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If exercise is so healthy, why are so many perfectly “fit” people dying from it? This isn’t some fluke thing, but a horrific trend that’s been getting more deadly every year. This autumn alone, at least seven runners kicked the bucket in the middle of events like half marathons.
A recent article in U.S. News & World Report looked at the shocking number of fitness deaths… and how to prevent them. Sadly – and not at all surprisingly – they missed the most obvious answer: Stop exercising. Some so-called experts have carelessly bandied about the notion that we should screen all young athletes for heart problems with expensive and unnecessary tests.
But even if every wannabe athlete underwent rigorous physicals and pricey electrocardiogram screenings before taking part in some ill-advised competition, they still wouldn’t come close to preventing all the heart-related athletic deaths. Experts say these tests may detect only around 20 percent of people at risk of dying during sports… maybe as much as 70 percent if they do even more expensive and complex testing. And if you think exercise is dangerous for normal folks like you and me, it’s even worse for “real” athletes. Some research suggests that up to 40 percent of elite athletes have heart abnormalities CAUSED by their physical activity. These are “top” athletes. Remember – the typical backyard jock and gym rat faces a much greater risk of death, especially as they get older.
The sweat police claim these athletic deaths are rare – as if that’s any comfort to the friends and loved ones of those who’ve keeled over just short of the finish line. The fact is, these are completely preventable deaths – a single one is one too many. But forget deaths for a moment and think about how many people are badly injured during exercise. Don’t believe me? Walk into a gym (just pretend you’re interested) and then strike up some idle conversation.
Casually mention that you blew your knee out a few years back – and watch all the hamsters hop off their treadmills to show each other scars from injuries and surgeries. I’m not making this up – gyms are full of these proud masochists. So if you want to be in the best shape of your life — and I mean TOP condition — simply watch what you eat. Avoid sugar, fast food and bad carbs.
Then, be sure to get a normal, natural amount of movement in your life – and by that, I mean just don’t sit at a desk all day.
And if someone asks you to join a gym… don’t run away. Walk away. Gym-free and healthy as can be,
William Campbell Douglass II, M.D.
(1)Born 20 August 1949 – 4 January 1986 he was an Irish singer, bassist, instrumentalist, and songwriter, He was the singer in the band Skid Row in the mid 60’s, a band that featured guitarist Gary Moore, bassist Brendan ‘Brush’ Shiels and drummer Noel Bridgeman.
(2)He formed Thin Lizzy in 1969 their first top ten hit was in 1973, with a rock version of the traditional Irish song “Whiskey in the Jar“
(3) In 1978, he was featured in Jeff Wayne’s Musical Version of The War of the Worlds, singing and speaking the role of The Parson.
(4) In 1980 he had two hit singles “Dear Miss Lonelyhearts” and “King’s Call”. The latter was a tribute to Elvis Presley, and featured Mark Knopfler on guitar.
(5)Also in 1980, he married Caroline Crowther, the daughter of British comedian Leslie Crowther
(6)He regularly collaborated with former band mate blues/rock guitarist Gary Moore on a number of tracks including the singles “Out in the Fields” (a No. 5 UK hit in 1985), his highest-charting single ever, “Parisienne Walkways” (a UK no. 8 hit in 1978), “Back On The Streets” and “Spanish Guitar” in 1979.
(7) He died of heart failure and pneumonia on 4 January 1986 aged 36. In 2006, he was named the 59th greatest metal singer by heavy metal magazine Hit Parader.
(8) In 2005, he had a life-size bronze statue unveiled in his memory on Harry Street, just off Grafton Street, Dublin.
Saturday´s celebrity was Sinead O´Connor
Sinéad O’Connor:-
(1)She was born 8 December 1966 in Glenageary Dublin and she is an Irish singer-songwriter.
(2) Her first band was formed in 1984 and was called “Ton-Ton Macoute” named for the ruthless Haitian secret police.
(3) Soon after she left the “Ton Ton” she was signed by Ensign Records, she then embarked on her first major project, providing the vocals for the song “Heroine”, which she co-wrote with U2‘s guitarist The Edge for the soundtrack to the film “Captive”.
(4)She recorded two albums 1987’s The Lion and the Cobra and 1990′s I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got they gained considerable attention and mostly positive reviews. She was also noted for her appearance: her shaved head, often angry expression, and sometimes shapeless or unusual clothing.
(5) The album The Lion and the Cobra did eventually hit gold record status and earned her a Best Female Rock Vocal Performance Grammy nomination at the awards she sang the single “Mandinka“
(6) On 3 October 1992, when she appeared on Saturday Night Live as a musical guest she produced a photo of Pope John Paul II to the camera while singing the word “evil,” after which she tore the photo into pieces, said “Fight the real enemy,” and threw the pieces towards the camera.
(7) Her single “Nothing Compares 2 U” went platinum in April 1990
and hit the Top 10 at No1 for 4 weeks
(8) In the late 1990s, Bishop Michael Cox of the Independent Catholic group performed the ceremony of priestly ordination. After her service of ordination, she indicated that she wished to be called Mother Bernadette Mary.
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Surgir
(soor-heer’) (intransitive verb) – to rise; to arise, to emerge, to come up, to develop
- Surgió algo imprevisto. – Something unexpected came up.
- Los problemas pueden surgir cuando no sigues las reglas. – Problems can arise when you don’t follow the rules.
For more information and examples, visit the SpanishDict.com entry for Surgir.
Sierra de Guadarrama
North of Madrid these mountains are popular with Madrileños at the weekend but little know amongst foreigners. It’s a great area for walking and there are ski resorts around Navacerrada. For the less active just head for one of the village restaurants for fine roast meat dishes. If you’re driving between Madrid and Segovia this is a longer but much more scenic route than taking the main El Escorial road.
Las Alpujarras
The Alpujarras are the mountains lying south of the Sierra Nevada range near Granada. Driving the winding roads between villages with their flat roofed houses makes you feel you’re in the land that time forgot. Quaint villages including Pampaneira, Bubión and Capileira have attracted many north Europeans settlers. Chris Stewart’s bestselling novel “Driving Over Lemons” is set here.
Donana National Park
Spread across the provinces of Huelva, Sevilla and Cadiz, Doñana is a national park with a unique habitat that attracts a vast number of resident and migrating birds and is home to the rare Iberian
Lynx. Half day trips into the park depart from Sanlucar de Barrameda early in the morning returning in time for a superb seafood lunch at Bajo de Guia which overlooks the park.
