Advice to gym newbies: Dress properly, avoid 'roids
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- Published on 06 January 2016
- Written by Doc Watson
Congratulations, if you’ve made a New Year’s resolution to get in better shape in 2016. If you’re heading to the gym as a newbie (or for those who speak military acronym – FNG) or just haven’t gone in years, I’ll provide you with some info to help you avoid embarrassing yourself and to keep the gym protocol rolling smoothly so the regulars won’t get their panties in a bunch.
First off, I’m no Charles Atlas, just a guy who’s pretty much addicted to exercise. I’m in so-so shape and in my 50s, so I won’t set off the Lunk Alarm, as Planet Fitness derisively calls muscle heads. But I’ve spent years in gyms trying to avoid obesity and type 2 diabetes played a role in my father’s early demise. We gym “regulars” aren’t upset that a new crop of folks has decided to hit the gym. We don’t mind a crowded gym as much as those who are clueless in it.
Gym attire is probably the first thing you should consider. Almost all women look better in tight leggings or yoga pants, but men should avoid them like a Cosby cocktail. Guys, you’re best off wearing a t shirt and shorts or sweat pants, no jeans, please. If you’re in terrific shape, sure, throw on a tank top now and then to show off the guns, but the majority should resist the wife beaters. Longer shorts or sweat pants work just fine for the bottom half. Don’t throw on short shorts reminiscent of the NBA 80’s era. And don’t do what I saw a 60-ish, grey-haired guy did recently at my gym. He had on compression shorts WITHOUT a regular pair of shorts on over them. My eyes still cannot un-see that.
Generally, the more serious lifters take over the free weight section, so novices enter there at your own risk. Average physique folks like me, with delusions of Arnold grandeur long since gone, stick with machines mostly. My biggest pet peeve currently is people who sit on machines or a weight bench reading or texting on their phones. Leave the damn things in the locker room. If you can’t disconnect and be unreachable for an hour, that’s a YOU problem, and YOU should probably find a better use for your hard earned money. Don’t rest or lean on a machine, at least in the late afternoon/early evening when the crowds are at a peak. Allow someone to work in with you, alternating sets, if needed.
Most of us listen to iPods in the gym, but it’s OK to take the ear buds off and chat briefly during a workout. It’s not OK, however, to hold long conversations with someone on a machine or someone in the middle of a workout unless you’re both just starting or finishing at the same time. Either way, the warm up area, locker room or hallway are better places to catch up. If you use the cardio machines, don’t forget to wipe ’em down afterward. If you’re not sweating on them, kick it up a notch.
That’s enough to get you started. Just be aware of others around you, even if you’re zoning out listening to your favorite radio statio or your favorite tunes on shuffle. Don’t overdo it the first couple of weeks. You’ll be sore and won’t want to come back. Step up the intensity of your workouts slowly and gradually. It’s a marathon not a sprint, and you gotta stick with it for more than a few weeks to see results. We gym regulars want you coming back – it makes for a better atmosphere when there are bodies in motion in the gym.
Good luck and stay off the steroids.
Rauner plans $480 million bond issue for infrastructure needs
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- Published on 05 January 2016
By Mark Fitton
Illinois News Network
SPRINGFIELD — Gov. Bruce Rauner plans to borrow nearly half a billion dollars for road, bridge and other construction money.
While Democrats don’t seem to be taking the Republican governor to task for borrowing when the state already has debt and credit problems, some of Rauner’s fellow small-government and free-market advocates say Illinois should be looking to avoid, not take on, additional debt.
Rauner’s administration this week announced Illinois expects to sell about $480 million in general obligation bonds in January to fund construction and pay other capital costs.
The bonds are to be sold Jan. 14 and the funds should be available in late January.
The governor’s office said continuing appropriations are in place and there are “sufficient dedicated revenues in place to cover the payments.”
Rauner, speaking to reporters Monday in Chicago, said the bond issue is needed.
“Absolutely, yes,” the governor said. “If it were to cover operations or an operating deficit, I would say no. I’ve been opposed to that from Day 1.
“This is for construction (and) construction is long-term benefit, and we should tie the financing for it to the nature of the expenditure,” he said. “Short-term spending should not be covered by long-term bonds, but infrastructure — roads, bridges, major construction of buildings — that should be done by bonding in many cases.”
“Despite the lack of a budget and in spite of some of the political leaders being relatively hostile to economic growth, we need to grow our economy, (and) infrastructure is critical. It’s very appropriate that despite everything we continue to invest in our infrastructure, and bonding is part of that,” Rauner said.
