NRA Press Conference Post Sandy Hook Shooting

DAVID KEENE, PRESIDENT, NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION: Good morning. I’m Dave Keene, president of the National Rifle Association of America.
And I’d like to welcome you here this morning for the purposes of beginning our discussion of the topic that’s been on the mind of American parents across this country, and that is, what do we do about the tragedies of the sort that struck in Newtown, Connecticut — to avoid such events in the future?
Like most Americans, we were shocked by what happened. Like all Americans, we’ve been discussing all of the various options that are available to protect our children, and at this point we would like to share our thinking with you.
And for that purpose I’d like to introduce Wayne LaPierre, our executive vice president.
Thank you again for being with us.
And at the end of this conference we will not be taking questions, but next week we will be available to any of you who are interested in talking about these or other issues of interest to you, so contact us, please, at that point.
Thank you very much.
Wayne?
LAPIERRE: Good morning.
The National Rifle Association — 4 million mothers, fathers, sons and daughters — join the nation in horror, outrage, grief, and earnest prayer for the families of Newtown, Connecticut, who have suffered such an incomprehensible loss as a result of this unspeakable crime.
Out of respect for the families and until the facts are known, the NRA has refrained from comment.
While some have tried to exploit tragedy for political gain, we have remained respectably silent. Now, we must speak for the safety of our nation’s children.
LAPIERRE: Because for all the noise and anger directed at us over the past week, no one, nobody has addressed the most important, pressing and immediate question we face: How do we protect our children right now, starting today, in a way that we know works?
The only way to answer that question is to face the truth. Politicians pass laws for gun free school zones, they issue press releases bragging about them. They post signs advertising them. And, in doing so, they tell every insane killer in America that schools are the safest place to inflict maximum mayhem with minimum risk.
How have our nation’s priorities gotten so far out of order. Think about it. We care about our money, so we protect our banks with armed guards. American airports, office buildings, power plants, court houses, even sports stadiums are all protected by armed security.
LAPIERRE: We care about our president, so we protect him with armed Secret Service agents. Members of Congress work in offices surrounded by Capitol Police officers. Yet, when it comes to our most beloved, innocent, and vulnerable members of the American family, our children, we as a society leave them every day utterly defenseless, and the monsters and the predators of the world know it, and exploit it.
That must change now. The truth is…
PROTESTER: (inaudible) stop killing our children. It’s the NRA and — the assault weapons that are killing our children, not (inaudible) teacher. We’ve got to end (inaudible). We’ve got to end the violence. We’ve got to stop the killers, stop the killing our children, stop killing our (inaudible) stop killing in our streets.
The NRA is killing our children. We’ve got to stop the violence, and violence begins with the NRA. Stating the true facts that they are the perpetrators of the violence that is taking place in our schools and on our streets.
LAPIERRE: The truth is, that our society is populated by an unknown number of genuine monsters. People that are so deranged, so evil, so possessed by voices and driven by demons, that no sane person can every possibly comprehend them. They walk among us every single day, and does anybody really believe that the next Adam Lanza isn’t planning his attack on a school, he’s already identified at this very moment?
LAPIERRE: How many more copycats are waiting in the wings for their moment of fame from a national media machine that rewards them with wall-to-wall attention and a sense of identity that they crave, while provoking others to try to make their mark.
A dozen more killers, a hundred more? How can we possibly even guess how many, given our nation’s refusal to create an active national database of the mentally ill? The fact is this: That wouldn’t even begin to address the much larger, more lethal criminal class — killers, robbers, rapists, gang members who have spread like cancer in every community across our nation.
Meanwhile, while that happens, federal gun prosecutions have decreased by 40 percent, to the lowest levels in a decade. So now, due to a declined willingness to prosecute dangerous criminals, violent crime is increasing again for the first time in 19 years. Add another hurricane, terrorist attack, or some other natural of manmade disaster, and you’ve got a recipe for a national nightmare of violence and victimization.
LAPIERRE: And here’s another dirty little truth that the media try their best to conceal. There exists in this country, sadly, a callous, corrupt and corrupting shadow industry that sells and stows violence against its own people. Through vicious, violent video games with names like “Bullet Storm,” “Grand Theft Auto,” “Mortal Combat,” and “Splatterhouse.”
