Cheetahs are the fastest land animal in the world. But did you know that humans can leave them in the dust? At least, in the long run.
That's right, when it comes to endurance, we can outrun wolves, cheetahs, and even horses.
Now, in the beginning, humans fall short because we're lousy sprinters.
Case in point, Usain Bolt couldn't outrun a cheetah in the 100-meter dash if he wanted to, and he tried. But marathons and ultramarathons are a whole other ballgame.
Each year, a small town in Wales holds the Man Versus Horse Marathon. It's a 22-mile race between riders on horseback and runners. And, while horses often win, humans will sometimes prevail.
So what makes humans such endurance running superstars?
The secret weapon is our sweat. We have 2-4 million sweat glands all over our body, which means we can run and cool ourselves at the same time. Having no fur is also a huge plus.
In contrast, dogs rely on panting to cool down, and other animals, like horses and camels, also sweat, but less effectively. As a result, they overheat faster and must slow down sooner.
The mechanics of our running stride also makes us particularly well-suited for endurance running. A human's running gait has two main phases: Aerial when both feet are off the ground and Stance when at least one foot touches the ground.
While in the air, gravity pulls us down, which generates a lot of kinetic energy. However, the second we hit the ground, we instantly decelerate, losing that kinetic energy in the process.
Here's where our special adaptations come in. The tendons and muscles in our legs are very springy. They act like a pogo stick, converting kinetic energy from the aerial phase into elastic potential energy, which we can use later.
In fact, our IT band can store 15-20 times more elastic energy than a chimpanzee's similar body part, the fascia lata. When it comes time to step off, those springy tendons can turn 50% of that elastic pogo-stick energy back into kinetic, making it easier to propel forward. Without that extra energy, we'd have to exert that much more effort just to take a step.
So, why did humans get to be such great endurance runners, anyway?
Some anthropologists believe this became important around 2-3 million years ago, when we started hunting and scavenging. Because we couldn't chase down a gazelle like a cheetah, early humans learned persistence hunting. Where they would track prey over long distances until the prey either overheated or was driven into a trap.
In fact, persistence hunting remained in use until 2014, such as with the San people of the Kalahari Desert.
But distance running can still help you, even if you're not interested in running down your next meal.
Studies show running can lower body weight, body fat, and cholesterol levels. And the longer you train, the greater the health benefits. Just one year of training has been shown to reduce body weight by about 7 lbs, lower body fat by 2.7% and decrease resting heart rate by 2.7%.
It may seem really hard, and maybe even impossible to run a mile or a marathon. But in fact, you were born to go on that run. We all were.
I never was any good at running long distances, but I can still whip any wolf, cheetah, or horse while skating or cycling.
I'm the opposite. In middle school, I was on the ice hockey team. Problem is, I couldn't stop... so the coach kicked me off the team and I joined the ski team (we were in Massachusetts). I ended up doing really well and was in the top competitive team, so it worked out well... but I did love hockey.
Sigh... 20-25 years later... I'm not fat... but damn, if I so much as sprint or do a high kick... I'm pulling something and I'll be sore for weeks. I woke up the other day with a sprain in my neck. I don't think I did anything at all yesterday except study and lay some tile... but my neck hurts... I hate getting old.
[This message has been edited by 82-T/A [At Work] (edited 08-17-2020).]
My greatest gift and worst nightmare is my will to survive. What the hell am I waiting to see?
I mean, it's pretty clear, as a species, we don't necessarily REALLY care about each other. Not really.
We love our families, though. Why is that?
The "Family of Man" is incredibly dysfunctional.
I wonder if that's why Capitalism was invented? It's the one "religion" we can ALL get behind! Cash Money!
1 - Many people care about each other. I absolutely care about others, and I spend at least half my free time helping my neighbors who are always asking for help. I sponsor 4 kids in various countries between Thailand, Bangladesh, and Kenya. And I teach my daughter to be courteous to others, and to thank police officers when she sees them. But what I have very little patience for, are people who feel sorry for themselves.
2 - Capitalism has pulled more people out of poverty, accomplished more scientific feats, put a man on the moon, and cured more diseases than any other concept in the history of man.
