Crichton was an expert at “middle-brow” sci-fi. His stories weren’t as concerned with the hard science as they were at being entertaining, which I certainly found them to be. Andromeda Strain showed the world how something so tiny can kill us all— which ultimately will be mankind’s fate. Groundbreaking, indeed. And still as relevant and terrifying as ever, especially if you consider that RFK jr keeps getting his way.
Westworld, Andromeda Strain, Runaway, Congo, 13th Warrior... some great books/movies in my opinion. Quite enjoyable.
13th Warrior has to be the most slept-on, underrated badass movie of all time. It was a huge box office failure but I fucking love that film— it’s gorgeously shot and has first-rate action scenes.
It has such a weird origin in an academic debate/pissing contest. One of Michael Crichton's friends gave a lecture about several classics that he considering boring as fuck. Crichton took exception to Beowulf's inclusion, and after arguing about it, Crichton said "I'll prove it!" and went off and wrote Eaters of the Dead, which is basically presented as a long lost Arab account of the events that were later mythologized as Beowulf.
I always assumed it was a combo of plastics and ultra processed food. My friend that died for it at 51 ate like a teen his whole life. All processed and virtually no greens or natural fiber.
I eat my fair share of junk but a lot of it is homemade stuff. The lack of preservatives and filler ingredients probably helps a little, even if it's too many calories. We also eat a lot of vegetables including leafy greens, home grown produce, beans and legumes, etc. The really bad junk food (like Doritos, peanut m&MS, chesters hot fries) kind of exist in waves because it's tasty for awhile and then I feel bad about it, both physically and emotionally so I stop buying it for awhile. I think I eat bad and then I'm around some other people and/or their kids and I'm like.... How are you even alive and operating normally? People who never drink water, consume multiple monsters in a day, eat a bag of chips for lunch... It's fucking colon chaos out there.
For years I went by the old saying that my body was an engine and food was the fuel. Sure, I gave it bad fuel but it still ran good enough to perform. Then I heard an analogy that really stuck with me; Food isn't fuel, it's a tool. Like giving a plumber a set of carpenter's tools to do the job. When you give your body bad food, it's just not running on shitty fuel, it's literally trying to operate with the wrong tools for the job. We've since way kicked up our fiber intake, lots of salads, seafood, chicken etc. Very little red meat, maybe 2-3 times a month. Virtually no fast food. The attached pic is a lunch that I make from the grocery store salad bar a couple times a week. But, I'm also a hypocrite because I'm a few IPAs deep and a half bottle of wine in as I type this lol
Facebook is a complete dumpster fire anymore and if it weren’t for a couple cool hobby groups and my writing I’d be done with it. And trying to promote anything on there doesn’t yield the results it used to for the cost. I’ve started a new social media site for my area, a Facebook clone without all of the bullshit. Trying to get people to use it has been a challenge though. So many people live all that drama and ignorance.
It really is amazing how what we invest affects us mentally. I’m doing a weight program at a nearby clinic. Two weeks in and not only am I down a few pounds, I’m eating even healthier than before and drinking a lot less. ( For reference I’d have a couple drinks at least five days a week. ) And I feel SO much better, including mentally.
I had a major heart attack yesterday morning. Got to ride in a helicopter and everything. I got one stint and I feel fine. I'm like @dixiebandit69 and I don't go to the doctor as often as I should. The last time was 2 years ago and my BP was perfect, cholesterol a little elevated, but not enough to make the doc want to write a prescription. It was at least several years between that check-up and the one before. I woke up with chest pain, and called 911 shortly after. Doctor says I have some very minor tissue damage, reduced function to the chamber that wasn't getting blood flow. It may heal with time, medication and lifestyle change. Heart trouble runs in my family, I should have been taking better care of myself, eating better. It starts now. I'm not even a sedentary person, I don’t just sit around. Not a lot of exercise just for the sake of exercise, but I'm not a couch potato. I'll do better.
Fucking hell dude... there are easier and cheaper ways to get a ride in a helicopter, you know? Hope you're feeling better.
Glad you're alright and feeling better! Also thank you for the reminder for me to get my bloodwork done
Glad you came through it ok. Everyone should go to see a doctor once a year for a checkup. Especially as you get older.
Yeah, while you’re recuperating from your heart attack, let Richie Rich here regale you with photos of his helipad-equipped Airstream. but seriously, glad you’re okay. Had my CT scan this morning. In and out in an hour, results soon after.
Yeah... I get mine done monthly right now. I even have a Dynalabs account so I can track it and get the results on the app on my phone. And yeah, not big enough for a helicopter... only a drone. So there.
Glad you made it through okay! I’m excellent at regularly getting bloodwork done and going to doctors. Other than that I get little exercise, eat too much (although it’s not all unhealthy) and of course drink too much.