Category: health & fitness

book – the skeptical environmentalist

On By Rick McIn books, good news, health & fitness3 Comments

Wow.

This is one polarizing book.

portraet.jpgThe Skeptical Environmentalist: Measuring the Real State of the World by Bjørn Lomborg.

It’s far too dense, scientific and … long for me to read. So I’ll save time and leap straight to the review.

I like it. I like the author. Some of the graphs are incontestable.

Lomborg concludes:

“… children born today — in both the industrialized world and developing countries — will live longer and be healthier, they will get more food, a better education, a higher standard of living, more leisure time and far more possibilities — without the global environment being destroyed.

And that is a beautiful world.”

Things are not good. But they are still improving.

The world may still end. But there is no evidence it will.

Thanks Bjørn.

Bjørn Lomborg – official website

The Skeptical Environmentalist – Wikipedia

Merry Christmas to friends and family

On By Rick McIn Cirque du Soleil, gymnastics, health & fitness, hiking, internetLeave a comment

mug2_2006.jpgHappy Holidays !!

Trust you are getting a change, a rest, some exercise. (A gift or two that you actually wanted.)

Year end update.

More of the same for me. I continue to focus on as few things as possible: gymnastics, hiking, fitness, travel, the internet.

2006 started with a family reunion in Mazatlán, travels through that country to Belize and Guatemala.

I made four different trips through the States this year. Still a love / hate relationship with the USA.

My new part-time work as a talent scout for Cirque du Soleil has taught me a lot. In fact I founded a gymnastics blog with a focus on other acrobatics sports including diving, sport acrobatics, circus, martial arts, X sports and more. It’s amazing what gymnasts can do.

My hiking website is doing great, as well. Certainly the best resource on the internet for those looking for the “best hike”.

I’ve been avidly following the wild, lawless internet where millionaires are literally made (and crushed) overnight. The future will be amazing. I am very optimistic My ruminations on the web (and other nonsense) I post on this, my personal blog.

That’s it.

Gone to Saskatoon for a catch-up with old friends over New Years. Then off to Australia in early January for a series of gymnastics conferences. Finally, some hiking in Tasmania.

And I’m waiting on Cirque for 2007 assignments. That is my highest priority right now.

: )

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Greenpeace says Apple not “green”

On By Rick McIn Apple, blogs, health & fitness, product complaintsLeave a comment

UPDATE:

One guy with a computer and a blog can make change.

See the reference to Canada below? You can thank RickMcCharles.com for getting that added.

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source

The error was certainly not Apple’s, I was assured by Apple.

I insisted on a free laptop for "pain and suffering" the error caused me. Will let you know when it arrives.

=== original post === Dec. 11, 2006 ===

I love the hilarious Apple spoof site posted by Greenpeace at GreenMyApple.com.

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Apple is still not feeling the love:

Environmental group Greenpeace on Wednesday issued the first quarterly update on the technology industry’s performance on environmental issues. While the group recognized many companies are improving Apple does not appear to be among them — Apple remains in last place.

“We were surprised they were in last place again,” Zeina Alhajj, campaign coordinator for Greenpeace, told Macworld. “We are hoping that by the next ranking they will be the biggest mover.”

The report ranks the 14 top manufacturers of personal computers and cell phones. …

Representatives from Apple were not immediately available for comment. …

Nokia continues to hold the top spot in the ranking for both its chemicals policy as well as disposal of electronic waste.

Apple gets low score in Greenpeace e-waste report

My own experience backs up the Greenpeace claim.

I’m trying to recycle two Apple laptops. Though Apple says they offer a program in Canada here, here and here, when I phoned their recycling partner (888-638-2761), I was informed the Apple recycling program has not come to Canada.

When directed to the recycling partner web page, there is no mention of Canada.

In the USA I could pay US$30 to ship up to 60lbs of Apple product to be properly recycled.

I emailed Apple (irecycle @apple.com) to inquire. I asked they correct the wrong information on their web pages if the program is not running in Canada. No response yet.

Perhaps the local recycling program here in Calgary is just as good, I’m not sure.

Still. Apple is usually as good as their word. They do not make mistakes on web pages.

What’s up Apple?

video – ski Sunshine

On By Rick McIn health & fitnessLeave a comment

After every major gymnastics meet in Calgary, some of the gymnastics types head for the hills.

Happily this year the snow fell early and conditions were great at Sunshine.

I can’t remember the last time I enjoyed skiing this much. I was feeling very comfortable and confident. (No crashes yet this season.)

To see a short video clip click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Who was it that dislocated his shoulder on gainer back layout?

