Rest day...

Best...
Present...
Ever...

Merry Christmas everyone! To all my other brothers and sisters standing the watch with me tonight...stay safe, keep your head down, and (in the famous words of Joe Dirt) keep on keepin' on!

Pose running now swimming? 12 minutes of gum chewing and references to the 10 um' things you guys train for um' agility, coordination, that stuff. One name if you want to swim better... Terry Laughlin aka Total Immersion. Warning this is as close to specializing as you can get.
Merry x-mas.

Merry Christmas...thanks for the day off. After just a week on the program my hands are shaking on the keyboard like I have siezures. I thought I was in good shape, but running distances does nothing for whatever it is this does to your body. I have never had my abs hurt like they're hurting right now and I can hardly pick up my eggnog...keep it coming. One day hopefully I'll be forging the elite part of my fitness with you guys.

Merry Christmas to all of my Xfit brothers and sisters. Special thoughts to all those who are deployed around the world on this day.

Here's wishing for a peaceful and prosperous 2008.

Sam

Merry Christmas to all, with a special salutation to all the firefighters, paramedics, police officers, nurses, doctors, snowplow drivers, hydro linemen, and anyone else who spends Christmas day away from their family keeping the rest of us safe.

Made up a workout today. My right knee is sore and needed a rest:

For time, 21-15-9 reps of:
Double unders
Muscle ups
Knees-to-elbows

20:30

Bob
neverfeltbetter.blogspot.com

Merry Christmas to everybody

and

Happy Birthday to Santa!!!

Re: Christopeher Hitchens and Amy Goodman

Forgive me for being cheap and superficial. But I can't resist. Both Hitchens and Goodman are in dire need of "Extreme Makeover: Grooming Edition!"

What's up with leftists and ex-leftists? Are they allergic to combs and razors?

Just asking.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.

CrossFit..

Best..
Present..
Ever..

Merry XFitMas.

<3

You all are the best group of people a girl could ask for. Thanks Coach and Lauren.

Merry Christmas!

draggin today after 5 days in row playing catch up. did nothing today except sleep, wrap presents and drink egg nog. i'll hit the burpees tomorrow.

happy birthday baby jesus!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKDC2iBQTYg

too funny. couldn't resist. :)

Merry Christmas to all my Crossfit family. By pure chance I came upon Crossfit, but now I can't imagine my life without it.

I just found this site and was trying to figure out the program. I have been working out for quite some time and am looking for a challeng. Is the WOD what is posted or is that some kind of challenge. The reason I ask is that some "workouts" consist of only 1 thing (although an unusually large amount of them) Can someone point me to how to use this site. Also, I am a female, I am working on my first pullup so I definitely will need an alternate until I build up to this.

#11 Sharon,

Yes, the things posted each day are the workouts of the day. Don't worry when they only have one thing. After the other days, you'll be glad for it. I can almost guarantee that doing the WODs faithfully with high intensity will get you better fitness than you've ever had before. For more information, read through the FAQ. (http://www.crossfit.com/cf-info/faq.html) Most of your questions will probably be answered there.

Thank You Coach and every one at HQ for all the hard work you put into this program. The best gift I could get is a stronger, faster, healthier, more educated me.

CrossFit has delivered that gift.

Also, thanks to everyone on this board for the countless hours of entertainment. You are all the best, and I wish everyone a merry Christmas and happy holidays.

Merry Christmas to all (and to all a good night). Thanks for all the great memories in 07.

Oh can it be true, best present ever!

Merry Christmas everyone, and Bless everyone who is out there defending our freedom tonight, while I sit at home, my time is coming here in a few months, but tonight they are the heros!

Yes, I would like to sincerely reiterate what many have said before me. Thanks to all those serving so I can be at home with my family tonight.

Happy Holidays everyone--to you and yours. May the new year bring us health, happiness, prosperity and lots of PRs!!

Thanks Coach, Lauren and all the others!

Oh that Coach, he even had a plan to give us a rest day on x-mas.

And you thought it was just random!

Thanks for everything, Coach and Mrs. Coach (Lauren)

Merry Christmas to everybody, and thanks to the folks at Crossfit for making such an unbelievable fitness program available to everyone. And to reiterate, God bless all of you who are deployed overseas tonight... if I make it through OCS injury-free this time around I'll be joining you. Thanks for everything you have done and will continue to do.

Merry Christmas!

I am looking forward to another great year of CrossFit.

I'm new at posting but I am glad you are all there...

Cheers

Happy Holidays to all!

Have a great time with your friends family those you choose to spend you time with.

I would also like to wish all my friends here in this community a Merry Christmas. May God watch over all those who are watching over us here at home and abroad.
Thanks coach and co. for all you've done for us, and lest I forget.....

Oh snap! I think I heard Santa! Gotta get to bed!

That is sweet!! I was going to link to this debate the other day after someone actually mentioned Galloway in their posts.Hitchens wipes the floor with this guy. Unless your a socialist or a terrorist sympathizer.Then you might see it the other way around.

Oh yeah and Merry Christmas!!

Merry Christmas to all.

and

Happy Birthday Santa!

Merry Christmas everyone!

Thank you for everything, you guys are the best!
This year has been life changing due to your efforts, I am in your debt.

g

Happy Birthday Jesus!

Nick R.,

Terry Laughlin is a friend. (Michael is assistant coach to David Salo AND a friend. Please, don't be embarrassed. You're way out of your subject field and Christmas is the wrong time to make a complete ass of yourself.)

Merry X'mas!

Merry Christmas Crossfitters, to you and your family!

Merry Christmas everyone!!

"At one time most of my friends could hear the bell, but as the years passed, it fell silent for all of them.Even Sarah found one Christmas that she could no longer hear its sweet sound. Though I've grown old, the bell still rings for me as it does for all who truly believe."
--The Polar Express

May each of you forever hear the sweet sound of the bells on Santa's sleigh...

Nick R.,

General rule for avoiding stupid outbursts: if you don't do this stuff for a living count to ten, take a deep breath, consider your insignificant experience, and then engage the brain before weighing in.

Merry Christmas to all! CrossFit - It's a Wonderful Life!

Nick R,
If anyone is interested in improving swim technique contact your local USS swimming club and they will be able to help you a great deal. As any sport, in swimming you realize the more you know, the more you realize you have to learn. One doesn't need to travel across the country to find talented people to help with stroke technique. But to learn from someone who has worked with David Salo would help swim coaches change their training paradigm away from the yardage hounds that dominate the swimming community.

Merry Christmas

Late night workout, 150 burpees: 16:32.

I finally visited a crossfit gym and the whole atmosphere and the people are amazing. Thanks Black Box, NYC.

Merry Christmas to my CrossFit family.

God Bless You All.

Merry Christmas to all the Troops over in Afghanistan and Iraq. Good luck with everything over there

Everything the government does is made possible through money acquired by force and nothing else, therefore government actions are by definition immoral, and so the war is immoral and its supporters are evil.

If you believe that taxes are paid voluntarily rather than taken by coercion, then if there is ANY government action you do not support, it makes you the most repugnant of hypocrites for you speak against a perceived evil then open your wallet to fund its continuation.

May the spirit of Christmas bless you all tonight.

Coach & Lauren, thanks for your phenomenal generosity of this site. We all know you could charge for this, but chose to keep it free.

Best wishes for your continued success in 2008.

Cool to see swimming start to work it's way back into crossfit. I'd love to see swim replace rowing in the WODs.

Hey Chris H, everyrhing the government does is made possible by the US Constitution.

Merry Christmas everyone, and many thanks to Coach and Lauren for an incredible program. It is incredibly heartening to this former Marine and current firefighter to see all the love and support for our warfighters and public safety personnel that is constantly posted and demonstrated on this site. I can't speak for everyone, but I sure appreciate it, and I'm sure I'm not alone. So a big THANKS to everyone out there plugging away "just to send it on down the line." God bless, and may God bless America. Semper Fi...

So here I sit in my squad car standing watch missing another Christmas with my family (this makes 18 so far). So I visit my beloved crossfit community to make me feel better. Thank you cf'rs for making me feel better tonight. You are a positive group making great gains. You all are an inspiration.

Chris H #38, I'm glad that I can take money by force from the poor citizenry to defend your right to such an outburst. I'll stand watch tonight so you can make an ass of yourself.

To my brothers and sisters deployed or working otherwise, god bless you. If you don't do it, who will?

Merry Christmas

Chris H #38 - nice logic. You might want to go back to school and take "Basic Rhetorics". Or get the tuition back (lest it make you the second most repugnant of hypocrites). Let me offer (at least) 2 falsifications - one for each of your "syllogisms".

