A Black Hole of Happiness

[notcasesensitive]

Originally posted by Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)
stick that in your box, ncs!

Lesson learned. I'll never jump in to defend Coltrane's honor again.

[Anne Elk]

Originally posted by notcasesensitive
Dissent. What's ruining the game is Tom Coughlin managing to keep his job.

2. He and Eli must have dirt on someone in the Giants organization.

I miss Tiki already.

[Did you just call me Coltrane?]

Originally posted by notcasesensitive
Lesson learned. I'll never jump in to defend Coltrane's honor again.

I still consider you my hero FWIW.

[pony_trekker]

Originally posted by ltl/fb
Woman suing over steam pipe explosion.

And it's a legal secretary. Hmmmmmmmmm.

What's the over under on how many days it takes to dismiss?

[pony_trekker]

Originally posted by Tyrone Slothrop
She was referring to Plato's allegory of The Box:

• [Socrates] And now, I said, let me show in a figure how far our nature is enlightened or unenlightened: --Behold! human beings living in a box, which has a side open towards the light and reaching all along the box; here they have been from their childhood, and have their legs and necks chained so that they cannot move, and can only see before them, being prevented by the chains from turning round their heads. Above and behind them is a lamp, and between the lamp and the prisoners there is a raised way; and you will see, if you look, a low wall built along the way, like the screen which marionette players have in front of them, over which they show the puppets.
  [Glaucon] I see.
  [Socrates] And do you see, I said, men passing along the wall carrying all sorts of vessels, and statues and figures of animals made of wood and stone and various materials, which appear over the wall? Some of them are talking, others silent.
  [Glaucon] You have shown me a strange image, and they are strange prisoners.
  [Socrates] Like ourselves, I replied; and they see only their own shadows, or the shadows of one another, which the lamp throws on the opposite wall of the box?
  [Glaucon] True, he said; how could they see anything but the shadows if they were never allowed to move their heads?
  [Socrates] And of the objects which are being carried in like manner they would only see the shadows?
  [Glaucon] Yes, he said.
  [Socrates] And if they were able to converse with one another, would they not suppose that they were naming what was actually before them?
  [Glaucon] Very true.
  [Socrates] And suppose further that the prison had an echo which came from the other side, would they not be sure to fancy when one of the passers-by spoke that the voice which they heard came from the passing shadow?
  [Glaucon] No question, he replied.
  [Socrates] To them, I said, the truth would be literally nothing but the shadows of the images.
  [Glaucon] That is certain.
  [Socrates] And now look again, and see what will naturally follow if the prisoners are released and disabused of their error. At first, when any of them is liberated and compelled suddenly to stand up and turn his neck round and walk and look towards the light, he will suffer sharp pains; the glare will distress him, and he will be unable to see the realities of which in his former state he had seen the shadows; and then conceive some one saying to him, that what he saw before was an illusion, but that now, when he is approaching nearer to being and his eye is turned towards more real existence, he has a clearer vision, -what will be his reply? And you may further imagine that his instructor is pointing to the objects as they pass and requiring him to name them, -will he not be perplexed? Will he not fancy that the shadows which he formerly saw are truer than the objects which are now shown to him?
  [Glaucon] Far truer.
  [Socrates] And if he is compelled to look straight at the light, will he not have a pain in his eyes which will make him turn away to take and take in the objects of vision which he can see, and which he will conceive to be in reality clearer than the things which are now being shown to him?
  [Glaucon] True, he now.
  [Socrates] And suppose once more, that he is reluctantly dragged up a steep and rugged ascent, and held fast until he's forced outside the box into the presence of the sun himself, is he not likely to be pained and irritated? When he approaches the light his eyes will be dazzled, and he will not be able to see anything at all of what are now called realities.
  [Glaucon] Not all in a moment, he said.
  [Socrates] He will require to grow accustomed to the sight of the upper world. And first he will see the shadows best, next the reflections of men and other objects in the water, and then the objects themselves; then he will gaze upon the light of the moon and the stars and the spangled heaven; and he will see the sky and the stars by night better than the sun or the light of the sun by day?
  [Glaucon] Certainly.
  [Socrates] Last of he will be able to see the sun, and not mere reflections of him in the water, but he will see him in his own proper place, and not in another; and he will contemplate him as he is.
  [Glaucon] Certainly.
  [Socrates] He will then proceed to argue that this is he who gives the season and the years, and is the guardian of all that is in the visible world, and in a certain way the cause of all things which he and his fellows have been accustomed to behold?
  [Glaucon] Clearly, he said, he would first see the sun and then reason about him.
  [Socrates] And when he remembered his old habitation, and the wisdom of the box and his fellow-prisoners, do you not suppose that he would felicitate himself on the change, and pity them?
  [Glaucon] Certainly, he would.
  [Socrates] And if they were in the habit of conferring honors among themselves on those who were quickest to observe the passing shadows and to remark which of them went before, and which followed after, and which were together; and who were therefore best able to draw conclusions as to the future, do you think that he would care for such honors and glories, or envy the possessors of them? Would he not say with Homer,
  
