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  • 04:55 audio
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  • 469 words

#1445: This Is An Interval Timer; Or, A Workout Must Flow

  • workout
  • intervaltraining
  • dumbbells
  • danceexercise
  • musicbasedexercises
  • timer
  • vibrationtimer
  • endurance
  • fullbodysworkout
  • bodybuilding
  • fatloss

The post explains that a good workout is continuous from start to finish—like a jog—and focuses on fat loss, flexibility, and overall health rather than just muscle size. It argues that heavy lifting alone isn’t enough without health, so beginners should begin with short bouts (under 30 seconds) and progressively shorten rest intervals while increasing endurance. The author suggests using “dance‑with‑dumbbells” moves to keep rhythm, employing a vibrate interval timer to mark rests and keeping music in sync to enter a trance state. By extending workout duration each week—adding cycles or reducing rests—the routine becomes non‑stop, after which one can move into bodybuilding for muscle building and long‑term fat burning.

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  • 10:31 audio
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  • 872 words

#1444: The Point Where All Human Beings and Cultures Converge; Or, To Understand Humanity

  • philosophy
  • anthropology
  • hiking
  • travel
  • nature
  • self‑improvement

The author proposes a simple model for understanding humanity based on the concept of indoctrination—both external and self‑induced—and argues that most social phenomena (bullying, religion, war, leadership) can be explained as different manifestations of this process. By studying philosophers, their works, and the fundamentals of physics, chemistry, biology, and history, we can “walk the great trails” of knowledge to unlearn these patterns and gain true understanding; the post cites iconic examples such as Newton’s Westminster Abbey and the Stromatolites in Western Australia to illustrate how scientific insight reveals the universe’s clockwork. The author claims that when leaders truly grasp this model they will prevent wars before they start, and emphasizes that hiking trails and listening to wise voices are practical ways to escape indoctrination, grow personally, and collectively become “great beings” who build a more peaceful world.

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  • 05:15 audio
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  • 599 words
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  • 10 links

#1443: Destination: Nordhouse Dunes

  • hiking
  • travel
  • maps
  • audio
  • beach
  • backpacking
  • camping
  • nature

On a crisp Monday morning I left early for a four‑hour drive to Nordhouse, listening to music along the way. After arriving in Ludington at 6 AM, I stocked up and headed to the Nurnberg Trailhead via North Stiles Road, West Towline Rd, North Quaterline Rd, and Nurnberg Rd. I trekked along gravelly paths, hearing chipmunk squeaks, bugs, and distant bird calls. At a sandy beach near the lake I set up camp, built a fire from fallen trunks, roasted sausages while listening to “Giants Of Philosophy” narrated by Charles Heston, and slept soundly in my tent the next morning.

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  • 04:24 audio
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  • 437 words

#1442: That Meandering Kitten

  • hiking
  • solo
  • adventure
  • gear
  • knives
  • binoculars
  • photography
  • new york
  • michigan
  • bicycle trail
  • tent
  • storm

I recount my early solo hiking adventures, beginning as a child who packed simple supplies like sweet cherry juice and various snacks, along with an assortment of knives—folding, hunter, butterfly, and even a quirky switchblade. I describe using binoculars, a camera, and the need to develop film, noting that many photos from thirty years ago are lost. I mention practical tips such as closing pant legs and securing a shoelace for style. The narrative follows my trek away from civilization into clearings or hills, one of which felt like a mountain but was modest—yet the journey covered 9,000 feet, comparable to Everest’s height in scale. I reflect on later hikes, discovering WWII bunkers near a bridge and shortcut swim spots, exploring New York with Lady Liberty, visiting Michigan’s highways, biking the i275 trail, and experiencing Nordhouse Dunes, ending with memorable nights in oversized tents during thunderstorms.

