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South Korea’s economy grew at its fastest pace in more than seven years in the third quarter, relying on an inventory build rather than other growth drivers and so pressuring the central bank to cap interest rates this year.

Gross domestic product rose a seasonally adjusted 2.9 per cent in July to September, stronger than a 2.2 per cent rise forecast in a Reuters poll and the fastest clip since the first quarter of 2002.

The Bank of Korea, which released the data on Monday, said Asia’s fourth-largest economy would not have grown at all without the buildup in inventory and Finance Minister Yoon Jeung-hyun reiterated that it was too early for authorities to withdraw stimulus put in place to support activity during the financial crisis.

“I see companies’ restocking contributed substantially to the GDP growth, while consumption and construction investment remain weak,” said Seo Cheol-soo, an economist at Daewoo Securities.

“I do not think this data, while strong, will prompt the Bank of Korea to raise the key interest rate suddenly. (The rate rise will come) perhaps in the first quarter of next year.”

GDP rose a revised 2.6 per cent in the second quarter.

The export-dependent economy expanded by 0.6 per cent in the third quarter from a year earlier, contrary to expectations for a decline of 0.3 per cent and marking the first year-on-year growth since the third quarter of 2008.

December treasury bond futures more than halved their early 30-tick loss by 0055 GMT. The 1- and 3-year interest rate swap spread slightly widened, reflecting an unchanged near-term outlook for the policy interest rate.

Rate rise seen by early 2010

The Bank of Korea said in a statement that private consumption and capital investment were the next biggest contributors to the quarterly growth after the inventory buildup, whereas government spending and net exports dragged on growth.

government spending shrank by a seasonally adjusted 0.8 per cent in the third quarter after a 1.1 per cent gain in the previous quarter, underlining concerns that the effect of global stimulus was quickly fading.

Most analysts expect the Bank of Korea to keep interest rates on hold until early next year to wait for evidence that the global economic recovery is on a solid footing following its worst downturn in decades.

But some economists, including Song Jae-hyeok at SK Securities, argue the economy is strong enough to persuade the central bank to start a campaign of normalising interest rates from their record-low level of 2.0 per cent.

The Bank of Korea next reviews the 7-day repurchase agreement rate on Nov. 12.

“The impressive third-quarter GDP growth rate will likely persuade the Bank of Korea to raise rates in November, given that is has always tightened rates whenever the economy has expanded as fast as now,” Song said.

Bank of Korea Governor Lee Seong-tae said in August and September the central bank was ready to raise interest rates soon unless property prices and a credit boom subsided. But he significantly softened his tone in October.

Reuters

Source: Korean GDP expands at fastest pace in 7 years

Marchiennes

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I think I’ve always prided myself, in a way, on being an open person, on being transparent. And this may be true in many ways, but there are still many things I don’t reveal to other people, mostly because I haven’t readily admitted them to myself. These are usually character issues; I truly value good character and find it difficult to admit to myself when I’ve fallen short.

Today during prayer I was made aware of the value in being open and honest with people. A few nights ago, I opened up to a friend about a painful event in my life that I had previously never discussed with anyone. We were sharing each other’s stories, and in the middle of talking I just said it. I said what I had never told anyone before, and it really caught my breath. I just stopped talking, mostly because I didn’t mean to say it, but I did. And it was really a bit strange, but I don’t regret it. We have a better connection now, and he sees the gospel in a totally new light. This person is one of the people I’ve talked about before, who started out on such good footing with his family. I think he benefited from hearing those stories, and I certainly benefited from telling them. These moments of openness create community, and they make for great friendships.

“Integrity is telling myself the truth. And honesty is telling the truth to other people.” Spencer Johnson

“No legacy is as rich as honesty.” William Shakespeare

“Honesty is the cornerstone of all success, without which confidence and ability to perform shall cease to exist.” Mary Kay Ash

Dressage tests are a formalized sequence of movements, with transitions between the three gaits (walk/trot/canter) at designated points along a 20 by 60 meter arena, marked by letters.  For instance, the rider and horse enter the arena at A, proceed to X (the center of the arena), halt, salute, proceed toward C at a trot, turn left, canter in a 20 meter circle at E…etc. 

So, needless to say, success in dressage requires at a minimum the ability to ask your horse for — and get — transitions from walk to trot to halt to trot to canter…you get the idea.   As someone who had her confidence crushed by a lesson horse who ran away at the canter, one of the things I loved about Samba from the beginning was her Whoa.  She had a great stop button on her!  Unfortunately, by June, that seemed to be her only button under saddle.  “More Whoa than Go” was a description I thought I wanted in a horse, but the reality of a horse that refused to move at all, let alone pick up an upward transition from walk to trot, brought me to tears.  I knew that if I couldn’t solve this issue, Sammie would be for sale within the year.  I just can’t afford to keep an unrideable horse. 

