still too cool for wordpress.
choose only one: latest; past; wednesday lite; superscribe.

<< July 30, 2008 >>
the final countdown

after twenty weeks of training, across five cities, four timezones, three countries, two continents, and one cross-country move, i have ten miles of training left before my race on sunday. it's a little stressful, since pretty much i can only make a cock-up of it at this point. for example, sprinting, in the shoes that hurt my legs, to catch the bus on monday.

they have some sort of real-time text messaging thing, so if anyone wants to follow along in my brazen disappointment, let me know and i'll add you to the thing. for those of you who enjoy sleeping late on sunday, note that it starts around 5:30 am pacific.

other events that have recently transpired have been the 11th anniversary of the last time i drove a car, and the receipt of a letter from my health insurance company with the following amusing excerpts:

Some medical conditions, either alone or in compination with the cost of medication, present uncertain medical underwriting risks. In view of these risks, we have enrolled you in our CORE 5000 PLAN Level 1 Plus 50 Plan. This is our CORE 5000 PLAN Level 1 Plan with an additional 50% premium. The basis for our decision is listed below.

Provider: Health Statement
Medical History: Elevated weight

...

To be considered for a reduction in the additional premium, you must 1. maintain your weight below 215 lbs for a mimimum of 6 months from the effective date of this coverage, and 2. meet the Medical Underwriting Guidelines in effect at the time of application.

i think i'm up to the challenge.

* * *

<< July 30, 2008 >>
lost in translation

the end of the news hour's interview with pakistan's prime minister last night was something my friend phil should read:

MARGARET WARNER: Bottom line, Mr. Prime Minister, what could the U.S. expect to see, let's say in six months, as a benchmark, as evidence that your government's approach to fighting terrorism is more successful than President Musharraf's was?

YOUSUF RAZA GILANI: I really don't know. But at the same time, I think, when there is any actions that has the support and the backing of a political government, it is always successful.

MARGARET WARNER: But have you set any benchmarks for yourself?

YOUSUF RAZA GILANI: Certainly that we are convinced ourselves that it's working.

...when there is any actions that has the support and the backing of a political government, it is always successful.

well, i'm convinced, too.

* * *