A spokesman for House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, didn’t object to this bond issue but poked the Rauner administration for its timing.
“It’s about time,” said Steve Brown, Madigan’s spokesman. “I guess the governor’s staff has finally figured out it’s time to do something about our infrastructure.”
On the opposite end of the spectrum is Chris Edwards, an economist with the Cato Institute, which describes itself as libertarian think tank that supports free markets and limited government.
“Illinois is the last state you’d want to go further in debt,” Edwards said. “Illinois has the lowest credit rating (of all states) among the main agencies, which means its cost of borrowing is higher than other states that run a tighter fiscal ship. … Illinois’ debt per capita is already twice the national average, and Illinois has the most-underfunded state pension plan in the country.”
Edwards argues that taking on additional debt amounts to pushing the tax burden onto already heavily laden future generations.
Illinois has no overall budget in place for the current fiscal year despite being halfway through it, and it is spending at a pace to put it an estimated $5 billion in the red for fiscal 2016 as it pays for primary and secondary education, debt service and costs mandated in continuing appropriations and in court actions.
Illinois current stack of unpaid bills sit at $3.9 billion, according to the state comptroller’s office, which also has said the figure could hit $8.5 billion by the end of fiscal year 2016.
The state’s long-term debt picture includes an estimated $111 billion in unfunded pension obligations.
The city of Chicago and the Chicago Public Schools system also are in deep financial trouble and looking to Springfield for help.
FrizziToon: It's a new year, ya know!
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- Published on 04 January 2016
A suffix tops the word list for 2015
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- Published on 04 January 2016
- Written by PRNewswire
Merriam-Webster Inc., America's leading dictionary publisher, has announced its top Words of the Year for 2015. This year's data-driven list is determined by two simple criteria: the words must show a high volume of lookups and a significant year-over-year increase in lookups at Merriam-Webster.com. The results shed light on topics and ideas that sparked the nation's interest in 2015.
This year, for the first time, Merriam-Websterhas named a suffix,-ism, as its 2015 Word of the Year, reflecting the fact that many of Merriam-Webster'shighest ranking words this year had one thing in common; they ended in-ism.
The list of high-ranking -isms begins with the most looked-up word of the year,socialism, but also includesfascism, terrorism, racism, feminism, communism, andcapitalism.
"Socialismhas been near the top of our online dictionary lookup list for several years," explainsPeter Sokolowski, Editor-at-Large at Merriam-Webster. "However, this year lookups moved up even further, beginning with the July campaign events forBernie Sanders, remaining high throughout the following months, and spiking again after the first Democratic debate in October."
Terrorismwas frequently looked up during the past year, particularly following attacks inParis, Colorado Springs, and San Bernardino. Responses to those attacks, includingDonald Trump'scomments about banning Muslims from enteringthe United States, also drove lookups offascism.
Police violence, theSouth Carolinachurch shooting, and theUniversity of Missouriprotests were among the reasons that lookups ofracismincreased this year.
Amy Schumer'ssuccess,Hillary Clinton'scandidacy, and coverage ofCaitlyn Jenner'sstory contributed to spikes for the wordfeminism.
Non-ismwords looked up in large numbers in 2015 includemarriage, which peaked when the Supreme Court ruled that same-sex couples could marry nationwide, andminion,because of the hit movieThe Minions.
"These words reveal our curiosity and our engagement; we're looking at the news through the prism of vocabulary," added Sokolowski. "A definition can be the beginning of reflection. This year, we've certainly had a lot on our minds."
For more background on Merriam-Webster'sWords of the Year, see:the complete list, slideshow, andvideo.
By the numbers: The holiday season
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- Published on 23 December 2015
- Written by PRNewswire
This festive season, or simply the holidays, is a time for gathering and celebrating with family and friends, gift giving, reflection and thanks. To commemorate this time of year, the U.S. Census Bureau presents the following holiday-related facts and figures from its collection of statistics.
Rush to the Stores
$24.5 billion: Estimated retail sales by the nation's department stores (including leased departments) inDecember 2014. This represents an estimated 41.2 percent jump from the previous month when retail sales were estimated at $17.3 billion. No other estimated month-to-month increase in department store sales last year was as large.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Monthly Retail Trade Survey
http://www.census.gov/econ/currentdata/dbsearch?program=MRTS&startYear=2014&endYear=2014&categories=4521I&dataType=SM&geoLevel=US¬Adjusted=1&submit=GET+DATA
Note: Leased departments are separately owned businesses operated as departments or concessions of other service establishments or of retail businesses, such as a separately owned shoeshine parlor in a barber shop, or a beauty shop in a department store. Also, retail sales and inventory estimates have not been adjusted to account for seasonal or pricing variations.
