Idealist Cafe

Some Friday Fun and an update

noreply@blogger.com (Russ) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 14:47:00 +0000

I've been keeping myself way too busy lately, catching up on a lot of personal things, planning an insane trip to Thailand for New Years, and also working hard on a new eCommerce site I'm building. Oh, and not to mention working my normal job.

But for now, I just want to share a few Friday Funnies. Enjoy!

Low Resolution Girl - Halloween costume
http://kindacarsick.com/post/230881676

Pimp My Jet - Costa Rican Style
http://matadornights.com/pimp-my-jet/

Religion Flowchart - Which one are you?
Religion Flowchart

Opening bottle of wine with shoe
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9s89FqNpXO4&feature=player_embedded

Related Links:
Friday Interesting Links

How to Keep 10,000 Plastic Bags out of Landfills by doing Nothing

noreply@blogger.com (Russ) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 13:23:00 +0000

I consider myself to be a pretty eco minded person, I wouldn't go so far as too say I'm extreme when it comes to conservation and minimizing waste, but I do exert a fair amount of effort to try to minimize my impact, especially when it comes to over consumption and blatant waste. And I certainly would consider our (Americans) use of plastic a blatant waste.

For my part, I always bring my reusable bags when I go shopping, and I even go so far as to use an empty bread loaf bag to pick up dog poop rather than throw it out unused. These days when I make my lunch I reuse one ziplock bag for several weeks, rather than dispose of it daily, and I also use a tupperware to pack my sandwich and vegetables. Right there, assuming that I make lunch 3 days (and eat out 2) per week, multiplied over 49 weeks (52 minus a measly 3 for vacation), that would ordinarily be 294 bags if I used one for chips or snack, and one for sandwich. But typically I reuse one bag for three or four weeks in a row before it becomes too nasty, and my use of a tupperware removes the need for half of them right away. So that puts me down to only 37 per year for 147 days of lunch. Not great, but a significant reduction from average.

But we all know that you can be the most efficient person in the world, and it's just a drop in the bucket compared to the waste of a business. So I now have a way to save another 245 plastic bags per year by doing nothing. How do I do this? I realized a year or so ago that the cleaning people swap out the bag in the trashcan at my desk if there is anything it.

So the solution? It's simple. I bring my trash to the office kitchen to dispose of it. And just like that, I don't use my trash can and they don't change the bag. (I've experimented to ensure that this is the case.) Just like that 245 bags removed from the landfill.

So above and beyond the hundreds (likely thousands) of plastic bags I save per year by carrying my reusable shopping bags and implementing these simple strategies, I now can include another 500 bags (a low estimate combining lunch and work strategy) that I am saving from our landfills.

If every person made these three simple adjustments, we could save hundreds of thousands (probably millions) of plastic bags from the landfills. Even at a small company of 20 people, these three virtually unnoticeable lifestyle changes would save 10,000 bags from our landfills over one year.

As you can see, making a difference is not that hard.

My Green Product Recommendations

noreply@blogger.com (Russ) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 13:02:00 +0000

I have seen some people posting recently asking for green product recommendations, so I guess this is as good a time as any for me to post my own. Green products are sometimes a catch 22, they are clearly better for the environment and most often for us as well, but a lot of times the products are much more expensive, and worst of all, sometimes they just don't work! Well, here are the products that I have found to work for me and would definitely recommend (though I can't control the price), based on five years of trial and error.

Just a heads up, these links below take you to Amazon, as much as I'd love for you to head over there and buy stuff so I can make a few bucks, keep an eye on the prices, check some of the third party sellers on Amazon for the same products. I don't know why some of the listed prices are so expensive

Cleaning Products

Seventh Generation Dish Soap
- 2nd runner up Ecover Natural Dishwashing Liquid, but it doesn't foam as nicely which makes you use more
Seventh Generation Toilet Bowl Cleaner
Ecover Dishwasher Powder or tablets

Green Works (yes I know it's a Clorox product, but what can I say, it works. I also use a water/vinegar mixture)

Personal Hygiene

I'd like to note that I have found a few good cheap soaps (bar, hand, and washing machine soap) at Trader Joe's. I know TJs is debatable, but when I look at the ingredients they seem to be ok. That said, I'm looking for a new all purpose hand soap that is not outrageously expensive, so feel free to comment.

What green products do you use?

Related Links:
Green & Eco Friendly Products

The best time of year in San Diego

noreply@blogger.com (Russ) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 17:41:00 +0000

Everyone thinks summer is the best time of year in San Diego, but I'm here to tell you otherwise. Actually let me back up. Everyone thinks that San Diego is 75 degrees and sunny year round. While it comes close, I can tell you that's not the case. I might even go so far as to say there are seasons here.

Having grown up in New England, I can attest to the fact that the seasons here are quite different than what many people are used to, but still, we have seasons. Summer goes from May to mid September, then some fall weather kicks in until November or December, then a month or two of moderately chilly nights and cool days with some rain, then spring for another month or two, then summer. Summer is hot and dry, so everything turns brown, and winter is the green season. So ok, not what most people would consider seasons. (Note: the weather here varies considerable as you move away from the coast. Coastal weather has less variation, during the day it's not as hot and at night it doesn't drop as much. As you move inland the nighttime temps go lower and the daytime temps go higher. It is not abnormal for the high/low temps during the summer at the beach to be 75/71 and then just 10 miles from the coast to be 100/65.)