Lisa and I had begun the process of ensuring Samba was not in any pain.  We knew the saddle fit was ok (not great, but certainly not causing discomfort), and had gotten the equine dentist out to pull her wolf teeth.  Getting her out of Clancy’s backyard and into a professional barn with quality (safe) footing was the final step in our transition to a forward-thinking horse.

When we got to the Heavenly barn, Sammie started to blossom.  The first thing I did was sign up with Meg for part-training, meaning Meg works with Sammie three days a week.  Any or all of those three days can be spent in a lesson, as opposed to Meg training or riding Samba.  I opted for a once-weekly lesson and two training sessions.

Meg began working Samba on the ground, as she still needed a week without a bit in her mouth in order to heal fully after the dental work.  Once Meg was able to start working Sammie in a bridle, she quickly taught her that forward was the new buzzword.  I was amazed at how quickly Sammie bonded with Meg, and how willing she was to do everything Meg asked of her.  I shouldn’t have been amazed, though.  Sammie is a very intuitive mare, and she seems to know instantly who she can trust.  It was the same with Lisa, and Meg’s experience and confidence translated instantly.  We were off and running!

I soon learned that I have a long way to go toward earning Sammie’s respect.  I don’t have the strength or finesse in my seat and legs as Meg does, and Samba requires a great deal of convincing that I really mean it when I ask her to trot.  Some days, it takes the better part of 20 minutes to start getting consistent walk-trot-walk transitions, but I’ve learned to ride Sammie “Survivor” style: Outwit, Outplay, Outlast.  

As the 2009 show season draws to an end, I decided to verbalize my 2010 goal to Meg, and I’ll (gulp) announce it here: I want to ride Sammie in a rated show at Training Level.   I realize that the progress Sammie and I are making together is quantified in baby-steps right now, but as long as we’re making forward progress, I am optimistic for a March debut at Introductory level in a schooling show, with our first “official” competition in June. 

Stay tuned for future posts about our progress…and cheerleaders welcome!

November’s Five Farrier Tips- Top Five tips of the month that every horse owner needs to know about their horse, horse shoes and hoof care.

1. Many horses, depending on their career or lifestyle, don’t need shoes.  Consult your farrier and get his advice. He’ll decide if your horse needs shoes based on a number of factors. Your farrier should ask you some questions like the following to help you both decide what to do:

• What kind and how much work is your horse doing?
• What kind of footing do you ride on?
• What is the footing in your horse’s turn-out like?
• Do your horse’s feet chip short or grow long when barefoot?
• What time of year is it that you are considering?
• Does your horse have any tendon or ligament injuries?
• Does your horse get abscesses or stone bruises easily?
• Is your horse competing, and if so does he move better with or without shoes?
• What is your budget?

1. Get to know your horse’s feet inside and out.  Knowing your horse’s feet can save you time and money.  If something starts to change, like a new crack or change in shape, you should be aware of it right away.
2. A change in your horse’s feet means a change in something else.  If you notice a change in your horse’s feet, you should look at management and other factors that could have changed such as diet, environment, a new farrier, illness, fever, stall cleanliness, lameness, or weather.
3. You can avoid many situations where shoes are lost by changing the turn-out or management routine.  If your horse is coming in from the field more than twice a month with missing shoes, you need to change something.

• Does your horse have on a good quality bell boot that fits correctly?
• Are your pastures deep and muddy?
• Are there any other horses in the field that your horse is not getting along with, causing them to run around inappropriately?
• Is your horse being left out for too long and getting restless?
• Are the shoes that are on your horse the right size, or are they too big, leaving too much steel out behind him to grab with a back foot?

1. Not all shoes are created equal. The best shoe for one horse is not necessarily the best shoe for another horse. Every horse and every hoof is an individual. Some of the factors that your farrier should consider when picking out the right shoe for your horse are the shape of the hoof, the job of your horse, the type of footing you ride in, and your riding discipline.



Dressage competitions are comprised of a series of levels, and tests within each level increase in complexity.   The “official” starting level (in the U.S.) is Training Level, though there is an “unofficial” Introductory Level for those who want to get their feet wet with a simpler test, without cantering.   After Training Level comes First Level, and this is the earliest stage at which you can qualify to perform Musical Freestyle.  Let me get one thing clear: I have no illusions about my abilities, or about the potential of my horse, to aspire to anything beyond First or Second Level.  But with a horse named after a latin dance, I feel somehow destined to choreograph at least one freestyle routine.  I really want to dance with Samba.

