Memorial Day

I hope everyone will take a moment to remember one of those who have served and passed on before us.

LCpl. Matthew P. Pathenos, USMCR, 21, Ballwin, Mo. - died Feb. 7, Al Anbar Province.

Semper Fi, Lance Corporal.

Today's Pain

I was feeling yesterday's bout today.

Lat Pull-downs (Wide outboard): 3/max (first set 10, decreased after that) 160
Lat Pull-downs (Close inboard): 3/5 160
Bench press: 3/10 160
Military press: 3/10 90
Incline press: 3/10 90 (I think I'm ready to up this one)
Free weights (weight is per hand)
Lat row: 3/10 40
Lat fly: 3/10 15
Flys: 3/10 10
Bicep curl: 3/5 45
Shrugs: 3/10 45


I'm thinking of ways to change up my workout a bit more. I'm still experimenting with some additions or replacements. I know I'm making progress in terms of building muscle, but I want to make sure I don't end up getting over-concentrated in certain areas. Any thoughts?

Workout for today

Today's break-off consisted of:
Lat pull-downs (wide/outboard): 3/10 150
Lat pull-downs (close/inboard): 3/5 150
Bench Press: 3/10 160
Military Press: 3/10 90
Incline Press: 3/10 90
Lat pull-downs (wide/outboard): 3/5 150
Lat pull-downs (close/inboard): 3/5 150
Free Weights (weights are per hand)
Lat row: 3/10 35
Flys: 3/10 10
Lat Flys: 3/10 15
Shrugs: 3/10 35

All the while I was watching/listening to the news about the tornadoes in Hennessey, OK.

Uh...say again?

I scares me that a sitting representative in the United States Congress actually even suggested the nationalization of any part of US industry. Wow...

Please read.

'nuff said.

DO we still have troops in Iraq? Is there still a conflict over there?

If you rely on the so-called mainstream media, you may have difficulty answering those questions these days. As Iraqi and Coalition forces pile up one success after another, Iraq has magically vanished from the headlines.

Want a real "inconvenient truth?" Progress in Iraq is powerful and accelerating.

Read it and understand.

New workout starts today

After a short break after my graduation, I just restarted my workout regimen. I figured I'd post my current routine and see if it's more effective than some of my previous stuff.

Lat Pulldowns (outboard wide grip): 3/10
Lat Pull (inboard close grip): 3/5
Bench Press: 3/10
Military Press: 3/10
Tricep Extention: 3/10
Incline Press: 3/10
Lat Pulldown (outboard wide grip): 3/max
Lat Pulldown (inboard close grip): 3/max

Kettle Bell: Flys 3/10

This is what I did today in addition to my "pre-hab" exercises (a 45-minute leg workout that concentrates on strengthening the muscles around my knee). I'm also looking to include some cycling in my standard workout, but may separate my cardio from my weight-lifting just to keep my time more manageable.

Someone isn't learning

One of the principles of leadership drilled into our heads is to become a "life-long learner." This is also brought up with the concept of the "3000 year-old mind"...basically, we have 3000 years of written history (especially involving warfighting), so we should make use of it. This prevents major, life-threating mistakes that have been observed in the past. Clearly, an editor from the Seattle Times has not really understood his history...or willingly refuses to use it.

Now, numerous blogs have covered the main story, such as Little Green Footballs here. My particular take is the editor's response in the comments after being ripped to shreds by so many readers:

I am making an argument against using the story of the Munich Conference of 1938 and the idea of "appeasement" as a touchstone in making foreign policy decisions in the Middle East. I am making two claims about it. The second claim, which most of the respondents did not mention, is that the comparison is not relevant. That is, that the Middle East is so different from Europe in 1938 that the two should not be connected.

Why would you not use your history in foreign policy decisions. It doesn't matter whether you are talking to Canada or Togo, you have a resource in all your history...so use it and learn. You won't regret it, I promise.

Update: He edited it.

Ignorance is bliss...for some.

I have to be careful sometimes. One of the big rules of blogging is to never blog angry. I waited a day, but this subject still irritates me. Instapundit pointed to this article about the Marine Corps exceeding it's recruiting goals for the month. Aside from the "recruiting is easier in a slow economy" comment which doesn't really jive with the 5% unemployment rate we're at, my curiosity got the best of me and checked the comments. One of the more persistent myths I'm seeing throughout is the idea that the military accepts high school drop-outs. As of 2003, 85% of the general population has graduated high school. 96% of the those in the Marines have graduated high school as of 2004. Those that don't graduate must get a GED (3%). Those who are home schooled must earn additional college credit. The idea that the military is made up of unschooled morons is completely out of touch with reality...but it remains a stalwart claim of many...many that must not know much about the military or rely on hearsay. I would challenge them, go get to know some in the military. It would prevent asinine drivel like this comment:

Mission accomplished by lowering the standards. You no longer have to be a high school grad, nor does a criminal record bar you from joining up. In fact, a criminal record may in fact be a recommendation for the kinds of acts Marines perpetrate in Iraq and other places.

False starts and delays

Well, my surgery got canceled due to complications with the crazy weather we've been having. Apparently the flooding effected the hospital and shut the OR down. My time was pushed back to Thursday. In the mean-time, I'll be resuming my "pre-hab" routine for a couple days.

Dishonesty

My usual reading of blogs this afternoon resulted in a sudden spike in my blood pressure. This article from Time magazine declares "Al-Sadr wins another round." Anyone who has followed the recent actions revolving around "Mookie" will know the actual story...that Al-Sadr is being squeezed.

This comment from Little Green Footballs is very appropriate:

May 8th, 1945: Allies sign surrender document.

The Basic School

Wednesday this week, I graduated with my "Cat-herding" certificate from the Basic School. A crazy 6-months indeed. Unfortunately, my time here in Quantico is not done. I am now with Mike Company preparing to heal my jacked-up ACL for the next couple months. Should be a good time...not really.

Mess Night

To be honest, my experience with formal dinners has pretty much exclusively involved the Marine Corps...outside of a homecoming (which generally isn't really formal...since there was the duct-tape suit and the guy with his converse canvas shoes on), I guess. Now, Marine Corps balls are a yearly event and so I know the drill pretty well. Mess night is new. After talking to several other prior-service Marines, I figured out that it is not a common event and varies widely per unit. In your career you may only have one mess night...or several. Their generally saved for big events like pre or post deployment or change of command.

The whole event is actually quite entertaining and follows a script. There are lots of inside jokes that are played upon within the unit. The end result is a memorable night and lots of blackmail for the next day.