To the first - "Everything the government does is made possible through money acquired by force and nothing else, therefore government actions are by definition immoral." Errrt-stop. Not true - all money acquired by force is not immorally obtained. If you have stolen from me and the state compels you by force to return it, is that immoral? Nope, which means your definition needs refinement. Next, you say that any money obtained "immorally" must therefore taint anything that is done with it forever. I'm curious upon what basis or authority you say that? Let us suppose money is seized from a child pornographer "illegally" and then used to recompense his victims - you find that to be immoral and anyone who supports that "evil". Again, upon what basis or authority do you make such a claim? Who says that someone who supports that is "evil"? The Bible? The Koran? The Talmud? Or just Chris H. on a swing for the fences?

The next one is actually worse. "If you believe that taxes are paid voluntarily rather than taken by coercion, then if there is ANY government action you do not support, it makes you the most repugnant of hypocrites for you speak against a perceived evil then open your wallet to fund its continuation." Hunh? I'm trying to parse this one, but I guess what you're saying is that if I believe taxes are voluntary (I do) yet disagree with ANY government action I'm the most "repugnant" of hypocrites? Again, basis for such a claim? Because I speak against a "perceived evil" but continue to fund it? What if I simply disagree with my money being used for thing X simply because I think thing Y is slightly better. Let's suppose X is more police officers, while Y is funding for more education. You're saying that I'm the "most repugnant of hypocrites" 'cuz I took education over cops? What if i went the other way around and favored my taxes being spent on police and less on public schools? Am I still "the most repugnant" of hypocrites? What if I'm not sure? What if I initially think the policing is better, but later, after my side loses in a referendum, I realize that I was wrong (after 6 months of watching and observing)? Am I doubly a hypocrite? Or is that called maturity?

Brother, you might want to re-read Coach's post above about how not to say something galactically stupid in one of the first posts up.

But, since I'm feeling charitable, Merry Christmas. Seriously. To everyone here. And to everyone at CFHQ: Tony B., Nicole, Eva T., Brendan & Shari, Lynne, David, and the rest of the crew and of course, Coach and Lauren. May God bless all of you in the New Year.

22!!/M/140

Here's to wishing all the other Christmas babies a happy birthday!

12bravo

I am with you brother. My family is home asleep, and I am keeping watch till zero eight. Stay strong.

So others might live.

Merry Christmas.

#37 Chris H. Please pay taxes, I need to eat.

Merry Christmas everyone! Have a great day and relax a little.

May our brothers and sisters overseas get home to their families safely and soon.

May all Crossfitters find the strength of 10 Grinches, plus 2!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday Jesus!
To my brothers in Iraq, may God give you safe passage home, see you on the ramp soon.
Ken:)

Johnny, in a word: wrong. Everything a government does is made possible by the government's ability and willingness to use force against its populace. A constitution merely makes a place for unscrupulous people who are willing to find ways around laws. And the incentives in power and money to succeed at this are immense.

Government is an unnecessary evil.

12bravo, freedom of speech, is inherent in humanity and can only be taken by government, not granted by it. You do not defend my rights, you support a regime willing to limit them to their own satisfaction.

Merry Christmas everyone. And thanks to all you women and men out tonight, away from your families, or your friends, or just a warm bed, watching, always watching.

I'm not an emotional man, nor am I a word smith like some that have posted here as of late. But I wanted to add my final thoughts for this year tonight, as I sit sipping a Captain and Coke, in my warm house, with my incredible wife and beautiful daughter. So please bare with me as I spew for a second.

This last few days has been a wreck on me coming to this site. I don't know why, but seeing the first Hero WOD really hit me and then the second just tossed me over the edge. I didn't know either of these guys, never served a day next to them, didn't even know they existed before logging on to here. But I'll be damned if I didn't finally break for the first time in over 20 years as I read the second WOD dedicated to "Joshie". Hell if I know why, I might not ever be able to explain it, but I cracked and shed my first tears in years. Maybe it is because I am about to spend 7 months away from my own family, maybe I am just at my end of where we are and were we are going with this war, hell I don't know. But I do know that seeing this group from this site and all their support was the icing on the cake.

We all make our choices in life. Some of us are military, some are firemen, some police, some ditch diggers. Either way, we made these choices. It is a choice I made on a whim, with no real direction, no goals, no future in site, but I have never regretted a second of it. I have never asked anyone to thank me for putting on a uniform. Hell I could care less if you never understand why it has ended up meaning so much. But what does matter is that at the end of the day, I feel good about it, and my kid and wife have a certain way they look at me, knowing, just knowing.

It was tossed up here a couple days ago to do something, to go a little out of your way for someone, send a mag, shovel a sidewalk, whatever. Great ideas, absolutely wonderful, and thank you to anyone willing to do it. I tell you that my request is simply while I am deployed, remember yourself, and remember your countrymen. Me personally, would rather see you donate time at a homeless shelter, wrap a present for a poor child, or simply take time to say hello to a neighbor then to shovel my sidewalk. DON'T take that the wrong way. I love that everyone here is willing to do something for a deployed soldier. All I am saying is that in my world, I would rather see people go the extra step for each other every day.

This is a great group of people here. Everyone is so supportive and so willing to help each other. Coach, Lauren, and the rest of the crew, thank you so much for pushing this forward. I enjoy every day that I get to log on here and find a new WOD. It has been a great push and a great learning experience for me.

There, that's all I have, I suck at words and wish I could get my points across in a more clear fashion. Simply stated, thanks to everyone and have a great 08, I look forward to maybe making it to a Cert someday. Which actually brings me to another point. I was thinking about a "sponsor a Crossfitter to a Cert" idea. Nothing much really, maybe just pick someone that the group feels is really deserving of going that might not have the liquid cash to make it and put some dough together. Travel and all is pretty expensive to one of these and not everyone has the dough to be able to make it. I would be willing to kick in some dough if anyone else would want to put something together? Not much really, 25-50 bucks here and there would add up pretty quick.

Any thoughts on that?

And one final Merry Christmas to everyone, stay warm, stay safe, and remember to all you out tonight, we are thinking about you.

21/15/9

1.5 pood bell swings
burpees
ring dips

8:00 something.

Hitchens is rediculous. If defending the kurds was even 30% of his argument in his opening statement, i can tell you that they are as vile and violent and completely unsuited for life amongst arabs as any humans that you can imagine. If the Kurds find themselves the constant victims of "oppression" it is in large part thier own doing. Painting a picture of Kurds as the kind caring victims is as far from realistic a statement as iv'e heard in a few days. Try the word parasitic. Projecting a need for compassion for the Kurds is simply looking back and justifying a decision.

As far as Iraq being better off with or without Sadaam Hussein...WHO KNOWS? depends on several factors. Sunni? Shiia? Christian? Kurd? Turkoman? Arab, Persian? Egyptian? Assyrian? all of these people live withing the bordors of Iraq and they all have personal interest at heart, much as can be expected. In other words your going to get a different opinion from each interest group. The question is IS THE UNITED STATES BETTER OFF WITHOUT SADAAM AND IF YES, DOES IT TAKE A MASSIVE WAR EFFORT TO ACHIEVE THAT GOAL?

Galloway is nearly as rediculous. Excellent job showing some emotion, at least i'm convinced he believes what he is saying. I could hardly stand hearing him Whine and cry about dead iraqi's, whine and cry about American soldiers doing thier jobs in the early part of the war (fallujah). I'll tell you what, if you agree with the war or not, you have be proud of how we can destroy a city and wipe out a resistance in a matter of days.

He spent too much time smearing and not enough time at the root of the issue. I hate to cast a vote for either debater (if thats what you called this video) because im sure I would disagree with the reasoning behind thier arguments. I did like the statement about the airplanes...big mistake,crowd totally bit back on that one what was galloway thinking when he made the general sharon crimes against palestinians statement! Bernard Baruch college HELLO! Wrong place to skin that cat. hahahaha.

Both are too liberal for me. galloway is probably a straight up communist, and hitchens is an equally sickening neo-con. Both are apparently incapable of thinking outside of the box.

Chris H,

Freedom of speech should be a universal right, you are correct. However, it is my Christmas wish that you spend more time meditating on the equally important right of not talking so much.

And does this mean you aren't going to pay taxes? My wife is going to be so mad if I have to cut back my budget.

Christmas is so wonderful with a baby in the house. I'm not getting any presents to unwrap this year but seeing my Baby Brother EthanBoo tear open his Thomas the Tank Engine train sets was the greatest joy ever. Nothing can beat it! He's too sweet for words. I love love love him.

