Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan

Thanks to team Astana, Kazakhstan is 'flexing its muscles' in the Tour de France. This is a nice little 'so there' to Borat (Sasha Baron Cohen). My favorite line from Phil and Paul was something to the effect of rider so and so staying in the race because he could catch a ride on the passing express train (of the Astana team)' brought to you by Kazakh railways.'

Ok, to be more boring than might have heretofore been imagined, a couple of minor, minor updates (I use this blog as sort of personal time line journal). We are watching the Tour again this year. I still believe in Floyd (although I know that the evidence is against this; still, he did a good interview on NPR as he was plugging his new book). I think this year is the Tour of Chaos much more than last year--there are no heads of state; it's hard to root for any one player (especially since my favorite Jan Ulrich has retired).

I stopped trying the vegan thing--ages ago. Speciesist? Absolutely. I eat other species for dinner. My actual reasons are lame--it was too hard making a variety of meals for the kids and Paul and I was tending to more junk food than usual.

I'm training for a half marathon in September. A few weeks ago my hip and achilles were shot from over training. Among my remedies--acupuncture. I thought I was totally new age and alternative. Then I discover that a good friend (a Latin teacher married to a lawyer--a terrific person, but not a radical) had already done it. And, when I got there, a woman with a walker was making her way down the hall and an older man was arranging an appointment. The acupuncturist, Andy, looked at me kindly, hiding what we both knew--I am an idiot. Andy said, "Jodi, most of my clients are working people." Acupuncture is covered by lots of insurance policies and is an effective way of relieving pain. I learned something, primarily about the stupidity of my assumptions regarding class and social practice.

Comments

[Andrew]

At first I thought this would be in reference to this:

http://leninology.blogspot.com/2007/01/cultural-learnings-for-make-benefit.html

[Anthony Paul Smith]

Hayley and I are 'mostly vegan' in the house. It's helped that Hayley enjoys cooking and so do I, so we got these cookbooks. If you want to try and incorporate vegan meals in to your diet (for whatever reason) look at the three books by Sarah Kramer. La Dolve Vegan is full of easy, tasty recipes.

[mattcalarco]

Good for you with the half mary, Jodi! Best of luck!

[Jodi]

Andrew--I hadn't seen that--is it real??? It's hilarious.

Thanks, APS. I think matters would be different if my partner were interested in becoming vegan and if enjoyed cooking. Neither is the case, so...

Thanks, Matt. I'm concerned that my training might be interrupted because I'm going to Germany for a couple of weeks. My kids are with me and they don't speak German, so it's hard to just leave them somewhere while I run. But, I have 5 weeks till the race after I return and things have been going well this week. I'm hoping that if it all keeps progressing maybe I'll do the full thing next year.

I'm wondering, if you see this, who are you predicting in the Tour?

[David]

Jody,

thanks for a great blog! My thesis owes you a thanks also for your interpretation of The Parallax View.

david.