Running Report: Shamrock Shuffle

Date	Distance	Time	Effort	Route	Comment
3-30-08	8K	1:05:43	Race	Downtown Chicago, flat.	WX 40's and mist. Had GI issues so had to stop and walk a few times.

Running Report

Date	Distance	Time	Effort	Route	Comment
3-28-08	----	30 min	5/10	Downtown Chicago, Millenium Park and Grant Park	Cool. Just a short run with some speeders to get acclimated.

Blog Break

BookScoutLookOut Blog is on break until April 1.

Quote

'I have every useless thing in the world in my house there."

Marcel Proust Swann's Way

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Better than 50 percent snow chance this afternoon, less than an inch though. High around freezing today and Monday.

Zen Cat

Cat on Guard

Another Rought Day

Quote

"The fault I find with our journalism is that it forces us to take an interest in some fresh triviality or other every day, whereas only three or four books in a lifetime give us anything that is of real importance."

Marcel Proust Swann's Way

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Yesterday brought a good dose of snow. Rest of weekend should be dry with temps under 40.

World Almanac Blog

The World Almanac is a quintessential reference source. In this blog M-F I find interesting nuggets in the 'WA' and add details via the web.

Belmont University came within a point of an NCAA tournament victory over Duke. Belmont is located in Nashville Tennesee with an enrollment of 4,481 and is the largest Christian school in Tennesee. Belmont was founded in 1951 (P. 406). Alumni include Malinda Doolittle and Trisha Yearwood.

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Snow chance of 90 percent with up to 3 inches of accumulation expected. Snow will end Saturday with weekend temps staying below 40.

World Almanac Blog

The World Almanac is a quintessential reference source. In this blog M-F I find interesting nuggets in the 'WA' and add details via the web.

At 0148 today the Vernal Equinox occurred. This signifies the start of spring which will last until the Summer Solstice on 20 June (P.318). Equinox means that world wide day and night are approximately equal in length. Today Muskegon's length of day will be 12 hours 10 minutes while in Hobart Tasmania the figure is 12 hours 9 minutes.

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A system is developing in the plains and will bring lite snow on Friday. Today will be sunny with temps around 40, cooling expected into the weekend.

LB Signed by Pack

Brandon Chillar has signed with the Packers. He is a 4 year player from UCLA. One evaulation of him reads, "he has developed into a solid linebacker who rarely misses a tackle." Also, Chillar says he took less salary to have a winning chance with GB.

He will compete with Brady Popinga at strong side linebacker.

Seems like a good low key, but worthwhile free agent signing. Remember the Packers signed Ryan Picket from the Rams.....

Running Report 3/19/08

Date	Distance	Time	Effort	Route	Comment
3-19-08	----	40 min	7/10	Warm up north and west, thru cematary to sherman to mckracken, lsd to denmark.	WX upper 30's and grey. Speed day that really wasn't, couldn't get up to or sustain speed. Still paying for 5 miler? Bad warm up? No IPOD?

Packers Search for a Veteran Backup....or not

Currently it is presumed the Packers are searching for a back up quarterback to Aaron Rodgers. Much talk speculates around a 'veteran backup' whatever that is. Gus Ferrote has visited and so has Quinn Gray.

When Ferrote signs it will be his 8th team, his rookie year being 1994. Gray is a 4th year player.

Others mentioned are Jerod Lorenzen, Ryan Fitzpatrick and Kelly Holcomb, the latter two being younger players.

I see no reason to get locked into a veteran backup. That is akin to drafting for need and ignoring the best player. Packers GM Thompson doesn't do that in drafting and I can't see it in acquiring a 2nd string backup. So the new 2nd qb maybe a veteran or more probably he will be the best regardless of experience.

World Almanac Blog

The World Almanac is a quintessential reference source. In this blog M-F I find interesting nuggets in the 'WA' and add details via the web.

