rundangerously: events

Showing posts with label events. Show all posts

Thursday, May 7, 2020

Albany Virtual Law Day 5k

It's been a long time since I ran the Fred Weisburg Law Day 5k in Darien. So long, in fact, that I don't believe the race is still run! Be that as it may, since no races are actually being run because of Covid-19, what better way to participate in a different law day race than virtually?

This event wasn't done via Strava. Instead it was on the honor system. Runners could email in their results to be included in a finishers list. I can't say that I "raced" 5k - or the "fastest" 5k portion of the 4.1 miles I ran. But I did the entire run in under 40 minutes so I guess the 5k clocked in with a sub-10 minute pace :D

Anyway - it was a great excuse to get outside and run!

Thursday, April 23, 2020

World Book Day - 2020

Can't pass up the opportunity to promote reading - on World Book Day!

Given that everyone is housebound during this Covid-19 crisis, what better time is there to catch up on your reading?

Here's my latest read:

Saturday, March 28, 2020

Life During Distance Learning

Or should it be captioned, "during social distancing?" Either way, apologies to the Talking Heads - because this might be life imitating art :O

It almost seems quaint that this week was when we planned to return to in-person teaching after a 3-week hiatus from the classroom. Instead, the rest of the Spring semester will be conducted via distance learning. Very strange to only interact with my students via Blackboard/Zoom instead of actual classrooms.

From a practical perspective, the only real change is in testing. Otherwise it is the same syllabus, material and assignments. The coursework will get done, but the give and take of the classroom will be missed.

Hopefully, some semblance of teaching normalcy will return by Summer session?!

Until then, running is the only distance that I can embrace (apologies for the lame pun) :D

Sunday, February 9, 2020

National Pizza Day - 2020!

Can't pass up a shout out to National Pizza Day - my second favorite food on earth, inches behind Sushi :D

Here is snapshot from my dinner tonight - a flatbread spinach & mushroom from the Cheesecake Factory (not your typical go-to for pizza, I know).

Back to regular (round) pies after today :O

Sunday, February 2, 2020

Groundhog Day - 2020

Hurray - Phil did not see his shadow this morning! He predicts we'll get an early Spring :D

Not to jinx his prediction (although the stats from the National Weather Service below don't point to a very reliable prognosticating performance!) - we've had a relatively mild "winter" so far. I can only count one day of real (that is to say "have to shovel") snow so far.

Either way, don't pass up the opportunity to watch Bill Murray's classic today :D

Thursday, November 21, 2019

"Understanding Impeachment" Panel Presentation

This afternoon I had some fun as a participant on the "Understanding Impeachment" Panel that was held at Pace University. Three professors, a moderator, and a lecture hall of students (with some some faculty and guests mixed in) :D

The first speaker covered the Constitutional provision, I covered the prior impeachments in U.S. history, and the final speaker talked about the present impeachment "investigation" taking place in the House.

Not my typical bailiwick (which is generally tax law) - but it was a great change of Pace (intentional pun :O) and it was nice to have one of my current Con Law students in the audience.

Thursday, April 18, 2019

World Amateur Radio Day - 2019!

Get on the air today and celebrate!

Friday, December 21, 2018

Happy Winter Solstice - 2018!

The shortest day of the year has arrived! But instead of Winter, today is full of rain - and the possibility of temperatures getting to 60 degrees! Even for one day, will take wet and warm over dry and chilly.

Thursday, November 15, 2018

Beaujolais Noveau - 2018!

I love the third Thursday in November, when the Beaujolais Nouveau arrives! It's my second favorite day of November, behind only the 1st Sunday in November (NYCM) :D

This is the third year in a row that I teach an evening class, so I purchased two bottles in the afternoon from a local wine merchant in the financial district (as opposed to when I would get home from work and stop in at Zachy's).

After class, I carried them home in my knapsack. Which is saying something since the commute involve snow and slush! But it was worth the hassle to sample a glass the fresh new vintage!

Saturday, October 13, 2018

National Chess Day - 2018!

