Workout Update: 645 and XB Stretch Hybrid - Day 5

Day 5 was the unwind routine in XB and the Total Body Tempo workout in 645.

The "unwind" routine went well. It really focuses on hip and neck flexibility. It is one of the routines that you are standing the entire time, and there is a little bit of balance work, but not much. It definitely helped work out some of the soreness that I had from the prior couple of days of 645.

The total body temp workout in 645, like the other workouts, have seven moves. This time, there are two exercises in the first block (dumbbell raises in which you raise and lower each arm separately) and then prone WY raises, in which you lay on your stomach, go into a cobra, and then extend and contact your arms. There is no rest between the two moves in the set, and 45 seconds of rest between each set. The second block does not use any weight and there are again two moves. The first is a Bear/Beast plank that you either hold for 30 seconds, or if you are not modifying you lift your arms and legs as Amoila calls out. The second move is a low-plank pike that you do for 30 seconds. Then, the final block has three exercises. The first is a kneeling shoulder press using one weight. Then you do a "deadbug" in which you lay on your back and bring your right arm and left leg to the floor, and then switch so your left arm and right leg go down as the other arm and leg comes up. The final move is a Farmer march in which you hold dumbells while you raise one knee, hold for a couple of seconds, and then switch. 

The workout is again very challenging. Even the exercises that do not use weight are not easy, and because you are doing 15 reps when you are using weight (and not resting between the moves), you will probably end up using much lighter weights than you think you will. 

Workout Update: 645 and XB Stretch Hybrid - Day 4

Day 4 was the Restore routine in XB and the first upper body strength workout in 645.

The Restore routine went fairly well. For some reason, I was sore on my right side after yesterday's 645 mobility and flexibility workout. I have a feeling that I was stretching my lats in a way that they were not used to, so lifting my arms was a bit hard because I would have pain shoot down my right side. 

The 645 workout follows the same format as Tuesday's workout. A block of three exercises that are done back-to-back with no rest between them and then a 45-second rest between sets, an EMOM block in which you do 15 bicep curls, rest until the 60 seconds elapse, and then do another 15 reps. Then, the third block has three exercises that you do back-to-back with no rest between them. This is another good workout, and you learn a lot (if you pay attention) about functional upper-body movement.

Book Review: Lethal Agent (Mitch Rapp Series #18)

 

Lethal Agent is the 18th book in the Mitch Rapp series, published in 2019. It is the fourth book in the series written solely by Kyle Mills, who took over the series by finishing the book The Survivor after Vince Flynn passed away in 2013.

This book ties back to the novel Order to Kill, picking up on the plotline from the end of that book and then getting into the new storyline. We find out that the fictional ISIS leader survived the grenade attack by Rapp in the cave and now he is plotting to not only get revenge on Rapp but release anthrax in the US ahead of the contentious presidential election. The antagonist politician in this novel is a character named Christine Barnett, who hates Irene Kennedy and Mitch Rapp and who is considered to be a shoo-in to win the upcoming election. The plot of the book basically involves ISIS working with the Mexican cartels to smuggle anthrax-laced drugs into the US across the southern border which turns into an even larger threat.

The book is just under 400 pages and reads fairly quickly. The action is spaced quite well to balance the slower parts of the story. Assuming anyone reading this has read the other books in the series, you should be able to get through it in the same amount of time you have read the other books. The book is also a bit prophetic in light of what would happen in the real world in 2020. Like Flynn did, Mills weaves some elements of real life into the book like the political division in the country, drugs being smuggled across the border, etc. If you have liked Mills' contribution to the series up to this point, you will probably like this book as well.

Workout Update: 645 and XB Stretch Hybrid - Day 3

Day 3 was the signature stretch routine in XB, and the flexibility and mobility routine in 645.

The signature stretch routine was a bit easier than it was the last time I did it. I was able to get in and out of the down-dog splits a bit easier, and my balance was a bit better than the last time I did it.

For the 645 flexibility routine, you do three sets of six moves. There is no rest between the moves but you do get a 45-second rest between the sets. The moves in the set focus on hip, back, and shoulder mobility. Then there are two sets of just squats using a power loop, and then two sets of a shoulder mobility move using the power loop. Then, in the end, you do a couple of minutes of breath work in which you find a comfortable position and breathe in and out. Throughout the workout, Amoila really tries to explain what each of the exercises do for you, and how they will help in the other workouts. I could definitely feel my hips and back getting looser toward the end of the routine. It is a great routine that really is the cornerstone of the whole functional movement theme of the program.

Product Review: C CRYSTAL LEMON Fire Blanket Kitchen, Fire Blanket Fire Suppression Blanket

 

This is one of those items that you hope to never have to use, but want handy if you need it. It is a fiberglass blanket that can be used to douse any fire, aside from an electrical fire. In the package, it is small enough that you can store it under your kitchen sink. Or, you can hang it from something like a command hook. Unlike fire extinguishers, they will not expire, won't make a mess, and can be reused multiple times. It is definitely worth the pickup.

Workout Update: 645 and XB Stretch Hybrid - Day 2

Day 2 was the Restore routine in XB. I felt like I was getting a little deeper into all of the stretches during this one, but I still have a long way to go to be as flexible as I want. 

The 645 workout today was a total body power routine, focusing on the shoulders and chest. There are again 7 total moves, spread across three blocks. This time, the first and second blocks have three exercises, and the last has one. In the first two blocks, you do each exercise with no rest between them, then get a 45-second break, and then you do another round of the same three moves. In the final block, you do 15 dumbell swings, then rest for 15 seconds, and then do 15 swings again, for four rounds (and a bonus 5th round if you want to do it). 

The thing I like about the workouts so far is that Amoila really focuses on functional movements, doing exercises like 1/4 get-ups and lateral skaters. If you have had to watch your parents get old and lose mobility you know how important it is to work on functional strength and mobility exercises, and this program has a lot of that in just the first couple of workouts. You will likely use a lighter weight to start out because of the fast pace of the workout (and the higher number of reps). I found myself getting tired using 15 lbs to do bench presses, which if I were doing them for 8-10 reps I can easily use 25 lbs. 

Product Review: USB 3.0 Hub, VIENON 4-Port USB Hub USB Splitter USB Expander for Laptop

 

This is a USB 3.0 hub that can connect to a computer or a docking station to give you three additional USB ports. It is powered through whatever it is plugged into, so it does not have a separate power supply. It is plug-and-play and works as expected. A good choice if you are looking for a reasonably priced USB hub.

Workout Update: 645 and XB Stretch Hybrid - Day 1

This was my first day doing the 645 workout, which is essentially a full version of the 630 workout. The format is the same with six days of workouts, including 4 strength/resistance workout days, one day of flexibility/mobility, and one day of cardio. 

