do a pushup everyday

Posted on by
1

I made a bucket list this past weekend. Some of it was pretty wild stuff (live on a spaceship, for example). But right near the end, I wrote down “do a pushup everyday”. And I choose this for two reasons: I don’t work out enough, and I don’t think I’ve ever done anything every day for a whole year.

So, I set an alarm on my phone for 10am every day that says “Do a pushup now!” with the location “Here” – and I’ve done pushups in the bedroom, living room, and office.

Now, I know what you’re thinking… one pushup a day isn’t a whole lot. Okok, you’re right – that’d only be 365 pushups for the year. Which is probably around 300 more than I did last year. Some people do 400 pushups in a week. But it’s not really so much about the number of pushups, because once I started, I found that I often do at least 10. So, we’re looking at 3,650 pushups / year. This is by no means a world record, but it is about 3,600 more than I did last year.

Is this going to make me unbelievably fit? Probably not… and I’m no doctor or physical therapist, but I think 3,500 pushups in a year is more healthy than 50.

Go get ‘em, tiger!

Posted on by
2

This phrase has lost it’s touch. For some reason, it seems to only be meant for kids nowadays. Adults are supposed to be responsible and do what’s accepted by the norms of society? We all know the phrase, and would love to live by it. But we don’t!

Well, I say nay to all of that!

Up until just hours ago, and for a variety of reasons, I thought I was a day-siezer (a little poetic license on “carpe diem”). I’ve traveled around Michigan, drove to California, visited Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Indiana, worked in Kentucky. I’ve worked 4 full-time jobs in 4 different industries. I’ve made random roadtrips, for weekend getaways, to party at a state school. The list goes on. And all by the age of 22. I’ve tried all sort of new things: I’ve become good at using chopsticks, shot handguns, started eating beef jerky, become an avid off-road enthusiast, etc. Things I never thought would happen if you asked me 4 years ago.

But what was my plan? By now, I was suppose to have my passport, travel Europe, hike Kilimanjaro, change the world, celebrate a New Years in Iceland, and most importantly, make my own job. Oh, and have an awesome lady-friend by my side the entire time. Yet, I’ve done none.

Okok, so things don’t go to plan. But to miss on all marks?! C’mon. Hell, I went and worked a few stuffy jobs, and between those, was a lazy unemployed college kid… and I did nothing… even though I had all these dreams (and time to fulfill them)! But why didn’t I act on these dreams? Because it was sorta, kinda, what I learned growing up. It’s what the school told me was right. Don’t spend all your money. Get an education. Find a job. Be responsible. Cut your hair. Bullshit, bullshit, bullshit. And there’s times where I look back and wonder why I didn’t step out and do something I was too afraid to do. I had the means to do so. Hah, and furthermore… did I try to compensate for these feelings with doing basically the same stupid shit with the same old guys, but on a different night? Yeah, definitely.

So, today, I turn over a new leaf. I’m a leaf-turner (aka a day-seizer). And none of this “try” crap. Not some stupid New Years resolution. No. I will do this. And starting tomorrow, I’m actually starting to live by this “Go get ‘em, tiger” attitude. Tomorrow, I will begin working a job I created for myself. Does it pay? No. Benefits? No. Do people even take it that seriously? Who knows, but I bet not. But one thing still stands: I made my own job.

And with this leaf-turning, I’ve decided that I’ve had enough of being this passionate-less sap stuck dragging his feet along. Carpe Diem, amirite?!

So, I urge myself and anyone who actually reads this to (even though I can barely attest to doing any of these myself):

1. Do your own thing, whatever it may be.

2. Go for the girl (or guy). Take a leap of faith.

3. And travel. Get out there and experience new things!

Don’t settle. Don’t get in a (bad) rut. (I’d argue that good ruts exist!) Don’t live in monotony! Make something for yourself!

To quote one of my favorite movies, Poolhall Junkies:

“…you can’t go on playing bums all your life. Sooner or later, if you’re any kind of man, you got step up… step out, and see what the fuck you got.”

