Greendot = SCAM/FRAUD

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I almost went ahead and bought one of those newfangled prepaid Greendot Visa cards. These cards are sold in popular retailers like Wal-Mart, Rite-Aid, CVS, Walgreens and probably some gas stations too.

Since I avoid credit cards and Paypal debit cards (also via Visa) are full of %@#! I thought these prepaid debit cards might be the perfect alternative. Nope! GREENDOT IS FRAUDULENT. Thankfully I researched consumer complaints on Consumer Affairs (some horror stories!)before throwing away my money to this shady foreign outfit. 

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Swinging around Muscle Beach (Santa Monica)

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Weeks ago I stood in the sand at Santa Monica Beach with my right hand in a temporary splint. All I could do was watch as everyone else took turns flying from ring to ring or climbing rope or doing handstands on parallel bars. It sucked. One boy told me he once broke his hand and it took three months to heal. He was waiting in line for the rings...so that was sort of encouraging.


Well yesterday I was back down at Santa Monica (original site of Muscle Beach, which is now located in Venice Beach) and took a turn on the rings. It'd only been a month since but, unlike homeboy, my injury, thankfully, required far less than 12 or so weeks to mend! It was fun. I went the whole length without a problem. And before that I climbed to the top of a rope. I was back! 


Take my word for it: it sucks not being able to play in the reindeer games.

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Crossfit crossing my mind

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Last Saturday morning I tried an introductory Crossfit workout at Crossfit Mean Streets in downtown Los Angeles. Loved it (as I knew I would)!

It wasn't easy or fun - in the ha-ha sense - mainly because one is grasping air to breath let alone any extra wind to laugh. By fun I mean it's exciting, fast, challenging, and very, very kick-ass. 

That's my instructor Ronnie in skins

When I first happened upon the gym (in Crossfit lingo it's known as a 'box') strolling one uneventful sunny Sunday morning my hand was in a splint owing to a boxer's fracture injury. That was a month ago. Once it was removed a couple of weeks later I went and sat in on a training session, which only stoked me more! I knew I could do the drills - pull-ups, squat-thrusts, rowing machine, etc. - if I joined up but I wasn't foolish enough to think it would be a cinch; BUT I KNEW I COULD DO IT.

And I did. The intro routine that Saturday morning (I did not want to leave my warm bed!) made me wish 1) I was back in bed snug and cozy under the blankets and 2) that I was in better shape. Man, was I getting winded! As a longtime athlete, though, I know that all growth requires discomfort..."no pain, no gain" isn't just some smug, meathead mantra. Or to use another cliche: if it were easy.... That's right, you know the rest.

 

Our introductory workout consisted of 500meters row followed by 21 kettlebell swing followed by 6 kettlebell shoulder presses (per arm); repeated three times as quickly as possible. The warm-up was a stretching walk holding a plastic rod over head, 15 squats with plastic rod over head, 15 crunches, 10-15 push-ups. At the end of the hour our instructor, awesome young, Ronnie Teasdale (also the hardcore gym owner) congratulated us and then dropped the bomb: our workout is what the regular attendees do for a warm-up...in under 8 mins. Hello!

I finished it in 12 mins (and breathed as much a gust of relief as I had left in me).  

Crossfit Mean Streets

213.245.1612

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" Avoiding the downfall "

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My Puerto Rico book is published!

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It's taken me years to complete the manuscript and publish the doggone work but - whew! - now it is done! Holla! Begun in Puerto Rico, outlined in Belize, illustrated in Mexico, completed in Indiana and California, and having travelled with me everywhere in between, the book Autobiography of an American Nigger in San Juan (non-fiction?) is published and available in paperback, hardcover, and electronic download. 
To preview simply click on the cute Lulu button before the frog mistakes it for a fly!

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Walgreens clerk never before saw a passport

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Now the liquor law in Indiana, for one, requires customers show proof of age for purchase if they look less than forty years old. Why not just mark it at the retirement age of 65?! This ought to be an insult to every grown-up Hoosier. The things a lazy or short-sighted constituency permits lawmakers to pass.

being a native "gee-iieee!" the woman had never likely even seen a passport let alone own one

A few days past I went to a Walgreens in Gary, Indiana, to buy some wine. For identification I showed the cashier girl my passport to which she hesistated. "I don't think we can accept this for identification," she hedged. Huh? See, being a native "gee-iieee!" ("Gary, Indiana" citizen for those unfamiliar with the irrational regional pride) the woman had never likely even seen a passport let alone owns one. "I'll need to call the manager," she said.

Fine. 

I didn't move from my place in line. We all waited. 

In short order the white manager arrived and, of course, confirmed for her with a bewildered smile, "Yeah that's good. It's a passport. Sorry for the wait, sir."

Some people NEVER learn there's a whole world outside of their precious hometown. Tsk, tsk, tsk. Pitiful....

 

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Back on campus

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I travelled up from Pto. Vallarta, Mexico - with stops and stays in LA and Chicago along the way - to come back to Crawfordsville for my 10th college reunion. Holy cow ten years has gone by already...and I really don't feel it (or, even better, show it)! 

Once I touched down in town I felt right back in my zone...as if I hadn't been gone for more than a week. The campus has some new buildings and new faces but the spirit, the spirit of scholarship and camaraderie and masculinity, is still there in spades; and the breezes that coursed all round me was like inhaling air of my youth; And I'm still young so imagine the stirrings of those Wabash men catching up on their 30th or 50th class reunions!


I went swimming, participated in our beloved Chapel Sing, drank and smoked cigars with classmates (and two recently minted 2011 alumni) on the back porch of Martindale Hall, and generally laughed and had an awesome weekend.

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