Monday's workout is lower-body strength, with a focus on the back, legs, and glutes. There is also some plank work in there as well, so you are also working your core a bit. You do each exercise either for 15 reps or 30 seconds (which amounts to about 15 reps depending on how fast you go). There are three blocks in the workout. In the first block, you do two exercises with no rest between them, and then you get a 45-second rest break, and then do them again. The second block is the EMOM (every-minute-on-the-minute block) where you do a single exercise for 15 reps, and your rest period is whatever is left in the minute, then at the start of the next minute, you go again. The final block has three exercises that you do back-to-back with no rest, then you get 45 seconds to rest, and then you do the same three exercises over again.

The workout flows very well, and even though it is 15 minutes longer than the 630 workouts, you really do not notice it all that much. Thankfully, the warmup and the cooldown are included in the 45-minute time frame, so it is not one of those workouts that you are really doing for 50 minutes because the cooldown comes after the workout ends. 

For XB, I did the mobility workout. Nothing new to report about that one. It was not really any better or worse than the last time I did the routine.

Product Review: VIVO Clamp-on Desk and Bed Cup Holder, No Spill Adjustable Drink Mount

 

This is a cup holder that can mount (via a c-clamp) on a desk or table (or anything that has a flat edge) that allows you to have a cup, or bottle close without taking up space on the surface of the desk (and also helps to prevent any accidental spills). The part that holds the drink can open up to hold a fairly large water bottle. It seems that a 32-ounce water bottle is about the largest it can handle). 

The only drawback is that it is a pain to put together. The clamp section screws onto the back of the part that holds the cup/bottle. The screws are tiny (so you need to have a small Phillips-head screwdriver handy) and it is hard to line them up and get them screwed in. There are four total screws. Once you get the first one in, the others get progressively easier, but I am honestly not sure why they could not have made this one solid piece. That said, once you get it together it works as it should, and is sturdy.

Workout Update: Transition Week

 As I was nearing the end of Job-1, I was trying to figure out what to do as my next "main" workout. I decided on the "645" program, led by trainer Amoila Cesar, which is one of the newer programs in the Beachbody lineup. But, to get ready for it, I did the shorter "630" workout, which is basically a week-long series of shorter workouts (30 minutes instead of 45 minutes) that follow the same format as the longer, thirteen-week program 645.

The 630 program has workouts for six days, Monday-Saturday, and then a rest day on Sunday. M, T, Th, and Fr are strength training days in which you work lower body, total body, upper body (mostly shoulders), and total body respectively. Wednesday is a stretching/flexibility and mobility routine, and Saturday is a cardio workout.

In each of the resistance workouts, you do blocks in which you will do one or two moves. When there are two moves you do them back-to-back, then you get a 45-second rest break and you do both again. Some blocks are what are called EMOM blocks, where you do a single move for 15 reps, then you rest until the next minute starts. So, if it takes 30 seconds to do the 15 reps then you get a 30-second break. If it takes you 45 seconds, then you get 15 seconds of rest before you start again.

Ultimately, it is a good workout that is challenging. There is a modifier who performs modified versions of the moves if you need it. Cesar has a good, fun personality, and he explains and breaks down how correctly perform the exercises. The 30 minutes go by quickly in all of the workouts, and they do not ever seem to drag. 

I usually did those workouts in the mornings and then the XB 15-minute stretching routines in the evening. Those were pretty much going the same way as they had been, so there is really nothing new to report on them. I am going to flip that so I do the XB routines in the morning and the 45-minute workouts in the evening. I will start updating daily again this evening.

Book Review: Star Wars: Padawan

 

Padawan is a young-adult canon novel set sometime before the events of The Phantom Menace. In the book, Obi-Wan is chafing under his clashing style with Qui-Gon, feeling that he is not learning from Qui-Gon, and is thus not being a good Padawan to Qui-Gon. In researching the archives, Obi-Wan learns of the location of a mysterious planet that was found by a Jedi Wayfinder, who believed the planet was worth studying. Since there was no record of the Jedi ever returning, Obi-Wan proposes a mission to the planet that he hopes will bring him and Qui-Gon closer together. Obi-Wan ends up traveling to the planet alone and finds a group of younglings who appear to be force-sensitive that are being attacked by everything on the planet, including the planet itself. 

The book is a very good stand-alone story. Even though the story is mostly self-contained, there are some tie-ins (some subtle some not) to the movies and animated series including how Obi-Wan first met Dex, the alien that ran the diner in Attack of the Clones. It is basically a story about Obi-Wan finding his place in the Jedi order and his connection to The Force. The book is on the longer side of the young-adult novels, at just over 400 pages. Even so, it is a fairly quick read, so if you are a fast reader you should easily be able to finish it in a day or two. The story is good but not as good as the stories in some of the other novels. If I could, I would give it 4.5 stars, but that is not an option and I think it is better than a four-star novel, which is why I ended up rating it five stars. 

Product Review: YPbPr to HDMI Converter, Component to HDMI

 

This is a converter that allows you to connect an older device that has the YPbPr component cables (such as an X-Box 360) to an HDMI input. While many newer TVs still have ports available for these cables, they generally only have one, and if you still have more than one working device that uses the YPbPr cables, then this will allow you to still use them. It is powered via a supplied cable that can be plugged into a USB port or a power adapter that plugs into the wall. It will provide an okay, but not great picture as the output, but it does work.

Supplement Review: NABUU Immunity Mushroom Supplement

 

This is a supplement that contains various different types of mushroom extracts. The blend is similar to some of the mushroom gummies that are out there, containing, among other types, Lion's Mane and Turkey Tail extract. 

The serving size is two capsules that you take with a meal. The bottle contains 30 servings in total (60 capsules). They are what I would describe as normal-sized capsules that are easy to swallow. But, they do have a pretty bad aftertaste, so it is a good idea to drink them with something flavored or take a bite of whatever you are eating after you swallow them. That said, they are good for someone who wants some of the benefits that mushrooms can provide but who hates the taste and/or texture of actual mushrooms.

Book Review: The Most Spectacular Restaurant in the World: The Twin Towers, Windows on the World, and the Rebirth of New York

 

This is a book published in 2019 about the Windows on the World restaurant (which was actually a collection of a few different Restaurants and Bars) located at the top of the North Tower of the World Trade Center. It would, of course, be destroyed during the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks on the building.

The book basically tells the story of New York City and the World Trade Center from the perspective of the operation of the restaurant, and the various obstacles that had to be overcome to operate it. The book details events that occurred as the towers were being built, including a fight with the architect about whether to make the windows on the 106th and 107th floors wider so patrons would get a better view of the city, the fighting that went on between the staff members, the difficulties of getting the restaurant up and running after the 1993 bombing in a parking garage below the buildings, and the resurgence that the restaurant experienced in the late 1990s that lasted until 9/11.