Anyway, this time of year, October and November, are the absolute best! The heat of summer is finally gone, as are the tourists, the air clears up (and there are finally wispy fall clouds!), and the nights cool down. Instead of the dog days of summer where it's 75 degrees in the middle of the night and sleeping is uncomfortable only wake up and have the mercury well into the 80s by 8AM, we now have 75 degree days and once the sun goes down the it cools off enough to even pull out the long sleeves and sweatshirts. And that cool breeze that comes in overnight and actually makes the extra blankets appealing!

There is just something in the air this time of year (and during spring as well). The breeze is cool and refreshing instead of hot, and the sunsets without the summer haze and fog are just amazing. Even though I always talk about wanting to get out of San Diego, this time of year is what makes it for me. And the best part? Don't let anyone hear me say this, but maybe it will rain soon... The last actual rain storm that I can remember was probably six months ago.

And that is the power of Twitter!

noreply@blogger.com (Russ) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 21:49:00 +0000

Every week I get these emails from Travelzoo, usually I don't pay much attention. Well, I have been thinking about going up to Los Angeles (well, Carson) again to see another Galaxy soccer game, and out of nowhere I get an email from Travelzoo informing me that there is a 50% off promo for the game I want to go to. Sweet!

So all excited I follow the link to buy the tickets, and it turns out that to get the promo on Ticketmaster you need to enter a promo code... Uh oh, no code was in the Travelzoo email or the linked page on their site. So I look all over their site for a way to ask questions. Can't find one. The contact page is just a generic "comments" form. Bummer. Replying to the email probably won't get a reply. So I try Google. Nothing.

Oh wait, Twitter! I find them on Twitter, said an @Travelzoo tweet, and there you go, less than 2 hours later I get the promo code!

And that, people, is the power of Twitter.

This weeks barefoot running update

noreply@blogger.com (Russ) — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 13:54:00 +0000

I guess it's about time for my barefoot running update. The first couple times I tried to run barefoot I had extreme soreness in my arches and the lower part of my leg, I'm not sure of the muscle, but basically from the calf down to the ankle. There was no pain, but I definitely could feel the soreness, especially when I would get up after sitting for a few hours.

Two weeks ago I finally made it to Sports Authority to buy a pair of aqua socks. I know, not the most stylish footwear, but they do seem to work as far protecting my feet while still allowing barefoot style running. Right around the time I first tried going barefoot, I was having recurring calf pain while running in my sneakers, but since I've gotten the aqua socks, things are feeling better. I'm not even up to three miles yet, but considering that after my first attempt I made it probably barely a mile barefoot (after 1.5 miles with sneakers) and was unable to run for 5 days due to soreness, I'd say I'm doing pretty well. Earlier in the week I ran 1.5 miles in the aqua socks, then another mile barefoot, and then yesterday I did 2.5 totally barefoot, in the grass though, not pavement.

Regardless, I'm happy to report that my feet are feeling great, the soreness is pretty much non-existent, and I'm making good progress. I do have a bit of achiness in my feet and achilles, but again, a good ache, not pain.

Here's to hoping for three barefoot miles tomorrow!

Exploring the mud caves, Anza Borrego Desert State Park

noreply@blogger.com (Russ) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 13:18:00 +0000

Ocotillo plant in the desert, there is life!Being that desert season is coming here in San Diego, I figured I'd share some information about the mud caves out in the Anza Borrego desert. They are great to explore, all you need is a headlamp or flashlight, and a sense of exploration! Bring some water, make sure there's no rain in the forecast, and don't get lost!

Following is an excerpt of my write up about the mud caves, including information on how to get there, and some photos! Also, if you're in the area, check out my hiking page where I've reviewed some local San Diego hikes.

Entrance to mud cave in the desert I had always heard of the mud caves out in the Anza Borrego desert, and the fact that they are supposed to be some of the best in the world was enough to finally get me out there. I used the "Afoot & Afield San Diego County: A Comprehensive Hiking Guide" book as my rough guide for getting there and keeping my bearings. It turns out that I just used it as sort of a general guide, and then once there explored on my own. This isn't so much of a hiking trip as it is an exploring trip, but depending on the condition of the "roads" and the type of vehicle you have, there can definitely be a fair amount of walking. As a worst case scenario, if you have a sedan or low style car, and want to get a good taste of at least a few caves, be prepared for 2-4 miles of walking. With a car and decent road conditions, you can safely and easily drive to pretty close to the first of the caves.

To get there, take 8 East from San Diego to Imperial County... read more and see photos

Related Links:
San Diego hiking page

Colorado Road Trip - Boulder, Fort Collins, and Denver

noreply@blogger.com (Russ) — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 13:12:00 +0000

Beautiful Colorado Rocky Mountains

Memories from Colorado trip earlier this year...

