effort and commitment that the kids have made to their research was the common bond that made us appreciate, the kids, each other, and their teachers.
It's the connection with other people that counts, especially the ones we take for granted. Life is too short. It is at a time like this that we need to reset our priorities and make a commitment to reach out to others and lend a helping hand. In the holiday season the magnitude of this tragedy is just too much.
Don T
I have always been in favor of a no gun policy. I believe that private citizens should not be allowed to own guns, but that is not what I want to write about today.
There are some people living a life full of pain, misery and hatefulness. They manage through life one step in front of another, hardly noticed, accomplishing very little and when their time comes they'll pass on and make room for the next generation. It's a very sad situation, yet once in awhile, luck or a guardian angel will step in and turn their life into something so much more meaning full. Once in an extremely long while, we get the opposite, a loner who all of a sudden wants to become famous, punish the world, and make everyone suffer his pain. With the economy at the breaking point and stress levels at such a high level, it seems that this is becoming an all too familiar event. Mental health services have also been cut back to a great extent, and there are many in need who are unable to get assistance. Veterans, returning from the longest wars in our history, are suffering in profound ways and are also not getting the mental health services that they desperately need. Our prisons are filled with nonviolent drug offenders who are not being treated for their addictions but are in an endless no win cycle of incarceration.
When will this all stop? Will we ever return to a time of compassion, community, and hope?
Last night we attended a holiday party sponsored by a small group of parents in support of our high school science research program. There was a discussion about canceling the event due to the tragedy in Connecticut but we held the event and had a very nice time. Every parent there had a child involved in an extensive research project. The connection between parents, all through our children, was such a beautiful thing. The understanding of the effort and commitment that the kids have made to their research was the common bond that made us appreciate, the kids, each other, and their teachers.
It's the connection with other people that counts, especially the ones we take for granted. Life is too short. It is at a time like this that we need to reset our priorities and make a commitment to reach out to others and lend a helping hand. In the holiday season the magnitude of this tragedy is just too much.
Don T
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Mindfulness
On the weekends I love to get up early and lay in bed until the sound of the newspaper hits the driveway. I"ll make my way downstairs, put on a rather large pot of coffee and head to my favorite chair. This quiet time alone is a gift that sets the tone for my entire day. Little did I know, that on a rather ordinary weekend morning, my life would change.
My favorite chair is an old mission styled, solid oak, and leather piece, with wide arms that run it's full length. I can safely rest my coffee on one arm and the paper on the other. As I digest the paper the floor becomes littered with the various sections and by the time I'm finished, there's just enough coffee left for the Mrs.. Just as everyone else is getting up the paper appears reassembled and neatly placed by my wife's spot at the kitchen table.
On a slow day I'll watch Book TV on C-Span, sports, or just flip channels until I get motivated to do something useful. On this day I chose Book TV. Congressman Tim Ryan (not Paul) a Democrate from Ohio was discussing his book entitled "A Mindful Nation". Congressman Ryan's presentation centered on how our political leaders who are so caustic and adversarial towards each other would benefit from the practice of Mindfulness. I knew he was right about our politicians but I had never heard of Mindfulness. I was about to flip channels when I heard him say, that parents are always yelling at their kids to pay attention and to focus in school. I will never forget what he said next, when he said, but they can't because they don't know how to relax. Tim went on to explain how Mindfulness would help them or anyone, even politicians, to relax and gain a stronger inner sense of calm.
I felt an immediate connection and started reading all that I could about Mindfulness. The more I read, the more it made sense. Mindfulness has two basic components: a philosophy of living in the present and the practice of meditation. Meditation has existed in various forms for thousands of years, and Mindfulness is about acceptance, in a nonjudgemental way, of the events and thoughts as they occur in your life at the present moment. There are several techniques associated with the practice, and I would strongly recommend looking into the idea of incorporating meditation into your daily life. I try to meditate every day and found that it has changed my life.
