Farmers Log

[quote]LittleStrick wrote:
Depending on where you go, people can still be touchy about the subject. I guess I should specify…mainly that is in the south. Most Yanks take the view “We won. Why be bitter?” Losing stings and stinks. Southerners don’t like to be reminded of it.

Honestly, I think that the “divide” is, as I said, cultural. The South has more of a rural feel. The North has more of an urban feel. Southerners are more conservative. Northerners are more liberal. Southerners are deemed more friendly than there counterparts, and I have found that to be true. Unless, of course, you come down south and have a New England accent. The folks might be a little wary until they get to know you.

Those are not absolutes. Rural folks are rural folks and city dwellers, city dwellers. Since New England is much more urban, and the south much more rural, I think that is the biggest divide. Pennsylvania has a good mix of the two. And most southerners, outside of the “it’s north of here” crowd, would not consider Pennsylvanians of the same ilk.

As far as a geographical divide, everyone always says the Mason Dixon Line. That is not wholly accurate, however, since that would put West Virginia and Maryland in the South. I think the further south you go, until you get into northern Florida, the stronger the feeling gets. Florida is a bit different. My grandfather used to say that everything south of Jacksonville is just part of New York that broke off and floated south.

And that is one view of feelings concerning “the war of northern aggression”.
Hope that helps without getting anyone’s dander up.[/quote]

Anything thats North of Tennessee is “up north” Kentucky is like a buffer zone.

Your grandfather was right.

Well see theres “The South” and then theres the “Deep South”

It sort of makes sense that the border states (Civil War reference) Kentucky, Virginia, Arkansas aren’t all that different from the states next to them. But the Deep South, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, and Louisiana are a lot different than some of the more urban northern states.

In general

Southerners:

Will have a higher chance of owning a gun.

Will say “yes sir” or “yes ma’am” to strangers. Even people younger than them.

Will speak to people they don’t know if they pass on the street. Now not in the cities where there are dozens of people walking by.

Men will give up their seat to a Lady when there are no more.

Have lower income levels but lower costs of living.

Much higher chance of having served in the military.

Lower chance of having a college education.

Higher obesity rates: mmmm fried chicken.

Prettier co-eds* According to all the ESPN guys.

Distinctive accents

Generally distrustful of government, well more so than other regions.

College football is more important than politics or religion.

Only region to have grits and sweet iced tea. Only safe region to order BBQ and Fried Chicken.

Are more handsome weightlifters.

so now you know…

[quote]cavalier wrote:

[quote]Canada_K wrote:
Fortunately we all live impossibly far apart and can’t really get physical with each other except at hockey games… which is why we invented it to be violent and require fistfights at precribed intervals.[/quote]

You’re so resourceful. Why didn’t we Yanks think of that?

Yankee: to foreigners, all Americans are Yankees. To Americans, northerners are Yankees. To northerners, New Englanders are Yankees. To New Englanders, a Yankee is a baseball team.[/quote]

C-K, that is classic.

Cav, that is the truth!

[quote]JoeGood wrote:
Well see theres “The South” and then theres the “Deep South”

It sort of makes sense that the border states (Civil War reference) Kentucky, Virginia, Arkansas aren’t all that different from the states next to them. But the Deep South, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, and Louisiana are a lot different than some of the more urban northern states.

In general

Southerners:

Will have a higher chance of owning a gun.

Will say “yes sir” or “yes ma’am” to strangers. Even people younger than them.

Will speak to people they don’t know if they pass on the street. Now not in the cities where there are dozens of people walking by.

Men will give up their seat to a Lady when there are no more.

Have lower income levels but lower costs of living.

Much higher chance of having served in the military.

Lower chance of having a college education.

Higher obesity rates: mmmm fried chicken.

Prettier co-eds* According to all the ESPN guys.

Distinctive accents

Generally distrustful of government, well more so than other regions.

College football is more important than politics or religion.

Only region to have grits and sweet iced tea. Only safe region to order BBQ and Fried Chicken.

Are more handsome weightlifters.

so now you know…

[/quote]

Joe, you are absolutely correct! Also with the truth concerning sub-Jacksonville Florida.

I say sir and ma’am to everyone. And I am raising my kids to do the same. x2 on giving up my seat for a female and also for holding doors (but I’ll hold it for either gender).

And in the “Deep South” religion is very much a part of the culture, not just a part of life. That is waning with the newer generations, but I still see it when I go back home.

Also, “please” and “thank you” are still in fashion.

Brett, looks like we hijacked your thread. Sorry. You did ask, though. Of course, there has been a bit of mission creep.