In my last post, I highlighted some of the obstacles in our path that existed at Clancy’s.  I had to stop fooling myself.  There was no way I would ever be able to show Samba, let alone start moving up the levels, if I didn’t get us the heck out of there.  So I began looking for other options.  I already knew that the two public boarding facilities in my town were a no-go.  One was getting run down and unsafe, and the other was inflexible about both feed and training.  They didn’t have a dressage trainer, and would not let Lisa come train me there.  Can you imagine me trying to go it alone with Sammie?  Uh…no.  The next nearest facility with a dressage trainer was a short 10 mile hop down the freeway.  Unfortunately, I already knew that I would not enjoy training there.  The trainer was not-too-affectionately referred to as the Dressage Nazi, and was rumored to be a screamer.  I don’t know about you, but being screamed at in a lesson would tend to seriously diminish any value in the instruction. 

In the end, it came down to two options.  I could board at the barn where Lisa kept her horses.  Sammie would be loved and well taken care of there, and I would be able to continue training with Lisa.  The barn was 18 miles from home, but down a freeway known for heavy traffic.  It often took 45 minutes to get there.  The footing in the arena was good, but not spectacular.  And there was no covered arena, so with predictions of an El Nino winter, I wondered how much training time we would lose.

The second option involved moving Sammie 25 miles from home, but down a freeway with almost no traffic, so on any given day, I could get there in 1/2 hour.  Less, if I wanted to risk a meet-up with Johnny Law.  If Clancy’s backyard was Purgatory, then this barn surely was Heaven.  I actually found the barn when my friend Kristin was riding there in a clinic in April, and I went to watch her.  The instant I drove through the gates, it was as if my blood pressure dropped 10 points.  This place is literally an oasis.  I soon learned that Heaven fed the type of hay I wanted, had a full dressage court in a covered arena, a large outdoor arena, and a round pen.  The footing was perfection.  They dragged all the arenas (including the round pen!) daily.  And if that wasn’t enough, the owner/trainer and her assistant trainer are both accomplished competitors…and really nice people.  This was a serious dressage barn, but it lacked the drama normally associated with such.  Nary a DQ (that’s Dressage Queen, for those of you new to dressage…and it’s not intended as a complementary term!) in sight.  There was but one downside to Heaven.  No Lisa.

I tossed and turned for two weeks, trying to figure out the best thing to do.  In the end, I realized that Heaven couldn’t wait.  As hard as it was going to be to say goodbye to Lisa, I knew it was the right thing for Sammie and I.  Meg, the assistant trainer, would be good for us, and I decided to put Sammie in half-training with Meg.  This meant that Meg would work with Sammie and I three days a week.  This might mean all three days of training, or it could be any combination of training and lesson days.  Initially, I opted for two training days and one lesson day, so that I could take two days a week off.  When I had my first horse, I was there every day.  I dreaded not seeing Sammie daily, but the 50 mile round trip would take too great a toll if I did it 7 days a week.

The night before I told Lisa of my decision was horrible.  I couldn’t fall asleep for hours, and when sleep finally came, it was fitful and full of bad dreams.   The next day, during our lesson, I mustered the courage to lay it all out.  I was ready to cry, but Lisa showed her true colors:

You had me at covered barn.

I should’ve known…Lisa was more than just our trainer.  She was our friend, and she wanted the best for us both.  Moving day was July 1st, and Lisa agreed to haul Sammie over, and help her get settled in.  I knew it would be hard saying goodbye to Lisa as a trainer, but was so relieved to know that I would always be able to count her among my (short) list of true friends.

Marchiennes

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Dressage is often compared to dancing with your horse.  I soon learned that with a young horse, the choreography involves two steps forward, and one step back, if you’re very lucky.

My dance with Sammie had us tripping over our feet a bit at first, but we soon established a rhythm.  As I mentioned at the end of my last post, once I adopted a more confidant attitude (even if I had to fake it), we started making progress.  Lisa was very happy with my improved longeing skills, and continued to help me improve Sammie’s ground manners.  Together, we started exposing her to more things that were initially scary for Sammie, like spraying, bathing, or odd animals she had never seen before.  Like the mini-donkey that moved in next door.  While initially quite upsetting to Sammie, she soon learned to take the braying muffin-butt in stride.   Which was fortunate, since bedonkey-donk was often within Sammie’s view while working in the arena. 

