I love that there are babies in the background.

Sore, sore, sore. Rest, rest, rest.

And a much needed rest too... I'm still sore from Angie and yesterday didn't help... Personally I think Angie should be renamed the "Dirty Hundreds", yes?

Congratulations again to the entire CrossFit crew and community! What an amazing genesis.

The "Black Eyed Virgins" will be at your beck and call?!? For doing what I wonder? I think that I need to see more of this video.

If there is any culture that is promoting the objectification of women, it is this culture talking about the pleasures that will meet you in the afterlife.

I will watch the Camp Pendleton video later.

Enjoying CA and family here. Wish I could have found the Petranek on the Beach near Venice Beach. I will try again later...

Take care and have a good rest day...

Re. the black-eyed virgins - well, that sounds nice.

What a fantastic video!

If today's video doesn't bring a tear to your eye you need to rush out and buy a soul.

Seeing a glimpse of the history and experiences that were a part of the original Crossfit Santa Cruz is humbling. Once there was only one.

Regarding the video: What a tool. It's like a Middle-Eastern combo of Dungeons and Dragons meets Hentai.

Stuart, #5,

"If there is any culture that is promoting the objectification of women, it is this culture talking about the pleasures that will meet you in the afterlife."

Yeah right, until Allah gets PO'd when you stone one of his virgins for having the nerve to be raped by your brother.

Anyone else feel like this past cycle hit them extra hard?

I haven't gotten a cold in almost 2 years. And today I was dying with allergies and a fever/cold. Maybe I'm overtraining since I've added kung-fu practice along with crossfit. O wells, what doesn't kill me just makes me stronger!

I've noticed a lot of fancy shows in many of the pics posted with the WOD's these days. A. What are they? B. Are they worth it?

Long live Pukie!!!

I can't get the MOV to play. No WMV today?

I meant SHOES. see above comment #12. sorry.

Creepy video! Fundamentalist anything sucks.

I have an idea, though. Instead of politics on rest day, how about a humor link. That'd be much better.

Oh, they cut out part of that video at the beginning. It originally said, "If you do CrossFit and your Fran time is sub 3 minutes, you get 10 black eyed virgins...

On the other hand, did the guy in the video ever mention if the virgins were male or female??

I just assumed they were all female. If not, that may shed some new light on Islamic fanaticism.

Hope that didn't offend anyone. It is a rest day and I am joking around!

I say, by all means, let's get you to those virgins ASAP.

The video makes me sick. All of this for a virgin??? May their virgins be disguised as the devil and they burn in hell.

The contrast of the photo of Sage in black and white and Ol' Glory in all her brillant color is awesome.

Wow. Thank you Crossfit and thank you for such a beautiful video.

What is the name of the song and singer in the video? Never heard it and would like to download.

Great video. Glad to part of Crossfit.

PS-Yes CJ, the fancy shoes are worth it. The difference between a solid sole with a snug fit and a slight lift in the heel vs. a mushy running type shoe that supports (or doesn't) you differently on every rep is immediately noticeable. I got my VS's for under $100 and they've been worth every penny.

Tommy said you were lookin' strong the other morning and he wasn't kidding.

Oh yea, 1984 called.....they want their sox back.

they use Nivea?

No Nivea? Damn, that sounds too good to be true. Oh, wait...that's right.

Comparisons between D&D Geeks, extremist Islam, and sexuality.
Damn I love rest days.

I'm having trouble articulating how Cleric Al-Sweilem's speech affected me, but it made me feel dirty/uncomfortable and very unlikely to want to hear a sermon from him again. My main problem is that I prefer to relate with equals, not self animated real dolls. (google "real dolls" for an explanation, but be aware it is neither work nor kid safe.)

Loved the Op Phoenix video, I just wish that when I was going through CTC for CAP that Crossfit had been part of the curriculim back then. Still I'm in it now, and when I'm back to a field unit I'll provide a bit more wind for the wings of the phoenix.

One question, at the end when the older gentleman does the OHS and gets a hug from Rob Miller once he pulls it off, was that Rob's dad?

Amazing video, I'm so glad I had a chance to train at the Mecca before it closed down shop.

#27 - not Rob Miller's Dad. Jim Baker of CF Central.
NICE photo of Sage Castro!
You GO strong lady!

This video shows a small group of highly motivated and highly skilled individuals that changed the world, in only a few years (one can see similar things happening with the jihadis, though in a much more sinister light.) It makes one wonder about similar applications of the Crossfit model in other fields. Where else is the status quo underperforming and thus ripe for a revolution?

Some of the main aspects of the Crossfit model are an open-source approach to information, a decentralized affiliate structure, a black box epistemology, an emphasis on performance data and a correspondingly high value placed on high performance and high performers, a willingness to adopt effective methods regardless of their source, and strong cooperation with specialists in related fields. How is this model applicable to, say the American efforts at counterterrorism, or reforming the American educational system?

In my opinion, the implications are obvious.

public service announcement:
if you _were_ a bike racer, but have been off the bike for many many months, the day following heavy deadlift day DO NOT go on 45mi bike racer group ride (average speed 22mph-ish) unless you enjoy a.) dangling off the back the whole time, b.) finally getting dropped, and c.) having to pull over while lower back spasms run their course.
great day for a ride out here in san diego, tho. (I had to change my go surfing plan at the last minute.)

About the video: typical of fanatics of any type. "All of these things are bad, but when I'm told by (insert deity/leader/political philosophy/whatever) that it's all right, oh how wondrous it will be! It's not bad when I have permission!"
Extremism, whatever its stripe, is dangerous. One of the few ways to combat it is through honest self-reflection - emphasis on starting with one's self.
As far as that goes, I always find that I do my best self-reflection when I'm lying on my back because I'm too sore to get up. Thanks, Coach.

Wow, truly good video. If I believed that Allah existed I would have to thank him for the few sweat angels (demons?) I've been privileged to leave at HQ.

I thank Greg and Lauren and J-Dawg and everybody else.

Just got PRs on Angie and my time to 100 pullups, the journey that they got me started on continues.

ok so i'm late posting these but these are my results from the previous 2 WOD's

M/22/165lbs

Deadlift 5 sets of 3
165
185
205
185
155

Then the Hang Power Snatchs i could only do 5 of each. But my time was 25mins.

Ok now, before you rip on me, i'd like you all to know that this was my first official crossfit workouts and first weight training EVER.

i've been doing BW and resistance band training since November. i read about crossfit in the NY Times about a month ago and finally ordered and got in my set of barbell and weights. and now, i'm off! 3...2...1 GO!

I can't wait to continue and see amazing progress! This site and the community surrounding it is incredible. Your all great!!

Thanks!
Nick

p.s. - next time should i take the weight down on an exercise like the hang power snatch so i can do all the 15 reps?

Jason, #10...

Yep. Still can't straighten my arms from Angie.

M/49/71/ 165
Video was dead on the mark.
Been doing crossfit for 3 months shy of a year. This stuff in a nut shell is the best way to get/be fit.
Retired MCPO USN
Goal for 2008 score a 300 on fight gone bad.
cfjax

What kills me is the moral equivalency.

"Extremism, whatever its stripe, is dangerous."

"Fundamentalist anything sucks."

It is not that virgins that make this dangerous. It is not the "fundamentalism that makes this dangerous. It is not even the extremism, that makes this dangerous.

It is the fact that he believes he has to kill Infidels to get the Virgins, that make this dangerous.

Cut the crap with the moral equivalency and figure out who WANTS to be your MORTAL ENEMY if you don't live by their rules.

Your comments make you apologists of the President Jimmy Carter and Neville Chamberlain kind.

operation phoenix:

video made water come out of my eyes.

