Category: gymnastics

how’s that WAR on Drugs working?

On By Rick McIn economics, ethics, gymnastics, health & fitness, product complaintsLeave a comment

Looks like at least $1.5 trillion mostly wasted, so far.

I HATE right wing politicians who trot out this dead horse as a diversion from bigger issues.

The War on Drugs (December 14, 1914 – present) is a campaign of prohibition and foreign military aid and military intervention undertaken by the United States government, with the assistance of participating countries, and the stated aim to define and reduce the illegal drug trade. …

… In 1971, President Richard Nixon declared that “drug abuse is public enemy number one” …

On May 13, 2009, Gil Kerlikowske, the current Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), signaled that although it did not plan to significantly alter drug enforcement policy, the Obama administration would not use the term “War on Drugs,” as he claims it is “counter-productive” …

In June 2011, the Global Commission on Drug Policy released a critical report on the War on Drugs, declaring “The global war on drugs has failed, with devastating consequences for individuals and societies around the world. …

Obviously, governments have to look at alternatives.

(via Boing Boing)

Shiro on Vancouver Island

On By Rick McIn friends, gymnastics, photos, travelLeave a comment

My old coach, Shiro Tanaka, brought Japanese friends to Canada for a gymnastics study tour. They are visiting clubs in Vancouver, Edmonton and Calgary — and holidaying in-between.

Hardy and Cynthia hosted them at their place on Sproat Lake, Vancouver Island. I was chauffeur.

It’s paradise.

1st night in Canada

Next morning Hardy skippered the group to local highlights.

Great start to the Canadian tour. 🙂

See more and higher resolution annotated photos on flickr.

capturing, editing & storing video?

On By Rick McIn gymnastics1 Comment

I spent a couple of days last week shooting video with a pro, Chris Hutchinson, from Tumbl Trak. And learned a lot.

For a BIG upcoming project, here’s my intended work flow:

Canon XA10 and tripod capturing in .MTS file format.

Save those clips to 2 high speed Lexar 16 Gb SDHC class 10 memory cards, swapping them as needed.

USB card reader used to import them into iMovie 11 on a new dedicated MacBook Air.

Edited video files will be exported as H.264 in .MOV container, most likely 1280 x 720 pixels.

Those files will be stored on ADAM, one of two WD 1 Tb portable hard drives. Adam is IT. The MASTER repository.

I’ll store the video clips in a simple folder structure called DRAFT, indexed in a single spreadsheet called VIDEO INDEX. (A Google doc spreadsheet as it needs to be shared with a group.)

ADAM will be copied to EVE, the second WD 1 Tb portable hard drive. Adam and Even can meet but must separate immediately after conjoining.

ADAM will also be copied to the Cloud. I’ll try DropBox. But uploading and downloading to the cloud is very slow. I won’t do anything with the Cloud copy unless both ADAM and EVE somehow run away.

The FINAL video clips will be distributed by USB thumb drive.

Questions? Suggestions?

I’m still at the brainstorming stage.

radio interview with Warren Long

On By Rick McIn friends, gymnasticsLeave a comment

CBC SASK:

Mike Mintenko and Warren Long are two Saskatchewan residents who know exactly what it feels like to be in the Olympics. Mintenko is a former Olympic swimmer, while Long is the first ever Canadian gymnast to be a finalist in the Olympics.

Listen to it HERE.

Thanks Peter.

at Camp in the Poconos

On By Rick McIn friends, gymnastics, travel1 Comment

How many TV shows and films have mentioned Jewish summer camps in the Poconos?

Hundreds.

But what are the Poconos?

The Pocono Mountains is a region located in northeastern Pennsylvania …

The wooded hills and valleys have long been a popular vacation area …

The Poconos is and has been Pennsylvania’s most popular tourist destination. It is also known for its brilliant color during the fall. The region contains over 80% of the state’s resorts …

I was there FINALLY visiting famed International Gymnastics Camp.

Both IGC … and the Poconos … are impressive. 🙂

I was happy to visit gymnastics friends from Regina, the Nestmans and Dimas’, holidaying while their daughters were at Camp.

Grilling in the Poconos.

rent-a-car in California

On By Rick McIn friends, gymnastics2 Comments

How many times have I had the pleasure?

Many times.

Driving south on 99, the full moon bright, 4th of July fireworks exploding overhead, listening to NPR.

This doesn’t suck.

California is a paradise for motoring.

I celebrated the 4th with Debbie Broderick Rodriguez and her family. 🙂

Destination — Woodward West Gym Camp.