Over the past few months as I started writing and sharing my thoughts I've noticed a paradox. Now whenever I meditate I find that my mind starts to day dream more, and I start thinking about what I want to write. Part of mindfulness is to allow for the wondering mind and to accept all thoughts equally as part of your being present, but recently I've become a little too unfocused. I can't believe how much I enjoying writing and sharing myself, one little story at a time.
Thanks so much, Don T
My favorite chair is an old mission styled, solid oak, and leather piece, with wide arms that run it's full length. I can safely rest my coffee on one arm and the paper on the other. As I digest the paper the floor becomes littered with the various sections and by the time I'm finished, there's just enough coffee left for the Mrs.. Just as everyone else is getting up the paper appears reassembled and neatly placed by my wife's spot at the kitchen table.
On a slow day I'll watch Book TV on C-Span, sports, or just flip channels until I get motivated to do something useful. On this day I chose Book TV. Congressman Tim Ryan (not Paul) a Democrate from Ohio was discussing his book entitled "A Mindful Nation". Congressman Ryan's presentation centered on how our political leaders who are so caustic and adversarial towards each other would benefit from the practice of Mindfulness. I knew he was right about our politicians but I had never heard of Mindfulness. I was about to flip channels when I heard him say, that parents are always yelling at their kids to pay attention and to focus in school. I will never forget what he said next, when he said, but they can't because they don't know how to relax. Tim went on to explain how Mindfulness would help them or anyone, even politicians, to relax and gain a stronger inner sense of calm.
I felt an immediate connection and started reading all that I could about Mindfulness. The more I read, the more it made sense. Mindfulness has two basic components: a philosophy of living in the present and the practice of meditation. Meditation has existed in various forms for thousands of years, and Mindfulness is about acceptance, in a nonjudgemental way, of the events and thoughts as they occur in your life at the present moment. There are several techniques associated with the practice, and I would strongly recommend looking into the idea of incorporating meditation into your daily life. I try to meditate every day and found that it has changed my life.
Over the past few months as I started writing and sharing my thoughts I've noticed a paradox. Now whenever I meditate I find that my mind starts to day dream more, and I start thinking about what I want to write. Part of mindfulness is to allow for the wondering mind and to accept all thoughts equally as part of your being present, but recently I've become a little too unfocused. I can't believe how much I enjoying writing and sharing myself, one little story at a time.
Thanks so much, Don T
Supersize Me or Forks Over Knives
I've been at this get healthy routine for about a year and a half, and things are going pretty well. The holiday season, however, is a real test of one's willpower to eat well and to find the time to get out and exercise.
My food choices now include oatmeal, beans, ground flaxseed, kale, quinoa, a wider variety of vegetables and herbs, nuts, avocados and Greek yogurt. I''ve cut out all sugars, almost all red meat and simple carbs, and I use a minimal of dressing and sauces.
So where does this leave me? Is food for sustenance, pleasure, or medicine?
I believe that you can look at your food choices as ranging from toxic, foie gras, to healthy comfort foods, to a strict vegan diet or any mix, it all up to you and your personal goals. For me, I'm at a crossroad now between what I believe is a reasonable approach and pushing the limits towards an ultra healthy, food as medicine, concept.
If you look at food on a continuum, at one end there is the fast food, junk food, and highly proceeded packaged stuff . They're all full of saturated fats, salt, sugar, and artificial ingredients, but they are also cheap, readily accessible, and taste good. Unfortunately, the poor are disproportionately victimized by this toxic food group, and they pay a heavy price in chronic illness and early death rates. If you've never seen the movie "Supersize Me", you should and compare it to "Forks Over Knives".
A little closer to the center I'll kick in the Atkins - high protein, eat all the bacon and eggs you want philosophy. It unbelievable to me that there are many well educated people who still believe that a high fat, high protein, very low carb diet is a valid option to heart health and longevity. I believe that it's a way to non sustainable rapid weight lose that will make you sick.
