Nov. 12-23: Run, Riding, Working, and Listening Pleasures

OK, that's a sick title. I seem to be in a constant cycle of trying to catch up on work and, for that matter, life. But, I guess that is what comes with age. You become more cognizant of how much time is left, not enough, you pile on the tasks, and you just never finish. In the current times, I guess I should be thankful I am employed and I ain't bored. Life could be worse.

I traveled to Texas last week and talked about social computing which is a topic that is growing more and more dear to me. I got more animated and fired up than I expected. But, that was a good thing to have happen while in front of an audience where you are expected to lead a conversation. I think I did well and the session was well received. In the rest of my time, I am trying to deliver on the substance of the message by working with a team of folks to actually configure, populate, and manage a social site.

I have to rave about Pandora on the iPhone. Search for a few songs you like, it finds things like it. Vote up or down on some as they come and it learns what you like. Commercial free music tailored for your taste. Totally awesome.

I got fired up while running today, after 14 miles and started ranting (play ranting anyway) and the guy who organizes the runs scolded me. "Bob, some of us are focused on finishing..." Opps, I didn't mean to irritate people, but I can get full of adrenaline and get full of myself.

This week's (I know it's been a little more than a week) podcast listening log:

• Daily Sourcecode
• DSC-804-2008-11-10
• DSC-805-2008-11-18
• Fitness Rocks
• Lifestyle and the Risk of Stroke
• Big Money, Bad Science - What’s the Best Way to Prevent Heart Disease?
• Accident Hash
• Blame Chance
• Phedippidations
• Fdip160: Strong to the Core
• Fdip161: Gifts for the Holiday Runner
• This American Life
• 368: Who Do You Think You Are?
• ITConversations
• Episode Seventeen - StackOverflow
• Episode Eleven - StackOverflow
• Brian Greene - Icarus at the Edge of Time
  
• Kent Beck - Test Driven Development, Patterns and Extreme Programming
• Robert Scoble - Apple iPhone 3G
• Software Engineering Radio
• Episode 83: Jeff DeLuca on Feature Driven Development

Data

November 23, 2008: Birmingham, AL Mercedes Course + 2 Running
Distance:	15.14 Miles
Time:	2:26:00
Heart Rate:	137
Pace:	9:38
Weather:	Overcast Temperature-45° Humidity-34%
Route

November 22, 2008: Birmingham, AL Oak Mountain State Park Cycling
Distance:	23.93 Miles
Time:	1:29:0
Heart Rate:	132
Speed:	16.13
Weather:	Clear Temperature-26° Humidity-55%
Route I parked by the lake and came in the back gate. New route.

November 21, 2008: Birmingham, AL Neighborhood Running
Distance:	8.05 Miles
Time:	1:10:44
Heart Rate:	150
Pace:	8:47
Weather:	Clear Temperature-32° Humidity-45%

November 20, 2008: Birmingham, AL Neighborhood Running
Distance:	2.16 Miles
Time:	19:01
Heart Rate:	136
Pace:	8:48
Weather:	Clear Temperature-56° Humidity-47%

November 19, 2008: Birmingham, AL Neighborhood Running
Distance:	10 Miles
Time:	1:30:30
Heart Rate:	142
Pace:	9:03
Weather:	Clear Temperature-33° Humidity-54%

November 18, 2008: Birmingham, AL Neighborhood Running
Distance:	7.04 Miles
Time:	1:03:44
Heart Rate:	145
Pace:	9:03
Weather:	Clear Temperature-31° Humidity-69%

November 16, 2008: Birmingham, AL Brownell-Crestline Running
Distance:	13 Miles
Time:	2:02:10
Heart Rate:	140
Pace:	9:23
Weather:	Overcast Temperature-37° Humidity-62%
Route

November 15, 2008: Birmingham, AL Oak Mountain State Park Cycling
Distance:	23.82 Miles
Time:	1:26:20 (estimate, forgot the watch)
Heart Rate:	132
Speed:	16.55
Weather:	Overcast Temperature-50° Humidity-86%
Route

November 14, 2008: Birmingham, AL Neighborhood Running
Distance:	6.97 Miles
Time:	1:03:28
Heart Rate:	146
Pace:	9:06
Weather:	Fog Temperature-61° Humidity-93%

November 13, 2008: Dallas, TX Gaylord Texan Resort Running
Distance:	2.22 Miles
Time:	18:46
Heart Rate:	145
Pace:	8:27
Weather:	Clear Temperature-49° Humidity-93%
Route

Nov. 4-11: More Running and Rambling...

I finally solved my Internet speed problem. It was the cable modem. Lesson learned: don't trust the cable guy when he says, " I ran the diagnostic and I can guarantee you that it is not the modem." But, I have to say the company is very easy to work with. I simply took the modem in and asked for a new one. The guy there was very supportive and friendly. www.speedtest.net rocks.

Obama won! My state didn't help much, but I am pleased. I do believe he was the best choice for the US at this time. He brings hope, optimism, and I think a real chance to change the impression of America. Let's hope so. Bush sure destroyed it.