Originally posted by 82-T/A [At Work]: Many people care about each other.
But parts-per-million...not so much. People are just good hiders. Including me.
Everything about us is Human.
"No man is an island entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main;
Any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind. And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee." ~ John Donne
And here I thought that NASA was government (read taxpayers) funded!
It took me a minute before I understood what you were suggesting, because it seemed like you were agreeing with me, but then I realized you were not.
Taxpayers get their money from Capitalism. Government gets their money from the taxpayer. So yes... Capitalism put man on the moon.
FYI, I am wearing my mid-90s Capitals jersey.
quote
Originally posted by Boondawg:
But parts-per-million...not so much. People are just good hiders. Including me.
Everything about us is Human.
"No man is an island entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main;
Any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind. And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee." ~ John Donne
I literally have no idea what you're trying to say.
[This message has been edited by 82-T/A [At Work] (edited 08-03-2020).]
I'm the opposite. In middle school, I was on the ice hockey team. Problem is, I couldn't stop... so the coach kicked me off the team and I joined the ski team (we were in Massachusetts). I ended up doing really well and was in the top competitive team, so it worked out well... but I did love hockey.
As for running though, did that all through high school. Funny thing is, I only joined track because there was a girl on the track team that I liked. She was really cute during the freshman year I remember, but she started to get ugly the older she got. I'd totally lost interest in her by mid-year and started dating someone else. But I loved the track team. We were one of the best schools for track in our county. I don't remember what my personal record was for a mile, but it was less than 5 minutes. I was a sprinter though, so I generally did open 200, 200 relay, open 400, 400 relay, and open 800 meters. I rarely did a mile competitively. But for track practice, we did typically run anywhere from 8-9 miles every single day... and that was in addition to whatever exercises the coach made us do. He had us do what he called "suicide" runs. We'd run 50 meters as fast as we could in one direction, and then IMMEDIATELY stop on the line and sprint back the other way. Essentially, it would be like a hockey stop (which you know I can't do... haha), but it was hell on our ankles and shins. We'd do this back and forth for about 10 minutes without stopping... it was brutal.
I remember at the beginning of track season... the first 2-3 weeks we'd all be in inextricable pain. I mean, I'd sit in bed at night, move a finger, and my entire body would be racked with paint. That's because, like a typical kid... once the season was over, I went back to basically doing nothing. With the occasional pick-up basketball game in the neighborhood, I did nothing until the next sports season...
On a rant here... but damn, it really sucks getting old. I mean, it really sucks. I remember when I was 18 years old... I could do 1,000lbs on the inclined press with my legs. I could do more, but I couldn't find any more 45lb weights, and there was no more room on all the pegs on the machine. I could run less than a 5 minute mile. During a full-on sprint, only my toes touched the ground and they only hit the ground every ~14 feet at minimum. Every day after track practice, I'd go to Mc.Donalds and get THREE double-quarter pounders w/ cheese extra value means. I'd eat all three burgers, eat most of the fries, and drink one of the diet cokes. Then I'd go home, and eat whatever it was my mom was making for dinner, with seconds. I was skinny... I mean lean as hell... I had the body fat % of an athlete.
Sigh... 20-25 years later... I'm not fat... but damn, if I so much as sprint or do a high kick... I'm pulling something and I'll be sore for weeks. I woke up the other day with a sprain in my neck. I don't think I did anything at all yesterday except study and lay some tile... but my neck hurts... I hate getting old.
I use to walk, run and then bike everywhere. I would leave the house and only come home for dinner and a place to sleep. Then girls happened, add a dash of cars and some things teenagers shouldn't be doing and I quit being so active. I did run again in the Navy, found out that my lung capacity had greatly diminished. Now two flights of stairs and I wont be able to talk for a solid minute.
I miss running, I never joined the team but some days I would end up down on at the track and run around and jump the hurdles. Mom would not let me join sports, it wasn't until years later I found out she couldn't afford the mandatory insurance for my participation. If she only knew about the number of bridges that I jumped off or the number of times I tangled with a car on my bike and lost.
