Workout Update: Job 1-XB Stretch Day 10

Day 10 was another circuit workout in Job 1, this time working shoulders, arms, and legs. Again there are three blocks, and each block works one of the areas of focus. The first block works shoulders, the second triceps and biceps, and the third legs.  All of the exercises use resistance loops, and then the leg exercises also use weights along with the loops. It is another very fast-paced workout, with very little rest between the moves and the blocks. So, you are again getting a mild cardio effect too.

For the XB workout, I did the Restore routine again. My balance was still a bit shaky on the parts that require having one leg on a chair, but I was able to get a bit deeper into the stretches, so I did make some progress.

Book Review: The Plot to Destroy Democracy: How Putin and His Spies Are Undermining America and Dismantling the West

 

The Plot to Destroy Democracy is a book written by former US Intelligence Officer, Malcolm Nance. The substantive portion of the book (if you have it in paperback) is about 300 pages, and the rest consists of endnotes and an index. 

The focus of the book is on Russia's efforts to undermine Western Democracy, even going back to when the Soviet Union was formed under Lenin, and continuing to the present day. Nance interspersed events that occurred leading up to and including the 2016 election cycle, arguing that Putin's cronies in Russia basically groomed the orange genital wart for a run for President, offering to do everything they could to help him win, which he knew about and absolutely accepted. The focus of the book was not so much what t***p and his dipshits were doing, but what the hackers in Russia were doing, not only interfering in the US elections but the shit they were doing to interfere in elections (and the political processes) in other countries as well. Specifically, while the various hacking groups were definitely trying to help t***p get elected, their main interest was sowing discord and distrust in the US political system among the American population.

The book is in part a history lesson and in part a warning. Nance was definitely one of those that seemed to think that Robert Mueller was going to swoop in and take t***p down (the book was written while the investigation was still ongoing), which, of course, is absolutely not what happened. But, Nance does a good job laying out what Russia was up to and what they would likely try as they got even bolder in subsequent elections. It is definitely worth reading.

Workout Update: Job 1-XB Stretch Day 9

 Day 9 was another Hit It workout in Job 1, and the restore routine in XB stretch.

Since Job 1 is a "real-time" workout, you never repeat workouts. So, while this HIIT routine follows the same format as last week, 4 blocks, and three moves, the three moves are all different, and more challenging than those in week 1. The first three blocks have one move each, which you do for 30 seconds, four times then rest, but each time the rest period gets shorter. After you do the three blocks, the fourth block has you do each move for 15 seconds, repeating four times with no rest. The first move is power jacks in which you punch your arms up as you jack your feet in and out, the second move is jump squats, and the third move is mountain climbers. So, it is definitely tough.

The restore stretching routine is a bit easier the second time through. I will be doing that routine for the rest of this week, and I am hoping my balance gets a little bit better on the part where my foot is on the chair by the end of the week. 

Supplement Review: 1 Body Thyroid Support Supplement

 

This is a supplement that has minerals that help support a healthy Thyroid (such as copper and iodine) as well as helping to maintain a healthy immune system (such as zinc). It also contains a lot of Vitamin B12 and things like Ashwagandha powder. It is not a magic pill that will make you lose a ton of weight overnight or keep you from ever getting a cold. It is a supplement that is meant to be incorporated into an overall healthy lifestyle. Personally, I feel like I have been sleeping a little better since using this (most nights anyway). I think it has especially helped me with staying asleep once I get to sleep and reduced the amount of tossing and turning I do in my sleep. 

Each bottle has 60 capsules (a 30-day supply) and directs you to take one in the morning and one in the evening, preferably with meals. They are easy to swallow and do not have an aftertaste (at least not one that I have ever noticed). 

Workout Update: Job 1-XB Stretch Day 8

Day 8 was the start of week 2 of Job 1. This was another circuit workout, this time focusing on chest, core, and legs. Again, each body part got its own block, with each block being repeated twice before moving on to the next one. As is the case with the other circuit workouts, this one is very fast-paced, and there was very little rest between the blocks and none between the individual exercises in the block. So, you get a good cardio workout as well as a nice burn in the muscles being worked.  

The XB workout was the mid-day move routine, which was another one of the 15-minute workouts. This is another routine in which you are standing (or squatting) for the entire workout, and there was a large focus on the neck, shoulders, and hips (as well as some hamstring work). 

Product Review: Pro Case iPad Pro 12.9 3rd or 4th Generation-Black

 

This is a case for the third-generation or fourth-generation 12.9" iPad Pro. The older versions will not fit in the case. The back is made from a lightweight plastic that is basically a shell that the iPad snaps into. The front is formed from a sturdier material that can fold to form a kickstand. So, it is not a magnetic cover that the iPad can basically just "sit" in. Personally, I think it would be better if the back was made of the same material as the front because I can see the back cracking or breaking if you were to accidentally drop it. The tradeoff, however, is that the case is a bit lighter than it would otherwise be if the back was made of the same material as the front. So, overall, I would say it is a decent case (if you do not need or want a case that includes a keyboard), but it is not as sturdy as it could be. 

Workout Update: Job 1-XB Stretch Day 7

Day 7 was another rest day in Job 1, so I did the XB Unwind workout. This is a workout that you do entirely standing. It really works on neck, shoulders, and back, basically, the areas in which we hold a lot of tension, and can get out of alignment if you sit a lot for your job. There are a couple of balance moves in the workout, but this time you do not hold onto a chair when you do them.  

Workout Update: Job 1-XB Stretch Day 6

For Day 6 I just did the Realign workout in XB stretch, which is a workout that focuses on the lower back, hips, and hamstrings. You will need a towel or a yoga strap to do some of the hamstring stretches and you can use a yoga mat, but that is optional.

Workout Update: Job 1-XB Stretch Day 5

Day 5 was another circuit workout in Job 1, with the body parts being worked being arms, shoulders, and legs. In this workout, you do three blocks again, but in each block, you work each body part with one of the moves. So you will do an arm move, a shoulder move, and a leg move. You repeat the block twice and then move on to the next block in which you do a different arm move, a different shoulder move, and a different leg move. 

XB stretch was the Signature Stretch workout, which is another 15-minute morning workout. This workout does again have some balance work, so you will need a chair or a stool. But otherwise, there is no other equipment required.

Workout Update: Job 1-XB Stretch Day 4

Day 4 of Job 1 was the second cardio workout of the week. This one again has four blocks and you do three moves in each block, so you do 12 total moves.  You do the four moves in each block, then you get a rest, then you repeat the block, rest again, then move onto the next block. This is the workout that you can swap out with a cycling workout if you have a bike. It is definitely not as hard as the HIIT workout was, but it is still challenging. 

In XB, I did the Mobility workout, which was another one of the morning workouts. I decided that I will do all the morning workouts for the week and then in week 2 I will do Restore each night, then switch back. 

