Listening – 3

(restating the premise for the third and last time: At the end of a long evening a long time ago a wise friend commented that neither one of us would ever write a great book, but we could be great readers. I’ve held onto that idea for 25+ years and then the pandemic added a new twist: more time walking and running has led to more time listening to podcasts (and a couple audio books) and, just like I like to do with books, I want to share….my reactions, impressions, thoughts, where the podcast takes me. So hopefully this is the start of a series on podcasts I’ve listened to, including what, why you should listen, and what might come next. )

The Happiness Lab: Happiness Lessons of the Ancients: Aristotle

Yella: two professors explain Aristotle’s teachings in the context of pursuing happiness.

Go on: starting with the premise that the ancients talked and wrote about happiness and living a meaningful life, two wicked smart professors (of what, I’m not sure) dive into Aristotle and what he said about happiness and how to pursue it. Two big ideas that stood out for me: 1) moderation in all things, or balance, requires thinking about where you are on the spectrum of some value or characteristic and how you can take small steps to where you want to be. Every small step is closer and the closer you are to balance, or moderation, the happy you are; and 2) friendships exist on three levels, with the deepest being a ‘second self,’ that is a person who helps you move towards happiness, towards balance and moderation, because they know you well enough to know where you are on the spectrum of those virtues or characteristics you want to change most and they’re able to help.

Easier to listen to and far more engaging then my description above. And no need for a deep understanding of Aristotle as the host and guest bring everything around to today’s world.

To the end? Its less than 30 minutes, so, yeah, its more than worth the time. The other episodes in the series are worth it, too, but maybe only if you’re already keen on ancient philosphy.

So who? Anyone who isn’t perfect. Or at least isn’t perfectly happy. I don’t listen to self-help podcasts but this one struck a chord.

Listening – 2

(restating the premise: At the end of a long evening a long time ago a wise friend commented that neither one of us would ever write a great book, but we could be great readers. I’ve held onto that idea for 25+ years and then the pandemic added a new twist: more time walking and running has led to more time listening to podcasts (and a couple audio books) and, just like I like to do with books, I want to share….my reactions, impressions, thoughts, where the podcast takes me. So hopefully this is the start of a series on podcasts I’ve listened to, including what, why you should listen, and what might come next. )

‘Blood on the Tracks’ from the Bob Dylan: Album by Album podcast series

Yella: Deconstructing and appreciating one of Dylan’s best albums, figuring out the themes and the music, and just enjoying the brilliance.

Go on: the host says this is Dylan’s best album and maybe the best album of love songs, ever, then makes the case that ‘Blood on the Tracks’ describes the stages of a relationship, from breakup to reconciliation to another, final split, some bitterness, than acceptance. He gives songs their due as stand-alone songs and dives deep on the music itself, too. Yes, sometimes a bit too much hyperbole and sometimes more into the weeds than seems necessary, but, in all, a thorough understanding of and listening to a truly incredible album.

And by “dives deep on the music” I mean talks about which guitar chords and why, different bass lines, and even Dylan’s mid-song harmonica tuning. I started hearing the songs differently after listening to this podcast – not so much the lyrics, but the music.

To the end? Sure, if you love the album. If you don’t, the first episode is probably enough, although part 3 tackles ‘Idiot Wind’ and is well worth a listen.

So who? I’m almost finished reading ‘Once Upon a Time: the lives of Bob Dylan,’ by Ian Bell, which got me onto my recent Dylan kick and the whole history of his early years in New York City, with the folk scene and then going electric, pulls together so much US political, economic, and music history that I feel like everyone should know more and read more and appreciate more what a crazy influence Dylan has had — and intentionally not had at times — so I think everyone should listen to a podcast that dissects my favorite of his albums. But, honestly, if you’re not into Dylan, skip this.

And then: one of these days I am going to post my own version on “ablum by album,” although mine will be a take an artist or band, listening through their catalog in order. I’ve written Black Sabbath already and am almost all the way through R.E.M. I’m not going to even try Dylan, but no doubt what I think and hear and write about the bands I do “in order” will be influenced by Dylan.

and also this: I can’t recall any specific explanations for the album title, but strikes me as entirely possible that the “blood” is just pure toil, sweat, tears, effort from the artist and “tracks” is literally the album tracks, the songs, as in “track 3” – not railroads, not some metaphor for journeys or some extension of the album’s themes, just “man, we worked so hard on this there’s blood on these recorded tracks.” Just saying, that’s what I think.

Listening

At the end of a long evening a long time ago a wise friend commented that neither one of us would ever write a great book, but we could be great readers. I’ve held onto that idea for 25+ years and then the pandemic added a new twist: more time walking and running has led to more time listening to podcasts (and a couple audio books) and, just like I like to do with books, I want to share….my reactions, impressions, thoughts, where the podcast takes me. So hopefully this is the start of a series on podcasts I’ve listened to, including what, why you should listen, and what might come next.