Thank you to all of the men and women who are away from their friends and family for the holidays. Best wishes to you all.

I'm going to be alone today. :( My family has cats and they = death for me so I have to stay home. I'm going to be cozy in my pjs eating and sleeping all day long. I'll do the burpee workout at some point to burn it off :)

Happy Birthday James D.

Thanks to all who make up these workouts and please keep them coming. Merry Christmas to everyone, especially brothers in arms deployed and protecting us, I know how hard it is not being home. Chris H you are an idiot. If you don't like the country, then leave. If you don't understand the point of taxes, then go to a third world country, maybe it will make sense. Honestly, people like you do not deserve to live in a country they don't appreciate. Hope everyone enjoys their day off.

EthanBoo got me a booger for Christmas. I think my mom put him up to it.

I liked the swimming posture video. I haven't been in a pool since I started Crossfit so I can't wait to see if it's improved or not. It would be nice to do some laps but I don't have a pool to go to.

#37 Chris H

Think about your coerced tax dollars at work the next time you are traveling in "government controlled" traffic on smoothed paved roads or air ways able to freely travel across state lines on your way to anywhere in this country. Think about your coerced tax dollar the next time you need to call your local safety services when you, a friend, a family member, or a perfect stranger are in the need for help.

Since we are approaching April 14th please take the time to share with us how much tax money YOU give voluntarily to use your city's, your states' and our country's infrastructure.

If it makes you feel better just imagine all of our tax money going to things you specifically use and think off all my tax money going to Haliberton or Black Water, you choose.

Clovis, not "should be." Is. Free speech IS a universal right. Once again, a government doesn't grant rights, it only limits them. Why should I be grateful my government has only imposed moderate limits on my speech?

And why should I be grateful I won't be kidnapped and put in a very small room for a very long time as long as I give up a great deal of my money? Yes, I pay taxes. In the same way a business owner pays protection money to keep street gangs from burning down his store: with contempt.

As for shutting up, answer me this: why are you so afraid to hear what I have to say?

Merry Christmas all!
Thanks coach and Lauren for all you do. I am so happy to have found crossfit and I can't wait to continue in '08 and hopefully make it to a cert
someday soon!

Gnat

P.S. U'i I haven't seen you post lately. Hopefully your having lots of holiday fun.

#43 James D - thanks for the bday wishes...I'm a Christmas baby on the 27th - 22 too! Happy Birthday to all hence :)

And to all those Crossfitters in the armed forces, etc. I really do wish you an especially Blessed Christmas Season. I've never had much contact w/ those in the armed services, no family or close friends involved, and my view of such a sector of people has been limited. But, through crossfit I am coming to a more honest appreciation and value for you all. This new understanding is only just developing, but the Hero WOD's have really triggered it. Hence, Blessed Christmas to all that serve our country here and abroad, in all capacities.

...I'm a day behind, so 150 burpees on Christmas, yeah!!!

Merry Christmas! Thanks for the great
workouts. Peace on earth, good will to men (by
which I mean the old-school usage
inclusive of both genders) -- you rock,
totally rock, my workout world!

thanks again from a sub-buttercup
(hoping to advance to a puppy in 2008)

Mike Bailey

Chris H.

Does this mean I am not going to get my Christmas wish?

Sweet!!! rest day!!! Going surfing
Merry Christmas to all of you!
Thanks for the support.

Thank you Jesus for everything you have provided my family and I. I am thankful for living in a wonderful country with wonderful people living a wonderful life and CrossFit is a big part of that.

Thank you to Coach and Lauren. You have both surely disproved the saying, "If it is too good to be true it probably is." Enough said about that.

This time next year the plans are for me to also be in Iraq. To keep my sanity I will definitely be doing CrossFit and posting comments wishing everyone in the CrossFit community a very Merry Christmas.

I wonder what my times will be like? LOL

Merry Christmas to all.

Rest Day! Sweet! Going for a surf today
Merry Christmas to you all.
Thanks for the support.

We are going to have to define Neo-Con today as well, arn't we? Hitchens is not a Neo-Con. Not even close.

Never mind.

Joey

Well said Clovis, Rowdy Matt. I'm with you. Sounds like a guy that has no experiences on which to base his opinions. I've been to many third world countries. Consider yourself lucky to be able to say the foolish things you are saying Chris H.

Merry X-Mas from Tikrit!

#56 Adam W,

Why do you assume that a government-run transportation infrastructure is optimal? The only reason we consider roads a good thing is because they are nominally free to use. We pay taxes that support the roads, but we don't directly pay for road use. This has disastrous consequences.

Consider the case of widening a main highway into a city center. As soon as the new lanes open, commutes become faster and because the roads are "free" more people want to live further away because housing is cheaper and the commute won't really be any longer than they were used to before the road improvements. The end result is in a few months roads are just as clogged as they were before the widening.

It's basic economics. An change in price induces an opposite change in demand and vice versa. As price approaches zero--as it does with all tax-funded government services since there's no direct out of pocket cost to the consumers--demand increases to infinity.

But a road cannot support infinite demand. For government roads, the cost isn't the price you pay in taxes to maintain the roads, but rather the time you spend sitting in traffic as you and me and everyone else take advantage of this free service.

The argument will be the same for any other tax-funded "free" government services, whether schools or utilities or health care or police or roads or whatever else you can come up with.

Cutting off the inevitable "how would we do with out [insert favorite government service here]?" questions, let me just note that the government is just a small group of people with a vested interest in living their lives by maintaining their own power and position. Ask yourself: how can their solutions possibly be better than the collective innovation of 6.5 billion people with the same vested interest in living their own lives?

Simply put: they can't. The people in government are interested in "implementing economic solutions" rather than solving the problems because it will keep them their jobs in government and food on their table. If the government actually solves the problems, they're out of a job. Major disincentive to do anything that actually fixes anything.

And the worst part is the government can take as much money as it wants, whenever it wants, to fund these "services" without having to provide real value in return.

As for how much tax I paid... well, I own my own consulting business and we've grossed high 7 figures so far this year. You're welcome to estimate the exact dollar value of the taxes we payed yourself.

Not only will I not stop talking, I will also tell everyone how much I make. Feel my wrath oh readers of the Crossfit comments!

Seriously Chris, you need to go to bed. It's Christmas Eve for crying out loud. And the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future have a lot to show you tonight; I am certain they want to get an early start.

Chris H.
WOW! If you have been drinking...stop posting. Sign out, go calm yourself and return when you are rational.
I can't figure out if you are just trying to fuel a debate or if you really think this way. Either way, I am done reading your crap. Good morning. I'm out.

Coach: Thanks for putting this thing together. Best thing I've seen. Nothng like it. I am a hopeless competitor and this was just what I needed at this point in my life. Thanks to the sheepdogs who stand the watch for the rest of us.

Chris H. you sure sound like a troll to me. Won't waste any more time on you. Your freedoms were bought and paid for by the blood of patriots.

Merry Christmas one and all.

#64 Joe,

Once again, why should I be grateful my government isn't even worse than it already is? Why should I be grateful I'm being robbed and harassed and oppressed and bullied by people who are effectively self-appointed? What? You didn't know that the government controls who get into government? You don't actually believe the candidates you vote for aren't hand picked by the parties already in power, do you? Why should I be grateful people whose only skill is talking a good game have given themselves the power to revoke my life, liberty, and fortune?

Let me put it another way: if I'm mugged, why should I be grateful he only got my watch and my wallet and didn't take my shoes?

Merry Christmas CrossFitters from the Navy & Marine Corps CrossFit Team aboard the USS Tarawa. Our Christmas morning (or as we call it, Tuesday- we are almost a day ahead of you guys back in the States) included a hell of a CrossFit workout which we all had to sack up and dig deep to complete- the 12 days of CrossFit workout. But boy did we feel good afterwards! Here's to you CrossFit nation, Happy Holidays!!