 

And to close, I leave you with a great song that just might motivate you to make a change in your life: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdIUzBoowbQ&feature=related

 

my problem with the color blue

Posted on by
2

*cue hipster ‘tude* ugh. it’s sooo mainstream. *end hipster*

But seriously, everyone’s using it. and you might be saying “But Mike, the sky and the ocean are blue, and they’re beautiful!” you’re totally right. Even my background picture that I took in San Francisco is a fading blue skyline. but check it and see:

eiffel 65 would probably love this.

Look at all the blues!

So, I did a little thinking + research.

Obviously, blue is part of the primary color set of Red, Green, & Blue. I had a few red buttons (4ish +/- some pink/purple/orangey ones). 4 more green ones (notably, the phone and messages buttons). Yet, I’ve got a full page of blue ones. Ones that aren’t uncommon for lots of people to have. In fact, I’ve got even more blue buttons. And quite frankly, all the blues are making me sad.

So, some basics about color theory. If you’re too lazy to learn, there’s here’s the abridged version:

“Cool colors are best used on professional and clean-cut sites to achieve a cool corporate look. Cool colors stir up emotions of authority, establishment, and trust. For example, cool shades of blue are used in many banking sites, such as Chase.”

“Blue is a peaceful and calming color exuding stability and expertise. It is a common color used in corporate sites because of this. Blue can also symbolize trust and dependability.”

But to add some validity to those sad feelings I was getting just a mere couple paragraphs ago: “”A cool shade can bring about the negative side of blue, symbolizing depression, coldness, and passiveness.”

And extra, super-duper abridged for some others:

red – passion / rage (valentines day vs. bloodbath)

yellow – joy / caution (sunflower vs. yield sign) … and sidenote: yellow is the most fatiguing color.

green – nature / greed (plant-life vs dolla dolla bills)

Back to the “cool corporate look” that blue is just oozing. I get it. But what I don’t get it is why some websites are using blue. Sure, we want to be professional and/or trusting on LinkedIn, Delta Airlines, Dropbox, and (maybe) Google. But (online privacy concerns aside), how much trust do we need to put into Facebook, Twitter, Reddit? (Maybe privacy concerns is the big glaring item of trust?) Words With Friends? Pandora? and Zappos?

In fact, I’d really like to hone in on Pandora and Zappos.

Pandora lets you stream music, an unbelievably creative outlet full of artists sharing their passion. I’m curious how many #1 records have a ton of blue on their album art. Oh, that’s right, I have the Internet at my fingertips!

35 Beautiful Music Album Covers - a few here with heavy usage of blue, but not many

79 Amazing Album Covers - again, a few blues, but not many (if you go to the 99 Best Designed album covers from the same guy, there’s actually a fair amount of blues, but not a majority)

Let’s take this just one step further, though. How many Blues genre album covers are blue?! (Sadly, I’m getting a little tired, but here’s some cool info about “blue notes”). And granted this is just another internet blog, but I’d argue somewhere between 4-6 of these 20 albums make the color blue a main focus of their cover.

And check out the album covers for the “ambient” genre on this page.

Anyway… I almost forgot about Zappos, which sells clothes. Clothes are how you make yourself unique and influence first impressions. Ok, so blue isn’t that bad for clothing, but neither are the other colors! Right?!

And finally, some science! Blue has the shortest wavelength of the RGB colors (see exhibit 1, below). Which means it’s the least straining on the eyes (I’m actually assuming this, but guessing I’m spot on). Read more here, if you so desire.

exhibit 1

Ok ok, I get it. Blue is good. Makes people think you’re honest, of utmost quality, etc. It puts the least strain on your eyes. But gawd, does it get boring. Let’s let some green and red into our lives. Mix things up! Keepin’ it real, as the kids say.

p.s. But avoid too much yellow, it hurts my eyes. ><