And here’s one, it’s called “Kindergarten Killers.” It’s been online for 10 years. How come my research staff can find it, and all of yours couldn’t? Or didn’t want anyone to know you had found it? Add another hurricane, add another natural disaster. I mean we have blood-soaked films out there, like “American Psycho,” “Natural Born Killers.” They’re aired like propaganda loops on Splatterdays and every single day.
1,000 music videos, and you all know this, portray life as a joke and they play murder — portray murder as a way of life. And then they all have the nerve to call it entertainment. But is that what it really is? Isn’t fantasizing about killing people as a way to get your kicks really the filthiest form of pornography? In a race to the bottom, many conglomerates compete with one another to shock, violate, and offend every standard of civilized society, by bringing an even more toxic mix of reckless behavior, and criminal cruelty right into our homes. Every minute, every day, every hour of every single year.
LAPIERRE: A child growing up in America today witnesses 16,000 murders, and 200,000 acts of violence by the time he or she reaches the ripe old age of 18. And, throughout it all, too many in the national media, their corporate owners, and their stockholders act as silent enablers, if not complicit co-conspirators.
Rather than face their own moral failings, the media demonize gun owners.
PROTESTER: (OFF-MIKE) coming from the NRA.
The NRA has blood on its hands. The NRA has blood on its hands. Shame on the NRA.
Ban assault weapons now. Ban assault weapons now. NRA (inaudible) assault weapons now.
(CROSSTALK)
PROTESTER: Mr. LaPierre, what is reaction to this?
LAPIERRE: Rather than face — rather than face their own moral failings the media demonize lawful gun owners, amplify their cries for more laws, and fill the national media with misinformation and dishonest thinking that only delay meaningful action, and all but guarantee that the next atrocity is only a news cycle away.
LAPIERRE: The media calls semi-automatic fire arms, machine guns. They claim these civilian semi-automatic fire arms are used by the military. They tell us that the .223 is one of the most powerful rifle calibers, when all of these claims are factually untrue, they don’t know what they’re talking about.
Worse, they perpetuate the dangerous notion that one more gun ban or one more law imposed on peaceable, lawful people will protect us where 20,000 other laws have failed.
As brave and heroic and as self-sacrificing as those teachers were in those classrooms and as prompt and professional and well- trained as those police were when they responded, they were unable — through no fault of their own, unable to stop it.
As parents we do everything we can to keep our children safe. It’s now time for us to assume responsibility for our schools. The only way — the only way to stop a monster from killing our kids is to be personally involved and invested in a plan of absolute protection.
The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun.
Would you rather have your 911 call bring a good guy with a gun from a mile away or from a minute away?
LAPIERRE: Now, I can imagine the headlines, the shocking headlines you’ll print tomorrow. “More guns,” you’ll claim, “are the NRA’s answer to everything.” Your implication will be that guns are evil and have no place in society, much less in our schools.
But since when did “gun” automatically become a bad word? A gun in the hands of a Secret Service agent protecting our president isn’t a bad word. A gun in the hands of a soldier protecting the United States of America isn’t a bad word. And when you hear your glass breaking at three a.m. and you call 9/11, you won’t be able to pray hard enough for a gun in the hands of a good guy to get there fast enough to protect you.
So, why is the idea of a gun good when it’s used to protect the president of our country or our police, but bad when it’s used to protect our children in our schools? They’re our kids. They’re our responsibility. And it’s not just our duty to protect them, it’s our right to protect them.
LAPIERRE: You know, five years ago after the Virginia Tech tragedy, when I said we should put armed security in every school, the media called me crazy. But what if — what if when Adam Lanza started shooting his way into Sandy Hook Elementary School last Friday, he’d been confronted by qualified armed security? Will you at least admit it’s possible that 26 little kids, that 26 innocent lives might have been spared that day? Is it so important to you (inaudible) would rather continue to risk the alternative? Is the press and the political class here in Washington D.C. so consumed by fear and hatred of the NRA and American gun owners, that you’re willing to accept the world, where real resistance to evil monsters is alone, unarmed school principal left to surrender her life, her life, to shield those children in her care.
No one. No one, regardless of personal, political prejudice has the right to impose that sacrifice.
Ladies and gentlemen, there’s no national one size fits all solution to protecting our children. But do know that this president zeroed out school emergency planning grants in last year’s budget and scrapped Secure Our Schools policing grants in next year’s budget.
With all the foreign aid the United States does, with all the money in the federal budget, can’t we afford to put a police officer in every single school? Even if they did that, politicians have no business and no authority denying us the right, the ability, and the moral imperative to protect ourselves and our loved ones from harm.
