http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/24/magazine/24labor-t.html?em
There's a lesson here about class and work. It's funny to hear it coming from the New York Times. Let's get lectured by the epitome of white-collar, urban, modern lifestyle.
I expect high fallutin city folk (this from a city-dwelling, damn near useless English major -- but I'm from Oklahoma, I've stepped in cow shit, I get to be snobby about this) to labor under the following delusion expressed in the article:
>The trades suffer from low prestige, and I believe this is based on a simple mistake. Because the work is dirty, many people assume it is also stupid.
I'm reminded of this every time I get the foolish idea to assemble something myself. Building shit is hard. I've seen video wherein Mike Rowe gives a good speech about this subject. I'll see if I can find it on youtube later.
I'm fascinated by virtuosity and admire craftsmanship like I appreciate sports or music or art. How can you not admire the expression of the highest level of human ability?
Friday, May 29, 2009
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
This drives me crazy...
Funny, enlightening, and an irritating example of a common phenomenon:
http://ericcressey.com/bogus-workouts-and-the-official-blog-of
Bull shit abounds.
I've seen a couple guys capable of a 400+ raw bench. It's rare and probably impossible for an NBA player, they're too fucking tall and there arms are too long. And like Cressey mentioned, it's not worth the risk to their career. A bench press at that level would have limited value for an NBA player. That sort of exceptional ability indicates a huge investment of training time and priorities. It wouldn't make sense to pursue it.
Of the people I've seen capable of it, one was a former UT powerlifter. He's probably around 5'10", if that, and in the 230-250 lb range. The other was a fucking huge guy - probably 350+ pounds and not too tall - who stopped by the gym once. Must've been traveling because I've never seen him before or since. I saw that guy bust out an easy set of 12 with 365 pounds. It was a warmpup weight for him. Now that was freaky.
It's also funny/infuriating when, during the middle of the game, it'll list lifting stats for players with impossible numbers like:
Brian Orakpo
Squat - 500
Bench - 500
Deadlift - 385
I saw almost exactly that during a UT game last year. I forget the exact numbers, but they were very close to that. Orakpo's a freaky athlete but those numbers are all fucked up. The deadlift will always be greater than the squat unless the athlete's squat is high (and it always is) it's essentially impossible for the deadlift to be higher than the squat unless you're a) an exceptionally small woman - almot a midget - with teeny weeny hands or b) a powerlifter wearing a squat suit, in which case the numbers are BS cheater numbers anyway and also probably a high squat.
Also, a 385 deadlift for an athlete around 275 lbs is fucking pathetic weak. I can deadlift that much, and I'm not strong, haven't been training long, and weigh a lot less than 275.
http://ericcressey.com/bogus-workouts-and-the-official-blog-of
Bull shit abounds.
I've seen a couple guys capable of a 400+ raw bench. It's rare and probably impossible for an NBA player, they're too fucking tall and there arms are too long. And like Cressey mentioned, it's not worth the risk to their career. A bench press at that level would have limited value for an NBA player. That sort of exceptional ability indicates a huge investment of training time and priorities. It wouldn't make sense to pursue it.
Of the people I've seen capable of it, one was a former UT powerlifter. He's probably around 5'10", if that, and in the 230-250 lb range. The other was a fucking huge guy - probably 350+ pounds and not too tall - who stopped by the gym once. Must've been traveling because I've never seen him before or since. I saw that guy bust out an easy set of 12 with 365 pounds. It was a warmpup weight for him. Now that was freaky.
It's also funny/infuriating when, during the middle of the game, it'll list lifting stats for players with impossible numbers like:
Brian Orakpo
Squat - 500
Bench - 500
Deadlift - 385
I saw almost exactly that during a UT game last year. I forget the exact numbers, but they were very close to that. Orakpo's a freaky athlete but those numbers are all fucked up. The deadlift will always be greater than the squat unless the athlete's squat is high (and it always is) it's essentially impossible for the deadlift to be higher than the squat unless you're a) an exceptionally small woman - almot a midget - with teeny weeny hands or b) a powerlifter wearing a squat suit, in which case the numbers are BS cheater numbers anyway and also probably a high squat.
