From Magnificat this morning:
"...the masters of the spiritual life give this great principle for distinguishing the true inspirations of God from those which come from the devil, namely, that the former are always gentle and peaceful and lead us to confidence and humility while the latter are agitating, unquiet, and turbulent, leading to discouragement and suspicion, or even to presumption and the following of our own will. We must, therefore, firmly reject all that does not bear this mark of peace, submission, gentleness, and confidence, the impressions as it were of God's seal; this point is of great importance for the whole of our life."
- Father Jean-Pierre de Caussade, S.J.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Monday, August 18, 2008
The Blogs Do It Right - Part I
If you do one thing today, please read this very well penned post from Jeremy at The War Eagle Reader. Excellent work fine sir.
That Man Is FAST!!!
I was pondering the magnificent performance of Usain Bolt on Saturday (night? day? whatever.) and was struck by the notion that for all Michael Phelps did in the pool, I was more thrilled by what Bolt did on the track and I’m not sure exactly why. Both are exceptional athletes. Both are clearly at the top of their respective sports right now. Both have trained very had to get where they are.
The thing about Bolt was how effortless he made it look. And perhaps that sentence is more indicative of what struck me than it seems. The key word being “look.” Unlike, Bolt, I have a hard time seeing what Phelps is doing under the water and in relation to the rest of his competition. Please do not misconstrue what I’m saying. I know that Phelps’ accomplishments are out of this world. Due to my current living location I have been on a pool hiatus for about two years, but for roughly five years prior to that, I was in the pool three times a week for 30 to 40 minutes swimming laps. I wasn’t training for the Olympics, but that is enough of a representative sample to convince me that Phelps is a serious athlete. Add to that the fact that Phelps’ diversity is greater than just running or, in this case swimming, fast in only one stroke and it is easy to see whose accomplishments should rank higher.
Returning to Bolt and his race into history, I agree with Ato Bolden who, during NBC’s coverage of the 100 meter final, said that Bolt had turned a corner in Track and Field history. What distinguished Bolt, despite his time, was his build. At 6’5”, 190 pounds, Bolt’s long and lean stride stood out in comparison to the shorter efforts of his competitors. In fact, Bolt took only 41 steps over the entire 100 meters (the rest of his competitors took 44). That stride created the appearance of graceful, effortless sprinting and might be the future of sprinting.
I say might be, because the biomechanics are sprinting are likely too complex to be simplified into body type. In fact, Asafa Powell, a great sprinter in his own right, only gives up three inches to Bolt. Plus, Bolt is not a great starter. A sprinter with an unbelievably quick reaction time that is able to get out to bigger lead might be able to hold off Bolt. In fact, an argument could be made that Walter Dix might have caught Bolt if the race were longer. Of course that would disregard the following very important points: a) the race was 100 meters and b) Bolt shut it down early. To say that Dix might have a good shot in the 200 meters is not ridiculous if he can perform at the same level that he did on Saturday.
But Bolt’s performance was so dominant that it astonishes the mind. And the others in the race were no slouches. Nearly the entire field was under ten seconds, it was the first time six of the eight runners where under the legendary time horizon in the Olympics. Additionally, as has been breathlessly mentioned numerous times, he pulled up. He quit the race over the last 20 meters. I would agree with fellas over at The Science of Sport, he likely would have been somewhere around 9.60 seconds. This from a guy who hadn’t run the 100 meters prior to this year.
When you look at the sub-10 second world records, Bolt’s performance is even more astonishing. Using the 9.60 time, he made a 1.25 percent improvement on the previous world record (his own).
The thing about Bolt was how effortless he made it look. And perhaps that sentence is more indicative of what struck me than it seems. The key word being “look.” Unlike, Bolt, I have a hard time seeing what Phelps is doing under the water and in relation to the rest of his competition. Please do not misconstrue what I’m saying. I know that Phelps’ accomplishments are out of this world. Due to my current living location I have been on a pool hiatus for about two years, but for roughly five years prior to that, I was in the pool three times a week for 30 to 40 minutes swimming laps. I wasn’t training for the Olympics, but that is enough of a representative sample to convince me that Phelps is a serious athlete. Add to that the fact that Phelps’ diversity is greater than just running or, in this case swimming, fast in only one stroke and it is easy to see whose accomplishments should rank higher.
Returning to Bolt and his race into history, I agree with Ato Bolden who, during NBC’s coverage of the 100 meter final, said that Bolt had turned a corner in Track and Field history. What distinguished Bolt, despite his time, was his build. At 6’5”, 190 pounds, Bolt’s long and lean stride stood out in comparison to the shorter efforts of his competitors. In fact, Bolt took only 41 steps over the entire 100 meters (the rest of his competitors took 44). That stride created the appearance of graceful, effortless sprinting and might be the future of sprinting.
I say might be, because the biomechanics are sprinting are likely too complex to be simplified into body type. In fact, Asafa Powell, a great sprinter in his own right, only gives up three inches to Bolt. Plus, Bolt is not a great starter. A sprinter with an unbelievably quick reaction time that is able to get out to bigger lead might be able to hold off Bolt. In fact, an argument could be made that Walter Dix might have caught Bolt if the race were longer. Of course that would disregard the following very important points: a) the race was 100 meters and b) Bolt shut it down early. To say that Dix might have a good shot in the 200 meters is not ridiculous if he can perform at the same level that he did on Saturday.
But Bolt’s performance was so dominant that it astonishes the mind. And the others in the race were no slouches. Nearly the entire field was under ten seconds, it was the first time six of the eight runners where under the legendary time horizon in the Olympics. Additionally, as has been breathlessly mentioned numerous times, he pulled up. He quit the race over the last 20 meters. I would agree with fellas over at The Science of Sport, he likely would have been somewhere around 9.60 seconds. This from a guy who hadn’t run the 100 meters prior to this year.