Workout Update: Job 1-XB Stretch Day 3

On day 3 of Job 1 you do another circuit workout, this time doing a Chest, Legs, and Core circuit. In this workout, you will use weights for the chest workout, and resistance loops (not bands) for the legs and core workout.  It is another challenging workout, and despite being only 20 minutes long, you will most definitely feel it. And, because the breaks are so short, you are also getting a cardio workout.

For XB stretch, I did the Refresh workout. It is kind of like a yoga workout and kind of like the X-stretch workout in the original P90-X workout. You do not do any Yoga flows, but you do go into downward dog a couple of times.

Workout Update: Job 1-XB Stretch Day 2

Day 2 of Job 1 was a HIIT cardio workout. Like the circuit workout, you do a block, get a rest and then move on. The difference is that each block has just one move. For XB stretch I did Restore, which is the evening workout (and would be the second workout if I was following the program to a t). Restore is good, but it is a bit hard to follow along since there is a move in which you will put your leg on a chair and then partially turn around so you will not be able to see the TV or computer, or whatever you are playing the workout on.  

Workout Update: Job 1-XB Stretch Day 1

 

For this round of workouts, I decided on Job 1 and XB stretch. Job 1 is a five-day workout led by trainer Jennifer Jacobs that includes two circuit workouts and two cardio workouts. One of the cardio workouts is a HIIT workout, and the other is a lower-intensity cardio workout, that you can swap out for a cycling workout if you have a stationary bike. XB stretch is a series of flexibility workouts led by Andrea Rodgers (who looks like Jennifer Garner's sister) that range in length from 5 minutes to 15 minutes. The program is centered around doing two 15-minute workouts per day, but since I am doing Job 1 in the morning, I am just doing one of the stretching workouts in the evening.

Day 1 in Job 1 was a Back, Glutes, and Core circuit workout. Basically, you do three blocks of three exercises, with each block focusing on a single body part. You need three different sets of weights, light, medium, and heavy, and you do each move in the blocks for 30 seconds. So, I would not pick a weight that you would lift to failure because you will be doing about 15 to 20 reps of each exercise. In XB stretch, I did the Energize workout, which is one of the 15-minute workouts, and is meant to be a morning workout to get your body moving and loosened up for the day. 

Each of the workouts seems to be "pandemic era" programs as in Job 1, it is just Jennifer in her gorgeous living room (which incidentally has a staircase that cannot possibly be up to any kind of city or county code) and one of the nicest bookshelf/fireplace combinations I have ever seen. Similarly, Andrea does the stretching workouts in her living room, with a much different backdrop, basically showing the buildings in the city she lives in (I'm guessing either NY or Los Angeles, but I cannot tell). There is no cast in either workout, and while both of them tell you how to modify moves if you need to, you do not have a modifier to follow all the way along with. 1 issue that I have with Job 1 is that there are no workout sheets telling you what moves you will be doing in the circuit workouts or keep track of the weights you are using. And since, the breaks are very short (about 15 seconds between the blocks, and no rest between the individual moves in the blocks), you kind of have to guess at what weight you are going to need. But, overall, I liked day 1 of each program.

 

Replacement Parts for iRobot Roomba i7 i7+ i3 i3+ i4 i4+ i6 i6+ i8 i8+ j7 j7+/Plus E5 E6 E7 Vacuum Cleaner

 

This is a kit that has replacement parts for the Roomba j and i series of vacuums. The kit has six edge brushes, plus a mini screwdriver to get the old brushes off and screws to put the new ones in, four replacement filters, four replacement bags, and replacements for the main rollers. Basically, you get, depending on how often you run the vacuum, a good couple of year's worth of replacement parts, at a much lower price than you would get buying the iRobot versions of the same things. 

Personally, if your unit is still under warranty I would still use their parts so they cannot void the warranty on you if something goes wrong with the vacuum, but once it is out of warranty, I would definitely not spend (at least) twice as much for the same replacement parts. The parts fit exactly as they should and are as easy (or as hard) to install as the original parts that come with the vacuum.

Book Review: Starry Messenger: Cosmic Perspectives on Civilization

 

Starry Messenger is a book from 2022 written by Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson. While the book does touch on science, that is not really the focus of the book. It is more of a book in which Tyson discusses topics like race, law, religion, philosophy, fame, beauty standards, technology, and death, all with a scientific bent. Basically, how the human experience has evolved over time, and how it may continue to evolve in the future. The title of the book is an English translation of the title of the treatise that Galileo Galilei wrote in 1610 in which Galileo published his astronomical observations. 

The book is essentially a short collection of Tyson's thoughts on a number of topics. Tyson admits that his politics and views on life in general lean left, but he also stressed the importance of talking with and learning about other points of view, providing his own perspective about dealing with people more conservative than he is when George W. Bush appointed him to two different commissions, one to study the future of the aerospace industry, and one about the implementation of US space exploration policy. 

The substantive portion of the book is just under 200 pages, and it reads very quickly. Most people can probably finish the book in a day or two, and if you are a fast reader, you can probably finish it in less than a day. While  I do not think the book is as good as some of Tyson's other books like Cosmic Queries and Death by Black Hole, it is worth reading, especially if you have listened to some of Tyson's interviews or listened to his podcast.

Book Review: Term Limits

 

Term Limits, published in 1997, was the first novel written by the late author, Vince Flynn, who would go on to write 13 more books before his death in 2013 centered around the character of Mitch Rapp. While this book is not a part of the Mitch Rapp series, it is tangential to it, as some of the characters that would appear in the Rapp novels (main and ancillary characters), such as Thomas Stansfield, Irene Kennedy, and Jack Warch) do appear in this book.

Term Limits has a similar pacing and tone as the Rapp novels, although this one is almost exclusively a political thriller. The story involves the killings of four corrupt members of Congress and a threat that more corrupt politicians will be killed unless the President and Congress enact reforms to prevent the US economy from collapsing. The book definitely leans on the theme of the crushing national debt, which at the time Flynn wrote the book was not nearly as bad as it is now, and definitely takes a conservative bent (as Flynn was a conservative). But, Flynn did not make Republicans the good guys and Democrats the bad guys. Indeed, almost every character in the book was at least morally ambiguous, and Flynn wrote it so that members of both parties were to blame for the financial condition of the country. It is a book where even the "good guys" do bad things and the disdain that Flynn seemed to have for politics in real life definitely came through.

