Mickey Z
Cool Observer
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
This does not compute
Jerry Mander sez: “Computers, like television, are far more valuable and helpful to the military, to multinational corporations, to international banking, to governments, and to institutions of surveillance and control—all of whom use this technology on a scale and with a speed that are beyond our imaginings—than they ever will be to you and me.
“Computers have made it possible to instantaneously move staggering amounts of capital, information, and equipment throughout the world, giving unprecedented power to the largest institutions on earth. In fact, computers make these institutions possible. Meanwhile, we use our personal computers to edit our copy and hook into our information networks—and believe that makes us more powerful.
“Even environmentalists have contributed to the problem by failing to effectively criticize technical evolution despite its obvious, growing, and inherent bias against nature. I fear the ultimate direction of technology will become vividly clear to us only after we have popped out of the ‘information age’—which does have a kind of benevolent ring—and realize what is at stake in the last two big ‘wilderness intervention’ battlegrounds: space and the genetic structures of living creatures. From there, advocates don’t even pretend to care about the natural world. They think it’s silly and out of date.”
This quote—from 1991—is excerpted from In the Absence of the Sacred: The Failure of Technology and the Survival of the Indian Nations, which I am currently reading.
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Astoria celebrates Italy’s victory:
(More images tomorrow)
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Finally, by special request I’m posting an article I once wrote for a fitness mag. Click on “more” to see “The Fit Parade Top 40.” Sure, it’s a few years old and it’s written in “magazine style,” but it’s a start. If anyone has questions, let ‘em roll…
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Disclaimer: If you have health concerns, please talk with your doctor before undertaking an exercise/diet regimen.
EXERCISE
1. HAVE A GAME PLAN—Do your homework and don’t walk into a gym without a clue. Like most worthwhile ventures, without some kind of strategy, your work-out will soon become a haphazard affair destined for failure.
2. SET REALISTIC GOALS—Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither were Arnold’s biceps, so don’t confuse your vision with your goals. It’s okay to visualize yourself as a perfect physical specimen one day, but it’s crucial to set short-term goals along the way.
3. UNDERSTAND HEART-RATE—Aerobic training not only about quantity so, to measure quality, use this simple formula: 220 – your age = maximum heart-rate. When doing cardiovascular exercise, aim for 60 to 80 percent of this number for at least 30 minutes at a time, three or four times per week.
4. GO FOR INTENSITY, NOT NUMBERS—Weight training is not a contest so, once again, select quality over quantity. Don’t worry about the musclehead on the bench next to you and remember, choose intensity for density.
5. BREATHE CORRECTLY—Follow this basic rule: Whenever a weight is being lowered, inhale. As the weight is being lifted, exhale.
6. LOOSEN YOUR GRIP—There is no need to squeeze those barbells. It only fatigues your forearms and forces you to stop before the major muscle has reached exhaustion. Practice using a loose grip to save your forearms and increase your training intensity.
7. GOOD FORM IS ESSENTIAL—Consistency, reps, sets, resistance, etc. are all important, but nothing rates higher than good form. If you can cultivate a mind-muscle link by maintaining concentration and perfect form, you’re on your way to steady gains.
8. DON’T IMITATE OTHERS—Even if the most muscular guy in the gym does a particular movement doesn’t mean it warrants imitation. What works for one often does not work for the rest. Trust your instincts and leave peer pressure behind.
9. VARIETY—Vary your work-out on a regular basis. This not only keeps the body from becoming too familiar with a routine, it helps keep your mind stimulated during those inevitable training plateaus.
10. SKIP THE WORK-OUT BELT—If you train with good form and use resistance that is right for you, a cumbersome belt is unnecessary. After all, if you can walk around comfortably in your belt, how could it be offering the support it’s meant to deliver?
NUTRITION
11. DON’T EAT MEAT—Even the U.S. government has admitted that a vegetarian diet is the healthiest. Simply put: humans were not created to eat flesh and the fact that we ignore this reality has lead to the majority of our ills today.
12. DON’T EAT DAIRY PRODUCTS—Cow’s milk is for calves. It has 3 times more protein and 7 times more mineral content while human milk has 10 times as much essential fatty acids, 3 times as much selenium, and half the calcium. Then, once breast-feeding has stopped, milk of any kind is no longer needed
13. REDUCE SUGAR INTAKE—From suppressing your immune system to destroying your teeth, sugar is a nightmare for the body. Whether it’s sucrose, fructose, corn syrup, maple syrup, molasses, or whatever, sugar is a novelty food and should be treated as such.