It wasn’t long before the minor inconveniences at Clancy’s became major obstacles for us.  The round pen was overgrown with big weeds.  Sammie soon started refusing to work, treating the round pen like a salad bar at Sizzler.  All you can eat.  It would often take 5 or 10 minutes and some really sharp cracks with the whip before I could get her moving.  The weeds weren’t the worst of it, though.  The footing in the round pen was horrible.  Huge rocks everywhere, which became evident after I spent about 11 hours pulling weeds.  Well, no big deal.  I’ll just do all my work in the arena, right?  Wrong.  Clancy soon decided to take on one-too-many boarders, leaving her permanently lame mare without a home.  So Clancy moved her into the arena, 24/7.  Try working with a crippled mare in the arena.  Sammie would have none of it.  So every work session started with a horse swap: I’d get the old mare out of the arena, put her in Sammie’s paddock, take Sammie out of her stall, groom her, work her, put her back, put the old mare back in the arena.  What fun.  But it got worse.  The neighbor to the east of the property decided we were kicking up too much dust, and threatened to go to the city and complain.  Clancy, knowing full well she had too many horses for her acreage (and I suspect, no license to use her property as a commercial boarding facility), decided to placate Grumpy Old Man and told me I had to water the arena before every use.  Eventually, Sammie just refused to work.  She took balking to a whole new level, and who can blame her?  The footing in the arena was horrible.  Clancy never dragged it, never added new layers, and with lame-o living in it, it became a mine field of uneven craters, designed to eat horse hooves.  I feared Sammie, if pushed, would trip and hurt herself.  She had enough problems trying to find her balance, especially when she would go through a growth spurt. 

I had one last hope.  Work Sammie up at the park.  The only drawback: the 1/4 mile walk up the street, crossing a major intersection.  It was a short walk, but to a young horse, it was a big deal.  Goblins everywhere.  Even with a stud chain, the spook-fest was too much for me.  We could manage it with Lisa along, but I just never was able to feel safe leading her up there on my own.  By now, the Dressage Two-Step was history.  Sammie was regressing, and I was losing confidence daily. 

By June, I was at the end of my lead rope.  Sammie’s resistance was unshakeable.  No amount of leg/boot/whip, etc., would convince her to move.  Sammie would either stand like a statue, or start backing.  I had the vet look at her mouth, and learned her wolf teeth were coming in.  Like wisdom teeth in humans, wolf teeth are unnecessary teeth in horses, and are often removed to prevent pain and interference with the bit.  At the end of June, I had the vet remove the wolf teeth, which meant 2-3 weeks of working without a bit.  That left me with two choices: longe Sammie on the bad footing, and risk lameness, or try to get Sammie up to the park.  I chose the latter. 

After the first few tries, it became clear I was not going to reach a comfort level any time soon.  My husband finally convinced me to move Sammie out of Clancy’s. 

If you aren’t enjoying your horse, what’s the point?

Indeed.  Smart husband.

Next post: barn shopping.  Less fun than horse shopping.

Marchiennes at EveryTrail

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I’ve worked for three and a half years as a self employed renovation contractor and in those years I’ve done about 2% of my work as outdoor work. The bones of construction. The work that requires generators and chainsaws and diesel fuel and a winter jacket. I’ve done the finesse stuff like finishing and painting and hang doors and put up shower curtain rods (yes I was gainfully employed installing a shower curtain rod…and I did it wrong…and had to do it again).
So now I’m on this outdoor project and I’m not sure about things. Like what are the effects of frost on concrete? What is the required overlap on a step footing? What is a good slope for a driveway? Where is a good place to pee outside? Will the neighbors see me? Will Kyle see me? Will the Starbucks drivethru customers see me? These aren’t questions in clean indoor renovations. But I learned this week that there are people that know the answers to these things. Many of them are an arms length away. Most of them love to tell you. So I’ve been asking and I am getting my outdoor construction certification one phone call at a time. I find that I just need to verified the information against itself. The guy at the concrete plant says “the city pours 15 yards of our concrete for sidewalks every day and the freezing temperatures have no effect”. My amply qualified staff says “The last place I worked we covered concrete in nice warm quilts at night”. The internet says freeze/thaw has limited effects on concrete but will weaken it’s strength and compromise the outer 1/16″ of the poured material. If two sources say the same thing, it’s as good as fact. Actually that’s not normally how I work…unfortunately. I usually take the one piece of information that is the most extreme and make that the only piece that matters. For example I was told at some point during the excavation that the soil on our property is very “floury” and if it gets wet, it swells. So, when we got rain after our footings were poured…I panicked. “What if the water gets under the foootings? and freezes? or doesn’t but swells? and then freezes while swelled? It’ll be twice as big as frozen water and my footings will rise 6 inches and I will have to build somewhere else because this hole will be condemned. I’d better cover the hole, and heat it and put fans on it and monitor it hourly.” So I did.
I could have taken more free advice. Advice to just leave it alone. I’m figuring out what is the right amount of “care”. Babysitting a heated hole filled with carbon monoxide is probably too much care. Pouring and running is probably too little care. I need to leave just enough care for the end of the project so we don’t have Canadian flags with hemp leaves on them for curtains when the house is complete.

