GlibFit 4.0 – Progressive Overload

by | Mar 6, 2022 | GlibFit | 332 comments

Let’s do something different this week. Let’s start with a quiz. Progressive overload is:

 

(A) A great band name.

(B) A condition brought on by watching Rachel Maddow reruns.

(C) A geological formation brought on by Tres Cool talking Jugsy’s friend into a three-way.

(D) A method of strength training.

 

The answer is (C), but let’s talk about strength training anyway.

 

— • —

 

Progressive overload is when you gradually increase the weight, frequency, or number of repetitions in your strength training routine. This challenges your body and allows your musculoskeletal system to get stronger. Although progressive overload is usually used in strength training, the same idea can be applied to any type of exercise, including cardiovascular endurance exercises like running.

 

Four Ways to Progressively Overload

 

1. Increase Resistance

Adding additional stress to your muscles allows them to break down, rebuild, and get stronger. One way to do this is to lift heavier, which means increasing the weight you’re lifting.

You should be comfortable lifting a weight for 10–12 repetitions before you move on to a heavier weight. You should also master the exercise and make sure you have good form before you move up in weight.

When you’re ready to lift heavier, look for a weight that you can lift for 8-10 repetitions — but the last 2 or 3 reps should be a challenge.

 

2. Increase Endurance

To increase endurance, you need to increase the length of your workouts. While strength training, for example, you can do a higher number of reps with a lower weight. For cardiovascular endurance, you can increase the length of your cardio exercise sessions.

 

3. Increase Tempo

You can do this by working out at a quicker pace or with less rest time in between sets.

 

4. Increase Volume

Simply doing more is another option. You can do more reps in a set or more sets in your workout. For cardio, do it for a longer time. If you are going to seriously increase your volume, then consider split workouts.

 

— • —

 

I’m of two minds for this week’s music. Should I go with this or that? Standard Glibertarians answer: why not both?

About The Author

Chafed

Chafed

I'm looking California but feeling Minnesota

332 Comments

    • blackjack

      Jet fuel can’t melt steel?

    • EvilSheldon

      A building society undergoes progressive collapse when a primary structural element fails is destroyed by progressive ideology, resulting in the failure of adjoining structural elements, which in turn causes further structural failure.

    • MikeS

      Thought of you right away when I saw the news. Couldn’t remember what area of Iowa you are in.

      • kinnath

        I am in east, northeast iowa. Not as far northeast as Animal’s old stomping grounds, but in that general direction.

      • Grummun

        Cedar Rapids area? Grandparents on both sides lived in CR. Can’t forget the smell of the Quaker plant.

  1. MikeS

    That second song was good. I don’t believe I’ve heard it before.

    • Chafed

      You are a man of excellent taste.

    • pistoffnick the refusnik

      First song has many excellent memories associated to it.

      “Please call my name!”

  2. Mojeaux

    I can report that I have lost my ulcers. I do not know how much they weighed.

    • MikeS

      Yaaaas!

    • DEG

      Excellent!

    • westernsloper

      ?

    • slumbrew

      Excellent!

    • Name's BEAM. James BEAM.

      I hope this is a permanent fix for you, Moje. Fingers and toes crossed.

    • Zwak,The Baddest Johnny on the Apple Cart

      Three thumbs up!

      • Sean

        That third one ain’t a thumb…

        Yay Moj!

    • Chafed

      That’s great news.

    • hayeksplosives

      Huzzah!

    • pistoffnick the refusnik

      …I have lost my ulcers.

      So you are celebrating with a Reuben sandwich, extra kraut?

    • Ghostpatzer

      Woot!

    • Mojeaux

      Thanks for the good wishes everyone. I can tell they are not there anymore and everything is back as it should be.

      • ron73440

        That’s good to hear.

      • Gender Traitor

        ????

      • rhywun

        Well, what kind of food are you going to celebrate with?

      • Mojeaux

        When I am all healed up, I’mma have a big giant juicy rare slab of prime rib with a chef salad. That should last a few days.

      • Sean

        Hawt.

      • rhywun

        ?

      • mindyourbusiness

        Jess & Jim’s FTW.

      • Mojeaux

        Erm, no. Mr Mojeaux and I went there for Father’s Day. I was less than impressed, especially for that price.

        Need to try a different steakhouse.

      • Tulip

        Congratulations

      • one true athena

        YAY! Glad for you.

    • Spudalicious

      An ulcer is a hole, how can it have weight? Congrats!

    • EvilSheldon

      Excellent!

  3. DEG

    This last week I was derailed a bit by being sick. Near the end of the week I was feeling well enough to go back to the gym. Thursday was a light conditioning day which was hard given how I was feeling. Friday I cut things short. I ran out of gas and my still congested nose was giving me trouble. Today I’m feeling great and almost completely congestion free. I went to the gym this morning to finish what I started on Friday.

  4. Fourscore

    ” If you are going to seriously increase your volume…”

    OK, I increased the volume up to max (don’t have one of the fancy machines where the dial goes to 11). I seem to be able to hear better but not sure if that will help much on any lifting. Still stuck where I was.

    On a more humerus note, the snow may be gone in a couple months and I’ll be able to start walking to my treadmill. Icy outside now

  5. Tres Cool

    Look, fat- if you think that scoring with 2 “big girls” simultaneously is easy work, let me tell you- I was put on this earth for that reason.
    The amount of effort is takes to satisfy those sweaty, Type II diabetics, with asses that look like hail-damaged RV’s parked in an Earl Scheib lot awaiting a repair is enormous.
    Hell, after the night is over my Palatial 2X-Wide™ reeks of hypothyroidism.

    • Name's BEAM. James BEAM.

      Jesus P. Murphy, this reads like something SugarFree wrote.

    • slumbrew

      You use your tongue prettier than a twenty dollar whore!

      • Mojeaux

        You should read his Craigslist hookup ads.

      • Name's BEAM. James BEAM.

        So bad, they’ve circled all the way back around to “art”?

      • Mojeaux

        Imagination Unleashed.

      • Tres Cool

        Samuel Taylor Coleridge is my spirit animal. Copious amounts of laudanum and alcohol have been known to bring to fore my more creative side when it comes to expository writing.

        Besides, CL Personals was how I met Jugsy. Was supposed to be a one-off “pump & dump” but I appealed to her latent daddy issues.

      • Q Continuum

        That’s a romance worthy of a Jane Austen novel.

      • Tres Cool

        I may have already related this, but once I was going down on a large girl and she legit tasted sweet. I stopped and said “have you ever been screened for diabetes?”

        The night ended right then.

      • Name's BEAM. James BEAM.

        You’re a legit romantic, Tres.

      • Chafed

        I eagerly await the compilation.

    • Q Continuum

      Did you give them a progressive overload?

      • Tres Cool

        My couch pulls out, but I don’t.

    • Chafed

      Lol. I’m sure you worked for every bit of it.

  6. slumbrew

    Unexpectedly out of town last week, so nothing really happened; I need to find an on-the-road workout for such times.

    Assuming for a long row tonight and back to the routine this week. Need to throttle back my carbs as well.

    F1 will be back soon, which means longer rows will be more common.

    • pistoffnick the refusnik

      Michael Malice and Pete Quinones podcasts help make rowing slightly less boring for me.