In the middle is a well balanced diet of mostly fruits, vegetables, and whole grains with less meat and fatty dairy products. Limiting your sugars and salt, with no trans fats, very few saturated fats, and adding some Omega 3s is a great start. Try not to eat at fast food places and limit your portion sizes especially when eating out. At home stay with healthier cooking methods, leaner meats, and fewer snacks, and with very little effort you can greatly improve your health.
For many years Dean Ornish MD has been the face and an outspoken advocated for a vegetarian, stress reduction lifestyle. His life's work has been to help people become healthier and even reverse heart disease. There are very few who criticize his science and work but some would say that it is too difficult for the average person to stick with his plan. Lee Fulkerson's 2011 documentary "Forks Over Knives" has brought to light a body of research on the effects of diet on heart health and cancer and makes a very strong argument in favor of a plant based diet. Not only does their research show the detrimental effects of animal based foods, but they show how a plant based diet can repair injured blood vessels and reverse heart disease. For me, I believe them.
Pushing the envelope into what I would consider food as medicine is "Eat to Live" by Joel Fuhrman, MD. Fuhrman advocates a vegan and weight loose plan which includes eating 1 pound of raw and 1 pound of cooked vegetables every day. I don't dispute his science but it seems like a little too much of a sacrifice to me.
So where does this leave me? How long do I want to live anyway? and at what price? So far I'm doing okay, but I'm alway opened to new ideas and willing to try new things.
Don T.
My food choices now include oatmeal, beans, ground flaxseed, kale, quinoa, a wider variety of vegetables and herbs, nuts, avocados and Greek yogurt. I''ve cut out all sugars, almost all red meat and simple carbs, and I use a minimal of dressing and sauces.
So where does this leave me? Is food for sustenance, pleasure, or medicine?
I believe that you can look at your food choices as ranging from toxic, foie gras, to healthy comfort foods, to a strict vegan diet or any mix, it all up to you and your personal goals. For me, I'm at a crossroad now between what I believe is a reasonable approach and pushing the limits towards an ultra healthy, food as medicine, concept.
If you look at food on a continuum, at one end there is the fast food, junk food, and highly proceeded packaged stuff . They're all full of saturated fats, salt, sugar, and artificial ingredients, but they are also cheap, readily accessible, and taste good. Unfortunately, the poor are disproportionately victimized by this toxic food group, and they pay a heavy price in chronic illness and early death rates. If you've never seen the movie "Supersize Me", you should and compare it to "Forks Over Knives".
A little closer to the center I'll kick in the Atkins - high protein, eat all the bacon and eggs you want philosophy. It unbelievable to me that there are many well educated people who still believe that a high fat, high protein, very low carb diet is a valid option to heart health and longevity. I believe that it's a way to non sustainable rapid weight lose that will make you sick.
In the middle is a well balanced diet of mostly fruits, vegetables, and whole grains with less meat and fatty dairy products. Limiting your sugars and salt, with no trans fats, very few saturated fats, and adding some Omega 3s is a great start. Try not to eat at fast food places and limit your portion sizes especially when eating out. At home stay with healthier cooking methods, leaner meats, and fewer snacks, and with very little effort you can greatly improve your health.
For many years Dean Ornish MD has been the face and an outspoken advocated for a vegetarian, stress reduction lifestyle. His life's work has been to help people become healthier and even reverse heart disease. There are very few who criticize his science and work but some would say that it is too difficult for the average person to stick with his plan. Lee Fulkerson's 2011 documentary "Forks Over Knives" has brought to light a body of research on the effects of diet on heart health and cancer and makes a very strong argument in favor of a plant based diet. Not only does their research show the detrimental effects of animal based foods, but they show how a plant based diet can repair injured blood vessels and reverse heart disease. For me, I believe them.
Pushing the envelope into what I would consider food as medicine is "Eat to Live" by Joel Fuhrman, MD. Fuhrman advocates a vegan and weight loose plan which includes eating 1 pound of raw and 1 pound of cooked vegetables every day. I don't dispute his science but it seems like a little too much of a sacrifice to me.
