Welcome

Welcome to my ever-evolving blog. It started out as a blog on Beachbody workouts and products, mainly when I was a Beachbody coach. I no longer coach, not because I don't believe in Beachbody's programs (I subscribe to Beachbody on Demand and use their workouts every day), I am just not a salesperson and hated that aspect of it. I am more than willing to answer questions about my experiences with their products and the various workouts, and I feel freer to do so without the appearance of giving a biased review of something.

I have also started adding reviews for various things I have purchased like movies, books, CDs, and other products. This was brought about by a fight with Amazon in which all of my reviews were removed over a completely bullshit allegation that I posted a review that violated their terms of service. After going back and forth with the morons in the community-reviews department (even after they admitted that my posts did not violate their guidelines) they restored my account (which took them six months to do), but I have been posting my reviews on my blog to have them preserved in case something like that happens again. And here, I will post uncensored reviews so I will swear from time to time and post reviews that may be longer than Amazon's character limit. Everything I post here on any topic or product is my personal opinion, and I take no compensation for any product reviews I post. I am a member of Amazon's vine program and because I get those products for free, I keep those reviews on Amazon only, but everything I have purchased with my own money, whether from Amazon or some other store/website/outlet, I will post here.  

I also plan to do some longer blog posts on various topics, such as how to learn physics, how to get through calculus, and longer reviews of workout programs as I do them. Basically, whatever strikes me as interesting at the time.  As you can see if you navigate around the blog, I had many years in between postings. During that time I was going back to school to get an engineering degree, and learning material that I avoided my first time through college was a different experience and one that gave me a lot of insight into how to do well in those classes, which I will try to impart here for those who are looking to get a science or engineering degree. 

Saturday, February 26, 2022

Workout Update: P90X Day 82

 Day 82 was the last regular resistance workout of this round of P90X. That means the last legs and back workout and the last ab-ripper x workout. Both went well. I was able to increase the weight on a couple of the exercises that used weights in the legs and back workout and again got in all the reps during ab-ripper. 

Product Review: Burnes of Boston LL2963 Level Line 24" Walnut Cambridge Ledge

 



I purchased this to display some knick-knacks above my fireplace. It was very easy to install, and I was able to put it up, without any assistance, in about five minutes. There is a plastic piece that the wood ledge mounts onto. The plastic piece has nail holes pre-drilled and a built-in level. So you just place it where you want to ledge to sit, nail the plastic piece into the wall, and then mount the ledge on the plastic piece. Very easy.

Friday, February 25, 2022

Workout Update: P90X Day 81

Day 81 was Kenpo-x. Overall, it went fine. Nothing much was different between the last time I did the workout and this time. I am at the point where I can pretty easily keep up with the people in the video now, although my balance on some of the kicks can still be a bit shaky.  

Thursday, February 24, 2022

Workout Update: P90X Day 80

Day 80 was my last Back and Biceps workout in this round. It went well, with again being able to hit the 10 rep max on a couple of the exercises, but mostly (if I had to do the workout again next week) the weights I am using would remain the same. But, I was able to hit 12 reps on all of the pull-ups/pull-downs with the 115 lb band resistance (aside from the corn-cobs), so I continue to make progress there. On the ab-ripper warm-up I was again able to do all the reps but still had to modify some of the moves. 

DVD Review: The Good Fight Season 4

 


+++Warning, this contains minor spoilers from season three, but no major season four giveaways.+++


Season three of The Good Fight picks up basically after the Swat Team busting in on Kurt and Diane, and but is a twist episode in which Diane thinks the past three years has been a dream. Then, episode two picks up some time down the line after the events of season three in which the firm agreed to merge with STR Laurie. John Larroquette joins the cast as the managing partner of STR Laurie and basically the boss of Diane,  Adrian, and Liz. There are a couple of main plot points throughout the season. One is a plot involving something called Memo 618 that basically causes judges to throw out cases for the rich and well-connected. The other is life at the firm under the new management. Luca also has a pretty significant side-story in which she befriends a rich client and gets in with her social group.

There is definitely a lot of cast turnover this year. Of course, Rosie Leslie left the show after season three with Mia being written out as leaving with Roland Blum. Hugh Dancy joined the cast in a recurring role as an STR Laurie associate assigned to keep tabs on the Reddick Boseman team. And, the guest stars this season included Michael J. Fox, Gary Cole, Rob Reiner, and Raul Esparza. There is also a couple of Good Wife mentions in Will Garner being name-dropped, and a blink and you will miss it reference to Alicia. 

Overall, the show keeps up the same format, blending in real-world events with fictional storylines. It is, as it has always been, very political, and very much left-leaning politically (even though some of the characters on the show are conservative). So, anyone bitching about the fact that this season is political obviously did not pay attention to seasons 1-3. Yes, the writers (and at least some of the actors) hate the former guy and make no bones about it. But that was apparent from season 1 episode 1. For those who get the DVD set, it is just a MOD set with the episodes, but no extras. It does have English captions however for those who are hearing-impaired. It is shorter because production ended due to Covid before the last three episodes were finished, so there are only seven episodes as opposed to the usual ten. Also, because it is not broadcast on CBS and just airs on the streaming platform, like in past seasons, there is a lot of swearing, including liberal use of the word "fuck". So if that turns you off, then it is best to find another show to watch. But, if you have been a fan of seasons 1-3 you will probably like this one. If not, there is nothing in this season that is likely to convert you.