“Gallipoli: What led to Britain’s WW1 disaster?” from the Warfare podcast series

Yella: Trade, strategy, and market manipulation, wrapped around politics and military calculations, all happening during WW1 and all leading to utter chaos and failure.

Go on: A wicked smart historian knows you know the basics – Gallipoli was a catastrophic failure — and explains why Britain would make such a dumb mistake by walking through the economic and political calculations, the military assessments and context of the greater war going on. He tells a good story, building the narrative with both 10,000-foot strategic considerations and in-the-room details about the specific people involved. Among the revelations: the Brits manipulated the Chicago mercantile exchange in a scheme straight out of the movie ‘Trading Places;’ dry weather in Australia and frozen Great Lakes in the US and Canada can lead to bread riots in the UK; and, few more ominous signs before a battle than when an officer writes home to say, “don’t send my winter gear, because we’re not going to be here very long.”

To the end? Yes, listen all the way to the end because the historian brings in a twist that makes me want to teach this episode in an intelligence gathering and strategy class. Just brilliant.

So who: despite the podcast series title, ‘Warfare,’ this episode almost all about trade policies, political decision-making, macro-economics, and the folly of believing what you think you know. So any interest in trade and economics and this is a good one.

And then: not sure where I am going to go with this section – maybe sometimes explain the avenues listening to the podcast took me down (for example, today realizing that Kennedy’s ‘Rise and Fall of British Naval Mastery’ barely mentions this, although that kind of make sense since it was less about the navy, after all). Or maybe thoughts on how this connects to another podcast or book or movie. For now, a work in prorgress.

ELLT Complete

13 triathlons, 63 total stages, and an impressive collection of overall winners

Countdown to ELLT 2021: those who don’t contend still compete

Every year we have racers who can’t make all four stages, but still compete when they can. True this final year, too, so here are your ELLT 2021 racing-not-contending-for-overall

Previous overall champion Eric Lapham, in for mountain biking and hoops only

Ben Hall, rock climbing phenom who will miss rock climbing and only compete in mountain biking and hoops

GARY !!!!! Mountain biking, definitely. Golf, maybe. Everything else, unlikely

Thomas Marshall, hoops stud now with three stitches in his hand. Soccer only for 2021

Jason Madden. Mountain biking and maybe hoops. Sidelined from rocks and golf because of an injury, but determined to mountain bike

Nick, pictured here with an ELLTx2 racer. Can’t mountain bike, but will compete in everything else

And, making his return to the East Luray Liars Triathlon after a too long hiatus, but not making it in time for rock climbing…..

Picture never gets old

Countdown to ELLT 2021: contenders

among the returning champions, Danno, JP, Eric Shimp, Mike Graf, Leo, Owen, and Travis are in contention for the 2021 overall, which will be back to an individual winner this year. Among the other racers, we have….

Chris Heffernan and Gus – an unlikely golfing twosome and a highly unlikely podium twosome, too, but who the hell know what might happen. Get drafted on to the right teams and anything is possible. Chris has some mad hoops skillz and Gus rides a bike like he skis, which is pretty damn good, so…..who knows

Greg Golden – rocking the Green Jacket. Riding a Pelaton now. Watched some hoops this year. Going to be a threat. Going to be a golf captain. Wicked dark horse. One of those 11-2 odds that kills.

Travis – the Danno of the yutes

could have picked the picture of Fes on a mountain bike. Or the video where he hits a perfect shot off a Mike Graf pick (Team Hickory). Or multiple climbing pictures. Or Fes facing off against William in basketball. But this picture says it all – Big Daddy’s mother’s clubs and pure respect. Heart and soul. Every year.

Hadj – so, lets talk about who has been the best evah at any one event, so much so they stand above. Rock climbing – Danno has been better, but the gap narrowed over the years (sorry, Danno, not about you, about Ben H and Ben M and Gundrum); golf – the Grey Ghost and Amit never faced off, but no one else else ever came close; mountain biking – Danno and Chris Roy have always been close to each other. Leo came close. So did Marshall, Lapham, and Jason Madden; and basketball – among the gold medals winners, we have Ben Moeling, Steve Ball, and a random Triton soccer player who filled in last minute. JP and Eric Shimp have won often. Hadj destroyed the field. He was the Grey Ghost, the Amit of hoops. Look at that picture – not even an Army stopped him. That said, we’re talking overall….all comes down to the draft.

