This may not be the kind of training approach that works for every athlete, but Stutzman is a bit different from the norm. For a start the American from Iowa is a world champion archer, and recreational parachutist, who was born with no arms. He is also someone who, since childhood, has been in determined pursuit of what he calls a “Michael Jordan moment”, the point where one person not only changes their sport but the perception of it. And come the Paralympics in Paris in a year’s time, it seems likely he will have achieved his ambition.
Stutzman is known as the “Armless Archer”, and not just because of the alliteration. When he first entered competition at the turn of the 2010s he was the first person to try shooting a bolt at a target without using fingers, wrist or triceps. His technique involves picking up an arrow and loading it with his toes, using a release mechanism attached to his shoulder to connect his body to his bow, then leaning back in his seat to fire. It was with this technique that, in 2015, Stutzman hit a target from 310 yards, setting a world record for the longest accurate shot taken in archery, whether by someone with a disability or not.
The release mechanism is the only part of Stutzman’s equipment adapted to accommodate his disability. This is the way he likes it and the way he’s always been since his childhood. “I told my dad I was going to be a basketball player,” he recalls. “He went and got me a basketball and a hoop and said ‘here, go practise’. He knew I was never going to be a Michael Jordan but I told him I was. That mindset … carried over into everything that I tried … and that’s when I came across archery.”
One hell of a dude. And while he was the first, he is not now the only one.
Carlos Lozada has a good column at NYT on the new Romney book. The money quote concerns a study of George Romney’s failed prez bid,
The elder Romney’s crucial political misstep, Coppins writes, was a compulsion to speak his mind and stick to his beliefs, no matter the consequences, even when seeking the nation’s highest office.
His son sought to avoid that mistake in his own White House bids.
And he certainly succeeded. Biggest liar in national politics until Trump.
Commenters at NYT point out that if Romney wants to help the country and reform the Republican Party, he should endorse Joe Biden, and other Democrat. A step that seems beyond Romney’s newfound integritude.
@gVOR10: Think how many politicians there have been over the years who cultivate a reputation as a “straight talker” who “speaks his mind.” A lot of it’s bullshit–it’s a kind of branding because voters like the idea of someone who’s brutally honest more than they like someone who actually is. (It’s sort of the equivalent of when female celebrities are complimented for “going natural.”)
I had a sleep study done Oct 16-17. The sleep center said in my discharge paperwork that my doctors will have a report in 7 to 10 days. Guess what? They are still waiting. All they have gotten so far is a summary that says I suffer sleep disruption.
The more medical providers I encounter, the more I like my cat.
@Bill Jempty: My Personal Care Physician did an EKG last week and declined to give me a surgical clearance. This was over a hickey in my EKG she sent me to a cardiologist for four years ago. He did three years of testing (verging on Medicare fraud IMHO) and declared it benign. She wanted me to see “my cardiologist”. Slightly complicated. The Venture Capital bunch that own my PCP’s practice bought the cardiology practice last year, after which my cardiologist, but not my records, left. Took me a solid day on the phone last year to get an Rx refill. Yesterday my newly assigned cardiologist’s Nurse Practitioner looked at the PCP’s EKG, looked at my records, and gave me the clearance. She was on time for the appointment, confident, competent, and decisive. I mention this as an exception to my usual experiences with medical personnel.
The elder Romney’s crucial political misstep, Coppins writes, was a compulsion to speak his mind and stick to his beliefs, no matter the consequences, even when seeking the nation’s highest office.
That’s interesting. I would have thought that Coppins as a (self-proclaimed) devout Latter-Day Saint would not have been inclined to make that particular calculation. But I don’t know enough about Mormonism; maybe it doesn’t have any “seek first the kingdom”-type precepts in it.
@gVOR10: Yesterday my newly assigned cardiologist’s Nurse Practitioner looked at the PCP’s EKG, looked at my records, and gave me the clearance. She was on time for the appointment, confident, competent, and decisive.
I rarely see a doctor these days, usually an NP. I don’t miss seeing doctors at all because NPs all seem to be “on time for the appointment, confident, competent, and decisive.” And not afraid to say, “I don’t know.” 3 words you need a crowbar to pry out of most Docs.
But I don’t know enough about Mormonism; maybe it doesn’t have any “seek first the kingdom”-type precepts in it.
A bit OT, but I remember reading a 1968 article (from a newspaper archive) commenting on the fact that George Romney as a politician was a strong supporter of civil rights, but was silent on his own church’s ban on black clergymen. It said that Mormons were not permitted to openly criticize the church’s edicts, but if they privately disagreed, they were permitted to promote positions contrary to those teachings.