Overall, the book is a decent thriller with a lot of action and intrigue. I do not think it is as good as the best books in the Mitch Rapp series, but the story flows well and there is a good balance of action and political intrigue. It is interesting that Flynn never went back to any of the plot points, but I think he may have wanted to repackage one of the characters in the book that would appear in several of the Rapp novels. The book is just over 400 pages but is a pretty easy read. It is a book that people who read relatively fast should be able to get through in a couple of days. I would call it an interesting read for people who have read the books in the Mitch Rapp series if nothing else to see how Flynn's writing style evolved over the course of time, but the book does not really tie into the other books (at least not the ones that Flynn wrote before he died) so it is not a must-read. I am not sure if Kyle Mills (who took over the Rapp series after Flynn passed away) ever referenced the events of this book since I have not read those yet, but nothing in the book impacts any of the novels up through The Last Man, which was the last full novel that Flynn finished. 

Product Review: Cleanze Antibacterial Hand Sanitizing Individual Hand Wipe Packets, 50 Unscented Disinfecting Hand Sanitizer

 

These are a bit easier on your hands than hand sanitizer (or the kind of wipes you sometimes get at restaurants when you order something particularly messy) and are a convenient way to "wash" your hands if you are not in a place with easy access to soap and water. They are also thicker and have a much better scent  (even though they are "unscented" they do have a slight smell to them, but it is not overpowering) than some other antibacterial wipes. Each package has fifty individually packed wipes that are perfect for keeping in the center console or glove compartment in your car, or to take along when you travel.

Supplement Review: N1N Premium Organic Superfood Greens Natural Fruit and Veggie Supplement

 

This is a supplement that contains extracts from various types of fruits and vegetables (e.g., blueberries, carrots, red bell peppers, raspberries, garlic, and the like), as well as green (e.g., kale, spinach, and various grasses). The blends are proprietary so it does not tell you how much of each you are getting, nor does it give a specific breakdown of vitamins and minerals. But, assuming their labeling is legit, you are getting some of the nutrients that would be very hard to get through just a whole-food diet, especially if you are not a big fan of eating the actual foods (minus the fiber eating the actual foods would give you).

There are 60 tablets in each bottle, with a serving size being two tablets, so the entire bottle has 30 servings. The directions are to take two tablets 1 to 3 times daily, preferably with meals. The tablets are reasonably sized and easy to swallow. And, they do not have any noticeable aftertaste. This is definitely more reasonably priced than other similar supplements and you can set it up as a subscribe and save item on Amazon to have it sent to you monthly.

Workout Update: P90X3 and PIYO doubles workout- Day 70

This is officially the last day for this round of workouts. I do not think I would do PIYO in combination with one of the more intense workouts again because it has a lot of strength-building moves (like squats, lunges, and pushups), and it is very easy to overtrain. I would probably pair it with another flexibility series and one that has a lot more variety because since both PIYO and X3 were put out before Beachbody transitioned everything to the Beach Body On Demand/BODi streaming app, they were not "real-time" workouts that basically had you doing a different workout every day, so they both get very repetitive. But, overall, I do feel that I made progress over the past couple of months doing this split.

Workout Update: P90X3 and PIYO doubles workout- Day 69

Day 69 was Eccentric Lower in X3 and Drench in PIYO. This is basically the last day for X3, although I am going to do the Dynamix workout tomorrow. Eccentric Lower went pretty well, I even bumped the weight I was using up for a couple of the moves. Drench was okay but again got a bit tedious by the end of it.

Workout Update: P90X3 and PIYO doubles workout- Day 68

 Day 68 was The Challenge in X3 and a Rest day for PIYO, although I did do the Sweat workout to make up for having skipped it a couple of weeks ago. I decided that the next workouts will be Job 1, which is a 20-minute circuit workout three days a week, and then cardio twice a week (HIIT on Tuesday and a less intense cardio on Thursday). Then, the second "workout" will be the XB flexibility series which is basically a set of stretching routines that run anywhere from 5 minutes to 15 minutes.

Book Review: Star Wars Mission to Disaster

 

This is one of the junior novels set during the High Republic era (the second/latter portion of the High Republic) between the events of the young-adult novel "Out of the Shadows" and the Adult Novel, "The Fallen Star". The main characters in this book are the young Jedi knight, Vernestra Rwoh, her padawan Imri, and Avon Starros, who was introduced in the book Out of the Shadows. The plot involves a Nihil attack on a peaceful outpost at which they abduct a bunch of children, including Avon, and force them to join their ranks. The Jedi have to both save the children and figure out how to get the people off of the planet because of an attack by yet another, new, Nihil weapon.

The book is just under 300 pages, and because it is a junior novel reads very quickly. It is written well enough that adults can enjoy it, yet it is age-appropriate for younger kids. If you are a fast reader (and are an adult) you can easily finish the book in a day or two. As is the case with all of the junior and young-adult novels, it fills in the main storyline from the adult novels and thus includes characters that the adult novels do not. I would not say that the plot is essential to the larger story, but it is still an enjoyable book and definitely worth checking out if you have read the other High-Republic-era books.

Product Review: Amazon Basic Care Naproxen Sodium Tablets, 200 Count

 

This is Amazon's equivalent to Alleve. They are the same size and shape as the name-brand and other store-brand generics, but you get a lot more of them in the package and for a much better price than you would find them in stores.

Book Review: The Man Who Warned America: The Life and Death of John O'Neill: The FBI's Embattled Counterterror Warrior

 

This is a biography of John O'Neill, who was basically the FBI's head of counterterrorism in the New York office until 2001, when he retired and went to work as the head of security at the World Trade Center, where he was about two weeks into the job when he was killed in the September 11th terrorist attacks.

The book details O'Neill's life from his time growing up in New Jersey, dreaming of becoming an FBI agent, to his death in 2001. The book shows him as a complicated figure who could be brash and overbearing at one moment and kind and generous the next. He would roll over people one second and seek their approval the next. The book does detail his messy personal life, dating (and making promises of marriage) to multiple women, while still being married to his first wife because of his Catholic faith. The book really focuses on how he was one of the first people to recognize and warn government officials of the threat of Al-Qaeda and worked to build a case against Osama Bin Ladin so the FBI could go into Afghanistan and grab him. It also detailed the way he butted heads with people in the FBI and how his penchant for bending the rules, and his personal life caused him to be passed over for promotions and ultimately forced out of the FBI. The book portrays O'Neill as really being married to his work, and being someone who rarely slept and was obsessive about getting everything perfect.

The book is a bit incomplete in that, while it does detail how O'Neill butted heads with the Ambassador of Yemen when investigating the bombing of the USS Cole, and his fights with FBI brass, it does not go into the infighting between O'Neil and the CIA agents in the "Bin Ladin Unit", and only touched on the refusal of the CIA to share information with the FBI (and pretty much specifically with O'Neill). The book also has a lot of inaccuracies about what happened on September 11th, such as misidentifying the pilot of Flight 11,  attributing the threats intended for the passengers of Flight 11 that were broadcast to Air Traffic Control as being made by the hijacker pilot of Flight 175, and getting some parts of the timeline wrong. The book was published in 2002, so certainly not all of the information that has been revealed since it was written was widely known when it was being written, but some of the mistakes could have been avoided with a little research and better editing. The does, however, provide some details about how O'Neill died that I have not seen widely reported.

