Energy return
Can you protect yourself from harm while enjoying the ride at the same time? I think you can, with the right preparation. More guidance, inspiration and fun inside
The shoes I’m running in right now are great for my return-to running. But they’re probably geared for the shorter end of runs that I used to do often - those 10k+ runs. They’re technically good, and comfortable too.
I have my eyes on the prize of longer distances. But I don’t want to compromise on being able to be a little more speedy when I want to be too. I don’t want a massive clunky shoe that holds me back with its weight. But it needs to be able to protect me when I’m pounding for up to 150 minutes at a time.
So, with some research, I ordered a new pair - ready for me to start wearing most likely in early 2023. They’re geared for the long run, but can do equally well in speed sessions too. All reviews point to them being enjoyable to wear, with great longevity.
And the more I get back into my running, the more I see parallels in wider life
My new pair has a different kind of foam in it - it helps cushion impact but also helps with energy return, springing you forwards and improving running economy - you expend less energy for the same speed. And it feels great too.
I’m trying to protect myself from harm while enjoying the ride at the same time. And I can’t help but think about what many Governments around the world are attempting to protect people from the harms of the pandemic virus - as well as many other uncertainties - while also encouraging people to safely go about their lives again. To start returning energy back into society once more.
It's bound to be a gradual process. There will be setbacks - more for some than others. I’m happy to stay more tilted towards the protection side of the equation for now for my own good and others who cannot effectively protect themselves - - that’s probably my natural bias anyway.
But I can’t want for the energy return. And not just in my running either.
Thanks to my paid subscribers who enable me to spend the time writing that I do. I’d love to do more. If you can afford to become a member, I’d really appreciate it. I’ll be taking a little time off to recharge my own energy, but I’ll return again in mid-October.
The top ten psychology case studies of all time
These ten characters have all had a huge influence on psychology and their stories continue to intrigue us. What’s particularly fascinating is that many of their stories continue to evolve – new evidence comes to light, or new technologies are brought to bear, changing how the cases are interpreted and understood. In some cases, new analysis reveals that perhaps they have been grossly misunderstood, laying a false trail where many students have followed.
…recent years have seen a drastic reevaluation of Gage’s story in light of new evidence. It’s now believed that he underwent significant rehabilitation and in fact began work as a horse carriage driver in Chile. A simulation of his injuries suggested much of his right frontal cortex was likely spared, and photographic evidence has been unearthed showing a post-accident dapper Gage. Not that you’ll find this revised account in many psychology textbooks: a recent analysis showed that few of them have kept up to date with the new evidence.
Ukraine: What just happened?
It’s been there in the background, but there’s been a lot going on that has pushed it further down the news agenda recently. But this week, that changed. Here’s an analysis of what just happened and what it could mean.
Instead of offering only a costly grinding stalemate, in which – in Vladimir Putin’s words – European prosperity is thrown into the furnace of sanctions, western leaders can now talk of the de-occupation of Ukraine, and sound plausible. “This counteroffensive shows that we can win,” said Ukraine’s ambassador to the US, Oksana Markarova. The French ambassador to Ukraine, Étienne de Poncins, even speculated somewhat prematurely that autumn could be “the season of victory”. If so, minds will have to turn to what brutal, even nuclear, methods Putin might employ in order to prevent collapse.
This curated newsletter took hours to read, research and pull together. If you can take 5 seconds to share it I’d be so grateful - thanks!
Harry Potter is turning into Weird Al Yankovic
If you don’t know who Weird Al is, he’s a huge pop-song parodist phenomenon. Here’s some of his early work from 1981, and another from 1983. A lot of his later stuff is only available on YouTube directly - I encourage you to seek hi out there.
Anyway, it turns out that Daniel Radcliffe is going to play Yankovic in a forthcoming biopic.
Central to fulfilling that premise is the casting of Radcliffe, an enthusiastic Yankovic fan who looks little like the musician and had no desire to impersonate him.
Daniel has had an electric career since Harry Potter. He seems set to continue on this path. Read (and hear) more here. Made free for Noise Reduction readers via my New York Times subscription.
The demise of the Queen and emotional upheaval
The phrase, “the demise of the Queen” is apparently a thing. And I could really avoid mentioning it here today.
There’s still a lot going on during these days of process and preocedure leading up to the funeral itself. And the reaction of the British public remains somewhat unpredictable. Under the surface, much could change quickly. And as we saw after the death of the Princess of Wales, spontaneous outpourings of emotion terrify those in the establishment. How will they respond now?
The country has a complex relationship with its emotions. I always think politicians and many of our institutions are most frightened of the public having emotions. Perhaps they have a vested interest in portraying emotions as a kind of weakness, lying as they do in some uncharted realm beyond their control. The display of emotions is frequently regarded as a defeat. They are something to which we “give in”. It suits many people for us not to do so. And yet, why? Is this in our interests or theirs? Maybe we already know the answer.
I really appreciate Marina Hyde’s writing. Check out the rest of her article here.
Woman who can smell Parkinson’s Disease helps develop swab test
A Scottish woman with hyperosmia who found she could detect Parkinson's through smell has inspired scientists to develop a swab test that could be used to diagnose it.
Researchers in Manchester have created a new method which they say can detect the disease in three minutes.
Joy (Milne), 72, knew her husband Les had Parkinson's more than 12 years before he was diagnosed when she identified a change in the way he smelled.
"He had this musty rather unpleasant smell especially round his shoulders and the back of his neck and his skin had definitely changed," she said.
Read and watch more about this fascinating story here.
Can Exercise Strengthen Your Immunity?
It’s looking likely - recent research suggests that people who work out have stronger resistance to infectious diseases — including Covid. But we aren’t really sure how this happens.
When researchers reviewed 16 studies of people who stayed physically active during the pandemic, they found that working out was associated with a lower risk of infection as well as a lower likelihood of severe Covid-19. The analysis, published last month in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, has generated a lot of enthusiasm among exercise scientists, who say the findings could lead to updated guidelines for physical activity and health care policy that revolves around exercise as medicine.
Experts who study immunology and infectious disease are more cautious in their interpretation of the results. But they agree that exercise can help protect health through several different mechanisms.
Read the whole story here.
That’s in from me for this week. I’ll be launching. thread this weekend for us to keep in touch while I am away. In the meantime, take care of yourselves out there, and each other.