A lot going on
What a Saturday. Started off nice as anything, beautiful weather, got to work, had two great classes, even found some missing paperwork. It rained a little on the way home, threw together lunch, waited out a brief thunderstorm and then went for a run. I ran short today, my right Achilles is acting up, so I read up on that. Turns out it only happens in heel strikers and it usually means my shoes need to be changed.
With that knowledge, I decided to run short and focus on form, I tried to run with my hips more forward and my shoulders in line above. When I would catch myself slouching I would pick everything back up. We will see how my heel feels in the morning and go from there. I think I will try to run more properly anyway, from here on out because while different muscles were getting tired and sore, it also made faster speeds a little easier. I ran pretty fast today for someone with Achilles tendinitis, based on my usual pace. If I can find a place with my model shoe here maybe I’ll get a new pair and work on my foot strike with more support, to avoid any further issues. If not I will work through until I go back to the States. I hate that I’m going back, but I have to. I have to renew my license, getting an Italian license is untenable on my salary, and apparently my family misses me. I miss them too, but I’d prefer they come here to visit, as I’m much happier here. So that’s that
I had a very interesting conversation in my early class this morning though. I had them read an article from USA Today and one from the New York Times and compare the styles and language level. They agreed that NYT was much more difficult and more formal. My students are so smart! However, while going through the front page of USA Today they saw an unrelated article to what they read, about the British Royal Family. One of my students asks, “Why do we care so much about a Royal baby being born in England, but we don’t seem to ever care about a baby born in Africa or the Middle East, or anywhere really, unless it’s some “famous” person. My students, as I already said, are super smart.
I do not care what royal person is getting married or having a baby. I do not keep up with the Cardassians outside of watching old Star Trek:TNG episodes. I have never watched an episode of Amy reality show since the first season of “The Real World”. Seriously, I do not care. Particularly since I’ve started running. My time is valuable to me, and those people, the people on TV, the people telling me what I need to do to be “cool”, they have not earned my time. My time is worth something and my time is better spent trying to break free of the system telling me I should waste my life worshipping these people.
If it weren’t for reality TV, we wouldn’t be in the complete mess we’re in now. We’d be in a much more manageable mess. How embarrassing was this week? More shenanigans from the occupied White House. Now this buffoon is about to give a speech in Saudi Arabia, while his son-in-law appears to be under investigation for ties to Russia. A special investigator was appointed by Congress to look into all this as well.
Then Roger Ailes died. Who was he? The architect of Rupert Murdoch’s Fox News. He is partially responsible, along with President Reagan, for the mess we have in media. All the dishonest bullshit is due to a reversal of the fairness doctrine which required equal time. They also allowed for the purchase of American Media by foreign citizens (Rupert Murdoch). Then Ailes was hired to make Fox what it was. I should never be happy about someone’s death, but I’m alright with this one, like I was with Reagan. If ever given the chance I will gladly dance on his grave. It’s petty, but he did so much damage to this country, to this world. Other nations, copying what the US did, ended up handing a vast media empire to Murdoch who has done this all over. They lie to people to get them to believe what they want.
The other crazy things, a man seriously injuring and killing people in Times Square because he was drunk and apparently angry. That’s so shitty. People don’t drink and drive! And don’t get angry when you drive, you’ll get there when you get there. But more than that death is permanent, and because you were pissy you got behind the wheel of a ton and a quarter of plastic and metal and rammed it into people? Fuck you buddy.
Also Chris Cornell died. I was never a fan of most Soundgarden, Temple of the Dog, or Audioslave songs. If his music brought you comfort or revealed some truth to you then good. If his death brings awareness to mental health and the importance of talking to doctors when you need help and paying attention to the medications you take, then this is a good thing. I’m sorry for his family’s loss, but on a personal level I am not upset. I hope that some good comes from all this. Don’t think I don’t understand that he was talented and whatnot, I just wasn’t that big a grunge fan.
I hope things start getting better in this world, removing that orange blight from the capitol of the United States would be a great start. I’m going to keep a positive attitude and work for the best. I’m also going to call people out for their bullshit, like I do with Trump almost every day, taking one of his horrible tweets and telling him to resign. I feel we have to be “in your face” with this menace.
Have fun, keep running, and remember; if Gil can run then so can you!
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