The book does details some of the events of 9/11, first at the beginning, telling the story of the head chef who survived only because he decided to get his glasses fixed in the morning instead of the afternoon, so he was downstairs in the mall under the buildings when the plane hit the tower. Then, toward the end of the book, the author talks about the phone calls that the people trapped at Windows were making as conditions inside were getting worse, and how the handful of Windows employees who were below the impact zone heard pleas for help over walkie talkies, saw people waiving tablecloths out the broken windows, and saw people jumping. The final couple of chapters discuss the aftermath of 9/11 and provided an update on some of the survivors, as well as some of the family members of the people who died that day.

The book is 320 pages, but it is not what I would call a fast read, especially if you want to get all the details. I do think the author spent a bit too long discussing what was going on in the 1970s, but once you get through that part, it does start reading a bit faster. I would also not call it a book about 9/11 as there are really only two relatively short chapters devoted to that day, and one chapter devoted to what was going on at the restaurant on September 10th. Even so, it is very interesting to get some of the history about how the Trade Center came to be, the ups and down that NYC went through over the course of time, and Window's place in all of it.

Book Review: Red War: (Mitch Rapp Series #17)

 

Red War is the 17th novel in the Mitch Rapp series. It was published in 2018 and is the fourth novel in the series at least partially written by Kyle Mills when he took over the series after Vince Flynn's death in 2013. 

The novel starts out with the fictional Russian President, Krupin, ordering a hit on Grisha Azarov in Costa Rica. From there, the plot of the book involves an increasingly unstable Krupin planning an attack on the Baltic countries that are members of NATO. The  CIA discovers Krupin has terminal brain cancer and sends Rapp (along with Azarov) on a mission to Russia.

The book definitely includes some real-world elements, such as mentioning Russia's invasion of Crimea (and even foreshadowing (a bit) the full invasion of Ukraine by Russia), the speculation that Putin is ill, etc. It also touches on Russia's various disinformation campaigns, including those that are designed to turn Americans against each other.

The book is just over 350 pages and reads like the other books in the series. So, if you read quickly you can probably finish it in a couple of days (or less). While it is hard to predict what direction Flynn would have taken the series had he lived, I do think Mills has now captured the same tone and pacing that Flynn used so that if Flynn would have told the same story, this feels like how he would write it. While I do not think it was quite as good as the last novel in the series, Enemy of the State, it is still very good, with a nice blend of action and setup, and is definitely worth the read.

Product Review: CHARMKING Compression Socks for Women & Men Circulation (3 Pairs)

 

This is a 3-pack of knee-high compression socks. I mainly got them to give a couple pairs to my mom since her doctor recommended that she start wearing them, but I also kept a pair for myself. They do take a few minutes to get used to since they are much tighter than cotton socks (as you would expect). But, once you do get used to them, they are very comfortable. They are fine for both "normal" daily use and for working out. In fact, if you get the darker pairs, they look nice enough that you can wear them with dress shoes and nobody would be able to tell that they are not dress socks. 

Product Review: LocknLock Easy Essentials Pantry Airtight Rectangular Tall Food Storage Container, Pasta Box

 

This is a great storage option for Spaghetti or Lasagna noodles. It will keep the pasta much fresher than it will be in the box (or bag) once you have opened it. The container is not completely airtight like a vacuum seal would be, but there is a seal between the lid and the container, and there are notches on the container that the lid flaps lock onto when you fold them down. So, once the cover is on and closed, you do have to worry about it coming loose or the pasta spilling out if it falls over. Nor do you have to worry about pests getting into the container. It is definitely a good storage option.

Book Review: Star Wars: Path of Vengeance

 

Path of Vengeance is the latest book in the early High-Republic era novels. It is a follow-up to the novels Path of Deceit and Battle of Jedha. This book brings back the characters of Marda and Yarna Ro (one of whom is likely the mother of the leader of the Nihil, who are the main antagonists of the later High-Republic era) who are essentially on opposite sides of a civil war in the Path of the Open Hand. 

In this book, the Path retreats to the planet Dalna. The Mother throws The Herald under the bus for the violence on Jedha and dispatches a team to Planet X to get more Leveler eggs so that she can have an army of Levelers to fight the Jedi. The Jedi track down the Path just as the team returns with the eggs, and another battle ensues. 

The book is one of the longer young-adult novels. It is just over 500 pages, but it is a fairly easy read and the story flows very well. I am a fast reader and got through it in about five hours. The book brings a conclusion to the novels that were set before it and provides a good reset point from which to bridge the two eras of the High Republic. The only real issue I have with the early High-Republic novels is that it presents a bit of a continuity issue as the Leveler is unleashed by the Nihil on the Jedi in the novels set during the later High-Republic era, and the Jedi do not seem to have any idea what is attacking and killing them. Yet, the Jedi in this era absolutely know about the creature, and so Yoda and Yaddle should know what it is in the later books. That said, the story in this book is still very good and it is definitely one of the canon novels that you should read if you only read some, but not all, of the novels.

Book Review: Bringing Columbia Home: The Untold Story of a Lost Space Shuttle and Her Crew

 

Bringing Columbia Home is the story of the 2003 Space Shuttle Columbia disaster in which the shuttle broke up during reentry. It was written by a former NASA employee who was the launch director when the disaster occurred and published in 2018.

The beginning of the book goes through what was happening on the ground as the shuttle lost contact with the ground and how frantic people were becoming as the shuttle was not where it was supposed to be and then missed the landing (which is calculated to the second). Then the author goes through the mission from the beginning, detailing how much was known about the foam strike that occurred during the launch of the shuttle, and the debate that went on about whether the shuttle was actually in danger. The author goes into a lot of detail about the recovery effort, and how the focus at first was recovering the remains of the shuttle crew, and then after the remains of all seven astronauts were found, detailing the major effort made to find as much of the shuttle as they could.

The book is very harrowing. The author does a great job detailing what happened, while still being respectful to the people who were lost and their families. He also goes into a lot of detail about how the people in rural Texas (which is where most of the debris was landed) helped searchers locate the remains of the shuttle and the crew. The author does give readers a general idea of where the remains of the crew members were found, but did not go into specifics (to protect the privacy of the property owners) and did not detail the condition of the bodies (to respect the dead and their families). But, you can definitely read between the lines to know that only some remains of each crew member were found.

The substantive portion of the book is 300 pages long, then there are a couple of appendices that give the names of people who were key to the recovery efforts and a glossary of the NASA terms used. Then there are several pages of endnotes. Most of the notes just point to sources, but some of the notes are explanatory. If you are a nerd about reading the notes, it is kind of a pain to go back and see what text it was created from, so I think they would have been better as footnotes. The book is very emotional, even now 20-plus years after the disaster. While the cause of the accident was not as infuriating as the Challenger disaster, as there was really no practical rescue that could have been made either before the shuttle reentered the atmosphere or during, it was still hard to read how some people were just dismissing the fact that there was any danger to the shuttle. It is definitely worth reading.