After descending over the Rocky Mountains on one of the more bumpy flights I've ever had, we arrived in Denver on Friday morning. The plan was to check out the major cities of Colorado over the next four and a half days, and while we were at to sample a lot of the great breweries and pubs in the area as well. It turned out to be a sort of impromtu beer tour, but that worked just fine because it gave us direction and motivation to keep moving along. So to get started, we picked up the rental car and then headed straight to Boulder, which was the place I was looking most forward to seeing. I had only driven through Colorado, without ever having spent any time there, so this was all new to me.

I had written down a few potential places to stay, but we decided on the Quality Inn, as it was the only one I knew of that was walking distance to Pearl Street. It turned out to be a great choice, and I can say without a doubt that it is probalby one of the nicest Quality Inns I've ever stayed at. Without going into all the details of what we did, I will say that we loved Boulder, and decided on staying a second night, which gave us more time to explore. (This was partly due to the snow storm in the mountains which we opted not to drive though heading to our next destination.) The downsides of Boulder for us were that it was such a college town, and also that we found out the cost of living was pretty steep. Which makes it a great place to visit but probably not a place to ever move to. The accessibility of everything was definitely nice; bike lanes everywhere, and even a paved walking/biking trail that led from the center of town right up into the mountains. A definite plus coming from California where everything requires driving.

Some of the boulder highlights were the Mediterranean Restaurant, Mountain Sun Brewery, Avery Brewing, and the Boulder Draft House. A couple places that were great but I think maybe a bit overrated were Walnut Brewery and Jax Fish House (overpriced).

While in Boulder, someone clued us in on the Frozen Dead Guy Days Festival that was going on in Nederland, so Sunday morning we checked out and headed up into the mountains. We didn't actually see any of the festival, but we did get a pretty good idea of what it was like based on the general level of debauchery going on in town. We had a few beers and some ribs at Wild Mountain Brewery, and then went north to Estes Park. Estes Park was gorgeous, but the brewery there was definiately not worth the drive. But the scenery and the wildlife sightings near the entrance of Rocky Mountain Natinal Park made it worthwhile.

Downtown Denver at Night From Estes Park our next stop was Lyons, where we hit Oskar Blues Brewery. We loved that place and it was everything we expected. So after a late lunch and a couple beers, we hit the road again for Fort Collins. We knew nothing about Fort Collins, but after driving around for a couple of minutes, we quickly found our bearing and got a nice room at the Armstrong Hotel. I would have loved to spend more time in this small city, but due to our impending departure from Denver the following day, we wanted to get down to Denver and have a little fun there before flying out. One of the reasons we wanted to go to Fort Collins was to check out the New Belguim Brewery, as I have heard many good things about the way they run their business, especially from an environmental standpoint. But as it turned out, we planned our trip there on Monday, which was the day they were closed to the public. But we did get to check out CooperSmith's Brewery, Fort Collins Brewery (which we were pleasantly surprised by due to how small they are), and Odells Brewing. But alas, we couldn't linger because Denver was calling.

Denver was a little stressful to arrive in after spending the last few days in smaller cities and on the open roads, but after only a little bit of confusion, we found ourselves at the the Jet Hotel downtown. It was nicer than we were looking for, but with night closing in we were getting frustrated and as it turns out the rate was better than expected and the location was great.

We made it out to dinner that night, and also to the Falling Rock Tap House. The following day we finished up our beer tour by hitting Great Divide and then Old Chicago for a late lunch before heading to the airport for our flight home. All in all it was a wonderful trip. It sounds like we drank too much, but we were mostly sampling, which is how we were able to fit so much in. And as for Colorado, I really liked how easy it was to move around between the cities and see so much in such a short time frame.

Click here to see more photos

City of San Diego tells us to conservere water, then they waste it

noreply@blogger.com (Russ) — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 14:10:00 +0000

I'm not sure how to feel about this whole water conservation effort here in San Diego. I've seen quite a few glaring contradictions lately that would seem to indicate to me that although they are telling us how to use our water, they aren't doing the same at the public level. Of course San Diego is a big city, and I can't expect them to know how every public water user is managing their water, but I would hope they would make their best effort to do so, being that they are running ads with the slogan "Waste no Water".

A few weeks ago, the ball park at the Rec Center near my house was watering at 11:30 AM, which is prohibited under the new water usage restrictions which prohibit outdoor watering between 10AM and 6PM. Maybe it's just me, but being that the rec centers are run by the city, I would expect them to be following their own rules. So I went ahead and called the hotline that allows you to report those abusing the waternig restrictions. When I told the woman that the rec center was watering, I think I caught a chuckle from her, hopefully she saw the irony.

Then the other morning after a run, I saw different sprinklers at the same rec center that were shooting water all over the sidewalk, which I don't believe is technically against the new rules, but again, I would expect the city to be practicing what they are preaching to the public. In fact this exact scenario is one of the things they are pushing in their "Waste No Water" campaigns. In fairness, this time the watering was at least happening in the early morning, so maybe they at least adjusted the schedules.

Also, although I don't believe that the city has any jurisdiction over CalTrans, everyone knows they are a huge water user (4th largest), and it's been well documented that they excessively water the freeway shoulders, even in the rain. And still after the water cuts, just last month I saw them watering at 9:30 AM. Granted, this is not technically prohibited, but I still take issue with this because especially lately, by 9:30 it's already over 80 degrees and rising, so I'm pretty sure a lot of this water will get wasted.