I am glad that was not on the list of things that she took to the grave. Well I hope so anyway.
Is a long life a blessing or a curse? I am still undecided. Check back in 9 years.
Taxpayers get their money from Capitalism. Government gets their money from the taxpayer. So yes... Capitalism put man on the moon.
FYI, I am wearing my mid-90s Capitals jersey.
I trust you were also wearing a huge smile while you were rationalizing NASA's source of funding.
If you were serious, you should then have no issue with socialized medicine. After all, it's funded by taxpayers who earn their income through Capitalism!
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Originally posted by 82-T/A [At Work]:
Sigh... 20-25 years later... I'm not fat... but damn, if I so much as sprint or do a high kick... I'm pulling something and I'll be sore for weeks. I woke up the other day with a sprain in my neck. I don't think I did anything at all yesterday except study and lay some tile... but my neck hurts... I hate getting old.
You're not exactly ancient. Heck, I'll be 65 in December... and until this damn COVID-19 crap occurred (and everything being shut down), I was still playing hockey weekly (in fall, winter and spring), tandem cycling (summer), and attending yoga class year-round twice a week (for the last eight years). I can only hope I don't turn into a... umm... senior citizen before this pandemic is over.
[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 08-03-2020).]
I trust you were also wearing a huge smile while you were rationalizing NASA's source of funding.
If you were serious, you should then have no issue with socialized medicine. After all, it's funded by taxpayers who earn their income through Capitalism!
Your correlation here makes absolutely no sense. I've already explained to you why the United States cannot have socialized medicine for the masses. The United States performs 75% of medical research and technology development BECAUSE it does not have socialized medicine. Corporations pay for 67% of the healthcare in the United States. Why on Earth do Democrats want to relieve the corporations of this burden and put it instead upon the middle-class taxpayer? This makes no sense to me. We already have socialized care for those who are UNABLE to care for themselves. It's called "Medicaid." We also have "Medicare" for those who are elderly and it provides a basic underlying healthcare platform for which the elderly can get care. If they have more money, they can get various plans to supplement. Everyone else can get it through their employer. The remaining few either literally don't want to pay for it, don't want to go through an exchange, or they are illegal. And... illegals, like everyone else, can still go into any hospital to get care. We also have Tri-Care for anyone who served in the military.
As I've explained, implementing a full national healthcare plan means the Government entirely controls pricing in order to curb costs, which ends the ability for corporations to set their own pricing for the latest technology.
EVERYTHING the Government does is paid for by the taxpayer. Canada even, at one time, was more capitalist than it is now. Every country that has ever become anything got that way BECAUSE of capitalism. There is not a single country in this world that ever became great because of socialism... I mean, unless you count attacking neighboring countries and then plundering their resources and using their population as slave labor, which is what the National Socialist Workers Party (NAZIs) did in 1943, and also what the United Soviet Socialist Republic did through most of the 50s all the way through the 1980s.
Every country usually becomes great through Capitalism, and then slides calmly into irrelevance from Socialism.
Anyway... as I said, everything the Government of the United States does comes from capitalism.
NASA is a largely frivolous science and space exploration agency that serves no real purpose to people in the United States, but it does serve as a beacon of "forward progress" of all humanity, as the most powerful country in the world. That is a price that the United States population, and through their duly elected representatives, have chosen to implement.
At this point, the United States has NOT chosen to implement a socialized health care system, and I don't think it will.
NASA is a largely frivolous science and space exploration agency that serves no real purpose to people in the United States, but it does serve as a beacon of "forward progress" of all humanity...
In other words, you're saying that NASA stands as a beacon for socialism. Right on, Todd!
In other words, you're saying that NASA stands as a beacon for socialism. Right on, Todd!
Listen, America thanks you for the cargo arm for our Space Shuttle. That was a very nice Socialist contribution... again, thank you.
But the United States population has decided that, as the most powerful (economically and technologically) country in the world, that we want to spend some of our wealth on furthering all of humanity... to show the rest of the world how this is done.
You can call it charity for the rest of the world... we gave you velcro, tang, and multiple advances in understanding the electromagnetic spectrum...
