Jacques of all Trades

You may remember that a month ago, I agreed to a “50 pushups a day” challenge, well, because I’m a boy, and boys are easily persuaded to do things like that.

I’m happy to report that, despite previously having performed fifty pushups in a day only twice in my life, I was able to hit 50 every day of the challenge (though my first day’s total was split as the last 25 came after midnight). Not only that, but I ended up doing 3,100 pushups throughout the month of October, averaging 100 pushups per day!  

My chest, shoulders and back have never been in better shape, and this was a great example of what your body is able to do if you’re willing to push it.  Or if you’re susceptible to silly manhood challenges.

I also love how the pushups have increased my fitness and health, and I plan to continue with them, though probably not 100 a day. 

If you can imagine it, there’s probably already a championship for it.

inothernews:

PHOTO / HOP   A rabbit jumps over a hurdle at an obstacle course during the first European rabbit hopping championships in Wollerau, Switzerland.  (Photo: Harold Cunningham / Getty Images via the Telegraph)

(via npr)

moveyourbooty:

MOTIVATION: 68,200 push-ups in October.

Meet my co-worker, Marcel. That’s him on the ground of our office doing push-ups. Ya know, just another day at work. He’s entered in a friendly competition that dictates he’s got to do at least 50 push-ups a day. But leave it to a bunch of dudes who would create their own push-up competition to take it a bit further. Because they’re keeping track of who’s done the most. And the competition is cutthroat. So far, the guy at the top has done 1,920 in 13 days. Marcel has done 541. He’s got some catching up to do. Hence, the push-ups in the office. Go Marcel!

This has me thinking about a November challenge… 

Hilarious — that’s my brother, and he’s only 499 behind me.  (Yes, that’s a challenge).  

(Source: moveyourbooty)

Vote For Top-100 Science Fiction, Fantasy Titles : NPR

Last month we asked you, our audience, to nominate titles for a top-100 list of the best science fiction and fantasy ever written. Theresponse was overwhelming — almost 5,000 of you posted to the NPR site alone, and many thousands more offered suggestions on Facebook.

We’ve tabulated those suggestions and, with the help of an expert panel, narrowed the list to a manageable field of a few hundred titles.

Scrolling through the list of great science fiction and fantasy reads below will feel like a journey back in time for some of us, a voyage of discovery for others. But novice or veteran, everyone loves a contest. So, let the voting begin!

Here’s how: Everyone gets 10 votes. Select your top 10 favorite titles, and then scroll down to the bottom of the poll and click “Submit.” Feel free to lobby for your favorites in the comments. We’ll be back in about 10 days with the results.

Note to self — read more of these books!  (h/t Bryan K.)

I am enjoying the clean-shaven look for the moment, but don’t think for a minute that the World Beard and Mustache Championships have been removed from my bucket list! 

(via World Beard and Moustache Championships - in pictures | World news | guardian.co.uk)