Libertarian Lifter

I've been posting here

paulstagg.com

for a year.

Nice to see Blogger has added some additional features!

New posts!!!

Read them here:

https://paulstagg.com

The libertarian lifter is moving. I've redirected my personal domain to a new wordpress.com account. Wordpress allows for the addition of pages, which is what I wanted to do with my website.

I'll be working on moving posts over in the next few days, but for now, all new material will be posted here:

https://www.paulstagg.com

Yes.

Via the Agitator

Sorry for the gaps in posts, haven't had much to say or much time to say it. I do have a lesson for President Obama on how "those who are more fortunate" behave, and maybe how most of them got that way, and why increasing taxes by lowing deductions for charitible contributions will indeed reduce the amount of contributions. But then, that's what he wants.

Anyway.

I'm thinking I might revamp my blog/website thing. I has a website, but I havent' been updating it. I looked at wordpress, and it looks like I could build something with a blog and articles/information, which is kinda what I'd like to do. Make a project of it, or something.

Still figuring out twitter, but I'm there if you are interested.

Training updates will be back soon.

Squat
45x5
95x5
135x5
185x3
230x5
270x5
305x5
135x10

Leg curl
50x10
60x10
3x10 @ 70

fin.

Bench Press
45x10
95x5
135x5
170x5
200x5
230x6
5x10 @ 135

DB Row
5x10 @ 50

I am out of shape.

I wonder, why didn't any US mainstream media cover this?

Pretty sure they would have covered a similar blunder by the last President.

Rush Limbaugh needed Barack Obama to become President. Nothing brings out the best in Rush as an administration with opposing policies who also appear to be losing their footing (see: Clinton). I've always found Rush entertaining, but sometimes his commentary really bothered me, so I didn't listen much. Having Obama in the White House, though, has me tuning in more often.

He's taken to referring to everything the President says as "what Obama's telepropmpter told him to say." Honestly, the first time he said it, I just did a double take, but the second I laughed so hard I thought I was going to run my hybrid off the road.

Now, Obama's teleprompter has a blog.

If we can avoid universal health care and much damage to the economy, this is going to be a very entertaining 4 years.

I'm finding I get a kick out of twitter. Mostly due to who I follow, not so much what I post, although I'm learning how to add value to all the noise.

What's funny is how some people don't understand that twitter is public. Really. Think before you post.

I know I've tried to be very careful about identification. I don't hide who I am, so if my boss wants to find me in the interweb, he can. But when discussing politics, or, frankly, any controversial issue, I keep it clear that it's MY personal comments, that no way reflect my employer. I don't identify my employer on twitter or on my blog (although if you look hard enough, you can find out).

I know my boss can see my Facebook page, and I've got a website where the URL is my name. I'm not going to trash my company, make them look bad, or discuss anything I don't want them to know on any internet medium other than secure email.

Seriously. How can anyone not get this?

Link via problogger on twitter.

The AVI has a message for our friends on the left.

You have believed that politicians saying nice things to people who are oppressed - and insisting that everyone else say nice things - is more important than the downtrodden having actual jobs and dignity. You have believed that people having stuff collectively is worth more than self-respect. You have voted for that and you have gotten it, and when it tanks, you must not think it is some accidental misfortune.

You have believed that regular people will not get good things unless government makes it happen. You take it as a given that something called the market will treat people unfairly, and civil servants, not perfect but well-meaning, are needed to prevent abuse. You have thrown your lot in with the idea that the government is far less corrupt than private industry, and have hired that fox to guard the henhouse. This is exactly where Pelosi, Reid, Obama, Rangel, Dodd, et alia are taking us. When government corruption prevents recovery, it is not because you have had the bad luck to elect a few bad apples in with the good folk.

All this especilaly fitting the nitwits in Congress threatening to take action against specific individuals, even as they WROTE IN THE LAW that AIG had to honor it's contracts.

This gets scarier by the minute.

Trying something new and different. (Over and above actually going to the gym)

OH Press
45x5
65x5
85x5
95x3
105x5
120x5
135x8 (PR)
2x10 @ 85
3x10 @ 65

Neutral Grip pullups
2x5

Pulldowns
5x5 @ 180

15 minutes treadmill.

I, um. What?

Ozzy Newsome and company again look like they know what they are doing.

