sine qua non

Running? Walking? They’re both great?

jkratz — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 22:35:47 +0000

Lots of mentions of this article today about the same study being used say that running is better than walking and vice versa. Interesting article but it, and the commentary on it I've been seeing around the web, seem to ignore the fact that running has a much larger impact on the body than walking does in the overall health, a larger detrimental impact. The article mentions the increase in problems with the feet and legs but seems to kind of brush that aside. Years of running killed my knees and I can't do it anymore. Knowing that I can get the same overall benefits from walking, even if it's for a longer period of time, is great to know. No, I won't get the same cardiovascular endurance but I'll still be able to move

Anti-Muslim sentiment in the wake of the Boston Marathon bombings

jkratz — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 17:19:27 +0000

In the wake of the Boston Marathon bombings and the identification by at least one of the brothers that he was Muslim I'm not surprised to read this today in the Washington Post.

I knew trouble would start brewing when the media latched on to the Chetchen/Muslim angle. The discussion of the younger Tsaraev and his behaviors (smoking pot, partying) don't match with any sort of what I would consider religious behavior, especially Muslim behavior. It's a sad state of affairs that American Muslims have to say anything about this situation let alone apologize or distance themselves from it.

I hope that thinking, rational people will realize this has nothing to do with Islam. For those who aren't rational keep your racist, anti-Muslim crap to yourselves. Americans are Americans, Muslim or otherwise. We all share the same right to peace.

jkratz — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 15:03:14 +0000

I wish I would have stopped to take video of the clouds around the Sears/Willis Tower this morning when I came into work. Rain was moving out this morning over the lake and the clouds were very low. On the south face of the Tower the air was completely clear. On the north face clouds were blowing like crazy streaming northwards making an eerily similar appearance to the peak of Mt. Everest when it has ice crystals blowing off the peak due to the jet stream. Cool stuff.

Finally a sign of Spring!

jkratz — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 03:23:59 +0000

RIP Roger Ebert

jkratz — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 02:47:35 +0000

A Chicago legend, Roger Ebert, died today. It was a shock to me because just two days ago he wrote about all of his plans for the future. A recurrence of cancer took him but it seemed that on Tuesday things were under control. I never particularly cared for his movie reviews, as great as they were. I found that I usually disagreed with them. I loved his other writing, especially since thyroid cancer took his ability to speak. That seemed to bring out his eloquence and allowed him to write about considerably more than movies. He will be missed.

Just Hanging Out

jkratz — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 01:45:18 +0000

Just Hanging Out, a photo by jasonkratz on Flickr.

Bridge to Nowhere

jkratz — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 01:44:47 +0000

Bridge to Nowhere, a photo by jasonkratz on Flickr.

Chicago River at Kinzie Street

jkratz — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 01:44:06 +0000

Chicago River at Kinzie Street, a photo by jasonkratz on Flickr.

Row, Row, Row your Boat

jkratz — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 01:43:28 +0000

Row, Row, Row your Boat, a photo by jasonkratz on Flickr.

Traffic

jkratz — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 01:42:42 +0000

Traffic, a photo by jasonkratz on Flickr.