That is a super cool photo!
Love the playpens

Great job on the video!!!

Looking forward to part 2.

Great job on the video!!!

Looking forward to part 2.

Great video, I'm eager to see part 2.

Sage- you are looking strong. We miss you at cfsd.

That dude is going to be the black eyed virgin in hell. Bend over sucker.

What kills me is the denial of "moral equivalency"...

Just because some religions have moved past the oppression of women and focused on other groups of people does not mean that fundamentalism and extremism are not bad. Some fundamentalists may be more immediately threatening to our way of life, but they are all willing to abdicate their seat of reason and moral responsibility to do what their god says is right. That is dangerous for the human race.

No Nivea? No vaseline?

No deal.

rofl @ 43

24 hour virus: 1
Rookie: 0

Black Eyed Virgins are overrated. Why can't Allah offer calorie free hotdogs or peanut butter or something I really want.

After watching the video....I'm sobbing, and speachless!

#10 Jason- Agreed! Esp the heavy DLs.

Crazy video. I think the black-eyed virgins need a little Crossfit to toughen up their palms and kick that skinny lunatic's ***!

WHY USE MED BALLS WHILE DOING SQUATS?

I was doing this for a while, and these were my reasons:
1. I saw my mentors / idols doing it in videos and photos from CrossFit
2. I wanted to make sure I went low enough on my squats
3. (2a) I just wanted an efficient measure for my squat depth -- I didn't want to squander energy-time going too low

Then I read Starting Strength (er, I've finished about 70% of it...) He never mentions squatting to something like a med ball; so no, Rip doesn't directly countermand it. BUT ---

1. the elastic response of the hamstrings at the bottom of the squat IS important to optimal performance of the squat
2. depth - this is not explicit. I may be extrapolating here, but -- BELOW parallel is important for the proper function of the hamstrings, of course, but how far below is NOT a major issue; too low would be bad, of course, but different people have different flexibility. There is nothing WRONG with going deeper if you hit the elastic response point at a slightly deeper depth than just exactly below parallel.

On balance, I think hitting the proper elastic response of the hamstrings is more important than saving yourself that half-inch of work by stopping at a point which is just exactly below parallel.

Now, safety point. You should be prepared to bail out of OHS. I did this last week, and my wife said, "Hey. If you had been squatting to a med ball, I don't think you would have gotten out of the way of it."

Are you sure you can safely dump the weight while OHS to a med ball?

Performance point -- I hate to mention names or even point in a direction, but I think in the video of Greg and Annie doing Fran, Annie is not getting to full depth (she has short legs) on her squat thrusters. That's just an example that comes to mind, I'm sure there are others. Or maybe I'm wrong.

Performance point -- what exactly are your muscles doing when you're hitting that med ball then rebounding? I'm asking; I'm not assuming it's counterproductive, but that's what I suspect.

Performance point -- skill / kinesthetic training -- you should know the feel of proper depth via the muscles. You should hit it every time based upon that learned perception. (technically, proprioception.)

You want squat skill? Ditch the training wheels. Learn the motion and the feel, and do it without crutches. We could hypothesize a simple laser pointer adjusted to a height which, when the light beam is broken, triggers a "hit" indicating you went to full depth. But this complexity gets absurd. No need to go down the road of replacing skill with machines AGAIN, as Arthur Jones did at the outset of dumbing-down fitness for the McGyms. The med ball or any other external metric is the same thing.

My position is clear. Ditch the med ball training wheels for your squat.

What am I NOT understanding? Can you answer me on safety (possibly, yes), and on the performance points, learning the correct motion as part of your skill / ability, and on the physiological points of proper function of the muscles when squatting to full depth?

Thanks. As always, absolute mad respect and love for all of you here at CrossFit, and lifelong appreciation to Coach for the greatest gift I've ever received.

My thoughts:

What the cleric is really saying, "obdience in life will be rewarded by an orgy/bender in death". I'm not a theologist, but from the teachings I received in Catholic school that video sounded more like the devil talking than any God... so much hipocracy.

M/22/6'1"/185

Made up yesterday's WOD
Subbed 50 Double Unders for the runs, it's raining and I'm a panzy.
12:45

A big thanks to David and the crew at CF South Brooklyn for letting me throw down yesterday and for helping fix my snatch

Not enough black eyed virgins available that could get me to strap a bomb on and blow myself up. I wonder what the women get when they die for Allah?

#51: do an experiment. Do it with the ball, and without the ball. See if there is any difference in how sore you are. My personal belief is that the very slight support in the eccentric phase works to decrease DOMS. Also, you shouldn't normally need to bail on relatively light OHS. You know when you are getting shaky. Rest up a second, then continue.

On the fundamentalism question, it is interesting to me just how dogmatic so-called "anti-fundamentalists" can be. In their own view, of course, they are simply right, when the fundamentalists are wrong. They are rational, when the fundamentalists are irrational. They never even bother to define fundamentalism with greater specificity than "believers in anything not currently incorporated into mainstream science".

They believe their understandings of the universe and are place in it are the only correct ones so strongly that there is little to no chance of convincing them otherwise. They in fact become unreasonable about it.

There just might be some irony there somewhere.

Anybody know who the band is for the music in the video?

I'm looking specifically for black-eyed virgins named Susan. I hope to get some that I can keep in my garden.

This reminds me of the pet dog who asks his pastor, "When I go to heaven, can I have my balls back?"

the better half of the Castro family!

Regarding the black eyed virgins: Why only 10? I thought there were going to be 72. If I were a jihadi I would feel cheated.

There is no need for cartoons to ridicule the doctrines and teachings of Mo and his gang of believers. If they had not been killing and trying to kill all non believers the past 1,400 years, the absurdity of their beliefs would be humor enough.

CCT Joey is right. Moral equivalence & moral relativism is for people who cannot distinguish between right and wrong, between good an evil. It is for folks who think Abu Gharib is equivalent to the Holocaust.

Ya Sage! You look awesome!

cool song anyone know the artist????

i just puked & then threw out my black eyeliner.

I knew there was a reason why I hate softness in women. And, don't get me started on the idiot worship of virginity. They're quite useless for their intended purpose. We're much more interesting when mean spirited, hard bodied and .. umm.. skillful. :)

And how come it's always white girls who get the job? Rick James sang the same song as this jackass, but at least Mr. SuperFreak had an interesting mulitculturalgirlmix going on.

Know your enemy. Jihidi's motivation is fueled by the fantasy of a post-mortem orgy with a crowd of kohl using horny tweenagers. Sorry, Mr. Jimmy Carter, but there's no political solution to that. no middle ground to meet on. Well, except for the LittleHouseOnThePrairiePolygamayRapeCamp, and most Americans tend to frown at that idea.

Russ Greene: you are so very right, and therein lies a brilliant solution to an unnamed question. Smart guys: listen up, re-read Russ's comments and let your imagination roam free.

And, thank you so much for the video. It's beautiful to see what my X-fit roots are and where we came from. It's a home movie of our family tree. Coach & Lauren: your life's work has done miracles for tens of thousands, and it will last for generations. I know nobody who has had a greater or more lasting impact on mankind than you. Neither pastor, nor politician, nor physician or professor. They're by and large all fungible. You two have no equals, and we are all changed beings because of you. Thank you.

What an awesome pic! I absolutely love that the American flag is highlighted and shown all its beauty.

What an awesome pic! I absolutely love that the American flag is highlighted and shown all its beauty.

Great stuff posted this morning! Awesome picture and...what a great video. Genius. Today was outta the ballpark!

Tony

Found it the artist and song....