Overall, the book is a good look at a man with a complex life.  The book is about 400 pages of substantive text, and then about 30 pages of notes. It is not an easy read, but it is not extremely difficult to get through either. People who read quickly should be able to get through it in a week or less, depending on how much time they have to read. I definitely recommend it.

Product Review: 6Pack Transparent Sticky Notes, Clear Sticky Notes, 3’’ x 3’’ Translucent Sticky Notes

 

These are transparent sticky notes that allow you to see through to what you are placing them on. They are great for students, especially those who are in STEM programs and who do their homework using an iPad or an E-ink tablet. If you are in physics or engineering classes and want to transfer a drawing from the book to your homework, you can trace the drawing from the book, and then trace it onto your homework and get a much better drawing than you would likely get trying to draw freehand. 

You can also use a highlighter on these, so you can put them on the pages of your book, highlight or mark up the book, without actually ruining the book. And, if you accidentally go crazy with the highlighting, you can remove the sticky note and redo it with a clean one. One thing to note when using these is that gel pen ink does smudge on them, so you will want to use a regular ballpoint pen or, if you do use a gel pen, use two of them, one to write on and one to put over the note with the writing to keep the ink from smudging when you close the book. 

Product Review: Preparation H Soothing Relief Flushable Cleansing Cooling Wipes

 

This is a three-pack of Preparation H wipes that relieve itching hemorrhoids but are not medicated, so they will not do much if you have inflamed or bleeding hemorrhoids.  In that case, you would still have to use a medicated ointment, but I think using these regularly can help prevent hemorrhoids from becoming inflamed. Of course, they are not really flushable, despite the claims. The only thing that should ever be flushed is toilet paper so I always just throw these in the garbage. 

Product Review: BOZHUORUI Stand Case for 10.3" Onyx Boox Note Air/Boox Note Air2 and Boox Note Air2 Plus ePaper Tablet

 

This is a case/cover for the 10.3" BOOX E-Ink Note Air series of tablets. Unlike some of the covers out there that hold the tablet magnetically, you slide this one into place (there is an open area that has fabric on each side that basically forms a notch that you slide the tablet into and then secure it in place by tucking a tab into place). On the plus side, there is no possible way for the tablet to accidentally fall out of the case, even if you were to drop the case. Also, the tablet sits recessed so when the cover is closed it does not actually touch the surface, which helps protect the surface of the tablet. 

There are, however, a couple of drawbacks to the design. First, because the fabric covers up some of the magnetic portions of the tablet, it is not as easy to just magnetically connect the pen on the side. The stylus can be magnetically connected to the side, but it is not as secure as some of the other covers that are available.  There is, however, a fabric stylus holder that will allow you to attach the stylus. Second, when the cover is closed, the power button and the port to connect the USB cable is covered, so you must have the cover open to charge the tablet or connect it to a computer if you will be moving files using the cable as opposed to wirelessly. 

The cover is made of a nice faux-leather material, and it looks very good. The cover does allow for a kickstand mode that will allow you to hold the tablet in landscape mode. The cover does not have a keyboard, so if you wanted to type with a keyboard you would need to use a Bluetooth keyboard. Overall, it is a good inexpensive case that protects the tablet well. 

Book Review: Proof of Collusion

 

The subject matter of the book is pretty clear from the title. In the book, author Seth Abramson, a former criminal attorney lays out the case that (and provides solid proof that) the former president, in the well-documented game of footsie that he played with Russia, starting long before he declared his candidacy for president and continuing to this day, was well aware of what Russia was up to during the 2016 election, and was more than willing to accept any help they gave him.

The book was written before the Mueller Report was written so Abramson was relying on the things that were already public before the Mueller investigation or had become public during the investigation, either because of the court cases that started springing up or the news reporting. The book lays out the orange genital wart's ties to Russia before he declared his candidacy for president when he was trying to get buildings built in Russia, to around the time when Paul Manafort was charged. Abramson rightly predicted that agent orange would be impeached, but he thought that he would be impeached because of the Mueller report, which of course he was not. And, he thought that there would be enough level-headed Republicans that would be willing to cut t***p loose, where, in reality, they would just toady up to him and lick his balls even more. Of course, Abramson could never have predicted that Mueller would punt on a determination of whether t***p should be charged or actually obstructed justice, and could not foresee that Bill Barr would swoop in and save t***p's ass because of it by totally misrepresenting the findings in the report before he released the redacted version.

Each chapter of the book contains a summary of the topics, then Abramson lays out the facts that were widely reported and then annotates the key factual points with even more detail. So, while the chapters can get quite long, there are a lot of natural stopping points. The substantive part of the book runs about 330 pages (if you get the hardcover version), and then there are over 100 pages of footnotes. So, for the Q nutjobs and MAGATs who will inevitably scream "fake news", he backs up pretty much every paragraph in the book with receipts. It is definitely worth reading. 

DVD/TV Series Review: Baywatch Season 4

 

The fourth season of Baywatch aired during the 1993-1994 tv season. The show brought back most of the regular cast, although there was (again) a bit of a shakeup with Kelly Slater starting out as a series regular and then being downgraded to a guest star for a couple of episodes, and then eventually being written out (despite the clip of him surfing still being used in the opening credits). The show followed the same format as being a procedural drama/prime-time soap opera. For the most part, the episodes were stand-alone but there were a few two-part episodes during this season and a flashback episode that brought back some prior guest stars. Toward the end of the season, there is a great episode entitled "Rescue Bay" that pretty much breaks the fourth wall and makes fun of the series and the fact that it was canceled by NBC after its first season.

The show continued to get quite a few recognizable guest stars this season including Michelle Williams (in her first acting role), Wendie Malick, Mary Lou Retton (playing herself), Carrie Ann Moss (from the Matrix movies), Martina McBride, Kassie DePavia (who starred on the daytime soap One Life to Live for years). Old-school wrestling fans will also recognize Giant Gonzalez and Jimmy Hart, and this season would be the first appearance of Yasmeen Bleeth (who would eventually become a series regular), as Stephanie's sister. This season would also mark the final appearance of Richard Jaeckel, who was definitely experiencing health issues. John Allen Nelson also made his yearly appearance as Court, although the writers put him in a storyline that could end up writing the character out of the series.

