Book Review: The Threat: How the FBI Protects America in the Age of Terror and T***p

 

The Threat is a book written by former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe after he was fired in 2018. The book is partly a memoir of his time in the FBI, focusing on the significant cases that he investigated such as the Boston Marathon bombing, and partly a reflection on the lead-up to the 2016 election and his time working in the 2017 to 2021 administration, up to the point he was fired.

The hardcover version of the book, which was published in 2019, is just under 300 pages. It can be a bit dry in parts, which makes it a bit of a slower read than say a 300-page fiction novel. But, McCabe provides a lot of insight into the various investigations that he was involved in, as well as giving an assessment of the shit-show that was the t***p administration. He calls out the lies that the orange genital wart was spewing after he fired James Comey, specifically, that the FBI rank-and-file were not, in fact celebrating that Comey was fired. McCabe also gives a pretty brutal assessment of t***p himself, basically calling him nothing more than a bullshit artist and that McCabe did not trust much of anything he said. 

While it is not the most exciting book ever written and the amount of detail that McCabe could go into about the 2016 election and the Russia investigation was limited, as the Mueller investigation was ongoing at the time the book was written and published, it is still very much worth reading. And, since Agent Orange made sure he got fired 26 hours before he would receive his pension, I don't mind supporting him.

Workout Update: 645 and XB Stretch Hybrid - Day 71

 Day 71 was lower back in XB and lower body strength in 645.

This was the intensification week in 645, so we increase the weight, decrease the number of reps (to 10), and for the time-based exercises (there were not any in this workout) the amount of time you do the moves goes up to 1 full minute.  The workout was tough, but I can tell that I have gotten stronger over the course of the 10 weeks, as I am better able to do moves like front-load lunges without falling all over the place and getting deeper into the lunges so the exercises are getting a little bit easier. 

As far as the XB routine went, it was fine. Nothing really new to report about that one.

Workout Update: 645 and XB Stretch Hybrid - Day 70

For day 70 I just did the Restore routine in XB and had an off day in 645. There is nothing really new to report about the Restore workout. My flexibility was about the same as the last time that I did it. I might have had a little more mobility in my right leg, but that is about it.

Workout Update: 645 and XB Stretch Hybrid - Day 69

Day 69 was 645 Cardio. This was another intense routine that, as Amoila said the prior week, made significant use of the bands. The bands/loops are used on the first three of the seven exercises (although you can leave them off if you need to). The workout also incorporates more jumping/plyometric moves as well as more lateral bounds and shuffles (which use the bands as targets that you touch or jump over). Definitely a good (and tough) workout.

Product Review: DG Casa Bardy Upholstered Panel Bed Frame

 

I have a king-size bed on an adjustable base that my dog is small enough to get under. I am worried about him getting under there when I don't know it and getting hurt when I use the adjustable base, so I was looking for a frame that I could put around the bed to keep the dog (a 15-pound schoodle) from going under it. This is a bed kit (headboard, side rails, footboard, and crossbars) that will fit around an adjustable base (at least the Purple regular king adjustable base), but it is not a perfect fit (at least if the adjustable base is set up first). If you are putting it around an adjustable base you will use all the pieces except the crossbars.

The box is smaller than you would expect because most of the pieces are zipped into the back of the headboard. When you get it delivered, the box is just under 80lbs and it is helpful to have two people move it. But, once you get the headboard out and unzip the back, one person can move all of the pieces pretty comfortably (albeit not necessarily easily). There is some assembly required. For example, you do have to attach the legs and the sides to the headboard frame, connect the side boards together, and put the feet on the footboard. The instruction page is fairly clear on what all of the parts are, and what parts are to be used in which steps. All of the screws and washers are in a single bag, so it is very helpful to sort them out ahead of time which will make putting everything together much easier. The hardest part, if you are putting it together around an existing adjustable base will be to connect the side boards to the headboard and footboard. Basically, there are 8 screws, two on each side of the headboard and two on each side of the footboard that brackets on the side boards slip over and then you tighten the screws. It is not easy to get at the screws on the second side once you get one side put together. That said, the end product is very good.

I put this together by myself in about an hour and a half (aside from the crossbars which I obviously did not need). I love having a headboard that prevents my pillows from falling between the bed and the wall, and it looks nice. And, it does a good job preventing the dog from getting under the bed which was the main purpose I got this for. I absolutely recommend it.