A Learning Man's Perspective: April 19, 2024
Hey There!
Here’s your weekly list of ideas from A Learning Man’s Perspective.
This week has had its ups and downs. My daughter has been gone for a week and I've missed her. With her gone, her sister has become my roommate once more and it's been... Fun 😊
Anyways, the random tidbit about me out of the way, ready for this week's interests/fancies?
The Suitcase Carry
Doogie Howser MD
Chess.com VS Lichess: A Review
People Dey
Today’s Quote:
¨Life comes from physical survival; but the good life comes from what we care about.¨
- Rollo May
The Suitcase Carry
I'm halfway into Sydney Cummings' "Flex" program on YouTube. It's the third program of hers I've done so far, and I've seen great gains in muscle that I've built and my ability to endure the stresses that my sport puts on my body.
However, I have been uncomfortable with some of the ab exercises she throws into her workouts - particularly the sit-up and its variations. I've believed (based on fitness research) for a long time, that sit-ups are not only a high-risk movement for human beings but that they also don't give your core the stability and strength it needs for strenuous activity.
So, in this Flex program, I've been throwing in alternative exercises to strengthen and stabilize my core. An example of a great exercise for core strength and stability is the ¨Suitcase Carry¨.
Why is doing the suitcase carry better than sit-ups? First, it engages multiple muscle groups simultaneously, including your core, shoulders, and legs, while also helping you develop stability and balance. It's a functional exercise that mimics real-life movements like carrying groceries or lifting heavy objects, making it more beneficial for overall strength and fitness. Sit-ups are mostly cosmetic and have no carryover into the real world.
If you'd like to change up what you consider to be your "core workouts," here's a video from Squat University explaining why the suitcase carry is great and teaching you how to do it safely.
Doogie Howser MD
There have been many books and movies that I read or watched as a child that were either highly enjoyable or helped shape my consciousness. As I've gotten older I've forgotten many of the stories I watched or read and I've often longed to watch them again. When I do get that opportunity I'm quite pleased.
For instance, I recently reentered the "Doogie Howser MD" series. If you're a millennial like myself, you may already know this show. But if you're not, Doogie Howser MD is a show about a teenage genius by the same name who has to manage being a full-time medical doctor while also navigating the stressors of late teenagehood and becoming a man.
Watching this show as a kid gave me a perspective of the responsibilities that adults usually have to deal with from the eyes of a young boy and it's something that I'm grateful I got. Watching it now as a father, it's been intriguing to realize that there are still lessons to extract from the show.
Doogie Howser MD is available on Disney Plus, but here's a quick clip of the first scene in the series. I hope you watch the whole thing.
Chess.com VS Lichess: A Review
I started actively playing chess at the beginning of last year. I fell into it with a weird obsession and have since played every single day up until now.
When I started, I used the Chess.com app. It's easy to navigate, the gameplay is seamless and the lessons are short and interactive, making studying relatively easy. Most beginners can (using the Chess.com app) learn the fundamentals, practice, and make their way up the chess rankings relatively smoothly. The only downside is that the Chess.com app isn't free. It costs at least €5/month for the basic package, which gives subscribers access to all lessons and other study material.
As I've gotten better at the game though, I've worked my way through most of the fundamental lessons and now mostly need regular feedback on my gameplay as I look for other material. However, Chess.com doesn't provide reviews for free and charges a higher premium for them.
And so, I recently moved my gameplay to the Lichess app. Lichess is a free and open-source app that was created for chess players by chess players. Everything on the app is free, including access to puzzles, study material, and unlimited game reviews. It's almost like Lichess is the Android to Chess.com's iOS. And much like the Android vs iOS comparison, Lichess is not remotely as easy to navigate as Chess.com and requires a little more actual chess knowledge to take advantage of.
Of course, I'm only telling you on the off chance that you have a thing for chess and would want to choose an app to play regularly.
People Dey
As I peruse Mark Zuckerberg’s internet, I will often see someone doing something absolutely mind-blowing. I’ve decided to share them with you occasionally in this category called, “people dey.”
Today, here’s a child ninja making his way across a death-defying obstacle course.
And that is it from me this weekend!
You make sure you take care of yourself! Also, if you have some extra range, take care of someone else, okay?
As always, lemme ask you a favor before I go; I’m always looking out for interesting stuff. So if you look through any of the things I share and think of something slightly related that you think I might enjoy/find meaningful, please share it with me in the comments.
How about dat?
Cheers!