-100 meter Sprint

-20 (4 count) mountain climbers, 100 meter Sprint

-3 Handstand Pushups, 20 (4 count) mountain climbers, and a 100 meter Sprint

-4 Clean & Jerks (95lbs), 3 Handstand Pushups, 20 (4 count) mountain climbers, and a 100 meter Sprint

-5 Dive bomber push-ups, 4 Clean & Jerks (95lbs), 3 Handstand Pushups, 20 (4 count) mountain climbers, and a 100 meter Sprint

-6 Knees to elbows, 5 Dive bomber push-ups, 4 Clean & Jerks (95lbs), 3 Handstand Pushups, 20 (4 count) mountain climbers, and a 100 meter Sprint

-7 KB swings (35lbs), 6 Knees to elbows, 5 Dive bomber push-ups, 4 Clean & Jerks (95lbs), 3 Handstand Pushups, 20 (4 count) mountain climbers, and a 100 meter Sprint

-8 Hanging leg-raises, 7 KB swings (35lbs), 6 Knees to elbows, 5 Dive bomber push-ups, 4 Clean & Jerks (95lbs), 3 Handstand Pushups, 20 (4 count) mountain climbers, and a 100 meter Sprint

-9 Ring-dips, 8 Hanging leg-raises, 7 KB swings (35lbs), 6 Knees to elbows, 5 Dive bomber push-ups, 4 Clean & Jerks (95lbs), 3 Handstand Pushups, 20 (4 count) mountain climbers, and a 100 meter Sprint

-10 Squat-thrusts, 9 Ring-dips, 8 Hanging leg raises, 7 KB swings (35lbs), 6 Knees to elbows, 5 Dive bomber push-ups, 4 Clean & Jerks (95lbs), 3 Handstand Pushups, 20 (4 count) mountain climbers, and a 100 meter Sprint

-11 Dead Hang Pull Ups, 10 Squat-thrusts, 9 Ring-dips, 8 Hanging leg-raises, 7 KB swings (35lbs), 6 Knees to elbows, 5 Dive bomber push-ups, 4 Clean & Jerks (95lbs), 3 Handstand Pushups, 20 (4 count) mountain climbers, and a 100 meter Sprint

-12 Rocking pistols (ea leg), 11 Dead Hang Pull Ups, 10 Squat-thrusts, 9 Ring-dips, 8 Hanging leg-raises, 7 KB swings (35lbs), 6 Knees to elbows, 5 Dive bomber push-ups, 4 Clean & Jerks (95lbs), 3 Handstand Pushups, 20 (4 count) mountain climbers, and a 100 meter Sprint

Our group time was 1 hr 20 min with some individuals finishing as quickly as 1 hr 4 min. I will email a picture also.

M/30/195

Merry Christmas to all.

Our government was created by people (hence the preample, We the people). The greatest experiment in governing history, a country where the people decide. I've been around the world, and nothing (and I mean nothing) compares to the land of the free. While we complain about taxes, we enjoy roads, police and fire protection, national parks, hospitals, food inspectors at the meat plants, health inspectors at our restaurants, subsidized housing for the poor, health care for the needy, research centers for diseases, space research, universities, public schools, (many more) and my personal favorite, support for the men and women who volunteer to defend this nation. And in other countries where the regime decides what you will and won't do, the people in America can vote to change regimes. Hence, you get to decide what you will and won't do, or at least have input. If anything, you can express your opinion without fear, unless you count being responded to by others (via words) as unbearable. So, good ahead and exercise your right to free speech. Just recognize that you are in one of the few countries that will allow you to freely exercise that right. Just recognize that you are in one of the few countries that will allow you to change the regime. Taxes and all, America is still the best (read: land of the free and the home of the brave).

"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

God Bless America! Merry Christmas!

The argument here reminds why my grandmother told me that gentlemen do not discuss politics or religion.

Merry Christmas to all!

#66, 67 Clovis,

please keep talking. But if all you have is ad-hominems, you're of no interest to me. Ad homs are fun, but don't make for much progress in discussions.

Jes, David, et al.

I am neither drunk nor a troll. Buy I will be going to bed in an hour or two. Until then, I'll be happy to continue the discussion. I am quite serious in my position and am willing able to defend my arguments.

#65 Chris H.

"how would we do with out [insert favorite government service here]?"

I know you made a comment about that, but I'd still like to bring it up anyway.

If there were no laws against murder, and there wasn't a large police infrastructure with shared resources, I would commit murder with impunity. The reason I don't is because I know there is a large chance that I'll be caught. No matter where I went, the shared police infrastructure with its databases would allow the police to track me down, identify me, and catch me. So as I result, I don't commit murder.

I understand the government isn't perfect, and they probably are fleecing the public. Yes, yes, you can argue that the government exists only to further the interests of a few, while keeping ht public sedated. But without any government at all, there'd be anarchy.

The day the government ceases to exist/work, I'll be committing murder like it's going out of style.

The "collective innovation of 6.5 billion people" is never really "collective." Everybody has their own agenda. And without a government, people would do whatever they pleased to take care of themselves just like the LA Riots or New Orleans after Katrina. (I know there were other factors involved in why people looted during those two instances, but you get my point about people being selfish.) And without that government to keep people like me in line, I'd be furthering my own selfish agenda at the expense/lives of others.

From yesterday,

Boo: 19:57
Smokey: 19:34
Shorty: 31:59

Baghdad Rocks!

#72 Boosmith,

The best government is like the most lifelike corpse. No matter how lifelike, it's still a corpse.

We don't "enjoy" government services. We have them foisted upon us, forcibly paid for by taxation, and a monopoly created because people can use them "free" or are legislated against using anything else. I've already explained the problem with "free" government services in the third paragraph of #65.

I am afraid that the debate between Galloway and Hitchens reminds me too much of US Politics - attacks and charges of hypocrisy, neither of which tell us the reason they believe the way they do (perhaps this comes up in the second hour, but one hour is all I could muster up for these two). Whether one is for the war or against the war, neither route is perfect based on any set of morals that I am aware of. I do believe our countries (US & UK) made the best decision we could at the time. Perhaps it was based on incomplete, inaccurate or faulty information, yet the resultant oust of a genocidal dictator is certainly a best case scenario. To be honest, I am not sure that even if WMD's WERE found in Iraq, that Galloway's position would be any different than it is now. That is why it is important to find out the "why" behind a leader's beliefs and actions, instead of lining ourselves up with them just because we happen to agree with their course of action. In the end we may agree on a course of action, but our allegiances should be to those who share our reasons for acting, the underlying principles that help us to maintain the way of life that our constitution was designed to protect, which for me is "that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour."

To all, have a joyous holiday!

Merry Christmas to you all!

It's been a pleasure working out with you all (from a distance) this past year. I'm looking forward to blowing away old PR's with you this coming year!

Chris H,

You are a wacky guy. I have to stop reading, as I am going to go workout. I completely disagree with you, but will still die for you.

Cheers, and Merry Christmas.

Merry Xmas to all CrossFitters!

Behind the corpse are people pulling the strings. The corpse is just a facade.

Your words --
"And the worst part is the government can take as much money as it wants, whenever it wants, to fund these "services" without having to provide real value in return."

Guess you could get out of the consultation business and get involved with your government. Maybe you could be part of the solution. It only gets better by participation. And if you are creating 7 figure love, then you could be free to make a real difference. I'd love to join you in that adventure.

Chris H.,

Though I am sympathetic to the core of your argument and follow your logic, It appears out of the blue. However, with my highly trained eye, I know where this is going.

What is your take on DR. Ron Paul?

joey

Chris H., if this country is so terrible... I would recommend you just pack everything up move to a country where the government does actually acquire everything by force, oh and bring an AK-47 (you'll need it, remember pointy end at the bad guy) and than after I don't know maybe.... 5 minutes you'll turn around and buy a plane ticket back to America and realize that you should have just stopped whining and gone out and voted or written to your congressman/senator or maybe read a book and educated yourself about the American government and military before you ran your mouth like some ill-informed child. You might also realize that yes in fact we are protecting your rights from being taken by force by some dictator or religious extremist.

However, even if all these words fall on deaf ears remember that: "...it is the soldier, whose coffin is draped by the flag, that allows the protester to burn the flag..."-Father Dennis Edward O’Brien, Sgt, United States Marine Corps.

To everyone else, Merry Christmas. Semper Fi.

Happy Christmas to the Crossfit family, thanks Coach, thanks Lauren and all of the rest of H.Q.'s crossfiters for all your help

Merry Christmas everyone.

Let us not forget what we are thankful for this time of year. I am blessed with a beautiful family, wonderful friends, & an amazing community of fitness fanatics who keep pushing me beyond my limits. Thank you all y'all crossfitters for being a part of my life. This lifestyle has legitimately changed my life 100% and I am absolutely greatful to each and every one of you and to coach Greg & coach Lauren. Let's keep gettin some!

Chris H. - for someone who speaks of "basic economics", you come across as an individual who knows nothing about the reality and power that economics plays in our every day lives. For God's sake - educate yourself before you start on such beligerent rants - over and over and over and over and over.

