Good Thing I Never Grew Up

50 things to do before you're 12

 I've never heard of conkers. But, I guess it's never too late to stay 12 forever.

Innovation

Just imagine drinking from a cup made from human hair, or looking into a mirror designed with a bioplastic crafted from actual human locks. It may sound a little rich for some but the innovative new material is challenging designers to think about sustainable materials – what could be more sustainable than using materials shed from our own human bodies?

Sanitize the hair and sand the edges so they aren't fuzzy, and this strangely doesn't bother me at all.

Original Mud Run DFW

So, the pictures are already up and have circulated around work, it has already been posted by others that participated on Blogger/Facebook/wherever, and I am behind the times for it, but Saturday, a group of us from work ran a mud run. It was, by far, one of the most fun events I have ever done. We signed up for the 5k, but due to untrained volunteers, an unmarked course, and our desire to not turn around, we ran the 10k instead, which turned out to be a fantastic thing. All of the best obstacles were in the second half, and I think we really would have missed out having only done the shorter race. Sure, half the group was too sore to move the next day, but that's an acceptable price.

I bought a waterproof camera to use between the group, which turned out to be a fantastic idea. Somehow, we all completely managed to bypass the sign in booth, so we didn't get our bibs (which really should have been in packet pick up but weren't), but since those were really only for photo ops, none of us cared to try to go back and get them.

The good of the race: People really help each other out, whether they know them or not. Everyone is in it together, so there really is a feeling of support. On the floating bridge, there was a girl who was having a really hard time getting across; balance was off, and because she fell once, she lost her momentum and the cycle continued. Rather than laugh or be awkwardly silent watching, everyone in line for that obstacle cheered and clapped encouragement. I know she was terribly embarrassed after, but several people congratulated her sincerely on the other side. The obstacles (mostly) allowed multiple levels of fitness to compete, although short people like myself definitely have a disadvantage. And it really, really was a hell of a lot of fun.

The bad of the race: The loudly, blatant obvious: a man died while swimming the river one the first crossing. Cause of death hasn't been released, but that crossing was incredibly frightening. We've had rains before the race, the guide ropes were so loose and bogged down by people on them that they were almost useless, and there were way too many people in the water. During our crossing, there was one lifeguard platform in the middle of a too-wide river, people ahead of us were standing on the rope, which made it about 3 feet underwater for anyone behind them. I'm not a strong swimmer, but I've never had a problem staying afloat before, but I needed help, which my guys were wonderful with. Our race was hours before the incident, and it seems like lifeguard attendance dissipated after 10am.

The race really was not well set up. Half of our waves 5k runners were told to keep going and ran the 10k, there were 10 year old Young Marines manning a lot of the stations, and absolutely no one at others. Some of the more potentially dangerous obstacles were miles from any sort of help, without anyone manning them at all. I see the company running the race getting sued pretty much any day.

We all managed to get through the race with very little injury; I have some bruised elbows and knees.

And this post has gone on way too long. Photos on Flickr stream to the left if anyone is interested, I supposed the rest was all just babble and ranting.

The Barkley

The Barkley is the world’s toughest race you’ve never heard of. With 59,100 feet of climb and decent over 100 miles, it’s considered the most difficult endurance event on the planet.
In its 25-year history, only twelve men, the same amount of men who have walked on the moon, have actually been able to finish the race.
No woman has successfully completed more than sixty miles on the course.
Held near April Fool’s day weekend in the remote Frozen Head State Park in Tennessee, the race draws a small cadre of uber athletes and dreamers from around the world.
The race has no website.
It is not on any race calendar....
The entry procedure is a well guarded mystery. Ask a veteran how to enter and you are likely to be sent down a rabbit hole.
This is the world of The Barkley.

The above is a picture after the race of the 1st place winner, Brett Maune. If you've come this far, read an actual account of John Fegyveresi, a 3rd place finisher. 3rd place, one of the 12 to ever finish.

Random Assortment

Bertrand Russell quotes:

- The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people are full of doubts.

- Both in thought and in feeling, even though time be real, to realise the unimportance of time is the gate of wisdom.

- I remain convinced that obstinate addiction to ordinary language in our private thoughts is one of the main obstacles to progress in philosophy.

- The time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time.

Also, listen to this: Palebluedot. Immediately. Over and over again.

Cacaphony of Colour

I really wish Yago Hortal sold prints. I could definitely use this much color, even if it meant I had to retire some other artwork for a while.