LAPIERRE: Now, the National Rifle Association knows there are millions of qualified and active retired police, active, Reserve, and retired military, security professionals, certified firefighters, security professionals, rescue personnel, an extraordinary corps of patriotic, trained, qualified citizens to join with local school officials and police in devising a protection plan for every single school.
We could deploy them to protect our kids now. We can immediately make America’s schools safer, relying on the brave men and women in America’s police forces. The budgets — and you all know this, everyone in the country knows this — of our local police departments are strained, and the resources are severely limited, but their dedication and courage is second to none. And, they can be deployed right now.
I call on Congress today, to act immediately to appropriate whatever is necessary to put armed police officers in every single school in this nation. And, to do it now to make sure that blanket safety is in place when our kids return to school in January.
Before Congress reconvenes, before we engage in any lengthy debate over legislation, regulation, or anything else, as soon as our kids return to school after the holiday break, we need to have every single school in America immediately deploy a protection program proven to work and by that I mean armed security.
LAPIERRE: Right now today every school in the United States should plan meetings with parents, school administrators, teachers, local authorities and draw upon every resource that’s out there and available to erect a cordon of protection around our kids right now.
Every school is gonna have a different solution based on its own unique situation. Every school in America needs to immediately identify, dedicate and deploy the resources necessary to put these security forces in place, though, right now.
And the National Rifle Association, as America’s preeminent trainer of law enforcement and security personnel for the past 50 years — we have 11,000 police training instructors in the NRA — is ready, willing and uniquely qualified to help.
Our training programs are the most advanced in the world. That expertise must be brought to bear to protect our schools and our children now.
We did it through (ph) our nation’s defense industries and military installations during World War II. We did it for very young kids with our Eddie Eagle child safety program that is throughout the country in schools right now, and we’ll do it again today.
LAPIERRE: The NRA is gonna bring all its knowledge, all its dedication and all its resources to develop a model national schools shield emergency response program for every single school in America that wants it. From armed security to building design and access control, to information technology, to student and teacher training, this multifaceted program will be developed by the very best experts in the field. Former Congressman Asa Hutchinson will lead the effort as national director of the National Model School Shield Program, with a budget provided by the NRA of whatever scope the task requires. His experience as United States attorney, director of the Drug Enforcement Agency, and undersecretary of the Department of Homeland Security will give him the knowledge and expertise to hire the most knowledgeable and credentialed experts that are available in the United States of America to get this program up and running from the first day forward.
If we truly cherish our kids, more than our money, more than our celebrities, more than our sports stadiums, we must give them the greatest level of protection possible. And that security is only available with properly trained, armed good guys. Under Asa’s leadership, our team of security experts will make this program available to the world for protecting our children in school. And we’ll make the program available to every single school in America, free of charge. That’s a plan of action that can, and will make a real positive, indisputable difference in the safety of our children, and it will start right now.
LAPIERRE: There’s going to be a lot of time for talk, and debate later. This is a time this is a day for decisive action. We can’t wait for the next unspeakable crime to happen before we act. We can’t lose precious time debating legislation that won’t work. We mustn’t allow politics or personal prejudice to divide us. We must act now for the sake of every child in America.
I call on every parent. I call on every teacher. I call on every school administrator, every law enforcement officer in this country, to join with us and help create a national schools shield safety program to protect our children with the only positive line of defense that’s tested and proven to work.
And now, to tell you more about the program, I’d like to introduce the head of the effort, former U.S. congressman, former U.S. attorney for the western district of Arkansas, and former administrator of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, the Honorable Congressman Asa Hutchinson.
Asa?
HUTCHINSON: Thank you, Wayne.
One of the first responsibilities I learned at Homeland Security was the importance of protecting our nation’s critical infrastructure. And there’s nothing more critical to our nation’s well being than our children’s safety. They are this country’s future and our most precious resource.