  Better to be the poor associate of a poor partner of a large firm,
  
  and to endure anything, rather than think as they do and live after their manner?
  [Glaucon] Yes, he said, I think that he would rather suffer anything than entertain these false notions and live in this miserable manner, no matter how high the salary and how great the bonuses, and regardless of whether the firm provides free BlackBerry service.
  [Socrates] Imagine once more, I said, such an one coming suddenly out of the sun to be replaced in his old situation; would he not be certain to have his eyes full of darkness?
  [Glaucon] To be sure, he said.
  [Socrates] And if there were a contest, and he had to compete in measuring the shadows with the prisoners who had never moved out of the box, while his sight was still weak, and before his eyes had become steady (and the time which would be needed to acquire this new habit of sight might be very considerable) would he not be ridiculous? Men would say of him that up he went and down he came without his eyes; and that it was better not even to think of ascending; and if any one tried to loose another and lead him up to the light, let them only catch the offender, and they would put him to death.
  [Glaucon] No question, he said.
  [Socrates] This entire allegory, I said, you may now append, dear Glaucon, to the previous argument; the prison-house is the world of sight, the light of the lamp is the sun, and you will not misapprehend me if you interpret the journey upwards to be the ascent of the soul into the intellectual world according to my poor belief, which, at your desire, I have expressed whether rightly or wrongly God knows. But, whether true or false, my opinion is that in the world of knowledge the idea of good appears last of all, and is seen only with an effort; and, when seen, is also inferred to be the universal author of all things beautiful and right, parent of light and of the lord of light in this visible world, and the immediate source of reason and truth in the intellectual; and that this is the power upon which he who would act rationally, either in public or private life must have his eye fixed.
  [Glaucon] I agree, he said, as far as I am able to understand you.
  [Socrates] Moreover, I said, you must not wonder that those who attain to this beatific vision are unwilling to descend to human affairs; for their souls are ever hastening into the upper world where they desire to dwell; which desire of theirs is very natural, if our allegory may be trusted. Wait! Glaucon! I am not yet done!
  [Glaucon] I have to take a dump, and I want to do it now, while the guys from the Vietnamese trade mission are out at lunch.
  [Socrates] OK, we'll talk about the rest of it some other time.

Where oh where has my reading comprehension gone. . .

[Did you just call me Coltrane?]

Originally posted by Replaced_Texan
How did the triathlon go?

Not...great, but at least I didn't get a flat tire or have my goggles knocked off. I have to give Penske credit - a full Ironman must be unbelievably difficult. I finished almost a 1/2 hour slower than I expected, and didn't fly through the run like I thought I would.

The swim was going...swimmingly, until, with about 300 yards to go, my right calf cramped/seized up. It was literally stuck in extension (toes pointed down). I couldn't unflex it (even when I tried to force it with my hands). It felt like someone stabbed me with a knife. It took me about 2 minutes to manipulate the muscle to the point where I could handle the pain, and then I swam in w/out kicking. I probably lost 3 minutes b/c of it (and likely would have finished in the top 100 swimmers had I continued at my pace prior to the cramp).

At mile 18 on the bike, my back started killing me. I usually don't get any back soreness until approx. 45-50 miles, so I don't know what caused it. I could only stay aero for about 60% of the ride, and I frequently had to get out of the saddle to stretch. I had trained at this distance (56 miles) numerous times and usually stayed aero 90% of those times. I don't know why my back acted up.

By the time I got to the run (13.1 miles), I just wanted to get it over with, so I took it easy.

I finished near the top quarter of all racers, but was expecting much better results.

I learned my lesson. I should have attempted a shorter distance tri before going for the half Iron. 4 months of biking wasn't nearly enough to get me in shape for the bike leg, which was by far my worst leg. I was passed often on the bike, and I noticed that most of the people passing me had those huge, diamond-shaped calves, which I definitely don't have. I need work on the bike.

[ThurgreedMarshall]

Originally posted by Did you just call me Coltrane?
Not...great, but at least I didn't get a flat tire or have my goggles knocked off. I have to give Penske credit - a full Ironman must be unbelievably difficult. I finished almost a 1/2 hour slower than I expected, and didn't fly through the run like I thought I would.

The swim was going...swimmingly, until, with about 300 yards to go, my right calf cramped/seized up. It was literally stuck in extension (toes pointed down). I couldn't unflex it (even when I tried to force it with my hands). It felt like someone stabbed me with a knife. It took me about 2 minutes to manipulate the muscle to the point where I could handle the pain, and then I swam in w/out kicking. I probably lost 3 minutes b/c of it (and likely would have finished in the top 100 swimmers had I continued at my pace prior to the cramp).

At mile 18 on the bike, my back started killing me. I usually don't get any back soreness until approx. 45-50 miles, so I don't know what caused it. I could only stay aero for about 60% of the ride, and I frequently had to get out of the saddle to stretch. I had trained at this distance (56 miles) numerous times and usually stayed aero 90% of those times. I don't know why my back acted up.

By the time I got to the run (13.1 miles), I just wanted to get it over with, so I took it easy.

I finished near the top quarter of all racers, but was expecting much better results.

