Author: backblasts

Date: 2025-12-05
AO: ao_ground_zero
Q: Dumpster ,
PAX: Toto, Manhole, Da Vinci, Panhandle, Mr Roboto, Mr. Bean, HOA (F3KC), LeMond, Beaker, Dumpster, Endo FNGs: None
COUNT: 11
WOR:

Follow the leader to “Roll Out the Barrel”
– 4 min song

SSH
Arm leg stretch x2
Jogging arm circles
Michael Phelps
Goofballs
Solo Polka dancing
OYO stretching

The Thang: Runners ran on Child’s Street, Ruckers went North on the path (I think?)

Moleskine:
Be present and put your phone down. I am guilty of being on my phone too much- email, texting, Instagram, slack, bank account, messenger, news, YouTube, etc… My wife reminds me to be present. I need be more selective about when and how I use technology.

If I had more time, I would have read this:

In addition to National Repeal Day…. Celebrating the end of Prohibition.

“It is also National Communicate with Your Kids Day, which is a wonderful occasion celebrated on December 5th each year.
It’s a day that underlines the importance of building strong communication bridges between parents and their children.
Starting conversations, listening intently, and understanding each other better are the core ideals of this day. It emphasizes the role of communication in nurturing a child’s ability to express themselves confidently across all stages of life.

The day came into being with a focus on reminding families of the power of open and honest dialogue. It encourages taking a break from the daily rush to truly connect with your children, share thoughts, listen to their experiences, and understand their feelings.
It’s not just about talking; it’s about fostering an environment where every family member feels heard and valued. This foundation of trust and understanding can significantly impact children’s emotional and social growth, making them feel more secure and confident.
Celebrating this day can take many forms, from planning technology-free days to engaging in fun activities like board games or nature walks that promote conversation.”

COT:
Moment of silence – then prayer read aloud

In This Time of Waiting (Advent Prayer)

In this time of waiting, may we hold the world in our hearts. In this time of waiting, may we hold each other’s hands.
In this time of waiting, may we be thoughtful and introspective. In this time of waiting, may we delight in the darkness and all it teaches us.
In this time of waiting, may we rekindle the fires of hope, love, joy, and peace within ourselves and our communities. In this time of waiting, may we become ready for the coming day.

By Cricket Hall

Tags: ao_ground_zero, Toto, Manhole, Da Vinci, Panhandle, Mr Roboto, Mr. Bean, HOA (F3KC), LeMond, Beaker, Dumpster, Endo

Date: 2025-12-04
AO: ao_mastodon
Q: Da Vinci ,
PAX: T-bone, Tortuga, SAGA, Banks, Jolly, Panhandle, Dumpster, Jailbreak, Captain Crunch, Too Big To Fail (TBTF), Da Vinci FNGs: None
COUNT: 11
Warmorama to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U82J_6U6DqU

Krampus Curl Fest: Get your curls on while the rest of us do burpees to Advent music. We rest when the all biceps are toasted.

Thang:
Between rounds: Hit Krampus with Disc and 1 Sprint
Not Hit Krampus is 2 Sprints

ROLL THE DIE OF DEATH NO COUPON (with Advent Music)
1. hand release merkens
2. merkens
3. Diamond merkins
4. Jump squats
5. Flying squirrels
6. Burpees
7. LBCs
8. Flutters
9. Box cutters
10. Leg lifts
11. hand release merkens
12. merkens
13. Diamond merkins
14. Jump squats
15. Flying squirrels
16. Burpees
17. LBCs
18. Flutters
19. Box cutters
20. Leg lifts

Moleskin:
after die of death Q Source molekskin….

Summary of Arthur Brooks’ https://www.amazon.com/Build-Life-You-Want-Science/dp/0593545400/ref=sr_1_1?hvadid=658443648904&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9021519&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=3170467818643703119&hvtargid=kwd-420263501740&hydadcr=14840_13352664&keywords=build+the+life+you+want&qid=1701953888&sr=8-1. “Happiness is not a destination. Happiness is a direction. We won’t find complete happiness on this side of heaven. This is good news. We can stop wondering what’s wrong with us.” He prefers the term “Happierness.” The macronutrients of happiness are enjoyment, satisfaction, purpose
Enjoyment takes an urge for pleasure and adds two important things; Communion and consciousness.. Thanksgiving dinner. Pleasure is animal, enjoyment is human. Don’t settle for pleasure, but rather make it into enjoyment.
Satisfaction. The thrill of accomplishing a goal you worked for. When you do some difficult or painful and it meets its life’s purpose. It doesn’t come without work or sacrifice.
Purpose This is the realm of meaning… purpose leads to the transcendent. True purpose almost always entails suffering.
Each of these has some pain in them. Happiness and sadness can co-exist. You cannot eradicate your feeling of unhappiness to get happier.