Workout Update: Job 1-XB Stretch Day 28

Day 28 was the midday move routine in XB. This is another routine that you do entirely standing, and it is probably the most challenging routine in the 15-minute routines. It has you doing very deep abductor stretches which can be hard to get down into (and back out of).  

Workout Update: Job 1-XB Stretch Day 27

Day 27 was the Restore routine in XB. I again did this one in my basement, meaning I was using the lower chair. I was able to get a little bit deeper into the hamstring stretches, but not much. And, my balance was a little bit better today than the last time I did the workout. 

Workout Update: Job 1-XB Stretch Day 26

Day 26 was the last day of the Job 1 workouts. This was another circuit workout, focusing on Chest, Core, and Legs, with the one-minute of three cardio moves that you do for 20 seconds each. This workout just uses weights, and you do three blocks, each block having three exercises that you do for 45 seconds. Each block has one chest-focused exercise, one core-focused exercise, and one legs-focused exercise. This was definitely the most intense of the weight-lifting circuit workouts in the program.

The XB routine was the unwind routine. Unwind was a bit easier the second time, although I was still a bit unsteady on the balance moves. This is not really a routine that you will get deep into the stretches.

Book Series Review: Vince Flynn's Novels

 

Vince Flynn was an author who lived in the Twin Cities and wrote 14 books in total, 13 of them centered around the character of Mitch Rapp, a terrorist hunter who, at the beginning of his career, worked as an off-the-books black-ops assassin. Flynn, through Rapps narratives in the books, made it clear that Rapp was not a spy. He did not gather intel or work as an analyst. He went after and killed bad guys.

Flynn's first novel was 1997's Term Limits, which was the only book he wrote that was not part of the Mitch Rapp series, although it did feature some of the characters who would become regulars in the series. It was also probably Flynn's most political book, as it had Scott Coleman killing corrupt politicians and warning the government that more would die if a law was not passed to protect the economy from cratering. The character of Coleman would be rewritten to omit his acts of domestic terrorism in the Rapp novels. 

The Rapp series started with the Transfer of Power, which was published in 1999. In that novel, Rapp had been working as a terrorist hunter for about a decade. He learns of an attack on the White House, and much of the book is set with Rapp sneaking around the White House taking out the terrorists who are trying to get the President (fictional President Hayes) out of the bunker. Fans of the series 24 (which Flynn actually consulted on for a couple of seasons) will recognize a similar storyline being incorporated into one of the later seasons of the show, and it is clear that the character of Jack Bauer was based at least in part on Mitch Rapp.

The first four books in the series were set around Iraq being the primary threat to the US, and then, after real life happened in the form of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the remaining novels would be set against the backdrop of radical Islam and many of the plotlines focused on the aftermath of 9/11. After the 10th book in the series, Pursuit of Honor was published in 2009, Flynn wrote two prequel novels, American Assassin and Kill Shot, which fleshed out the details of how Rapp was recruited into the CIA and his early career, which had only been hinted at up to that point in the books. In 2010, Flynn would be diagnosed with an aggressive form of Prostate Cancer, and, unfortunately, passed away in 2013 (almost 10 years to the day as of this writing) at the age of 47 after finishing the novel, The Last Man, which brought the series back to the present day. Flynn started working on the next book, The Survivor but had only finished a few chapters before he died. Flynn's estate and his publisher commissioned Kyle Mills (who wrote books in the same genre) to finish The Suvivior, and Mills would be brought back to write several more books in the series.

My exposure to Flynn was through his appearances on the Dan Barrerrio afternoon radio show in the Twin Cities. Flynn would come on not only to promote his books but generally talk politics and local sports with Barrerrio. Flynn actually named a minor character in one of his books after Barrerrio. Flynn was certainly a conservative Republican, and his conservative viewpoint, especially when it came to the issue of torture, and whether the enhanced interrogation techniques approved by the Bush Administration amounted to torture, was present in the books. Flynn had the viewpoint that enhanced interrogation worked, which is debatable, as people like FBI agent Ali Soufan, who had interrogated many Al-Qeada members said it did not. Flynn also did not like that the Obama administration was investigating CIA personnel (and charging some) who were told during the Bush Administration that the enhanced interrogation techniques were legal. However, Flynn made it clear both in his interviews and the books that he was not a fan of politics or politicians in general, and some of the bad guys in the novels were actually Republican politicians. 

Flynn was also pals with Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck, who were (and still are in Beck's case), in my opinion, two of the biggest pieces of shit in recent human history. While I never listened to his interviews on their shows, Flynn never struck me as being as nuts as Beck, Limbaugh, and their ilk. Of course, Flynn died before the whole t***p takeover of the Republican party, so we will never know if Flynn would have been one in the ranks of the sane (e.g., the "never t***pers") or if he would have become one of the cult members. But, given that he took a couple of shots at t***p in one of his books, I suspect Flynn would not have been a fan. And, I am sure that Flynn would not like the idea of book bans that we are seeing a decade after his death as I remember him saying that the Harry Potter novels (which have been caught up in some book bans) were perfectly fine for kids.

Overall, Flynn's Rapp series is a very well-written blend of action and suspense. Flynn was very much anti-political correctness and used Rapp's bluntness to present an in-your-face view of the very real threats to the US. And given that both Bill Clinton and Rush Limbaugh were fans of Flynn's books, they can certainly be enjoyed regardless of your political persuasion, even if you do not agree with Flynn's politics or every point of view expressed in the books. 

Product Review: PIONEER 43-inch Class LED 4K UHD Smart Fire TV

 

This is a very nice, relatively inexpensive, 4K tv. At 43 inches it is a perfect size for a bedroom, a workout room, a garage, etc. It has three HDMI inputs, a coaxial input, an optical cable input, and component cable inputs. And, the inputs are located in a way that they should not be blocked if you put the TV on a wall mount. It also does have feet that screw onto the bottom to allow you to put it on a counter or a TV stand.

The TV does have Amazon Fire TV built-in. You can do a basic setup or a full setup. The basic setup is the one you would pick if you are not an Amazon Prime member, and essentially just allows you to switch the inputs, download apps, etc. The full setup is what you would pick if you are a Prime member and will allow for easier access to all of the Prime Video content. The full setup is very easy, especially if you are even relatively tech-savvy. It will put a QR code on the screen that you can scan with your phone that will allow you to log into your Amazon account with your phone and then the TV sets itself up. You will have to wait for the firmware to upload, but the TV does that automatically and there is really nothing you need to do while the TV is downloading and installing the update.