BRANDI CHARLIE .... "THE STORY"

http://youtube.com/watch?v=fJa-KazVMYU&feature=related

Sorry

BRANDI CARLILE "THE STORY"

That picture is amazing! Printing it and framing it...for real.

Robert Herrick's Poem:

To The Virgins, To Make Much Of Time

Gather ye Rose-buds while ye may,
Old Time is still a flying:
And this same flower that smiles today,
Tomorrow will be dying.

The glorious Lamp of Heaven, the Sun,
The higher he's a getting;
The sooner will his Race be run,
And nearer he's to Setting.

That Age is best, which is the first,
When Youth and Blood are warmer;
But being spent, the worse, and worst
Times, still succeed the former.

Then be not coy, but use your time;
And while ye may, goe marry:
For having lost but once your prime,
You may for ever tarry.

The take away: get a move on. no black eyeliner necessary.

Someone once told me that if you are a U.S. service member you should think of yourself as part of the "Make a wish foundation" for the jihadi. Since then I have. This video is excactly why. There is nothing more I would rather do than send them to there "paradise" if you get my drift. They want to go there and I want to send them there,so it acctually works out very well. HA HA HA !!!

RANGERS LEAD THE WAY!

But isn't ALL religion based on repeating folklore, regardless of how sensational it may seem??? There doesn't seem to be much of a difference between the 'firey pits of hell', 'ever-lasting life in a garden of Eden', and '10 black-eyed virgins'.

I guess the absurdity-level for this video would be based on the individual's religious culture. How absurd was Oral Roberts' asking for a million dollars (and getting it) or God would strike him down? How absurd is Joseph Smith's translation of strange golden plates into a new religious culture? How absurd is wiping an indigenous culture from the face of the planet in the name of Manifest Destiny? How absurd is being reincarnated over and over again until you reach nirvana?

Making a claim that suffering a jihad-influenced death would guarantee a romp in the pleasure palace is no more ridiculous than some of the claims of any other religious group throughout history.

#8 I don't usually post here, sometimes on the forum if the day is right, mostly I read and then play the best I can with the WOD, but since today tears were falling while watching the video, oh well, I thought I had to celebrate it in some way....
Thanks to the whole CrossFit community

"Cut the crap with the moral equivalency and figure out who WANTS to be your MORTAL ENEMY if you don't live by their rules."

Let's see... If someone demands that I live by their rules, or else they'll be my "MORTAL ENEMY," that seems to fit within Webster's definition of fundamentalism as "a movement or attitude stressing strict and literal adherence to a set of basic principles."

Extremism leads to a desire to punish those outside its strictures. How is identifying that tendency equivalence?

#62 - Spider Chick

Do you really know no one who has had "a greater and more lasting impact on mankind" than .... Greg and Lauren Glassman?

Is it any wonder some folks think that Crossfit is a cult?

Does anybody do a lot of running and crossfit?
Can you get better at running by just doing crossfit?

Love that picture.

#76
Check out www.crossfitendurance.com

28/m/160#

#10 - Jason.

I do feel like this last cycle was particularly taxing, and therefore beneficial. Yesterday I did both Fridays ME Deadlifts and the Snatch/400's yesterday in that order. I woke up today feeling like I did both Fridays ME Deadlifts and the Snatch/400's yesterday in that order - my body needs this rest day.

Here's one for everybody -
A friend recommended that I work in Hatha Yoga with Crossfit to enhance flexibility and prevent injury.

Thoughts?

Get some Sage!!!!!!!!!!!! (Grady was just kidding about the "1984" comment...he got the wrong year...let's take it back to 1979.

#55

Fundamentalists are doubleplusungood

you are beautiful Sage! The vid made me teary.

Gorillasoph- yrs, your position is clear. And it's not the only position out there.

using a med ball can really help train the range of motion. Using a light weight ball can insure you won't bounce off the ball, and no one says you have to use it. As I am over 6'0 tall, the ball is below parallel and I like to have it there for maxing. The ball has not caused a safety issue, but if it did, I would definitely avoid using it (like if I couldn't dump the weight safely). They are also useful doing tabata squats and wall balls to insure you don't cheat on your depth, if that's an issue. I say go ball free when you can, but I also see no problem with using a training device. After all, we are "training" with them. Has any one ever seen someone bring a med ball up to the platform at a competition?

#76 j cas

Yes you can become a better runner doing
Crossfit.

Great video. Can't wait to see the other parts!!

CrossFit Camp Pendleton -- www.crossfitwarehouse.com

As for the video reflecting the dream of Cross Fit and how it has begun and changed the peoples lives for the better.

How can anyone not appreciate this gift presented to us. Greg, your dream is such an incredible story of hope and love.

Humbly we thanks you.

tucker

Not much to add except that I am so stupid for not stopping in to CFSC last year before/after the Games. Wish I woulda known.

But it's really not about the box - it's about the program and the people - and not in that order. And I got both of those.

So thank you Greg, Lauren, Eva T, Brendan, Annie, Nicole, Eddie and Lisa Lugo, Dave Castro, Brian Mulvaney, Dave Werner (affiliate zero), and all of the folks who have followed this road and inspired others to do the same with their words and deeds.

Enjoy the rest day everyone. I'm going out to try and catch up on a few past WoDs.

#62: Lewis: I really don't.

I know politicians, diplomats, physicians, pastors, academics, business leaders, military leaders, even dear old mom... whatever. They are pretty much doing what those before them did, and what others want them to do. You can replace one with another. Fungible. Cogs in Wheels. They all say and do the same old stuff.

The rebels I know, with their alternate views, while interesting and amusing, haven't made much of an impact on the world.

Nobody else I know (except the Glassmans) completely disregarded the accepted mainstream, didn't give a toss about pop science, took such a sharp detour down a totally unknown path, and yet met with such enormous success.

Nobody else I know discovered what they did about fitness and human performance.

Then comes the REALLY astonishing bit:

Nobody else I know has ever exhibited such generosity in sharing everything they have to sell with everyone in the world for absolutly free of any charge whatsoever. I'm rather fond of this website, and anticipate you are as well. Didja ever share it with someone else?

Nobody else I know has ever improved the lives of so many people. Lets not chatter about the group hug, 6 degrees of separation, pay it forward, esoteric metaphysical kind of way. They are legit: the no kidding tangible, measurable and repeatable kind of real life way.

Maybe I need to get out and meet more people.

Perhaps you know of whole herds of such remarkable life-changing generosity roaming at large through the streets of your life? You don't? Yeah, I didn't think so.

So, I'm not shy about being thankful for what the Glassman's life work has brought about for all of us, especially in light of the video showing just how humble and small their beginnings were. I celebrate how far they've come. If I were a tearey-eyed sort of chick, I'd be bawling at the video and what it means.

Got Respect? Got Gratitude?

And, sure it's a cult. Only you don't have to live anywhere, pay anything, believe in anything, do anything, wear anything stupid on your head, there are no rituals or secret handshakes, no aliens, no volcanos, no stone tablets, no exceptions, substitutions, no refunds, no parking, no interest for 90 days...

To CCTJoey and DanMacD: You hit the nail on the head! No more of our liberal culture's neo-modern, morally relativistic non-sense! These people aim to kill our way of life, and expect virgins for doing it.

#76 j cas:

"CrossFit programming calls for infrequent long distance runs and frequent sprints of 400 meters. Repeatedly, CrossFit has produced better long distance running times in head to head comparisons with programs where distance running is a staple. Better running times at less than 1/3 the volume has been the trend."

from: http://www.crossfit.com/journal/library/28_04_crossfit_pt.pdf

I loved the video and all of those awards are much deserved. Last weekend, Coach said one of his favorite things is seeing how Crossfit not only makes women stronger physically, but seeing how it makes them stronger in their work and in their personal lives. I've seen these positive changes in myself and will be eternally grateful for the strength and tenacity Crossfit gives me every day in all aspects of my life. Thanks Coach!