The show is what it is. It is a very tongue-in-cheek drama. The actors and writers have no problem poking fun at themselves and not taking things too seriously. The show does an okay job juggling the large ensemble cast, but the episodes do generally tend to focus on one or two characters, and there are several episodes in which Pamela Anderson is absent and even an episode in which Hasselhoff does not appear I would classify most of the episodes as okay and a couple of really good episodes in which the acting and writing were done extremely well. And, there are a couple of really dumb episodes. So, it was a mix. But, we did get a clip of Hoff in concert when Mitch was daydreaming of being a rock star, so there is that. Ultimately, if you accept the show for what it is and what it is not, you will probably enjoy it, even the parts that are so bad they are good. 

Blu-Ray/Movie Review: American Ninja

 

American Ninja was the other series of cult-classic martial arts/Ninja movies (the other being the Ninja Trilogy, Enter the Ninja, Revenge of the Ninja, and Ninja III: The Domination, which starred Sho Koshugi) that were put out in the 1980s by Cannon films and Golan-Globus productions. The plot is set around the character of Joe Armstrong, played by Michael Dudikoff, in one of his early roles, a Private on an American military base in the Phillppines. When a convoy moving not only weapons but the daughter of the base's colonel (played by Julie Aronson) is attacked by rebels and a band of evil ninjas, Joe is forced to fight to save the Colonel's daughter. From there, the movie becomes a mix of an action-drama, a romance story, and a story of a reluctant hero. The rest of the main cast includes Steve James as Corporal Curtis Jackson, Don Stewart, as a French arms dealer, Victor Ortega, Tadashi Yamashita (who had black belts in multiple martial arts styles) as the Black Star Ninja, and John LaMota, as Master Sargent Rinaldo. 

The blu-ray, which was released in 2016, got a decent A/V transfer, so it is definitely an upgrade from the VHS version, which many people who are old enough to remember the movie probably owned. There are a handful of extras that were made for the 2016 release, including a commentary track that is basically a conversation between producer Elijah Drenner and the director of the movie Sam Firstenberg (who also directed Revenge of the Ninja and Ninja III) that provides a lot of details about the production of the movie and a lot of interesting tidbits, including the fact that the movie was originally developed for Chuck Norris, who passed on the role because he did not want to have his face covered. Then, there is a 22-minute behind-the-scenes/making-of featurette that includes interviews with Dudikoff, Firstenberg, Aronson, and the stunt coordinator, Steve Lambert, and the theatrical trailer.

Ultimately, this is a movie that is mostly an action movie that will appeal to those who were kids or young adults in the 1980s. The story is pretty cookie-cutter and the script was nothing to write home about. Dudikoff, who had no martial arts training before he was cast in the movie, actually does a very good job in the action sequences, and did a lot of the fight work himself. He actually looked very fluid and looked like he had practiced martial arts for years (unlike Franco Nero in Enter the Ninja who looked absolutely awful in the fight sequences he performed). The problem with this movie is that the script was pretty bad, and Dudikoff had to play Armstrong with almost no personality. Steve James and Phil Brock (who played the comic relief in the movie) probably had the best material to work with. It very much feels like a low-budget 1980s action movie and would probably not be made the same way today as it was back then. But, if you accept the fact that you are not going to see an Academy Award-winning drama and accept it for what it is, it is enjoyable.

Product Review: BOOX Magnetic Pen2 Pro with Eraser Feature

 

This is a stylus that works with the BOOX series of E-ink tablets. I have the Note Air 2 Plus, and the stylus that comes with it does not have an eraser end, which makes it kind of a pain when you are writing, because in order to erase you have to switch from the pen to the eraser using the icons on the screen and back to the pen. This allows you to turn the stylus over and use the eraser end. The only real trick to erasing with this is that you have to push down on the stylus when you are using the eraser end in order to get the writing to erase. 

As far as the writing experience goes, it uses nibs that do have to be replaced when they wear down. One drawback to this is that it does not come with extra nibs, but the stylus that comes with the tablet itself does have extra nibs. How quickly the nibs last will, of course, depend on how much you use them, but I have found that with what I would call regular use, writing on the tablet multiple times per week, the nibs last quite a while. The big plus, for me anyway, is that the stylus does not have to be charged (unlike the Apple Pencil that works with iPads), so you do not have to interrupt what you are doing to recharge the stylus (which could definitely interrupt your work flow, especially if you are taking notes "live" during a meeting, a class lecture, or something like that). 

Book Review: The Last Man: (Mitch Rapp Series Book 13)

 

The Last Man is the 13th book in the Mitch Rapp series of novels, regardless of whether you start reading the books in chronological or publication order. The book was published in 2012 after Vince Flynn had written the two prequel novels, American Assassin and Kill Shot, in which he went back and told the story of Rapp's early career. This would also, sadly, be the last complete novel in the series written by Flynn who would pass away a year later after battling cancer for three years. Flynn actually worked a cancer storyline into this book by giving one of the characters a terminal diagnosis.

The Last Man does another reset of the story, while still including characters from the prior novels and referring to old storylines. The crux of the story in this novel is that a CIA analyst in Afghanistan is kidnapped, and Rapp is dispatched to find him. While investigating the kidnapping, Rapp, Scott Coleman, and Mike Nash uncover a larger conspiracy.  He also weaves in some real-world elements like the animosity between the CIA and the FBI, corruption and anti-American sentiments in the governments of countries that are ostensibly an ally of America, and the like.

After Flynn passed away, it was initially unclear whether the series would go on. As most are aware, the series was passed to author Kyle Mills, who would complete the next book (which Flynn had started before he died) and write many additional novels. The book is moderately long at just over 400 pages, but it reads pretty quickly. and is hard to put down. If you are a fast reader, you can get through it in a few days or less. If you have been a fan of the prior novels, you will probably like or love this one. 

Product Review: HOMAR No Tie Shoelaces

 

This is a pack of 20 silicon laces that insert into the holes of shoes that allow you to turn any pair of sneakers into no-tie shoes. The laces are of different sizes ranging from 1.6 inches to 3.15 inches. They are hard to get in and out, especially if the lace holes on your shoes are small (you may need to use tweezers or something with a narrow tip to help push them through the holes). So, you want to choose your lace size correctly the first time. I would suggest removing them from the cardboard and holding them against the span of your shoe and don't just assume that the smallest one will go in the bottom holes. Once they are in, they will keep your shoes on your feet pretty well, even when working out, and make it very easy to get your shoes on and off.

Workout Update: P90X3 and PIYO doubles workout- Day 67

Day 67 was Yoga in X3 and Sculpt in PIYO. Unlike the two workouts yesterday, I mostly like both of these workouts. In X3 yoga I mostly skip crow (I have to keep both my feet on the ground), and in the warrior-3, half-moon, and twisting-moon sequence I just stay in warrior-3 the entire time. But otherwise, I can do the modified or unmodified versions of the moves. In sculpt I find it easier to do the tricep dips using the power stands instead of a chair, so I made that modification. 