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  • 10:04 audio
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  • 934 words
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  • 2 links

#1441: Artificial Intelligence Works; Or, On My Way To A Silly Poem

  • ai
  • llama
  • stable-diffusion
  • programming
  • gaming-rig
  • kids
  • parents
  • learning
  • 3d-worlds
  • digital-artist
  • programmer
  • business-person
  • poetry
  • nuclear-power
  • machine-learning
  • computer-science
  • technology
  • education

Parents are encouraged to equip their children with powerful computers and AI tools such as LLaMA and Stable Diffusion, arguing that modern gaming rigs can serve as learning platforms for programming, art, 3D worlds, and even professional skills; the post stresses that games should be used for education rather than mere pastime. It compares the rise of accessible AI to nuclear power’s development, noting that while both fields need proper understanding, AI is already useful when trained on good data (e.g., a “doctor AI” surpassing human doctors). The author illustrates AI’s creative potential by showing how it can produce rhyming poems about animals from simple prompts. Overall the message urges parents to let kids explore AI early, view it as a tool for growth, and prepare them for future careers, especially in programming.

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  • 07:34 audio
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  • 787 words

#1440: The Little Trick That Makes Bro Science Stick

  • fitness
  • exercise
  • running
  • weightlifting
  • reps
  • intervaltraining
  • music
  • tempo
  • nutrition

The post encourages readers to abandon the “shortcut” approach that relies on quick, easy routines and instead adopt a challenge‑seeking mindset—starting with small weights or light repetitions (e.g., 10 000 lifts of a single dumbbell) and gradually increasing volume, duration, and intensity while synchronizing sets to music beats; it stresses the importance of consistent practice, progressive overload, and minimal rest intervals for building endurance and muscle; it also highlights jogging as another example of incremental improvement through steady pacing and talking during runs; finally, it reminds us that nutrition (less sugar, more protein and fiber) and adequate recovery are essential companions to training, and that true progress comes from persistent effort rather than flashy medals.

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  • 06:57 audio
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  • 623 words

#1439: You Must Become A Philosopher; Or, To Reject Philosophy Is To Reject Your Elder Self

  • education
  • self-study
  • hiking
  • trails
  • appalachian crest
  • pacific crest
  • continental divide
  • nature
  • learning
  • knowledge
  • adventure

The post argues that conventional schooling has become formulaic and depleting, leaving students to learn on their own; it praises self‑education driven by passion rather than institutional control, and uses the metaphor of long hiking trails (Appalachian, Pacific Crest, Continental Divide) as a model for true learning. It calls for rebuilding schools into cultures of wisdom that end wars and elevate humanity, and encourages readers to seize great knowledge and adventure.

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  • 05:11 audio
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  • 512 words
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  • 1 link

#1438: The Large Knights Of Potatoes; Or, Become A Trail Guide

  • hiking
  • camping
  • appalachian trail
  • state park
  • trail guide
  • firewood
  • first aid
  • bear

In this whimsical post, the author reflects on how a trail guide can help us reconnect with nature and ourselves by simplifying hiking and camping tasks. They describe the essentials—knowing how to camp and hike, using local state parks, dealing with wildlife cues—and share a personal anecdote about a guide who organized their stay. The writer emphasizes that being a guide is not just an expert role but a learning experience for both the guide and the hikers, encouraging simple preparations like first aid kits, firewood gathering, and basic meals. They conclude that each adventure offers fresh chances to reset lifestyles and achieve weight loss, with repeated visits boosting success and guiding others toward the Appalachian Trail.

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  • 07:42 audio
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  • 644 words

#1437: Before You Sign Up For The Gym; Or, Walk Before You Run

  • workout
  • gym
  • exercise
  • cardio
  • weightlifting
  • dumbbells
  • walking
  • jogging
  • training
  • fitness

The author compares gym workouts to outdoor exercise, noting that gyms often feel cramped and poorly equipped, with limited dumbbells spaced too far apart; he stresses the need for rest intervals, proper footwear, gradual weight increases (8 lb per hand being a safe starting point), and avoiding over‑lifting which can lead to injury; he describes the gym as a climate‑controlled box that may have inconsistent heating, and argues that walking or hiking—especially long treks like the Appalachian trail—provides better flexibility, fat loss, and longevity, concluding that while gyms can be useful, outdoor activities with natural scenery are superior for overall health.