#75--My 10K time has dropped by almost 10 minutes since starting Crossfit 6 months ago. I don't run as much as I used to, as Crossfit takes most of my time and energy, but incorporating Crossfit into your training program will improve your running more and faster than just increasing how much you run.

Is anyone surprised that the 72 virgins are so heavily marketed as a reason to become a "martyr"? These clerics are addressing poor, uneducated boys and young men, teenagers and 20-year-olds, who are raised in sexually repressed cultures. For the younger ones, they may be virgins themselves when they go out to be "martyred". They're hormonally-charged kids just like our kids. Telling them that if they kill themselves they'll have gorgeous women everywhere is a great way to pique their interest.

It makes me feel so sorry for these kids, most of 'em are so young when they start getting fed this crap they'll never know any better . . . You have horrible old men manipulating them to lead them to their deaths, who aren't so much invested in advancing their religious beliefs as maintaining power.

Today I put together a workout I called "These are a few of my least favorite things"... things I'd been saying I'd do on a rest day because I need to work on them. It turns out maybe I bit off more than I could chew and ended up kicking my own ass:

"These Are a Few of my Least Favorite Things"
3 rounds for time of:
30 box jumps, 20"
10 deadlift, 225#
50 floor situps (in the style of the Air Force PT test)
30 wall balls, 20#/10'
400m run

It ended up taking me 37:26, I think -- I know plenty of people who could do it much faster, but that's why I picked these exercises. They're the ones that always destroy me.

Also, this is a pretty interesting article on possible misinterpretation of the 72 virgins trope: http://www.guardian.co.uk/religion/Story/0,2763,631357,00.html

(WFS)

Apparently, the "virgins" may actually be a misinterpretation of the word for "raisin".

Hmmm, a quick google of "MEMRI" yields the following report extracted from The Guardian:

"The reason for Memri's air of secrecy becomes clearer when we look at the people behind it. The co-founder and president of Memri, and the registered owner of its website, is an Israeli called Yigal Carmon.

Mr - or rather, Colonel - Carmon spent 22 years in Israeli military intelligence and later served as counter-terrorism adviser to two Israeli prime ministers, Yitzhak Shamir and Yitzhak Rabin.

Retrieving another now-deleted page from the archives of Memri's website also throws up a list of its staff. Of the six people named, three - including Col Carmon - are described as having worked for Israeli intelligence."

Was unable to get the discussion video to play but can get the direction of the day...

Who wants a Virgin to begin with...let alone 72? Not a real seller for me.

Heck, I for one prefer a Cross-fit woman who knows what she wants and how to get it!

We can discuss multiples some other time.

What a great video, thank you for making it, I cannot wait to see the next installment.

It's all there because of you coach....

Very nice to see all of the 1st group representation on the tribute wall

1st in Asia

Have Fun, Train Hard,

Billy

Did the snatch/run workout

22/m/178 total Xfit puppy.

4 rounds:
65 lbs hang power snatch
400 meter run on treadmill

22:30.

Interesting how Allah is cool with all of the stuff that is a no no while here on earth. Maybe he's bi-polar.

in reference to POST #93

i would love 72 virgin raisins. mmmmm raisins! are those allowed on the Zone?

:)

Amazing video. Santa Cruz HQ will always be looked back on fondly.

Your going to give us that picture (with kids in the back ground) and that video on a rest day!?

3..2..1..REST!

GGGRRRR!!!

did yesterday's workout today. scaled to 3 rounds and 45 lbs for the snatches.

18:19

#75

Yes. I used to run 4-5 times a week and now run about once every 9 days for distance and about once a week for intervals of 400s or 800s. The rest of my workouts are purely CrossFit based. My run times at the 10K have dropped significantly (by 1:30 per mile) in just four months.

Sorry if the question is obvious to some, but what's the meaning of "INFIDEL" on some of the CrossFit T-shirts?

Thanks!

JM.-

#104=

NON-BELIEVER

Has sage been going through rehab or an injury? The picture is a testament to her courage to get back on the horse.

That type of knee brace would be most typically used when recovering from damage to the Medial Collateral Ligament or Anterior Cruciate Ligament. Eva T (and just about all of her former ski team buddies) can tell you all about that type of thing.

As for the virgins, a funny put-down on that subject comes from the book Shibumi by Trevanian. It makes reference to the fact that Arabic men put such a high value on deflowering virgins primarily because they dread comparison, and with good reason.

#62 What about Ghandi? Mother Teresa? MLK?

Wow! what a great video.

Today is my birthday (28) so I decided to run a 5K road race to support our local firefighters. No rest for the weary.

#87 Spider Chick
Your posts are so witty, and there's no way I could ever compare to that. I have one question...

Does someone that spent His whole life knowing He was going to die for others, and willingly did it anyway, even though he could have stopped it, count? He fed the hungry, healed the sick, and was DEFINITELY going against the grain. He was hated by those conventional thinkers in power, and offered all He had for free. He asked nothing in return but a chance to get to know those who would know him. Even now, most of the world holds him, and those who follow him, in contempt. There are some seething right now as they read this, that I would even dare bring Him up. He has influenced millions throughout history, and yes, just as I have seen "imposters" laying claim to what Coach G started, there are those who have bastardized all the love, generosity, and hope this man shared. Most everyone that reads this will know that I'm talking about Jesus Christ, whether they agree with me or not. I'm not proselytizing, just bringing up the point that as awesome, giving, intelligent, rebellious, etc. as Coach is, he's only a man. I think he would agree. He also has an extremely open mind, not going with the crowd, but forming his own opinion. I hope you will do the same, investigating before convicting this "fringe" group of fanatics I'm a part of as uneducated, closed minded, fruit loops. I spent years investigating, and can say that I found the truth.
This is not meant to disrespect Coach Glassman. After all, if I didn't think he was great, and his stuff wasn't right on, I wouldn't be here on this board.
OK, I'm ready for the firestorm. I hope I can get back on here today to read 'em.

What a great pic!!! Crossfit at its finest. Mom working hard with the kids in the background and Old Glory overhead!

Re The Black Eyed Virgins...what a great recruiting tool. Make sex taboo then tell all these totally frustrated young men that by Martyring themselves they can have sex and wine for all eternity. Not bad. I'm thinking of converting myself.....

Greg #94, are you trying to argue that the words weren't spoken because the video was aired to the western world via an organization that has Israelis in it. Is that bad?

#111 firekiller...

and yet, Jesus died on a Golgotha cross a loooong time ago, was buried and descended into hell, but on the third day he rose again from the grave and ascended into heaven, from whence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. i know that.

but, the 2nd coming hasn't come yet, so i'm not counting Jesus as someone I really know. yet.

i'm literal. as in i'm only talking about people i know. as in "have met in person". not the metaphysical spiritual sorta personal relationship with the divine savior thing, but "the actual people i actually have been introduced to, seen in the flesh, and shook their hand" kind of thing.

but you knew that.

you were just having some evangelical fun on a sunday. get some, go again!

Semper Crossfit.

30/M/140

CFWUx3
Snatch warmup (3x45, 3x65, 3x75, 2x85(fail on 2nd one).

Got around to yesterday's workout. Subbed 65# snatch for 95#.

25:23

Great inspiring video! Awesome music. Where can I read more about Cross Fit's story? Who was the artist singing the song?