Ebola killing gorillas

On By Rick McIn bad news, health & fitnessLeave a comment

Personally I am more worried about Ebola than global warming.

The Ebola virus is marching steadily across western and central Africa, wiping out more than 90 percent of the gorillas in its path and threatening the species with extinction, a new study says. …

The virus is named after the Ebola River in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, near where the first known outbreak occurred in 1976.

Ebola is moving at a rate of around 31 miles (50 kilometers) per year in western and central Africa, experts say. Most of the area’s remaining gorillas live within about 124 miles (200 kilometers) of the current outbreak.

“[Ebola] has already swept through two of the largest gorilla reserves and three or four of the smaller ones,” said study team member Peter Walsh of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany.

“The outlook is pretty bleak.”

Ebola Killing Thousands of Gorillas, Study Says

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traineo – fitness and weight loss community

On By Rick McIn health & fitnessLeave a comment

I think this site will be a success.

Motivation, Support and Accountability are the keys to achieving a weight loss and fitness goal. Our mission is to create the most effective weight loss and fitness community on the web by combining the latest software technology with sound information and services from the world’s leading health and fitness experts.

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traineo | Fitness & Weight Loss Community

Americans driving less for the first time in 25yrs

On By Rick McIn economics, good news, health & fitnessLeave a comment

Americans have been driving further — 40% more than 25 years ago — and using more gasoline in bigger, more powerful cars and other light duty vehicles.

But higher gasoline prices have had a significant impact. The rate of growth in gasoline demand slowed sharply from its 1.6% per year pace (1990-2004) to 0.3% in 2005, and continued to grow slowly in 2006, at 1.0%.

And for the first time in 25 years, motorists’ average mileage went down. Overall, though, according to the CERA report, improved automotive efficiencies and one of the lowest fuel tax rates among Western countries have kept gasoline and oil’s share of average U.S. household budgets at 3.8% in 2006, slightly above the 1960s’ 3.4% to 3.6% level despite rising world oil prices.

Gasoline and the American People: A CERA Special Report

Higher gas prices have helped motivate. Maybe we should raise fuel tax (to pay for my bicycle trails). All in favour?

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promoting cycling in Canada

On By Rick McIn cycling, government, health & fitnessLeave a comment

An unsolicited email escaped my spam filter:

At this address: http://www.gopetition.com/online/10170.html there is a petition aimed at the Canadian federal government, asking them to promote cycling as a preferred means of transportation. It mentions the health and environmental benefits of commuting by bicycle, and suggests ways that the Federal government could entice more Canadians to become bike commuters. …

It strikes me as increasingly crazy that our society is so geared towards the automobile, and almost discriminates against public transit and the bicycle. I’m hoping that – someday soon – people who WANT to switch from driving to biking are able to do so – that the infrastructure will be there (bike lanes, bike lockers etc) to make it possible.

If you feel at all inclined to help the petition along and helping us switch to a more environmentally sound method of transportation, it’d be much appreciated.

I signed the petition because I do want a higher priority put on the cycling infrastructure. And because I appreciate that taxpayers have another way to be heard in government via the internet.

This group used the GoPetition.com service. Works well.

http://www.gopetition.com/online/10170.html – more information

Penn Jillette is one smart dude

On By Rick McIn government, health & fitness, product endorsementsLeave a comment

Penn Jillette is an eloquent spokesman for libertarianism (people should be free to do whatever they wish with their person or property, as long as they do not infringe on the same liberty of others).

By eloquent, I should caution, I mean clear and emphatic. Penn is very profane, as well. If you don’t believe that “profanity is part of a good vocabulary”, you may be offended by the Penn and Teller Bullsh*t video series.

To see a sample — making the argument that the war on drugs is bullsh*t — click PLAY, or watch the 30min video on Google Video.

Penn & Teller - Bullsh*t - The Complete Third Season

Penn & Teller – Bullsh*t – The Complete Third Season

my latest website

On By Rick McIn blogs, gymnastics, health & fitness, internetLeave a comment

For years I’ve been a volunteer Board member on the Altadore Weightlifting and Fitness Club. I put together a website / blog for the club to improve our visibility and communication.

More importantly, I want to store our documentation in password protected folders on the site for ease of access and revision.

Using gymnastics as a base, our club offers strength, power and flexibility improvement training in an adult social environment. Our members are age-16 and older.

Under the supervision of certified gymnastics coaches, you decide your own training regime. Our facility has gymnastics equipment not available in the weight room. You use your own body weight as resistance.

Altadore weightlifting & fitness club

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