14.2%: The estimated percentage of total 2014 sales for department stores (including leased departments) in December. For jewelry stores, the estimated percentage was 18.2 percent.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, Monthly Retail Trade Survey
http://www.census.gov/econ/currentdata/dbsearch?program=MRTS&startYear=1992&endYear=2014&categories=4521I&dataType=SM&geoLevel=US¬Adjusted=1&submit=GET+DATAandhttp://www.census.gov/econ/currentdata/dbsearch?program=MRTS&startYear=1992&endYear=2014&categories=44831&dataType=SM&geoLevel=US¬Adjusted=1&submit=GET+DATA
21.7%: The estimated growth in inventories by our nation's department stores (excluding leased departments) from Aug. 31 to Nov. 30, 2014.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Monthly Retail Trade Survey
http://www.census.gov/econ/currentdata/dbsearch?program=MRTS&startYear=1992&endYear=2014&categories=4521E&dataType=IM&geoLevel=US¬Adjusted=1&submit=GET+DATA
$48.3 billion: Estimated value of retail sales by electronic shopping and mail-order houses inDecember 2014— the highest estimated total for any month last year.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Monthly Retail Trade Survey
http://www.census.gov/econ/currentdata/dbsearch?program=MRTS&startYear=1992&endYear=2014&categories=4541&dataType=SM&geoLevel=US¬Adjusted=1&submit=GET+DATA
31,112: The number of electronic shopping and mail-order houses in business in 2013. These businesses, which employed 383,066 workers in the pay period includingMarch 12, are a popular source of holiday gifts.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013 County Business Patterns
http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/BP/2013/00A1//naics~45411
Christmas Trees and Decorations
$1.2 billion: U.S. imports of Christmas tree ornaments fromChinabetween January andSeptember 2015. Chinawas the leading country of origin for such items. Similarly,Chinawas the leading foreign source of artificial Christmas trees shipped tothe United States($163.3 millionworth) during the same period.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Foreign Trade Statistics
http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade
567: Estimated number of U.S. producers who grew poinsettias in 2014.California,North CarolinaandFlorida ranked in the top three for sales of the popular holiday plant.
Source: USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service (pg. 42)
http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/usda/current/FlorCrop/FlorCrop-06-04-2015.pdf
Where Toys are Made
545: The number of locations that primarily produced dolls, toys and games in 2013; they employed 6,538 workers in the pay period includingMarch 12.Californialed the nation with 86 establishments.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013 County Business Patterns
http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/BP/2013/00A1/0100000US|0100000US.04000/naics~33993
Holiday Names: Place names associated with the holiday season consist of a dozen places named Holly, includingMount Holly, N.C.(population 14,016) andHolly Springs, Miss.(7,574). There isSnowflake, Ariz.(5,644),Santa Claus, Ind.(2,479),North Pole, Alaska(2,178),Noel, Mo.(1,831) and — if you know about reindeer —Dasher, Ga.(959) andRudolph, Wis.(433). There is alsoUnity, N.H.(1,615) and Peace, N.D. (28).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates
http://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2014/SUB-EST2014.html
Thanksgiving,HanukkahandKwanzaa
53%: Estimated proportion of the nation's potatoes produced inIdahoandWashingtonduring 2014. Potatoes are a popular dish served during the holidays.
Source: USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service
http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/usda/current/Pota/Pota-09-17-2015.pdf
$1.7 billion: The estimated product shipments value of candles in 2013 by U.S. manufacturers. Many of these candles are lit during Diwali (Nov. 11),Hanukkah(Dec. 6-14) andKwanzaa(Dec. 26-Jan. 1) celebrations.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2012 Economic Census, Industry Series
http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ASM/2013/31VS101//prodsvc~3399995
11.5%: The estimated percentage by which the U.S. Postal Service surpassed its own projections for package deliveries inDecember 2014. This marks an increase of 18 percent from package deliveries inDecember 2013.
Sources: U.S. Postal Service
http://about.usps.com/news/national-releases/2014/pr14_057.htmand
http://about.usps.com/news/national-releases/2015/pr15_002.htm
