August182008
August132008

how are swimmers smashing so many world records?

dihard:

Have you noticed that every Olympic swim event is also a record smasher? It seems like every swimmer (and not just Phelps) is seconds ahead of the daunting green world record line, smashing it to smithereens. So how is all this smashing possible?

  • Tech Doping – The new Speedo LZR RACER suit, which was developed by scientists from NASA, “feels like a rocket coming off the wall,” said Phelps in a team interview. “The water just runs off the suit.” The suit has “ultrasonically welded” seams that mimics a shark skin, holds in the swimmer’s abdomen in the best position, allowing him to take in 5% more oxygen, and takes an athlete 30 minutes to get into. The suits are so powerful that US Swim Coach, Mark Schubert believed every swim record could be smashed at Beijing.
  • Pool Depth – The pool in Beijing, known as the “Water Cube,” is 3 meters deep, instead of the previous depth of 2 meters. This allows swimmers to dive deeper and continue their push off “dolphin kicks” for a longer period of time. Olympic medalist and commentator Rowdy Gaines says, “It’s just deep enough to where the waves dissipate (and) the turbulence dissipates down to the bottom.”
  • Pool Lanes – There are ten lanes in the Water Cube, instead of the usual eight, leaving the outside lanes open. This reduces turbulence and enables swimmers to go faster. “It’s by far the fastest pool in the world,” Gaines says.
  • Practice – Sponsorship for swimming has increased, which allows athletes to avoid retirement for longer, and thus practice more. Mark Spitz, the Olympic swimmer with the most gold medals before Phelps, retired at 22 after the Munich games due to his inability to make a living as an amateur athlete. Back then, the Olympics only allowed amateur athletes to compete. Phelps, on the other hand, is now 23 has an estimated annual earnings of $5 million, and will be awarded an extra $1 million dollar bonus from Speedo if he reaches or beats Spitz’s record.
  • Non-Tech Doping - Gary Hall Jr., previous Olympian 50-m freestyle champion, seems to think so. “Can suit technology distract from another issue?… I’m telling you this, I train with an international group of swimmers and all of them have stories and a few of them have had offers.” Hall likens today’s “blame it on the suit” situation to that of the ‘76 East German women’s Olympic swimming team. Though, he seems to be the only one speaking out about this so perhaps he’s just bitter he didn’t qualify for Beijing.
  • “Top Secret” Technology Math Tool - Professor Timothy Wei, of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y., helped develop top-secret, state-of-the-art equipment and mathematical techniques that USA Swimming coaches have been using to help to make swimmers go faster. He uses water flow diagnostic technologies to see how each swimmers’ motion affects the flow of water. Learn more from (or become more confused by) this video.
July202008
“Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket- safe, dark, motionless, airless- it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. To love is to be vulnerable.” C.S. Lewis (via scout) (via afemme) (via hipsterdiet)
11PM
jermbob: bakeurfaceoff: I can’t wait to cook and bake for people (that aren’t my family). I’m making these tomorrow for dinner. mmmm banana pancakes!!!! Recipe in case anyone else wants to make them: Ingredients: 2 extra-ripe, small bananas, peeled 2 cups milk 2 eggs 1/4 cup margarine, melted 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour (i’m going to use wheat flour) 1 tablespoon sugar 1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt Steps: Puree bananas in blender container (2/3 cup). Combine bananas, milk, eggs and margarine in medium bowl. Combine flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in another medium bowl. Add liquid ingredients to dry ingredients. Mix until just blended. Pour 2 tablespoons batter onto hot greased skillet; cook until brown. Turn and brown other side. I’m re blogging this so that I will have it later. I must make these! So I’m at the beach this week on vacation and I can’t wait to make these:) Beach + vacation + banana pancakes = a very happy me

jermbob:

bakeurfaceoff:

I can’t wait to cook and bake for people (that aren’t my family). I’m making these tomorrow for dinner. mmmm banana pancakes!!!!

Recipe in case anyone else wants to make them:

Ingredients:

2 extra-ripe, small bananas, peeled
2 cups milk
2 eggs
1/4 cup margarine, melted
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour (i’m going to use wheat flour)
1 tablespoon sugar
1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt

Steps:

  1. Puree bananas in blender container (2/3 cup).
  2. Combine bananas, milk, eggs and margarine in medium bowl.
  3. Combine flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in another medium bowl.
  4. Add liquid ingredients to dry ingredients.
  5. Mix until just blended.
  6. Pour 2 tablespoons batter onto hot greased skillet; cook until brown.
  7. Turn and brown other side.

I’m re blogging this so that I will have it later. I must make these!

So I’m at the beach this week on vacation and I can’t wait to make these:) Beach + vacation + banana pancakes = a very happy me
July112008
fatmanatee: zoee: I made these for a few guests I had over, they’re baked eggs and mushrooms in ham crisps. The recipe is from Elizabeth’s Edible Experience; very simple to make, I’ll just have to buy the right sized ham next time because mine came out a little sloppy. It’s a breakfast cupcake! I made these growing up using bologna instead of ham…I was doing it wrong. I wish I had a picture…I would tumblrfail myself.

fatmanatee:

zoee:

I made these for a few guests I had over, they’re baked eggs and mushrooms in ham crisps. The recipe is from Elizabeth’s Edible Experience; very simple to make, I’ll just have to buy the right sized ham next time because mine came out a little sloppy.

It’s a breakfast cupcake!

I made these growing up using bologna instead of ham…I was doing it wrong. I wish I had a picture…I would tumblrfail myself.
July72008
Had a pretty good weekend overall…and FINALLY rode the new bike!!! :D

Had a pretty good weekend overall…and FINALLY rode the new bike!!! :D
1AM
[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]

Duffy - Delayed Devotion

Where was this song last summer when I needed it?!

Duffy is a new favorite…I’m in love with any artist who can put to music feelings I can’t even explain with words. The fact that she’s British is just an added bonus:)
July52008

Let's not forget that water is good for us...

I’m a bit puzzled by the recent flood of “bottled water is creating waste and is therefore evil” ads I’ve been seeing on TV and popping up in a few tumblrs I follow. Why is everyone picking on water all of a sudden?! Yes, it’s trendy and cool to now drink bottled water but shouldn’t it get at least a little credit for replacing a few of the BILLIONS of sodas we drink? Aren’t many sodas sold in plastic bottles? Where are all the commercials about plastic soda/juice/tea bottles?

I’m not against environmental awareness…I just think it’s unfair to pick on water. It does make up 80% of our bodies after all.

Let’s lay off the water = evil ads and maybe fight waste AND obesity by going after soda instead.

June282008

Brian Regan

jermbob:

I’m going to see this guy tonight…hilarious! He is definitely one of my favorite comedians.

jermbob…you have good taste.

June252008

Five things you can do with your cell phone:

boringloser:

hydeordie:

2. Locked your keys in the car and the spare is at home or with a friend? Call that person on their cell phone with your cell phone, then hold your phone about a foot from your car door. Have your buddy press the unlock button holding it near the cell phone on their end. Your car will unlock, no matter how far away your buddy is. Beats waiting for AAA…

via here..

What? That’s insane! Gotta try it.

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