Dan John: Wandering Weights, Our Epic Journey Through All Things Heavy, Issue # 10

Playoffs! As I type this, I'm going to ask nicely, “Do you all understand that the field goal is three points closer to losing?”

I won’t say, “Hey, Packers,” but I am thinking this in the back of my head. 

I've had two great O lifting coaches in my life, Dick Notmeyer and Dave Turner. Certainly, I have to give a nod to Jim Schmitz, but Dick and Dave walked me through training. Dave had great respect for the approach of Pete George. Dave told me to focus on the lifts, not ever worry about warmups, and stay focused on what I do on the platform, ring or field. Reading these two articles on the psychology of weightlifting by Pete George (Part One,  & Part Two) will give you the background of what Dave taught me. And, thank you, Dave and Dick.

One of my readers sent me in this four-point series from Germany on doping in Russia. No, it is not nice and it's ugly. But, if you have the time, this is worth it.

Part One of Four:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1YlKaN3cPs

Part Two of Four:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erDHCgjeHsI

Part Three of Four:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtJNUUyv9wI

Part Four of Four:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_Pw9JMBZ-s
 

I miss Stefan Fernholm. He was a good friend and held my daughter as a baby. If you look carefully, you will see me twice in this movie. This is a stunningly honest report of the use of drugs in sport.

Let’s get back on the positive road here. I love Chip Conrad’s work. This might be my favorite thing he has ever done. Enjoy the story. One hundred years from now, we might find a whimsical review of the Olympics having two lifts.

My favorite part of Wandering Weights is sharing cool things I find online. First, we have a nice piece from Edgar Allan Poe on writing. 

Next, I really liked this list of advice on film making and life from Werner Herzog. My nephews, when I told them I liked this, thought I was the coolest uncle ever.

In this short reading, we find President Teddy Roosevelt’s famous quote on critics.I have mine. Oddly, some of them are followers of WW. I can only help so much. 

Finally, I love this interactive graphic on time management by some of the great names in every field of human endeavor.  There is a lot of wisdom here. You might note that few have space for “Must See TV.”

I liked this review of Taleb’s book Antifragile. What a great way to sum the whole book.

I saw this as a follow-up, but seem to have forgotten to let anyone else know.

If you have two more hours, this Tim Ferriss interview with Pavel is well worth your time. Pavel’s clarity is as good as anything I have seen in the past 10 years about his work.

Intellectual property, I guess, means less and less every day. Oddly, this author discovered the EXACT same fundamental human movements I discuss in each and every workshop. “Synchronicity” is more than just a Police album, I guess. Sounds like Intervention,  but what do I know? If you decide to read the comments, good luck. It gets ugly early and often.

Well, there you go. I like the material this week, but I have to admit, it also makes me sad. Every time I watch that video of Stefan, I slide back 20-plus years and wish I would have said and done more. But, I can’t. 

Let’s all strive to be a bit less antifragile this week.

Dan
DanJohn.net

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