El Zen

What, and who, the heck are you talking about?

Agreed. On both points. Could get messy, though.

Trump already saying the 2020 election is rigged. Getting his excuses in early, or disclosing his campaign strategy? I disagree with Bill Maher on many things, but I’m beginning to think he might be right there won’t be any peaceful transision of power if or when Trump loses the election.

In isolation, this wasn’t too bad. We started both halfs well and did enough to get at least a goal. Allowing for lack of march fitness and sharpness, the performance was alright. If that’s going to be enough is another question entirely.

Yep. I’m not going to be apologetic if we win this.

I am fairly confident there is no way they could do that within the rules.

I like Sander a lot, but he couldn’t score in a brothel. (You can thank me when you cash in your winnings later.)

I’m exactly the same. I can’t understand why anyone would want to complicate such a simple and effective concept. To lose weight, eat less energy than you use. It is so easy (feeling hungry for a week aside) and controllable, in my experience anyway. Good luck!

Fair plan! How are you dieting? Cal count?

I was seriously hitting my stride with the lifting just before the lockdown and it’s hard not to think of it as three big months lost, in terms of getting where I want to be, even if I’ve kept myself in decent shape running every other day. It’s really set the whole process back by at least four months, probably five. Which is a very selfish way of looking at an entirely necessary precaution, obviously.

It was weird. The tempo was slow and the passing a bit all over the place. Very pre-seasonish, but with both teams very cautious in their approach. The football wasn’t much, but it was still football. I enjoyed being emotionally invested in something unimportant again. It was fun. I only say this because my team won, of course, but still.

Gyms are open again here. Did my first session today. Did 3 working sets of 5 reps on all big five barbell lifts, very light, just to find a restart level. My quads asked some stern questions about the squats but, all in all, it felt bloody fantastic to be lifting again. Went home and directly ordered 3000g of whey. Oops.

Strangely, my knees are kind of iffy, but I hate running in Hoka shoes. They may be better for the knees but it feels like running in friggin custard. I quickly went back to my old, trusted but worn out pair of New Balance.

Went past a confederate flag hanging on a garage wall earlier today. In Norway. Ignorant redneck pricks.

Haven’t checked, but could it be median household income?

Norwegian league to start mid-June, behind closed doors. We seem to have things under control, so it should be safe enough, but not being allowed to go to games will be strange (but understandable, of course). I never miss a home game (literally missed maybe five over the past decade) and now I’ll probably the first couple of months of a season.

Norway is about to return to a degree og normalcy. Schools are open for all age groups from monday, meaning I’m back at work tomorrow, and the football will be back (albeit without fans) in June. Fingers crossed!

I liked it.

Running every other day, lots of push-ups, some kettlebell work. I really, really miss the gym. Can’t really replicate barbell and rack work at home and I feel like I’m losing muscle mass.

It’s the worst. Herniating a spinal disc mid-squat. Yikes!

Agreed. I think After Life is excellent, and well written, but the therapist is completely pointless and unfunny.

I think, and correct me if I’m misremembering, research like the world values survey shows that the US scores relatively low on individualism. Low, as in much further down the list than its public political discourse and rhetoric might suggest. I think, and again I think this is supported by research, that what is presented as individualism and «don’t step on my lawn» is a symptom of a deep lack of institutional trust, rather than true individualist values. The great paradox here is that Norway, bastion of social democracy and the expansive welfare state, ranks at the very top when it comes to individualist values. This seems to support, contrary to right wing American political marketing, the notion that an economic and social safety net that provides real economic independence is very much a facilitator for freedom. I realise I have simplified a very complex argument here, but I believe my overall point is valid. Americans aren’t really particularily individualistic, they just really don’t trust their country’s institutions, and I think that’s particularily true for those protesting the lock downs.

Jehova’s Witnesses.

I got an unsolicited text from the JW today. Pissed me off so much I couldn’t help replying to tell them how much it pissed me off.