Workout Update: P90X3 and PIYO doubles workout- Day 66

Day 66 was the Pilates workout in X3 and Core in PIYO. As I have said in prior posts, I am not all that fond of either of these workouts, but I got through them and did my best. I think each of them would be much easier if I were in better shape, but I am definitely not there yet. 

Workout Update: P90X3 and PIYO doubles workout- Day 65

Day 65 was Accelerator in X3 and Sweat in PIYO. Accelerator was still tough for some of the moves, but I liked doing the more intense cardio again. It is similar to Triometrix but different enough that it is not boring. One thing that I liked a little better about the original P90X is that you had two workouts that were almost all cardio each week, whereas in X3, some weeks have a couple of multiple cardio workouts and others have just one.  

Workout Update: P90X3 and PIYO doubles workout- Day 64

Day 64 was the isometrix workout in X3 and Buns in PIYO. Isometrix was a little easier than it was the last time I did it. My balance is slowly getting better, but definitely not where I would like it to be. I was even a little better in the "bound dog" poses, but could not do the version where you lift one of your legs while doing bound dog. But, I am making progress. The Buns workout in PIYO went pretty well too, and I can tell that I am getting better at the various kinds of squats.

Workout Update: P90X3 and PIYO doubles workout- Day 63

Day 63 was a rest day in X3 and Drench again in PIYO. Drench went the same as it did yesterday. It was not any easier, but not harder. Since I am going into my final week of this round of workouts I am trying to figure out what I want to do for my next workout or workouts. I am not sure what that will be yet, but I am leaning toward a lifting-focused workout paired with the Tai Chi workout, called Tai Cheng that was put out by BeachBody a while back.

Workout Update: P90X3 and PIYO doubles workout- Day 62

Day 62 was Eccentric Lower in X3 and Drench in PIYO. Again, nothing really to report about either of the workouts. I am still using the same weight in the Eccentric workouts and some moves in the Piyo workouts are getting easier and some are still very hard. 

Supplement Reviw: Amazon Basic Care Vitamin C Supplement Drops

 

These are equivalent to the name-brand Vitamin C drops that you can find in most stores. They taste the same and have the same amount of Vitamin C per drop as the name brand (and with these, you get an assortment of flavors instead of just one flavor), but you get a lot more of them for a lot better price than you would pay in the stores. In the store, you would get far fewer per package and pay about the same price as you can get this one for. They are not cough drops but do provide some soothing relief when you have a sore throat. They do have some sugar, but not a crazy amount. But, you would probably not want to take a ton of them in a day, especially if you are eating low-carb or carb-cycling. 

Supplement Review: fitcode Flexcode Ultra Premium Joint Support, Glucosamine, Turmeric, MSM, Chondroitin, Hyaluronic Acid

 

This is a supplement that provides joint support with the main ingredients being Glucosamine, MSM, Chondroitin, and Hyaluronic Acid. Each bottle gives you a 30-day supply (60 capsules) and directs you to take two capsules per day, preferably with food. The capsules are easy to swallow and do not have much of an aftertaste, especially if you swallow them with something that is flavored. 

It is always hard to tell how much any supplement is doing for you, but I have had a bad knee for most of my life and one of my shoulders has started to have issues with mobility as I have gotten older, and I do think that both of them feel better as I have started taking this.  So, if you have issues with any of your joints I would recommend trying this to see if it helps you.

Workout Update: P90X3 and PIYO doubles workout- Day 61

Day 61 was the rest day for PIYO and Pilates in X3. I still feel the same way about the X3 Pilates workout. I will do it, but I don't really like it and can't wait to get it over with. It is fine if you are ready for advanced Pilates, but if you are a beginner, much of it sucks. 

Workout Update: P90X3 and PIYO doubles workout- Day 60

Day 60 was Triometrix and Buns. Trio was pretty much the same as it was last week, as was the Buns workout. Each workout has a lot of Squats which I like, but my legs were definitely tired during the second workout.

Workout Update: P90X3 and PIYO doubles workout- Day 59

Day 59 was Eccentric Upper in X3 and Core in PIYO. Again there is nothing all that new to say about either of those workouts. I have been using the same amount of weight in EU the past few weeks, but I think, for most people, that is not one in which you are going to be able to do a marked increase in the amount of weight you use because you are lowering the weight so slowly (if you are doing the moves correctly).

Workout Update: P90X3 and PIYO doubles workout- Day 57

Day 57 was MMX is X3 and Sweat in PIYO. The MMX workout is still a bit tough, at least the moves that have the sprawls. The rest of it is not too bad, but I am definitely slower at getting down and up when doing those. Even though I did not like the Sweat workout in PIYO as much when I first did it, I actually don't mind it now. It is a little longer than some of the other workouts in PIYO, but not so long that it starts to get boring by the time you near the end. 

Workout Update: P90X3 and PIYO doubles workout- Day 56

Day 56 was Decelerator in X3 and Sculpt in PIYO. I like the Decelerator workout even though it is one of the harder ones. As far as Sculpt goes, there is really no big change from the last time I did that one. 

Workout Update: P90X3 and PIYO doubles workout- Day 55

Day 55 was a rest day in X3 and Drench for the second day in a row. I was supposed to do Drench once during the week but because it is a much longer workout I moved both to the weekend. Nothing was different from the day before. 

Workout Update: P90X3 and PIYO doubles workout- Day 54

Day 54 was complex lower in X3 and Drench in PIYO. 

I am honestly not a huge fan of either of these workouts. I like CL better than Drench, but  I like the Eccentric weight workouts in X3 much more than CL. As for Drench, I think it is just too long, and get to be a bit too repetitive. 

Workout Update: P90X3 and PIYO doubles workout- Day 53

 Day 53 was the Triometrix workout in X3, and a rest day in PIYO. 

I feel a bit like a broken record but, I find that Triometrix is getting a little bit easier from the first time I did it. Mainly, because my balance is getting better so I am getting deeper into some of the balance squat moves during which I was stumbling all over the place the first time I did the workout.

Workout Update: P90X3 and PIYO doubles workout- Day 52

Day 52 was yoga in X3 and Sculpt in PIYO. Again, I would say that the X3 yoga routine is getting easier, but it is definitely not easy. I really like the sculpt workout in PIYO. I think that it, along with the strength intervals workout are my two favorites in PIYO. The triceps dips at the end of the workout are very tough and I have to take a lot of breaks during those, but otherwise, I think most of the workout is doable, especially if you follow the modifier.

Workout Update: P90X3 and PIYO doubles workout- Day 51

Day 51 was Complex Upper in X3 and Core in PIYO. I found Complex Upper to be a little bit easier than the first time a tried it a couple of weeks prior to this, but it was still difficult. I do like the pace of the workout because even with breaks it seems like you are constantly moving.

Core is also very challenging for me, in large part because, aside from the standing series, I am not a huge fan of the moves in the workout. Some of them I can do relatively well and others are a complete shitshow.  

