I just haven't known what to write about lately - the Presidential race in the US? Attacks in France? The oil spill (I believe it's actually "dilbit" [diluted bitumen - from the tar sands - that will sink to the bottom ... and then what - reference the Kalamazoo spill in Michigan], but nobody wants to use the word) into the North Saskatchewan river? Turkey?

Well, maybe I'll just talk about me again. After all, this blog is supposed to be about my transforming my life at 60. It's a slow transformation. For now, it's focussed primarily in getting active, after more than 3 decades of not. So ...

Because of my disappointment in the Mpow wireless (Bluetooth) headphones I purchased a set of Philips ActionFit earphones. They have an over-ear loop that keeps them in place. Oh - and, they're wired, not wireless. That's not really important to me. They work fine but the sound is a bit disappointing. It's a bit tinny.

So, I thought I'd compare the sound to the Mpow set. And, I discovered that, if I change the earphone caps to a smaller size (a real effort) the pounding when I walk disappears. So, my apologies to Mpow. However, I found that when I wasn't being distracted by the constant thud-thud-thud when I ran or walked I noticed that they just didn't feel comfortable.

So, sound quality better with Mpow (best with the iPhone ear-buds, but they just keep falling out when running) but comfort better with Philips ActionFit. I'm sure that there are better earphones overall that would meet my needs. But, at this time, I'm not prepared to spend $100+. Both of these were less than $30 each.

Today I wanted to see if I was ready to run longer intervals than the current 60seconds run/90 seconds walk. It's been a while since I pushed a bit harder. So, I just arbitrarily added 10-12 steps to my run interval which increased my run time but, also then reduced my walk interval, by about 8 seconds. It seemed to go okay. My overall time was less, as you can see.

I may more formally increase my run time intervals starting Saturday/Sunday. It's time to push on to the next level. I may have to increase my distance though which means a slight change to my route again.

Today's Run - 6:00am; 5.9kms; 45mins; 21c, humid and cloudy

Yesterday's Walk - 6:05am; 5.3kms; 52.5mins; 17c; clear

Tuesday's Run - 5:55am; 5.9kms; 46mins; 20c; partly cloudy

Sorry, I haven't had an opportunity to write much lately. Tomorrow I will be a bit more prolific.


Saturday - day off but did a casual 45 minute walk in 32C weather.

Yesterday's Run - 6:05am; 5.9kms; 46mins; 15c; clear

Today's Walk - 7:30am (late due to thunderstorms); 5.4kms; 52mins; 24c and very humid; cloudy

Yesterday's Run - 6:00am; 5.8kms; 45.5mins; 14c; clear

Today's Walk - 6:05am; 5.3kms; 52.5mins; 22c and very humid, clear; I sweated extremely this morning. Very, very humid.

Yesterday's Run - 6:00am; 5.9kms; 45.5mins (personal best!); 14c, clear

Today's Walk - 6:05am; 5.3kms; 51.5mins (personal best!); 9c (geez! It's supposed to be summer!); clear

Yesterday's Run - 5:55am; 5.8kms; 47.5mins; 11c; clear

Today's Walk - 6:10am (late!); 5.3kms; 53mins; 23c (what the heck!) partly cloudy

More tomorrow ...

Yesterday's Walk - 6:00am; 5.3kms; 53mins; 20c and clear

My Rant - continued 2 ...

A few more fund companies have got back to me. And, I've discovered a few more that are investing in companies that produce cluster munitions.

Also, even though I have requested the current government's position on whether or not investing in cluster munitions is illegal for Canadians, I'm not sure if I have much hope of the answer I would like.

The following article is one of the more complete ones I have come across recently -

Canadian firms invested in US cluster bomb makers, report says

Anyway, one of the larger fund companies in Canada responded to me saying they are compliant even though at least one of their funds holds an investment in a cluster munitions maker. I asked them to please put that in writing for me. They refused! What does that say about their convictions on how "compliant" they are?!

I have also discovered that some asset management firms (mutual fund managers) that are signatories to the UNPRI  also have holdings in cluster munitions producers. What does it actually mean to these investment management companies to be a signatory to PRI and yet still make this kind of investment? Are we just "ticking a box" now? Where's the commitment?

Yesterday's Walk - 5:55am; 5.3kms; 53mins; 17c & humid; clear

Today's Run - 6:05am; 5.9kms; 46mins; 22c, humid - and then it rained on me starting when I was furthest from my end point!

Got behind.