So what do I have to say? I say come on San Diego, get it together. Though I did hear that city water usage is down 20% from last year, which is great, I think we can be doing better. Start by watching what's going on in the city around you. While I do applaud your efforts to educate the people, I think there could be even better results if you focused your efforts on the big users, which are businesses, the city itself, and also the contractors you have working for you. Would it be impossible to work with CalTrans to put in native freeway shoulders instead of iceplant and change the watering schedules? Then another nice step would be to stop planting grass everywhere, since almost everyone knows San Diego is not really tropical, stop pretending it is and start planing native gardens instead of lush grasses at public buildings.

Related Links:
http://www.idealistcafe.com/2009/01/water-conservation-letter-to-city.html

Can I possibly create a business based on things I already know?

noreply@blogger.com (Russ) — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 12:57:00 +0000

I've been thinking and reading a lot about this topic lately, and about how ordinary people are learning to monetize their existing skills, and ultimately employ themselves. Is it really possible? And do I have any skill or knowledge that people would pay for?

Often I'll find myself browsing random job postings or gigs on Craigslist for non-traditional types of employment, and I'll look and think, wow, I wish I had the skills they are looking for, then I could hire myself out rather than work for someone. (By non-traditional I really mean any jobs that won't require me to sit and get paid for my time rather than my work, like most jobs in my field do)

My goal has been always to be self employed, but my major stumbling block is that I don't feel like I am an expert at any one thing or skilled enough to get paid the big bucks. I feel like I know enough to do my job and my hobbies well, but not enough to consider myself an expert. But as I mentioned, I keep reading more about success stories of people monetizing the current skill(s). Rather than going to school or getting trained in some new field that they may have been curious about, they are simply using what they already know and are learning how to simply make money doing that.

So this has gotten my wheels turning a bit. For one, I have been a software engineer for the past 8 years, and three of them have been with a small company where I am doing much more than software (web, database). But still I feel like I don't know enough to try to market myself in this field. However, I will admit that this could simply be a confidence issue rather than a skill issue, because in talking to other people it seems that plenty of people who employ themselves don't know everything prior to doing a job for someone. The difference is that they pretend that they know everything and then learn on the fly.

Here are a few other things that I could possibly market or monetize:

I have in one form or another been hosting and running my own (and family member's) websites for the past 5 years. This includes setting up the hosting, doing all the coding, the design, fixing browser compatibility issues, setting up blogs, and wading through more HTML and CSS code than normal people care to look at. I don't consider myself a web designer by any stretch of the imagination, but I'm sure the skills I do have could come in handy for some people.

I can usually find the answer to any question on any topic in a matter of minutes using the handy dandy internet. To me I consider this normal, but have realized that the majority of people who aren't computer geeks can't do this. They get caught on spam pages, with non credible data, or it takes them forever. I think I first realized how good at this I was when my girlfriend saw me find something so fast. She couldn't believe it. Now she calls or texts me when she needs an answer, and I can usually find it while we're still on the phone. Trivial, I know, but I'm sure this is a skill some people wish they had. I guess maybe I am an expert at using the internets.

I read way too many books, magazines, blogs, and other articles and now have acquired a vast array of knowledge on a wide variety of topics.

Moving away from the geeky stuff now...

I have had people tell me I am extremely knowledgeable about trails and hiking spots near where I live. I have been to and seen a ton (but not nearly all) of the things to do and see in San Diego, and apparently have ticked more things off the San Diego "to do" list than people I know that are natives here have. I know most of the neighborhoods and can point things out on a local map that people who grew up here have never heard of.
Last summer, I managed to take my average body, casual runner's legs, and an endurance that was better for happy hour than an hour long hike, and I hauled it to the top of Mt Whitney, in one day... That includes the full 22 miles and 6000+ feet of elevation gain.

I am not putting all this up here to brag, trust me. But I am trying to convince myself that I have at least some set of skills that is marketable and can make me a living. Looking at things in this light is new for me, almost revelational. All of a sudden I am seeing that -- dare I say it? -- I just might be an expert at something.

Now I just need to hone in on what that is. And determine if there is any way to take the scope of different things I know and could be considered expert on, and connect them in a way to create something of value for someone else. And hopefully something that they would be willing to pay for.

Barefoot running update

noreply@blogger.com (Russ) — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 13:43:00 +0000

Footprints in the sand - Photo credit ApidyaThe running, and more specifically the barefoot running, hasn't been going as quickly as I would like. I am still nursing a sore calf, so any progress is limited as I can only comfortably run 2-3 days per week, and only for 20-30 minutes at a time.

Also, I have been lagging in getting to the store to get a pair of water socks to start running in. I read water socks are actually great minimalist running shoes, which around here I really need since barefoot is hardly an option, unless I make it down to the beach. (There isn't a whole lot of soft grass in San Diego.) The theory behind the water socks is that they provide a fair amount of protection against objects on the ground, but don't provide any real support and don't encourage heel striking, which is what would be avoided going barefoot.