Chris H. If you are earning what you say, you must be educated. I would assume at least the first 12 years of that was paid for with taxes.

I must also point out that you are free to pursue your chosen career and be a successful as you say because there are laws in place that protect your right to do so, enforced by government entities you seem to abhor.

Finally, you live in a country that allows you to do this because our military, funded by taxes protects you from those who would take all you have including the right to freely voice your opinion if they thought they could prevail.

#75 John S

While you may be willing to commit murder if there's no government, not everyone is willing to be murdered.

Now, I can't predict the inventiveness of 6.5 billion people have, but I can take a wild swing because we already have some independent arbitration available to us. Insurance companies and credit bureaus, for example. Without government saying you can't insure X, you can insure against anything, particularly bad things like being murdered or arrested.

Suppose you commit the murder you crave, the victim's insurance company would have enormous incentive to find their killer (i.e. you), because if they don't find you they'll have to pay out the insurance policy rather than getting you to pay it.

They'd pay out because if they didn't customers would go elsewhere. And they'd also be sure to get the right person, because what other insurance company would do business with one gone rogue arresting random people and extorting money from them. They'd be paying out tons of money in arrest claims, and ignoring the rogue company's judgments would be free of charge. The rogue company would go bankrupt almost instantly.

True, you'd have the choice not to pay up when they caught you, same as you'd have the choice of your own insurance company. But think about what happens if you default on a loan, how nobody is willing to rent you an apartment or give you a credit card. If you default on a murder debt, it's possible nobody will sell you food, much less give you a place to sleep. If the insurance policy for murder pays out $1 million, they can offer a reward for your capture of $999,999.99 and still come out ahead on the deal. That's powerful economic incentive. Hope you have good friends.

It may not happen exactly that way, but if I can think of a solution, other people can as well. And the market will demand the most effective solutions at the lowest cost rather than the government's one size fits all approach, so I can practically guarantee I've gotten it wrong. But don't assume that because there's no government people won't be able to solve problems. People solve problems every day without resorting to government intervention.

In any case, don't forget what actions led to the LA riots: government officials (police) brutalized a free person, people revolted, and because the police had a monopoly on public protection (even to the point of government restricting self-defense weapons), business owners and individuals didn't really have anywhere else to turn when the police couldn't deal with the mess they'd precipitated. And how were the police penalized for this travesty? Their funding was increased. I.e. they were rewarded for behavior that resulted in the destruction of millions of dollars of property.

Also, you seem to be confused about my use of "collective." I'm referring to the sum-total innovation of the 6.5 billion individuals rather than some Platonic ideal of working together as a collective. Here we agree, I'm sure: individuals will work together only when they have incentive to do so.

Merry Christmas everyone. To my fellow service men and woman overseas now, thank you.

It is after 1am here in the midwest. I waited until everyone had gone home, everyone in the house tucked into their rooms, and then I went and had me a Burpie-fest in the kitchen on the heated tile floor.

27/M/5'9"/165#
150 Christmas Burpies

Time - 15:03

Back in March I couldn't do 5 burpies in a row without puffing wind so hard as to need a break. I did these in 10 sets of 15 with about 15-25 seconds of rest to shake out and catch my breath between. I had no idea I could do that many burpies, none the less in 15 minutes. I love my CrossFit.

Merry Christmas to all CrossFitters near and far. To all of the sheepdogs roaming the edges of the herds day in and day out, keeping the wolves at bay, a humongous thanks and well wishes. Keep up the good work.

Merry CrossFit to all, and to all a good fight.

-Trip

#82 CCTJOEY,

My opinion of Dr. Paul is that he is the worst possible choice among all the potential candidates. He has a reputation of walking his talk in the House, so if he gains the presidency and what he wants in government, in the short run things will get somewhat better, but it'd be similar to starting over from where we were in 1787 when the constitution was ratified. And we know how that is playing out.

The ultimate goal shouldn't be "less government," but rather "no government," and in the very long run Ron Paul likely means the most government of any candidate because all governments eventually collapse on their own, but the less dictatorial they are, the longer they tend to last. Contrast the USSR vs. the USA.

#85 Travis from Reno,

Please give me an example of where I've gone wrong. I'd genuinely like to know.

#85 davidorr,

True, I was educated in public schools, and I received government grants and subsidized student loans in college. I've more than paid for it in taxes, though. Also, some of the work my company does is for the government. And I drive on public roads and will call the police if someone breaks into my house. Hey, "free" money and services. Not going to turn that down, the same way you're not likely to turn down a $5 bill found in an empty park. Less so, since not only am I already paying for what I get, much of the time it's the only game in town. So it'd be foolish not to use it.

But don't forget what I said about government solutions not necessarily being optimal. What makes you think the school system is either necessary or useful as it stands? We only really use it because it's free and mandated by law. Truth be told, everything useful I've learned has been in spite of rather than that because of my public school education. How much of your government indoctrination... I mean "schooling" do you remember?

Anyway, my government may be less willing to jail me for my actions than others, but that gets us back to the argument where I ask for a reason I should be grateful I only lose my watch and wallet to a mugger rather than my shoes as well.

But, yes, the military. Costa Rica hasn't had a military since 1948 and since then has neither been invaded by its enormously volatile and hostile neighbors, nor has it had a civil war, unlike many of the aforementioned neighbors.

Funny how our government postures aggressively and situates weapons and troops on bases around the world in the name of "defense," how we try around the world to manipulate local politics to our favor (see just about any African nation, the communist-era Far East, etc.), and then we wonder why people are angry at us. And funny how when people are aggressive toward us, our government responds in kind--at least when it's low risk.

Except I'm thinking, it's not really that funny. The quiet drunks don't get into bar fights, the aggressive ones do.

Michael Collin's look at swimming, v = SR * SL made me think of the maximum, minimum calculations I was taught in first year calculus (and have since forgotten how to do). An example of this is, you're a life gaurd on the beach and you need to rescue someone in the water 100m down the beach, and 10m from the shore. Knowing how fast you can run on the sand and how fast you can swim in the water will tell you at what point you should hit the water so the total trip takes the least amount of time.

As I said I've forgotten how to do these problems, so if there are any physics/calculus inclined swimmers out there, here is an exercise for the student. Produce a method for determining what is the best stroke length and stroke rate for any given swimmer if they want to maximise their velocity.

P.S. Merry Christmas to all, especially to those who can't spend it at home for any reason, (deployed, work, can't afford it, can't find the time.) And a Happy New Year.

Two long posts with responses to CCTJOEY, davidorr, Travis from Reno, and John S have been held up by the spam filter and it's getting a bit late so I'm off to bed. Feel free to email me by clicking my name if they don't show up and you're interested in reading what I had to say. I'll be back tomorrow.

Merry Christmas, all.

#81 Boosmith,

Getting more involved in government would be becoming part of the problem.

If you want to do something subversive, campaign for Hillary. The more powerful the government, the less likely it is people will tolerate it. And the expansion of government power she and her followers advocate is the most likely to help the government implode.

I stay out of online political debates, usually, because really they're ultimately pointless, but thought I'd comment on this:

ChrisH: "Ask yourself: how can their solutions possibly be better than the collective innovation of 6.5 billion people with the same vested interest in living their own lives?"

I invite you to try to arrive at a general conclusion that will please the 300 million residents of the United States (much less the 6.5 billion residents of Planet Earth) without any form of representation.

What you are imagining as your ideal utopia, is essentially embodied in this very debate. Two (or many) people with differing viewpoints; each believing he/she is correct. Without representation or some system to pool/control resolutions, everyday life would basically be like a pointless internet debate, ending in a stale mate, or with the less mature person saying a racist remark and signing off.

I don't care to offer much more counter-argument than that, and quite frankly, doubt I will read your response, as by the time you post it, there will be several hundred more to sift through.

There are nutcases on both ends of the spectrum regarding the topic that you are discussing. So far you appear to be on one end, and from what I've read, no one else has appeared to be on the other.

Your arguments are structured around preconceived notions of the way you would LIKE things to be, without, from what I've seen, any real solid, logical backing to support it.

When new laws cut the amount of drunk driving fatalities in my city by 60%, I'd love to see how your perfect Anarchy would handle itself.

What happens if a drunk driver, lacking any form of government regulation, hits and kills my sister on Christmas Eve. Sure, since this is anarchy, I can go and return the favor. Will it bring my sister back?

"Why should I be grateful that I killed a man in revenge when my sister is still gone?" -- your logic, not mine.

On the other hand, if laws, officials, and regulations exist to cut down on the level of drunk driving in the first place, I (and my sister) have much better odds.