A Christmas Video That Will Make You Smile

This week. Sucked. Weird people. Issues. Etc.

Hershey Teddy Bear Toss

This Man Has Issues

The Hatemobile.

Christmas Abbott

An American Tavern Bathroom Tradition

 

In an era of disposable everything, these steel condom machines have survived in bathrooms for many decades.

Inevitably, most have been tagged with the classic grafitti:

"This gum tastes like shit" (or some version of that)



Runaway!

 Somehow this church bus thing broke away from where it was parked. It rolled backwards through the Ephrata Walmart parking lot before tearing a stop sign out of the ground and clobbering a car that was for sale.  I really dislike El Caminos but this one was in pristine shape. Not anymore. And the church folks might have a crippled RV  to get them home to Kentucky. Weird.

Hard Not To Be Humbled

 

 

In spite of hundreds of people being all around, I always feel like I am here by myself. What an amazing place. I get misty eyed and wonder how anyone can not love American history.

 

Double Unders

Double unders (DU). After 10 months I have become a much better jump roper. I can now do a single DU anytime I want and can jump consistent SUs . But, I still do not 'get' double unders. Im closer. But not there. And that irks me. A lot.

Here is a compilation of tips and links I have come across or been offered. Someday I will post that I have them. Someday SOON I hope.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

• "Stop doing single unders, you have to just tell yourself that you will do double unders and get out there and do them" --LG
• Rope as long as ground to nipples. Slower, higher jumps. (Few other people mention the speed as slower than SU)  --Mike McGoldrick,   http://fitr.tv/blogs/fitr-tv/6332336-how-to-do-picture-perfect-easy-double-unders
• "Make sure the hands stay to your side, so that if you drew a line from hand to hand it would go through your body" http://fireofthegodsfitness.blogspot.com/2012/07/double-under-demo-intro.html

A Bit Early??

 

Before Halloween.

Before Thanksgiving.

Obesity Epidemic

 

On Tuesday a new report was released discussing the American obesity epidemic. This 124-page report by the “Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation was titled “F as in Fat: How Obesity Threatens America’s Future.”

At present, 36 percent of us are considered to be obese. By 2030 it is anticipated that 50 percent of us will be fat.

FIFTY percent.

This role-model of a mother was seen waddling across a street recently - while smoking next to her young son.

How do we begin to break this cycle?

Anyone Can Drive in the Volunteer State

Two Signs Seen On Roads In KY & TN



Better Than "Hater"

Time to exit the highway.  Don't be a hater.

Cars With Faces

On several recent occasions I have seen cars that I thought had faces. Last weekend this car was behind me - smiling all the way!  

2012 Olympics - Consistently Disrespecting Old Glory

The 2012 Olympics are about to come to an end.  I will be glad to see the games go.  NBC has done a pretty decent job overall of broadcasting the bigger sports and showing some interesting and unique stories. 

But the bigger story for me is the consistent disrespect of the US Flag by American athletes.

Most nations have no law or custom regarding respect for their national colors. Some countries actually loathe their flag (Spain is an example - few people in that country even fly their colors - viewing it as a reminder of a dark period in their history).

The US is different.  We have explicit rules regarding our flag. The US Flag dips for no person or nation.  This has been the rule for the better part of 100 years. Jesse Owens refused to dip the flag to salute Hitler at the 1936 games in Berlin. We haven't dipped the flag since.  This year, there was a fair amount of internet chatter that the US Flag Bearer may break that tradition and do what every other nation does - lower their colors to the host nation.  After considerable negative feedback the Athlete Advisory Committee announced that they discused this with the flag bearer and she said she wouldn't do it. Why was it even an OPTION??

I saw so much disrespect for the flag at this Olympics that it is almost as if the athletes are encouraged to behave this way.