Yesterday's Walk - 6:05am; 5.3kms; 53.5mins; 16c & humid; partly cloudy

Today's Run - 5:55am; 5.8kms; 47mins; 17c & humid; partly cloudy

Yesterday was my "day off". Busy regardless.

The Mpow cordless/Bluetooth earbuds are not a good fit for me. I mean they "fit" fine. They work fine. But, I cannot stand the pounding I get in my ears when running as my foot hits the ground. It was bad enough when walking. It's torture when running.

Today's Run - 6:05am; 5.9kms; 47.5mins; 15c & humid; clear

I wear earbuds and listen to music (on low volume) and get cues and distance, time & pace information from Runkeeper, on my iPhone when I am doing my Walks and Runs. However, when I run my left earbud keeps falling out. So, I thought I'd try something different.

Amazon has Mpow Swift Bluetooth 4.0 Headphones (basically wireless earbuds for exercising) at an affordable price so I thought I'd try them,

Since today was a Walk is wasn't much of a test. However, I'm not sure I care for them. They fit fine (instructions are horrid and an internet search for more information was necessary). But, they cause my hearing to change - like how you hear things that your body is doing that you do not hear unless you plug your ears? Each step I took reverberated in my ears. Running should be a real treat!

Today's Walk - 6:05am; 5.3kms; 53mins; 17c (cloudy, rain storm just ended)

My Rant - continued

I wrote to seven fund companies asking for their position regarding investing in companies that produce cluster munitions - which I view as an illegal activity for Canadians due to the passage of Bill C-6 [2013-2014] that became effective Sept.1, 2015.

I have heard from one fund company so far. Their position is that they do not see any reason that they would invest in a company that manufacturers cluster munitions as it is unlikely to meet their investment criteria. Didn't exactly answer my concerns about whether they considered such an investment illegal or not. Disappointing.

For some information on cluster munitions you can visit www.clusterconvention.org or also www.minesactioncanada.org

Today's Run - 6:05am; 5.9kms; 47.5mins; 21c and humid; partly cloudy

My Rant

Okay, we're going off topic. But, this is something that grates on me.

Have you ever trusted someone that you thought would act properly and then suddenly caught them acting in a way that goes against your nature or values?

Well, that has happened to me recently.

PAX [ www.paxforpeace.nl ] released an update of their "Worldwide Investments in Cluster Munitions - a shared responsibility" in June, 2016. A couple of Canadian financial institutions were named/shamed. I did additional research (PAX had a minimum investment size for their report - I had none) and found more Canadian mutual funds that invested in a company that produces cluster munitions. Some of these fund companies I deal with.

I originally asked them informally about those investments. The responses I received were "disappointing". I have now asked for more official responses.

Why?

Because, in my opinion - based on the wording of the "Convention on Cluster Munitions" (signed by Canada in 2008), "Bill C-6 [2013-2014] An Act to Implement the Convention on Cluster Munitions" (passed by Canada's Parliament in 2014 and effective September 1, 2015), and the comments of various Members of Parliament and Ministers of the Crown during the passage of The Act through Parliament - investing in companies that manufacture cluster munitions is an illegal activity for Canadians.

We'll see how this progresses. Regardless, adhering to the "letter of the law" rather than the "spirit of the law" just to try to make a buck - especially on this issue - pisses me off!


Today's Walk - 6:05am; 5.4kms; 54mins; 17c; partly cloudy

Changed my Run a bit today. I increased my run interval from 45 seconds to 60 seconds and left my walk interval at 90 seconds. Just like when I increased my run intervals from 30 to 45 seconds, I may be at this level for a bit. I did okay, however.

Today's Run - 5:55am; 5.9kms; 47.5mins; 18c and humid; partly cloudy

Today's Walk - 6:05am; 5.5kms; 53.5mins; 10c; clear

Had to finish helping the mover unpack and arrange stuff today. So much for the long weekend.

Today's Run - 6:05am; 5.9kms; 48.5mins; 10c; clear

Yesterday was a pretty good Canada Day. It rained in the morning, but cleared for the rest of the day here.

Kind of like the time from 2006 until late last year - cloudy and rainy - and, then, sunny days!

I hope everyone had a great Canada Day! Everywhere around the world, in fact! 

Today's Walk - 5:50am; 5.5kms; 54mins; 9c

Happy "Kinder" Canada Day!

Today there's no Walk or Run. I have to leave early to help someone move.


Meanwhile ... for the first time since 2006 ...

Yea, Canada!