Souvenez vous: à l’époque où ils étaient au top, les Ruff Ryderz avaient sorti un DVD de remise en forme spécial Ghetto, où ils expliquaient comment faire des tractions en s’accrochant aux feux rouges, faire des abdos sur les bornes d’incendie ou encore faire des footings en échappant aux flics.

Mais si vous voulez monter d’un cran et devenir un colosse avec des muscles en adamantium dignes de Serval, suivez donc le programme de ce taré qui poste des vidéos de lui sur YouTube en train de faire des exercices inhumains. Et je pense qu’à terme, après vous être tordu de douleur et déchiré les ligaments, vous aurez la puissance suffisante pour décapiter un homme d’une simple giffle.

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Venivo dal centro fin qui in automobile per fare i miei periodici allenamenti di corsa podistica: è un posto che amo, il Parco della Resistenza, e passandoci vicino con il taxi qualche sera fa ho avuto nostalgia, di quell’immensa area di prato un po’ declinante dal perimetro asimettrico, dove si espandeva la luce del sole, dove restavo incantato dalla miriade di margheritine in fiore, dove assaggiavo meglio che dentro un ufficio di un’altra città, o fra i portici della mia, l’avvicendarsi delle stagioni.
Da quando ho cambiato casa e la campagna è a portata di gambe non ci vado più, ma non è la nostalgia ad avermici riportato ora, quanto la relativa vicinanza da casa dell’odierna corsa domenicale qui organizzata, che mi ha evitato una sveglia troppo mattutina e l’idea di non dover fare troppa strada con l’auto di scorta, pur sempre gravata da un costo chilometrico.

Con tutti questi fiotti di gente alla partenza, e i tavolini dell’organizzazione, e le tende dei gruppi podistici, e il movimento intorno al grande bar ristorante con la sala da ballo e il bocciodromo, non è il caso di riassaporare le atmosfere della memoria.
“Partenza libera dalle otto e trenta alle nove per la non competitiva”, ripete lo speaker al megafono con una sgraziata inflessione dialettale su una voce leggermente concitata.
Appoggio su una panca di cemento, vicino ad alcuni borsoni di atleti della competitiva, la mia maglietta di ricambio: è quella gialla del Caterraduno, con la vignetta di Altan, e devo vincere un po’ di apprensione nel lasciarla incustodita.
Sono le otto e venti, e, come tanti hanno già fatto, mi incammino e poi, dopo aver fatto scattare il cronometro, comincio a correre, adagio, come mia abitudine per affrontare la fatica più gradualmente.

Un solicello un po’ timido splende sul percorso che si arrampica, tramite una lunga strada asfaltata dalla lieve e continua pendenza, sulle prime colline, Villaggio Martino, la Croara, Ponticella: le frazioni di San Lazzaro, proprio come qualche chilometro più in basso è la mia Borgatella.
Supero i gruppetti degli abituali camminatori; hanno età media e peso medio decisamente più alti dei podisti non competitivi, a loro volta mediamente meno atletici e meno giovani dei competitivi, che oggi partiranno più tardi. Anche l’abbigliamento rivela rigorosamente l’appartenenza alle tre grandi famiglie: abiti da passeggio genericamente sportivi i primi, t-shirt noi secondi, canottiera con il grande pettorale numerato i terzi.

Chiacchierano, parlano, discutono, è un continuo; provo un certo fastidio, mi sento stranamente misantropo, non so perché; forse, superati i camminatori, andrà meglio.
Intanto apprezzo la salita tanto graduale e docile, un chilometro dopo l’altro, da non farsi quasi sentire sul fiato e sulle gambe.
Mezz’ora buona così, il panorama sulla pianura che si allarga sempre più, poi un po’ di saliscendi, mentre il conto alla rovescia dei cartelli chilometrici sembra voglia incoraggiarti: otto, sette, all’arrivo.
Parlano anche correndo, solitamente a coppie: vicende territoriali (tanti vengono dai paesi della provincia), vicende di conoscenti comuni, beghe e affari propri. Di solito traggo allegria da questa popolazione sportiva, tonica, allegra; oggi no, non è cosa.