Who knew that the second Saturday in October is National Chess Day!! Pretty Cool :D

Apparently, it goes back to the administration of President Gerald Ford - he announced it on October 9, 1976 and designated its observation for the second Saturday in October. Today is its 42nd anniversary.

I'm going to try and play a game online (at RedHotPawn) to celebrate :D

Tuesday, October 9, 2018

Phil McCarthy Completes Run Across the USA at City Hall - in 49 Days!!

Phil McCarthy finished his epic run across the United States at City Hall this afternoon. It took 49 days, 7 hours and 55 minutes! He began his run in San Francisco on August 21st and it ended on the steps of City Hall, here in NYC. Well, technically, it ended about a dozen miles later - in the surf on the beach at Coney Island!

Congratulations Phil!!!

Interestingly, Phil's finish came just a month shy of the 10 year anniversary Marshal Ulrich's finish of his 52 day run across America back in 2008 (which I was also lucky enough to attend)!

Here's Phil in his own word :D

Monday, September 24, 2018

National Punctuation Day

Well who knew there was such a thing?!

Here's the scoop from Wikipedia:

National Punctuation Day is a celebration of punctuation that occurs each year on September 24 in the United States of America. Founded by Jeff Rubin in 2004, National Punctuation Day simply promotes the correct usage of punctuation. Rubin encourages appreciators of correct punctuation and spelling to send in pictures of errors spotted in everyday life.

Not sure if I'll be able to spot any punctuation errors (other than my own) today - but will be on the lookout :D

Saturday, September 22, 2018

Happy Autumnal Equinox - 2018

Happy Autumnal Equinox!

It's a bit early - Fall doesn't officially arrive here on the east coast until 9:54 PM tonight. But we have such beautiful weather (warm, sunny, and low humidity) that had to celebrate with a longish (17+) mile run this morning :D

Early or not, this is the first taste of Fall that we've had. Seems like the last couple of weeks have been an unending stream of humidity - and gray skies. So take advantage of the Fall weather - and get outside!

Monday, August 20, 2018

Happy National Radio Day - 2018!

Happy National Radio Day!

From the National Radio Day page:

National Radio Day is a time for communities across the country to celebrate radio. The goal is to strengthen the radio ecosystem, highlighting all kinds of radio, but especially stations that focus on local service. We want to ensure that amazing noncommercial stations are included in the national conversation.

Given that physical radios - as well as old school over the air broadcasts - are starting to fade away (the scary trend in Europe is to abolish the FM service) it's all the more important to support your local radio station!

Celebrate by tuning in today :D

Wednesday, July 11, 2018

2018 Taconic Road Runners' Beer Mile

I love one mile races - and I lover beer. My fellow mile/beer lovers lined up for the always awesome Taconic Road Runner's Beer Mile (which tonight also included what appeared to be wine coolers and/or hard ciders)!

Last year I couldn't run it because the date conflicted with my summer session class. But back in 2016 I managed to run a solid 8:35 - something not to be repeated this time around. Four beers, high humidity, and slightly older runner... I eked out a 9:30 finish :O

Addendum: According to Strava, my moving time was exactly 6:59 - which meant that 2:30+ was "drinking" time. Well, of that drinking time, practically an entire minute was devoted to beer #4 - haha!

Another highlight of this event is that it's held in conjunction with our Club's monthly meeting. So after the running/drinking we climbed up the hill to the Gazebo for the results/meeting/food - and, it should go w/out saying, a bit more drinking :D

Here are the official results from the Taconic RR.

Here's the link to the Taconic Race Photos!

An impressive array of fluids nicely lined up at the start!

Done!

A bucolic venue for the meeting :D

Thursday, July 5, 2018

Defending Champion Joey Chestnut Wins his 11th Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest

Joey Chestnut set another world record yesterday when he ate 74 hot dogs in 10 minutes to win his 11th Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest - a 4th of July staple event! It wasn't without drama, though. Even though he beat his nearest competitor by 10 hot dogs, the scorekeepers got it wrong - big time. The actual count was underreported as 64 hot dogs instead of the correct, record-breaking, total of 74 dogs (and the runner up's total was also incorrectly underreported).