Some commentary:

Bart Scott to the Jets. Scott is a hell of a player, and probably has the most potential long term upside given his age. However, he's not worth $8million a year. The Jets overpaid, and are going to find out that the Ravens' defensive schemes and the other players make these guys better. Take a look at some other Ravens who moved on and haven't been anywhere near as productive. Certainly a loss, but good for him to go get the payday.

Jason Brown to the Rams. As with Scott, Brown is a great inside lineman and good for him for getting the big payday. But also as with Scott, he's just not worth the $7million a year he's getting. I know there was a disagreement on how he should be paid, as a guard or center, but in my opinion, that just didn't matter. He's good, but can be replaced.

Jim Leonhard to the Jets. Who doesn't love this player? He wanted and deserved a shot at a starting spot, and the Ravens' depth at safety just wasn't going to give him that opportunity. I think he's worth the money even as a backup/special teams guy (3 years at $6million), but the cap limits I think precluded signing him, and he wasn't going to be happy if he didn't have a starting spot. Another good for him, he's going to be a factor.

Terrell Suggs franchised by the Ravens. I don't like this move at all. I think they needed to find a way to work something out without using the tag, and I think now they need to work out a long term deal before the season starts. If they don't, he'll be gone in 2010. While there's a lot of depth at linebacker, I think Suggs is worth locking up for 5 years.

Matt Birk to the Ravens. Great signing, good deal, some experience on the line and a little better protection for Flacco. Sign a big play reciever, and you'll see this pay off.

Ray Lewis re-signed. 3 years and $22million seems about right. I was suprised he didn't get more interest, but I think it was true the Ravens were willing to outbid anyone for Lewis. He's going to retire a Raven, and his leadership and passion have unlimited value. He's going to be the reason these young linebackers are going to be great for years to come.

Matt Stover let go. Well, maybe. He got an offer from the Jets, the Ravens said they would let him go, and the Jets signed someone else. From an emotional standpoint, I hate that Stover might play somewhere else or retire like this, but from a business standpoint, I think carrying two kickers takes up a roster spot better used for something else, and it probably is time to move on. I'm not happy about it, though. We love this guy.

I can't wait for the season to start!

Awesomesauce.

Greetings from lovely Austin, TX.

Came for a long weekend on our continuing research on warm places we might want to live. General verdict on the city is that it's pretty nice, lots of new building going on, clean, nice people. Weather for us has been pretty good, it was in the upper 80's for the last couple of days, today is low 60's. It can get really hot in the summer from what we hear.

Some restaraunt reviews:

On Wednesday, we had lunch at Iron Cactus on 6th St. Awesome. I had Steak Colorado Enchiladas, J had the Acapulco. We may return before we go home. 9/10

Wednesday evening, we went to Bess Bistro. Ambiance and location are great, food was good, service was a little off. 7.5/10. The Artichoke hearts and spinach appetizer was fantastic. J really liked her seafood risotto, I thought the steak frites were OK, but not spectactular. Prices were OK.

Thursday, we had lunch at Jo's on 2nd St. Awesome. I had a pulled pork sanwich, and J and I shared Frito Pie. Very well done, friendly service. Outside seating needs to be a little cleaner (or bussed mor quickly), as we made close aquaintence with a number of birds finishing off someone else's Frito Pie. 8/10 (9/10 without birds).

Friday night, we went to Louie's 106. Had some build up, as they've won awards from Wine Spectator, and the place looked really nice. Inside, the ambiance is great. Classy place, nice bar, open kitchen. Unfortunately, the rest of the experience was quite lacking. Our server had no interest in being there. We had to ask her what the specials were, I was served a warm (like warmer than room temp) glass of wine, and she was generally inattentive. The food, likewise, was dissapointing. My Ceasar salad was good. J had Veal Risotto. She liked the risotto, but the veal was not of the quality the price made us expect. I had a 16 oz ribeye, which wasnt' bad, it just wasn't the $36 steak I was expecting. It was also overcooked (I asked for medium rare, I got medium to medium well). Since we could see into the kitchen, it was clear my steak was sitting under heater for several minutes while the risotto finished. Wine by the glass list unimpressive, and the general wine list was quite overpriced, in my opinion. 6/10.

Today is touristy stuff, then going to an art/food thing tonight. Back to the grindstone on Monday.

Study finds that if you eat less, you lose weight.

What's more awesome? The study was apparenly poorly conducted.

So not only do we find out what Physics (Thermodynamics) taught us quite some time ago, but we couldn't even conduct a proper study to do it.

This is why the government shouldn't have anything to do with science.

Or anything else, for that matter.