Note the photo above where the Gold medal womens water polo team has SIGNED a US Flag. SS176 (g) says: The flag should never have placed upon it, nor on any part of it, nor attached to it any mark, insignia, letter, word, figure, design, picture, or drawing of any nature.

Signing the colors in sharpie clearly violates this.

Almost every winning athlete who appeared on camera placed a USF around their slimey, sweaty neck.  Another overt violation of the Flag Code and a no brainer when it comes to showing disrespect. And yet I saw it over and over and over again.

The Games are about to end. I now have 4 years to change this trend.  Time to get to work.

Last Week I Learned This

Team USA

I get choked up every time I hear the Star Spangled Banner play and watch Old Glory fly high.

I do not know who this American Gold Medalist is but she was moved to tears and sobbed as she proudly sang the National Anthem.

With so many inspiring and legitimate stories from Team USA athletes -  I still haven't found anyone who can explain to me how our millionaire NBA basketball players are even allowed to step foot onto Olympic property. When they play, I will turn off the TV.

Bryanna & Mackenzie's Lemonade Stand

There is nothing more American to me than little kids who have roadside stands.  I love seeing children trying to make money by selling something.

Long ago I vowed that I will always try to stop at these stands.  Maybe it is a distant memory of doing it myself and the very few people who took the time. Or maybe it is just that I want to reward kids who have left the inside of their homes to do something productive.

Either way, I stop.

Bryanna & Mackenzie were hard at work at their stand - selling lemonade and cookies for 25c each. The one girl's father stood nearby, telling me that they were not sisters but the bestest of friends.

I was the last customer of the day so my quarter lemonade was filled to the brim. I sat in the shade and watched them packing up their stand. They seemed pretty pleased with themselves with a cup of quarters.

I have no doubt that they made far less than the dad paid to get them setup in their little "business".  What mattered most were the lessons they learned and the memories they made that day. To them, they were rich with that red Solo cup of change!  :p

Good Deeds

I get a strange satisfaction from finding nails on the roadway and disposing of them before they ruin someone's tire.

A good day is finding a nail AND a rusty old screwdriver.  :p

The Roar of Cannons

Today I attended a picnic near Jefferson, York County, Pennsylvania. It was a cloudy day with temperatures in the low 90s. Hot, but not as sunny and hot as the prior day when thermometers read 100.

 

Taking a walk down the road I heard what I first thought were distant cracks of thunder. Listening to the patterns I soon realized the noise was not thunder but the roar of a fierce cannon engagement at the Battle of Gettysburg reenactment.

 

Google Maps says that Gettysburg is 25 miles away so it is probably at least 15 air miles.

 

This year's reenactment featured about 2000 troops and 22 pieces of cannon. The sound of their firing was loud enough to be heard clearly on a country road a dozen or two away.

The local people of 1863, many of whom had watched over 7,500 troops, of both sides, ride through the nearby countryside - stealing whiskey, horses and food and occasionally burning what they thought needed burned, surely heard the roar of the actual battle over those fateful days in early July 1863.

If a 'mere' 22 cannons made a distant roar, imagine the sound of the battle as over 400 guns (150 Confederate pieces and 230 Union guns) engaged.  Surely the locals wondered if the battle was moving towards them as they keenly felt the damage that could be done by 1000s of soldiers simply passing through. 

Without aid of telephones, radio or TV they would have had no means of quickly knowing the horrific bloodshed that was going on only a days ride away. As the battle raged on the news would have rippled outward followed by sightings of the battered human beings who pay the highest cost of any armed conflict.

Eerie was the sound I heard today. As if the ghosts of those suffering at the hands of the real guns were carrying the sound of the recreated battle to my ears.

I am glad I was there to hear them.

The image used above can be purchased at the following site:

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/battle-ready--gettysburg-bill-cannon.html

FoodPorn: Maine

Great Video - Hitchhiking Across America - Stop Motion

Mexican Gut Truck

In spite of having doubts about the sanitation of some workers in mobile food trucks, I have always patronized them.  I remember a 'roach coach' that serviced a military post being open for business as my platoon came back to civilization after being in the woods for a week or more.  I plopped down a few handfuls of sweaty money and slammed cold gatorades and ate hot food.