Book Review: Star Wars: Skywalker: A Family at War

 

This is a novel that basically summarizes the Skywalker Saga, from Anakin's birth to the end of The Rise of Skywalker with Rey taking the Skywalker name. The book includes elements from all of the movies and fills that in with content from the animated series like Rebels and The Clone Wars, the canon comic books and graphic novels, as well as some of the other novels, such as Leia, Princess of Alderaan, and Bloodlines.  The big exception is that it was written before the Obi-Wan Kenobi series was made, so it does not include any of those events and basically time jumps over that period. So, the book does conflict a little with what was shown in the Kenobi series. 

The book provides a way for someone who has only seen the movies to get a deeper version of the events that occurred from The Phantom Menace to the Rise of Skywalker. If you have seen the animated series and read most of the novels almost nothing in the book will be new to you (with a couple of small exceptions), but if you have only watched the movies you will get a lot of detail that flesh out those stories. 

The book is not very long (just a little under 300 pages) and it reads pretty quickly, especially if you are well-versed in the Star Wars lore. So, if you are a fast reader you can easily finish it in a day or two. So, I would not call this book a must-read, but I do think it is worth reading. 

Food Review: Frito-Lay's Cheetos Baked Crunchy Cheese

 

This is a bit "healthier" version of the original Cheetos (as they are baked instead of fried, so they have a bit less fat), yet still have the same taste and consistency as the original (as opposed to Cheetos puffs). If you get them on Amazon, you can get a 40-pack for about $20 (if you set it up as a subscribe and save item), which is a much better price than you would pay to get them out of a vending machine or at a convenience store or gas station. As long as you do not go wild and eat multiple bags at a time, it is a good way to have a portion-controlled snack for a reasonable price.

Product Review: Ultrasac Contractor Bags 42 Gallon

 

These are large contractor bags, which are mainly designed to hold waste from construction (broken drywall, wood, etc.), but, because they are tear and puncture resistant, they are also great for landscaping waste like sticks, tree branches, and leaves. It is not something that a "regular" person is likely to use a lot, but they are handy when you need a large bag to hold something that would easily tear a regular garbage bag or even regular lawn and leaf bags. 

Product Review: 3M Large Area Drywall Sanding Sponge

 

This is good for sanding down small uneven portions of drywall or drywall paste that has been used to patch holes in the drywall to get a smooth surface before painting. One side has a medium grit and the other has a fine grit, so it will allow you to get the surface very smooth. It is probably not something that you would use to sand down an entire freshly dry-walled room (or even an entire wall), but it is perfect to spot sand in small areas.  

Book Review: Impeach

 

Impeach was written by Neal Katyal, a former member of the Department of Justice, former acting Solicitor General, and current professor at Georgetown Law School in the run-up to the first impeachment of the former president. It was written when some, but not all, of the information about the phone call between the former president and Ukraine's President, Zelenksyy was made public, but before the actual impeachment proceedings started.  

The book is fairly short, with just over 150 pages of substantive text, then an Appendix with reprinted documents such as the whistleblower complaint and the White House counsel's letter to Congress, and then a bunch of footnotes. In the book, Katyal lays out the history of impeachment, and its roots in the Federalist Papers, which were the precursor to the US Constitution, explains things like what High Crimes and Misdemeanors meant to the founders and lays out the process. Katyal then laid out what he felt was the strongest case against the former president, why it would be dangerous not to impeach the former president, and what Katyal felt should (and should not) be included in the articles of impeachment. 

Overall, the book does a good job laying out Katyal's argument without getting bogged down in too much legalese. I would describe the book as having a tone that is somewhere between an op-ed in the newspaper and a law review article. It is an interesting read, but not what I would call a must-read, especially now, years later when the events of the first impeachment have been left in the dust and overshadowed by the events leading up to and following January 6th.

Book Review: The Betrayal of Anne Frank: A Cold Case Investigation

 

The Betrayal of Anne Frank is the end result of an extensive investigation by a group of cold-case investigators who tried to determine who provided the tip to the police that led to the capture of Anne Frank, her family, and four other people who were hiding in an Annex to Otto Frank's (Anne's father) old business in Amsterdam in August of 1944. The book is in part a history lesson, detailing the experience of the Jews living in Amsterdam during World War II, and in part a detailing of the extensive investigation that the team of researchers undertook to figure out who tipped off the police that people were hiding in the building. While the author does not claim to provide an absolute answer, she does present a hypothesis based on the best available evidence (which included tracking down documents scattered throughout Europe, going through past interviews of the people with firsthand knowledge of the events, and interviewing as many living relatives of the people involved as possible).

The substantive part of the book is about 300 pages long, and then in the paperback version, there are a couple of epilogues, including one in which the author defends the work of the investigative team against the pushback against their conclusions and the criticism that the book received, especially in the Netherlands. Then there are several pages of footnotes. It is a very interesting read, and if you are into history, especially European history during World War II, this is definitely worth your time.

Book Review: Pursuit of Honor: (Mitch Rapp Series Book 12 Chronological Order; Book 10 Publication Order)

 

Pursuit of Honor was, at the time it was published in 2009, the 10th book in the series of spy/terrorist hunter novels written by the late author, Vince Flynn, set around the character of Mitch Rapp. It is the 12th book in the series if you read them in chronological order.

This book is set approximately a week after the events in the prior novel, Extreme Measures, and the story is partly to finish off the storyline that began in Extreme Measures and partly to set up the prequel novel that Flynn was to write next, titled American Assassin, which was going to essentially tell Mitch Rapp's origin story. So, Flynn threw in details about Rapp's training with Stan Hurley and expanded Hurley's role in this novel. Flynn also did wrap up the previous storyline, bringing that to a thrilling and satisfying conclusion.

Ultimately, the story is very good, and Flynn does continue with many of the themes that he had used in the prior book, probably most notably, bringing the whole are enhanced interrogation techniques torture, and does it work debate into the storyline. As most are aware, Flynn was a conservative and definitely brought the conservative viewpoint and talking points into the story. He probably did so more in this novel than he did in the prior books in the series, but he still had the character of Rapp be disgusted with pretty much all of the politicians in the story, regardless of what side of the aisle they were on, which from what I remember of his interviews in the twin cities on the local sports talk station, pretty close to Flynn's own view of politicians. But, Flynn does prove he is not immune to nonsensical arguments by trying to equate partial-birth abortion, which is not a thing in real-life and only exists in conservative fever dreams, to torture. 

The book is an intermediate length at a little over 400 pages, but like the other books in the series reads pretty quickly. So, if you have read any of the other books, this one will probably take you about the same amount of time to get through. Chances are, whether you are reading this as the 10th book or the 12th, you are a fan of the series and the characters. If you have liked the prior books you will probably like this one. If the prior books have done nothing for you, then this one is not likely to change your mind.