Today is the birthday of author Phillip Roth born in Newark NJ in 1933. He has authored 26 novels and won numerous awards including: PEN/Faulkner award, Pulitzer Prize and the WH Smith Literary Award. I'm a Roth reader having most recently purchased: The Professor of Desire and The Anatomy Lesson

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What will stand out today is a N/NW wind up to 20 MPH, otherwise quiet conditions are expected until Thursday nite. At that point snow is expected but current predictions have it south of Muskegon.

World Almanac Blog

The World Almanac is a quintessential reference source. In this blog M-F I find interesting nuggets in the 'WA' and add details via the web.

30 hours 24 minutes is the average amount of time American's spend watching TV per week (P. 242). This varies from 21:42 for men 18-24 to 43:21 for women 55+ (p. 242). A recent study on eating habits had this quote: "The more TV that was watched, the higher the BMI." So, regardless of demographic we should like all cut down our TV viewing.

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Today will be a dingy day with a chance of rain. Most of the rest of the week will have some chance of precipitation but just as likely will be dry and around 40.

World Almanac Blog

The World Almanac is a quintessential reference source. In this blog M-F I find interesting nuggets in the 'WA' and add details via the web.

Over the weekend Supreme Court Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg celebrated her birthday which is March 15th. She was appointed in 1993 (P. 431). Ginsburg replaced Byron White. She is a Columbia Law alum.

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We should get our first precipitation in awhile starting late tonite. High temperatures will remain in the 40's.

Quote

I am a runner because I run. Not because I run fast. Not because I run far. I am a runner because I say I am. And no one can tell me I'm not." -John Bingham

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A high pressure will clear skys today. Monday will see a warm south wind that will make rain for the area, too.

Running Report 3/15/08

Date	Distance	Time	Effort	Route	Comment
3-15-08	5 miles	1:10:07	6/10	Leon west Sherman-Letarte South-LSD-Fricanos-Path to Fisherman's landing doubled back to Terrace Point	WX 30's and sunny. Toughest stretch was from 1.5 to 2.0 miles. Ran distance in exactly the time I wanted!

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A cold front has passed. Expect a dry weekend with high temps near 40.

Quote

"When it's third-and-10, you can take the milk drinkers and I'll take the whiskey drinkers every time."

Max Mcgee

World Almanac Blog

The World Almanac is a quintessential reference source. In this blog M-F I find interesting nuggets in the 'WA' and add details via the web.

The Palm Pilot organizer debuted in 1996. Currently Palm still sells hand helds, but names such as E2 are used.

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Another day of warm weather with readings upwards of 50 degrees. This will not be near the record high of 71 last set in 1995. Cold front will then push through dropping temperatures into the upper 30's for the weekend.

World Almanac Blog

The World Almanac is a quintessential reference source. In this blog M-F I find interesting nuggets in the 'WA' and add details via the web.

Eliot Spitzer has resigned as Governor of New York. He will forfeit his $ 179,000 yearly salary which was the highest of any state head (P.444). He will avoid impeachment. However, another NY governor did not resign and was impeached. This governor was William Sulzer, same last three letters of his name but otherwise the two are linked thru history by an almost similar story and the ending of their surnames.

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Next two days will see temperatures of + 40 degrees. High pressure, moderate west winds and clouds will prevail.

Running Report

Date	Distance	Time	Effort	Route	Comment
3-12-08	------	40:00	6/10	Walked north and west. Ran thru cemtary to Sherman. Fartleks down Mcracken to LSD and Denmark. 3 10 stride hills.	WX 32 and sunny. Roads mostly clear some ice patches. Fear I have sciatica felt some twinges. Stretched after fartleks during hills.

Packers Draft Picks

1st Rd. Pick AJ Hawk

As of this writing the Packers have 7 picks in 7 rounds plus a likely 4th round compensatory pick for Houston signing Amaham Green.

They have the Browns 2nd round pick after trading Cory Williams. They do not have a 6th round pick as they traded it for Ryan Grant.

RD Pick
1 30
2 55
3 60
3 91
4 124
4 135 Compensation
5 154
6 ----
7 219

World Almanac Blog

The World Almanac is a quintessential reference source. In this blog M-F I find interesting nuggets in the 'WA' and add details via the web.