COT: Prayers for Dan, for a co-worker on disability, for a young woman in distress

Tags: ao_mastodon, T-bone, Tortuga, SAGA, Banks, Jolly, Panhandle, Dumpster, Jailbreak, Captain Crunch, Too Big To Fail (TBTF), Da Vinci

Date: 2025-12-03
AO: ao_ground_zero
Q: LouGee ,
PAX: Audible, Mr. Bean, Ankles, Dumpster, Too Big To Fail (TBTF), Manhole, LouGee FNGs: None
COUNT: 7
WOR:
Arm Circles (f-b) 12x/13x, SSH x 25, Squats x 11, Plank – 60 sec The Thang:
Walked and talked (some with vests) through downtown Wheaton Moleskine:
Show up! Be present, it’s 90% of participation.
COT:
60 seconds of silence.
Announcements – Christmas Party (Panhandle), Poker night (Banks), Feed the Need (Dumpster) – check the 2nd-f & 3rd-f channels for details/RSVPs

Tags: ao_ground_zero, Audible, Mr. Bean, Ankles, Dumpster, Too Big To Fail (TBTF), Manhole, LouGee

Date: 2025-12-02
AO: ao_flat_earth
Q: Cheese , Jack
PAX: Cheese, Tortuga, Jolly, White Noise, Banks, Hypotenuse, Jack, Katniss FNGs: None
COUNT: 8
WOR: SSH & Down & Back

The Thang: Ultimate Frisbee

Moleskine: For families to be close and healthy

COT:

Tags: ao_flat_earth, Cheese, Tortuga, Jolly, White Noise, Banks, Hypotenuse, Jack, Katniss

Date: 2025-12-03
AO: ao_tar_pit
Q: Panhandle ,
PAX: Big Mac, DQ, Jolly, Tortuga, Crack, Brainfog
FNGs: None
COUNT: 7
WOR: SSHs, goofballs, Abe vigodas, arm circles, good mornings

The Thang:

At the track, PAX did a series of 1×4 pairs of exercises. Starting 1 of one exercise and 4 of a second, they would work up to 8 of the first and 32 of the second. They did one set on the first straightaway and then a second of the same exercise on the second. They then finished up with a spittoon of ab excercises. The exercises were:

Lunges/squats/500 BBSs
Merkins/bear crawls/500 LBCs
burpees/side lunges/400 leg lifts
squats/lunges/500 American Hammers (did not finish this)

Moleskine: courage sometimes looks like perseverance

COT: Jolly’s M’s client, thanks for Crack’s 2.0 getting a job

Tags: ao_tar_pit, Big Mac, DQ, Jolly, Tortuga, Crack, Brainfog

Date: 2025-12-02
AO: ao_dark_room
Q: Manhole ,
PAX: Framed, Crack, Toto, Beaker, Lakers, Brainfog, Manhole
FNGs:
COUNT: 7
WOR: yep

The Thang: lap the lot, exercise, rinse and repeat. Light pole to light pole PAX call exercise

Moleskine: hug your loved ones, tell them you love them

COT: IYKYK

Tags: ao_dark_room, Framed, Crack, Toto, Beaker, Lakers, Brainfog, Manhole

Date: 2025-12-01
AO: ao_tar_pit
Q: Lakers ,
PAX: Manhole, Big Mac, Tortuga
FNGs: None
COUNT: 4
WOR:
SSH
High knees
Arm circles in various directions
Runner stretch

The Thang:
1/2 mile mosey to the Civic Center

Working our way up the parking garage, we did bear crawls, mosey, backwards mosey, karaoke, lunge walk up and down the ramp.

At each landing we did various exercises:
– Merkins
– Plank hold
– Caroline Dry Docks
– Squats
– Squats while facing the wall (surprisingly intimidating)
– Manhole Meatballs
– America Hammers

1/2 mosey back to the flag

Moleskine:
On the day we celebrate the Self-governance of Iceland, we must remember this quote from Plato, “The first and greatest victory is to conquer yourself.” God has given us free will and it is ours to do with as we see fit. May we govern ourselves well, first and foremost, orienting our lives towards that which is good.

COT: Iykyk

Tags: ao_tar_pit, Manhole, Big Mac, Tortuga

Date: 2025-12-01
AO: ao_ground_zero
Q: Too Big To Fail (TBTF) ,
PAX: Mr. Bean, Mr Roboto, SAGA, Sparrow, Crack, LouGee, Samsonite, reboot FNGs: None
COUNT: 8
WOR:
SSH, Abe Vegodas, Runners Stretch

The Thang:
We attempted to run east on the Prairie Path but once we got pas the downtown area the trail was too difficult so we took it to the streets and made a loop back to the AO.