Supplement Review: Lions Mane Mushroom Supplement Gummies - Organic Mushroom Gummies - Reishi, Cordyceps, Turkey tail, Maitake, Shitake, Chaga

 

This mushroom supplement blends different types of mushrooms (like Turkey Tail, Shitake, and Chaga) into a good-tasting gummy. A serving size is two gummies, with about 30 servings per container. These have some sugar, so they taste better than some other mushroom gummy supplements but are not as friendly for those who are doing a low-carb or keto diet. So, if you are someone like me, who wants to get some of the health benefits of mushrooms, but hates the texture of eating the real thing, this is a good option for you (even though it is probably not as healthy as eating the actual mushrooms). 

Supplement Review: PreserVision Areds 2 Chewables

 

This is an eye-health supplement that you take twice daily. It contains a combination of vitamins and minerals (Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Copper, and Zinc) as well as Lutein (the stuff in carrots) and Zeaxanthin, which is a pigment in the macula and retina of the eye. The tablets are pretty big, but they are chewable. They have a berry flavor that is not what I would call great, but not horrible either.

While it is always hard to tell how much a supplement such as this does or does not help your eyes, I have been taking eye supplements (Ocuvite before this) for years, and while my eyes have undergone the normal aging changes, they are still very healthy every year when I get them checked. So, I will continue to take these as long as that remains the case.

Product Review: Affresh Washing Machine Cleaner

 

This is a six-month supply (assuming you use one per month as instructed) of washing machine cleaner tablets. The claim is that it can clean not only the laundry tub, but also parts like the pump, valves, agitator, and hose. 

I have an older top-load GE washer, that absolutely had a ring of residue around the top of the tub, and while I am not going to take the washing machine apart, I can say that after two months, that ring of residue is mostly gone and what I can see of the interior of the drain hose does look cleaner. So, it seems to work as advertised and I would recommend it to help keep your washing machine working as efficiently as possible for as long as possible. 

Book Review: Star Wars Stories of Jedi and Sith

 

Tales of Jedi and Sith are a collection of short stories that span the bulk of the Star Wars timeline, with the first story set during the High Republic era and the last story set between The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker. The stories involve a Jedi (or a padawan) or a Sith. Sometimes the story is told from the point of view of the Jedi or Sith, and sometimes the story is told from the point of view of someone interacting with the Jedi or Sith. And, one of the stories shifts the point of view between Luke and one of the "regular" rebels in a story set on Hoth. 

Some of the stories involve characters that only people who have read the other novels or have seen the Clone Wars animated series will be familiar with, and other stories involve characters like Yoda, Maul, Luke, Anakin, Obi-Wan, Vader, Rey, and Palpatine. One of the best stories involves Palpatine during the events of Return of the Jedi in which we find out he still goes over his duel with Yoda, and wishes he could have killed Yoda.

Overall, the book is a good collection of side stories. The book is an intermediate length at just around 350 pages, but it reads very quickly. If you are a fast reader you will probably be able to finish it in a day or less. I would not necessarily say it is a must-read, but it is worth checking out if you are more than just a casual Star Wars fan. 

Book Review: Frankly, We Did Win This Election: The Inside Story of How T***p Lost

 

This is a book that is mostly about the 2020 election and its aftermath by Wall Street Journal reporter, Michael Bender. It was actually one of the first books written after the events of the election and when it was first published, it contained a lot of bombshells. Of course, years later, the material in the book has been backed up by many other sources, and a lot of the details have been fleshed out so if you are reading it in 2023 or later, it will really not contain much that has not been widely reported. But, it seems that Bender had more access inside the 2017-2021 administration than other reporters, probably because he reported for the WSJ because he was reporting on a lot of events that were not widely known (and were not reported in full detail) until the January 6th hearings.

Of course, the MAGATs will scream fake news, but this is anything but. Bender clearly was talking to a lot of people inside the White House, including the Orange Genital Wart itself. And, he made a point to include details about the cult members who would travel around the country, including during covid, to see t***p do his syphilitic-like rants, even though many of them who were not the picture of health, were scared shitless that they were going to get sick and die (which some did). Some of those stories are very sad, all are pathetic, and some are just hilarious. Since Bender also followed agent orange's campaign during the 2016 election cycle, he does include some material in the lead-up to, and the aftermath of, that election. But, the focus of the book is from the first impeachment, through the covid pandemic, and the 2020 election and its aftermath. He does include a little about the second impeachment, but the book was coming up for publication right as that was playing out, so there is not a lot of detail about that in the first run hardcover edition.

The book is moderately long, coming in at just under 400 pages. And, they had to use a fairly small font type to get it in at that length. But, it reads relatively fast, especially if you are a regular news consumer (at least of news from reputable sources). I would not call it a must-read, but it is worth reading if you are a fan of current events and/or political books. 

Workout Update: P90X3 and PIYO doubles workout- Day 50

Day 50 was Agility X in X3 and Core in PIYO. I would say that both workouts got a little easier from the last time I did them, but Agility X is another one in which my space limitations make it a bit harder to do, even modified. But, I do the best I can with it. The core workout in PIYO is very challenging. It actually has quite a bit of a cardio effect, so you are getting winded as your abs are being worked.  

Workout Update: P90X3 and PIYO doubles workout- Day 49

Day 49 was Decelerator in X3 and Sweat in PIYO. Decelerator is basically a plyometrics-type workout (with some pull-ups and push-ups in between the plyo moves) that focuses on the explosive jump, then slowly recovering after you land. So, you will land on one foot, and do a three-count back down into the position from which you jump. It is a tough, but doable, routine that really works on your balance as well as your explosiveness. The sweat routine in PIYO was pretty much the same as the last time I did it.   

Workout Update: P90X3 and PIYO doubles workout- Day 48

Day 48 was the drench workout again, which is the longest of the PIYO routines, and basically takes elements from all of the other workouts and combines them into one. As I said before, I think there should be an updated PIYO program that has all 30-minute workouts instead of having some workouts be around the 21-25 minute range, another be 35 minutes long, and this one being just under an hour. That would make planning workouts a bit easier. 

Workout Update: P90X3 and PIYO doubles workout- Day 47

Day 47 was eccentric lower in X3 and Buns in PIYO. I like both of these routines a lot, basically because you are doing a lot of squats and lunges, and even though I cannot go extremely deep in either, I am getting a better range of motion as time goes by, so both routines are getting a bit easier for me.

Workout Update: P90X3 and PIYO doubles workout- Day 46

Day 46 was Pilates X in X3 and a rest day in PIYO. I am not a huge fan of this Pilates workout, mainly because the moves are very advanced and there is no good way to modify some of them. If you are super flexible it is a good routine, but if you have limited flexibility then you pretty much just have to skip some of the moves.