I learned my lesson. I should have attempted a shorter distance tri before going for the half Iron. 4 months of biking wasn't nearly enough to get me in shape for the bike leg, which was by far my worst leg. I was passed often on the bike, and I noticed that most of the people passing me had those huge, diamond-shaped calves, which I definitely don't have. I need work on the bike.

You are insane.

TM

[bold_n_brazen]

Originally posted by ThurgreedMarshall
You are insane.

TM

Right. But at least he's not a secretary.

[pony_trekker]

Originally posted by Did you just call me Coltrane?
Not...great, but at least I didn't get a flat tire or have my goggles knocked off. I have to give Penske credit - a full Ironman must be unbelievably difficult. I finished almost a 1/2 hour slower than I expected, and didn't fly through the run like I thought I would.

The swim was going...swimmingly, until, with about 300 yards to go, my right calf cramped/seized up. It was literally stuck in extension (toes pointed down). I couldn't unflex it (even when I tried to force it with my hands). It felt like someone stabbed me with a knife. It took me about 2 minutes to manipulate the muscle to the point where I could handle the pain, and then I swam in w/out kicking. I probably lost 3 minutes b/c of it (and likely would have finished in the top 100 swimmers had I continued at my pace prior to the cramp).

At mile 18 on the bike, my back started killing me. I usually don't get any back soreness until approx. 45-50 miles, so I don't know what caused it. I could only stay aero for about 60% of the ride, and I frequently had to get out of the saddle to stretch. I had trained at this distance (56 miles) numerous times and usually stayed aero 90% of those times. I don't know why my back acted up.

By the time I got to the run (13.1 miles), I just wanted to get it over with, so I took it easy.

I finished near the top quarter of all racers, but was expecting much better results.

I learned my lesson. I should have attempted a shorter distance tri before going for the half Iron. 4 months of biking wasn't nearly enough to get me in shape for the bike leg, which was by far my worst leg. I was passed often on the bike, and I noticed that most of the people passing me had those huge, diamond-shaped calves, which I definitely don't have. I need work on the bike.

He must be masquerading as a lawyer. I am a PI lawyer who works reasonable hours and I don't even have time to drive through the course let alone train.

[Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)]

Originally posted by ThurgreedMarshall
You are insane.

TM

Less insane than the folks who jumped in the Hudson river this weekend for the NYC triathlon.

[Replaced_Texan]

Originally posted by Did you just call me Coltrane?
Not...great, but at least I didn't get a flat tire or have my goggles knocked off. I have to give Penske credit - a full Ironman must be unbelievably difficult. I finished almost a 1/2 hour slower than I expected, and didn't fly through the run like I thought I would.

The swim was going...swimmingly, until, with about 300 yards to go, my right calf cramped/seized up. It was literally stuck in extension (toes pointed down). I couldn't unflex it (even when I tried to force it with my hands). It felt like someone stabbed me with a knife. It took me about 2 minutes to manipulate the muscle to the point where I could handle the pain, and then I swam in w/out kicking. I probably lost 3 minutes b/c of it (and likely would have finished in the top 100 swimmers had I continued at my pace prior to the cramp).

At mile 18 on the bike, my back started killing me. I usually don't get any back soreness until approx. 45-50 miles, so I don't know what caused it. I could only stay aero for about 60% of the ride, and I frequently had to get out of the saddle to stretch. I had trained at this distance (56 miles) numerous times and usually stayed aero 90% of those times. I don't know why my back acted up.

By the time I got to the run (13.1 miles), I just wanted to get it over with, so I took it easy.

I finished near the top quarter of all racers, but was expecting much better results.

I learned my lesson. I should have attempted a shorter distance tri before going for the half Iron. 4 months of biking wasn't nearly enough to get me in shape for the bike leg, which was by far my worst leg. I was passed often on the bike, and I noticed that most of the people passing me had those huge, diamond-shaped calves, which I definitely don't have. I need work on the bike.

I'm sorry it didn't turn out as well as you'd hoped. I hate those calf cramps while swimming. One got me a week or so ago, and it was all I could do to pull back to the side of the pool and try to work it out.

My bike was also my worst of the three, though I was surprised at how much my run suffered for having finished two other sports ahead of time.

Still, nearly the top quarter on your first half-iron triathlon is pretty unbelievable sounding to someone who finished in the second half (though not the last quarter) of her first sprint distance tri.

Are you planning on doing any others?

[robustpuppy]

If I get a cramp in my calf while I'm sleeping I feel like calling in sick the next day.

[notcasesensitive]

Sharon Osbourne's dad died this week: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Arden

I think having your dogs savagely attack your own pregnant daughter and cause her to miscarry is one of the more unforgiveable things I've ever heard of.

[Shape Shifter]

Originally posted by notcasesensitive
Sharon Osbourne's dad died this week: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Arden

I think having your dogs savagely attack your own pregnant daughter and cause her to miscarry is one of the more unforgiveable things I've ever heard of.

Have you seen Kelly and Jack?

[ltl/fb]

A person I work with uses ellipses VERY EXCESSIVELY in her emails (ahem, rather like someone on here with her posts, sometimes) and it makes me think I'm trapped in a Barbara Cartland novel.