Untranslatable

26 words you really wish existed in English.

1. Age-tori (Japanese): To look worse after a haircut.
2. Backpfeifengesicht (German): A face in need of a slap.
3. Craic (Irish): Fun, amusement; entertaining company or conversation.
4. Dozywocie (Polish): Parental contract with children guaranteeing lifelong support.
5. Eidolon (Ancient Greek): Phantom look-alike taking the form of a living or dead person.
6. Fika (Swedish): Relaxed social event with good friends involving coffee and pastries.
7. Gigil (Filipino): The irresistable urge to pinch or squeeze something cute.
8. Hanyauku (Kwangali): The act of walking on tiptoes across warm sand.
9. Istories me Arkoudes (Greek): Literally 'stories with bears', narrated events which are too far fetched to be true.
10. Janteloven (Danish and Norwegian): 'The Law of Jante', rules which discourage individual thought within communities.
11. Komorebi (Japanese): Dappled sunlight through trees.
12. L'appel du Vide (French): Literally 'the call of the void', the urge to jump from a height.
13. Mamihlapinatapai (Yaghan): A shared look of desire which neither party are willing to initiate action upon.
14. Neidbau (German): A building constructed with the sole pupose of inconveniencing a neighbor in some way.
15. Oppholdsvoer (Norwegian): Weather just after the rain has stopped.
16. Poshlost (Russian): Self-satisfied vulgarity masquerading as high morality.
17. Qualunquismo (Italian): Apathy and indifference towards politics.
18. Renao (Mandarin): Lively, festive, happy, and noisy.
19. Snorker (Early English): One who gets into others' business.
20. Tartle (scottish): The act of hesitation upon forgetting someone's name.
21. Uitwaaien (Dutch): Literally 'to walk in the wind', to take a brief break outside to clear one's head.
22. Vomitorium (Latin): A room for vomiting, use popularized by Aldous Huxley. Actually a passageway in a theater.
23. Waldeinsamkeit (German): Feeling of being peacefully alone in the woods.
24. Xinku (Mandarin): Thanking someone while acknowledging their hard work.
25. Yuanfen (Mandarin): Binding force which eventually brings two people together in love.
26. Zhaghzhagh (Persian): Chattering of teetch from cold or rage.

I would also add the Dutch word gezellig. Literally, it means cozy, quaint, or nice, but can also connote time spent with loved ones, seeing a friend after a long absence, or general togetherness.

Putin Address to Federal Assembly

President Vladimir Putin’s first address to the Federal Assembly since his return to the presidency outlined his vision for the future of Russia. He spoke of morality, Russia’s geopolitical relevance, the importance of education for the country’s development, demographics and the need for economic “restructuring”, a word that has replaced the out-of-vogue “modernisation”.

Earth, to Rubio

...So while the age of the Earth is not directly relevant to America's economy, it's useful as an indicator of the country's belief in and study of science, which is germane to any discussion of GDP and growth rates. It also says something about our economic policymakers. As Paul Krugman points out, "the attitude that discounts any amount of evidence—and boy, do we have lots of evidence on the age of the planet!—if it conflicts with prejudices is not an attitude consistent with effective policy."

More broadly, there are those who would like to call a truce between science and religion, and based on his attempt to dodge the question, perhaps Mr Rubio is one of them. But the senator's comments are the reason why there can be no truce. If the status quo allows a leader like Mr Rubio to benefit from claiming that accepted science is in fact mystery, then science is losing. When divine explanations and scientific truths are given equal footing, no armistice can be accepted. Rather, science must continue to forcefully rebut religion's unsubstantiated claims in public battles like this. And smart politicians must be made to feel profound discomfort when dealing in the absurdities that appeal to some faithful voters.

Super Bowl Farmer Commercial

"And on the eighth day, God looked down on his planned paradise and said, I need a caretaker. So God made a farmer."
-Paul Harvey

Creative Intelligence

Fostering America's Creativity

1. Entrepreneurship
2. Manufacturing - digital fabrication, open sourcing, the maker culture
3. Crowdsourcing - Kickstarter
4. Make art and shop courses central to education

Great wits are sure to madness near allied
And thin partitions do their bounds divide.

-John Dryden

Warm, warbling persuasiveness

For, as when the red-cheeked, dancing girls, April and May, trip home to the wintry, misanthropic woods; even the barest, ruggedest, most thunder-cloven old oak will at least send forth some few green sprouts, to welcome such gladhearted visitants.