29/f/112

did a freddy c wod today.

21-18-15-12-9-6-3

sdhp: 55#
push press: 55#

10:55

pre: wux2
post: clean practice

#116 vandy m.- i believe the artist in the video is brandi carlile and the song is called the story. she's amazing, check out her albums really great stuff.

loved the video, i have to admit i got a little misty eyed.

broken toe. ran a mile and a half anyway. 10:11

turns out that fourth toe (ring toe?) doesn't really do much when you're jogging.

Hi Mike Burgener,
I'm the daughter of Frank and Dorothy Makarauskas. Remember that name. I've been doing CrossFit for about two months and love it. I showed my Mom some of your videos from the website. My Mom said that you sound just like your Dad...great mannerisms. I own a Gold's Gym in Stuart FL and we are all addicted to CrossFit. My Mom said that it was great to see you and know that you are doing well. She hopes that your family is well also.

GREAT VIDEO!

wow... i just realized something.

in all of these pics and videos, i see people doing OHSes with weights that i ASSUMED were pretty huge. i just realized, looking at that picture, that the big bumper plates on a lot of those bars are 10s! i thought they were 45s!

i feel better about my 175 OHS max...

Awesome video! Brought a tear to my eye.

Frustrating experience today. Was finishing up on Angie and one of the trainers of the club came up to me while I was in the middle of working out and starts lecturing me about how all of my movements should be slow and concentrated. I ignored her for a while but she wouldn't stop talking so I took the high road and went to another part of the gym. Anyway, I've had more compliments about my workout routine in the last few months than I've ever had. Just thought I'd share.

I love todays picture. If its for sale in poster form, I'm buying.

Spider Chick.

Like I said before, I love reading your posts, they always inspire me or make me smile. Great attitude, and you're right, I was having some (serious) fun on a rest day.
I'm fortunate enough to know several "no-names" that have contributed more to the world than they will ever know, as well as some folks we all know.

I am indebted to the Glassmans, and feel blessed to be a part of this community that shares the attitude that I think was best put into words by Vince Lombardi..."I have no interest whatsoever in just being good..." (that's pretty close, anyway).
Happy rest day.

Well, Spider Chicklet, let me just say that the fact that I am married to a skilled Crossfit woman keeps me up at night. Pun most definitely intended!

While I, like Dale, missed any opportunity to visit Crossfit Santa Cruz the box, I will likely always have the opportunity to visit Crossfit Santa Cruz in spirit. CFSC lives on in our videos, it lives on as a spirit inhabiting the equipment at Camp Pendleton, and it lives on in the people who were founding members and trainers who I can visit at CFSCN and CFSCC. For in the end Crossfit Santa Cruz was a place, and Crossfit itself is so much more than that, isn't it? When (WHEN) I finally shake Coach's hand and give Lauren a hug, wherever we may be at that moment, that will be my visit to Crossfit Santa Cruz. That day will be a good day.

For now I forge ahead, putting the gift of Crossfit to work every day, a better man in all respects for having received it. I try to find ways to give thanks and to contribute. I visit here each day, my (our) Santa Cruz, imagining that each of my WOD's was preceded by Coach sending us out into the box: "Let's go get some!"

Crossfit Santa Cruz lives...

Had a couple of WODs to make up: Weighted Pull Ups (7x 1) and CFT. Any thought to making a CFT(+)? Just completed it and talk about a smoker. Made 730 on the CFT plus 115 on the weighted pull ups but now I am done- and I do mean DONE.Cheers

#108. don't know 'em. they're dead. can't meet 'em now. i have met Coach tho.

did you know mother teresa? she's only been dead about 10 years. I guess that's possible. MLK was gone before i got here, but you could be older than me. Ghandi, who was assassinated in 1948, was also long gone before my time. But, it's conceivable that you could have met him.

So, Christin, if YOU have met Mother Teresa, MLK and Ghandi, you must be both very well traveled and quite old. How was India? Did you live in Calcutta? What are your thoughts on sacred cows? Is your current nursing home in New Delhi? Please explain the purpose of the red forehead dot. Use Form 94. All submissions must be completed in #2 pencil. One entry per household, please. Employees and their families are ineligible for award.

Oh, wait, that's nonsense.

In fact, neither you nor I KNOW any of those folks you brought up. I do KNOW the one I brought up.

again: me = literal. me no group huggy circle of life every little ripple in a pond affects some child in china sort of guy.

still dunno anyone who's had such a huge influence in bringing positive change to the world as Coach has.

and, before anyone else posts any other queries about who's who in my iphone contacts: I do not know Elvis. Nor do I know Princess Diana. Same for Anwar Sadat. I missed out on Edmund Hillary. I also failed to meet Ayn Rand. But, I did once sleep at a Holiday Inn, and that will have to do for now.

For all of you who like the picture posted today, I would seriously recommend attending the CrossFit Media Seminar. I was fortunate enough to host the event at our gym, so I was able to spend some quality time picking Tony Budding's brain.

All I can say is that Tony knows enough about multiple media formats to make that Seminar three to five days. I am by no means an expert, but in one day I know a hell of a lot more about Cameras, Photoshop, and video editing than I did before. I can easily create videos for our daily blog, and the black and white picture of Sage was my first attempt at editing a photo with Photoshop.

Any Affiliate owner can tell you about the value of the Blog and it's daily changing content. I am definitely very happy with my experience at the Media Cert, and I think anyone who uses either still or video media for their Affiliate or Business would walk away completely satisfied and better equipped to do business. Thanks Tony

Andy Stumpf

Between this and the Fitna video, I'm getting tired of anti-muslim propoganda. I'm sure that Osama shows his recruits videos of right wing, conservative, evangelical Christian extremists, but it doesn't represent the majority.

Educate yourself about what Islam is rather than learning the cultures of the world from YouTube. Imagine what other people think of Americans from their representation in their own media, let alone the propoganda of their opponents.

Ref: Black Eyed Virgins of Paradise.
From a country that is ruled by religious fundamentalists(USA), I find it dismaying that someone would ridicule fundamentalism from another country.(If that was the purpose of posting the video) But then, maybe that's why religion is the justification of so many wars.

#50, Barry

Anti-fundamentalists don't have strict dogmas. Fundamentalists just see things in black in white, so they think that the people who disagree with them do too.

Anti-fundamentalists see everything in painstaking shades of grey. Every issue, event, and word is richly layered with contradictory elements, and must be individually evaluated. It's a very difficult life having to think and make choices without a dogma to make it easy, but I wouldn't trade it for anything.

testing

#132: So you understand that most uses of religion are positive, and you are capable of distinguishing between nuts and decent human beings without denigrating the latter or their beliefs? You will be the first I've seen.

#130: I find it interesting that you would consider a verbatim translation of a sermon given by an Islamic cleric that is in full concord with both the letter and the spirit of Islam to be "anti-Islamic".

Perhaps what you meant to say is that some aspects of Islam are inherently troublesome to moderate Westerners, since they directly support the murder of innocents. Your use of the term propaganda would most likely be rendered more accurately as "inconvenient truth".

I will add that you will look in vain for a command to strike at the necks of your enemies in the New Testament. Not all religions are equal in content, and only dogmatists can fail to see this.

#131: So a religious fundamentalist who believes that our nation is founded on moral virtue and who works diligently to practice Christian virtues of tolerance, civility, and patience, is equal to a religious fundamentalist who believes that his god given duty is to kill anyone who disagrees with him, which includes fellow Muslims who are insufficiently radical?

Are you really that obtuse, or are you just repeating things you heard somewhere else?

Don't bother to answer, unless you can come up with something really good.

