Boston Marathon Terror Attack

The people in Boston, near the finish line, will share many of the experiences I had February 26, 1993 at 12:17 PM when the bomb exploded in the World Trade Center. They will feel as if their brains aren't functioning properly. They will experience memory losses. Loud noises will startle them.

Only a few people other than those experiencing a bombing truly understand its sway. The victims will understand the impact of the cacophony that will persist in their minds for God knows how long. Some will understand the sadness of watching a person bleed to death. The sadness will hang like a cloud over their lives and impose a prison-like confinement, making them fear crowds, people, and loud noises. The impact will create sensitivity to every news story that even resembles terrorism.

The event will change their lives in ways only they will comprehend. They will look at foreigners will suspicion. They will recoil in horror when some say terrorism is not a big deal. They will feel intense anger when these atavistic. Ideologically cretins spew their hate on media venues. They will understand Israel much better, too.

Maybe, I hope, they will empathize with Christians in Egypt, Iraq or any Islamic state, where infidels are viewed as lesser humans, and these infidels do not merit the same status as the ruling mass, nor do other factions of the same religion.

I welcome them to the club and wish they had not had the experience.

New Addiction

In addition to the many addictions already affecting me, I have a new addiction: walking at twelve to fifteen degree elevation on a treadmill. One might argue that it’s a subset of my addiction to exercise, and that may be true.

One of the best aspects of treadmill incline: it burns calories at a rate of more than 600 calories per hour. That means three hours of incline treadmill walking/running can take off one-half of a pound weekly. This doesn’t consider the impact it has on the legs. It makes them strong without the bulky buildup that weights can bring that can make one oh…so slow.

If you’re looking for a great workout—give it a try.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

The year 2008 ended with a roar. I became so busy there was little time to take a break. So I took an extended vacation for—the first in about ten years. It felt so good I decided to take a few vacations every year, and leave my old habits behind.

Frequent vacations help people recharge their batteries—so to speak. Human beings need a break from the daily grind to reduce the stress that builds up. Stress can impose chronic and acute illness on individuals.

Stress in the body produces an increase in the hormones adrenaline, noradrenalin and corticosteroids. These hormones generate tense muscles, queasiness as well as an increase in breathing and heart rates. Long-term stress may cause the following complications: allergies, digestive problems, heart disease (including hypertension), and panic attacks.

Fortunately, none of these became an issue for me. That’s because I exercise vigorously several times a week.

So, as you might have guessed, my New Year’s resolution includes frequent vacations—at least three per year.