On my annual pilgrimage to the west coast I once got up way before my travelling buddies and was walking around outside. We were near Hollywood and there was a job site across the street.  Guys were lined up at a 'gut truck' so I jumped in line.  The Mexican food from that van was delicious and my mouth still waters thinking of it - all these years later.

Recently I ate breakfast at the Mexican Paradise truck near Indiantown Gap [ parked at Fisher Ave and Rt 72 near the Wendy's ].  My breakfast was homemade and quite good. The price was cheap and the server was friendly. Very legit Mexican food smack dab in the middle of an area that still boasts a lot of people with heavy PA Dutch accents. If you are ever in this neck of the woods try their food. I would bet their lunch grub is as good as the breakfast was.

Shoeless Guy

Shoeless people in Lancaster County are as common as can be. Most are plain folks: Mennonite or Amish

This fellow caught my eye as he was checking out at a local hardware store (which happens to be owned by shoe-wearing Mennonites).

He wasn't dressed as a member of the plain community and seemed to just be an old-school hippie. Who didn't like wearing shoes.

B-29 Superfortress - Last One Flying In The World

"Fifi"

The last B-29 Superfortress in flying condition

3,970 produced. 1 flying. Wow.

Over Berks County, PA today

Memorial Day Murph 2012: Mission Accomplished

Memorial Day 2012.  Perfect weather greeted us as our team assembled at 0630 for the trip to Pottstown. We made great time and arrived with about 25 minutes to spare.

 

The street was filled with people getting ready for what is argueably the premier hero WOD - "Murph".

I had been training for this day for months and it had finally arrived.   

I admit that my mind was racing. This was important to me. I had only four goals:

• Complete the WOD solely for the honor of those who have given their lives for this nation. Murphy/Dietz/Axelson, my friend Brian Mowery and the 1,000,000+ who have gone before them.  I wanted no self-glory, pride or false emotion to get in the way.
• Do the entire WOD in body armor.  Even as the temperatures climbed I vowed I would have a heat stroke before taking it off.
• Perform all 200 pushups to Army-standard (breaking the plane) and Crossfit-standard (chest touches the ground) if I could
• Finish in less than 1 hour  

My stomach was knotted as I took this mission very seriously and knew I would feel like I had failed the fallen if I didn't meet my standard.

Warming up I met a Marine Infantryman who had lost a leg to an IED in Afghanistan and a bunch of other people who were psyched to get started.

Box owner Robert released the pack for the three lap run and the gazelles were quickly out of sight. A few people had weight vests on but other than Lanita and I there seemed to be nobody else in body armor.

The first mile went well and I came back to the already oven-like box to begin my plan of 20 rounds of 5 pullups, 10 pushups and 15 squats.  The pullup bars were jammed and I made the command decision to do all 100 as jumping pullups. It just seemed that using a band would have eaten up way too much time needlessly (I vow to try to do all 100 next yr solely kipped).

After a few rounds I doubled up on the pullups so I could go outside into the cooler air for the other two events.  Around Round 3 Pukie was visiting a guy as he yacked into the street while blaming it on alcohol from the night before. Why would you drink before Murph???

I could see the clock through the window and knew I would vaguely on time. I think the first people hit the street for their final mile around 30 minutes.  Juls counted sets and rounds or I would have been lost.  When she said I was 3/4 of the way I was happy as I knew I still had a good bit of steam left in me. 

Somewhere around the last round or two I was fading and did two sets of squats without the pushups. She made sure I got back down and banged them out before yelling "thats it, thats it - run!!".

I took a deep breath and headed around the corner on legs that felt like concrete.  I knew it would be close so as I got loosened up I picked up the pace and made the 3rd lap to finish at 56:14.

I couldnt believe it. It was over. The sun was out, I felt temporarily wiped but overall quite good. The huge mental wall of this milestone WOD had been addressed and conquered.  I felt amazing and exchanged sweaty hugs with my family and Lanita.

