Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Everything Back To Normal and A New Beginning

Back to Normal:

I finally got my car back today after it being in the body shop for two weeks.  It wasn't too bad since we have a 3rd vehicle, a GMC Yukon XL that normally only gets out for family vacations and hauling things.

Also nice was that the shop is close enough that I could easily ride my bicycle down there and not  inconvenience  my wife with having to drop me off.

The ride seemed nicely smooth and sporty after driving the truck for two weeks.  Also, the shop detailed the car to the point that it looked better than when I picked it up from the dealer new. One gripe is that on my errands today it rained.  It seems like it always does this whenever one of the cars is freshly waxed.

A New Beginning:

In anticipation of turning 50, my plan was to get weights and start to pick them up to avoid muscle loss from aging.  Now more than 6 months past that point, I have finally gotten the weight set.  It is just a barbel, which is 45 lbs by itself and an additional 255 lbs of plates.  My plan is to lift the empty bar three times in the first week and then add five lbs each week until I can't lift it.  My thinking is that I really don't have time for a long workout and so 5 minutes of clean and jerk will have to do.  The first week is mostly done and I am happy to report that I can lift the awe-inspiring weight of 45 lbs over my head.

Update:  A few weeks in now and the weight is up to 65 lbs.  It is still pretty much effortless but I'm sure the end is near.  I got headaches the first couple of weeks; probably soreness in unfamiliar areas leading to tension.

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

So, If I Understand You Correctly...

It hasn't accomplished anything in 48 years and therefore it is a "vital law"?
"The landmark civil rights law that Congress passed almost five decades ago, and reauthorized with overwhelming bipartisan support only seven years ago, has been an important tool to protect voters in places with a history* of discrimination. The law is as necessary today as it was in the era of Jim Crow laws. We must act immediately to rewrite this vital law.” link
--Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT)

 *history: From Chief Justice Roberts's opinion:


"In 1975, Congress reauthorized the Act for seven more
years, and extended its coverage to jurisdictions that had
a voting test and less than 50 percent voter registration or turnout as of 1972.
In 1982, Congress reauthorized the Act for 25 years, but
did not alter its coverage formula.
In 2006, Congress again reauthorized the Voting Rights
Act for 25 years, again without change to its coverage
formula. "
So the plan was to keep this law which discriminated against some states and parts of some others based on conditions in 1972? Why not base it on more current discrimination?

Too hard to find is a more obvious reason for being stuck in the 70's.  And therefore, it is not that the law was useless, it is that it worked and is no longer needed.