Come sempre, man mano che il percorso si snoda, anche il serpentone, la saltellante processione, si allunga, si frastaglia, si attenua, con l’effetto di dare ancora più risalto alle chiacchiere di chi ti capita vicino per un po’ di strada.
Questo qui lo sopporto meno di tutti: in un tratto di salita un signore anzianotto rimbecca a voce alta la sua compagna, con cui cammina, avendo dovuto evidentemente interrompere il passo di corsa:
“Oggi non devi stare bene, non vedi che ci passano tutti ? Oggi non era da venire a correre”, e via recriminando, fino all’uscita più clamorosa: “Sai cosa dicono, che quando sei in crisi devi aumentare il passo, così la distanza da percorrere si abbrevia”.
Deficiente, è la parola più dolce che mi verrebbe da rivolgergli; vorrei che lei lo invitasse a farsi la sua corsa da solo e a smettere di volerla umiliare con il suo egoismo.

Più avanti sono due gemelli sulla quarantina a catturare la mia attenzione: il loro modo di procedere affiancati ad uguale andatura è impressionante e li fa sembrare due cloni, anche se la loro fisionomia non è del tutto precisa. Hanno la maglia e le scarpette identiche, mentre i pantaloncini sono diversi.
Strano mondo, quello dei gemelli, portati da ragioni sia genetiche che di uguale formazione ad una condivisione del vivere, del sentire, a livelli probabilmente inimmaginabili. Mi chiedo se nella vita abbiano una marcia in più o una pericolosa dipendenza reciproca.

La discesa, in alcuni tratti, è decisa; la strada è quasi sempre asfaltata, ma c’è anche un breve tratto su un sentiero molto sconnesso tra vegetazione bassa. Corro veloce, spingendo fortemente in maniera alternata gli avambracci, a mani spalancate e con movimenti ampi, giù lungo il tronco per alleggerire e controllare meglio le gambe: è una tecnica che mi dà sempre una certa soddisfazione, sembra quasi di spiccare il volo, con il peso del corpo annullato.
Di questo passo arriveremo in un attimo: quattro, tre, all’arrivo.

E invece no. Proprio sul finire un paio di interminabili chilometri di inattesa e dura salita.
Con il fiato corto, il cuore in gola e i muscoli affaticati, mi incoraggio pensando che sia il migliore allenamento fisico possibile.
Mi tocca stringere i denti, mentre il viso si contrae in una smorfia di sofferenza; ma non voglio mollare, mentre supero adagio molti che hanno scelto di desistere e camminano di buon passo.

L’ultimo chilometro è in leggera discesa: si sente già in lontananza la voce metallica dello speaker, ecco le prime auto parcheggiate, ecco i primi che camminano in senso contrario con il sacchetto del premio già in mano.
Blocco il cronometro nel momento in cui passo sotto il bananone gonfiabile ad arco di trionfo colorato dell’arrivo: un’ora ventisette minuti cinquanta secondi.

Mi dirigo verso la panca della mia maglietta, che intravvedo con sollievo da lontano: la indosso, dopo essermi asciugato con quella che avevo, neanche eccessivamente bagnata.
Non c’è troppa ressa al ristoro: the freddo (o qualcosa di assimilabile) in quantità, e qualche gradita fetta di pane e marmellata, e di pane e nutella.
Senza troppi indugi, col mio sacchetto premio in mano, mi incammino verso la Multipla, parcheggiata lungo il percorso della corsa competitiva, che sta terminando proprio ora.
Mi sfrecciano in direzione opposta veloci e potenti atleti; i primi sembrano meno affaticati di quelli che seguono, tutti impegnati a dare il massimo nel tratto finale in leggera discesa; uno emette un vero e prorpio rantolo di autoincitamento.
Confuse fra gli uomini arrivano anche le prime donne; sono giovanissime; la loro grazia femminile mi colpisce a fondo e i miei occhi restano incollati sui loro corpi snelli, anche per via di un abbigliamento quasi sempre succinto, aderente, appena essenziale, che le lascia seminude.

Nella mia fantasia resta un sapore di frutto proibito, mentre accendo il motore e, appena il passaggio degli atleti si dirada decisamente, mi immetto nella strada ed inverto la direzione.