When you look at the sub-10 second world records, Bolt’s performance is even more astonishing. Using the 9.60 time, he made a 1.25 percent improvement on the previous world record (his own).
If you consider the last world record time not turned in by Bolt, he has improved nearly 1.5 percent. The improvement from 9.77, a time turned in by four different performances, three of them by Asafa Powell, is 1.77 percent. All of this in two years. Consider for a moment that it took 31 years for a 1.42 percent improvement in time from the first ten second performance to Carl Lewis in 1991.
Obviously, this raises the question of impropriety. Add to the above the fact that a Jamaican also won the women’s 100 meter dash and you have some interesting circumstantial evidence. Of course, the Jamaican team has been repeatedly tested almost to the point of it being criminal.
So there is no irrefutable evidence pointing to an “enhanced” performance by Bolt and until there is something even remotely solid all we have to ponder are the numbers. And the numbers present one amazing tale. A tale that may never be repeated and likely will change the 100 meter game forever.
Obviously, this raises the question of impropriety. Add to the above the fact that a Jamaican also won the women’s 100 meter dash and you have some interesting circumstantial evidence. Of course, the Jamaican team has been repeatedly tested almost to the point of it being criminal.
So there is no irrefutable evidence pointing to an “enhanced” performance by Bolt and until there is something even remotely solid all we have to ponder are the numbers. And the numbers present one amazing tale. A tale that may never be repeated and likely will change the 100 meter game forever.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Cast of Characters
Here's who may or may not appear on this blog.
The BMOC - Yours truly. I will be your tour guide. Please keep your head, arms, and legs inside the vehicle at all times. Management is not responsible for injuries both physical and emotional.
Mrs. BMOC - One guess here.
The Kid - While he is the shine in the eyes of The BMOC and Mrs. BMOC, do not be decieved, he is a gunslinger. Usually can be found in a diaper.
The BMOC - Yours truly. I will be your tour guide. Please keep your head, arms, and legs inside the vehicle at all times. Management is not responsible for injuries both physical and emotional.
Mrs. BMOC - One guess here.
The Kid - While he is the shine in the eyes of The BMOC and Mrs. BMOC, do not be decieved, he is a gunslinger. Usually can be found in a diaper.
Friday, August 8, 2008
What Chew Talkin' Bout Willis?
These are the topics that will be presented here, subject to be changed at my discretion. So be prepared.
Act Your Age - Designed to point out actions from adults that are similar to something my one year old might try to pull, but he actually knows better.
Books - I tell you what I'm reading and what I think of it when I'm done. I read for pleasure and I have divergent tastes. Sometimes you will get a serious Faulkner novel followed up by a mindless comic book. Either way, you will get my thoughts on it, for whatever that is worth.
Da Biz - The BMOC's chosen profession is investment banking. No, I don't dress in pinstripes and slick my hair back. I drive a truck, not a Bugatti and my house is a 3 bdr/2 ba abode furnished with Pottery Barn. Yep, no marble bathtubs. But the yacht is on order.
Econ - I was never very good with Macro or Micro, so take these posts with a grain of salt.
Fam - I promise you that these posts will bore you to death, but hey my blog, I can do whatever I want.
La Iglesia - Because the I is capitalized here, we are talking about the Catholic Church. I'm Catholic, but not an Apologist. That also doesn't mean I'm a Cafeteria Catholic either. I try to follow the Church's teaching, but am a sinner and always will be.
Miscellanea - This is the catch all category for one time topics that probably won't be addressed again.
Politics - Personally, I learn towards the right hand side of the spectrum, but what I don't like are people who take a person's words and twist them to try to prove their point. Yeah, I'm looking at you right-wing radio host.
Pond Scum - Politicians, criminals, and all manner of people that fit the category of slimy, despicable jerks.
Smokes - This does not mean Marlboro Reds or Kools. We are talking Dominican fillers and Cameroon wrappers. Smoke 'em if you got 'em.
Texas Tea - That's right The BMOC knows a thing or two about the world of oil and gas. You can actually take some of what I say here to the bank.
The Ol Pigskin, Sport in General - What can I say, I was raised in the South. Besides learning how to shoot and fight, the only thing you need to be able to do when you graduate from high school is diagram a post pattern from a trips formation with play action. I also enjoy sports and from time to time will post on something outside of the world of the 100 yard war.
An Intro
Why Should I Read Your Pathetic Ramblings?
These, dear reader, are my thoughts, my ideas, my, as you might be apt to say, pathetic ramblings. They are subject to change as I learn more and grow. What we will talk about is simple. We will discuss religion, politics, books, movies, football, cigars, food, family, and anything else I damn well please to talk about. What we won’t do is get denigrate someone and we won’t cuss. Well, no promises on the cussing. We will try not to cuss.
I’m anonymous because I don’t want fan mail and paparazzi hanging around my house. Kidding. I’m not a professional writer, so why do I need to give you my name. I am always interested in hearing from you either in the comments section or at my email lookhereson -at- gmail dot com.
These, dear reader, are my thoughts, my ideas, my, as you might be apt to say, pathetic ramblings. They are subject to change as I learn more and grow. What we will talk about is simple. We will discuss religion, politics, books, movies, football, cigars, food, family, and anything else I damn well please to talk about. What we won’t do is get denigrate someone and we won’t cuss. Well, no promises on the cussing. We will try not to cuss.
I’m anonymous because I don’t want fan mail and paparazzi hanging around my house. Kidding. I’m not a professional writer, so why do I need to give you my name. I am always interested in hearing from you either in the comments section or at my email lookhereson -at- gmail dot com.
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