The TV itself is great. The resolution is wonderful, and finding what you want is relatively easy. It does have a Firestick remote, which has an Alexa button that allows you to do voice searching. The only thing I do not like about the remote is that it does not allow you to easily change the TV inputs via a button on the remote. You have to go to the home screen and change the inputs from there. And, when you are on the page that shows the inputs, the screen does not automatically show you what is hooked up to what input (I did figure out you can set this up manually, but it should be something that the TV can detect on its own). Those are, of course, bigger issues if you have something like a Roku (which you really do not need since you can download almost every App you can get on a Roku on this), a video game system, or a blu-ray player hooked up to this, than it is if you are just going to be streaming. Aside from those issues, however, I think it is a great TV and definitely worth the price.

Product Review: WONGJON Soap Holder Self Draining Soap Dish Holder

 

If you are one of those people who still uses a bar of soap (e.g., for washing your face, before shaving, or the like) this is a great way to store it on your sink without the inevitable mess that comes after you use it a couple of times. This has a base that sits on the edge of the sink and a dish that sits on top of the base with a lip that allows water to drain into the sink. It is not what I would call super-high-end, but it looks nice enough to put in any bathroom without clashing with the decor. 

Book Review: Enemy of the State: (Mitch Rapp Series #16)

 

This is the 16th book in the prolific series of spy/assassin novels created by Vince Flynn and continued by Kyle Mills after Flynn's death in 2013. The novel was published in 2017 and was a continuation of the prior novels, The Last Man, The Survivor, and Order to Kill. The book is just under 400 pages and like Flynn's novels and the two novels in the series that Mills at least partially wrote, it reads fairly quickly.

This book continues the storyline that was set in Saudi Arabia during the last book. We find out that the nephew of the ailing Saudi king is discovered to be funding ISIS and Rapp puts together a team to go after him. Like Flynn did in his books, Mills ties the storyline into the real world. Specifically, he ties the story to the evidence that the Saudi government at least knew a lot more about the 9/11 attacks than they let on, and at worst had a hand in the planning of it, and the US government covered it up (and continues to do so) because of our dependence on oil. The book brings back many characters from the prior novels, and yet again, sets Rapp's life on a new course.

Overall, the book is very good. It seems like with this book, Mills really found the balance between writing the story as Vince Flynn would have likely done so, yet making it his own. The prior novel, Order to Kill, felt a bit off to me, and not like a book that Flynn himself would have written. This book, however, feels like, had Vince Flynn decided to write this story, this is how he would have done it. 

Product Review: Power Strip, SUPERDANNY Surge Protector with 22 AC Outlets and 6 USB Charging Ports

 

This is a very nice, heavy-duty power strip. It has 22 AC outlets, including 10 along the sides to accommodate more oddly shaped power packs. It also has 6 USB ports so you can plug in a phone charger (without taking up one of the outlets) or a converter that is powered via USB. It also offers surge protection, so you do not have to worry as much about plugging multiple things into it. Even if you are unlikely to use all 22 outlets (and that is not really a good idea anyway), it is definitely worth the pickup.

Workout Update: Job 1-XB Stretch Day 25

Day 25 was the last 20-min sweat session of this round of Job 1. This follows the same format of doing 4 blocks of three exercises. You do all three exercises for 30 seconds for two rounds and no rest. Then you rest for a minute and go to the next block of three new exercises. Jennifer again ratchets up the intensity of the exercises incorporating some plank work (e.g., plank to beast and a version of Shaun T's push-up jacks (basically the jack move without the push-ups) and in and out abs).  

For the stretch routine, I did Restore again. This time I did it in my basement using a lower chair (lower than my bed). So I could not get as far into the hamstring stretches as I can when I use my bed, but I don't think my flexibility level backslid at all.

Book Review: Star Wars: Path of Deceit

 

Path of Deceit is another young-adult Star Wars novel set during the early High Republic era. It is set sometime before the events depicted in the book, Battle of Jedha. In the early chapters, it seems like the book is just going to be another ancillary side story, with a bunch of new characters that are pretty uninteresting. However, by the end of the book, a lot is revealed, including exactly what the monster is that the Path of the Open Hand, and later the Nihil, use to kill Jedi (and how it actually kills them). 

The story is set on the planet Dalna, in the Outer Rim where the Path has their compound. A Jedi named Zalla Marci and her Padawan named Kevmo Zink travel to Dalna to find stolen force artifacts that they suspect the Path is hoarding. During the mission, Kevmo falls for one of the Path members, Marda Ro. They each try to convince each other that their respective views of The Force are correct while falling in love. Over the course of the book, we learn more about the Path's leader, The Mother, and get a bit more insight into her plans.

Overall, the story is good, but it takes a long time to get to the good parts. For the first 2/3 of the book it seems like it is just going to be a love story between Kevmo and Marda, and then in the last handful of chapters, the story picks up a lot, and unexpectedly. It ends up being one of my must-read canon novels, but I do only give it 4-stars because it takes such a long time to get to the good part. The book is just under 350 pages. If you read quickly, it can be finished in a day or two, even though you do have to slog through the first part of the book to get to the really good stuff. If you are tempted to stop reading it in the beginning, definitely keep going because it is worth it.

Workout Update: Job 1-XB Stretch Day 24

Day 24 was the last Build and Burn workout, which is a Back, Legs, and Core focused workout. The first block focuses on the back, the second on the legs, and the third on the core. In each block, you use the resistance loops, and in the first two blocks, you use loops and weights together. Again, there is very little rest between the exercises in the block and between the blocks themselves. So, you will definitely get a cardio effect. 

The XB routine was the signature stretch routine. It is definitely my least favorite of the 15-minute routines, but I made it through.

Product Review: Kitchen Sink Faucet Splash Guard

 

This silicone drying mat goes around some types of faucets (e.g., the pull-down sprayer-type faucets) with an elongated base. You definitely will need to measure how much space you have on either side of your faucet, and the space behind your faucet (if you do not have a sink in an island), as well as measure the diameter of the base of your faucet to make sure this will fit around it. 

Assuming you do have the space, it is super easy to install. The "hole" is not closed, so you just pull the two sides apart and put it around the base of your faucet. There is enough room on either side to store set a sponge and one of those dish wands, as well as setting your dish soap on it. It has sloped channels that hang over the edge of the sink and drain water into the sink. So, it will help keep your counter dry and more organized.

Workout Update: Job 1-XB Stretch Day 22

 Day 22 was the HIIT workout in Job 1 and the Restore routine in XB.

The HIIT workout, again, ratcheted up the intensity by having harder moves, including burpees as the third move. It follows the same format of doing three moves, one move during each block. You do four rounds of each move for 30 seconds and the amount of rest decreases between each round. Then, the final round has you do all three moves for 15 seconds for four rounds getting 15 seconds of rest between each round.