Several people were still out so we all gathered on the corner to cheer them on. During my third lap I passed an obese black lady who sounded as if she was really wheezing. I asked Lanita to go back and check on her (she wasn't in a life-threatening state or I would have stopped myself).  When she did she found her not in respiratory distress but crying as she remarked that she had never had this much support before during a workout. THAT is the spirit of Crossfit!

Many Crossfitters made the short trip over to the next street to watch a very nice Memorial Day parade. The comradery was real and everyone felt like they had done their small share to remember three fallen SEALs and the meaning of the day.

Thanks to Rob and Crossfit Pottstown for a great day. I know that this will be a stepping stone to future successes in my Crossfit career.

Hidden Sugar EVERYWHERE

Mmm, "Premium" dried cranberries. Not the 'all natural' tag proclaiming 'fat & cholesterol free'.  Delicious and healthy.  Then you turn it over and read the label only to realize these berries are LOADED with added sugar. Why??

My guess is solely because of the insane craving for sugar that Americans have. Mostly caused by the horrific amounts of added sugar in so many foods.

Justin Bieber, Are You OK?

Yesterday I came out of Walmart and saw these hideous black-framed glasses smooshed in the parking lot.

I was concerned that Justin Bieber had been hit by a car.

Murph: T Minus One Week

Six Days Until Murph.  Memorial Day Monday. Months of prep and I feel weaker than ever.

Good friend of mine walked into her box in Floriday yesterday and heard someone say. "Ohh No" - Murph was on the board. She banged it out in 1:14 (two good runs, 100 banded pullups, 37 of the 200 pushups military and rest on knees and 300 proper squats - no body armor).

My goal is this: all in body armor. Two good runs. Banded and jumping pullups. All 200 pushups as close to GI as possible. Good squats. Sounds simple. I realize I wont have unlimited time and want to have a good first showing but I also want to have as few non-Rx movements as possible.

I am as ready as I will be. This is a seriously important holiday to me. This is one way I will honor the fallen.

Heart of a Giant

Aimee Mullins

Her story is inspirational. Read it.

License Plate

Wooby!

I usually spell it WoobIE. I wonder if she knows what a woobie is.

Or that this strange word has a strong military connection.

:p

WOD: Manion

  

The "Manion" Hero WOD is named after USMC Lt Travis Manion. I vow to do this WOD:

7 rounds:

400m Run

29 Back Squats: 135/95

Why do I feel so attracted to the hero WODs that are absolute ballbusters? I guess because any sacrifice I will make are miniscule in comparison to what these troops have given up. Plus, Manion, like Murph, has a Pennsylvania connection.

==========

About Travis Manion

Who is the young man whose life has inspired others to serve?

Travis Joseph Lemma Manion was born November 19, 1980, in Camp Lejeune, NC, to an active duty Marine family. After settling in Doylestown, PA, Travis went on to LaSalle College High School where his strong leadership qualities set him apart both athletically and academically. He was an all-league standout in wrestling, football and lacrosse, a member of five championship teams, and an All-American wrestler.
Travis was best known as a motivating and popular figure to his classmates. It was for these traits that Travis was awarded the Hal Selvey, Jr. Memorial Award for Unselfish Dedication and Leadership. This combination of leadership, athleticism and academic achievement opened the door to his appointment to the United States Naval Academy.
In Annapolis, Travis excelled in the classroom and in sports, and by 2004 was a preseason national top 20 wrestler. His strong character continued to shine, leading to his selection as the winner of the 2003 Weems Award for Leadership and Dedication.
Upon his graduation in 2004, Travis chose to follow his father into the Marine Corps. He finished in the top of his class at The Basic School where he was awarded a regular commission in the Marine Corps. After completing Logistics Officer School, Travis was assigned to the 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, CA.
It wasn't long after arriving to his first duty station that Travis and his unit were sent to Iraq. During their tour, the First Recon Marines were part of many critical events including support of the 2005 election, uncovering weapons caches throughout the region, and assisting with other Iraqi transition missions.
Travis deployed back to Iraq on December 26, 2006, for his second tour as part of a Military Transition Team. He and his fellow Marines worked diligently to change the outcome in Fallujah, building a brotherhood with the Iraqi Army units and setting the example with strong leadership and a passion for their mission. Aggressively taking the fight to the enemy on multiple occasions, Travis and his Marines fought bravely to change the tide in this critical battle ground. As a result of their incredible efforts, Al Anbar Province is now recognized as one of the more significant successes of the surge in Iraq.
During his final patrol mission on Sunday, April 29, 2007, Travis was killed by enemy sniper fire while fighting courageously to defend against an enemy ambush. At his memorial service in Fallujah, an Iraqi Colonel spoke and shared that Travis was his brother, “a brave warrior who never feared the death.” Travis’ mark remains in Iraq and in the hearts of all who honor freedom and service. As a testament to his strong character and leadership, the Iraqis named their operating base Combat Outpost (COB) Manion, one of only a few Iraqi facilities named for an American service member. Travis was awarded the Silver Star and the Bronze Star w/ Valor for his actions in Iraq.
Today at The Basic School in Quantico, Manion Hall serves as a reminder to the next generation of Marine officers of Travis’ Spartan warrior spirit and his leadership on and off the battlefield.