There is a trait which is intrinsic to leftism that very literally paralyzes the analytical faculty, and makes the invocation of moral equivalance unavoidable. The only possible way you can recover the capacity for rational and objective comparison is to become a genuine moderate or conservative.

wow. that was a great video

That guy needs to get PUC'd. Wouldn't be suprised if what hits his collection plate ends up in Dora or Haifa street. This is what we face. This is what we are in denial of - that it exists. And it is all on "royal" TV.

would it suprise you that Mohammed was a pagan before he started having his "visions" and raiding caravans on their way to Medina and Mecca?

Makes me wanna do a Murph....

4.5 pounds of pressure.

41 M 190#

Loved the rest day, much needed! I did have a rest day WOD though...I made two plyo boxes, a 20 incher and a 24 incher. Use the plans from the CF journal! 18 bucks, and 2.5 hours of labor. They are AWESOME, can't wait for the paint to dry.

Spider chick, firkillr, Barry Cooper, love the posts...keep them coming. As for the Glassmans, we can never thank you enough, but Thanks anyway. Happy Sunday.

Richard #132 said, " Every issue, event, and word is richly layered with contradictory elements, and must be individually evaluated."

Yet, he can not see his own moral equivalency. Perhaps he does evaluate, but he doesn't seem to draw a conclusion.

Ken_Davis #131 Writes" From a country that is ruled by religious fundamentalists(USA), I find it dismaying that someone would ridicule fundamentalism from another country.(If that was the purpose of posting the video) But then, maybe that's why religion is the justification of so many wars."

He fails to realize that ALL great wars in modern history and most of the small ones were brought about by SECULAR schemes to seize freedom. Can he name a current war that is not either brought about by Secular Leftists (Socialists) or Islamists?

Gentlemen, do not stifle your ability to reason, with your own self-hate. You did nothing wrong. Quit feeling guilty.

Why I grow tired of the left..
http://littlegreenfootballs.com/article/29757_So_4000_Rubes_Are_Dead

I like what GW said the other day to the Pope. I know it drives the lefties crazy.

"In a world where some no longer believe that we can distinguish between simple right and wrong, we need your message to reject this "dictatorship of relativism," and embrace a culture of justice and truth"

beautiful CrossFit vid! think i'll use that to quench my thirst for somethin uplifting the next time i'm havin one of those "slightly off" days.

SpiderChick - you are one funny shero. seriously felt my abs from laughin at the wit and humor in your posts :-D

#134, Barry

Most anti-fundamentalists draw that distinction, although they may see more cause for alarm in mainstream American fundamentalism than you would agree with.

Fundamentalism isn't bad in its own right, but when it's mixed with a message of hate, violence, and (in this case) virgins, it becomes a terrifying, evil thing. Anti-fundamentalists know this and eschew it accordingly (note that they are anti-fundamentalism, not not anti-fundamentalist).

31/M/190
SJFD Engine 2 took yesterday off and did the 300 workout tonight.
25 pull-ups
50 135lbs deadlifts
50 push-ups
50 box jumps
50 floor wipers
50 35lbs dumbell clean and press (50 each arm)
25 pull-ups

Results
Marcel 19:40
Jamie 19:44
Matt 23:28

Well it's official. After re-reading Spider Chick's comments, I met PUKIE! SHe truly should change her name to "Psycho Chick."

28/m/240 lbs

Friday(4-25-08)

95
135
185
225
275

Saturday(4-26-08)

28:42

Hey- that preacher reminded me of some of those I used to hear down south.

Sorry if that equals "moral equivalency"..... fact is at least in Muslim heavan they can get laid. In Christian heaven you only get to play the harp.

At any rate- Ill take a rain check on both scenarios.

I keep looking for that communist behind my couch waiting to

" take mah freedum...."

Everyone is a moderate in their own eyes.

Liberty is the only thing you cannot have unless you are willing to give it to others.

— William Allen White

Re: Black Eyed Virgins of Paradise

If we were to distinguish between radicalism and fundamentalism, our dialog might be more productive. The distinction I would make is that fundamentalism is strict adherence to a recognized dogma or text. Radicalism is a departure from form and the norm, for any reason.

Al-Waziz Faez's sex in the afterlife and Wright's genocide by HIV are radicalism, not fundamentalism. So too are the Wahabi madrasas and the churches of Black Nationalism. These practices are radical departures from scripture.

The problem is not evil shepherds, but the stupid sheep.

It's a matter of gain, of mathematics and efficiency. Don't focus on the one but on the many. The criminal justice system should be refocused on deterrence, not rehabilitation. Society is protected not by converting criminals one at a time, but by discouraging millions from ever becoming criminals through the certainty of punishment in the forelife. Correctional facilities are misnamed.

And therein is a root cause of the hatred for the US and the rest of the West in the Middle East, and too often in minority communities. Western ways are too enlightened and too enlightening. The question is not our fundamentalism vs. theirs. It's the freedom of thought and expression and religion and accomplishment that make recruitment of madrassa trained robots all but impossible.

We must separate the propaganda from the movement. When a shepherd actually believes his message we begin to doubt his sanity. E.g., Ben Stein.

Radicalism in these examples is a recruitment tool not for salvation, but for revolution. The transition from fundamentalism to radicalism is one small step for mankind.

Remember, too, for each of us, there is only one true religion - "mine". The others are sects.

P.S.

If you have problems viewing the video with a Mac, try installing Flip4Mac WMV Player 2.2.0.49.

God I've missed you guys.

The usual targeting mechanisms seem well calibrated.

All for now.

God I've missed you guys.

The usual targeting mechanisms seem well calibrated.

All for now.

I was a few days behind and just watched the video for Sunday's post and it was truly moving. Well done everyone.

The phoenix video was great.

A special THANK YOU to Greg and Lauren Glassman for among many things, an amazing box to train at and a group of trainers second to none.
Thanks to Nicole for believing in me letting me follow her around the gym like a lost puppy, and Tony for everything.
Thanks to Annie, Brendan, Eva, and Jimmy for all of your help and guidance.
Thanks to the crew, Zach, Rob, Michelle, Tara, Cill, Jason, Narine.

Sincerely
Hollis

I just got back into crossfit, this rest day was sorely needed. Glad to be back, though.

Nate
http://www.halogenguides.com

I6: won't ask where you've been, but glad to see you back. I was wondering about you the other day.

I didn't comment on the video, but will now. It's amazing how change causes you to realize what you value. All of us hold certain things sacred, but until they are challenged or taken from us, the deep emotional root--which really defines who we are as people in the most fundamental way possible--which anchors them lies hidden.

You don't know what you got til it's gone, as the song puts it.

Those plaques still exist. That equipment still exists. Most importantly, the values which led to the creation of the place not only continue, but are growing and spreading rapidly. What was created there was good, but as the Bard put it "What's past is prologue".

Let us mourn and rejoice simultaneously, in an act of emotional complexity which really defines for me both the beauty and uniqueness of the human condition.

It's a beautiful day.

Re: #148 CCT Joey - I needed to hear that quote at this particular juncture. Your comments are gold as always.

Re: #145 "Yep im an insufficient man" comment.
Spiderchick needs no defending by a mortal like myself, but I cant resist. Let's just say that shmucks like you who throw bombs from the safety of computer screens wouldnt last a minute in the ring. Anybody who posts on this board has laid their goods on the table for all to see at one point or another. Anonymous posts reflect the testosterone poverty of their authors.

Comment #71 - Posted by: Jim Broun

If you can't discern the difference between a religion that advocates good acts, a repentant heart, and a relentless drive to become better, kinder, more loving as the means to get to paradise and the means to have a good mortal life, v making oneself a human bomb to get laid in paradise, I'm not I've anything of use to you but I am not impressed with your powerlessness of reason.