Thankfully, post-contest review corrected the totals! But, for those of us watching it live on ESPN, we'd have to wait for the taped replay later that afternoon. ESPN cut away immediately after the event and went to its next scheduled program - without waiting for the correction. That was pretty lame - and a real disservice to the viewers. Fortunately, the 4 PM rebroadcast (and subsequent ones) included the extra footage covering the mini-tempest.

Let's see if the scoring system is changed/modernized for the 2019 edition?!

Thursday, June 21, 2018

Happy Summer Solstice 2018!

Happy Summer Solstice!

Summer officially arrived here on the East Coast at 6:07 AM. Unfortunately, it was a rainy kick-off to the longest day of the year. Be that as it may (an it's down to a light drizzle right now), the sun should make its appearance by lunchtime!

Celebrate the Solstice by doing something fun outside today :D

Wednesday, June 6, 2018

2018 Global Running Day!

Happy Global Running Day!

This one requires no explanation - just get out and run! Doesn't matter where (but preferable not on a treadmill - ha). Roads or Trails, just get out there and put in a few miles today :D

Thursday, April 26, 2018

Poem in Your Pocket Day - 2018

It's that time of year again - pick a poem to carry in your pocket for the day! This year I've gone back to Kerouac (who is not primarily known for his works of poetry)!

Here is the 10th Chorus of "Brooklyn Bridge Blues" -

Chorus # 10

And that's all I can
recall of Brooklyn Bridge,
tonight, John A Roebling
and Washington Roebling
built it, and it hath cables
and it does one good to cross it everyday----
See my eerie wiseness?
Good night, innocent children
of this mortal Sangsara
world, you have to keep
your mind empty & tranquil
and pure or the whole
Eternal Light escapes you
-----Without the Eternal Light
you're only a yakking fool
of rooms, beds, graves
and monuments----with it,
you are like the Silent
Mountains of Snow
and more than
I know------

Check out this link for the entire Poem!

Wednesday, April 18, 2018

2018 World Amateur Radio Day!

Happy World Ham Day!

New for this year - from my end of the radio spectrum - is a brand new call sign - NI4A (from my previous KC2RVY). I had wanted a vanity call for years, but since my license was up for renewal last year I finally did the paperwork.

Here is the official statement from the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) on its 93rd anniversary:

Every April 18, radio amateurs worldwide take to the airwaves in celebration of World Amateur Radio Day. It was on this day in 1925 that the International Amateur Radio Union was formed in Paris. Amateur Radio experimenters were the first to discover that the short wave spectrum — far from being a wasteland — could support worldwide propagation. In the rush to use these shorter wavelengths, Amateur Radio was “in grave danger of being pushed aside,” the IARU’s history has noted. Amateur Radio pioneers met in Paris in 1925 and created the IARU to support Amateur Radio worldwide. Just two years later, at the International Radiotelegraph Conference, Amateur Radio gained the allocations still recognized today — 160, 80, 40, 20, and 10 meters. Since its founding, the IARU has worked tirelessly to defend and expand the frequency allocations for Amateur Radio. Thanks to the support of enlightened administrations in every part of the globe, radio amateurs are now able to experiment and communicate in frequency bands strategically located throughout the radio spectrum. From the 25 countries that formed the IARU in 1925, the IARU has grown to include 160 member-societies in three regions. IARU Region 1 includes Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Northern Asia. Region 2 covers the Americas, and Region 3 is comprised of Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific island nations, and most of Asia. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has recognized the IARU as representing the interests of Amateur Radio. Today, Amateur Radio is more popular than ever, with more than 3,000,000 licensed operators! World Amateur Radio Day is the day when IARU Member-Societies can show our capabilities to the public and enjoy global friendship with other Amateurs worldwide

So to all my ham friends out there - get on the air today!