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  • 05:58 audio
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  • 465 words
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  • 4 links

#1436: Where To Start Learning Programming? A Quick Little Answer For The Rest Of Us

  • javascript
  • node-red
  • nodejs
  • visual-programming
  • c-family-languages
  • tutorial

Learn JavaScript and use it within a visual programming environment like Node‑RED, which combines the flexibility of JavaScript with drag‑and‑drop node wiring so you can prototype quickly on both client and server sides; once comfortable with JavaScript’s C‑family syntax, master Node‑RED to build reusable node libraries, create applications that solve real problems, and eventually offer them as subscription services—start by hunting for YouTube tutorials on “Node‑RED” and “JavaScript” to accelerate your learning.

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  • 04:14 audio
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  • 410 words

#1435: What Would A Kitty Ask, If It Could Handle Such A Task

  • poetry
  • cats
  • humor
  • creativewriting

A whimsical post follows a curious kitten who asks a stream of questions about life, human nature, culture, politics, religion, AI, and education, suggesting that humans walk tall but may not be truly wise. She wonders whether all humans grow up, how politics are full of ticks, if AI can create new religions, and muses on education, indoctrination, war, poverty as a possible game, and the need for schools before wars. Concluding, she declares herself all‑knowing, urges humans to grow wisely, not be an a$$, and then struts off in proud stride.

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  • 05:20 audio
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  • 422 words

#1434: The Year Of The Bicycle

  • bicycle
  • cycling
  • trail
  • adventure
  • gear

With 45 days until spring, this post encourages making 2024 the year of bicycling by highlighting the adventure and freedom it offers. The author notes that bicycle trails are always nearby, bringing rebellion, adventure, and mischief to life. Bicycling feels like driving but with a sense of exploration; packing a day‑pack with snacks and even a sausage for a grill 20 miles away adds to the experience. Early morning rides (around 4 AM) let you check tire pressure, apply sunscreen, and enjoy crisp air while motorists pause in curiosity. Essential gear includes a full‑size pump, grease, and especially a wide soft leather seat that prevents fatigue on long rides. The author suggests adding such seats to sleek bikes for comfort, noting they can be swapped back for short runs. A simple bike with one gear, no hand brakes or cables, keeps moving parts few and inexpensive. With these basics, endurance and speed improve; riders should stay clear of cars, use lights and a helmet on roads, and bring adventure books to enjoy long distances.

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  • 12:43 audio
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  • 986 words
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  • 2 links

#1433: Easing Yourself Into Camping

  • camping
  • hiking
  • state-park
  • trail
  • outdoors
  • backpacking
  • nature

This post is an informal guide to the joys and practicalities of camping and hiking, illustrating how stepping away from everyday life can relieve stress and foster personal growth. It offers concrete tips—pick a state park near a lake or ocean, camp close to your car at first, set up a tent 20 ft away with a fire ring, gather wood, and enjoy wildlife such as raccoons—and recommends exploring small wilderness spots like Nordhouse Dunes while staying connected yet alone. The writer emphasizes that camping naturally introduces hiking: pack each morning, travel 10–20 miles to the next site, and use those long walks to read and absorb knowledge about the world. Finally, it highlights major trail systems (Appalachian, Pacific Crest, Continental Divide) as ultimate adventures for those who want extended hikes combined with learning and self‑reflection.

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  • 10:30 audio
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  • 827 words

#1432: Walking, Hiking, And Dancing; Or, Gradually Increasing Endurance To Transform Your Body

  • walking
  • hiking
  • gym
  • dumbbells
  • dance workout
  • aerobic exercise
  • outdoor activities
  • trails
  • appalachian trail
  • pacific crest
  • continental divide
  • fitness routine
  • endurance training

This post is a motivational guide encouraging readers to adopt walking, hiking, biking, and dance-based workouts as their primary fitness routine. It emphasizes starting simple—walking daily, gradually increasing distance—and expanding to more adventurous activities like camping, trail hikes (e.g., the Appalachian Trail), and cycling for added endurance. The author also recommends incorporating light dumbbell exercises alongside rhythmic dancing or “Napoleon Dynamite” moves, suggesting a progressive increase in weight and tempo while listening to music to keep the workout engaging. By combining regular outdoor movement with occasional gym sessions for climate‑controlled practice, readers are urged to build stamina, flexibility, and overall muscle tone through consistent, enjoyable activity rather than relying on heavy equipment or isolated gym machines.

