The weightless Dr. Hawking

"It is important for the human race to spread out into space for the survival of the species," -- Stephen Hawking

I'm curious to see how inspired Stephen Hawking became after his zero-gravity flight last Thursday. I can't imagine what he'd be thinking and contriving after being free from his wheelchair for only 45 seconds of free fall. I am indeed happy that he could experience such a feeling--to add that much more joy to his life. Let's just hope that he didn't munch on too big of a breakfast :-).

And I agree with Dr. Hawking and periodically delve on the same scenario (actually, I think about it quite often): 1 to 7 billion years from now, our Earth will indeed die and we humans MUST find somewhere else to live beyond Earth if we are to continue to exist. And for that to happen, I can't help but think that faster-than-light travel would need to be possible (would HAVE to be possible!), given that the Andromeda Galaxy is our closest galaxy neighbor at 2 million light years away or otherwise a closer solar system in our own Milky Way Galaxy.

(I always remember the incredible opening scene of the movie Contact, staring Jody Foster, as it gives an amazing perspective of how huge space is.)

The possibilities of how we would exist in the far future are infinite. How fun it is to take just one and imagine life then.

Daniel Tammet

"I was born on January 31, 1979 -- a Wednesday. I know it was a Wednesday, because the date is blue in my mind and Wednesdays are always blue"... -- Daniel Tammet

Last week, I finished reading an enjoyable and moving Born on a Blue Day: Inside the Extraordinary Mind of an Autistic Savant -- a memoir book of Daniel Tammet. He's a 28 yr old Englishman diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome, a high functioning form of autism. That is, he has autistic symptoms but can function quite normally and independently compared to other autistic individuals such as Kim Peek on whom the movie Rainman was based.

The beauty to Daniel's high functioning condition is that he can explain how he thinks. And in fact it is beautiful. He says he "experiences" numbers and dates as colors, shapes, sounds and textures. The number 1 is bright like lightning, number 9 is tall like a skyscraper and Thursdays are fuzzy like fur. How beautiful indeed!

Daniel holds the European record for memorizing Pi up to 22,514 digits. He says that 22,500 was the agreed upon limit, so it seems likely he could've easily memorized thousands more digits if officials had requested.

The Discovery Channel had a really nice piece on him called Brainman, the highlight of which was when he journeyed to Utah to meet Kim Peek. He appeared on The David Letterman Show and described David as being the number 117 -- "tall and lanky". The show 60 Minutes also did a segment some time afterward, some videos of which can be found on youTube.

Finally, Daniel has set up his own website called Optimnem, on which I enjoy reading his blog.

*********

ps: Ages ago for our college dorm talent show, my friend and I memorized Pi up to 314 digits (or at least I'd like to think). We dressed up in grim reaper costumes, stood on opposite ends of the stage, and recited the digits in slow deep voices in unison. Didn't win, but got lots of laughs. Ahhhh, good times. :-) pi=3.14159 26535 89793 23846 26433 83279 50288 ...

pps: Other interesting links...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/weekend/story/0,,1409903,00.html
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Books/story?id=2794451&page=1
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Tammet

Care for your feet!

I love my Disney Beach Crocs. Notice the Mickey Mouse holes? So darn comfy. Can't wait to get the Off-Road model--the SUV of them all.

Today's topic is feet. As in, "three weeks ago, I went snowboarding and f*cked up my feet." Yes again--good ol' plantar fasciitis was inflicting its nasty bite once more.

So this morning it was another trip to the podiatrist, a refilling of my Nalfon prescription and the doc's assessment that I be fitted for custom orthotic insoles. Nothing eventful really. But through my examination, I was phasing out and daydreaming about being back at 100% and doing some tri races and bike tours this summer. Could competing still be possible? [sigh] Anyway, end of exam.

But oh, what an end of exam finale it was: I was treated to a soothing foot massage from the doc's assistant Ruby. After casting my feet for orthotics, she loaded up with wads of lotion and rubbed out the residue plaster around my heels and arches, letting me know that I was in for a bonus [wink-wink]. Ooooooh baby, it was soooooo relaxing. Obviously my moans of appeasement would've probably put her off, so I sat still, sounded out nothing and tried to act indifferent. Like, "Gee golly, Ruby, that feels swell!" (How's that for indifference?) But really, thanks Ruby, I really did need that.

Anyway, being inspired by the rubdown, I'm planning to treat Melinda to a massage of my own this weekend. So sweetie, put the kids to bed, break out the Nivea lotion, prop up your dainty footsies and come to papa! ...

This little piggy went to the market ... :-)

Saturday morning ride

I don't need water. Water is for quitters! -- Spongebob Squarepants

Thank goodness I didn't pay heed to Spongebob's statement (although that was a really funny episode). I biked a hilly 3 hr 40 miler this morning and made sure to fill my Camelbak-like hydration pack with 2 liters of Gatorade so I wouldn't cramp toward the end of my ride. Last Saturday, that was unfortunately the case as I had brought only two water bottles.

BTW, I knew it would be 32F this morning, but I went out for a spin anyway. I don't quite know what drove me to do it other than the urge to get back into a good habit. That is, it was hurting inside me that my workouts were so few these past months. And what a relief it was to have that feeling creep in. I was worried that I was getting apathetic about tri-racing this year.

So one of my primary focuses of spring: chip away at the nonessential 40lbs of crap that've been bogging me down from hammering up the hills. (Cheer with me: Hell no, crap is slow!)

Time to get back into better form than that of a potato.

Theme music, please...

the need for the everyday

The routine things that are good to do in one's life should never need incentives. They simply should be habits.

(March 25, 2007)
The above I thought to myself at a dance competition for my daughter today. On stage the kids were leaping and tumbling to beautiful music. All done lightly as a feather. Not a look from them of any hard effort at all. Suddenly, I found myself dashing to the car and off to Target and back for a pair of forgotten socks that Tina needed for her number. Huffing and puffing hard all the way to my crooning of some Third Eye Blind song. The dichotomy was obvious.

All the while, my belly was bouncing, my man-boobs were bobbing and my feet were hurting, and I started thinking: "geez, these extra pounds can't be good for racing this year" and "why the hell have you been slacking off, dude?!" and "what happened to your routine?!"

And there it was. My words of wisdom: I needed to get back into a good routine.

To be continued...(hopefully, to a more positive chapter)...

Grow up, will ya?

I don't know what you think of, but when someone says to me, "Have a good one!", I think of...get this...fellatio. (Whhhhaaat?! You say.) You know, a bl*wjob. (But in an innocent non-sinister professional working man sort of way. Of course.) There, I've said it.

Like take today for instance when I was leaving work with my coworker. As we exited the front doors, I said, "Alright Karen, good night." And then, unflinchingly, she said those ill-fated words: "Thanks. Have a good one." So I paused, squinted a bit slyly, and then walked away and smiled a rather naughty smile. I mean what else was I suppose to think of? C'mon, grow up, will ya?

Maybe it was an old Rob Lowe movie that initiated and perpetuated the thought. Or maybe some dialogue from "Sex In the City." Or even as far back as highschool where every little comment had some sexual innuendo. Who knows and who cares. I'll be forever grinning whenever I hear that remark and it'll always make my day.

And maybe now that you've read this and the thought has been planted, it'll make yours as well.

Have a good one. ;-)