Barefoot Running Update

I'm still having issues with my left foot. I can tell I'm not landing on it the same as my right foot and there's evidence of it as well. Ten days ago I got another blister. It's in the same place where I've had one twice before now which is irritating in more than one way. Reading up on the subject I learned I am probably running too fast. Yeah, as if such a thing was possible. In response I've slowed my pace and really try to focus on my footfalls. That seems to have helped this last week.

A funny note about the blister. I tried to lance it and the skin is so thick that the pin wouldn't go through. Rather than risking a sudden breakthrough and possibly have the pin coming out the other side of my foot--I am such a wimp--I left it and allowed the fluid to reabsorb on its own.

One thing I'm noticing is that even though the soles of my feet are thicker, landing on lone small stones still hurts.

That and quite a few people think I'm crazy.

The Siren Call Of The Family

What if I was elected to office and went to Washington, D.C., and someone told me God chose me to lead and I was welcome to join a little known, influential and powerful organization that would also help me keep my role as a leader no matter what transgressions I committed? What if the transgressions I committed were considered immaterial because I was chosen?

Tempting. Very, very tempting.

Well Whattaya Know

When I got home I noticed the Plan B article I wrote about earlier was entitled "Pharmacists lose pill ruling" in the printed copy of the Spokesman Review. I looked at the online version again and saw it was entitled "Pharmacists lose Plan B pill ruling". Having plenty of experience with screwing up I thought maybe I made a mistake. If so, I needed to 'fess up and set the record straight.

So I searched for the prior title and the same article shows up. It looks like the Review changed the title for the online version. But they didn't get rid of all the evidence.

I am vindicated. Regardless, I think that was a good thing for the Review to do.

Dousing The Fire With Kerosene

In today's Spokesman-Review there's an article about the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals lifting an injuction effected by a District Court Judge in the Western District of Washington. What's interesting is how it differs from the original. The original article, written by Carol Williams for the Los Angeles Times, is entitled "Pharmacists can't refuse Plan B pill, appeals court says".

But the Review decided to entitle the article "Pharmacists lose abortion pill ruling"

There is only one mention of abortion in the article and that had to do with the pharmacists' argument for not stocking and providing Plan B.

"...the new regulations would force them to choose between keeping their jobs and heeding their religious objections to a medication they regard as a form of abortion."

Any clear-headed person--even an editor--who can read should know that Plan B, unlike RU-486, is not an abortifacient. Just because you regard or believe it is doesn't make it so. By referring to Plan B as an abortion pill, the Review not only contributes to confusion, ignorance and the polarization of the subject, they implicitly takes sides in the matter.

Fan those flames, baby!

I also found the characterizations of the judges by Carol Williams to be inapplicable.

The three judges found common ground despite broadly differing outlooks: two conservatives named by President George W. Bush and a liberal named to the court by President Bill Clinton made up the panel."

I think you'll find the opinion (PDF) measured and objective. One would be well advised to read it before placing any importance on the presumed political leanings of the judges.

Forgot My Camera

Near the end of this morning's commute going through Riverfront Park I was greeted by an osprey carrying a fish in its talons. I couldn't tell if the fish was joyful or scared about flying through the air. It kept mouthing the words, "Oh, oh!"

Put The Fun Between Your Legs…

While Geoff was home for the Independence Day holiday he was telling me about the San Jose Bike Party. I like their motto. In two years they have grown from about 40 to over 1500 at the last ride. This Saturday they're having a Bike Party Scallywag Scavenger Hunt.

As another cyclist commented to me, why bother with having meetings for a year, getting insurance, paying for police, designing and buying t-shirts, etc., to have an organized ride when you can get a bunch of people to come out anyway?