No hay pan para tanto chorizo

A CHORIZO is a spicy Spanish sausage, best accompanied by a glass of Rioja, though often sliced and served in a doughy bocadillo, or sandwich. Chorizo is also slang for a swindler or cheat. At protests against Mariano Rajoy’s government demonstrators have taken to waving loaves aloft and shouting: “There isn’t enough bread for so many chorizos!”

* * *

The political settlement Spaniards agreed on as they emerged from dictatorship in the 1970s gave huge power to the parties to solidify democracy. This may have backfired. “Having created the monster, we are being devoured by it.”

Community

"You can't drive long term shareholder value if you don't take care of your community."

- Doug Baker, Ecolab CEO

Petrol

"The average U.S. household spent just under $3,000 on gasoline in 2012, about 4 percent of its income."

We spent $687.

Sounds about right

From The Onion...

Report: 60 Million People You'd Never Talk To Voting For Other Guy

Imperial Russia

Well aware of the mistrust in state institutions, the Kremlin has attempted to draw on the support of the Orthodox church; the patriarch in effect campaigned for Mr Putin's election. When Pussy Riot, a group of young feminist punks decked out in balaclavas and fluorescent stockings, danced and sang “Virgin Mary, Redeem us of Putin!” by the altar of Moscow's Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, church and state responded as one. As the head of the church thundered about blasphemy, the state arrested three of the women. They face up to seven years in jail if convicted of the trumped-up charges they face. The harsh approach has led to a split within the church and set liberal Russians against the patriarch.

Closing statement by Pussy Riot’s Yekaterina Samutsevich.

Mentos Commercial in Singapore

Hilarious

steeplechase victory dance

True

"There is hardly anything in the world that some man cannot make a little worse and sell a little cheaper, and the people who consider price only are this man's lawful prey." - John Ruskin

Did the Du

Okay, time for a little recap of the duathlon. The weather was perfect. Absolutely perfect. When I left the house at 6am the temperature was 60 degrees and there was no wind. And sunrise is a beautiful time of day. I always tell myself I should better aquaint myself with this time of day, but it never seems to happen. I biked at a leisurely pace along the river road into downtown. I found a good spot for the Brave Arrow in the transition zone: Georgia. This was the name printed on the large banner above the bikes in my section. When participants enter the transition zone, they use fifty state banners to help locate their bikes. After a short warm up I joined the first wave.

It wasn't long after the start that I found myself in the top ten. The first 5k was very relaxed. I should mention that I didn't take splits during the race, which is unusual for me. I like to go by the watch but this time I went by feel. The first 5k was probably a little too relaxed, at 18:41. Nonetheless, I came through in 5th place. My first transition was smooth and quick.

I felt good on the bike and was able to maintain a slightly faster pace than I anticipated, about 21 mph. Three people passed me right away. I wasn't passed again until a lone cyclists passed me at mile 8. Then a large group passed me at mile 10. This was enough to induce panic and despair - and rage against the chain ring. I cranked away in a vain effort to hang on. The group soon disappeared. I wasn't passed again until near the end of the ride, when three more people passed me. The second transition was going well until I realized I had identified the wrong exit. I asked a volunteer for directions and then I was on my way out of the parking lot. It was still a quick transition.

I passed nine people in the first mile of the run. After that point, the runners from the first wave were interspersed among the crowd of runners from later waves who were running their first 5k. It was difficult to pick out those I needed to chase. The mind needs targets as motivation when the body is tired. I would have prefered an open road with only those from the first wave. Then I could have squeezed out every ounce of energy. My second 5k was 17:48.

My total time was 1:28:12. I didn't know where I placed until I looked at online results later in the day: 5th place. Better than expected. It was fun to try something different. It was good to race and feel competitive. Could I have gone faster? Maybe. The first 5k could have been faster, but then it may have been detrimental to the bike.

So who does duathlons? Runners. Cyclsits. People who think triathlons sound exciting but don't like to swim. It seems like duathletes are predominantly cyclists. I have never had the impression that many runners cross over into the cycling scene - with notable exceptions of course.

On a final note, here was my brunch meal after the race: breakfast burrito, tall stack of buttermilk pancakes, one Bell's Two-Hearted Ale.

5k - 18:41 (5th)
T1 - 1:34
bike - 48:38 (61st)
T2 - 1:34
5k - 17:48 (2nd)
Total - 1:28:12 (5th)

Is there an Indian way of thinking?

I just finished reading India Calling. It led me to this.

