Been studying the Battle of Borodino, 5-7 September, 1812 between Napoleon's Grande Armee and Kutuzov's Russians. Played the battle out using VPG's Napoleon 20 system. During the first two days, the French beat their heads against the wall, eventually taking Shevardino and pushing on to the Russian main defenses around the Fleches and the Great Redoubt. Lots of back and forth, and French morale kept going down while the Russians went up.
Finally on the last day of the fight, things started to happen for Napoleon. After two key Russian units routed from the vicinity of Semenovskaya, the French committed the Imperial Guard and smashed the Russian line, gaining attack frontage against the Redoubt. Late in the day the French V Corps occupied the Redoubt and the Russians fell back to Gorki. By nightfall, the French were on the outskirts of the town, but it was too late. As the battle ended, French morale was still low, and the Russians were doing fine.
In retrospect, I think I wasted the first two days on ineffective French attacks that contributed to the low morale. A better approach would be to maneuver, use the lulls to rest the troops, and begin a strong push late on the 6th with the coup de grace the next morning.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Saturday, August 7, 2010
30 Pounds--I did it; you can do it.
Having reached my target weight (well, almost...) of 185, I have successfully shed 30 pounds since December, 2008. I will provide my conclusions and insights for those interested in losing weight.
1. Get serious. For years I played around with weight loss--losing a little, gaining back more, and deluding myself that I was basically in good shape and that some day soon I would lose it. Finally, I looked at myself realistically, didn't like what I saw, and asked myself: If not now, when? Time for a life change. For us middle-aged folks, I think it's important to realize that weight loss requires dramatic changes and deadly serious commitment.
2. Calories in, calories out. This is the best advice I ever read. It's really simple: if the calories you burn exceed the calories you take in, you will lose weight. The fat, protein, carb calculations are fine if you're into that, but I'm not, and you don't need to be. But you MUST count calories--what you eat and what you burn. If you don't, you will not lose weight. The good news is that counting calories is easier than ever. Iphone apps like "Tap and Track" provide excellent tools for tracking your calories. If you don't track your calories, you will underestimate what you eat and drink, and overestimate what you burn at the gym.
3. Eating right. I eat 2 eggs (fried or soft-boiled) and 2 slices of turkey bacon every morning for breakfast after returning from the gym. Delicious, very healthy, and a total of 230 calories. For lunch, I eat a 6 inch Subway sandwich--roast beef is one of the best and least calories--for about 350 calories. Alternately I have a Lean Cuisine (anywhere from 200 to 350 calories.) So far, so good. I can do breakfast and lunch easy. My problem is dinner and evening. I have had to learn discipline--not to take more than one helping. (I occasionally fail at this and take 3.) Then comes the hard part: stop eating at night! I like to watch a movie with Zanne and snack and drink wine. This is a diet killer. Learn the power of not eating after six each night. Eat absolutely NOTHING. Drink only water or seltzer. Go to bed slightly hungry. You will lose weight overnight. It's painful, but it's necessary if you are serious about weight loss.
4. Working out. Join a family-friendly gym. I have good fitness equipment at home, and I use it often, but I finally got over the hump by joining our local Gold's Gym with Zanne. We have gone to the gym every morning without fail six days a week for the past several months, and it works. I remember reading a long time ago some fitness guy saying that you can't build muscle while you are losing weight. This is totally false. The exact opposite is true. You MUST build muscle, because it boosts your weight loss. As I dropped my 30 pounds, I gained muscle and strength big time. Now my belly is gone, and my arms are iron. When you go to the gym, start by working out with weights/machines. I work a different body part every day: chest, back, shoulders, arms, legs. I do abs twice a week. If you don't know how to work out, then invest in a personal trainer and learn. After exhausting yourself, then it's time for aerobics. If you're out of shape, you'll have to build up. Your goal should be to push yourself further, faster, and longer everytime, and soon you will become addicted to it. My daily routine now is to run or use the arc-trainer for 40 minutes on a high level. I burn 700 calories that way, plus what I burn with the weights (about 250).