Yesterday morning though, I got in a nice 5-10 minute barefoot run and it felt great! After my 20 minute run which was split between concrete sidewalks and a short canyon trail near my house, I went down to the ball field at the Rec Center, and did a few laps around the field. The best part was that I did a couple sprints, and I have never felt better or lighter sprinting! (Though my conditioning leaves a little to be desired)

Near the end of the barefoot session, I did notice the pads of my feet were beginning to get sore, which is good I suppose. This means I am on my way to toughening them up. And now, about 36 hours later, I do have some soreness in my arches and calves, but have come to understand this is a normal symptom when you first go out without the support of shoes. Hopefully I can continue this training, get my feet to strenghten up, and maybe by the time they are ready to go 20-30 minutes I will have a pair of water socks that I can use.

A familiar street

noreply@blogger.com (Russ) — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 14:17:00 +0000

He approached the beach and gave his legs a break from peddling, allowing a moment to enjoy the cool and gentle breeze which flowed through his sun drenched hair. The smell of saltwater was in the air as the worn tires of his old bike rolled over the cracked concrete, producing a slightly noticeable whir. Occasionally he glanced up at the swaying palm trees that stretched towards the sky, which still didn't seem real. The streets were familiar, and the scene no different, but the experience was always new. With a grand imagination it could easily be anyone's first time.

Later as he sat in the sand time stood still, and with the backdrop of ever present waves, memories were made. The far away clouds hung over the mysterious blue water, grey and dreary, but the sun still shone overhead. When he was there, it was all just a moment. But time has no bounds, and everything etches itself into the past. Though tomorrow is an eternity away, eventually things start to move, and with the right memories it is all recalled as he rides down a familiar street and glances up at the swaying palm trees stretching towards the sky, which still at times don't seem real.

Compromising

noreply@blogger.com (Russ) — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 22:15:00 +0000

I had written this article about compromise almost a year ago, and realized that I never even published it. It was sitting in my drafts, so I guess no time like the present to dig it up and send it out to the world!

I'm not trying to give any advice here, this is about me sorting out things in my personal life, things regarding lifestyle and prioritizing. And even though this was originally written a year ago, a lot of it still holds true.

In general I am a pretty happy person, I am laid back and easy to get along with. But also, I am prone to over thinking and overanalyzing, and as anyone knows, both of those things can get to you. I feel lucky to be where I am, I have a roof over my head, things in my house, a girlfriend, and I get to do a lot of fun and interesting things that a lot of people never get to do. (Even little fun day trips like this!) I know that I should express more gratitude for all the great things that I have in my life.

However, at the same time, I feel like I need more. Not more things, not more money, but more life. I feel a yearning deep down inside that I am meant for more, that there is more for me to do. And these thoughts lead me to sometimes feel stagnant. Not that anything about right now is bad, but that there is more that could be. And often I find it hard to find a balance between what I want and yearn for and what I currently have. Sometimes feelings of contentment conflict with these yearnings, and finding middle ground and stability is hard for me, and finding this middle ground is something I need because it will then allow me to nurture my personal relationships, while at the same time not compromising my ideals or my happiness.

I understand that life is about compromise, that you can't give into every whim and every want, that sacrificing for those you love can be a reward in itself, however the questions that I ask myself is:

How much is the right amount? Am I being too selfish when I indulge my yearnings? And my compromising too much of myself? How can I stay happy and true to myself and grow into the person I want to become while also being responsible to my current obligations?

Quite often I feel that my life is very dualistic. I am usually happy and satisfied to go home to a quiet and modest home, happy being an average person with an average life. But then there are days where I wonder if I am following a path which will always leave me wondering what's out there if were to follow another path just a little further. I know that life is a journey, that we reach points that we have to make choices. Compromise is a part of life. I know this. But where and when is it time to draw a line in the sand, to learn to be content or to indulge the yearnings that are deep within? How do we know when compromise is right and when it's wrong?

Friday interesting links

noreply@blogger.com (Russ) — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 13:00:00 +0000

I'm pretty sure that come Friday everyone is looking for something besides work to do, so I've decided to start a new feature here that I'll publish every Friday morning. I guess for a lack of anything better to call it, I'll call it my Friday Interesting Links until I can come up with something better. If you have any you want to share, let me know, and I'll be sure to credit you for bringing it to my attention.

So here are my votes for this week, just a few I've found that are worth sharing:

Videos
India Monkey King scales new heights - YouTube video, 1:35
You'll never do this on a bike - YouTube video, 6:21 via Wend Magazine
Hanuman the traveling cat - LonelyPlanet.tv video, 2:58
New Wedding Dance - YouTube video, 5:09

Articles
Denver Post Barefoot Running Debate - Barefoot running article, thx barefoot ted
How to send food back at a restaurant - Bohemian Revolution

Thoughts on manifesting the things I want

noreply@blogger.com (Russ) — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 13:57:00 +0000

I have been thinking a lot about my life lately. About things like abundance, positive thinking, manifesting desires, and living the life I want. I am by nature a person without a lot of certainty, I am always double thinking, over thinking, second guessing, and oddly I know a lot about what I don't want but not a lot about what I do want.

Just recently I read this post by Steve Pavlina and it made me realize, even though I am great at dreaming and I want a lot out of life, I am not a great manifester. Which subsequently got me into an email conversation with a friend of mine who is currently in the process of manifesting the perfect life for herself.

