2020-01-31

The Iron Giant holds up

Do you remember the Iron Giant? I do and now, thanks to the miracle of digital home entertainment, so does my son. And guess what: He loved it.

What is the true mark of good literature: It withstands the test of time. [Read More…]

2020-01-29

Dirty 30: workout you will love to hate

My workouts through the years have generally consisted of the exercises I like and the ones I do not. That is not the case with Darebee’s Dirty 30 workout.

This workout is another tough one that works a number of major muscle groups. It leaves you sweating; feeling like you did something and you see the results pretty quickly. [Read More…]

2020-01-24

The deposit system in Germany enables small-scale charity

In downtown areas in Germany, you will often see beer and other beverage bottles standing next to public garbage cans. There is a very good reason for this and it might surprise you.

When a friend recently visited from Japan, he asked me why there are so many bottles next to garbage cans in downtown Bonn and not in the actual cans. I explained to him that a lot of people, when they go out, don’t bother to take their empties with them. [Read More…]

2020-01-19

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies can bring you closer to the original work

I would argue such works can serve as a gateway into classical literature and therefore have far more merit than most would grant them. It even has everything for people who like films of classical literature and satires of classical literature and zombie movies and satires of zombie films.

I have never read the Jane Austen novel, but having thoroughly enjoyed this sometimes schizophrenic journey through a nineteenth century post-apocalyptic England, I might pick it up.

It might have a little to do with the spoiler paradox: reading the summary of a film or novel before going through the actual work can help readers enjoy it more. [Read More…]

2020-01-18

Strength can be free

Get ready for the absolute best bodyweight workout I have ever done.

I have been exercising, working out, training, practicing physical culture (call it what you will…) for well over 20 years and I have never tried a workout that is as demanding and productive as the Power Gainer.

It targets all the main muscle groups and, coupled with jumping rope (which I did until my plantar fasciitis made that temporarily impossible), is a complete workout that will leave you sweating bullets already halfway through. Although, I would recommend doing the side planking before the straight elbow planking. [Read More…]