5. Some other stuff. Don't deny yourself anything. Those chocolate donuts or pizza or fried chicken. If you deny yourself, you will become obsessed with what you can't have...like Eve in the garden. Instead of denying yourself, simply DELAY. I tell myself all the time: I can have a chocolate glazed donut anytime I want. Furthermore, I'm sure that I will have one at some point. But...not right now. Not today. Why? Because I don't want it right now. I'll have one later. You'd be amazed at how powerful that is.
6. When you screw up or gain back some weight, discipline yourself not to let it de-rail you. Just do what you know is right: calories in, calories out. Keep at it. Over the past two years, I've had sudden, dramatic weight loss followed by months of plateaus. It was almost always because I lost control eating or drinking. I just rededicated myself and went back at it.
7. Aerobic machines: don't lean on them or even touch them with your hands at all. One of the biggest wastes of time I see every day at the gym is people on treadmills or stair-steppers leaning their entire upper body on the machine! Or holding on to the machine. This is self-delusion. If you rest your body weight on the machine, you are not achieving the burn you think you are. Further, you are missing the opportunity to strengthen your core. Hands off!
8. Learn to avoid injury, but don't wimp out. If you're like me, your temptation is to work out with too much weight and bad form, resulting in injury. Stop it! When you reach middle-age, you have to become an expert in not hurting yourself. Injuries are for the young. At the same time, too many people (especially women) don't push themselves hard enough. Don't ever tell yourself that you can't do something. Yes, you can. It's painful to push yourself, but you need to get used to that pain if you're going to achieve weight loss. I don't mean pain in your joints, tendons, or muscles. I mean the pain of moving your butt when you feel like stopping. Get some good music for your aerobic exercise. Makes all the difference in the world. Suddenly, you find yourself running, but it feels more like dancing.
9. Think of yourself as an athlete. Tell yourself that you are an athlete, because you are. If you go to the gym and later feel depressed because the weight isn't coming off as fast as you wish, remind yourself of this: there are two kinds of people in the world--those who worked out today, and those who didn't. You did. You're an athlete. When you're on the treadmill running, and your tired old body is telling you that it's too hard, tell yourself: I'm an athlete. It's normal for me to be running. It doesn't hurt. I'm fine.
10. Finally...physical exercise profits little! So says the apostle Paul. Don't take weight loss so seriously that you lose perspective. Your spiritual health is far more important and long-lasting than anything your can achieve at the gym. Paul didn't mean that physical exercise is worthless. In fact, when he wrote that to the Corinthians, he was using irony. In the context of ancient Greece, physical exercise was VERY profitable. Olympic champions won great rewards, including exemption from taxes and public honors. But what Paul was saying was that compared to the riches we find in Christ, those physical rewards are nothing. After all, some day soon I will have a slim, powerful, good-looking resurrection body (with knees of steel!). In the mean time, weight loss here on earth is just a fun thing to do. Enjoy!
1. Get serious. For years I played around with weight loss--losing a little, gaining back more, and deluding myself that I was basically in good shape and that some day soon I would lose it. Finally, I looked at myself realistically, didn't like what I saw, and asked myself: If not now, when? Time for a life change. For us middle-aged folks, I think it's important to realize that weight loss requires dramatic changes and deadly serious commitment.
2. Calories in, calories out. This is the best advice I ever read. It's really simple: if the calories you burn exceed the calories you take in, you will lose weight. The fat, protein, carb calculations are fine if you're into that, but I'm not, and you don't need to be. But you MUST count calories--what you eat and what you burn. If you don't, you will not lose weight. The good news is that counting calories is easier than ever. Iphone apps like "Tap and Track" provide excellent tools for tracking your calories. If you don't track your calories, you will underestimate what you eat and drink, and overestimate what you burn at the gym.
3. Eating right. I eat 2 eggs (fried or soft-boiled) and 2 slices of turkey bacon every morning for breakfast after returning from the gym. Delicious, very healthy, and a total of 230 calories. For lunch, I eat a 6 inch Subway sandwich--roast beef is one of the best and least calories--for about 350 calories. Alternately I have a Lean Cuisine (anywhere from 200 to 350 calories.) So far, so good. I can do breakfast and lunch easy. My problem is dinner and evening. I have had to learn discipline--not to take more than one helping. (I occasionally fail at this and take 3.) Then comes the hard part: stop eating at night! I like to watch a movie with Zanne and snack and drink wine. This is a diet killer. Learn the power of not eating after six each night. Eat absolutely NOTHING. Drink only water or seltzer. Go to bed slightly hungry. You will lose weight overnight. It's painful, but it's necessary if you are serious about weight loss.