Last few deposits

Saturday one week ago I did a 27+ mile bike ride at 19.2 mph and then hopped off the bike and ran a 17:40 5k. The legs have been a little fatigued for the past week. Yesterday I simulated the duathlon again: 18:41 5k, 1:54 T1, 18 miles at 20.0 mph, 1:37 T2, and a 18:13 5k. So that's it. Now I will let the legs recuperate and hope for a good showing next Sunday. It's a pleasure to be fit, mostly because I really enjoy the scenery of long runs. Of course, it's also nice to go at a good clip without feeling strained. Back to yesterday's workout. I just remembered that I ate Indian buffet for lunch on Friday and started my Saturday workout at 7am. Nothing bad happened. I will not try my luck again this week. As for race strategy, I would be happy with the splits above. But even with the self-awareness to know what is best, I can see myself getting caught up in the competition. I will probably run the first 5k too fast. Then lots of people will start passing me on the bike, which will enrage me. I'll attempt to dance on the pedals and the last 5k will be a crawl. It will still be fun.

Duathlon Training

I signed up for the Minneapolis Duathlon just before Memorial Day and my training started with a 10-mile run over the windswept and sun-baked rolling hills in Omaha that holiday weekend. Hot. Parched. Enervated. My fitness has since progressed. In general, I run three days per week and on the fourth day of training I run and bike. I also bike to work, which has to count for something, right. Here's a look at last week.

Sunday - long run of 14 miles
Tuesday - run over lunch, 3 mile tempo + 4 x 200, total 6 miles
Thursday - run home from work, 2 x mile tempo, 2 x 1200 interval, 4 x 200, total 10 miles
Saturday - run, bike, run duathlon simulation

This summer has been incredibly hot by Minnesota standards, with many days in the 90s. But the accompanying humidity created an overbearing, oppressive heat. MSP set a number of records: for consecutive hours with a dew point above 75 degrees (over four days), for the highest dew point (82 degrees), and for the highest heat index (118 degrees). Usually there is relief for a few days or at least at night. This summer there was no succor. For weeks runners were left slinging pinky sweat at the sunset and greeting the sunrise with gleaming thighs. Canada, why have you forsaken us! Well, at last the cool air has come. Low 80s and 60s. And what a difference it makes, especially for me because my weekend workouts are from 1:30-3:30pm while the little guy naps.

Here are the splits from my last du workout (84 degrees, 57% humidity, ahhh).

5k: 18:52
T1: 1:55
18 mile bike: 53:30 (20.19 mph)
T2: 2:05
5k: 18:27
1:34:49

My running is finally showing some improvement. For the longest time, perhaps because of the heat, my breathing felt taxed. I was working too hard for too little. My obvious weakness is on the bike. I just don't have enough strength to really crank it. I don't think I will be able to go much faster than 20.2 mph. During the race I won't have to stop at stop signs or stop lights, so that should shave off a little time. On the other hand, my transition will probably be slower on the real course. And the 7am start time will add at least 5 minutes. August 28 is fast approaching.

Ideology

"Ideology is inevitable; we all have an ideology, whether we are aware of it or not. First of all, ideology is about values, and we can't decide how we wish to solve policy issues without having a firm grasph on the values we are seeking to advance. Second, the world is too complex for us to make informed judgments about all of the issues that confront us. We need a philosophy to serve as a north star. One way I've been enriched by reading the great works of conservatism is that I've come better to appreciate how central ideology is to thiking about matters of governance and public policy."

Buckley: William F. Buckley Jr. and the Rise of American Conservatism
-by Carl T. Bogus

Conservative Books
The Unmaking of a Mayor by William F. Buckley
The Road to Serfdom by Hayek
God and Man at Yale by William F. Buckley
Witness by Whittaker Chambers
The Conservative Mind by Russell Kirk
The Conscience of a Conservative by Barry Goldwater
Freedom and Capitalism by Milton Friedman
Memoirs of a Superfluous Man by Albert Jay Nock
Edmund Burke: A Genius Reconsidered by Russell Kirk

Liberal Books
Silent Spring by Rachel Carson
The Other America by Michael Harrington
The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan
Unsafe at Any Speed by Ralph Nader
The Vital Center by Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr.
The Affluent Society by John Kenneth Galbraith

Quality

There is hardly anything in the world, that some man cannot make a little worse and sell a little cheaper, and the people who consider price only are this man's lawful prey.

John Ruskin
1819-1900