Drew Lapham – so close before, bringing mad skillz at climbing, golf, and mountain biking – a huge upset threat

Mitchell Roy – few ELLT racers have stepped up unexpectedly like Mitchell did in hoops in 2018 (?…maybe 2017, need to consult The Book). Absolutely carried his team on his back for the win. This year? High expectations, as always!

who are we kidding? If not a previous champion, we all know Chris Roy has it this year….unless he gets terrible drafts….

16 racers competing to be last overall ELLT champion

Countdown to ELLT 2021: Champions

From 2008 onwards- tomorrow we will look at the contenders for 2021

2008 – JP – set the bar for the athletic demands of winning the overall and for proper treatment of the trophy

2009 – The Grey Ghost – proved winning at golf could lead to winning a triathlon

2010 – Eric Shimp – proved mountain biking skills could be optional

2011 – Danno – revenge of the non-golfers

2012 – Otto – proved it takes playing through the pain

2013 – JP – his second overall

2014 – Eric Marshall (raise a glass)

2015 – Eric Lapham breaks through

2016 – Leo – medal medal medal

2017 – Danno – ties JP with two overall wins

2018 – Team Mike Graf, with Owen, Tommy, and Ossi – first year with the same teams for all four events

2019 – Team Danno, with Owen, Travis, and Eric Gundrum

2020

Countdown to ELLT 2021: let’s review the schedule

Like every year, the same but different, calm but tense, 5 events, 3 days, 20+ racers

Thursday

+ Racers arrive from Virginia, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Ohio, and New York City

+ Draft starts around 8pm, maybe closer to 9pm — drafting for rock climbing only

+ Prep gear for soccer and rock climbing, complain about the teams, brag about past triathlons

Friday

+ 0715 – depart for Dunks and soccer

+ 0800-0930 – soccer

+ 1000-1230 – rock-climbing at MetroRock in Newburyport

+ 1230-1400 (that’s 2pm for Eric Lapham) – lunch at Riverwalk and draft for for golf

(those arcade games are gone, sad to say)

Still Friday

+ 5:15pm to finish – golf at Cape Ann Golf Course, Essex, MA (note: enough time between lunch and the first tee time to return to Adams Lane, have a beer, put on a proper shirt – Chris Heffernan – and pick up the necessaries on the way to golf)

Dinner – Adams Lane and draft for mountain biking

Saturday

+ 0730 – depart for mountain biking, Dunks en route

+ 0800 – group ride while the course gets marked

+ 0930-finish – time trial

Still Saturday

+ 1230- 1400 — lunch at Ipswich Brewery and draft for basketball

+ 3pm – finish — 3v3 hoops

After hoops – feast, closing ceremonies, and the end of ELLT

Countdown to ELLT 2021: PUP list

not “puppy,” but physically unable to play list

Too much training before tomorrow, when training always starts, has led to a few ELLT racers finding themselves on the PUP list. Knife accident, too.

Let’s review

+ Steve Schukraft – out, shoulder injury suffered while training for mountain biking

+ Chris Doyle – out, foot injury suffered while training for mountain biking

+ Jason Madden – no rock climbing or golf, due to an oblique issue suffered while training for mountain biking (ok, that last part isn’t true and he is going to mountain bike)

+ Thomas Marshall – likely out for most events due to a knife accident suffered while….cutting onions….and while training for mountain biking (last part not at all true)

+ Steve Ball – out for everything except antiquing, injured at baggage claim at Logan Airport (not yet happened, but expected)

Like the guy says in Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels, “can everyone stop getting shot!”

Two days and a wake-up. Stay healthy.

Countdown to ELLT 2021: let’s talk about free agents

Last year, new rules, more zen.

In previous years, captains drafted a team for all four events, which could be tricky since not every racer could compete in every event, because of logistics, health, voodoo, whatever reasons.

For 2021, every stage has a new draft, new captains, new draft order.

And some stages might have 21 or 22 racers, which creates challenges for five 4-man teams.

So we’ll have free agents.

From the moment the draft ends until the start of the next stage, free agents will be free to chose which team they want to be on.

An extra climber to break a tie-break in rock climbing? An extra drive-off-the-tee in golf? And extra rider to get across the line faster in mountain biking? One more body to absorb punishment in hoops? Yes.

Who can be free agents? Racers not competing for the overall. By my last count, we have 19 racer in contention for the overall. And 22, maybe 23, racers showing up a various stages.

When will we know? Before the draft, once we know how many racers. If we get to 23, that’s maybe a sixth team and we will work it out. Age balancing will come into play. Maybe other factors, too. Most events will be five teams, with one or two free agents who can decide last minute who they’re playing for.

When we’re ready to draft, 5 captains will have a field of 15 to chose from. They’ll take 10 and I will assign the final 5. And one, or two, or depending on the circumstances maybe even three racers will have the ensuing hours to decide just who they want to race for, who they want to be teammates with, which clydesdale they want to be hitched to.