So where does this leave me? How long do I want to live anyway? and at what price? So far I'm doing okay, but I'm alway opened to new ideas and willing to try new things.
Don T.
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Home Gym
It's really cold outside. The puddle on our deck is frozen over, but as long as the sky is clear I"ll wait awhile, put on several layers, and go for a run.
Several months ago I decided to turn a small storage room in our basement into a home gym, and after much procrastination I got to work. I lined a larger laundry area with rows of shelves and transfered everything over except for my old textbooks and journals, from many years gone by. They were put out to the curb to be forever carted away. It's amazing how many books and journals can be stored on a small e-device or accessed in seconds on the internet.
Next, I dusted off an old Schwinn exercise bike and switched the seat with a leather one from a old touring bike and upgraded the pedals. This was an easy project that worked out really well. Remember the good old Schwinns with banana seats, high handle bars, and baseball cards in the spokes?
Unfortunately, rebuilding my treadmill didn't go quite as smoothly. I knew that the electronics worked, but that the walking belt was shot. I was able to order a replacement belt and proceed to dismantle everything as per the directions, but soon found out that there were several small nuts and bolts in rather hard to reach places. When I finally had everything back together I realized two very important things: there was still one internal part on the floor and another important piece was in backwards. I started all over, cursing all the way, but I finally had it put together. It took a lot of patients to adjust the tension, a slight turn here and a slight turn there. I plugged the treadmill in and went for a slow test walk. Well, I found out what caused the walking belt to fail in the first place. It was a plastic sleeve on the front roller that was no longer centered and also needed to be replaced. I really don't want to deal with the small nuts and bolts again.
When the treadmill is finished I will focus on installing a padded floor, some other exercise equipment for strength training and a small TV. I plan to take my time and create a nice space so that the other members of my family will also want to use my little gym.
When I started I promised that I would be finished by Christmas. My wife wanted the exercise bike and treadmill out of the family room so that she could decorate for the holidays. My son's school soccer season is over and he wants to start lifting, and there will also be days that I need to come in from the cold. I promised that the gym would be ready for Christmas, but I think that 2013 is more likely.
Let's share another cup of coffee, Don T
Several months ago I decided to turn a small storage room in our basement into a home gym, and after much procrastination I got to work. I lined a larger laundry area with rows of shelves and transfered everything over except for my old textbooks and journals, from many years gone by. They were put out to the curb to be forever carted away. It's amazing how many books and journals can be stored on a small e-device or accessed in seconds on the internet.
Next, I dusted off an old Schwinn exercise bike and switched the seat with a leather one from a old touring bike and upgraded the pedals. This was an easy project that worked out really well. Remember the good old Schwinns with banana seats, high handle bars, and baseball cards in the spokes?
Unfortunately, rebuilding my treadmill didn't go quite as smoothly. I knew that the electronics worked, but that the walking belt was shot. I was able to order a replacement belt and proceed to dismantle everything as per the directions, but soon found out that there were several small nuts and bolts in rather hard to reach places. When I finally had everything back together I realized two very important things: there was still one internal part on the floor and another important piece was in backwards. I started all over, cursing all the way, but I finally had it put together. It took a lot of patients to adjust the tension, a slight turn here and a slight turn there. I plugged the treadmill in and went for a slow test walk. Well, I found out what caused the walking belt to fail in the first place. It was a plastic sleeve on the front roller that was no longer centered and also needed to be replaced. I really don't want to deal with the small nuts and bolts again.
When the treadmill is finished I will focus on installing a padded floor, some other exercise equipment for strength training and a small TV. I plan to take my time and create a nice space so that the other members of my family will also want to use my little gym.
When I started I promised that I would be finished by Christmas. My wife wanted the exercise bike and treadmill out of the family room so that she could decorate for the holidays. My son's school soccer season is over and he wants to start lifting, and there will also be days that I need to come in from the cold. I promised that the gym would be ready for Christmas, but I think that 2013 is more likely.
Let's share another cup of coffee, Don T
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