Taxpayers get their money from Capitalism. Government gets their money from the taxpayer. So yes... Capitalism put man on the moon.
quote
Originally posted by 82-T/A [At Work]:
But the United States population has decided that, as the most powerful (economically and technologically) country in the world, that we want to spend some of our wealth on furthering all of humanity... to show the rest of the world how this is done.
You can call it charity for the rest of the world...
Patrick, you clearly do not understand the concept of Socialism. You're argument is that if the Government provides something, anything, then it's Socialism. This is retarded, at best. There is a whole fundamental difference between providing for the common good, versus complete control of an entire market segment in a controlled economy. An example of Socialism is where a national healthcare system is owned by the Government and where the Government runs and handles everything.
Maybe the arm that Canada provided was made by Socialist slave or union workers from Canada... but in the United States, the moon landing happened because the American taxpayer funded a project with the use of corporations to build a rocket and landing module. It took multiple corporations such as Lockheed Martin, Boeing, etc. Your image isn't funny, it's not even slightly clever, it's just annoying because you clearly don't understand the difference between Keynesian / Standard / MMT.
Currently, globally, we're all doing MMT, even though people may not realize it... which is worse than Socialism. Most countries start out very successful as a Capitalist society under standard economics, then mosey into Socialism as people get fat and lazy, and then the country begins to fail (happens ALWAYS), and then they start moving towards MMT, and then the country simply collapses economically, like the USSR, Venezuela, etc. Incidentally, the entire globe under this pandemic seems to have skipped ahead and gone straight to MMT which is print as much as you need.
Is a long life a blessing or a curse? I am still undecided. Check back in 9 years.
Hard to say, I guess that depends on the definition of a long life and what you consider a blessing or a curse.
Based on the things I've done or attempted, I consider myself to be lucky to be above the grass. As we grow older and lose mobility, eyesight, hearing and all the other things that come with aging, life becomes more difficult and challenging. I can't gripe too much though, one way or another, it's been one hell of a ride. And, there's still more to come. Hopefully
Rams
[This message has been edited by blackrams (edited 08-03-2020).]
Hard to say, I guess that depends on the definition of a long life and what you consider a blessing or a curse.
Based on the things I've done or attempted, I consider myself to be lucky to be above the grass. As we grow older and lose mobility, eyesight, hearing and all the other things that come with aging, life becomes more difficult and challenging. I can't gripe too much though, one way or another, it's been one hell of a ride. And, there's still more to come. Hopefully
Rams
I don't feel any different in my head than I did when I was in my late 20s But I quickly come back to reality when I wake up in pain just from sleeping wrong I do not fear the end, there is no reason and spending your life worried over something that will happen anyway is just foolish. But I do tire from attending and hearing about funerals. One of those less liked benefits of growing old.
Originally posted by 82-T/A [At Work]: NASA is a largely frivolous science and space exploration agency that serves no real purpose to people in the United States, but it does serve as a beacon of "forward progress" of all humanity.
I mean yeah, other than creating or helping to create numerous types of technology that have been assimilated into all facets of our civilization and improved it in more ways we can imagine.. But yeah, frivolous with no real purpose.
Your image isn't funny, it's not even slightly clever, it's just annoying...
I'm not surprised you can't see (or appreciate) it, but that image is the perfect accompaniment to the sequence of comments I quoted. Will Rogers would've approved.
[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 08-04-2020).]
Hard to say, I guess that depends on the definition of a long life and what you consider a blessing or a curse.
Based on the things I've done or attempted, I consider myself to be lucky to be above the grass. As we grow older and lose mobility, eyesight, hearing and all the other things that come with aging, life becomes more difficult and challenging. I can't gripe too much though, one way or another, it's been one hell of a ride. And, there's still more to come. Hopefully
Rams
Hearing I never used that much anyway. Eyesight, well it important but there IS a lot of sheet I don't really want to see (especially in walmart). However, this crap of crawing over to something to grab on every time I get down and need to stand up again is getting to be a ROYAL pita !!
I mean yeah, other than creating or helping to create numerous types of technology that have been assimilated into all facets of our civilization and improved it in more ways we can imagine.. But yeah, frivolous with no real purpose.