[quote]LittleStrick wrote:
Brett, looks like we hijacked your thread. Sorry. You did ask, though. Of course, there has been a bit of mission creep.[/quote]

No problem, it’s actually quite interesting and refreshing to know it’s the world over and not just here.

What’s more we have a north south divide “within” England too, although it is a bit more good natured than the relationship with our neighbours.

The differences Joe mentioned between southerners and northerners are similar to the difference we have here but in reverse. Northerners are considered poorer, less well educated, tougher, have a lower life expectancy, yet are happier and friendlier.

Of course it’s all cliched rubbish.

Really excited. Just ordered an 185 kg Olympic barbell set and 4 extra 20kg plates and a pair of 20kg bumper plates.

Should give me well over 600 lbs on the bar.

I feel like a small boy on Christmas eve (no inappropriate gags please). Incidentally I’ve told my wife she doesn’t have to get me any birthday or Christmas presents for years now, not that I normally wan’t anything anyway. As long as I can lift I’m a happy chappie.

Good deal. Congrats! Iron…the gift that keeps on giving.

Lucky you. My wife wants to beat me when I buy things for the garage.

Heh, grats on the new plates. And I too have used the, ‘No, honey, you don’t have to get me any christmas or b-day presents for a year or two if you let me buy this stuff now’, line on the wife a couple of times myself. GJ with getting it by her.

[quote]mjnewland wrote:
Hey brett, looks like things are going well. You never answered my question about the source of your chains. What exactly is a Harrow?[/quote]

A harrow is some thing you drag behind a tractor after ploughing to break up the soil and prepare it for sowing. Some are made of metal discs and some are made of heavy square linked chains. If you live in a rural area you might find them for next to nothing at farm sales or auctions. Or you might find one on Ebay.

Guys, I just tell her how much I would have spent on gym fees over the last twenty years, then the amount I’ve spent on equipment suddenly seems like a real bargain. I did use the “safety” card which was a bit of a cheap shot.

I said “I don’t really need a new bar maybe my 330lb rated bar will be fine loaded to 500+, I mean what’s the worst that can happen?, it snaps on my back while squatting and I end up in a wheel chair. No, I’m sure it will be fine”.

“What?, you think I should get it?, Well OK if you’re sure.”

I had a bit of trouble justifying the bumper plates though, that’s where the birthday and Christmas present stuff came in.

Heh, I bet the wife was thinking,‘Does he think he just snookered me into saying yes? I guess I’ll let him believe it, this time. And hrmm, those earrings we saw the other day look pretty good, maybe if I…’

Very interesting to be a female reading this male banter.

SOOOO True Ogre. Now you can do some 18"DL’s and maybe wipe up a yoke to hang them on and farmers walks impliments and and and. Have fun Brett.

Congrats on the new weight set. What brand did you get?

Ogre - To be fair she is really good like that. She said OK right away. In fact I’m the one who worries about money. She leaves all that up to me. But, you’re probably right, next time she wants something she’ll know I’ll be in no position to say no.

KP - Oh damn, have we just given away some of our bargaining secrets?

DUDE - Don’t give me more ideas man. I’m struggling as it is to fit my lifting, cycling, hill sprints and soon to be Olympic lifting in without adding in Strongman stuff aswell!

Germanone - Thanks. Bodypower is the brand, nothing fancy.

23/03/2011

Squats @ 374 lbs x 2-2-2

Bench lockouts @ 297 lbs x 6-6

RDLs @ 330 lbs x 2-2-2

Face pulls @ 88 lbs x 10-10

Leg curls @ 80 lbs x 10-8

Close grip U/H pulldowns @ 154 lbs x 10-8

Pushdowns @ 104 lbs x 11-10

One Arm DB Rows @ 124 lbs x 7-6

Ab rollouts (off knees) x 5-5

Could all be in my head but I feel my shoulder health and chest strength have already improved from upping my back work (face pulls, DB rows and pulldowns). So far no shoulder pain from the increased bench frequency.

Been struggling a bit on the squats lately. They’ve felt harder than they should. I think I’ve figured it out. Today I noticed my rest periods have somehow crept down to 2 minutes!! I’ll start increasing it.

have the new toyz been delivered yet?

[quote]mjnewland wrote:
have the new toyz been delivered yet?[/quote]

Bumpers came this morning. They look really good, steel inserts, but I haven’t got the bar yet so I can’t play with them. Damn.

24/03/2011

Bike ride - Top and back 6.5 miles - 36 minutes.

Starting to get easier already. Don’t want to make the ride any longer so I might have to start cranking up the effort.