It started with me writing an email, asking her if she thought I am inadvertantly manifesting scarcity in my life because of what I believe and my values. I have strong feelings about consumerism and over consumption, and I don't think money buys happiness. (I do believe that security can help happiness though.) So my question to her was, being that I don't think material abundance is necessory nor is it something I am interested in, does that mean that am I putting myself into a mindset of scarcity? Monetarily and materially I am quite happy with what I have, but I got to thinking if these feelings of contentment were in turn creating contentment in other areas where I may be lacking. And finally I was curious her thoughts on what I could do do align my beliefs and desires with a state of mind which would manifest abundance in other areas of my life, not necessarily relating to finances.

And of course, she had some very good feedback for me.

To address my question about financial abundance and being content, she made some good points that I had been thinking about. That it's not about overconsuming, but rather having enough/plenty of money, and having things you want that were made with care and that will last. And I suppose that if money is what it takes to do the things I want, regardless of whether it is a lot or a little, then that means having abundance. And a great way of looking at it, she said that if she chooses to shop at a thrift store, it's not about being cheap, it is about the treasures that can be uncovered. That it's about the ability to find the best things for her (or anyone), without needing to think about the price tag.

She told me that she visualizes her life being abundant. And suggested a gratitude journal, saying it helped her. Each morning she would write down 6 amazing things, things really crazy amazing to align herself with what she wanted to manifest. Then, before bed, she would write down 5 things that were positive and abundant things about the day to remind herself that she is already happy with the life that she is living.

The things she told me were all very positive and I am going to try to integrate some of them into my life starting today. We will see over the next few weeks if visualing happiness, success, and abudance can help me make some changes in my life.

How to Send Back Food at a Restaurant

noreply@blogger.com (Russ) — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 13:20:00 +0000

Photo credit: juicyraiI found this article about how to send food back at a restaurant over at Bohemian Revolution, and I think it's great advice. For a lot of people, this is trivial information, but it's always good being reminded that it's ok to send food back if you are not happy, and that there is a way to do it without being a jerk.

How to send food back at a restaurant

Lunch in Tecate, Mexico

noreply@blogger.com (Russ) — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 02:01:00 +0000

Main plaza in Tecate MexicoToday we decided to take a day trip down to Tecate, Mexico. Though it is a border city, it is a much smaller and better representation of Mexico than Tijuana. It's also within an hour of San Diego. I had been once before, but today I went down with my girlfriend. We drove to the border, parked, walked across, and within 15 minutes we were sitting in the central plaza sipping beers and eating chips.

Prior to my first trip there, I had heard that it was a nice place to visit, but I wanted to check it out for myself. At the time I couldn't find much consistent information about it online, but if you're interested in visiting, it's a simple day trip. No border lines, no stress, and not even much walking.

As it turns out, you can park on the US side, there are side roads where it is fine to just pull over on the side and park for free. As you approach the border, turn left (east), and you will where there are other cars parked, just pull up and make sure you're off the road. The border is less than a 5 minute walk, and once you enter Mexico, just go straight for a few blocks and you will see the main plaza. It seems that this is where most things happen, as the park is filled with locals just relaxing. Today, a Sunday afternoon, there were very few tourists.

It's a great day trip, there is very little stress involved, and crossing the border is about as easy as it gets.

It doesn't seem that there is much to do in Tecate other than hang out in the plaza, but isn't that ok?

Related Links:
Memorial Day Weekend in Punto San Jacinto, Mexico

What I've learned about running by reading about running

noreply@blogger.com (Russ) — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 13:21:00 +0000

There are a few things that I've recently learned about running that have me excited. I've always been a casual jogger, but have never been all that thrilled about it. Really it has been more of an activity to stay active than something that really intrested me. But after reading the book Born to Run, I have a renewed interest in it. I have been taking tips and drawing inspiration from where ever I can, including the book, a DVD called Chi Running, and some of the Superatheletes that were written about in the book Born to Run.

And so far, I'm happy to report that it seems to be working. My issue is still with my conditioning, but my runs -- short though they may be -- have been more enjoyable and with no apparent issues. One of the biggest things I have learned is about how our feet are intended to function, and how wearing high performance running shoes changes that. According to many sources, running shoes generally hurt running performance rather than help. This is for several reasons. Apparently while wearing shoes, the ability for the foot to feel the ground and thus ensure that we are running with proper form is hampered, in turn causing bad form that can lead to potential injuries that would be prevented if running barefoot or with very flat or thin soled shoes. Heel striking is a common injury that wouldn't occur without these "performance" shoes. Also, with feet kept continually in shoes and supported, many of the muscles of the foot are allowed to weaken, which further increases the chance of injury. I have read of people whose running injuries have totally disappeard within months of starting to run barefoot! Additionally, I have heard accounts of people with so called flat feet (like me) who adopted barefoot running and subsequently lost the flatness and developed an arch.

It's just amazing what our body can do.

The biggest thing that I repeat in my head now as I run comes from Caballo Blanco, who was introduced to me in the book Born To Run: Run easy, light, and smooth. Amazing how much that works.