4. Working out. Join a family-friendly gym. I have good fitness equipment at home, and I use it often, but I finally got over the hump by joining our local Gold's Gym with Zanne. We have gone to the gym every morning without fail six days a week for the past several months, and it works. I remember reading a long time ago some fitness guy saying that you can't build muscle while you are losing weight. This is totally false. The exact opposite is true. You MUST build muscle, because it boosts your weight loss. As I dropped my 30 pounds, I gained muscle and strength big time. Now my belly is gone, and my arms are iron. When you go to the gym, start by working out with weights/machines. I work a different body part every day: chest, back, shoulders, arms, legs. I do abs twice a week. If you don't know how to work out, then invest in a personal trainer and learn. After exhausting yourself, then it's time for aerobics. If you're out of shape, you'll have to build up. Your goal should be to push yourself further, faster, and longer everytime, and soon you will become addicted to it. My daily routine now is to run or use the arc-trainer for 40 minutes on a high level. I burn 700 calories that way, plus what I burn with the weights (about 250).
5. Some other stuff. Don't deny yourself anything. Those chocolate donuts or pizza or fried chicken. If you deny yourself, you will become obsessed with what you can't have...like Eve in the garden. Instead of denying yourself, simply DELAY. I tell myself all the time: I can have a chocolate glazed donut anytime I want. Furthermore, I'm sure that I will have one at some point. But...not right now. Not today. Why? Because I don't want it right now. I'll have one later. You'd be amazed at how powerful that is.
6. When you screw up or gain back some weight, discipline yourself not to let it de-rail you. Just do what you know is right: calories in, calories out. Keep at it. Over the past two years, I've had sudden, dramatic weight loss followed by months of plateaus. It was almost always because I lost control eating or drinking. I just rededicated myself and went back at it.
7. Aerobic machines: don't lean on them or even touch them with your hands at all. One of the biggest wastes of time I see every day at the gym is people on treadmills or stair-steppers leaning their entire upper body on the machine! Or holding on to the machine. This is self-delusion. If you rest your body weight on the machine, you are not achieving the burn you think you are. Further, you are missing the opportunity to strengthen your core. Hands off!
8. Learn to avoid injury, but don't wimp out. If you're like me, your temptation is to work out with too much weight and bad form, resulting in injury. Stop it! When you reach middle-age, you have to become an expert in not hurting yourself. Injuries are for the young. At the same time, too many people (especially women) don't push themselves hard enough. Don't ever tell yourself that you can't do something. Yes, you can. It's painful to push yourself, but you need to get used to that pain if you're going to achieve weight loss. I don't mean pain in your joints, tendons, or muscles. I mean the pain of moving your butt when you feel like stopping. Get some good music for your aerobic exercise. Makes all the difference in the world. Suddenly, you find yourself running, but it feels more like dancing.
9. Think of yourself as an athlete. Tell yourself that you are an athlete, because you are. If you go to the gym and later feel depressed because the weight isn't coming off as fast as you wish, remind yourself of this: there are two kinds of people in the world--those who worked out today, and those who didn't. You did. You're an athlete. When you're on the treadmill running, and your tired old body is telling you that it's too hard, tell yourself: I'm an athlete. It's normal for me to be running. It doesn't hurt. I'm fine.
10. Finally...physical exercise profits little! So says the apostle Paul. Don't take weight loss so seriously that you lose perspective. Your spiritual health is far more important and long-lasting than anything your can achieve at the gym. Paul didn't mean that physical exercise is worthless. In fact, when he wrote that to the Corinthians, he was using irony. In the context of ancient Greece, physical exercise was VERY profitable. Olympic champions won great rewards, including exemption from taxes and public honors. But what Paul was saying was that compared to the riches we find in Christ, those physical rewards are nothing. After all, some day soon I will have a slim, powerful, good-looking resurrection body (with knees of steel!). In the mean time, weight loss here on earth is just a fun thing to do. Enjoy!