  7. westernsloper

    Thanks as always Chafed. My personal approach to overload is to go to the same hills and ride up them. Each time I go farther (further? fuck it) before exhaustion (which isn’t far enough). Also, morning pushups after stretching. I need to get back to the pullups. I worked last night and bagged over 16000 steps. My legs are sore but tequila is helping with that.

    I liked both songs.

    • Chafed

      Good work WS. I say going any amount past where you did last time is good. You will have better and worse days. Doing something, anything, is movement in the right direction.

      Also, you have even better taste than MikeS.

      • MikeS

        I’m going to go with he’s drank (drunk? fuck it) more tequila than MikeS.

    • Nephilium

      There’s a hill here that goes over the turnpike, and goes down into a valley. I’ve seen some people training by just going down the hill, turning around and climbing back up it multiple times.

      • westernsloper

        I think you showed us pics of that during a happy hour. If it was what I am thinking of it looked steep. I would have rode today but we got the blessing of snow and rain so I day drank and cooked meat which is easier.

      • Nephilium

        It’s moderate, but that’s also Ohio moderate, not Colorado moderate. Of course, because the world needs to be an evil place, there’s a stop sign at the bottom of the hill to kill all the momentum if you’re continuing on.

  8. Q Continuum

    Also: try clomiphene citrate for a real progressive overload.

  9. Zwak,The Baddest Johnny on the Apple Cart

    I got my workouts in, which is nice. I figured out a way to get my left hamstring stretched (drop foot does a number on this) so this is also nice. But, on the not-so-nice front, I had a shitty visit with my neurologist.
    “I am having this problem”
    “You need a CPAP”
    “can’t do that, I get panic attacks”
    “you need a CPAP”
    Repeat ad nauseam. Really frustrating, in that there are other ways to treat apnea but he won’t broach them. And when I went to talk about a few physical things, he wouldn’t go past the surgery I might be up for if we can convince the surgeons that it isn’t an MS problem. I feel like I am on the tilt-a-whirl of shitty medical practice. I may need to go back to my GP, whom I really like and trust, and see if I can get a new referral.

    WWMAD?

    • Chafed

      Aren’t there oral appliances that can reposition your jaw to help with the apnea? Maybe a visit to your dentist is in order?

    • hayeksplosives

      For reasons unknown, the first CPAP masks they try on you are the big triangular ones that cover up your whole nose and mouth. They usually also need a counterbalance planted right on your forehead. Really awful even if you aren’t claustrophobic.

      You might want to search “nasal pillow” CPAP masks online. They are relatively small and just rest under your nose. No covering of your mouth or strapping of your forehead. At this point, I can hardly imagine sleeping g WITHOUT my CPAP and nasal pillow.

      Chafed is right about the dental/jaw positioning option too.

      • Zwak,The Baddest Johnny on the Apple Cart

        What is sad/bothersome to me is I found out about both of those options with thirty seconds of googling. And combining that with zero talk about my progress; nothing about spasticity, or any other common symptoms. The whole thing was really discouraging.

      • Annoyed Nomad

        I recently read that “mouth taping” is a possible solution for sleep apnea. Apparently there are specificly-made tapes for it or people just use 2 inch medical tape.

      • Tundra

        I’ve been doing it for awhile. No snoring!

        You only need a tiny piece of tape. I use a 3M first aid tape.

      • whiz

        How does that work with a mustache? (Asking for a friend.)

      • Nephilium

        I think a sharpie would work better to fake a mustache then first aid tape. Just look at Zardoz’s friend.

      • whiz

        Thanks a lot =P

      • Annoyed Nomad

        I’m curious – can you describe your taping technique?

      • Tundra

        I use a small (1″ x 1″) piece of 3m Transpore tape. I put it right in the middle of my lips.

        It takes a night or two to get used to it, but I’m a believer. Less congestion, better breathing and no snoring!

      • rhywun

        So you just tape your mouth shut? I need to try that. My mouth is always gaping open and it drives me nuts.

      • Tundra

        Check out James Nestor’s book, Breath. There appear to be a lot of health benefits to nose-breathing.

      • PudPaisley

        If you tape your mouth shut rhy, where is all the drool gonna go?

      • rhywun

        @Tundra – Oh, I’m sure. I just hate when my mouth dries out and I haven’t even fallen asleep yet. My nose isn’t *always* clear (though it usually is) but even when it is I find myself mouthbreathing anyway.

        @Pud – Quiet, you.

      • Annoyed Nomad

        Thanks for the details and link. My wife complains that I snore sometimes, so I’ll give it a try.

  10. LCDR_Fish

    Well, this past week was the first time in a while I’ve actually managed 5 straight days of working out (many weeks of 4 day workouts). Even though I’m on the same schedule as last fall, not really seeing the same weight loss even with relatively same diet (hope that’s actually an indication of muscle development if nothing else).

    Anyone used legalzoom.com?

    Thinking I probably need to update my will sooner or later – haven’t done anything with it since 2004 pre-Army.

    • Chafed

      I love legalzoom. Their documents are often a source of confusion that lead to litigation. But if you aren’t going to move to California then I recommend dropping a few bucks on an estate planning attorney to get it done right.

      • LCDR_Fish

        How complicated/detailed does it really need to be? Pretty sure my last one was just a template based on my parents will, but now I have a couple 401ks and a lot more other stuff that I’d have to give away. Guess I can try and price things out.

        I was hoping to use JAG but apparently they won’t provide Reserve support (even the Reserve JAGs) unless you’re about to deploy.

      • Chafed

        It doesn’t have to be complicated nor does it have to be expensive.

    • The Last American Hero

      I used it for my will. I liked it.

  11. Tres Cool

    In other Jugsy news, she postures herself as a 44DD St. Francis. And collected a stray chihuahua and brought him home.
    Neither myself nor The Dozer are pleased.

    Anyone need a doge? Because any dog under 50 lbs is a cat, and cats are pointless

    • Mojeaux

      Dogs are … (in deference to the Gliberati) … not my favorite, shall we say.

      Little yappers are of the devil.

      • Tres Cool

        This thing hasnt yapped yet. He seems quite submissive and malnourished, Honestly, Im shocked he hasn’t been coyote food.

    • Toxteth O'Grady

      For temp or perm keeps? If the latter, the little one might dominate Dozer, which would be amusing.

    • Gender Traitor

      How about a cat over 50 lbs? (I exaggerate. A little.) Our big, fat, dumb one follows us around like a dog, but tries to trip us like a cat.

      And no, we’re not trading.

    • TARDis

      Dogs start at 40lbs. Less than that, they are rats. Yapping, annoying… rats. Sometimes cute, but still… useless rats.

      • Not Adahn

        Do I gotta cut a bitch who says Beagles aren’t real dogs?

  12. Nephilium

    Weight has been stable, which is better then going up, but I’d like to drop these last couple of pounds to hit the first goal before April. The weather gave us a weekend of spring, so I got in a couple of rides this weekend. Both rides were relatively short, but had to test out the bikes and make sure that everything was working good after the shop tuned them up. Been continuing going to spin classes, average wattage is up from where it was at the beginning of the year, been focusing on that instead of the average cadence (which has fallen down a couple).