This week's podcast listening log:

• Daily Sourcecode
• DSC-802-2008-10-31
• DSC-803-2008-11-05
• Fitness Rocks
• How Safe is Your Dietary Supplement?
• Accident Hash
• Voting Special
• A Day to Celebrate
• Phedippidations
• Fdip159: Responsible Shoes
• This American Life
• 367: Ground Game
• 319: And the Call Was Coming from the Basement

Data

November 11, 2008: Birmingham, AL Neighborhood Running
Distance:	6.16 Miles
Time:	57:34
Heart Rate:	143
Pace:	9:20
Weather:	Partly cloudy Temperature-51° Humidity-35%

November 9, 2008: Birmingham, AL Brownell-Jemison Park Running
Distance:	11.15 Miles
Time:	1:41:27
Heart Rate:	141
Pace:	9:05
Weather:	Clear Temperature-37° Humidity-79%
Route

November 8, 2008: Birmingham, AL Oak Mountain State Park Cycling
Distance:	23.82 Miles
Time:	1:26:20
Heart Rate:	132
Speed:	16.55
Weather:	Clear Temperature-57° Humidity-42%
Route

November 7, 2008: Birmingham, AL Neighborhood Running
Distance:	5 Miles
Time:	47:32
Heart Rate:	143
Pace:	9:30
Weather:	Overcast Temperature-63° Humidity-78%

November 6, 2008: Birmingham, AL Neighborhood Running
Distance:	2.23 Miles
Time:	20:06
Heart Rate:	143
Pace:	9:00
Weather:	Clear Temperature-47° Humidity-86%

November 5, 2008: Birmingham, AL Neighborhood Running
Distance:	7.05 Miles
Time:	1:06:23
Heart Rate:	138
Pace:	9:24
Weather:	Clear Temperature-47° Humidity-86%

November 4, 2008: Birmingham, AL Neighborhood Running
Distance:	3 Miles
Time:	28:50
Heart Rate:	136
Pace:	9:36
Weather:	Scattered clouds Temperature-55° Humidity-82%

Oct. 23-Nov. 2: Running in Two States & Other Rambling

The last week or so has included a little less travel, but plenty of activity. Work is not as hectic and demanding as August and September, but not a walk in the park either. I did travel to Philadelphia, PA this last week. I was there for the rained out world series game. The rooms were so full throughout the city that the visiting players had to travel to Delaware to find rooms. I got the presidential suite since the hotel was so full where I stayed too. Then, I had to spend the night in Atlanta on the way home because of flight delays. The Atlanta hotel sent out a survey that I completed. They asked if the place I stayed before this stay included rich amenties for the price. Well, yeah, since I had the presidential suite. It is not everyday that I get 5 TV's in my room.

I have been getting a splattering of Obama is a muslim, abortion is evil, life begins at conception, and such emails from my republican friends. They SO sound like hooray for our side and I found another article critical of the other side so I better send it to everyone type of email. Yuk! It seems to me that every time there are fact checks after debates that the are holes in both candidates stories and lines. I am just not very appreciative of one-sided, often lop-sided story lines. I am voting Obama. I like McCain. Obama is a better reflection of my opinions and I think more refreshing. I am sure NOT going to be swayed by stuff that sounds like hate mail.

Podcasts I listened to:

• Daily Sourcecode
• DSC-800-2008-10-24
• DSC-801-2008-10-30
• Fitness Rocks
• Exercise and Major Depression - Fitness Rocks Podcast 118
• Phedippidations
• Fdip158: The 2008 Bay State Marathon
• This American Life
• 366: A Better Mousetrap 2008
• 198: How to Win Friends and Influence People

Data

November 2, 2008: Birmingham, AL Brownell-Crestline Running
Distance:	13 Miles
Time:	2:00:56
Heart Rate:	139
Pace:	9:18
Weather:	Clear Temperature-43° Humidity-82%
Route

November 1, 2008: Birmingham, AL Vulcan Run 10K Personal Record
	Distance:	6.2 Miles
	Time:	46:39
	Heart Rate:	167
	Pace:	7:31
	Weather:	Clear Temperature-41° Humidity-82%
	Route

October 31, 2008: Birmingham, AL Neighborhood Running
Distance:	7 Miles
Time:	1:02:52
Heart Rate:	145
Pace:	8:55
Weather:	Clear Temperature-43° Humidity-71%

October 30, 2008: Birmingham, AL Neighborhood Running
Distance:	3 Miles
Time:	26:58
Heart Rate:	140
Pace:	8:59
Weather:	Clear Temperature-62° Humidity-38%

October 29, 2008: Birmingham, AL Neighborhood Running
Distance:	8 Miles
Time:	1:09:27
Heart Rate:	144
Pace:	8:38
Weather:	Clear Temperature-30° Humidity-85%

October 28, 2008: Philadelphia Treadmill Running
Distance:	3.3 Miles
Time:	30:13
Heart Rate:	154
Pace:	9:09

October 26, 2008: Birmingham, AL Brownell-Jemison Running
Distance:	9 Miles
Time:	1:19:39
Heart Rate:	148
Pace:	8:41
Weather:	Clear Temperature-41° Humidity-86%
Route

October 25, 2008: Birmingham, AL Oak Mountain State Park Cycling
Distance:	23.85 Miles
Time:	1:24:03
Heart Rate:	130
Speed:	17.03
Weather:	Mostly cloudy Temperature-50° Humidity-93%
Route

October 24, 2008: Birmingham, AL Neighborhood Running
Distance:	7.11 Miles
Time:	1:03:19
Heart Rate:	148
Pace:	8:54
Weather:	Overcast Temperature-59° Humidity-81%

October 23, 2008: Birmingham, AL Neighborhood Running
Distance:	3 Miles
Time:	28:48
Heart Rate:	138
Pace:	9:35
Weather:	Partly cloudy Temperature-59° Humidity-60%