Whereas most others in here have argued logically, or refrained from arguing in the first place, what you seem to spew comes off as 99% rhetoric, and 1% big words. Not to insult you, but you honestly sound like a politician.

I respect your right to state your opinion on here -- that's what rest days are for, after all.

But I think to me, and many of the others in here, you're coming off as the type of person, who, when presented with logic/fact, will always fall back on the "... uh... err... but we never found WMD's in Iraq and Bush choked on a pretzel!" argument.

I'm pretty sure people in here, whether they agree with your views or not, would respect you for stating them... but I think you've missed the ball on this one.

With that said... I'm curious why we're watching a debate from 2005. Pretty interesting (I'm only halfway through it), but seemed strange to me :)

Merry x-mas everyone, including Chris H :)

ChrisH

My instincts tell me to just stay out of this one because your tone of fanatical self-assuredness makes me very tired and certain there will be no real 'conversation' here. Furthermore, you’re almost assuredly a troll, but I have some time so I'll bite.

Your Utopia sounds like a great place where there will be a lot of extra money freed up and hugs to spare. But can you remind me who will ensure that the rich people (like yourself) won’t use their resources to take advantage of the majority of people with more meagre financial means (like myself)? Can you explain to me how the 6.5 billion people living to satisfy their needs will be organized such that small groups of people don’t dominate the best resources? Who’s going to make decisions for the 6.5 billion person collective? If another country decided to come and try and take our resources, who is going to defend the country? Are you going to carry a hat around from door to door to fund a military? Lastly, can you name one example of a society with any real density of population at anytime in history that has made your system work? And I don’t mean small hippy communes or tiny communities that are essentially living beneath the security blanket of the country they are living in.

I don’t think you’re making a realistic case or providing any evidence to back up the feasibility of your “solutions”. Anyways, I’d still prefer to live the present system that occasionally squanders my tax money and oversteps its boundaries by trying to limit my freedoms. At least it’s centralized power and I know who to fight if my rights are infringed.

Besides, you’re not even posting with a real e-mail address, so how serious about your position could you be. But keep posting please, the responses to your rants have given me quite a few good laughs today.

Merry Christmas everyone.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Forgive me a little manifesto. I've just graduated college and I'm free. All I want to do is get into the military and join an elite team. I want medical training and frankly, I want to save people's lives. Just one would do me well for my entire life. I'm leaning towards the Air Force Pararescuemen, the PJs. Every one of those men is a legend to me, and a hero to the many that have been saved and are yet to be saved.

But I've run into a problem. The recruiters always told me to wait until I get into the military to get laser eye surgery. I've put it off for over a year for this reason. My ophthalmologist says I'm an excellent PRK/Lasik candidate, so I could get it at any time. The irony is that I could have ignored the advice and gotten the surgery, and I would be good to go right now according to those very same recruiters.

It's not the first time that I've been disappointed by a recruiter's advice. In a few months I'll be 24, and despite the college degree there's almost nothing I want to do but this. I might find out in 8 months that they won't let me go in because some doctor is worried about my eyesight. The regulations keep changing and I don't know who to believe anymore.

All I'm saying is that I hate bureaucracy and it's killing my soul. I love the welcoming spirit of CrossFit, where you aren't judged by who you are or where you start, but how much of yourself you put into it, and where you end up. If you'd give people a chance, you'd be amazed at what they can do. I just wish that every institution ran this way.

I'll do everything that I can. That's my gift to you. Merry Christmas to every CrossFitter and all the rescuemen out there.

from,
Andrew Meador

Allison, touche... :-D

"The Greatest Gift" by Laura Ingraham:

http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=YTIxZGMwMGZiNDc1NGJjZjlmMzRjYjUyZGJlYzU4NzQ=

CCTjoey: from my understanding, which may in fact be flawed:

Neoconservatism is a political movement, mainly in the United States, which is generally held to have emerged in the 1960s, coalesced in the 1970s, and has had a significant presence in the administration of George W. Bush
*definition wikipedia*

A "neocon" is more inclined than other conservatives toward vigorous government in the service of the goals of traditional morality and pro-business policies. Tends to favor a very strong foreign policy of America as well.
Quote from lewrockwell.com

What do neoconservatives believe?
"Neocons" believe that the United States should not be ashamed to use its unrivaled power – forcefully if necessary – to promote its values around the world. Some even speak of the need to cultivate a US empire. Neoconservatives believe modern threats facing the US can no longer be reliably contained and therefore must be prevented, sometimes through preemptive military action.
quote "christian science monitor"

Neo cons have a left center approach to policy and like to exercise big government not just in foreign policy but also at home, they also tend to support israel regardless of the issue, whether it is to the benefit of the United States or not.

Im pretty sure this sums up Hitchens. Supports overbearing US foreign policy, Believes in pre-emptive strikes against "potentially hostil" dictators, presumably "because modern threats facing the US can no longer be reliably contained"
Whether we can agree on his political species is a moot point. i simply dont like him or his point of view.

I'm very interested in Dr. Ron Paul he seems to have some excellent ideas concerning taxes AND foreign policy.

ChrisH: i read you loud and clear buddy. i can't say that im against any government, but i definately see the need for a draw down. My only reasoning for existence of GVNT is the same as reasoning for having weaponry, the other guys will always have them. very simple, doesn't need futher explanation.

John S: There do not have to be laws against something for humans to determine that those specific actions have a detrimental effect on survival and quality of life. The need for support from other members of your "tribe" overrides the need to act upon our MOST basic instincts. this is not always true, as crime does increase as the value of the "tribal support" decreases. examples are pretty simple, look at a ghetto, or a country suffering economic depression.

personally i cant stand all this talk about "rights". you know its amazing how people still think that somebody or some organization is or should "give" them something. Its rediculous. if you want to keep your barstool then your going to have knock out the 280 lb monster who is trying to take it from you. all the talk in the world isn't going to give that barstool back.

Rights are something you have to earn every day of your life.

SO many Christmas cookies to burn off.
150 burpees, here I come.
Maybe some Buddy lee's too

Merry Christmas to all of you amazing CFers

Cf for life

Thankyou Coach and Lauren

Merry Christmas, everyone!! It's a good holiday, so let's everybody take a moment and try and remember why.

Like all holidays, Christmas is an effort to change time. Done right, it is very therapeutic.

somehow those burpees/xmas cookies gave me energy

f/45/135
did the 6 week buddy lee program in the Dec CF journal
32 min
5 rounds of 500 jump ropes
1st 2 sets unbroken
avg 2 min rest in between rounds
Thank you buddy lee

Merry Xmas Crossfitters everywhere!

Merry Christmas to the Crossfit Nation and especially those overseas protecting our way of life.

Merry Christmas to all the Crossfitters out there!

Coach - you have given me the greatest gift I could ask for which is the ability to use my own body better. I just turned 39 a few days ago and I have never felt younger. There is a spring in my step and except for the DOMS I feel every day, I have no pain. My back used to hurt all the time. Same with my knees. My girls used to feel heavy when I picked them up. Not now. You are going to say that I did it all myself and while that's true, I wouldn't have known what to do without your program, which you give for free. Thanks, Santa Coach!

Chris H - Government is how people organize themselves. Do you want to go back to the day where you have to barter your wares to get everything you need? Do you want to have to constantly defend yourself against the people who would do you harm? You say that free speech exists without government, isn't that also true of greed? I hate to break it to you, but people will not leave you alone in the absence of authority. We have government to create a structure that gives people fairness and a forum to air grievances without having to resort to violence. Anarchy isn't freedom, its chaos. Try living in Iraq or Darfur for awhile if you think you might want a greatly reduced presence of government. Individuals survive, teams conquer.

-JP

Galloway beat him

Merry Christmas and grateful thanks to Kate, for making us feel special; to Allison, for making us feel young again; to gaucoin, for always telling like it is; to freddie c, for keeping us honest; to nadia shatila, for making us realize that limits are self-imposed; to kelley moore, speal and OPT, for leading the way with grace and dignity; to bingo, for making us become better neighbors; and especially to Coach and Lauren, for all their love and encouragement and for this daily Christmas gift of CrossFit.

Burpathon (150 that is) in 14:39, partitioned 10 @ :55 for the first 60 or so, then on the minute. I did these at the high school football field, jumping to touch a spot on the goal post. Was it 8" ? Jeesh, I dunno but the effort was there and there were a few knee strikes on the ground along the way. Now I'm gonna eat like a warlord.