  13. Semi-Spartan Dad

    I’ve shifted towards taking more control of our food lately. We had so much food go to waste last year from the garden (~1000 sq ft) after running out of room in the deep freeze. This year I’ve already bought a pressure canner and tons of jars. The plan is to till the garden with composted fertilizer to increase the yield even more and can as we go. Lots of prebuilt shelving for storage in the basement, and I’m looking putting a root cellar in one place that’s only partially excavated. I don’t know what’s going on at the grocery store with pricing and supply, especially with this discussion of restricting what people can purchase. We’ll have damn near to close to a year’s supply of vegetables put away and looking at hydroponics for lettuce.

    I bit the bullet today on a young Angus cow with a calf due to drop in a few months. She’ll be delivered this evening. That’ll give either give me a second Angus heifer or a steer for the freezer. My bull is a Jersey, so future calves will be a 50/50 Angus/Jersey, but that’ll be a good cross with dual purpose beef/dairy. That should lockdown our meat supply come what may.

    I’m continuing to bike 16-20 miles each morning before work. The wife began Shotokan last fall and just started instructor training for Krav Maga. This year is going to be a big turning point for us with diet and exercise. Really a lifestyle change.

    • westernsloper

      Holy shit! The semi spartan dad family wins the glib sustainable off the grid prepper award. Nice work!

      • westernsloper

        Also + 1 for the martial arts. I am realizing one of my biggest failures in life is never pursuing anything in that direction. One should know how to beat the fuck out of someone who needs the fuck beat out of them.

      • Mojeaux

        So, I got to the belt just below brown in my adventures in American Kenpo Karate. Time has made me cynical, and I’m not sure martial arts in its early stages is good for the psyche and what I mean by that is that people get halfway to brown and think they can beat somebody up if they have to. So I would advise…be prepared to be beaten to a pulp until you’re at least a brown belt, or better yet, black. Because black is when you START learning.

        The other thing about karate, kung fu, anything that requires you stay on your feet to fight— Make sure you’re not fighting with somebody from a grappling art (e.g., judo, Brazilian jiujitsu). The second it goes to ground, you lose.

      • Semi-Spartan Dad

        I done a bit of this and that in past, but currently martial arts is 100% my wife’s thing. I had a couple friends who were obsessed with Gracie jiu-jitsu. Convinced it made them invincible in a fight if they could take their opponent to the ground. Ehh, I guess that’s good if you end up on the ground, but I never saw the point in making that the goal. It just leaves your back as a big exposed target to a knifing from your opponent’s buddy that you didn’t see come up on you.

      • EvilSheldon

        I did the Shivworks ECQC course the first time with a big Canadian dude who was a legit BJJ black belt under fuckin’ Robert Drysdale (’07 ADCC Absolute Champion.) Dude was a monster on the ground, but even he had some trouble once we got into the blades and Sims guns.

        A solid ground game is part of the solution, not the whole thing. That said, a BJJ background is way, way better than nothing…

      • Semi-Spartan Dad

        Thanks Sloper. We’ll see how this year goes.

    • Tulip

      What restrictions?! I missed that, do you have a link?

      • Semi-Spartan Dad

        Noting specific yet but something that I think is coming. Between the declarations that the government has the right to control what you may spend your money on, the push to ban crypto and cash, and the anti-meat stance through the AGW agenda, I think the writing is on the wall that the government is going to attempt this with food. They already are with price manipulation but more blatant acts will be coming. Even if it doesn’t go so far as to set rations, we’ll see increased “nudging” through regulations to obstruct slaughterhouse operation and livestock farms.

        The trial balloon was floated last month when Canada released a statement that in addition to seizing the bank accounts of the protesters, the government could also dictate how and where the protesters’ money is spent. Hayeks posted a link earlier today that was quite disturbing in the implications of control that is trying to be implemented.
        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6G3nWyoQ5CQ&ab_channel=AwakenWithJP

      • Tulip

        Urgh. May need to accelerate my plans. Although, in the 1930s, in rural North Dakota, the government took cattle from farmers.

      • Tundra

        I would get to know some local farms. There is a pretty big push right now to decentralize food and would be game changing if it happens.

        If we let these fuckers implement their CBDC dreams, everyone is fucked. People preparing for sieges and shoot outs are delusional. Being denied transactional abilities is both much more realistic and far scarier.

      • Tulip

        I agree

      • Gustave Lytton

        People preparing for sieges and shoot outs are delusional. Being denied transactional abilities is both much more realistic and far scarier.

        Same where gun control is and has been going.

      • Semi-Spartan Dad

        People preparing for sieges and shoot outs are delusional. Being denied transactional abilities is both much more realistic and far scarier.

        I’m a fan of the Jack Spirko (The Survival Podcast) approach. Prep for the most likely scenarios first where you get the most bang for your buck. Start with buying extra canned goods that you already regularly eat for a 1-2 months supply that will get you through a short-term natural disaster like Hurricane Sandy, then 3-6 months food storage that will get you through an unexpected job loss or a longer-term disaster like Katrina, then, if desired, a homestead for permanent sustainability.

        I can see a place in prepping for shootouts and sieges, but only after covering more urgent and likely scenarios. For parents who still have minor children, the weaponization of CPS is becoming an increasingly serious threat. Canada floating taking the truckers’ kids away. We saw CPS sicced on the parents who didn’t want their kids vaxed in story after story. This is one of my biggest fears (though not the most likely), and I don’t know how that would end.

    • robodruid

      Instead of a canner (good idea BTW), what about a freeze dryer?

      • Semi-Spartan Dad

        I looked at that, but would rather cook with canned vegetables. The orchard has not been producing well lately, but a freeze dryer will definitely be on the list if I can get the fruit production back up.

      • pistoffnick the refusnik

        Have you seen the prices they charge for freeze dryers? Whoa!

      • Tundra

        I thought it would be cool up until the $6K price tag.

  14. grrizzly

    Fortunately, the rest of the world outside of Russia is immune to the government propaganda.

    Ukrainians Find That Relatives in Russia Don’t Believe It’s a War

    Many Ukrainians are encountering a confounding and frustrating backlash from family members in Russia who have bought into the official Kremlin messaging.

    When Valentyna V. Kremyr wrote to her brother and sister in Russia to tell them that her son had spent days in a bomb shelter in the Kyiv suburb of Bucha because of the intensive fighting there, she was also met with disbelief.

    “They believe that everything is calm in Kyiv, that no one is shelling Kyiv,” Ms. Kremyr said in a phone interview. She said her siblings think the Russians are striking military infrastructure “with precision, and that’s it.”

    She said her sister Lyubov, who lives in Perm, wished her a happy birthday on Feb. 25, the second day of the invasion. When Ms. Kremyr wrote back about the situation on the ground, her sister’s answer via direct message was simple: “No one is bombing Kyiv, and you should actually be afraid of the Nazis, whom your father fought against. Your children will be alive and healthy. We love the Ukrainian people, but you need to think hard about who you elected as president.”

    • Ted S.

      As soon as I saw given name + first initial of the patronymic, I knew that had to be the New York Times.

      • Name's BEAM. James BEAM.

        More to the point, it sounds like this woman’s rellies make the same mistake most people in the Western world do — they listen to, and implicitly believe, legacy/government media.

      • dbleagle

        I can add an additional datum concerning the Russian internal information environment. The cleaning lady for a a friend I sail with is a Russian immigrant. She called her family in Russia this week and asked about the war coverage and was shocked when her sister asked, “What war? There is no war in the Ukraine,” She tried to explain to her sister about the world reporting and was rebuffed again that there is no war. She then changed the subject.