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  • 05:16 audio
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  • 488 words

#1431: My Garbage Slippers: Or, Fixing The Dance Floor

  • diy
  • craft
  • shoe
  • dance
  • rubber-floor
  • vinyl
  • hole-punch
  • shoelaces
  • adhesivetape
  • friction

After dancing on a rubber floor in foam shoes, I’m exhausted and want to lower the shoe‑floor friction by altering my sole. I plan to attach punched vinyl place‑mats to the shoe with shoelaces—using both a simple hand punch and a professional steel‑tube punch—to create temporary “tabs” that can be removed if needed. Though it may look odd, I’ll test this setup on carpet and thick shower curtains in winter conditions, using tape and multiple laces to see whether vinyl reduces the slip enough for me to keep dancing comfortably.

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  • 07:04 audio
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  • 579 words

#1430: The Magic Of Athletic Endurance, For The Rest Of Us

  • jog
  • marathon
  • ultramarathon
  • endurance training
  • running
  • fitness
  • exercise routine
  • workout
  • health
  • measurement
  • progress tracking
  • incremental training

The post explains how gradually extending daily jogging sessions builds endurance, enabling you to run multiple consecutive marathons or even ultra‑marathons; by steadily increasing your distance or time—using a calculator and timer—you’ll notice tipping points where performance improves dramatically. This progressive training not only transforms the body (building lean muscle and burning fat) but also offers life‑extension benefits, potentially doubling lifespan and reversing decades of aging. The approach works for any age, with simple weekly increments (e.g., double or add 10 %) that keep the effort manageable yet effective, while encouraging self‑discovery: as you push harder, you uncover your own potential and achieve a fit state comparable to a young athlete even in later life.

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  • 13:39 audio
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  • 798 words
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  • 3 links

#1429: One Thing Done Well; Or, The Two Reasons Why Programming Seems Scary

  • programming
  • design-patterns
  • javascript
  • dat-gui
  • single-responsibility
  • editor

The author identifies two common pitfalls in programming: over‑structuring that yields bloated “blobs” and neglecting proven design patterns. He proposes a simple remedy—pick one small task (for example a dat.gui popup), implement it cleanly, and then “grok” the underlying patterns so the code stays maintainable. By sticking to familiar languages like JavaScript/TypeScript and repeatedly applying well‑tested patterns, developers can avoid endless choices, keep applications lightweight and memory‑safe, and ensure their software remains robust for years to come.

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  • 03:36 audio
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  • 365 words

#1428: Bodybuilding Is Easy

  • exercise
  • training
  • bodybuilding
  • musclebuilding
  • workout
  • gym
  • schedule
  • nutrition

The post argues that the key to effective training is a well‑balanced duration: about two hours of exercise builds muscle, while longer sessions shift the body toward fat burning. Too little or too much work and you’ll lose efficiency; the same goes for nutrition—enough calories to fuel growth but not so many they just add mass. Adequate rest breaks are essential, and a strict schedule with no missed days (unless healing demands it) keeps the body in tune. Pairing movements with music can put you into a trance that makes long workouts feel shorter. For overweight people, the author claims that extended continuous sessions—often three hours or more—are the only real way to shed fat and extend life, so once you cross that “line” the effort feels worthwhile and transforms your sense of vitality.