Yes, I completely agree. I absolutely am not suggesting that NASA hasn't been hugely beneficial to society. But the benefit of NASA is more than simply being somewhat of a "Bell Labs," the organization is existential. But that in and of itself makes it ethereal, and in that respect... totally worthless to many people.
NASA has had a very turbulent past few administrations. Say what you will about Trump, but he's the first president since Reagan (and to some extent, Clinton) that actually saw value in NASA. NASA was heavily politicized during the last administration, which almost spelled the end of the agency. You see, politically speaking, NASA has lauded by the political center, but hated by the political extremes. On the right, you have some ultra-religious people who believe NASA is an attempt to disprove God, and that many of the missions with the mere mention of "seeking out life" is an attack on God. So... on the far right, NASA is hated. Then you have a had a hugely growing resistance to NASA on the left because they felt that any money being spent on NASA should be spent instead on the poor people. This was *exemplified* under the Obama administration.
President Obama cut funding substantially. He essentially cancelled the Shuttle Program's replacement module, and then prematurely cut the entire Shuttle program years-early. This was catastrophic for the space industry. There was a mass exodus of talent at NASA and the companies that supported it. Scientists and Engineers who previously supported the program were immediately all fired when these contracts disappeared. Furthermore, Federal employees who actually worked for NASA (and weren't contractors) were given "early-out" options, and many retired. They also stopped hiring new talent.
It got even worse, President Obama focused a ton of resources in the Goddard Space Center towards what he called "Muslim Outreach." Which... talk about separation of Church and State... what was the point of that? And even worse than that... in California, he cancelled numerous projects and programs, and significantly delayed the MARS program. He also turned the Joint Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) into the Center for Climate Science. Suddenly, scientists and engineers who spent their entire career (and their college years) working and studying space and jet propulsion... were now being assigned to work to prove Global Warming... essentially a job that could have otherwise been assigned to NOAA.
President Obama cut funding for NASA every single year that he actually HAD a budget, and Republicans in the House were only too happy to support it.
Say what you will about President Trump, who is increasingly looking like an MMT-supporting President, but he has supported NASA more than any other President since Kennedy. I think he's even been more pro-NASA than Reagan was (who saved the Shuttle Program from being scraped).
The good thing is... with everything that Obama has done, it's created a void which companies like Space-X have been able to fill, which ultimately reduces the cost to the taxpayer, and provides for very high-skilled professions both in Houston and Merrit Island. Furthermore, as much as Trump is a show-boater, he recognizes what's happened to NASA, and he's resisted politicizing it.
NASA had a slight resurgence on the left due quite literally to the NASA shirt that Clockboy wore. So a lot of people are wearing NASA shirts now that 4 years ago could have cared less. And on the right, many people who hated NASA are now OK with it once again because President Trump supports NASA. So... NASA is on the right track once again. Problem is... I don't see it staying that way. You get someone like Biden in who's strings are pulled by Marxists, and the goal there is to reduce America's influence in the world. NASA is most certainly one of the first things on the chopping block as it's universally the one thing everyone in the world likes about the United States.
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Originally posted by Patrick:
I'm not surprised you can't see (or appreciate) it, but that image is the perfect accompaniment to the sequence of comments I quoted. Will Rogers would've approved.
I fully understand what you're saying. You're suggesting that the more I discuss, the bigger the ditch I'm digging. But that is not the perspective at all. You're assumption is that anything provided by Government fits the narrative of Socialism, when I have clearly stated that Socialism is distinctly different where-in the Government takes absolute control of an entire market segment... of which a national healthcare program is 100% an example of. A program that sponsors collaboration and advancement in a particular market segment, by working with private sector to achieve a common goal, is not Socialism.
It's true, I don't understand how anyone can be such a Capitalism fanatic. To constantly feel the need to proclaim that everything positive in the world is due strictly to plan X, whereas everything negative in the world is due to the failure of implementing said plan X is... to be honest... a little disturbing.
It's true, I don't understand how anyone can be such a Capitalism fanatic. To constantly feel the need to proclaim that everything positive in the world is due strictly to plan X, whereas everything negative in the world is due to the failure of implementing said plan X is... to be honest... a little disturbing.