My Personal Care Physician did an EKG last week and declined to give me a surgical clearance. This was over a hickey in my EKG she sent me to a cardiologist for four years ago. He did three years of testing (verging on Medicare fraud IMHO)
This NY Times article from 2017 still gets me steamed. Health care providers ordering radiation for elderly patients who have non-melanomas diagnosed. I have had melanomas and non-melanomas but never did radiation except when my melanomas metastasized. Non metastasized skin cancers never react to radiation. Immuneotherapy is done for level 3 or 4 patients. These doctors are either quacks or criminals.
My long time dermatologist is on the verge of retirement. I’m less than 3 years away from being eligible for Medicare. Should a new dermatologist recommend radiation for any non-metastasized skin cancer, I will walk out on them but not before saying what I wrote above.
@Just nutha ignint cracker: I know, just unusual and unusual level of word salad and voice recognition…and failing. But the absenthe gives the brandy a funny aftertaste, eh?
NPs all seem to be “on time for the appointment, confident, competent, and decisive.” And not afraid to say, “I don’t know.” 3 words you need a crowbar to pry out of most Docs.
Years ago I asked my allergist a question, I think about a possible drug interaction. He replied he didn’t know but he’d look it up. Then he did. Endeared him to me. Hated it when he retired.
And, in the case of Toulouse-Lautrec, he even invented a timeless drink to honor his favorite liquor. Mixing his beloved absinthe with Cognac, the painter crafted what Saveur calls an “intense potion,” which he then reportedly served at all of his parties.[…]As Spirits Hunters explains, Toulouse-Lautrec aptly called his concoction Le Tremblement de Terre, or Earthquake, because it was “notoriously potent” and “rather intense.”
You can apparently make an absinthe highball and a gin and absinthe (instead of tonic), too. It seems to be very versatile.
ETA: I should have read further; if you add absinthe to bourbon and Pernod, you get the Sazerac cocktail so frequently featured in old episodes of Yancy Derringer. And a champagne and absinthe cocktail called “Death in the Afternoon.” after one of Hemmingway’s works.
Apollo 16 astronaut Ken Mattingly has passed away. He was 87.
Mattingly was supposed to go up on Apollo 13 but was pulled from that mission due to he being recently exposed to German Measles. Jack Swigert instead went up on 13.
Gary Sinise played Mattingly in the film Apollo 13. I jokingly say that I watched Apollo 13 thirteen times during my 2008 16 day hospital stay due to open heart surgery. AMC seemed to have the movie on every day. See I needed a break from Law and Order or Sabrina the Teenage Witch my two other common viewing choices.
Ehrmagerd…..my high school freshman wanted to make a stir fry for me that they made in her foods class the other day, and I have never stressed out so bad about staying out of the kitchen in my life! Why is she using all those separate dishes and pans?! Whaddaya mean you gotta use 3 pans to do the noodles?!
But you know….my stir fry never turns out very good….maybe I can learn something? Other than to stay out of the damn kitchen? 😛 😛
A gracious Friday Eve to all here. Hoping for health and serenity for all today.
ETA yes, an odd mood for Luddite this am. Don’t worry, I’m sure I’ll be back to my normal levels of snark and bile soon.
One hell of a dude. And while he was the first, he is not now the only one.
@Flat Earth Luddite: Who are you and what have you done with our Luddite?
@OzarkHillbilly: Somebody get to his house and check the basement for pods!
@MarkedMan: “Look, you fools, you’re in danger! Can’t you see?! They’re after you! They’re after all of us!”
@OzarkHillbilly:
Reminds me of one 0f my favorite scientific papers.
Parachute use to prevent death and major trauma when jumping from aircraft: randomized controlled trial.
Worth a click even if just for Fig 2 and the footnotes.
ETA: methods matter!
Carlos Lozada has a good column at NYT on the new Romney book. The money quote concerns a study of George Romney’s failed prez bid,
And he certainly succeeded. Biggest liar in national politics until Trump.
Commenters at NYT point out that if Romney wants to help the country and reform the Republican Party, he should endorse Joe Biden, and other Democrat. A step that seems beyond Romney’s newfound integritude.
@OzarkHillbilly:
@MarkedMan:
@DK:
Thanks, all! I’ve imbibed my requisite 50g Turkish ground dark roast in 500ml H2O, together with an absence and wormwood cordial.
In other words, I’m back to my normal itself. Again now it’s back to your regularly scheduled Luddite. Accept no substitutes!
@gVOR10: Think how many politicians there have been over the years who cultivate a reputation as a “straight talker” who “speaks his mind.” A lot of it’s bullshit–it’s a kind of branding because voters like the idea of someone who’s brutally honest more than they like someone who actually is. (It’s sort of the equivalent of when female celebrities are complimented for “going natural.”)
@MarkedMan: late addition, in the tone of Charlie Daniels’ “Uneasy Rider”,
Now the garage, on the other hand…
@MarkedMan:..pods…
Pods (and other things) are in crawl spaces under a house. I’ve been in enough of them working on subscribers telephone lines.