For the XB Restore routine, I felt like I made additional progress. I was able to get deeper into all of the stretches and hold the stretches longer.

Workout Update: Job 1-XB Stretch Day 21

Day 21 was the start of the final week in Job 1 and was a shoulders, arms, and glutes circuit. This circuit workout used just weights and, again, the exercises got harder. There were almost no breaks (basically just long enough for Jennifer to show the next move), so you are continually moving the entire workout.

Then, the XB workout was the mobility routine which focuses on back, hip, and hamstring flexibility. In this one, you do need to use a yoga strap (or a towel) to help get deeper into some of the hamstring stretches. I do think my range of motion is getting a little better, but my flexibility is nowhere near where I want it to be. 

Product Review: WORKPRO Premium 6.5” Screw Extractor Pliers (Combination Pliers)

 

I used this to get screws off of a vent in one of my bathrooms. The screws had been painted over, the ends were very worn, and I could not get them to move with a regular screwdriver. This removed them in seconds. I just used the end of the pliers to grab each screw and turn it a few times until I could get it to the point where I could get the screw out by hand. This also has a small wire cutter that works, but it is not necessarily something that would be my go-to for cutting wire. But, for removing screws that will not move with a screwdriver, this absolutely works.

Workout Update: Job 1-XB Stretch Day 20

Day 20 was another off day in Job 1, and the Restore routine again in XB. Nothing really new to report about the Restore routine. I still maintained the flexibility gains that I had seen a couple of days ago, but did not make any further gains. 

Workout Update: Job 1-XB Stretch Day 19

Day 19 was the Realign routine in the XB stretch program and a rest day in Job 1. I really like Realign, even though it is challenging because it works on the lower back and hips, which is where I am extremely tight. I definitely feel that my posture is better after I do it, and I have a better range of motion when doing things around the house.

Workout Update: Job 1-XB Stretch Day 18

Day 18 was the last workout of week 3 in Job 1, a chest, back, and legs circuit. And in XB stretch, I did the Restore routine.

The circuit workout in Job 1 follows the same format as the other "finish strong" workouts. Specifically, you do one move for each body part during each block in the circuit, then after you do each block twice, you have a one-minute cardio set that has three moves. Once you do the first block and the cardio minute, then you move to the next block that has three new moves, one chest, one back, and one core-focused move, then you do the same cardio minute. 

The Restore routine in XB is getting a bit easier. My balance is getting better, and I can get deeper into almost every stretch.

Book Review: The Big Lie: Election Chaos, Political Opportunism, and the State of American Politics After 2020

 

This is a book by Jonathan Lemire, a reporter for the Associated Press, and one of the morning show hosts/contributors on MSNBC. The subject matter of the book is fairly clear from the title. It is focused on the 2017-2021 presidential administration. The book is about 300 pages (of substantive material) and then there is a bibliography at the end that accounts for the rest. About half of the book is about the lead-up to the 2020 election, and the other half focuses on the election and the aftermath, including January 6th, the second impeachment, and the fight after the election to get a new voting rights act through Congress.

Lemire basically excoriates the orange genital wart and does not come at it from a detached journalist. Lemire calls agent orange a liar, documents how he lied all his adult life before he was president and documents the biggest lies he told as president. Lemire argues that t***p's brazenness in lying opened the door for Republicans to lie their ass off to the point that the batshit crazy portion of the party that, heretofore, had been relegated to the fringes and tolerated as long as they voted for tax cuts for the rich, to take over the party. 

Not much of the information in the book is new, especially if you have followed the (reputable sources of) news for the past few years. But, Lemire crystallized just how t***p, and the Republican party's cult-like devotion to him, transformed politics and how it presents a danger going forward. It is definitely worth reading.

Workout Update: Job 1-XB Stretch Day 17

Day 17 was the Build and Burn workout in Job 1 focusing on Glutes, Arms, and Core, and the Refresh routine in XB.

In Job 1, you use the resistance loops for the entire workout. I was using the heavy band the entire time until the core exercises when I switched to the light band. This has three rounds, each consisting of three exercises, and each round is focused on one area of the body. There is little to no rest during the routine, so you again get a cardio workout as you are doing resistance moves.

The Refresh routine in XB went okay, but it was not all that different from the last time I did the routine.

Workout Update: Job 1-XB Stretch Day 16

Day 16 was the HIIT It workout in Job 1, and Restore in XB stretch.

The format of the HIIT workout was the same as it has been in past weeks, but the moves are harder/ more intense, so you will probably be quite gassed by the time the workout is over. The XB routine was pretty much the same as it has been, but my balance is getting better. As far as depth into the stretches go, however, that has not really changed.

Blu-Ray/Movie Review: American Ninja 2: The Confrontation

 

This is the 1987 follow-up to the surprise 1985 hit, American Ninja. The movie brings back Michael Dudikoff as Joe Armstrong and Steve James as Curtis Jackson and was again directed by Firstenberg (who directed the first movie, as well as a couple of movies in Cannon's early 80s "Ninja Trilogy". 

The movie is set on some unnamed tropical island in the Caribbean, where Marines are being mysteriously abducted. Armstrong and Jackson (who are still in the army) are sent to investigate. From there, a silly plot about a local drug lord (played by Gary Conway, who also wrote the movie) that involves genetically engineering ninjas plays out. This time, the lead "bad" ninja was played by Mike Stone (who had trained Elvis Pressley in Karate). 

The blu-ray transfer was decent (an upgrade from the VHS version for sure), but not great. Very similar to the transfer the first movie received. The extras include an audio commentary track with Elijah Drenner and Firstenberg, which was very similar to the track they did for the American Ninja Blu-Ray, a making-of featurette, and the trailer. In the commentary track, Firstenberg again provides a lot of good nuggets about the movie, including filming the movie in South Africa toward the end of Apartheid and working with an even lower budget for this movie than he had for the first, despite the success of the first movie. 

Overall, the movie itself is bad. It definitely has the look and feel of a very low-budget 80s action movie. The script was hilariously bad, which resulted in horrible acting, and the fight sequences were not nearly as good as in the first movie. The "expendable" black ninjas could not beat anyone, and even Stone's lead ninja was pretty lame in the final fight. But, you know what you get from the movie. It is not an award-winner by any means but is a nostalgic blast from the past. 

Intermediate Algebra: Chapter 1 (Basic Concepts) Notes and Solved Problems

Starting notes and homework problems for Intermediate Algebra. The notes will be from my book, and I will be working out all of the homework problems for the problem sets, chapter tests, etc. The book is a bit out of date, but that will really only affect some of the data in the word problems.