      • grrizzly

        At least my mom managed to withdraw all the funds in cash from her dollar accounts last week. At one bank she had to wait from Monday to Saturday to get the funds in dollars. That means that she was ahead of the bank run.

  15. Tulip

    It’s muggy here. Just did a light walk with dog and I’m sweaty. Yuck.

    • LCDR_Fish

      Yeah, spent an hour right after lunch clipping low branches off my front yard trees/shrubs – sweating like crazy by the end. Was hoping to start planting next weekend but with the freezing forecast for Saturday and the chilly Sunday, may get delayed again (mainly because I don’t want to pull my hosereel out – yeah, I’m just lazy – especially with night shift work).

      • Tulip

        I started cleaning up the yard yesterday, and put out new cushions on yard furniture. I’m enjoying a beer outside, but am glad it at be cold again

    • rhywun

      Same here after a little walkabout in the warm weather and some shopping.

      A little preview of spring followed by the horror of summer.

  16. Gustave Lytton

    I miss the monthly what are we reading feature.

    • hayeksplosives

      Yeah, those were good

      • slumbrew

        I was just thinking about that feature – what happened to it?

      • Mojeaux

        The Weekly Stoic has the 11:00 a.m. Friday slot. I guess that means the last Friday of the month too.

    • rhywun

      I don’t. I have nothing to report since the plague took all my usual reading times away. It takes me like a year to read a book now, two pages at a time before falling asleep before bedtime.

      • Gustave Lytton

        Opposite for me. I’m reading more than I have for a while.

      • hayeksplosives

        I’m digging the audiobooks nowadays since I have a commute to Vegas or Mercury.

        Really turns what could be considered a chore or waste of time into something I look forward to. First go was the three volume Civil War history by Shelby Foote. Amazing.

        Since then, some lighter fare; occasionally a podcast. Mark Steyn’s America Alone and After America..

        Maybe I will get back to fiction next, but I do love history.

      • PudPaisley

        I was running out of things to listen to on Librevox, so I started an Audiobooks subscription.

        My first 3 books are…the Shelbey Foote Civil War series! I still have about 20 hours left on the first one, but once work starts up again I’ll go through them relatively fast. Since I’m usually doing physical labor when listening, I daydream and end up listening to each chapter a couple times.

        Great minds and all that. I mix in a lot of podcasts. Good Joe Rogan guests are my favorites.

    • The Hyperbole

      Since your asking (Note: I’ve been using these as sources for most the Glibcrostics so for the 2 or 3 people that actually work them there may be some hints/spoilers ahead)

      Joe R Lansdale Leather Maiden (2007)*** standard Lansdale, dark,violent.funny

      Keith Nixon Dig Two Graves (2017)*** First Solomon Gray, troubled cops investigation leads back to his past, tropey but well done.

      W Michael Gear Unreconciled (2020)***½ Donovon Book 4, new ship arrives after taling 10 extra years to space, brings canibals and Dek (member of the powerful and wealthy Taglioni family) to the planert.

      Ross Macdonald The Moving Target (1949)*** Book one of the Lew Archer series, LA PI set in the late 40’s Kidnapped Millionaire betrayal etc…

      Lawrence Block Sins of the Father (1976)**** Matthew Scudder Book 1, Ex cop PI solves a murder suicide that wasn’t, plot seemed very familiar, telegraphed the ‘twist’, but still a good, quick read.

      Caimh McDonnell The Day That Never Comes (2017) ****½The Dublin Trilogy(Paul Mulchrone) Book 2, Very funny with enough action and mystery to keep it the story moving.

      Simon Gervais The Last Protector (2021) ** Clayton White Book 1, run of the mill bad ass ex military spy/action thriller, WTBMIAM if there ever was suck a book.

      Alistair MacLean Bear Island (1971)*** espionage and nazi gold, a “Film crew” risks the artic seas but as often in Macleans books our hero isn’t who he seems.

      Chad Zunker Family Money (2022) *½ kidnapping reveals secret history of our hero’s father-in-law. The plot is painfully obvious, I kept reading in part just to see if Zunker was setting up some big switcheroo, but no dice.

      Ken Bruen A White Arrest **** (1998) Sgt Brant book 1, Think Jack Taylor as a cop in london, only meaner and bent and with fewer redeeming qualities.

      • hayeksplosives

        Thank you both for the suggestions!!

      • Zwak,The Baddest Johnny on the Apple Cart

        Hyp, have you ever read the early Lansdale short story Night they missed the Horror Show?

        That is how I was introduced to him, and boy is it a mother fucker of a story
        https://www.revolutionsf.com/fiction/horrorshow/01.html

      • The Hyperbole

        No I haven’t, but I will rectify this lack in my education forthwith, much thanks.

      • The Hyperbole

        On second look I have read that. I think you or someone else must have posted it before. Hell of an introduction to JRL.

      • rhywun

        Lawrence Block

        I like his Burglar books.

      • The Hyperbole

        They look a bit ‘hokey’ for my taste but I’ll put them in the TBR file.

      • rhywun

        Embrace it. Reading should be fun once in a while.

      • The Hyperbole

        You can see my reading list… it’s all for fun. Not much Chesterton or Diderot up in there.

      • rhywun

        Fair enough, I didn’t really look because my pile of stuff to read is already way too high.

    • Tulip

      I’m willing to organize if people send me stuff through the forum.

      • DEG

        I’ll send some stuff later tonight.

    • Mojeaux

      I miss the feature, even if I’m not reading anything interesting. Right now I’m reading:

      ICD-10-CM Expert for Hospitals

      ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS Coding Handbook for 2022

      Medical Terminology & Anatomy for Coding

      • Ted S.

        T19.4XXD

      • Mojeaux

        Why you gotta be putting things up your wee wee?

      • TARDis

        That sounds like a bad idea.

      • Ted S.

        For the distaff side, T85.43.

      • Mojeaux

        *double checks*

        Not here, man.

      • Name's BEAM. James BEAM.

        T85.43 = Dave?

      • Mojeaux

        Davidina, maybe.

      • Zwak,The Baddest Johnny on the Apple Cart

        Davina, ackshully…

      • Mojeaux

        Just because there’s no keychain for her doesn’t mean she doesn’t exist.

    • Zwak,The Baddest Johnny on the Apple Cart

      I am reading Murakami’s Kafka On The Shore right now, and I just finished an Inspector Maigret book (can’t remember which one). After this is one of the Lumley Lovecraft pastiches, The Burrowers Beneath. Normally I wouldn’t bother, but this is where Mind Flayers came from.

    • Grummun

      I’m going through books that have been in boxes, re-reading them to decide if they’re worth keeping or not. Judith Tarr’s Avaryan Rising (three book omnibus). Her writing style is good, but she’s got a little too much “smart characters do stupid stuff to advance the plot.” I finished The Hall Of The Mountain King, gave up on The Lady Of Han-Gilen maybe half-way through. That one goes to Half-Price.

      Before that, I read Lois McMaster Bujold’s first three “World of the Five Gods” books: The Curse of Chalion, Paladin of Souls and The Hallowed Hunt. I enjoyed them. A little heavy on “poorly explained mysticism to resolve the story” in the last one, but I liked it anyway.