Merry Christmas (or whatever you do)...
I'm sick of schedule imposed rest days...I gotta keep up!
Everyone out there, wherever you are, with/without famlies: have a safe one.
Anyone with kids: how can you not LOVE the look on kid's faces...without kids: remember feeling that way?

Ah yes...and to the families of CrossFitters...
Don't go pushing your starches on my well muscled brothers and sisters! Just relax and understand that the main page WOD for 071225 of "rest-day" is just a suggestion!

Have any of you noticed that even on your rest day you still pretty much want to work out? I think that's the best x-mas present ever... (besides all my push-muscles being completely FRIED! esp anterior deltoids, augh)

Thanks, Coach and Crossfit for everything you've done for me this year. Can't wait to see what's in store for '08.

Happy Merry __(insert holiday here)__

Sending all of ya'll love from Atlanta.

Shana A.

I should say starches and SUGARs...

Naughty or nice, I wish you all a Merry Christmas!

God bless the troops and their families.

Merry Christmas Crossfitters!

Thanks for everything you do to keep us on top of our game!

Merry Christmas to my crossfit peeps!! Thanks Coach for this program and everything you put into it.

WOD 071223

3x
Row 500m
BW bench x20 (155#)

24:51

Time to make up the burpee workout

Merry Christmas to all. Wishing everyone health and happiest in the coming year.

#77 John S
"If there were no laws against murder, and there wasn't a large police infrastructure with shared resources, I would commit murder with impunity."

Could you please post your photo, I want to be on the lookout - you scare me!

Chris H - I was trying to hang with ya, although I dont agree with much of your posts, I do find it amusing when a poster can hang in there while being totally ganged up on and attacked. I also support the right for us all to disagree - that is what this country is about right; the choice to agree or disagree and die as a result.

But this comment..."In any case, don't forget what actions led to the LA riots: government officials (police) brutalized a free person, people revolted,"...this got me. Now I know you are out there. Obviously you dont live anywhere near South Central L.A. (I will be politically incorrect on this one) nor do you work in the field of Law Enforcement. Maybe you should try taking a 240 pound man, high on PCP into custody and see how fun that can be. Sounds like a great Crossfit Workout!

Anyway, still like to read the banter. Thanks for an interesting Christmas morning.

oops, typo in my post..."and NOT die as a result"...

September 21, 1897, New York Post

...Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight . The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.

Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies!...The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? of course not, but that's no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.

...Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, Virginia, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.

No Santa Claus! Thanks God! he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.

A tiny gift, from our hearts chez Bingo, to your hearts, wherever they may be...

Merry Christmas to my Crossfit family! Blessings to you and yours, especially those that serve. My sincerest gratitude to you.

now, onto the burpees...

Merry Christmas to all crossfitters !

Chris H. You are a funny guy. You made me laugh. Get a girlfriend. Have a glass of wine. Grab a workout.

Nick R. Owned! You don't like pose running or swimming, don't watch the FREE video on the FREE site.

Very amusing rest day.

Chris H - your view of the world is not unique, it's called communism (with a lowercase c). The Marxist version of communism with a classless, stateless society has yet to be realized - in almost 150 years since Marx first wrote about it. While your view is not unique, it is unrealistic in the modern world, for not since the stone age have humans coexisted in classless, stateless societies. Without a strong central governing body, progress is not realized. Whether you agree with taxation is irrelevant. Governmnent and taxation may be a giant self-liking ice-cream cone, but together they allow society to prosper and provide for itself and the governed.

If you truly are a 7-figure-earning consultant, I wonder just who you consult with and about what. Obviously your earnings and whatever it is you're selling (consulting services) run counter to what you preach here on this board today. Please share with us what it is, exactly, that you do.

Judging from your rants today, Chris H., it appears as though you might be suffering from some degree of holiday depression. The utopian society that you dream of most certainly won't be realized. Please get a grip and come back to reality before you go off the deep end. And, In the spirit of Christmas, I'd like to wish you a merry one.

Merry Christmas!

I'll be sending in photos of the garage gym that I built for Mom last night ("CrossFit Dalur"). Im now working on 30 days worth of scaled WODs and a commitment contract. Im excited (and anxious) about her reaction...

Thanks to all who contributed advice and support. I am proud to be part of such a giving and selfless community. Further, we contunually seek improvement, ask questions, welcome debate, and apply our own useful solutions.

Thanks so much, and my best to everyone!

JB

Thanks to all the coaches and support staff that make CrossFit possible. You have made my year stronger and I have tried to pass the gift on to the others I'm in touch with.

Also I'm on Shift today protecting those who I serve and would like to say that I do it with pride.

Here's a thought for those that need some holiday love:
Universe Uni-Verse....One Song, let's all try to see a better future.

Chris H. - Because it was caught in the filters, you might have imssed it - But could you please respond to my post at #42 that began this whole anti-government tirade? I think you'll see that your logic is flawed and I would like to hear your authority for your sweeping claims of "evil" and "hypocrisy".

Thanks and Merry Christmas. By the way, I hope you're having fun trolling and tweaking the locals. But you're rhetoric is so overbroad as to be almost nonsensical.

By the way, I was in Afghanistan in 2004 when there wasn't even a government in place - your claims of this being the preferred state for men are absolutely funny. I mean truly hilarious. Your utopia exists when there is a totally enlightened, rational, reasoning populace just as smart as you. Ooops, wait a minute. And then you talk about insurance companies in this modern utopia being bought to pay for security - wait a minute - who licenses these insurance companies? how do we know we can trust them? Why would I give my money to this company when it might just walk away with it? I'm not sure what leftist tract you just finished reading, but it wasn't a very well-thought out one. You imagine "no government" selectively, still including the things you like, like "economics", to determine actions. None of this works without some rule of law that vindicates those rights you talk so knowingly about. Chris - in this lawless world, as soon as you get what you want, if I want it and I am bigger than you or better armed than you, I can come take it and you are back to square one - or more likely dead. That's why they live in walled compounds in Afghanistan - that IS the standard home. Because there is no law that protects one's neighbor from taking your goats, or women, or children, if they are so inclined. That is why EVERYONE owns an AK-47. That is why the family is the basic unit and then extended to the cousins and tribe and village for protection and vindication of those rights. That's why for ages they have had tribal militias when there was no government and why they continue to have generations-old blood-feuds to settle disputes.

Go back to the ivory tower, brother, and tell yourself you're right.

#95 KCN,

That's easy. You want the max stroke length and the max stroke rate. In order to get a problem similar to the ones you mention, you have to add an additional constraint that tells imposes some restriction on how stroke rate is related to stroke length (i.e. after stroke length gets above a certain amount, stroke rate starts to decline). Without that restriction, you just want both to be as high as possible. In reality, there's a ceiling on the stroke rate that you can practically get. (It's similar to the observation I've seen before that there is little variation in the stride rate of olympic sprint runners.) Therefore, stroke length is probably the most important thing to focus on if you want to improve in swimming. After you get a decent stroke length at slow stroke rates, then you need to learn to not have it deteriorate as you increase the stroke rate.

Merry XMas to all our service men and women at home and abroad....Stay Safe and Give 'Em Hell!

Feliz Navidad from your CrossFit friends south of the border.

Franklie y Claudia

Merry Christmas Crossfit! Santa just brought me some new training rings!

Merry Christmas everyone!

Loves me some Hitchens. Too busy today to read through all Chris H's posts. I'll just say

government bad, individual liberty good.

Merry Christmas everybody and thanks CrossFit.

Brian

Merry Christmas and Peace to ALL, tool's and treasure's alike:)
Been sick this last week and have much to catch up on, starting with Joshie today. I can blow off burpees without a thought but the Hero's are too special. God bless you all

26 yom 6'2" 155#

150 Burpees...just a little firehouse Christmas workout!

18:41

Thanks for the Xmas gift Pukie, 150 burpees!

In sets of 10, 25:07.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas everyone! Love you all =)

To think that 1 year ago today I logged on for my first WOD, not even able to do a single pull up.

Thank you CrossFit (Coach & Lauren) for this thing which has changed my life forever. Thank you CrossFit community for sharing in this passion for true fitness.

A year later I sit here bigger, faster, stronger, certified, and affiliated. I am seeing to it that CrossFit is now here in Chattanooga to stay and changing even more lives than I could ever imagine.

Merry Christmas CrossFitters!

David
Ignis Aurum Probat

M/22/6'1"/185

A big thanks to the folks at the Power Barn in Cheshire, CT for giving me a Christmas Eve Fran thrashing. You are all a great group of people and hope to see you all soon.