This day in 1992 Mauritius became independent (P.799). This ocean nation is located 500 miles E. of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean. The literacy rate is 84.3% (P.798).

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Tonite we'll have a chance of a smörgåsbord of precip. perhaps getting rain, sleet or snow. Cold front will come thru although lacking arctic air to pack punch.

Quote

"Life's problems wouldn't be called "hurdles" if there wasn't a way to get over them."

World Almanac Blog

The World Almanac is a quintessential reference source. In this blog M-F I find interesting nuggets in the 'WA' and add details via the web.

Early this morning Space Shuttle Endeavor on a 16 day mission. This is Endeavor's 21st mission. This shuttle's 1st mission was in 1992 (P.311) On another 1992 mission Endeavor carried the 1st black astronaut and married couple (P. 311) Mission commander Dominic Gorie has flow on Endeavor in 2000 and 2001.

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Warming trend will continue thru Thursday. Then Wednesday nite into Thursday there will be a chance of rain along with thunder.

World Almanac Blog

The World Almanac is a quintessential reference source. In this blog M-F I find interesting nuggets in the 'WA' and add details via the web.

Prince Edward of Great Britain was born this day in 1964. He is 7th in line to the British throne. If he ascended he'd be the 9th king named Edward and the 1st since 1936 (P.688).

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With barometer near 1030 MB we are in for some easy weather with temperatures above freezing and heading for above 40. Dry and warm conditions are expected for some time.

Quote

"We count by years, but we live by days. Rightfully, we should do both by seasons."

Ivan Doig Dancing at the Rascal Fair

Favre Perspective

#4 started 253 straight regular season games. Include the post season and it's 275. During this time other team used 212 quarterbacks.

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Today will be the last day of below freezing temperatures for the week as high pressure will move in and bring SW winds. Next precipitation will likely be rain at mid week.

Running Report

Date	Distance	Time	Effort	Route	Comment
3-8-08	1 mile	11:30	5/10	Around Park-	WX 10 with below zero wind chill. Cut short due to cold.

Power fired for the Truth

A Barack Obama advisor, Samantha Power, was let go by the campaign. She gave an interview that said in part "[Hillary Clinton] is a monster, too - that is off the record - she is stooping to anything"

As per usual politics and politicians can't handle the truth!

Quote

"Our social personality is created by the thoughts of other people."

Marcel Proust Swann's Way

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Cold day today starting with below zero wind chills. Clipper system is on its way, but it is a dry one.

Goal Report 7 March

I set some goals for 2008. Here's what's occured this week:

• Classics: Read 100 pages of Proust this week.
• Posted regularly to this blog.
• Helped install a needed 2nd kitchen cabinet.
• Started intensively researching pop up campers.
• American Airlines voucher has been used.
  

World Almanac Blog

The World Almanac is a quintessential reference source. In this blog M-F I find interesting nuggets in the 'WA' and add details via the web.

Frigg, I mean friggin' did you know Frigg was a Norse god (P.664). Frigg was the wife of Odin and the Goddess of marriage and home.

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Cool and likely snowless thru the weekend. Canadian low coming Sunday.

World Almanac Blog

The World Almanac is a quintessential reference source. In this blog M-F I find interesting nuggets in the 'WA' and add details via the web.

Aspirin was invented in 1853 by Charles Fredric Gerhardt (P.272). It was patented this day in 1899 by Bayer and Co. The name "aspirin" is composed of a- (from acetylirte, meaning acetylated) -spir- (from the plant genus Spiraea) and -in (a common, easily pronounceable ending for drug names at the time). Aspirin is currently used in the treatment of heart attack patients.

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Snow has fallen and has a chance to continue to do so throughout the day. Cold front has passed leading to low temps forecast to be below 10 this weekend.

Running Report

Date	Distance	Time	Effort	Route	Comment
3-5-08	2 or so	40:00	6/10	Around Park-Sherman to Mckracken west LSD to Denmark	WX 22 and sunny. Warmup, easy mile, 15 fartlkes, 3 hills 1st 2 10 seconds then a full out 30 second-er. Had back concerns prior fine after.