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Running on Empty
That's the name of one of my running songs. Anyways, I've been running 40 minutes per day, increasing the speed and distance each time. Today I started at incline of 2.0 and a speed of 6.0. After 20 minutes, I increased to 6.5. After another 10 minutes I increased to 7.0, and for the last minute I went to 8.0. Distance was about 4.3 miles.
My philosophy has been to gradually increase speed and distance, but I'm getting impatient. The worst part of each run is the first ten minutes, because 6.0 is way too slow. I need to experiment with a brief warm-up and then a jump to 7.0, which feels much more comfortable. I might try to do 8.0 for the last five minutes next time and see how that goes down. Knees and heels are fair--not great, but not bad either.
Bottom line: I love running. I really look forward to it every day. I forgot how much I enjoyed it in my youth, but my body is quickly adapting to it again, and I love it.
My philosophy has been to gradually increase speed and distance, but I'm getting impatient. The worst part of each run is the first ten minutes, because 6.0 is way too slow. I need to experiment with a brief warm-up and then a jump to 7.0, which feels much more comfortable. I might try to do 8.0 for the last five minutes next time and see how that goes down. Knees and heels are fair--not great, but not bad either.
Bottom line: I love running. I really look forward to it every day. I forgot how much I enjoyed it in my youth, but my body is quickly adapting to it again, and I love it.
Monday, July 5, 2010
Summer, 2010!
I love summer. I like very hot, steamy weather. I like working in the garden with Zanne. I recently installed a porch swing, so now our entire porch can be used. We love to sit out at night, watch the fireflies, listen to our waterfall, and talk. Last night (4 July) we watched the Martinsburg fireworks from the porch swing. Way fun.
About four weeks ago, Zanne and I decided to join Gold's Gym and set out on a life-long (seriously!) change. We have been faithfully working out six days a week and counting calories. Learning, pushing, encouraging each other. I've lost just about 10 pounds now. Down to a new low for me: 196.8. Back in December, 2008 I started a program of working out and dieting, and I successfully lost about 16 pounds and kept it off. But since then I've been hovering at around 200. This time I'm headed to 185, and then 175...and I'm going to make it!! I've been running a lot, despite an orthopedic surgeon telling me a couple of years ago that I'd never run again. I told him, "Oh yes I will!" Now I run almost every day--a hard 36 minute run this morning--and my knees feel great.
Headed to the shore this week. I LOVE the beach. My very favorite place to be. When I hit the sand, I'm 12 years old again. I'll be body surfing in the waves for six hours straight. Then I build an awesome sand castle. Run along the boardwalk, drink fresh orange juice in the morning...mmmm. Can't wait.
Since my last post, I also designed a wargame called "Hero of Weehawken: The Aaron Burr Conspiracy". Victory Point Games picked it up for publication. Woot!
Life is good, but I really miss teaching Bible class!!
About four weeks ago, Zanne and I decided to join Gold's Gym and set out on a life-long (seriously!) change. We have been faithfully working out six days a week and counting calories. Learning, pushing, encouraging each other. I've lost just about 10 pounds now. Down to a new low for me: 196.8. Back in December, 2008 I started a program of working out and dieting, and I successfully lost about 16 pounds and kept it off. But since then I've been hovering at around 200. This time I'm headed to 185, and then 175...and I'm going to make it!! I've been running a lot, despite an orthopedic surgeon telling me a couple of years ago that I'd never run again. I told him, "Oh yes I will!" Now I run almost every day--a hard 36 minute run this morning--and my knees feel great.
Headed to the shore this week. I LOVE the beach. My very favorite place to be. When I hit the sand, I'm 12 years old again. I'll be body surfing in the waves for six hours straight. Then I build an awesome sand castle. Run along the boardwalk, drink fresh orange juice in the morning...mmmm. Can't wait.
Since my last post, I also designed a wargame called "Hero of Weehawken: The Aaron Burr Conspiracy". Victory Point Games picked it up for publication. Woot!