Also, a 385 deadlift for an athlete around 275 lbs is fucking pathetic weak. I can deadlift that much, and I'm not strong, haven't been training long, and weigh a lot less than 275.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Stuff
-I saw TV On the Radio at Stubbs last weekend. An OK show but a bit disappointing. I skipped the opening act, and didn't bother to try and shove my way up to the front before the main show. As far back as I was (about halfway), the vocals were too quiet. I've never been at a rock show before and thought, they should turn this up.
They also played a short set. Main set + encore was an hour and a half.
-Thunder picking third in the draft. I hope Memphis takes Thabeet and the Thunder can nab Ricky Rubio. He looks like the only high ceiling player in the draft this year after Griffin. The only interesting players in this draft are Griffin, Rubio, James Harden, and Stephen Curry (who will go lower than he should).
-Orlando winning a game off Cleveland at home? Impressive.
-Wandy continues to kick some major ass. The rest of our pitching staff is major ass.
-Louis CK is really fucking funny.
They also played a short set. Main set + encore was an hour and a half.
-Thunder picking third in the draft. I hope Memphis takes Thabeet and the Thunder can nab Ricky Rubio. He looks like the only high ceiling player in the draft this year after Griffin. The only interesting players in this draft are Griffin, Rubio, James Harden, and Stephen Curry (who will go lower than he should).
-Orlando winning a game off Cleveland at home? Impressive.
-Wandy continues to kick some major ass. The rest of our pitching staff is major ass.
-Louis CK is really fucking funny.
Monday, May 11, 2009
NBA Playoffs
Shit's been exciting.
I'm impressed that the Rockets won a game off the Lakers without Yao. I didn't get to watch it, though.
It'll never happen for financial reasons, but the Rockets should trade McGrady and Yao.
When's McGrady's contract up? He's officially a cap number, not a player anymore.
I'd bet Yao can never be moved for monetary reasons. He comes with a built in billion fan merchandise base. Yeah, I've heard the stories about Kobe's jersey outselling Yao's -- doesn't matter. He puts the Rockets on the map internationally.
But, if you value winning, you can't count on Yao. He's a valuable player, underrated, even, but he can't stay healthy. I'd look to get back someone like Lamarcus Aldridge for him (not that Portland would do such a deal, Aldridge gives you 80 percent of Yao's production at 1/4 the cost of Yao, and they're locked in to Oden at center).
D
I'm impressed that the Rockets won a game off the Lakers without Yao. I didn't get to watch it, though.
It'll never happen for financial reasons, but the Rockets should trade McGrady and Yao.
When's McGrady's contract up? He's officially a cap number, not a player anymore.
I'd bet Yao can never be moved for monetary reasons. He comes with a built in billion fan merchandise base. Yeah, I've heard the stories about Kobe's jersey outselling Yao's -- doesn't matter. He puts the Rockets on the map internationally.
But, if you value winning, you can't count on Yao. He's a valuable player, underrated, even, but he can't stay healthy. I'd look to get back someone like Lamarcus Aldridge for him (not that Portland would do such a deal, Aldridge gives you 80 percent of Yao's production at 1/4 the cost of Yao, and they're locked in to Oden at center).
D
Geeky indulgence - I don't fucking care
Star Trek was pretty fucking fun!
It's not gonna convert anyone who isn't in to such things already. And I'm not a huge Star Trek fan by any means, but my parents always watched when I was growing up, so I enjoyed the hell out of it.
A brief summary of my thoughts while watching:
Phasers! Pyew, pyew! Space ships! Why do alien women have boobs? I'm not sure why nursing is such a universal constant among space traveling beings, but I'm sure glad it is! Wait a minute, was that Winona Ryder?! Holy fuck, it's the guy from Harold and Kumar! Eric Bana's a badass!
D
It's not gonna convert anyone who isn't in to such things already. And I'm not a huge Star Trek fan by any means, but my parents always watched when I was growing up, so I enjoyed the hell out of it.
A brief summary of my thoughts while watching:
Phasers! Pyew, pyew! Space ships! Why do alien women have boobs? I'm not sure why nursing is such a universal constant among space traveling beings, but I'm sure glad it is! Wait a minute, was that Winona Ryder?! Holy fuck, it's the guy from Harold and Kumar! Eric Bana's a badass!
D
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