Also what I am focusing on:

Keeping my knees bent to help absorb the shock of landing, rather than letting the shoe do it
Avoiding heel striking by being lighter on my feet and taking shorter strides
Trying to lift up my feet from the ground as opposed pushing down to propel, to make the movement easier, as taught by Danny Dreyer of Chi Running
Posture - keeping my shoulders over hips, and my hips over feet
And while my hips stay aligned with my feet, I picture my feet as wheels doing a smooth circular motion rather than scissoring

I am still a beginner at this, but I definitely have a new outlook on running...

Related Links:
Ultra marathons and barefoot trail running

How to Climb Mt Whitney in One Day - eBook

noreply@blogger.com (Russ) — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 13:00:00 +0000

How to Successfully Summit Mount Whitney in One Day - eBook Coming soon!

In my first real attempt to monetize this site, I am in the process of writing my first e-book. And because it will be my first eBook, I will be giving out the first 10 copies free. Keep reading for the details.

The e-book describe in full detail how to successfully day hike Mt Whitney, the highest mountain in the continental United States. I have attempted the hike twice, and completed it once, so I know what makes the difference between a successful trip and an unsuccessful one. I also spent quite a bit of time researching for this trip, so I have wealth of knowledge to share.

For those of you who don't know, I am just an average guy and I'm not an extreme athlete, but I learned from the first year's mistakes and successfully trained to complete the hike the second time around. Since this is my first go at an e-book, I will be giving out the first 10 copies free. All I ask is that after reading it you provide some feedback. I will then make any necessary changes and probably being selling it for $9 per download.

With this guide I am not trying to make you a superstar hiker, however I will tell you in complete detail the steps I followed to make the trip a success. My goal is to supply anyone with the desire to complete this hike with all the necessary information to prepare, train, and successfully complete this hike.

What you can expect from this guide:

What months to go to have the best weather and the best chance of success
How to navigage the permit process
Training and preparation tips

When to begin your training
How to know if you're ready
How much training is necessary

What to expect in the days leading up to the trip
Where to stay prior to the hike (Camping vs hotel)
Acclimating to the elevation
How and what to pack for the hike
What to expect on The Big Day
Photos of the trail and the mountain

If you are interested in being one of the first to receive this e-book or you wish to get on the list to purchase it, simply leave a comment below or contact me. I will notify you by email when the e-book has been completed.

It's not that I don't like people

noreply@blogger.com (Russ) — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 12:45:00 +0000

The other day Chris Guillebeau at The Art of Noncomformity posted a really interesting article about social networking for introverts. It really struck me because I tend toward being introverted myself. And in one of the comments, someone said something that really resonated with me. Nicole from Just Make It Better noted that someone she knew would say

It’s not that I don’t like being around people, it’s just that I prefer to be around the ones that I like.

And that pretty much explains me.

I am good at conversation and I enjoy being around people, the catch is I have to like them to have a good time. In the past I have been told that I can be a bit standoff-ish or unfriendly, to which I say, I am neither, it's just that I have to know you first. Chris says in his article that when he is seated on an airplane next to people he may not have much in common with that "sometimes we’ll talk and sometimes we won’t, and either way is fine with me."

All of this makes perfect sense to me. However, I think that there are extroverts who don't quite understand this mentality, they think this behavior tends towards anti-social. They thrive on conversation, and on meeting new people, whether or not there is any mutual connection. Whereas for me, when I meet new people I have no problem with chit chat, but once I know that there isn't much in common, I become bored and the conversation can get strained. For me to be stimulated and to really enjoy someone's company, I need a deeper connection. I don't mean a sexual or intimate connection, but I need to know that the person I'm speaking with really understands me, and then the conversation can go on for hours. I have had several friends like this in the past, and spending time with them was always great. We would debate and philosophize and talk about dreams and aspirations and life and bounce topics off each other. But when I don't feel that connection, I am ok with being alone. And enjoying solitude is a scary thought for some people, but that's another topic altogether.

So to get back to Chris' article, the thing that is really profound is that the majority of the people who commented on his post seemed to share the common trait of being introverts. Maybe there is some correlation? Maybe he attracts fellow introverts? Who knows. But maybe a reason we introverts can embrace social networking so well is because it allows us to create the deeper connections that we thrive on more easily. Another thing of note is that I'd say most of Chris' followers are independent, motivated, and intelligent people.

Certainly all people I'd like to call my friends, in real life or not.

Related Links:
Social Media Makes Us Approachable

It's how you do it

noreply@blogger.com (Russ) — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 05:30:00 +0000

I've found another blog I like, so I figured I'd share it. I'll give another little shout out on Monday regarding what led me to Nicole's blog, Just Make It Better, but for now I want to pass this article along.

I won't waste my time paraphrasing what she wrote, but I will say she's right on regarding what she says about being yourself and doing what makes you happy. And she also points out a couple of the traps that we (myself included) fall into when it comes to following the rules even if it doesn't benefit us.

It's not how it's done, it's how you do it.

Shantaram - Gregory David Roberts - Book Review

noreply@blogger.com (Russ) — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 13:04:00 +0000

Shantaram
Gregory David RobertsAs promised last week, here is my review for one of my favorite books of all time, Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts.