Chapter 1 Book Notes

Section 1.2 Worked Problem Set

Section 1.3 Worked Problem Set

DVD/TV Series Review: Baywatch: Season 5

 

The fifth season of Baywatch aired during the 1994-1995 TV season, and probably represented the height of the show's popularity. There were again more cast changes with Nicole Eggert leaving the show (the character of Summer was essentially written off during the two-part season premiere), and Yasmine Bleeth returning to the show as a series regular, playing Stephanie's sister, Caroline. Pamela Anderson was bumped up to second billing, behind Haslehoff, and they finally dropped using her middle name in the credits as she was probably the most famous cast member (at least in the US) in the entire show. They also added Jaason Simmons, to play Logan Fowler, a character very similar to Peter Phelps' character in season one. The character of Neely Capshaw was also introduced at the end of the season but was not played by the same actress who would take over the role the following season.

This season saw many very recognizable guest stars, including a very young Mila Kunis, Wendie Malick (reprising her role as Mitch's ex-wife), Charisma Carpenter (who was was 23 or 24, playing a love interest for Hobie). Jeremy Jackson was 13 or 14 in real life and got to kiss Carpenter, which was probably a high point for him. Carpenter actually looked about 16 or 17 (the age that Cordelia was supposed to be in Buffy, which Carpenter played when she was 27), but definitely did not look like a 13 or 14-year-old, and she was a head taller than Jeremy Jackson, so it was an interesting casting choice. Other notable guest stars included Geraldo (in a very silly role), John Allen Nelson (reprising Court in his yearly episode), Dr. Joyce Brothers, Mike Piazza, Richard Branson, Debbie Dunning (who played the tool girl on the series Tool Time after Pamela Anderson left that show), Little Richard, and Gladys Knight. 

This season the storylines on the show became much more of a blend of serial and procedural. There were definitely still stand-alone storylines, but the show often referenced things that happened in prior episodes (or seasons), and there were more multi-part episodes. And, there was a lot less of an extra being introduced as a great friend of one of the main characters, never to be seen again. The show did juggle the large cast very similar to the way it did in prior seasons, with some characters (even Anderson) being absent for multiple shows in a row. The writing was okay, but still not great. Even when the writers attempted to include more serious topics, they were not done very well, and the attempts at comedy could be very cheesy.

If you can accept the show for what it was, and don't expect more out of it than it gives you, namely a ridiculously good-looking cast on a show about lifeguards, it is entertaining. If you are expecting award-winning writing and acting, it will sorely disappoint you.

Book Review: Undaunted: Leadership Amid Growth and Adversity

 

Undaunted is a book that was written in the lead-up to the 20th Anniversary of the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks. It tells the story of a company called Baseline Financial, which had offices on the 77th and 78th floors of the South Tower of the World Trade Center (floor 78 was the lowest floor in the impact zone when Flight 175 hit the building). Some of the employees of the company were featured in the History Channel documentary, Escape from the Towers, which was also put out around the 20th Anniversary, so if you watched that documentary, you are already aware of some of what the book covers.

The book is written by the former head of sales for Baseline, Ed Zier, who was not actually in the building on 9/11. He was on his way to work when the first plane hit the North Tower and could not get to the buildings, so he watched most of what played out from a Taxi going back to New Jersey. The book partly lays out the history of the company, from its beginnings as a start-up that made no money, to being a powerhouse that was making millions of dollars when the 9/11 attacks occurred. He shifts back and forth between the story of the company with the events of 9/11, with the most detail about the people who made it down (including one worker who was 7 months pregnant and walked down 77 flights of stairs without stopping or resting because she was worried about the health of her baby), including what they faced at the moment of impact, trying to find a way out, and what happened when they got out of the building, including as it collapsed. After that, Zein details the four members of the company who died in the attacks (who were all on the 78th floor exactly where the plane hit) and what happened to the company after 9/11 as it tried to rebuild.

The substantive portion of the book is about 245 pages, and then there are several pages of notes and an index. The parts of the book about the experience of the people in the building (who are counted among the 18 people at or above the point of impact who made it out of the building, although technically they were all just below the impact floors) are harrowing. Those chapters detail how many employees seeing people jump from the North Tower wanted to get out (despite the announcement saying the building was secure and they could stay at their desks), and were debating about whether to take the stairs or try the elevators. A few of the employees had been on the 78th floor a couple of minutes before the plane hit the building, and only survived because of a decision to go back down to the 77th floor. Another employee was going back to her desk (which was on the side of the building where the plane hit) to get her shoes, and saw the plane coming as she was walking that way, convinced that if she had been at her desk she would have been killed. Then the author goes into the rush to find a way out, with the employees eventually risking going down the risky A stairwell (which was filled with smoke) after determining that the B and C stairwells were inaccessible or completely destroyed).  

Toward the end of the book, the author details the efforts to rebuild the company, which was complicated not only by the loss of their offices in the trade center, but that it had recently been acquired by what is now Thomson Reuters, and how a decision by one of the employees to grab his laptop (and the fact that he and it survived the aftermath of the towers collapsing) basically saved the company's data and allowed the employees to keep it running. At the very end of the book, there are good eulogies written about the four employees who were killed in the attacks.

Overall, the book is very good and very interesting. I think most people will be interested in the chapters devoted to the day of 9/11, but the chapters devoted to the history of the company and what happened to it in the years after 9/11 are also very interesting, even if you are not all that familiar with, or into finance. It is definitely worth reading.

Book Review: Order to Kill (Mitch Rapp Series #15)

 

Order to Kill is the 15th book in the Mitch Rapp series of spy/terrorist hunter/assassin novels, created by the late author, Vince Flynn, and continued by Kyle Mills. This book, published in 2016, was the first book in which Flynn had no involvement. Flynn had begun work on the prior novel, The Survivor, before his death, and Mills was brought in to finish that book and write another book in the series, which would become this one. 

This book partly continues the storyline from the prior book, The Survivor, but mainly shifts the story to a new threat. This time, from Russia, whose President, Krupin (who is absolutely a fictional version of Putin) is working with ISIS to get fissile material from Pakistan's nuclear arsenal, taking advantage of the turmoil in Pakistan's government after Mitch had the head of Pakistan's ISI killed in the previous book. This book also introduces the Russian version of Rapp, named Grisha Azarov, who is a younger, faster, stronger version of Rapp who does the bidding of Krupin. 

The book is just under 300 pages and reads fairly quickly (as most of the other novels in the series do). While I do think that Mills still kept the overall tone of Flynn's work, he definitely started making the series his own and was not trying to re-hash what Flynn had done. I liken the shift in the story to what happened to the series ER over the course of its 15-year run, with the original series lasting 8 seasons, and then after many of the original cast members started to leave the show, while it still echoed what the show was in the original seasons, it did not feel exactly the same. That is the best way to describe this book. Mills retained the characteristics and tone of the series but made choices with the storyline that Flynn may not have. That said, I believe that the book is still very good, and definitely worth reading.