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  • 10:15 audio
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  • 849 words

#1427: Shoe Shine; Or, Fixing The Feline Workout / Shuffle Dancing At The Gym And Achy Feet

  • fitness
  • dance
  • workout
  • rubber flooring
  • shoe modification
  • DIY
  • exercise
  • gym

The post describes a “Feline workout” program that combines dumbbell exercises (couch scratch and dough knead) with tail‑wearing dancers, noting the need for rubber gym floors yet the difficulty of dancing on them; it recounts attempts to improve shoe traction by sticking suede patches or gluing plastic onto soles, then settles on a simple solution—layering old woolen socks over shoes—to boost friction during long (two‑to‑three‑hour) dance sessions, concluding that this sock trick can make the workout more comfortable and effective.

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  • 06:37 audio
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  • 344 words
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  • 2 links

#1426: The Incredible Distance

  • philosophy
  • inspiration
  • motivation
  • youtube

The post poetically contrasts reality’s unyielding “brick‑wall” nature with the possibility of personal growth and perseverance, urging readers to rise above immaturity, embrace wisdom, and keep moving forward toward an endless horizon of achievement.

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  • 06:55 audio
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  • 412 words

#1425: Make Learning Camping A Bit Easier; Or, Bug Repellent, Narrated Books, Handy Dandy Saw, And Cut Proof Gloves

  • camping
  • hiking
  • gear
  • backpacking
  • outdoor-adventure
  • travel
  • nature
  • preparation
  • equipment
  • packing-list

Camping is presented as the perfect gateway to hiking, offering a simple way to escape city life and reconnect with nature; it encourages choosing safe sites—away from flash flood zones, old trees, fires, food, and trash—to avoid danger. Essential gear includes bug repellent, sunscreen, aloe, a cowboy hat, books for entertainment, a basic saw, cut‑proof gloves, and a satellite messenger to stay in touch when cell towers are absent. The post emphasizes that the woods feel like home, contrasting city pollution with forest serenity, and reminds readers that a simple mistake or injury can spoil an adventure if proper tools and precautions aren’t used.

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  • 03:24 audio
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  • 302 words

#1424: The Secret Society Of Extraordinary Kitties: Full Disclosure

  • poetry
  • cats
  • internet
  • startup
  • business
  • digital

Cats in this whimsical post are portrayed as clever, almost superhuman beings who quietly orchestrate everything behind the scenes of our digital lives: they supposedly “invented” the internet to disguise their true purpose, memorize passwords while feigning bird‑watching, and run tiny online businesses that give rise to young kittens. The verses suggest that these feline protagonists infiltrated governments, serve as diplomats, and steadily fix education and conflicts—all by mastering email communication. Their campaign is to inspire humans to grow, reach for wisdom, and become “fanciful grownups” while still enjoying tuna sandwiches and sending a few emails; the poem ends with an invitation to feed the cats and continue on their merry scratch‑and‑play way.

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  • 03:51 audio
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  • 172 words

#1423: And Now An Important Message From The Smartest Leader Of Kittens

  • poetry
  • kitten
  • curiosity
  • nature
  • animals

A playful poem narrates a curious little kitten’s adventures across its surroundings, describing how each sight, sound, and movement sparks new knowledge in its mind. As it chases shadows, observes birds and bugs, and interacts with everyday objects like mice and yarn, the kitten’s curiosity fuels continuous learning, illustrating that every experience expands its understanding of the world. The poem celebrates this growing wisdom as a joyful journey toward discovering life’s mysteries.

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  • 03:56 audio
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  • 330 words

#1422: Of The Horse And The Philosopher; Or, Don’t Lift Too Heavy Because A Workout Is Non-Stop

  • jogging
  • dancing
  • dumbbells
  • bench-press
  • machines
  • cardio
  • stretching
  • full-body-workout
  • muscle-isolation
  • age-groups
  • exercise-motivation

The post stresses that exercising—whether jogging, dancing, or lifting dumbbells—is a continuous process; instead of stopping, you should adjust intensity or switch activities (e.g., lighter weights or slower songs) to maintain momentum. It contrasts isolated muscle work with full‑body movements like cardio and stretching, noting the broader benefits for fat loss, flexibility, and overall health. The author argues that regular exercise from youth through old age is essential, encouraging a gradual restart if you pause, and ends by saying the body thrives on movement while the mind seeks learning.