The New Coffee Room

Why again did Biden start this war?

I run with my phone in my hand. On a couple of occasions where drivers were behaving badly, just turning on video seemed to modify their behavior.

1st - glad you weren't hurt. Time for your a GoPro like device to capture these moments. A few years back, our town was having a 5k race in the town. We had police and volunteers blocking the streets. At one intersection, a guy who decided to use his car to knock down a race volunteer holding a stop sign - then proceded to navigate through the lead runners to reach his destination. The woman he knocked down was not injured - and while the guy was tracked down, nothing big came of it. I don't know that I would have been as...generous with my forgiveness.

@89th said:

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/18/us/politics/trump-donor-contract-reflecting-pool.html?unlocked_article_code=1.rVA.VnjC.FxpZqf6KlWr_&smid=nytcore-ios-share

So the owner of the business is a donor of Trump's, a neighbor of Mar-a-lago, has been found with bribing officials in the past, and OH BY THE WAY the name of the company is GREEN WATER services.... are we surprised the pool is now green with algae?

Apparently today they are now draining the pool... again.

This is a war we're going to win!! Maybe they'll do something with mirror tiles and lasers.

While it's fun to toss stones at this fiasco, I can imagine a different President wanting to do something to spice up the city for the 250th. The idea wasn't the worst. The fact that it failed - lots of good intentions do go awry. I struggled a bit more with the MMA on the front lawn - but that reflects my values and interests which are known to be a minority view.

Back in the day, I knew people who could fix such things with a short conversation.

The Mrs and I did a day of gardening/yardwork - and it was exhausting. I felt muscles I didn't know I had - and was fatigued the next day. Still, I was recovered enough to do my Pilates workout and later run track last night.

My V02 max declined a LOT over the past couple of years - very noticeable with my running. I was used to running 8 miles with a fair amount of ease. For the past couple of years, I've needed to do more walk/run kinds of things and for less distance - but...the past couple of weeks, I'm doing better and I'm seeing that reflected in my V02 as well as pacing. I'm not sure what to make of it - but being nearly 72, it may just be a moment of delusional good feelings.

On the night of September, 8, 2024. Cinzia Dal Pino was leaving a restaurant in Viareggio, Italy, when a man opened her car door and snatched her bag. "Leave it or I'll kill you," he told her, before running away.

Cinzia Dal Pino had run her own business in Viareggio for decades. She was 65 years old and had never been in trouble with the law a day in her life. Until that night.

She got into her Mercedes SUV and followed him. She found him walking on the street, drove onto the pavement and ran him over. Then reversed. THen drove forward again. Four times in total, crushing him against a shop window.

She got out of the car, picked up her bag, and drove away. The man, Noureddine Mezgul, 52, died in the hospital shortly after.

She was sentenced to 18 years in prison this week.

story

I've been lifting and running for decades - but both activities actually seem to inhibit, rather than increase flexibility. I tried some online programs such as Dynamic Runner and a yoga program called Asan Rebel - but for the past 18 months I've been using a program called Ladder. I like this program because it offers a variety of different coaches - so if you can change your focus depending upon goals and type of instruction you are seeking. They have programs for bodybuilding, strength training, free weights, body weight only, etc. They have 3 different Pilates program. I chose one called Team Define - and yes, it is primarily focused for women clients. If you're wondering how/why I found this program, Let me post just one of the zillion promotional videos that the instructor has posted online.

Link to video

Link to video
Some folks like the idea of going to a place at a certain time and knowing that the time is dedicated to that activity. I actually like the face that I can choose when I'm going to do the class. While there are 6 new classes per week, they also have a variety of add-ons or substitutes based on a particular focus, strength, flexibility, cardio, etc. - along with full body, upper, lower, etc. And you can pause the program if you want to take a drink or need a break.

If anyone is interested in trying the program, they have a 7 day trial for free- but as a zealot, I can get you a 30 day free trial. They have a sorting algorithm to help select a program in line with interests - but after watching Maia, I went with her.

I started with 3 classes a week commitment but eventually moved it up to a 7 day commitment. She works in yoga, Pilates and moderate weights.

They have a meaner Pilates person - that I tried - but opted out after a bit - because it was a bit too intense for my level of interest. I'm already doing a pretty aggressive lifting program - and her program seemed to interfere with that - my focus is better met with Team Define.

DM me if you're interested in the 30 day Free trial (as opposed to their 7 day) program.

Let’s get a refresh on his status on Tuesday

I was just in DC last weekeend - and ran around the mall. The White House is pretty much closed off by oodles of fencing. There were only a couple of places that you even get a glimpse of anything.

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1MQPPupxLe/?mibextid=wwXIfr

It's amazing that they were able to eject so quickly and successfully.

And he plays the piano