    • The Bearded Hobbit

      Someone here requested suggestions and I recommended Donald E. Westlake.

      My daughter gave me a kindle for the holidays and I was looking for something to read. I took my own suggestion and started the Dortmunder series.

      Westlake’s stories in Playboy were generally light-hearted and clever. While retaining clever, the books in the series run a bit darker. While the two main characters never commit violence, it is often an under-current. One of the minor characters *does* hurt people occasionally but it’s treated like a saloon fight in a movie western. Some of his bad guys, however, are quite nasty.

      I’m on book 5 out of 7 and overall they are well-written and enjoyable. His Starship Hopeful stories are great fun but he never put them together in a book. They are available on his website here.

      • Nephilium

        If you’re enjoying the Westlake books, and like dark crime, look up the Stark books.

      • The Bearded Hobbit

        I joined a book club when I was about 15 (they offered 10 James Bond books for free!) and The Busy Body was included in the initial order. It was a bit more mature than I was used to (the stiff was trafficking heroin) but it got me hooked on DEW. Seeing him in Playboy over the years was enjoyable.

      • The Bearded Hobbit

        And thanks for the suggestion. I’ve seen the series but never looked into them.

        You were spot-on about Prachett so I’ll take your recommendations!

  17. Drake

    For a while I was doing the Rippetoe style progressive overload. If you can do 5 reps in good form, move up immediately. You get stronger quickly, until you get hurt.

    • Chafed

      Sounds like a significant drawback.

  18. Gustave Lytton

    Random musings. The economic growth of the past 30 years is largely seen driven by productivity growth, particularly technology. I wonder how much was really due to cost cutting due to offshoring and hollowing out build quality and not real productivity gains. And how much was one time gains at the expense of long term cost.

    Related or maybe what instigated my pondering. Biden’s cry to cut costs. Someone that has never really worked in the private sector. Businesses are absolutely going to cut costs to cope with inflation. It’s just that payroll costs are a big, often the biggest chunk, of operating costs. Yes, Joe, they are going to do what you said they should do.

    • Sean

      Re: payroll

      Yup, that’s true for us. We really don’t have any positions to cut though.

    • kinnath

      Merit raise was 3%. Less than half the official rate of inflation. Way less than the real rate of inflation. So, yeah, pay cuts.

      • Gustave Lytton

        Yes. And your employer still needs to find a way to fund that 3% as well (either revenue growth or cost cutting).

      • Sean

        Did they pass along increased health insurance costs or did they absorb that?

      • PudPaisley

        My employee insurance plan went up 22% this year. Guys were grumbling.

    • Not an Economist

      Biden’s genius plan is to lower cost while increasing payroll costs. I’m guessing you have to be a super genius to figure out how that works because I have no clue how that can work without causing problems.

    • Scruffy Nerfherder

      We’re going to find out how necessary most of the laptop class really is.

  19. kinnath

    The local gas station pulled down all the plastic barriers in the convenience shop. It’s a good sign.

    Gas was $4.10 at the pump. It’s a bad sign. (yeah I know it’s worse outside Iowa).

    • DEG

      I took my Mustang out for a spin to a place to get dinner. I got gas while I was out. Not far from where I got gas is an independent gas station which is always cheaper than any other gas station around. They were out of regular and mid-grade. Premium only, which was OK as the Mustang takes premium. $4.099/gallon for premium, which is cheaper than regular anywhere else around here. I expect they’ll run out soon.

  20. The Late P Brooks

    I wonder how much was really due to cost cutting due to offshoring and hollowing out build quality and not real productivity gains. And how much was one time gains at the expense of long term cost.

    We imported deflation from China for decades.

  21. Tundra

    Chafed!

    I’m a big fan of progressive overload, as it is really easy to track and record progress. As a Rippetoe fan, I don’t do 10-12 reps, but sets of 5. At the beginning you add weight each workout and then less often, but it’s the weight on the bar that changes so it makes for really simple programming.

    For cardio, I like Phil Maffetone’s MAF training method. You maintain a certain heart rate (180- age) for a particular time/distance, even if it seems agonizingly slow. As your fitness develops, the distance that you travel in the same amount of time and at that heart rate increases. Very effective.

    I had a better week this week, but definitely room for improvement. My sleep was really shitty – I can’t imagine why. Gotta reduce screen time again, I guess.

    Have a great week Glibfitters!

  22. ron73440

    I have been running for two weeks now.

    Tomorrow starts incorporating weight lifting. I use dumbbells, and up the weight when I do 9 reps with good form.

    Today was frustrating, I am a few days away from having my truck on the road, but every time I crawl under her, I get dizzy.

    My wife did notice that I did not get angry like I would have in the past, so I got that going for me, which is nice.

    • Tundra

      Stoic Fridays, FTW!

  23. Sean

    Netflix suspended service in Russia.

    • Tundra

      And no one noticed?

    • Mojeaux

      Mojeaux suspended Netflix service in the USA, so…

    • Scruffy Nerfherder

      I want to go out and buy something Russian now.

      • grrizzly

        I’ll eat a second Russian candy on your behalf.

      • Scruffy Nerfherder

        Спасибо

      • Gustave Lytton

        Me too. There’s some delis nearby with Russian goods.

        I wonder if they’re pulling Russian content in the US.

  24. Sean

    https://www.rawstory.com/r-2656855188/

    “According to a report from the Daily Beast’s Russian media expert Julia Davis, Russian media personalities, who have been making excuses for Vladimir Putin’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, are bitterly complaining that they are being flooded with texts critical of their positions as well as upsetting photos of dead Russian soldiers supposedly killed during the invasion.”

  25. Fourscore

    The biggest problem is the deficit, the fed chair talks like a little tweak here, a little tweak there and we’ll have this inflation licked. When he forgets to say is that’s what they’ve been doing forever and it never seems to work out. The deficit keeps shooting up and the solution is to keep printing money.

    The idea that a 2% inflation rate is the correct amount is government school talk. I know, I know, the vaccines are really working and everyone needs to line up and get the booster.

    • Chafed

      The deficit is the elephant in the room.

  26. Trigger Hippie

    Ice/sleet storm in the area. Two big booms of sound and flashes of light a block away… It’s gonna be a cold night! How you hanging, Mo?

    • Mojeaux

      Not a whole lot of activity up this way. A little sprinkles, a little hail. Low rumbles in the distance. Be safe, dude! You have work tomorrow?

      • Mojeaux

        Belay that. Now it’s starting to sleet.

      • Trigger Hippie

        It hit Blue Springs while I was at work today (no rest for the wicked!) around 3-4PM today. There’s snow on the ground at the moment. Freaking March in KCMO. Winter gives it’s final FYTW right around this time of year. Right now I’m watching one of my Top Ten Underrated/Would Never be Made Today/A Miracle it Was Ever Made in the First Place Films:

        https://youtu.be/oeUrwVXGL-4

        TW: Everything is spoiled in this review.

        I disagree with the guy reviewing this film. It’s not the best film ever made. However it just may be the most unlikely film produced by a major studio. It’s just so…unexpected.

        Honesty. This film shouldn’t exist. And I love it for that.

      • Trigger Hippie

        …RJ, if you haven’t watched this movie before, do it! I have a strong feeling that you would love it.