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p.s.: Il movimento podistico di Bologna e provincia è animato già da molti anni da una nutrita serie di società promotrici, sportive o ricreative, coordinate da un comitato che ha il principale compito di redigere un calendario annuale delle manifestazioni; grazie a questo non c’è domenica che non offra almeno una possibilità di partecipare ad una corsa organizzata. Tutto è gestito su base volontaria.
Mi sembra giusto spendere due parole di gratitudine verso tutti quelli che si danno da fare per tenere vivo il movimento.
La corsa di cui parlo nel post era organizzata (perfettamente) dal Gruppo Podistico AVIS San Lazzaro.

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Immagine “rubata” a:

http://www.podisti.it/foto/062008/displayimage.php?album=288&pos=51

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Orchies marchiennes – Running – Everytrail

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Cap Agde – Running – Everytrail

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so, trying to introduce my mind to sleep just didn’t work for me last night. one reason; i was still thinking. another; i had a cat laying on me. like, literally laying on my stomach. i’ll have to have a chat with my cat about that. Hmm, i rhymed three times in the sentence. which will probably send me on another thinking expedition, won’t it? unforunately for me, my mind always works like that. say a certain word, i’m either thinking of something or i got a song lyric in my head. like the other day, my mom wanted me to pour some sugar in the cake mix or whatever she was making. So while I was doing that, i sang Poison’s ‘pour some sugar on me.’  frightening experiences.

I got my hair cut today. it wasn’t a real short cut, it was more of a trim. and i got it coloured too. my black was fading. yes, my hair is dyed. i’m an original brunette. but being a brown head, well that’s just a bit boring, eh? mary-alice got her hair colour with me too. well, more like she went back to her original hair colour. from brunette to blonde. it’s shocking, seeing mary-alice back to blonde. but, she looks sooo cool. [:

i've been very clutzy today. like seriously. not only did i stumble on my footing, i also stumbled on my words. like i couldn't speak if my life depended on it. i'm surprised i'm even typing this right. though i've having a few typos, but fixing them. but first, i run into a pole without looking. trip over the stairs going up them. having a hard time to recite french back to mary-alice [ only 'cause she knows her french. she was born there, you know. ] i hate studying for french. i always have her as my partner. she knows, man. but anyway, then i couldn’t find the words to talk to sam – because my brain was mixed up. then to top it off – i tripped over my own two feet in p.e. talking about giving gravity something to think about.

anyway, i should go. it’s been fun, typing and what not.
see ya, i think? I still don’t know how to end these.

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Many companies that have lost profits or market share have managers who are still waiting patiently for their business to “get back to normal.” Others are looking for government help for their declining market and profit positions. Neither of these approaches is a viable situation. What is needed is less wishful thinking and rhetoric and greater willingness to squarely face the true facts about their markets and competitive positions. The demand changes that have occurred in many markets are structural, not cyclical, and it is unrealistic to expect any kind of a dramatic recovery or turnaround that will restore demand to former levels.

It is extremely difficult for managers who have built their entire careers around specific products and technology to accept the fact that their former business base has now leveled out from prior peaks, or worse yet, become obsolete or irretrievably lost to new competitors or technology. Obviously, many old-line steel managers could not imagine today’s world of aluminum cans, plastic auto parts and bodies, or Japanese, Korean, and small regional producers who constantly “beat their pants off.” Nor could managers in the high flying semiconductor business foresee the situation where their markets have not only ceased to gallop ahead, but decline dramatically, and where foreign sources, including Brazil, Korea, and Taiwan, have captured the bulk of the remaining business. Unfortunately, these are the facts, and an equally discouraging set of forces applies in many other markets.

It is understandable that managers who have grown up and lived through the growth years in any of these industries find today’s conditions difficult to accept. But they must change their myopic or unrealistic views of their business so they can tackle the hard work required to regain a profitable competitive footing. Otherwise, their situations will not improve and will most likely deteriorate further.

My Consultancy–Asif J. Mir - Management Consultant–transforms organizations where people have the freedom to be creative, a place that brings out the best in everybody–an open, fair place where people have a sense that what they do matters. For details please visit www.asifjmir.com, Line of Sight

Dopo l’estate continuano le campagne Animal’s Angels per cambiare le abitudini sbagliate che penalizzano le famiglie e tutti coloro che vivono con fido. Il sistematico ripudio dei nostri “amici pelosi” dai locali pubblici, negozi, ristoranti e alberghi è dannoso per il turismo e il commercio, lo ha ben capito il Ministro Brambilla che proprio quest’anno ha lanciato l’iniziativa “Turismo a 4 zampe” (www.turismoa4zampe.it ).