Moleskine:
Embrace doing things that are hard and uncomfortable (such as F3 in the winter). You will be better for it and (come on) it’s really not that bad

COT:
Dan (colleague to the Wheaton College PAX) who received bad news related to health, Crack’s daughter who is pursuing a job in her field

Tags: ao_ground_zero, Mr. Bean, Mr Roboto, SAGA, Sparrow, Crack, LouGee, Samsonite, reboot

Date: 2025-11-27
AO: ao_mastodon
Q: Beaker ,
PAX: Brainfog, Framed, Manhole, Dumpster, The wet burrito, Panhandle, Too Big To Fail (TBTF), Falsetto, Lakers, LeMond, Beaker FNGs: None
COUNT: 11
WOR: Motivators, windmills, copperhead merkins

The Thang:
Burpee 1/2 mile
Ran the 1/2 mile loop doing 12 burpees at three different stops along the way and at the end.

1/2 mile loops
Partner up. Complete 100 reps of first exercise as a pair in the grass by the parking lot. Run opposite directions around the loop. Where ever the PAX meet, complete 100 reps of second exercise as a pair and then run back the way you came. The second PAX to make it back owes 5 burpees, the first planks during these burpees. Move on to the next round.

Round 1
CPRs
Bonnie Blairs

Round 2
Coupon swings
No cheat merkins

Round 3
100 Grip, rip, rolls
100 dips

Round 4
100 Coupon sit up-get ups
100 bbsus

Round 5
100 Blockees
100 Burpees

Rounds 4 and 5 were “aspirational”, one pair made it partway through round 3.

Moleskine: PAX shared something that seemed bad at the time, but they are know thankful for something good that came out of it.

COT: iykyk

Tags: ao_mastodon, Brainfog, Framed, Manhole, Dumpster, The wet burrito, Panhandle, Too Big To Fail (TBTF), Falsetto, Lakers, LeMond, Beaker

Date: 2025-11-01
AO: ao_tar_pit
Q: Ankles ,
PAX: Sparrow, Panhandle, Portage, LeMond, Da Vinci, Tortuga, Spinal Tap FNGs: None
COUNT: 8
WOR: Drake Equation Beatdown

In November 1961 for an early meeting of what was to become SETI (Search for Extra Terrestrial Intelligence), astrophysicist Frank Drake developed an equation (mostly as just a thought experiment) to determine the number of currently existing intelligent species in the Milky Way Galaxy with which we could communicate (N). A simplified version is:

N = Ns x fP x Ne x fL x fI x fC x L

Where:

Ns = No. of stars suitable for life to evolve in the galaxy

fP= % of those stars that have planets

Ne = No. of planets or moons per planetary system capable of harboring life

fL = % of those on which life (even simple single cell organisms) occurs

fI = % of those on which life evolves into an intelligent species

fC = % of those that develop radio or similar communications capable of being detected by humans

L = % of time for which that communicative alien civilization exists compared to the age of its planet

The Thang:

Additive series of exercises representing each variable of the equation, with reps being roughly representative of the best estimates according to current science. Between each variable, the PAX moseyed 1 lap around the track before adding another variable to the equation.

Ns = 45 Billion = 45 Merkins

Lap

45 Merkins + fP = 90% = 90 squats

Lap

45 Merkins + 90 squats + Ne = 1 = 1 min plank

Lap

45 Merkins + 90 squats + 1 min plank + fL = 50% = 50 one armed coupon rows (25 each arm)

Lap

45 Merkins + 90 squats + 1 min plank + 50 one armed coupon rows (25 each arm) + fI = .02% = 2 tbone burpees

Lap

45 Merkins + 90 squats + 1 min plank + 50 one armed coupon rows (25 each arm) + 2 tbone burpees + fC = 10% = 10 coupon thrusters

Lap

45 Merkins + 90 squats + 1 min plank + 50 one armed coupon rows (25 each arm) + 2 tbone burpees + 10 coupon thrusters + L = .006% = 6 coupon ketttle bell swings

PAX stayed together for each round by stronger PAX doing extra reps for remaining PAX. Towards the end, some laps were skipped & reps were done spittoon style due to time limitations.

Using the numbers provided, the anticipated number of alien civilizations currently in the Milky Way humans should be capable of communicating with is 24.3. (I’ll post a link in the comments for an interactive version of the Drake Equation so PAX can change different variables to see how much it changes the final outcome.)

Moleskine:

Arthur C Clarke once said, “There’s only two possibilities: Either humans are the only intelligent species in the Milky Way, or we are not. Both scenarios are equally terrifying, but for different reasons.”

Ask yourself this: Regardless of which scenario is true, do you think mankind is comporting itself well, given the situation?

COT: Various prayers for health & employment. Wrapped up w a moment of silence & the Serenity Prayer

Tags: ao_tar_pit, Sparrow, Panhandle, Portage, LeMond, Da Vinci, Tortuga, Spinal Tap