      • Nephilium

        Heh. I’m currently rewatching the Boondock Saints, as it’s the right time of year for it. If it hits the RJ level, it would definitely work for the 17th.

        Who doesn’t want to see William Defoe wearing drag to seduce a mobster?

      • Trigger Hippie

        I thought Defoe calling his Twink Boy Toy a fag was a nice touch. Ha! Haven’t thought about BS in years.

        Personally, I found it so over the top I still can’t decide if I love it or hate it.

      • EvilSheldon

        “THERE WAS A FIREFIGHT!!!”

      • Zwak,The Baddest Johnny on the Apple Cart

        To me, it is like much of later Tarantino’s movies. I just cannot get into them.

      • Nephilium

        Trigger Hippie:

        There are so many terrible accents in the movie, and you get to see the Hedgehog killed at a peep show. Is Boondock Saints a good movie? No. But it’s just the right level of bad.

        EvilSheldon:

        /shoots pistol into the air

      • Trigger Hippie

        ‘Is Boondock Saints a good movie? No. But it’s just the right level of bad.’

        So…Cabin Boy?

      • Trigger Hippie

        ‘To me, it is like much of later Tarantino’s movies. I just cannot get into them.’

        Recalls IB and DU… that’s fair to say. While fun, IB was pure self indulgent camp, DU was often vulgar for the sake of being vulgar. And I’m not necessarily talking about the treatment of slaves.

        To be honest, my favorite QT film might be Jackie Brown.

      • Mojeaux

        Kill Bill for me.

      • Nephilium

        TH:

        I haven’t seen Cabin Boy enough times to compare. Boondock Saints became big just at the right time to be a cultural touchstone for me.

        And the best Quentin Tarantino film is of course True Romance.

      • Zwak,The Baddest Johnny on the Apple Cart

        “Recalls IB and DU… that’s fair to say. While fun, IB was pure self-indulgent camp, DU was often vulgar for the sake of being vulgar.”

        I never saw either of those, but by Kill Bill, I had lost interest. Not good or bad, just not my thing. I did try to watch h8, but it was more self-indulgent than my tastes. But Jackie Brown is best.

      • EvilSheldon

        My favorite QT film is absolutely Jackie Brown, no question. A big part of that might be the source material though – Elmore Leonard was one of those rare pulp novelists who just never had an off day. Even his bad books were good by normal standards.

      • rhywun

        Yeah, I should have added JB. It’s fantastic.

      • Trigger Hippie

        Screen play? Within the top two. But he didn’t direct the film and therefore I can’t give him full credit for this film.

        However, I do love that movie. I remember sitting alone in a living room during a house party when somebody asked me what I was doing. I replied: “Watching True Romance.”

        Gails of laughter and mockery followed immediately afterwards.

        After around ten people marched in to give me shit the Dennis Hopper/Christopher Walken scene started.
        Everybody pretty much shut the fuck up over the next hour or so.

      • Nephilium

        The Sicilian scene is brilliant. As is white guy day at the brothel. I personally love Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, and even From Dusk ’til Dawn. Hell, I even enjoy the Tales From the Crypt movies.

        My biggest complaint about Tarantino is him wanting to act in all of his movies now… and he’s not a good actor. Still better then Kevin Smith’s Yoga Hosers.

      • rhywun

        Agree on RD and FDTD.

        Never really got into PF.

        And yeah, he’s a terrible actor.

      • Trigger Hippie

        ‘My biggest complaint about Tarantino is him wanting to’ – indulge in his foot fetish via film. Feet are nasty, yo.

      • Trigger Hippie

        ‘My favorite QT film is absolutely Jackie Brown, no question. A big part of that might be the source material though – Elmore Leonard was one of those rare pulp novelists who just never had an off day. Even his bad books were good by normal standards.’

        I’ll make a point of making a deeper dive, my friend.

      • Zwak,The Baddest Johnny on the Apple Cart

        That movie is excellent. The ninties were so much fun.

      • Trigger Hippie

        ‘You have work tomorrow?’

        Scheduled? Yes. Is it happening? We’ll see in the morning.

  27. pistoffnick the refusnik

    Third week in a row of rowing the machine at least 5 of the 7 days. My progressive overload is that I’m now up to 50 minutes per session (from 40). Rowing has gone from pure drudgery to something I almost look forward to.

    Frustratingly, no weight loss in exchange for all those calories expended. Also the arthritis in my left shoulder is acting up a little more.

    I also walked the mall for 40 minutes yesterday (weather was too nasty to walk outside). It was depressing. So many empty stores.

    • slumbrew

      That’s serious rowing – good job! I think I mentioned it last time, but those sorts of numbers will get you to the million meter club in 2022, easily.

      Ignore the scale, check your muscle tone, enjoy the (obviously) increased cardio fitness…

  28. Mojeaux

    Now that COVID Is Over™, I want my grocery stores to bring back their salad bars. I mourn the loss of salad bars. Deeply.

    • rhywun

      I’m torn on them. I usually get greedy and pile on a bunch of ingredients that don’t work together and my stomach lets me know later.

      • Mojeaux

        I just make a chef salad and work on it all day long.

        If I want different ingredients, I just pick up another take-out container and separate them.

      • rhywun

        Whisk together mayo and sour cream

        This combination gives me pause; I would never think of it.

        I suppose the only way to judge it is to try it.

      • Mojeaux

        Standard midwestern dressing combo.

      • Mojeaux

        Looks good with a couple of minor adjustments.

      • hayeksplosives

        The green peas pop wonderfully.

        Sometimes I make a variation that adds black olive slivers and pasta shells.

      • Mojeaux

        I need to get a cheap slow cooker so I can make that slow cooker crack chicken.

      • rhywun

        I do my slow cooking on the stove.

        Bonus is I don’t have to pay extra for gas.

      • Mojeaux

        How do you manage it on the stove? Because I hate slow-cooker meat generally. Just tastes boiled and I don’t want to buy one.

      • Mojeaux

        Belay that. I can use the oven.

      • rhywun

        Lowest flame and lid slightly ajar. Maybe a proper slow-cooker would get better results – I dunno.

      • Mojeaux

        I found the oven-baked recipe for it.

      • Name's BEAM. James BEAM.

        I need to get a cheap slow cooker . . .

        15 to 30 bucks at most thrift stores around here.

      • Mojeaux

        I REALLY don’t like slow cooker food. I found an oven recipe for it, though!

      • Tulip

        Looks very good. The markets here haven’t had salad – either supply chain or contamination issues*. So I am craving salad.

        When they do have salad it doesn’t look very fresh or good.

      • hayeksplosives

        Yeah, supply chain sucks.

        We are having a large part of our dessert “yard” paved with concrete instead of gravel (the gravel is tough on feet and ankles!) and the guys cleared away the gravel and put in the ribs for containing the concrete pour, then found out that the concrete supply chain is out!!

        So I have a desert sand lot for a couple of weeks…

      • hayeksplosives

        Dessert Yard? Really, autocorrect?

      • Mojeaux

        I judged.

      • hayeksplosives

        I mean, a dessert yard wouldn’t necessarily be all bad…

      • Chafed

        Definitely not GlibFit.

    • Chafed

      Sadly, Souplantation was a covid casualty.