14. REDUCE CAFFEINE INTAKE—An addictive chemical that stimulates the cerebral cortex, caffeine signals the brain to allow stored energy to be released. This can deplete energy stores and contribute to a condition of chronic fatigue. Other caffeine-related problems are heart disease, panic attacks, and low bone mass.
15. EAT ORGANIC FOODS—Sure, it may sometimes cost few more pennies, but eating foods devoid of harmful pesticides is an excellent way to detoxify your body and begin on the path towards optimal health.
16. AVOID PROCESSED FOODS—Preservatives, chemicals, and food colorings add nothing but misery to our diet. Eat food in its pristine state as we were created to do.
17. DRINK WATER—Drinking eight glasses of water a day—preferably filtered or bottled—is the easiest way to start a holistic health program.
18. GO FOR VARIETY—Don’t eat the same foods all the time. This not only leads to potentially dangerous food allergies but it deprives you of the opportunity to experiment with the amazing and delicious variety of foods nature has to offer.
19. THE “G” FACTOR—Garlic, greens, grains, green tea, and ginger; these foods have nurtured good health for centuries. For a safe, delicious, and natural approach to nutrition and health, spell it with a “G”.
20. PORTION CONTROL—Part of living in a consumer culture is over-consuming food. Reduce your current portions by 25% to start.
PREVENTION
21. ASK ADVICE—If you’re not sure about something, ask questions. This means consulting someone qualified like a physical therapist, certified trainer, or exercise physiologist.
22. WARM UP—Unless you prepare your body for a strenuous work-out, you will pay a high price in nagging injuries and lost training time.
23. UNDERSTAND MUSCLE FUNCTIONS—Before you perform a triceps pushdown, bench press, or whatever, it makes sense to understand how your muscles function. This will help cultivate a strong mind-muscle link and help prevent injuries.
24. LEARN BASIC FIRST AID—Sprained ankles, sore shoulders, low back pain—welcome to the world of exercise. To stop small injuries from becoming big ones, educate yourself on the basics of first aid (and common sense).
25. STRETCH—Stretching is not as simple as it looks. Once again, don’t be afraid to consult an expert, i.e take a few stretch classes to learn the do’s and don’ts.
26. PROPER BODY MECHANICS—Maintaining proper body mechanics outside the gym—in daily activities like cleaning, driving, lifting, etc.—will help keep you injury-free.
27. POSTURE—Whether standing, sitting, walking, running, or exercising, proper alignment is essential preventative medicine. Respect your spine.
28. TRAIN YOUR BOWELS—A good measure of holistic health is being able to eliminate two or three times a day, with a bowel transit time of 8 to 12 hours.
29. UNDERSTAND PAIN—There’s good pain and bad pain. If you’re not sure how to tell the difference, ask someone who does. No pain, no gain, is only for those with no brain.
30. SLEEP—Without regular sleeping habits, overall health is simply not attainable.
OVERALL HEALTH
31. WASH YOUR HANDS—Colds and flu can slow down even the most dedicated of athletes, so take care to wash your hands often.
32. WESTERN MEDICINE—Your doctor is not a god. Educate yourself on the advantages and disadvantages of Western allopathic medicine.
33. “ALTERNATIVE” MEDICINE—Staying well the natural way has worked for centuries. Open your mind and see what else is out there.
34. DON’T DRINK WHILE YOU EAT—To avoid diluting your digestive juices and suffering the gas pains that result from gulping too much air while drinking, drink that glass of filtered water either about a half-hour before your meal.
35. EAT SLOW—Savor your food. Chew slowly. Enjoy the tastes and smells. Make your meals an event, not something you do while watching TV or reading the paper.
36. VITAMIN SUPPLEMENTS—Even the most diligent nutrition fanatic has good and bad days. Taking a daily vitamin supplement is safe way to make every day a good one.
37. SKIN CARE—Your skin is the largest organ of the body and your number one defense against a germ-filled world, so give it the respect and treatment it deserves.
38. TREAT YOURSELF RIGHT—Don’t be afraid to pamper yourself; a hot bath, some sensual aromatherapy, a delicious meal, or simply speaking your mind. Do whatever it takes to keep yourself balanced, strong, and happy.
39. FREEDOM FROM ANGER—Probably 99 percent of what we get angry about isn’t worth the effort. Maintain perspective and learn to accept some ups and downs.
40. RELAXATION TECHNIQUES—Finally, even if you were to adhere to all of the above 39 tips, it would be for naught without stress reduction. Attitude is the number one hit on this fit parade, so find some ways to relax, i.e. meditation, yoga, biofeedback, etc.
Copyright © 2005-2007 Mickey Z.