Product Review: ABLEWE RCA to HDMI,AV to HDMI Converter, 1080P Mini RCA Composite CVBS Video Audio Converter Adapter

 

This is a device that allows you to connect older electronic devices with old yellow, red, and white audio-video connections (like an older DVD player or a VHS player) to a modern TV that only has HDMI inputs.  It is powered via USB, which you can either plug into a USB connection on your TV, into a power strip with a USB port, a charging plug, or the like. And, you can set it to output at 720p or 1080p, depending on your television's capabilities, but the setup is very easy and can be done by most people.

The market for this is probably relatively small, especially since more and more people are moving over to streaming and away from physical media. But, if you are one of the handful of people left that have older devices that are still working, this is definitely a good pickup. 

Food Review: Wonderful Pistachios, No Shells, Roasted & Salted Nuts

 

This is a box of nine packets of shelled, "roasted and salted" pistachio nuts. Each pack contains just under one ounce (.75 oz) or 21 grams of nuts, which amounts to about 120 calories. The roasted and salted flavor is good, but not overpowering. They are not too salty, but just enough not to be bland. These are a good low-carb snack that is low in saturated fat and has more protein than a lot of different varieties of nuts. 

Product Review: Skechers Men's Afterburn M. Fit Wonted Loafer

 

These are a good (and relatively inexpensive) pair of no-tie Sketchers shoes. While they are called loafers, they are pretty much a sneaker, both in look and feel. So, they are not something that you would wear with a suit, but could probably get away with wearing them if you are dressing business-casual. While some reviews note the fit being off, they fit me perfectly and are very easy to get on and off. I would not call them slip-ons, however, as I do have to use two hands to get them on. But, even so, they are much easier than dealing with shoes with laces that need to be tied. 

Book Review: Star Wars: Quest for Planet X

 

Quest for Planet X is another junior novel set during the early High Republic era, telling another ancillary story set between the adult novels. This book is set after the events of The Battle of Jedha and is centered around Silandra's padawan, Rooper, getting involved in a race to find a mysterious planet called Planet X. Rooper has been on Batuu, and essentially gets sucked into a race to find the mysterious planet, and agrees to participate in order to find Silandra. Unlike some of the other junior novels, this one does advance the main storyline as we learn that the mysterious creatures that can kill the Jedi, which have appeared in multiple novels are called Levelers, and we learn that Planet X may be the origin of the species. 

Overall, the book is okay, but not great. The few plot points from the main story arc of the other novels that get fleshed out are nice, and the main storyline is okay, but not necessarily something that is worth reading multiple times. 

Book Review: Donald T***p v. The United States

 

This is a book that covers the 2017-2021 presidential administration, with a heavy focus on the Russia investigation, both before the Special Counsel was appointed when the FBI was in charge of the investigation, and after. The book was written by Michael Schmidt, a columnist for the New York Times, who had many sources, named and unnamed, both inside the White House, the FBI, and (seemingly inside or around people on the inside of) the Muller team. The book basically spans the time period from before the 2016 election detailing the FBI investigations of both candidates, and how each was handled by the FBI director, and ends with a summary of the first impeachment proceedings.

The substantive portion of the book is 400 pages long, then there are several pages of notes. Schmidt details what was going on in the White House Counsel's office (former White House Counsel Don McGahn was one of his named sources) and seemed to have a lot of insight into what Mueller's team was doing. He goes into great detail about how the Orange Genital Wart was raging at everything, getting crazier as time went on, and refusing to listen to anyone who told him that he could not do the batshit crazy stuff he wanted to do. The end of the book really details how Bill Barr bailed Agent Orange out when the Mueller report was released, based in large part because Mueller refused to actually make any kind of recommendation on whether Little Donny Diapers should be charged with anything. Schmidt also paints Rod Rosenthien as a wimpy slimeball who basically changed his tune depending on who he was talking to.

The book has a lot of reporting that was bombshell news when it came out in 2020, but even now, a few years removed from the original publication there is still material in the book that did not get widely reported, so even if you are a consumer of reputable news, some of the material in the book may be unfamiliar to you. Of course, the MAGATs will scream fake news about everything, but Schmidt brings receipts to back up every assertion that he makes. It is definitely worth reading.

Product Review: CELSIUS Kiwi Guava Lime On-the-Go Powder Stick Packs

 

This is a package of 14 On the Go flavored water packets (similar to crystal light On the Go packets). While it does have caffeine in it, it does not have any sugar and includes Ginger Root, Green Tea Extract, Biotin, and Guarana Seed Extract. So, it does have some thermogenic effects. I use it as a pre-workout drink early in the day. The Kiwi Guava Lime flavor is good, but it definitely took me a couple of times trying it to get used to it. These are a bit more expensive (about $10 for a pack of 14) compared with similar On the Go packs you find in a store (about $3 to $5 for a pack of 10), but not much more. 

Workout Update: Job 1-XB Stretch Day 15

Day 15 was another circuit workout in Job 1, this time a shoulders, core, and legs circuit. Again, there are three blocks that you do for two rounds, each of which focuses on one area of the body. The first block focuses on the shoulders, the second block on the core, and the third block on the legs. Jennifer again makes the moves more challenging than the prior week but does offer modifications that you can do for some or all of the thirty seconds.

Then, for the stretching routine in XB, I did the Energize routine. I do not like that one as much as some of the others, but it is doable. There is definitely more balance work and more downward dog sequences in this one, which I have never been fond of, even when I was in very good shape.

Product Review: ProCase iPad Pro 12.9 2017/2015 Case (Old Model, 2nd & 1st Gen)

 

This is a case for the older, first-generation, and second-generation, 12.9" iPad Pros. The case is very sturdy. The rigid material covers both the front and the back of the iPad, and it also protects the corners. So, it will keep the iPad protected from most drops. It does not have a keyboard (which is fine for how I use my iPad), and one of the best features is that the iPad fits in the case even if you have a screen protector on it. Meaning that the edges of the screen protector are not pushed up when you put the iPad in the case. The only drawback is that it does not have a slot to hold an Apple Pencil, and if you have an older Apple Pencil, they do not magnetically hold to the side of the iPad. But, if you have an older iPad Pro and are looking for a lower-cost case, this is a good one.

Workout Update: Job 1-XB Stretch Days 13 and 14

For days 13 and 14, I again did the XB Restore routine, which means that I did Restore six of the past seven days.  Tomorrow I will go back to the morning routine as my evening stretch. I definitely got better at Restore by the end of the week. My balance improved, and I could get deeper into the hamstring stretches. Next week I will do the "morning" routines on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday, and Restore on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.