World Almanac Blog

The World Almanac is a quintessential reference source. In this blog M-F I find interesting nuggets in the 'WA' and add details via the web.

This day in 1946 Winston Churchill (P. 181) gave a speech in which he coined the 'iron curtain'. Churchill would again serve as Britain's Prime Minister from 1951 to 1955 (P.588)

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Quiet cool day today with overnite snow. Cold front is following and will put temperatures below freezing until the weekend.

Favre to retire...Looks So

Thompson statement

ESPN

Special Sports center 1300-1500 eastern

Fox report

Hometown report

Agents take

Personally I am sad, but not as sad as when this idea 1st came up a couple of years ago. Since then the team got good again, opportunities were there. What I saw late last season in the cold kind of tipped it for me.

World Almanac Blog

The World Almanac is a quintessential reference source. In this blog M-F I find interesting nuggets in the 'WA' and add details via the web.

Frances Perkins served as Secretary of Labor from 1933 to 1945 (P. 429). Her service began Saturday March 4, 1933 (P.342). She was the 1st woman to hold a cabinet position. Along with Interior Secretary Harold L. Ickes she served in the same position in all of Roosevelt's terms.

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A storm will pass to the south with only a small chance of minor snow. Temperatures will be near or below freezing with next best chance of snow Thursday.

World Almanac Blog

The World Almanac is a quintessential reference source. In this blog M-F I find interesting nuggets in the 'WA' and add details via the web.

William F. Buckley Jr. born in 1925 (P.165) passed last week. He was a prolific author, magazine founder, sailor, columnist and music lover.

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A cold front is generating our weather and as it takes affect rain which is currently falling will change to snow. Snow with below normal temperatures are expected for the rest of the week.

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From mid morning rain and drizzle via a warm front. Snow returns Tuesday on.

Monthly Reading Report

February books read: 10

Fiction: 8 Non Fiction: 2

Best was the Magdalene Martyrs by Ken Bruen. Dark, serious and interesting.

F. Scott Fitzgerald's Pat Hobby stories were the same tale retold as he wrote for money at his life's end. His novel Beautiful and Damned was a boozy decline and fall.

Baltimore Blues was a good mystery interlude while The Lost Sailors was a good end of the month intro to a new author.

Goal Report 1 March

I set some goals for 2008. Here's how I've done this week:

• I have scheduled my NREMT-P written for 24 March. I continue to study and prepare.
• Running: Had an excellent 3 mile run finishing the last mile with speed an determination!
• Book Business: The average sale in February was $ 6.04 up from $ 3.91 in January. # of sales down but profit up.
• Will begin a more intensive search for a pop up camper this week.
• Classics: Have begun reading Proust's 'In Search of Lost Time'
  

That's a Pipe!

That's Power Plant

Gatsby on the Job

Running Poem

A gasping lumpy start

An e-run with music in the head milage and time provided by GPS

Ran last mile with speed and determination.

Provides a pride high!

Running Report 3/1/08

Date	Distance	Time	Effort	Route	Comment
3-1-08	3 miles	39:10	7/10	Sherman to Mckracken west LSD to Country Club , return	WX 25 and cloudy. Measured with GPS +/- 24 feet! Ran last mile with speed and determination!

Quote

"Running is a lot like life. Only 10 percent of it is exciting. 90 percent of it is slog and drudge. "

Dave Bedford, English distance runner who occasionally put in 200 miles a week in training

Snowy and Wet

To climatologists winter is December to February. So we can book a winter that set snow records in Grand Rapids and rain records in Muskegon.

Muskegon has received 102 inches of snow.

For Muskegon February was the rainiest month with 4.64 inches while February 6th was the wettest day with .99 inches.

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High pressure will give us tranquil conditions around freezing. Warm front will arrive on Sunday pushing temperatures above 40 and bringing rain, Monday will also be near 40 degrees.