Patrick... it's real simple. I'm not trying to be mean here, but there are people such as yourself that are ignorant about how the economic system works. They don't understand the concept of a free market, how the free market is constantly under attack by both left and right... left by regulation, and right (now) by tariffs. There are people such as yourself who, again, not trying to be mean... but are uneducated in economic theory and concepts... yet they continually push and espouse for Socialism. They defend socialism, and claim the benefits of socialism, when in fact... Socialism is directly responsible for more death than practically any other concept in history.
Capitalism on the other hand, the free-market economic theory of supply and demand (standard economics) is responsible for (at its core) for bringing more people out of poverty than literally any other concept in history... even more than Jesus Christ Himself.
I NEED to defend and constantly make people aware of Capitalism and what it's done for everyone, BECAUSE of people like you who are constantly trying to tear it down and irresponsibly change the narrative.
Socialism is responsible for the collapse of the USSR, NAZI germany, Venezuela, Vietnam, Cuba, North Korea, Nicaragua, Cambodia, Congo, and many others that don't even exist anymore because they collapsed. There are NO failed Capitalist countries... they always succeed so long as they are capitalist. As soon as they begin to implement Socialism, and socialist practices, they begin to fail. Greece is a perfect example, a former Capitalist country which is now very much socialist and has had to be bailed out twice since...
Much of Western Europe (as Cliff Pennock will attest) were formerly VERY Capitalist and successful, but since achieving success... their residents got lazy and begin implementing socialist programs and policies, and now most of them are a shadow of their former selves.
Literally, history, facts, etc... are on my side. You can't even fight this with anecdotes... you just say random things with no substance at all. You can't even begin to debate me on this, and you know that you cannot, because you'll lose.
I will always defend Capitalism, because nice people such as yourself have been brainwashed to believe Socialism is good. Socialism will ONLY ever work, when every single country has been forced under it.
I will always defend Capitalism, because nice people such as yourself have been brainwashed to believe Socialism is good.
I NEED to defend and constantly make people aware of Capitalism and what it's done for everyone, BECAUSE of people like you who are constantly trying to tear it down and irresponsibly change the narrative.
Todd, what you "NEED" to do is step back and actually read what people post. As soon as you see/hear any variation of the word "social", your fanaticism kicks in and you start imagining things that were never stated.
Find one comment of mine (in over 20 years of posting here), where I have declared Socialism is my government of choice. And no, don't bother excitedly posting quotes of mine in regards to socialized medicine. Find me stating that Capilalism needs to be done away with and how we should all bow to Socialism. Should be plenty of examples from over the years as apparently I've been brainwashed.
Temper the celebration. Although I've never stated that Capitalism should be done away with, it's far from a perfect economic system. Exploitation of both people and natural resources is an unfortunate recurring theme.
Temper the celebration. Although I've never stated that Capitalism should be done away with, it's far from a perfect economic system. Exploitation of both people and natural resources is an unfortunate recurring theme.
For once we agree on something. There ARE laws in place to prevent the exploitation and abuse, however getting somebody to enforce them can be...problematic....to say the least. My experience as tech and middle-management in the corporate world convinced me most of upper management are psychopaths who belong on chain gangs just to keep thier tendencies under control.
BUT, that is not a problem with the capitalistic system. THAT is a people problem that needs solving.
Well sure, a system is only as good as the people who implement it. If profits and share prices trump everything else, then abuse, if not restricted, will run rampant.
Well sure, a system is only as good as the people who implement it. If profits and share prices trump everything else, then abuse, if not restricted, will run rampant.
If not restricted? Who's gonna make that decision?
Originally posted by Patrick: Well sure, a system is only as good as the people who implement it. If profits and share prices trump everything else, then abuse, if not restricted, will run rampant.
I could... but I also couldn't be bothered. Google is your friend, knock yourself out. There's plenty of info available. It's not exactly uncharted territory.
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Originally posted by cliffw:
How do you feel about mass mail in voting ?
I'd be concerned about potential fraud, people being how they are... but I know nothing about it.
Hopefully
