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.