Le volontarie Animal’s Angels propongono a seguire un pomeriggio di sport, nel verde dell’ippodromo, con il triathlon in compagnia del proprio cane o, per gli sportivi sprovvisti, di uno amico randagio recuperato dall’associazione.

Già a luglio, anticipando tutti, l’associazione novese ha organizzato il primo appuntamento “dell’orgoglio canino e felino” con l’aperitivo a 6zampe. Grazie alla spontanea disponibilità di Gianluca Spinola, della Locanda del Santo Bevitore, è stato possibile mettere in moto questo meccanismo virtuoso che ora contagia tutta la città e raccoglie l’appoggio entusiasta del Comune di Novi Ligure e dei suoi Assessori. Una bella occasione per potersi incontrare in un locale, certi di un’accoglienza degna di questo nome per noi e per fido, subito servito di una bella ciotola di acqua fresca. Un momento d’informazione, di raccolta di fondi per gli animali più sfortunati che necessitano di cure e adozioni.

Sabato 19 settembre, ore 14:30
Piazza delle Piane, Novi Ligure (AL) Piemonte

Le iscrizioni inizieranno dalle ore 14:30, alle 16:00 poi inizierà la passeggiata per i negozi e le vetrine del centro in via Roma,via Girardengo e via Giacometti. Le volontarie distribuiranno le apposite vetrofanie a tutti gli amici commercianti che vorranno aderire con negozi e bar, esplicitando così la loro vocazione all’accoglienza di “fido” e clienti al seguito. Molti sono i negozi che, essendo da sempre sensibili a queste tematiche animaliste, hanno fatto pervenire la loro adesione in anticipo, alcuni addirittura offrendo un omaggio a tutti i partecipanti o un piccolo punto ristoro. Ringraziamo quindi Il Bruco (calzature per bambini), Milani (giocattoli), Petit Café (bar torrefazione), Erbaflor Peruzzo (erboristeria e alimentazione bio), Farmacia Moderna, El Sol del Paraiso (solarium ed estetica), Il Mastro Birraio (pub birreria) e addirittura qualche adesione fuori città che anticipa i tempi, come la Farmacia Bianchi di Pasturana. Questo entusiasmo promette quindi un successo annunciato per l’iniziativa, le volontarie ricordano che sono graditissime eventuali donazioni detraibili dalle tasse e contributi pratici per facilitare il compito dell’Onlus. Tutti i negozi e gli esercizi commerciali che aderiranno saranno poi segnalati fra gli “indirizzi amici” nel sito dell’associazione www.animalsangels-novi.org , i più generosi recensiti sui siti nazionale “DogWelcome” e “Turisti a 4 Zampe“.
Un’evidente occasione pubblicitaria e promozionale che premia i commercianti più aperti alle novità, come succede normalmente in altri Paesi europei e nei vicini Oultlet dello Shopping (es. Serravalle Scrivia).

La camminata si dirigerà poi verso l’ippodromo, facendo tappa per un punto ristoro canino presso i negozi La Banda di Anna e Bau Bau Micio Micio, che ringraziamo.
Alle 17:30 è previsto poi l’arrivo nel verde, in via Crosa della Maccarina 21, per la parte più sportiva del pomeriggio, le gare di corsa e agilità insieme ai cani, il triathlon di beneficenza (iscrizione e bibita: 5euro). La gara è riservata alle coppie a 6zampe ma, agli amici sportivi di ogni genere che vorranno aderire, siano essi calciatori, tennisti o ciclisti sprovvisti di un animale, verrà dato in “adozione temporanea” uno dei numerosi cani salvati dopo gli abbandoni estivi, per divertirsi tutti insieme!
Al termine delle gare le premiazioni di rito e dalle 19:00 cena (anche veg), bevande, musica e festa!

Tutti i partecipanti potranno ulteriormente sostenere le attività delle volontarie nella cura e sterilizzazione delle colonie feline, si ricevono in cambio spille, adesivi, t-shirt e adozioni a distanza. Manuela, Elena, Sonia, Carol e tutte le amiche animaliste vi aspettano!

La nostra iniziativa benefica è sempre aperta a tutti, i soci delle altre associazioni per la protezione degli animali sono i benvenuti e avranno uno sconto su tutti i gadget. Ringraziamo per le adesioni e la parteciazione in loco le associazioni: ENPA, Etico Etica e LAV Alessandria.

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Animal’s Angels Onlus – Novi Ligure (AL)
animalsangelsnovi@gmail.com 
Info: 347.8860753