    • KSuellington

      I’m also a huge salad fan. Gimme some salad niçoise, chef salad, garden salad, arugula salad, beet salad and Cesar salad. Always make my own dressings- either creamy, vinagrete, or Cesar. I have yet to find a bottled salad dressing that comes near what I can make. I go through at least one tube of anchovy paste a month and most of it is put in various salad dressings. I also hate that one of my grocery store spots removed their salad bar for the Vid Panic. I usually stopped there once every couple weeks for lunch when we didn’t have enough or I was too lazy to make it in the morning.

      • slumbrew

        Cobb. You forgot Cobb. The king of salads.

        Tho wedge is good too – just a vector for bacon and blue cheese, but still technically a salad.

        (or are you veggie? I thought you were, but niçoise…)

        Drove back from CT today so dinner tonight was just a simple salad topped with a rotisserie chicken. Delicious.

        Given my eating recently, lunch will mostly be salads for a while.

      • KSuellington

        Oh yes, Cobb indeed. Cobb and Chef are so similar I almost think of them as interchangeable. Definitely not veggie, I like my carne in all it’s wonderful forms, including tasty sea creatures.

        Can’t wait for the next F1 season. I’m looking forward to seeing how the new redesigned cars race. Drive to Survive Season 4 starts next week I saw. I’m kinda waiting to binge it and then cancel Netflix. We just don’t really watch it much anymore. We have had a Netflix account for 15 years now and it is so long that I forget which email I had associated with it.

      • slumbrew

        Just paid for my F1TV account; very much looking forward to the new season (as well as Drive To Survive). I’ll be curious if the cost cap levels the field at all; there’s such a huge gap between what Merc spends (~ $500MM/yr, reportedly) and what, say, Haas spends.

      • KSuellington

        Yes, it was in effect last year, but as the cars weren’t radically different than the years before I don’t think it was very much a factor. It could be this year with the new car design. I still imagine that Red Bull, Merc, Ferrari and McLaren will be consistently better than the other teams but I’d love to see more competition and closer races. You still thinking of going to see a race live? Looks like Miami sold out, I may decide to go to Austin depending on many things. It’s now a bucket list item to see a race live somewhere in the world. Maybe Mexico City eventually as I really want to go on an eating tour of that city.

    • Ownbestenemy

      Ours brought that back a few months ago. It was converted to a cheese bar so I was torn when they went back to salad.

  29. Tulip

    Please send me your “What We’ve Been Reading” blurbs by Saturday the 12th through the forum. I’ll repeat this call a couple of times. Thanks

    • Zwak,The Baddest Johnny on the Apple Cart

      Will do!

      (I love books)

    • The Bearded Hobbit

      Did a quick look and didn’t see it under “Reading”.

      I’m pretty clueless about the forum, anyway.

    • slumbrew

      Via direct message or is there a thread?

      • Tulip

        Direct message please

    • Chafed

      He really does not understand private enterprise or supply and demand. This really is an opportunity for him to reset his administration. If he publicly proclaimed domestic oil and gas is necessary because of world events, he would enjoy broad support. He won’t of course.

      My guess is he will tinker with asking the Saudis to pump more and release some of the strategic petroleum reserve. He will remain amazed oil is so expensive.

      • rhywun

        He seems thoroughly beholden to the far left wing of his party. It’s baffling, really. Supposedly that was never his jam but here we are. Hell, he was sold to the country as a “moderate”. But apparently whoever is really in charge had other ideas.

      • Zwak,The Baddest Johnny on the Apple Cart

        The large print giveth, and the small print taketh away.

      • Chafed

        Lol

      • Zwak,The Baddest Johnny on the Apple Cart

        He is only an empty figurehead for the far left at this point. Every once in a while he will say some sort of normalish old-left boilerplate thing, and the next day he will repudiate it, weakly or strongly, it don’t matter.

      • Gustave Lytton

        “I never said that!”

    • Not an Economist

      Apparently we are talking to Venezuela and Iran to make up the difference. Honest. Apparently drilling our own oil is a permanent solution to a temporary problem and that is bad.

      • UnCivilServant

        We can render down environmentalists for landwhale oil to tide us over.

  30. Brochettaward

    Has anyone heard anything about a new search engine called Luxxle (http://www.luxxle.com)? Seems to be advertised to the right. “Non-manipulated” search results and all.

      • The Bearded Hobbit

        I don’t want “the Right” anymore than I want “the Left”. I want my search results.

        I’ll stick with DDG for now.

      • Chafed

        Now that TBH mentions it, wouldn’t DDG meet your needs?

    • Chafed

      That’s new to me.

      • Brochettaward

        I’m currently using Brave’s shitty alt-Google browser. Using that, not much comes up about Luxxle when I search. Only stumbled across it because it was an ad on Facebook…which immediately makes me skeptical.

      • Mojeaux

        I like Brave okay. Better than that resource hog Firefox.

        I’ll check this out tomorrow when I get to the office.

    • rhywun

      I’m not seeing any “advertising to the right” there.

      I’ll try it and see if all the results are Nazis.

      • Brochettaward

        The Facebook ad that led me to this advertised that it provided “non-manipulated” ads and it had pictures of news stories.

  31. dbleagle

    Good news everyone! I found out today that Oahu’s sole remaining Tiki bar that closed because of Covid is scheduled to reopen soon.

    Also, Oahu is dropping the requirement to show proof of “da Vax” to enjoy sit down dining.

  32. grrizzly

    The situation with mandates in Los Angeles is far from clear. We’ve just returned from a Russian restaurant. The hostess demanded to see a vax card once we expressed the desire to dine indoors (it’s rather chilly to sit outdoors). She told me in Russian to show her anything on the phone so that other customers would think that she checked our vax cards. I refused and told her that we were not playing these games. I then told my partner in English that they wanted to see proof of vaccination. He started arguing that it was no longer a mandate in LA county, the hostess replied that she had checked the rules in the morning and it was still a requirement. Shortly after that she gave in and told us that we could take a table indoors. Is it possible that the vaxx mandate is still not completely abolished? Nobody but us confronted the hostess about the matter in the last 2-3 days? The food was good. Several waitresses were wearing “I stand with Ukraine” t-shirts.

    • one true athena

      LA City is still being stupid. It’s the county that lifted the mandates.

      Thank god for the small cities. Today was the first time I’ve been grocery shopping without a mask since, what, the weeks we had no mask mandate for vaxxed ppl last summer. About half compliance in effect – I think a lot of ppl don’t even know/aren’t sure yet, so it was just habit and a lot of stores haven’t taken down the signs yet.

      • Chafed

        I missed City of LA retaining a mask mandate. That’s insane. When even Barbara Ferrer has given in, the game is over.

      • one true athena

        Right? The zombie finally got a call from someone, I guess, who told her in no uncertain terms it’s over. I have no idea what grounds the city’s even using, at this point. I mean, not that it was ever sensical we know that, but it never really made sense for them to have a separate order. Just fucking Eric trying to be a Big Dog, I guess, and now they don’t even know how to undo it.

      • Ownbestenemy

        Eric is sad he has been overlooked in the new world order.

      • Gustave Lytton

        Gov Shitstain made a big deal of lifting the mask in lockstep with WA and CA, and then your greasy gov does an end run around them early. And the weasels can’t move it up again (or just end it immediately). Fuck that sniveling cunte and her state pædiatrician.

      • rhywun

        I heard the smug little troll who literally calls himself “the city’s doctor” on television propaganda that has appeared approximately seventeen times an hour for the last two years is “stepping down”.

