The last time we did this workout, it was the Last Workout at Black Box Manhattan, Version 1.0. We've been through a whole heckuva lot since then, and I just wanted to thank all of our Black Boxers who believed in us and hung in there, through Brooklyn and back into Manhattan, Version 1.5. I must also thank those Black Boxers who've taken on the project of revitalizing our Brooklyn space to the point where it stands a real chance to thrive.
You all inspire me. Thank you.
Tuesday 080701
Shoulder press 1-1-1-1-1 reps
Push press 3-3-3-3-3 reps
Push Jerk 5-5-5-5-5 reps
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Compare to 080503.
Can weeds help solve the climate crisis?
Do you know how many carbs are in your booze of choice? (via)
And speaking of booze: does alcohol have a place in a healthy diet?
Farmers' market food porn
Does healthy eating mean low-salt?
Coach Court uses his Jedi-mind-trick powers to compel you to come to tonight's free beginners' class out in Brooklyn at 7pm. See you there.
So you've taken a beginners' class or two and you want to join the Black Box? Well sign up for an Elements Workshop already, would ya? Thankyouverymuch.
Can political science, theology, or psychiatry help solve the climate crisis?
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121486841811817591.html?mod=todays_columnists
Hari, I'm not convinced myself that global warming is a "done deal" or that humans are the cause of it. However, it does seem like over our lifetimes we're going to be seeing climate change that will affect the plants (and food around) us.
I'm fascinated by the fact that what we deem "weeds" (i.e., undesirable plants) are much more robust than our domesticated monoculture crops. Like we see when we compare CrossFit to other, lesser, training regimens, you get what you train for. CrossFit specializes in not specializing--I think the same can be said of weeds.
Humans have "trained" weeds to be strong and opportunistic because we do everything we can to eradicate them. At the same time we've "babied" our wheat, corn, soy, etc., to the point where they (seemingly) need to be bioengineered in order to survive. In pursuing the very specific goal of larger yields, we've lost out on flavor, variety, etc.
We leave ourselves at risk, agriculturally speaking, the more we focus on monocultures just like we leave ourselves at risk by not having a broad base of fitness.
link:http://board.crossfit.com/showthread.php?t=30033&highlight=disk+disease (fifth comment)
A cut and paste from Dr. Susie Rosenberg, Crossfit Albany:
I'm a physician, too; but I was a nurse before I went to medical school, so I speak two professional "languages" and I am familiar with two different professional "cultures."
I think that helped me be something of a "participant-observer" of my own medical training and education.
Here are my observations about it all:
1. For conditions that are life or limb-threatening, go to an emergency department and see the emergency team.
2. For guidance about how to live a healthful lifestyle that will prevent heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and cancer, do not consult 99.9% of your physicians. For one thing, even if they know, they do not have the time to sit with you and educate you, much less design individualized interventions for your unique situation. Physicians are trained to diagnose and treat DISEASE. A very small percentage of our education is devoted to the study of HEALTH.
3. For guidance about how to live a healthful lifestyle, educate yourself widely. Read about nutrition, exercise, complementary and alternative medicine practices, the role of happiness and purpose, and then implement these practices, one by one, into your own life.
4. For treatment of non-emergent, chronic conditions like diabetes, heart disease, etc, consult both allopathic (mainstream) physicians and well-recommended alternative and complementary medicine practitioners, and use common sense and the black box approach to your wellness. (Try it and see how you do!)
5. Drugs: When all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail. So don't be surprised when you consult a physician to get a prescription. Honestly, most people who go to the doctor ARE DISAPPOINTED when they don't get that little piece of paper for a drug. Physicians prescribe drugs and surgery, those are our hammers. If you need a needle-and-thread and not a hammer, see a tailor!
6. Learn to weigh the risks of benefits of a proposed treatment against the risks and benefits of NO TREATMENT, or alternative treatment.
7. Remember, we are all going to die. That's a given. So, how do you want to live?
Personally, I would be very hesitant to evaluate the veracity of current scientific climate change theories based on the writings of an unknown (to me, anyway - but then again I can't even name anyone on The Hills, so I know I am "out of it") WSJ columnist.
So I looked him up...
http://mediamatters.org/items/200612120006
Now I am even more hesitant to buy into his writings which have been repeatedly verified to be false and/or misleading when it comes to presenting the conclusions of climate data. I will not question his honesty based on his long financial relationship with Exxon and other related companies but it seems quite coincidental that his refutations parallel those of the oil and gas industry.