Life is good, but I really miss teaching Bible class!!
Monday, May 3, 2010
Kagan, McDougall
Read a nice piece by Kagan in Foreign Affairs on the geography of Chinese strategy. Most salient point (to me) was discussion of a possible American strategy of dropping back to the "second island chain" (aka Oceana), or in other words, emphasizing basing in Guam, the Solomons, Marianas, and Marshalls, vice Korea and Japan. More feasible, both politically and economically, and avoids needless provocation as the PRC inevitably expands. Of course, this option would presume that we can somehow extricate ourselves from the burden of defending Japan, Korea, and, of course, Taiwan. It also seems to lead to economic dominance of Beijing, not to mention the possibility of our former allies finlandizing toward China. But in the end, I feel that even these temporary setbacks would be a good thing, because they would tend to overburden the communist regime in Beijing and hasten the day that China either collapses or democratizes.
McDougall's piece on grand strategy corresponded with my own writing on ends, ways, and means. I was gratified that he nailed the current practice of verbalizing goals in the National Security Strategy without talking about means or ways.
McDougall's piece on grand strategy corresponded with my own writing on ends, ways, and means. I was gratified that he nailed the current practice of verbalizing goals in the National Security Strategy without talking about means or ways.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Jimmy Carter
I'm re-reading Our Endangered Values by Carter. I have conflicting thoughts about the man and his views. I cannot doubt that he is a believer in Christ. He states so directly. He has dedicated much of his life to very meritorious activities, like missionary work, poverty relief, etc. One cannot help but admire his accomplishments, including his work for the Lord.
His book, however, makes a strong distinction between what he describes as "evangelical" Christianity, and "fundamentalist" Christianity. He sees himself as the former. He loves the Bible, thinks it is God's Word, but does not hold to literal interpretation nor inerrancy. He hates fundamentalists. That's a strong statement, but I think the book justifies it. He accuses fundamentalists of stupidity, rigidity, and hate-mongering. Obviously, he is targeting George Bush primarily, and the religious right in general. It's a little amusing that he is a strong advocate for tolerating and loving Muslims, Hindus, Jews, Catholics...EVERYBODY...except those fundamentalists!
I find myself wondering how God will judge Jimmy Carter. Will he applaud him or discipline him for rejecting the truth of scripture? Carter boasts about his duties as a Sunday School teacher, and he no doubt has many admirers in that regard. But I find myself totally unimpressed and disappointed with Carter's metaphorical view of prophecy. I've never been able to regard the metaphorical school as anything but a group of people who love the devil's world more than they love the truth of scripture. They remain, in my opinion, the saddest of creatures, who simply cannot align their own desires with those of God. Jesus Christ, if his word is to be believed, has in mind a dramatic intervention to end human history. There will be bloodshed, judgment, and condemnation. There will also be grace, salvation, and glory. The Apocalypse will be a catastrophe for those invested in this world, and blessed relief for those who have not.
Anyway, I'm as frustrated with Carter the Christian as I was with Carter the president.
His book, however, makes a strong distinction between what he describes as "evangelical" Christianity, and "fundamentalist" Christianity. He sees himself as the former. He loves the Bible, thinks it is God's Word, but does not hold to literal interpretation nor inerrancy. He hates fundamentalists. That's a strong statement, but I think the book justifies it. He accuses fundamentalists of stupidity, rigidity, and hate-mongering. Obviously, he is targeting George Bush primarily, and the religious right in general. It's a little amusing that he is a strong advocate for tolerating and loving Muslims, Hindus, Jews, Catholics...EVERYBODY...except those fundamentalists!
I find myself wondering how God will judge Jimmy Carter. Will he applaud him or discipline him for rejecting the truth of scripture? Carter boasts about his duties as a Sunday School teacher, and he no doubt has many admirers in that regard. But I find myself totally unimpressed and disappointed with Carter's metaphorical view of prophecy. I've never been able to regard the metaphorical school as anything but a group of people who love the devil's world more than they love the truth of scripture. They remain, in my opinion, the saddest of creatures, who simply cannot align their own desires with those of God. Jesus Christ, if his word is to be believed, has in mind a dramatic intervention to end human history. There will be bloodshed, judgment, and condemnation. There will also be grace, salvation, and glory. The Apocalypse will be a catastrophe for those invested in this world, and blessed relief for those who have not.
