I read with interest this morning the National Transportation and Safety Board's recommendation that cell phone use be banned while driving.
And while texting while driving or talking on your phone can be major distractions, I somehow feel like these two are just the whipping boys when it comes to the issue of distracted drivers. If we're going to ban these two practices, then we also need the laws that address people who put on make-up while driving, those who read a book, newspaper or other such reading material while behind the wheel (only a few weeks ago, I witnessed a driver reading a thick paperback while in the middle of morning rush hour!), changing the radio station or song on your .mp3 player while operating a car, listening to a talk show that gets you passionate in one way or another (in fact, they may have to eliminate radios entirely while driving). And I haven't even begun to cover having pets, children or other people in the car who could possibly distract you while driving.
The proposed ban doesn't even begin to consider how you possibly go about enforcing such laws. Since Tennessee passed the ban on texting while driving, I've seen numerous media reports about how the law hasn't really been enforced and how it really isn't all that easy or a high priority for law enforcement. And in the day and age with budget cuts looming for many law enforcement departments, do we really need our law enforcement officials out there looking for those using a cell phone while driving or might those resources be better used for investigating and/or preventing other crimes?
So, while the ban may sound really good and generate a few headlines today and in the days to come, in reality it's just another attempt by the nanny state to regulate our lives from womb to tomb.
posted by Michael Hickerson at 12/14/2011 07:02:00 AM |
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As I suspected, a couple of days down with the flu and then working to build my energy level back up last week has forced me to take a step of two back in terms of my overall progress. On the positive side, I've recovered enough to get back into the swing of things and it hopefully won't take long to get back to where I was and keep moving forward.
Monday, December 5
Swimming:
200 swim/200 pull/200 kick/200 swim
6x50 @ 1:05 (25 fast/25 easy/kick hard on the wall until next interval)
3x100 @ 3:00 (25 Frog-on-a-Lilypad/25 kick/50 swim)
8x75 w/fins @ 1:30 (25 underwater/25 swim/25 Tarzan drill)
50 easy
4x100 pull @ 2:00 (3/5 breathing pattern by 25)
300 (25 kick/25 drill/25 swim x 3)
6x75 @ 1:30 (25 free/25 non-free/25 free)
200 cool down
*3400 Total*
Ultimate Cardio: 30 minutes
Body Pump: 45 minutes
Tuesday, December 7
Swimming:
200 swim/200 pull/200 kick
6x50 w/:10 rest (25 fast/25 easy/:10 seconds kick hard on the wall)
3x100 w/:30 rest (25 Frog-on-a-Lilypad/25 kick/50 swim)
6x75 w/fins w/:30 rest (25 underwater/25 swim/25 Tarzan drill)
3x100 pull w/:20 rest (3/5 breathing pattern by 25)
300 (25 kick/25 drill/25 swim x 3)
4x75 @ 1:30 (25 free/25 non-free/25 free)
100 cool down
*2600 Total*
Treadmill Run: 3.1 miles in 28 minutes 30 seconds
Elliptical: 15 minutes
Spin Class: 45 minutes
The spin bikes are new and I'll just say the new seats are going to take some time to get used to! The upside is that bike has a computer system that tracks rpm, heart rate (assuming I remember to wear the heart rate monitor) and distance. In the class, I was able to pedal up 14.2 miles.
The Y has some new equipment and I was curious about the new stair climber. But it was being hogged by the personal trainer for a personal training class. Sorry, but having a personal training session that monopolizes the two new machines during peak use time is pretty damn annoying!Labels: Working out
posted by Michael Hickerson at 12/06/2011 07:21:00 PM |
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Well, my new routine got a bit off routine in the last two weeks. Thanksgiving week means a lot of good food and having to adjust things due to different schedules. It was all going well enough until late Sunday when I came down with the flu. It's knocked my routine completely off. I just now feel like I'm getting back most of my energy to where I could feel like doing a light work-out again. So, I am declaring this week a bust and will have week four start with next Monday, when I hope to try and burn off some of that delicious food I had over Thanksgiving and beyond.
Monday, November 21
Swimming:
600 warm up (200 swim/100 kick x 2)
8x50 @ 1:10 (descend stroke count 1-4, 5-8)
4x150 pull @ 3:00
8x50 @ 1:10 (descend time 1-4, 5-8)
4x150 swim @ 3:00
8x50 @ 1:15 (25 non-free/25 free)
300 cool down (100 swim/50 kick)
*3300 Total*
Ultimate Cardio: 30 minutes
Body Pump: 45 minutes
Tuesday, November 22
Swimming:
6x50 @ 1:10 (25 tarzan drill, 25 swim)
1x200 swim (no walls/turn @ the "T")
4x50 @ 1:15 (non-free/free by 25)
1x200 pull (3/5 breathing pattern by 50)
3x50 @ 1:10 (kick hard on wall between reps)
1x200 (50 kick w/board, 50 pull w/board)
4x25 @ :40 (descend stroke count 1-4)
1x200 swim (descend by 50)
1x300 cool down (2x: 100 swim/50 kick)
*3300 Total*
Treadmill Jog: 30 minutes, 3.30 miiles
Stationary Bike: 20 minutes, 5.84 miiles
Elliptical: 10 minutes
Wednesday, November 23
Swimming:
400 warm up
3x150 w/:30 seconds rest(50 kick/50 drill/50 swim)
14x25 w/:15 rest (1 fast, 1ez, 2 fast, 1ez, 3 fast, 1ez, 4 fast, 1ez)
2 x [100 swim moderate (record your time) w/:20 rest
50 swim (faster than 1/2 of 100 time) w/:20 rest
150 easy (50 pull/50 kick/50 pull with board) w/:30 rest]
6x75 w/:30 rest (free/non-free/free by 25)
100 cool down
*2400 Total*
Spin Class: 45 minutes
Jogging (Indoor Track): 38 minutes
Thursday, November 24
BoroDash -- 4.0 miles in 37:48 seconds
Friday, November 25
Walk/Jog on Indoor Track: 15 minutes
Spin Class: 1 hour
Swimming:
300 warm up (200 swim/100 kick)
8x50 w/:15 rest (descend stroke count 1-4, 5-8)
4x150 pull w/:30 rest
8x50 w/:15 rest (descend stroke count 1-4, 5-8)
4x150 swim w/:30 rest
100 cool down
*2400 Total*
Saturday, November 26
Swimming:
300 warm up (200 swim/100 kick)
8x50 w/:15 rest (descend stroke count 1-4, 5-8)
4x150 pull w/:30 rest
8x50 w/:15 rest (descend stroke count 1-4, 5-8)
4x150 swim w/:30 rest
100 cool down
*2400 Total*
Ultimate Cardio: 55 minutes
Labels: Working out
posted by Michael Hickerson at 12/01/2011 09:31:00 AM |
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