Did 150 Burpees today: 12:05. Ouch. Plane ride to KC will be a fantastic nap.
But what did make me happy is that I convinced my entire family (two bros, 14, 19, my mom and my dad) to join me. They did a great job and I hope that they get into this like I did and completely absorb everything like I have tried to. You are all a great group of people and I am forever in your debt for the guidance, support and motivation to keep trying to get better and to succeed where I have failed in the past. Thanks and have a Merry X(Fit)Mas, happy holidays and a healthy new year with new goals and new possibilities. Bless.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Happy Holidays! Remember to enjoy the ones you love.

My favorite thought is that "as long as there is life, there is hope." Christmas, for me, is the grounds for believing in this. I wish you all hope for this coming year - and the courage to pursue this hope where you can. (faith for where you can't...)

My thanks to all of the Coaches of CrossFit who give of themselves freely to all of us.

My special thanks to all who protect, defend and heal us. I hope for peace in people's hearts so that you will have a little less work in the coming year.

laughing.

been thinking about the critique on whether X-Fit should offer specialized training. Kettlebells. Jumprope. Running. Rowing. Now it's swimming. Sounds fun. I love swimming & used to do it every day before I found CrossFit.

been thinking about those who fear specialization & post about it.

but here's the thing that's burning my fingers and forcing them to the keyboard on Christmas.

stick around this place long enough, & you'll see the beauty & efficiency. there are no frills. so, if coach thinks kettlebells are a good idea, i'm going to bruise my forearms till i figure out how to snatch. if coach thinks jumprope is a good idea, i'm going to buy a $35 jumprope from a fellow in some very suspicious pajamas. if coach thinks rowing is a good idea... well, i bought a C-2. now it's swimming, and i'm getting visions of hot looking future SEALs sharing the same pool with me.

here it is: you hang around long enough, & you see the miracle of crossfit. Trust Coach. Period. I've seen that man give away much more than he makes.

if CrossFit offered a gum chewing class, i'd go & buy their bazooka, heed the fortune & hang the framed comic over my squat rack.

and, on a side note: clovis, thanks for being out there on christmas eve. i think you were reading the posts of a sensitive, poetry reading, espresso sipping, beret wearing feller who hasn't quite grasped the law of the jungle. lucky him. let's not wake his sweet little dreams. he's just the sort of lil' darlin' that works out swell when you need to chum the water before the hunt.

I normally love argui. . uh debating, but not today.

Take a look at this link. It's a good story about the 1914 Christmas Truce: http://history1900s.about.com/od/1910s/a/christmastruce.htm

I will add, we just watched "Because of Winn Dixie", again. In my view, that is a very good Christmas movie, that likely gets nearer the point than any movie I can think of.

I wanted to add to this rest day the single best decision that I ever made regarding holiday meals.

Popeye's.

Seriously.

Popeye's Chicken does turkeys for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

It was F'n awesome.

The great thing about fried bird is that it keeps moist without absorbing any outside oil. The trick is to ditch the skin before consuming, even though its the best part.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,318237,00.html w/fs

Just saw this story. This is a great, uplifting story about a LIVING hero. Perfect for Christmas!

Merry Christmas
Rest day?
Got to get out there and shovel some driveways.

I know we're not official or affilitated, but I hope we dont't get slammed for putting CrossFit ahead of the name of our farm.

Moms first WOD...

400m (walk up the driveway and back)
10 step-ups (Right leg)
10 overhead presses (PVC Pipe)
10 step-ups (Left leg)
10 sit-ups
10 step-ups (Right leg)
10 overhead presses (PVC Pipe)
10 step-ups (Left leg)
400m

Time = 15:24

First one is in the books!

My WOD was 5 Rds for time of:
400m
15 KB Swings w/ 30# (R)
50 Jump Ropes
15 KB Swings w/ 30# (L)

Time = 15:28

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all!
Thanks to all our men and women who are fighting for our freedom and keeping us all safe.

Erin

Everything is sore today, and the gyms are closed so I ran outside on a hilly trail 5K in 38F windy conditions.

25:39

Legs and lungs are burning. Now it's time to feast. Merry X-mas everyone!

Merry Christmas everyone!!!

Hope Santa was kind to all y'all! He was to me! got SS 2nd ed. :D wooohooo haha

best wishes!

Joshie
25# db's(each arm) and jumping pull-ups:
32.26
Also will be shoveling driveway in a while, doesn't make up for burpees but it's something.

38M/175

used the rest day as a chance to get on the trainer before the big dinner and get a small workout in.

20 spin warm up and then a 35 minute time saver Jacobson video on my Kinetic road trainer.

Merry Christmas and stay safe all.

#73 Ian -

LOVED your 12 days of Crossfit and am going to force all my clients to do it tomorrow. Also shared it with my Army pal in Iraq, we spoke to him this morning on webcam... I'll have to let you know how it goes.

Thanks!

took a shot at the sub minute 400m. did it in 1:04. must be good at setting goals. they always seem to be just out of my reach. i'll be getting that one soon though.

150 burpees as rx'd 16:01.

post: some squats

Dale Saran:

I think you are missing the point of Chris H entirely. People in afghanistan live in walled compounds and carry ak47's because they know that the threat of losing everything exists. In the west, no wall, compound, weapon is going to prevent the gvnt from taking whatever they please. Ever heard of David Koresh? chrisH's point is that while our situation may be better than afghanistans, on some levels it's no different. in the US we simply a bigger less combatable perp. Why should one be content just because a non visible entity steals your personal freedom rather than a gang of arab raiders? true, we do enjoy more comfort by a far margin than 3rd world hell holes like Afghanistan, but at what price? personal liberty, that is the price.

there is a medium, it existed in this country long ago.

personally i don't think the government provides us with as much real comfort as it is purported to. Even if it did, it would be in direct conflict with the Constitution of the United States.

Steve CFoceanside:

" Without a strong central governing body, progress is not realized. Whether you agree with taxation is irrelevant. Governmnent and taxation may be a giant self-liking ice-cream cone, but together they allow society to prosper and provide for itself and the governed."

I disagree entirely. the foundations of this government are against a strong central governing body. they instead opted for a weaker central government with the power resting with the states. Now this "strong central governing body" that we are currently under has changed the system of taxation, is attempting to form a two class society (subject class/ruling class) , has the capability to make almost all decisions for the states (judicial and executive power, see patriot act), and is in general infringing upon our right to life liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Actually it resembles the communist/socialist countries that more than it resembles the original ideal.

I don't think we are communist or socialist, but we are heading that way. If the central government continues to grow, we will be.

On the patriot act: anything named "the patriot act" sets off alarms.

i got rings YES!

Happy Holidays, to the Crossfit family!

Thanks for the support, advice and motivation. Stay safe!

#159- Shana A.,

Thanks, good luck on the 12 days of CrossFit workout. It's an A$$ Kicker!

Merry Christmas to all.

Thanks to our service men and women, especially those serving us in dangerous places.

Thanks to all the dedicated people who work in the Crossfit community. You all give so much to us. May you all have great success as the community grows.

Thanks, Coach, for the Christopher Hitchens posts. Very interesting, and I have to admit my first impression of him has been changed. His summary of the good the US and its allies have done in the past 10-15 years is very inspiring.

Spider Chick,

You are spot on. I was hinting at it, thanks for saying it. If you never hold the sword or the shield, it is almost impossible to understand.

Cheers

Just wanted to say thank you to Coach, Lauren, and the whole Crossfit community for the great workouts, physical and mental! Also to all of those serving both home and abroad, thanks for keeping us safe. Thanks to all those unknown who got my brother in Black Ops home safe and those looking out for my brother in the Air Force my thoughts and prayers are with you all!

I think what Chris H. is proposing is not communism at all, communism entails a large central government that controls everything subsuming individual liberty to the collective good. Which A) doesn't work in practice B) would suck even if it did work. Apparently Chris H. wants no government at all, which like bunnies crapping chocolate eggs, and fat men in red suits coming down chimneys... Wait scratch that last one, tis the season. Point is we always have government no matter what. Even in supposedly "lawless" societies like Somalia, Afghanistan, etc. the Government devolves to a rule of the gun. Furthermore we are all lucky enough to live in not only the greatest Government in the world, but the greatest Government to ever exist. Not that were perfect, far from it, but we can work on it and improve it, a lot of other folks can't.

Paying taxes sucks, and I don't like a lot of the stuff the current administration, or hell that most administrations do. But I can throw the bums out and replace them with other bums. Yeah it takes a lot of work and is frustrating as all hell sometimes, but I am very thankful to be living in a country where I pay too much in taxes and despise most of the politicians. Merry Christmas!