Anyway, I'm as frustrated with Carter the Christian as I was with Carter the president.
Friday, April 16, 2010
The Qur'an
I'm making my way through the Qur'an for a project I'm working on at the lab. I have to admire those Muslims--being able to devote themselves to that crap. Or even read it.
So basically we have a document redacted by a bunch of different people who attempted (long, long after the alleged fact) to commit to writing the strictly oral tradition handed down from Muhammad. (All this while M's descendants busied themselves killing each other to determine who Allah's next caliph would be.) It is a really sad book upon which to base a religion.
It starts with a fragmentary and juvenile understanding of Judaism and Christianity, and proceeds to relate Bible stories inaccurately in a manner so jumbled that it defies understanding. The various chapters of the Qur'an are a mish-mash of unrelated gobblety-gook jumping from one topic to another, as if the author were on drugs at the time. Sorry to be so disrespectful, but the truth is, I have zero respect for this religion. I simply cannot believe that any thinking person can read this garbage and not see it for what it is: a poorly written rip-off of the Bible laced with M's particular brand of paganism.
What do we learn about "Allah" as we read?
1. He demands obedience and submission without explanation.
2. He forgives people when he feels like it without the requirement of an atoning sacrifice. Hence, theologically, he has no standards of justice or righteousness that he holds himself to. Compare this to God's policy toward sin: "The soul that sins shall surely die." To uphold his uncompromising righteousness and justice, and at the same time express his incomparable love toward mankind, he sent his own son to intercept the punishment for sin and suffer it in his own body.
3. His requirements for salvation are really quite easy to achieve, again because his standard of righteousness is so low. Bump your head on the ground five times a day, don't drink, give money to the poor, etc., and you're in. Compare to God's standard: "If your righteousness does not exceed that of the Pharisees, you will in no way enter the Kingdom of God."
3. He's very confused--both complimenting and condemning Christians and Jews.
The Qur'an is a very frustrating book to read, primarily because it is so poorly written and organized. Ugh.
If any Muslim fanatics find this blog, please issue a fatwah condemning me to death as soon as possible to save me from having to read any more of this manure.
So basically we have a document redacted by a bunch of different people who attempted (long, long after the alleged fact) to commit to writing the strictly oral tradition handed down from Muhammad. (All this while M's descendants busied themselves killing each other to determine who Allah's next caliph would be.) It is a really sad book upon which to base a religion.
It starts with a fragmentary and juvenile understanding of Judaism and Christianity, and proceeds to relate Bible stories inaccurately in a manner so jumbled that it defies understanding. The various chapters of the Qur'an are a mish-mash of unrelated gobblety-gook jumping from one topic to another, as if the author were on drugs at the time. Sorry to be so disrespectful, but the truth is, I have zero respect for this religion. I simply cannot believe that any thinking person can read this garbage and not see it for what it is: a poorly written rip-off of the Bible laced with M's particular brand of paganism.
What do we learn about "Allah" as we read?
1. He demands obedience and submission without explanation.
2. He forgives people when he feels like it without the requirement of an atoning sacrifice. Hence, theologically, he has no standards of justice or righteousness that he holds himself to. Compare this to God's policy toward sin: "The soul that sins shall surely die." To uphold his uncompromising righteousness and justice, and at the same time express his incomparable love toward mankind, he sent his own son to intercept the punishment for sin and suffer it in his own body.
3. His requirements for salvation are really quite easy to achieve, again because his standard of righteousness is so low. Bump your head on the ground five times a day, don't drink, give money to the poor, etc., and you're in. Compare to God's standard: "If your righteousness does not exceed that of the Pharisees, you will in no way enter the Kingdom of God."
3. He's very confused--both complimenting and condemning Christians and Jews.
The Qur'an is a very frustrating book to read, primarily because it is so poorly written and organized. Ugh.
If any Muslim fanatics find this blog, please issue a fatwah condemning me to death as soon as possible to save me from having to read any more of this manure.
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