The Brazo-Austra-American Connection

There are three countries that I put in the same category. We're like blood brothers. 

Brazil, Australia, and the United States (Pictures in order - BR, AU, US).

You can agree or disagree, but the people in these places share a lot of similarities, as do their histories. All three were colonized by European powers. All three were exploited by those same powers. All of those countries were made what they are today by waves of immigration from all over the world. All of them also have vast untamed stretches of country. From the Amazon in northern Brazil, to the Yukon in Alaska, to the Northern Territory in Australia. Another cool fact is that all of the countries have great surfing, surfers, and beach communities. All three have vast mineral resources, mining operations, and stable economies. They all have beautiful people. And, another similarity is that all three countries share my love.

Running Revisited

Some of you might recall a post I wrote a couple weeks ago about running.  It basically said how I think running for the sake of running is pointless.  I said that if I'm not doing something productive with that running, like playing ultimate frisbee, lacrosse, or even baseball, there is no point to it.  Well, I'm starting to come around.

I've been running more lately.  Not every day.  But a lot of days.  And, even though I am reluctant to put on my running shoes some mornings, once I put them on and am out there running, I like it.  I feel like a locomotive.  The Queen song, 'Don't Stop Me Now' comes to mind.  So I've decided running can be therapeutic.  However, I run alone.  I think I might be able to jog with a buddy, but running is different.  I try to keep an even keel, solid pace, but I think my speed varies quite a bit depending on the distance I've traveled and how close I am to the end.  So, I think anyone running with me would probably get pretty frustrated.  Jogging on the other hand really isn't exercise, but a social event, and maybe it gets your heart rate up a little bit.  Jogging is for old people, people with bad knees, or people who are morbidly obese, or guys who want to have an excuse to go somewhere with good-looking women.  I know I used to do that.  All freshman year in college.

At any rate, I recommend running to most people.  And, if you have bad knees or a bad back go on the eliptical machine at the gym, or go swimming.