Take Credit And Lay Blame

On April 1st of this year, Cathy McMorris Rodgers released a statement attributing credit for the drop in the unemployment rate from 8.9 to 8.8 per cent as follows:

...the latest jobs report is reason for optimism that House Republican policies are boosting confidence in the private sector and creating a more favorable climate for economic growth,” said Rep. McMorris Rodgers. “After two years of failed ‘spend, borrow, and bailout’ policies, House Republican efforts to prevent a record tax increase, adopt the largest spending cuts in U.S. history, and eliminate costly regulations (such as the 1099 requirement in last year’s health care law) are moving us in the right direction.

Last Friday, her statement in response to the report that unemployment rose from 9.0 to 9.1 percent:

“Today’s report is more evidence that President Obama’s ‘spend, borrow and bailout’ policies have clearly failed. To grow jobs in the private sector, we need to shrink the size of the public sector. That means lower taxes, less government spending, reducing the record budget deficit, and stopping burdensome regulations. House Republicans have a plan to get our economy moving again. Now we just need the President to work with us to implement it.”

So she takes credit for the good news and blames the bad news on the current president forgetting that the former Republican president and Republican Congress brought all this on in the first place.

How are things after ten years of the Bush tax cuts? Well, it sucks to be not rich. Here's more from a Mother Jones article:

Big debt: Between 2001 and 2010, the Bush tax cuts added $2.6 trillion to the public debt, 50 percent of the total debt accrued during that time. Over the past 10 years, the country has spent more than $400 billion just servicing the debt created by the cuts.

Supply-side failure: Far from paying for themselves with increased economic activity as promised, the tax cuts have depleted the public treasury. Tax collections have plunged to their lowest share of the economy in 60 years.

No jobs: Between 2002 and 2007, employment increased by less than 1 percent when the economy was supposed to be expanding. Employment growth barely kept pace with population growth. Between the end of 2001, when the country was in a recession, and the peak of the real estate bubble, er, economic expansion in 2007, the US economy performed worse than at any time since the end of World War II.

Her vote for the Ryun Path To Prosperity plan signifies that our congresswoman wants more of that and that is what she should be taking the credit blame for.

I'll Only Do It Until I Need Glasses

Kathy came home last night and for some reason kept the Sky Mall magazine from her flight. Steph was browsing through it and pointing out the goofiest stuff when she found an ad for barefoot footwear. I know, the words "barefoot footwear" seem oxymoronic.

Re-align your posture.
Stimulate your senses.
Strengthen your feet and legs.
I don't know about the first claim. Look at the right posture image down below. Who stands like that? The second claim is true when you step on sharp objects. The third claim is spot on when it comes to your feet. But check out the center graphic below.

It looks like they copied some of the stimulation points from the reflexology chart. Catch an acorn in the right place and you'll crap your running shorts.

And watch those second and third toes!

Use The Form, Luke

This article on barefoot running in the New York Times caught my attention today.

The “evidence is not concrete for or against barefoot or shod running,” said Allison H. Gruber, a doctoral candidate at the University of Massachusetts and lead author of the hertz study. “If one is not experiencing any injuries, it is probably best to not change what you’re doing.”

I think there are two reasons why we get hurt running. Foremost is our form. We forget--or never learned--how we naturally ran as children. The other reason is our desire to be even more better faster than before. We compete to beat somebody even if it us. (I still wrestle with this monster but I'm getting much better.) We strive for faster times and for what?

On the other hand, if you do have a history of running-related injuries or simply want to see what it feels like to run as most humans have over the millenniums, then “start slowly,” said Dr. Lieberman. Remove your shoes for the last mile of your usual run and ease into barefoot running over a period of weeks, he suggests, and take care to scan the pavement or wear barefoot running shoes or inexpensive moccasins to prevent lacerations.

This advice is good, but the most important message that requires the most amount of explanation and emphasis is briefly mentioned at the end.

And pay attention to form. “Don’t overstride,” he said. Your stride should be shorter when you are running barefoot than when you are in shoes. “Don’t lean forward. Land lightly.”

As I mentioned before, form is the most important factor. Proper form allows me to run much more comfortably for longer distances. My quads don't hurt from bracing my legs at each heel strike because I don't heel strike any more. Above the hips I'm upright and balanced as if my head is dangling on a string. From the hips down I have a slight lean forward. I never straighten my legs and my always-bent knees act as shock absorbers. My feet land under my hips so my knees don't have to work hard. I don't push off with my feet, I lift them. All that sounds easy, but it takes practice and it's easy to backslide when you're tired. And if you keep your form when you're tired it makes reaching the finish line so much easier.

Secondly, chill. Relax your body and your mind. Learn to run comfortably and enjoy it. The goal should be to have fun, not take seconds off your last time. Why ruin something fun by checking your watch every mile or killing yourself trying to catch the person in front of you?

Okay, end of rant.

Summer Parkways

Summer Parkways is coming up and even though it's only in its second year, it's looking better. This year Spokefest and the city have three events in three different Spokane neighborhoods.

(click to see the maps)

Manito/Comstock: Wednesday 22 June, 6.00pm - 9.00pm
North Hill: Sunday 24 July, 10.00am - 2.00pm
Northwest: Sunday 14 August, 10.00am - 2.00pm

What happens at Summer Parkways? You decide when you show up on foot, bike, skateboard, scooter, or other non-motorized means of transportation. Check out my posts from the events last July and last August.

The first event this year is a Wednesday evening two weeks from today and it reaches from Manito Park to Comstock Park.


View Summer Parkways 2011 South Hill course in a larger map

Volunteering is just as cool as attending. Camped out at an intersection you get to see all kinds of cool people roll by and all you have to do is be polite to the occasional vehicle driver as you explain why they can't turn onto the blocked roadway. It's all part of being in a community.

Summer Parkways has a web site and a Facebook page--who doesn't these days--where you can sign up to volunteer, schedule a meet up with others, or find out more.

See you there.

Because Some Things Just Need To Be Explained

We hired this fence. You stay outside of it. It won't be forever.

What's Up With That?

I received my July issue of Consumer Reports today and it contains an article listing ways to save gas. There's no mention of walking, riding a bike, car pooling, or taking public transportation.