@Mister Bluster:
Hmmm, I’d look under our casa, but I’m not going to fit through the hatch.
I had a sleep study done Oct 16-17. The sleep center said in my discharge paperwork that my doctors will have a report in 7 to 10 days. Guess what? They are still waiting. All they have gotten so far is a summary that says I suffer sleep disruption.
The more medical providers I encounter, the more I like my cat.
@Bill Jempty: My Personal Care Physician did an EKG last week and declined to give me a surgical clearance. This was over a hickey in my EKG she sent me to a cardiologist for four years ago. He did three years of testing (verging on Medicare fraud IMHO) and declared it benign. She wanted me to see “my cardiologist”. Slightly complicated. The Venture Capital bunch that own my PCP’s practice bought the cardiology practice last year, after which my cardiologist, but not my records, left. Took me a solid day on the phone last year to get an Rx refill. Yesterday my newly assigned cardiologist’s Nurse Practitioner looked at the PCP’s EKG, looked at my records, and gave me the clearance. She was on time for the appointment, confident, competent, and decisive. I mention this as an exception to my usual experiences with medical personnel.
@gVOR10:
That’s interesting. I would have thought that Coppins as a (self-proclaimed) devout Latter-Day Saint would not have been inclined to make that particular calculation. But I don’t know enough about Mormonism; maybe it doesn’t have any “seek first the kingdom”-type precepts in it.
@Flat Earth Luddite: Absinthe is a wormwood cordial. Just sayin… 😉
I rarely see a doctor these days, usually an NP. I don’t miss seeing doctors at all because NPs all seem to be “on time for the appointment, confident, competent, and decisive.” And not afraid to say, “I don’t know.” 3 words you need a crowbar to pry out of most Docs.
@Just nutha ignint cracker:
A bit OT, but I remember reading a 1968 article (from a newspaper archive) commenting on the fact that George Romney as a politician was a strong supporter of civil rights, but was silent on his own church’s ban on black clergymen. It said that Mormons were not permitted to openly criticize the church’s edicts, but if they privately disagreed, they were permitted to promote positions contrary to those teachings.
@gVOR10:
This NY Times article from 2017 still gets me steamed. Health care providers ordering radiation for elderly patients who have non-melanomas diagnosed. I have had melanomas and non-melanomas but never did radiation except when my melanomas metastasized. Non metastasized skin cancers never react to radiation. Immuneotherapy is done for level 3 or 4 patients. These doctors are either quacks or criminals.
My long time dermatologist is on the verge of retirement. I’m less than 3 years away from being eligible for Medicare. Should a new dermatologist recommend radiation for any non-metastasized skin cancer, I will walk out on them but not before saying what I wrote above.
And from our Not About Israel newsfile:Congratulations to Will Smith, first ever 3 straight World Series wins on 3 different teams winner.
@Just nutha ignint cracker:
As long as he doesn’t slap the ref.
@Just nutha ignint cracker: I know, just unusual and unusual level of word salad and voice recognition…and failing. But the absenthe gives the brandy a funny aftertaste, eh?
@OzarkHillbilly:
Years ago I asked my allergist a question, I think about a possible drug interaction. He replied he didn’t know but he’d look it up. Then he did. Endeared him to me. Hated it when he retired.
@Flat Earth Luddite: Aparently, absinthe mixes with a lot of stuff:
You can apparently make an absinthe highball and a gin and absinthe (instead of tonic), too. It seems to be very versatile.
ETA: I should have read further; if you add absinthe to bourbon and Pernod, you get the Sazerac cocktail so frequently featured in old episodes of Yancy Derringer. And a champagne and absinthe cocktail called “Death in the Afternoon.” after one of Hemmingway’s works.
Ivanka wants a pause in the trial because it’s a hardship for her to travel during the school week.
It must be her turn to drive the carpool.
Apollo 16 astronaut Ken Mattingly has passed away. He was 87.
Mattingly was supposed to go up on Apollo 13 but was pulled from that mission due to he being recently exposed to German Measles. Jack Swigert instead went up on 13.
Gary Sinise played Mattingly in the film Apollo 13. I jokingly say that I watched Apollo 13 thirteen times during my 2008 16 day hospital stay due to open heart surgery. AMC seemed to have the movie on every day. See I needed a break from Law and Order or Sabrina the Teenage Witch my two other common viewing choices.
Anyway RIP Commander.
Ehrmagerd…..my high school freshman wanted to make a stir fry for me that they made in her foods class the other day, and I have never stressed out so bad about staying out of the kitchen in my life! Why is she using all those separate dishes and pans?! Whaddaya mean you gotta use 3 pans to do the noodles?!
But you know….my stir fry never turns out very good….maybe I can learn something? Other than to stay out of the damn kitchen? 😛 😛
It’s been a good two years for getting rich people in court for fraud. Holmes, Blawani, El Cheeto, and now Bankman-Fried.