Paul

48/m/145
5k race
18:20 pr
1st age group

#156 Brian's the name..Yep's the nickname. Not anon.

Look Ya'll,

Glassman has created nothing new but a marketing scheme to get people interested in this thing called "Crossfit" and then get people to pay $1,000 for certifications and pump each other up with the community thing. There are no new training protocols here that any experienced trainer of real athletes is not aware of.

"Remember, too, for each of us, there is only one true religion - "mine". The others are sects."

Jeff,

I know you intend this as tongue in cheek, but it is actually my vision that if we are to survive the next century with our freedoms intact, two things need to happen. All of us--everyone on the planet-- need to develop broad, shared conceptions of virtue which work to eliminate the need for police power. Absent virtue, police power is the only thing keeping order. Deterance is better than rehabilitation, but avoiding falling into decline morally is better yet.

We didn't use to have much of a problem with crime in this country, and it wasn't because we had more jails and more police. It was because kids were taught basic values, so that even in conditions of poverty much worse than our poor experience today, they did not feel the resentment that today leads to violence.

Fortunately for them, they did not have eager apologists around to justify for them every possible failure, and to work to help them persist in self destructive and socially destructive behaviors.

What I see as possible, though, is a world in which basic values are taught well, held deeply, but deployed in as many discrete, personal ways as there are humans on the planet. Each man and woman on the world can have their own religion (or atheistic humanism, or any other variation that occurs to them), if they hew to a few basic values, like personal restraint, and respect for others. This, to me, is true multiculturalism.

As it exists today, multiculturalism is actually destructive of difference. In comparing the US to other nations, the weight is not equal. The other nations are invariably compared favorably to us, in what amounts in my view to an ironic abuse of our actual freedoms.

We see "fundamentalism" (let us, to be more specific, use the words and actions of Jerry Falwell) condemned because it continues to hold specific beliefs about right and wrong which are not in concord with those of others. Is this condemnation not also a form of intolerance, though? Would it not be a more honest tolerance if we held the views of religious people and secular humanists both to be fully acceptable, and amenable to shared discussions about right and wrong?

Ought we not to use our freedoms to negotiate how we want to live, and not work to enact through the court system laws which were not passed by the representatives of the people?

Tolerance is not a virtue. Courage, kindness, generosity--those are virtues. Tolerance is simply a means for moderating difference in a condition of varying conceptions of virtue. We do no one any favors destroying virtue in the name of peace. We will win neither peace, nor felicity by so doing.

#160: then spending that money to go to a seminar would be a poor use of your money then, wouldn't it? I would strongly encourage you to go back to wherever you came from, and keep doing whatever you do. You don't need us, and we don't need you.

Here's a nice piece of moral confusion performed by Barack Obama's favorite preacher, the man who converted him to Christianity from Islam:

"WRIGHT: We say that God will bless the shock and awe as we take over unilaterally another country, calling it a coalition because we got three days from Australia going against the United Nations, going against the majority of Christians, Muslims and Jews throughout the world, making a preemptive strike in the name of God. We cannot see how the same thing we are doing is the same thing Al-Qaeda is doing under a different color flag calling on the name of a different God to sanction and approve our murder and our mayhem!"

Lord help us if we elect a man who has been sitting nodding in the front row for the better part of 20 years.

#159 - that explains the temp e-mail adress

#160 - Valid point except that nobody has suggested CF is a not-for-profit org.
Additionally, your comparison to athletic training is illegitimate as athletic training is sport-specific, often at great detriment to normal function whereas CF aims to improve overall non-specific functional movement & fitness. Comepletely different methodology albeit with some theoretical crossover (see W. Kraemer).
Dont try to re-invent the wheel, friend.

Here's a piece well worth the read, and directly relevant to today's topic: http://www.city-journal.org/2008/18_2_cultural_jihadists.html

One quote that struck me: "Leading liberal intellectuals and academics have shown a striking willingness to betray liberal values when it comes to pacifying Muslims. Back in 2001, Unni Wikan, a distinguished Norwegian cultural anthropologist and Islam expert, responded to the high rate of Muslim-on-infidel rape in Oslo by exhorting women to “realize that we live in a multicultural society and adapt themselves to it.”

#161- excellent post-
I particularly agree with your attitude towards multiculturalism- and Ive done a lot of artistic work in different cultural systems-and having an attitude similar to yours always made me a minority in those circles. You are (always) thinking political - my experience is elsewhere- but its often the same assumptions driving it in the arts.

I disagree with your veiw that Fundamentalism as typified by Jerry Falwell et al is villified mostly on the basis of their moral values.
The fundamentalists as represented by the "electric church'' (ie the media church from the early 70s till present) is villified not for their belief as much as their lack of consistency with their texts. Most of them- from Oral Roberts to Falwell to Swaggart and many more simply dont preach the christian message- and in fact promulgate attitudes opposite to Christian values. Over the years many positions popular in the Christian Right are at odds with the text- and a good fundamentalist would stick closer to text and further from adding political agendas and profit centers. Jesus was violent once- with the moneychangers in the temple- that to me gives a clear message.

Still- I think your underlying point about Virtue being the base for a civil society -is extremely important- no matter what differing conclusions I would draw on political issues- its that underlying value base that differentiates people. I find it interesting that you seperate tolerance as a virtue- though Im not surprised since it is after all,Barry Cooper writing- but still would like to read a rationale behind that-specifically what disqualifies it from your list. And was that list in a deliberate order or just by way of example?

Also - #149 and 161- yall use the word "deterrance" is that interchangeable with the word "prevention" or do you hold distinct definitions?

Finally- I wonder if youve ever read any of Hortense Powdermaker? She worked with that type of question-cross cultural comparisons and how and when anthropologists should be objective/subjective in their anaylsis, If not - you might find it interesting.

#161- excellent post-
I particularly agree with your attitude towards multiculturalism- and Ive done a lot of artistic work in different cultural systems-and having an attitude similar to yours always made me a minority in those circles. You are (always) thinking political - my experience is elsewhere- but its often the same assumptions driving it in the arts.

I disagree with your veiw that Fundamentalism as typified by Jerry Falwell et al is villified mostly on the basis of their moral values.
The fundamentalists as represented by the "electric church'' (ie the media church from the early 70s till present) is villified not for their belief as much as their lack of consistency with their texts. Most of them- from Oral Roberts to Falwell to Swaggart and many more simply dont preach the christian message- and in fact promulgate attitudes opposite to Christian values. Over the years many positions popular in the Christian Right are at odds with the text- and a good fundamentalist would stick closer to text and further from adding political agendas and profit centers. Jesus was violent once- with the moneychangers in the temple- that to me gives a clear message.

Still- I think your underlying point about Virtue being the base for a civil society -is extremely important- no matter what differing conclusions I would draw on political issues- its that underlying value base that differentiates people. I find it interesting that you seperate tolerance as a virtue- though Im not surprised since it is after all,Barry Cooper writing- but still would like to read a rationale behind that-specifically what disqualifies it from your list. And was that list in a deliberate order or just by way of example?

Also - #149 and 161- yall use the word "deterrance" is that interchangeable with the word "prevention" or do you hold distinct definitions?

Finally- I wonder if youve ever read any of Hortense Powdermaker? She worked with that type of question-cross cultural comparisons and how and when anthropologists should be objective/subjective in their anaylsis, If not - you might find it interesting.