        That’s my signal that it’s over.

  33. Gustave Lytton

    Loving that the fucking commies in this state suddenly give a shit about oppression. As long as it’s far away and the state media tells them who to hate.

  34. Sean

    My $200 upper arrived yesterday. Now I need a lower to match it.

    It’s gonna be a basic bitch rifle.

    • UnCivilServant

      I’ve paid less than that for complete rifles that performed fairly well. Only 2/3 of which were preowned at the time.

    • Festus

      The magic #! Worse than Hitler! It’s been like watching a weekend telethon. Jerry Lewis with his necktie undone.

      • Gender Traitor

        Jerry Lewis with his necktie undone.

        Obligatory.

  35. Sean

    https://www.fox29.com/news/nj-mask-mandate-requirement-for-schools-daycares-ends-as-gov-murphy-lifts-covid-19-public-health-emergency

    “But taking masks off doesn’t mean that other strategies should be abandoned,” she said. “In fact, they become more important. So, please continue to wash your hands frequently, physically distance, stay home when you’re sick, and get vaccinated and boosted to protect yourselves, your families, your friends, and our children.”

    🙄

    • rhywun

      Sure why not, no, of course, hell no

    • Ghostpatzer

      Fuck Murphy and the rest of his fascist brothers and sisters in other jurisdictions.

      “Governor Phil Murphy made the announcement at his final COVID-19 press briefing, noting a dramatic decline in positive COVID-19 cases.”

      So next fall, when the cases spike as seasonal viruses are wont to do, mandates will be reimposed? We are fucked, because most people here think it’s perfectly OK for a governor to assume dictatorial powers at the drop of a hat.

    • Festus

      She’s purdy and although that big brass sound doesn’t fit everywhere it quite matches that tune. nice pull!

  36. Festus

    Good God do I loathe Sunday nights. One part of the job that will not be missed. Tripping and stumbling by the end of your shift is no way to earn a living, Son.

  37. Festus

    All that testing, poking, prodding and scanning last week. Now we wait. Fell down twice over the weekend and reinjured my wrists and thumb. I’d walk away right now but can’t afford that sort of haircut. No bennies for quitters.

    • UnCivilServant

      So they haven’t figured out what’s causing it?

      • Festus

        I’m lucky that all of the testing was carried out quickly. Record time, even. GP must have been worried. Usually that would have been spread over a month or two.

    • Gender Traitor

      ?

      Do you have some idea how long it will take before you can learn the results?

      • Festus

        Not yet. Neurologist visit and follow-ups yet to come. Kinda not caring anymore.

    • Ghostpatzer

      Damn. Hope they figure this out soon, Festy.

    • Tres Cool

      Pretty sure that, due to my age, Ive acquired Furniture DIsease.

      Looks like my chest has fallen into my drawers.

      • Fourscore

        You ain’t seen nuthin’ yet. TC.

  38. UnCivilServant

    Morning Glibs.

    I was thinking about the ‘If I can do it, it must be easy’ mindset and job interviews on the commute to work this morning. My train of thought went to the example of writing a book. The mechanical task of sitting down and writing 40-100k+ words is something any literate person can do, the hard part is having what comes out the other end be something other people want to read. Because my mental context was a nonexistant job interview, that thought got boiled down to “for example I’ve written X books” Whereupon I stumbled. I wasn’t exactly sure how many book I’ve written. I know how many books I have up on Amazon for people to buy, so that would be the easiest metric, but if the only criteria was that I’ve written it, how many have I got? I ended up questioning criteria a lot. For instance, Lucid Blue is available for sale, but it’s an anthology, and on the flip side, the title story might have enough words to be a standalone book. So where does that fall? Well, I have to write them down to keep track. What have I got?

    Available for Sale – 5
    Shadowboy
    Shadowdemon
    Lucid Blue
    Shadowrealm
    Beyond the Edge of the Map

    Finished and Getting Ready for sale – 1
    Prince of the North Tower

    Finished But not going on the market – 4
    The Cure
    Battlegroup 305
    Scintilla Vitae*
    Cult of Steel

    Reached the story’s natural stopping point and kept going – 1
    Exigencies of War

    *Not for sale, but available for free since it’s nonmonetizable.

    Some of these are not that great as far as basic storytelling, but in terms of having written them I have anywhere from eight to eleven depending on criteria used. This doesn’t count short stories. I don’t even still have all of those to count.

    • Festus

      You are a talented writer, UCS but much like Mojo’s work, it doesn’t land in my wheelhouse. Big deal, write what makes you happy!

      • UnCivilServant

        I think I was trying to convince myself that I put in a lot of work to get where I am.

      • Fourscore

        That’s why I fish, UCS. Sometimes I’m lucky and other times I catch fish. It’s the effort that’s important and the enjoyment perceived.

    • Ghostpatzer

      That’s quite a list.

      The mechanical task of sitting down and writing 40-100k+ words is something any literate person can do

      Perhaps, but it is not something everyone would want to do. I find even writing a short paragraph to be torture.

    • Gender Traitor

      I understand about Scintilla Vitae, but may I ask why the other three finished books aren’t going on the market?

      • UnCivilServant

        In short – they’re not very good. All of those three were some of my earliest work.

        The Cure was my first finished novel, and might be rehabilitated, but I’ve got five major revisions already (3.3 is the current ‘finished’ version)
        Battlegroup 305 is just sloppily written and would need a serious overhaul.
        Cult of Steel has a setting I like, but I cringe at just how poorly executed the text is.

        If you want to see for yourself, I’ll let you read them but I have to warn you that they are nowhere near my current standards.

      • UnCivilServant

        Fun Fact, I started writing the story that would eventually become ‘The Cure’ longhand on paper when I was in high school. I lost the paper copy, and started it again on computer. I’d forgotten the narrator’s name in between and gave him a new one. I later found the paper copy (which has since been lost in a fire) and gave that name to the narrator’s first son as recompense.

      • Gender Traitor

        Maybe after I’m done with the current VIP (Very Important Project.) ?

  39. Festus

    That Lonsdale short story posted above was as dark as fuck.

  40. Tres Cool

    suh’ fam
    whats goody

    • Ghostpatzer

      Tall Covfefe! Mornin’ to you, Tres, and GT, Festus, UC, Sean and anyone else who’s around.

      • Fourscore

        Morning, GP and the others mentioned. Halfway through the first tall one. It’s worth getting up for. I have my machine ready, on the way to take care of personal needs I push the button and then the button on the little heat stove. By the time I’m ready, the covfefe is done and all is right in the world.

    • Gender Traitor

      )Good morning, homey (and… all the rest of you! Sounds as if it’s pretty soggy out there.

      • Gender Traitor

        ::looks at wonky parentheses. Drinks more coffee::

    • Festus

      My Glib Friends are goody! Mojo being able to eat beef again is extra goody!

    • Festus

      Yup! That’s what I should be aiming for instead of feeling so goddamned sorry for myself. It’s hard to go from an athlete to a non-thlete when you don’t even know what the heck is happening. I’d be happy just to traipse down the front steps, again. I used to show off for the kids. Jump from the top and roll. Come up on my feet and run around the house. Now I take them one at a time.

      • Festus

        Let’s go fishing! Ah well, they’ll remember it.