Crossfit Isn't Easy

Crossfit Pottstown Street Demo

Saturday 4/28/12

This athlete completed the WOD.

Duck Eggs

I have never had duck eggs before.  I picked up a dozen at Eberly Poultry. All natural, free range ducks making this large, oblong eggs. Supposedly they are even better for you than chicken eggs although I do not know why.

So, Duck Egg Sandwich Saturday rolled around and two of these eggs went down the hatch.

They tasted fine. Like Chicken. Eggs.

Double Unders.....

It pisses me off that this big bugger is doing double unders and kipping pullups. Double unders continue to elude me. I cant begin to tell you how much this frustrates me.

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Killing the Fat Man: Episode 4

Posted: 25 Apr 2012 06:00 PM PDT

The last time Gary Roberts weighed 230 lb., he was in his 20s. Now, at almost 40 years old, he’s down to 236 lb. after a few weeks of WODs at Oceanside CrossFit and eating Paleo.
In this episode of Killing the Fat Man—called “I don’t think I will every buy cereal again”—Roberts talks about his improved mood, a better relationship with his 15-year-old daughter and revamped eating habits.
“I was such in a rut in life,” he says. “I’m working out, I’m feeling better about myself. I’m not so down about the future overall.”
Roberts has eliminated fast food and soda, as well as bread and pasta.
Plus, he finally got double-unders and kipping pull-ups.
“To have my family look at me and be proud of me is exciting.”

Guardian Angels

When I was a kid I was completely fascinated by the Guardian Angels. I thought Curtis Sliwa was a cool guy and their approach to crime fighting effective.

Saw this ad on the Crossfit Pottstown site (they also host a GA chapter):

Crossfit Pottstown

February 23

Spring Time is coming - the people who behave badly will once again emerge from their winter hibernation and they will pick up where they left off - Bad behavior, Bad language, let them know in advance that you will not tolerate their misconduct in your neighborhood – join us and begin to take back your streets! Get involved, 610 327 1321 - Dare To Care

Make It Count

"Army" Inov-8s

I love these already!

Addendum: Back from first run. Very light, no stress. Shaved a decent amt of time off my standard route. They are too nice to do burpees in.

Who Operates This JLG Lift??

Yes, it IS pink. Pink!

I would love to know where this was going and who the user is.

Wow!

 I did find this link to two other pink JLG lifts

2 Great Deals In One Day

I started today by hitting a yard sale on the way home from work. Check out this awesome USA-made Fish Skinner. I am not sure how it works but it looks like the fish is smashed into the device and you pull on it and the skin comes off. Weird but worth a try!

Later on I hit the Reading Gun Show and found this Force Protector FOR 65 Deployment Bag. Two weeks ago I had never heard of this company. I was on a United flight with about 20 USAF Security Police troops. I looked out the window as their gear was being loaded into the cargo hold. I saw their bags and noticed that they had shoulder straps, carrying handle and wheels. What a concept!

I actually could read the tag and Googled their website. The bag costs $465.  Today I got a brand new one in USMC coyote color - $150. I am greatly looking forward to trying it.