Really - those wild-haired hippies aren't the only ones who might try to trick ya. :)
Allison,
"[W]e've 'babied' our wheat, corn, soy, etc., to the point where they (seemingly) need to be bioengineered in order to survive. In pursuing the very specific goal of larger yields, we've lost out on flavor, variety, etc."
Nothing prevents the affluent from seeking out low yield, high flavor, expensive produce. Agricultural policy should not be dictated by what is best for rich consumers or inefficient farmers.
And everyone who can't afford to eat organic will just have to put up with less nutritious, chemically-treated food? I'd rather that everyone could eat real food.
Problems of famine these days don't have to do with a lack of food--it's pretty much always poverty and politics that keeps the food away from those who need it; therefore, agribusiness' claims that we "need" to mass produce monocultures that are chemically treated seems a little self-serving to me.
Allison,
"Problems of famine these days don't have to do with a lack of food--it's pretty much always poverty and politics that keeps the food away from those who need it[.]"
It's true that money tends to solve problems of scarcity. It's equally true that politics helps keep people poor.
What's at the root of your skepticism regarding anthropogenic climate change, Allison? I'm surprised at how many people (especially republican senators) remain ignorant of the danger it poses in spite of how broadly accepted it is among scientists. Atmospheric CO2 is off the historic charts, and we may have already reached the point of no return in terms of mitigation.
The skepticism is particularly troubling given the imminent threat the effects of global warming pose to so many people. Just ask the people of Kiribati, the Maldives, the Sundarbans, Tuvalu, the Carteret Islands, the Inuit. The opposition these people face in advocating for a solution is entirely due to the self-interested politics of large and/or wealthy nations. While the Indian and American governments finger-point, the climate refugee count is already going up.
In less global news- I finally received the climbing rope in the mail. Assuming I can find a usuable carabeener at home, the rope should be set up today and ready to play with. Come down and give it a try!
yay climbing rope.
Great Kurt, can't wait!
Really want to try some arms only rope climbing.
OK...at the risk of making my first comment on the blog a "political" one... There are many things at stake here and, as is always the case, many factors influence them. More and more we are seeing "Climate Change" and less and less do we see "Global Warming". While global warming may be easy to argue with the coldest winters on record, etc. Climate change is impossible to argue as it could mean anything. The thing is, what is influencing climate change. One of my best friends is an atmospheric physicist and he tells me repeatedly that climate change is inevitable, it is just a question of when and how it happens and what we - humans - do to influence it (and no, that whole thing from the weather movie The Day After Tomorrow just isn't going to happen that way - man, he gets angry about that one...). The thing is, we, the global elite - you know the ones: university educated, have a computer, have clean drinking water, regular access to food. We are the least threatened and have the most ability to act on this - and for the most part (this would be those republican senators - and most of the American, Canadian and European populations) have the least interest as we can afford to avoid the repercussions, like the global food price crisis which is only going to worsen...
As a staff member of the UN who lives in NYC and who travels the world, it never ceases to amaze me how much the politics which Allison refers to, really do decide the fate of millions. Flying over East Africa during the "famines" I saw huge areas of lush green - the various governments and other actors were keeping the food from reaching those who need it. Look at the damage done in the former Yugoslavia by using production to control the population: Kosovo could grow most anything, but they have been convinced over decades that they grow only peppers, cabbage and onions. This was the socialist mind set creating interdependence between regions, only now people refuse to change and have no market for their product in the capitalist free-market environment.
Making individual decisions on these things do make change, but what we really need are government level changes and influences. Nation states are still the biggest influence that we can influence...
hey there folks. i haven't been around on the blog at all and i am finally back! i know you all missed me ;) i moved to hell's kitchen yesterday. this was the first "workout" i have done in over a week. i feel like i got hit by a bus, but it feels good to be back in action. i am now within walking distance from everything, it seems and am beginning a new chapter in my life. thank you to all the crossfitters that came to my birthday party and for all of you who were there for me in the events that happened after. i love this community!!
Press 135,155,165,170fail, 170fail. PR 175
P. Press 155,165,175,185x2,195x2
P.Jerk, 155,165,175,180,185
presses felt weak today, as did push presses, both slightly under weight
95-105-105-105-105
95-105-105-105-105
95-85-85-75-85
(5 x 1 x 122), (5 x 3 x 132), (135, 135, 130, 130(4,f), 125)
I did some presses at BBB and got a PR by 5# (I probably could have succeeded at a higher attempt, but I'll save that for next time). Since we're still waiting on squat stands, I also had to PR on my power clean to get it.
Jeff, that's awesome. Way to kick it old school style, sans squat stands.