The book is very long, over 900 pages (!), but because it is so action packed it can be a quick read if you have the time to let yourself get involved. In brief, the book is about a man who escapes prison in New Zealand and ends up in Bombay working as a slum doctor. Thus the book is about the life he build in Bombay, and follows him over several years, first as a slum doctor, then moving on to mafia man and then mujahadeen fighter. The twists and turns of the plot make you want to keep reading, never knowing what will happen next. What makes this even more interesting is that, while fictional, much of what happens is based on experiences from Roberts' life. In real life Roberts had been a former heroin addict who managed to escape from prison in Australia and ended up in India. There is debate as to which events in the book are true and which are not, however Roberts claims that most of it is fiction. Never the less, there is at least some that is based on true events, and the book is sure to hold you attention.

In real life Roberts is ultimately recaptured to serve out the remainder of his prison sentence, and it is during this time that he wrote much of the novel, which makes the story even more amazing. There are many parts of the story that seem like they could be exaggerated, scenes that you wonder if could ever have really taken place, but the reality is it doesn't matter since this book is a novel, and a great one at that. He manages to write in such a way that as the reader you feel like you are experiencing the heart and soul of Bombay, and being taken to places that you will likely never venture on your own.

Shantaram is a real piece of work, and I would highly recommend it to most anyone, especially if you have an interest in adventure, travel and/or India. That said, there are parts that contain extremely violent events, so keep that in mind before picking it up. But if you choose to read it, you will not be disappointed.

Related Links:
My Top 10 Books

Some of my accomplishments ... and things still to be done

noreply@blogger.com (Russ) — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 13:20:00 +0000

Mt Whitney Summit -- August 2008There are days when I feel accomplished, and there are days when I feel down. Sometimes life seems to get a little boring, and the days begin to pass in the blink of an eye. So I've decided to write this post in an effort to keep myself inspired and to remind myself not to let my life get too boring as I quickly approach my 31st year. There are some things that I've accomplished that I can look back upon to remind myself that I am living, and there things I want to do to make sure I keep living. On days when life gets frustrating and starts to seem pretty boring, I remind myself of these things that I've done and can continue to be proud of. And along with that, I have to keep reminding myself of all the things out there that I want to do!

So here is my list... What are your accomplishments and goals? How do you stay motivated?

Done and/or accomplished:

Summitted the highest mountain in the continental United States (Mt Whitney) in one day (up and back, 22 miles, 18 hours, 6000+ ft elevation gain)
Driven across the United States (3 times, once alone, twice with a friend)
Bicycled from San Diego, California to Phoenix, Arizona, 400 miles in 7 days
Backpacked Spain alone for two weeks and also ventured into Morocco
Completed a half marathon
Left my family and moved to California by myself
Went to the 2003 NCAA Final Four Basketball tournament at the Louisiana Superdome
Taken a train some 3000 or so miles across the United States
Driven the gorgeous Pacific Coast Highway up the California coast to Monterrey
Fasted on water only for 4 days

Things I want to do: (Not limited to just this list :) )

Finish a marathon or longer race
Take an overnight hiking/backpacking trip
Ride my bike up the Pacific Coast
TRAVEL more (Asia, Africa, more of Europe, South America, anywhere really)
Live in a van or RV for at least a month
Hike some or all of the Appalachian Trail
Become self employed

Photos of American Mass Consumption

noreply@blogger.com (Russ) — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 14:20:00 +0000

Cell phones, Atlanta 2005 44 x 90, Chris Jordan

Thanks to Matador for pointing me to this series of photos, "Intolerable Beauty, Portraits of American Mass Consumption" by Chris Jordan. It definitely makes you think about how much we as a society use, and more importantly, waste. In addition to this photo of cell phones, there are photos of enormous piles of cigarette butts, old hard drives, old cars, sawdust, bottles, and more. Go over and check them out.

Memories of my trip to Baja California

noreply@blogger.com (Russ) — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 13:38:00 +0000

A few hours south of the US/Mexico borderThe place we were to be going in Mexico was called Punto San Jacinto,and it's located on the Pacific coast, and if I recall it is somewhere around 150 miles south of the US/Mexico border, definitely a good several hour drive. Getting there is pretty easy, you just head south towards Tijuana, cross the border, and head to the toll road going south. Once you get out of Tijuana it's a straight shot on the winding highway. There was only one checkpoint, and the fact that my girlfriend is pretty fluent with Spanish made it easy.

At the time we took this trip, the Tijuana area was getting a pretty bad rap in the news because of murders and kidnappings, but we had no problems. We left after dark with the goal being a straight drive with no traffic. Everything went smoothly, all you really have to watch out for is the truckers who wind up and down the narrow highway, and the sharp turns. Not knowing where our destination actually was, we followed our friends and after a few turns from the main road, we were there. The property we were going to had no house, and it was quite desolate, with nothing around for miles with the exception of about 20 or thirty other lots, some of which had proper homes, some which just had campers or trailers. On our friends' lot they had constructed a shack with a water tank on top which was used as a makeshift bathroom, and a nice little windbreak made of corrugated tin which was quite good at doing its job, which of course is to block the wind and provide a bit of shelter The area is right on a point, and even as the temperatures inland are warming, the breeze off the Pacific down there is quite cool. We quickly set up the tent, did a couple obligatory shots of tequila, had a few beers, then went to sleep.

Read the rest and see photos here