I'm not saying I liked Jerry Falwell. He made a first class ass of himself after 9/11. I'm just saying he had a right to his views. He did not advocate violence, or work to undermine our Constitution. His worldview and politics were clearly colored by his interpretation of Christianity, but there is nothing wrong with that. In a civil society, you can always talk with people and sometimes change their minds. If you can't, then they still have a right to their views.

With respect to tolerance, my point is that it is what might be termed a negative virtue. Let's say I'm a Secular Humanist, and I'm discussing God with a orthodox Southern Baptist. Tolerance is what allows us to have that discussion, but tolerance is not foundational to either of our identities. It is a quality of our interaction with one another. Both secular humanists and Southern Baptists have well developed systems of morality and associated worldviews.

I never listen to Rush Limbaugh on my own, but I was riding with someone a while back, and he said a phrase that made sense to me: "tolerance is the sole virtue of those who believe nothing".

There is a very large backdrop of thinking I won't get into here, but hopefully that is clear. I am in favor of tolerance, but some things are intolerable, and that can only be seen if you have an identity that allows you form clear opinions based on foundational values you understand and defend.

What an awesome picture Sage..total superwoman. Got the flag, the hardcore pose and the babies in the background..very inspiring. So good to meet you this weekend at the cert. Aloha

You know, it occurred to me this morning: what it the Chinese have a 70-80 year plan to take over the world? It isn't far fetched. Autocratic Fascist states can make plans that far ahead because they know the will of people will never have to factor into their thinking.

Moreover, they have shown clearly that the well being of those under their rule is not their primary concern. Power is.

What would be a simple plan? Europe, easy. It's an old woman. Support wherever possible Islamic immigration, and every time someone points out that the culture is being eroded, encourage someone to shout Racist. Their need to behave docilely will prevent that from ever not working. At some point, a reaction may come about in which a genuine right wing and violent reaction comes about, but that is a sign of weakness, not strength. Given incentives, an autocratic government can be brought within the fold simply by appealing to the avarice of those in charge.

America is more problematic, but task one is clearly the elimination of religion. Religion in America provides both a stable source of moral values, as well as a community of support for those values. Clear cut identities make internal subversion more difficult.

Longer term, the achievement of economic superiority, coupled with military parity or superiority, and the decoupling of any and all effective alliances through the demilitarization and subversion of the rest of the world. Break down the image of the U.S. through constant and indirect (i.e. not visibly originating in China) propaganda, such that nations choose to side with China as the apparently more benevolent power. Many nations are already primed for this through nearly a century of Soviet propaganda.

Keep working to get radicals in the White House. It may not happen this time, but if the informational war continues, our failure to educate our kids will sooner or later ensure victory.

Above all, keep America complacent. Ensure that only the paranoid few worry about long term threats. Make comfort and personal luxury the dominant ideals, and decadence the inevitable consequence.

It could work. I may be paranoid, but that doesn't mean they aren't after me.

Somebody tell me why this could not be the case.

One other thing. Let's do a little "free your mind" exercise.

The only nations in the world we could not dominate instantly are China and Russia, both because they are large and have a lot of nukes.

If we were Romans, and wanted to solve the problem of Islamic terrorism without any effort at moderation or restraint, using simply our vastly superior military power, we simply march into Saudi Arabia and take their oil. We could occupy the rest of the Middle EAst. Anybody that gets uppity, we carpet bomb a major city. That would reduce the number of troops that would be needed tremendously. We would of course stop Wahhabist proselytizing.

We blow up with nuclear weapons most of the northern provinces of Pakistan, and do our best to destroy Pakistan's nuclear inventory. We make it clear that if anything gets out, the entire nation is gone. Smoking black hills, top to bottom.

We nuke Tehran, and nuke anywhere they might have been building nukes.

We nuke North Korea. Problem solved.

Malaysia, Indonesia: they see what's happened, they stay quiet.

We march into Venezuela and take their oil too.

China and Russia, of course, are upset at all this, but maybe we pacify them by divying up the goods. In any event, they have to weigh the cost of intervening on behalf of foreign nations versus the cost of a global nuclear exchange.

These things are all possible. If we were the nation leftists claim we are, then we could very easily get these things done. We would get yelled at in the UN, but of course that organization would cease. We would cease funding it, and get it off our shores. It's founding was overseen by a Soviet agent anyway, and it is generally destructive to the interests of the US.

These things are of course outlandish, but only because restraint to the point of being self destructive has characterized our half century of being the most powerful nation in the history of the world. What I described, that is how actual fascists think. That is clearly what the Germans would have done, and it is what the Islamic radicals would do.

And absent us, it's not at all clear that isn't what China or Russia would do.

We keep the peace. Never forget that. There are no international police, and no second chances for nations that fail.

Barry,

I doubt that China could successfully subjugate Japan, let alone conquer the world, even without the US, Russia, and India to hold it in check. The kind of plan that you're talking about would need to be measured in centuries. 70 or 80 years would barely be enough time for them to reach parity in naval power with the US.

If you look closely at the history of China, you'll see that historically is has barely looked beyond its own borders. Chinese military might is concentrated almost entirely in the enormous infantry that is needed to keep a large, diverse, and often aggressive population in check. Most of the rest of Chinese effort is concentrated in protecting its borders or maintaining buffers between itself and it's powerful and/or densely populated neighbors.

http://web.stratfor.com/images/asia/ChinaIndiaPopDensity800.jpg

Notice the high population density at the northern border of India and Bangladesh and you get an idea of why they are so implacable in their policies toward Tibet.

#171: Fair enough. Thanks for posting that. I should comment that quite often I think out loud. I do regulate what I say, but am still sometimes surprised at what comes out.

It's funny, looking at these cultural mistakes--as I would view them--and pondering the many possible reasons they continue, and what direction it all is leading.

My hope--and I don't think it's a ridiculously optimistic hope--is that decent people come to power in China, and admit in their implementation of social policy and government that Communism doesn't work, and that Capitalism and political liberalism work better than any systems yet devised to build wealth, peace, and freedom. All but fanatics want those things for themselves, their families and their communities.

I actually had a dream of Cuba last night. It was lush, and green. It seemed to contain the possibility of happiness. But secret police and informers were everywhere, and everyone had to be very careful about what they said, and what they did. No innocent happiness was possible.

To a casual onlooker, it might have appeared a decent system, but I was able to look into people's eyes, and could clearly see the whole system was built on lies.

I don't think most people can really see, emotionally, what makes people take to the seas in actions they know are highly dangerous and possibly suicidal, just to get away from Communism. I think I can see it, though: it deadens your soul. It hangs like a fog in the air that never dissipates, and never goes away.

I have been swamped lately, so I haven't been able to view the video for this WOD until today. VERY FRIGGIN'COOL! A great way to pay respect to the foundations and beginnings of CrossFit. It is hard to argue the point that CF has not made an impact in so many people and so many of our warriors here and abroad, thanks to Coach and Lauren. I am proud to be part of it all!

Keep thinking out loud, Barry. You've got a higher gold:crap ratio than most.

I look at China the way many Christians look at Israel so I have the same hope for it that you do. China has two ways to change, slowly and deliberately with deference to and in terms of established traditions, or quickly and radically in a bloody revolution. I think that the leadership in China recognizes the limitations of Communism and have picked option #1.

I must say Lauren you should start posting mindless crap that, in my opinion, ALL religions issue forth. For example, what about the priest that the Catholic church dug out, put a mask on and put on display? Or the ban on using contraceptive that is causing Mexico's population to explode and find its way to USA.

I can find no other reason other than
A) You are pandering to the current hysteria against anything resembling Islam and gaining more money from your military customers (I actually like your market segmentation strategy)

B) You are a jesus freak

I think you are more of A than B.