Re: Don't Stop!

1

Aw, ogged. So precious. You're just like him! Keep swimming, pal! And if you can make it over that wall, you can mate with all the other salmon-people who are just like you.


Posted by: Stanley | Link to this comment | 10-17-07 11:39 PM
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I kept imagining, every time he changed strokes, that he was about to get sucked into whatever devil-turbine thing runs it. (shudder)


Posted by: A White Bear | Link to this comment | 10-17-07 11:40 PM
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3

Don't Stop!

That certainly was fast.


Posted by: Michael | Link to this comment | 10-17-07 11:40 PM
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4

If he's so good, why isn't he moving forward?


Posted by: anmik | Link to this comment | 10-17-07 11:41 PM
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5

progress is a beginner's mistake.


Posted by: Michael | Link to this comment | 10-17-07 11:45 PM
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I always look at the exercise (endless pools, counter-current pools, or whatever they're called) devices advertised in the back of the New Yorker and think: that's not the metaphor I'll be looking for when I buy a pool.


Posted by: anmik | Link to this comment | 10-17-07 11:48 PM
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7

I agree that it looks like fun, but I can't help but just be horrified at the energy use of stuff like that.


Posted by: bitchphd | Link to this comment | 10-17-07 11:49 PM
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8

I can't help but just be horrified at the energy use of stuff like that.

It's a lot better than a full-sized pool.


Posted by: Matt F | Link to this comment | 10-17-07 11:52 PM
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Ogged doesn't think about such things. In Iran, all endless pools are nuclear powered.


Posted by: Michael | Link to this comment | 10-17-07 11:52 PM
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8: Yeah, I'm willing to believe that, especially if the full size pool is heated. Certainly it uses less water.

Still, I figure the point of that kind of thing is for private use/ownership, right? And something about private pools just sort of freaks me out. I realize I'm being an ass and a hypocrite.

Probably a lot of my resistance is just that it seems like a ridiculous new invention/affectation--makes great sense for serious competitive swimmers, sure, but how many of them are there, really, in the world? Back in my day, dammit, we swam in the neighborhood cistern, and we *liked it*!


Posted by: bitchphd | Link to this comment | 10-17-07 11:57 PM
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Ack. The whole time, I'm rooting for the monster, and then when it's about to get him, the video cuts out. I blame the MPAA.


Posted by: foolishmortal | Link to this comment | 10-17-07 11:58 PM
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Secretly, though, I admit I would kind of love to have one of those. So tiny! A pool you can just tuck into a corner of your yard!


Posted by: bitchphd | Link to this comment | 10-18-07 12:01 AM
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13

Somewhere, the Camus estate's legal team ponders a way to get royalties from the company that sells those things.


Posted by: anmik | Link to this comment | 10-18-07 12:04 AM
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I can't help but just be horrified at the energy use of stuff like that.

You're in SoCal. Get some solar panels.


Posted by: gswift | Link to this comment | 10-18-07 12:07 AM
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I totally intend to do that if we ever manage to buy a house. And if we have any money left over, of course. HA!


Posted by: bitchphd | Link to this comment | 10-18-07 12:12 AM
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15: Mentioned this yester(some other?)day. Should be good news for you -- eventually.

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-homes13sep13,0,2859388.story?coll=la-home-center


Posted by: anmik | Link to this comment | 10-18-07 12:16 AM
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Someone somewhere must have done a triathlon combining this kind of pool with a stationary bike and a treadmill.


Posted by: eb | Link to this comment | 10-18-07 12:29 AM
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17: Probably one of Will's clients.


Posted by: Not Prince Hamlet | Link to this comment | 10-18-07 12:38 AM
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15: You and everyone else. Me too, but mine has a trap door installed! So there.


Posted by: foolishmortal | Link to this comment | 10-18-07 1:48 AM
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A perfect metaphor for life under capitalism.


Posted by: Martin Wisse | Link to this comment | 10-18-07 5:48 AM
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I always look at the exercise (endless pools, counter-current pools, or whatever they're called) devices advertised in the back of the New Yorker and think: that's not the metaphor I'll be looking for when I buy a pool.

"Lethargic pools" are known for their algae and mosquito problems.


Posted by: Cryptic Ned | Link to this comment | 10-18-07 7:21 AM
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17 very funny!
note to self: steal at first opportunity!

what occurs to me--in this as in so many other contexts--
is that unbelievable scene in the invisible man when the narrator studies hard, overcomes incredible odds, wins this hellish boxing match, receives a scholarship, and then opens up the letter of recommendation to find out that it reads:
"to whom it may concern: keep this nigger running".

oh god. so much of my life, summed up.

it's kind of a shame that it's no longer quotable in polite company.


Posted by: kid bitzer | Link to this comment | 10-18-07 7:27 AM
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anyone else notice that we now have post titles
don't go!
don't stay!
and
don't stop!
yeah, probably you did.


Posted by: kid bitzer | Link to this comment | 10-18-07 7:53 AM
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the point of that kind of thing is for private use/ownership, right?

Not this particular one.


Posted by: ogged | Link to this comment | 10-18-07 7:56 AM
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Everybody! Move your feet and feel united!

(Imagining a giant room full of people swimming in time to Junior/Senior.)


Posted by: essear | Link to this comment | 10-18-07 8:15 AM
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Isn't this kind of pool a training device rather than a personal toy? As in, something the U.S. swim team would own so the coach could film and watch the stroke from the side?


Posted by: Cala | Link to this comment | 10-18-07 8:27 AM
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27

Hey, it looks like a white bear has one of these.

They are definietly marketed for home exercise use.


Posted by: unimaginative | Link to this comment | 10-18-07 8:52 AM
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Ack. The whole time, I'm rooting for the monster, and then when it's about to get him, the video cuts out. I blame the MPAA.

I figured that was where the "fun" part would come in. But NO.


Posted by: Magpie | Link to this comment | 10-18-07 9:17 AM
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I think that would have deleterious effects on my motivation. It changes the dynamic from racing (how fast can I get there?) to upkeep (how long can I maintain this pace).

Of course, having the nearest Olympic sized pool be a mile and a half away also hurts my motivation, especially come Winter. Maybe one of those would be nice.


Posted by: Trevor | Link to this comment | 10-18-07 9:18 AM
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22: Sigh. So true. I should have read that when I was much younger; would have saved me a world of striving.


Posted by: bitchphd | Link to this comment | 10-18-07 9:22 AM
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Isn't this kind of pool a training device rather than a personal toy? As in, something the U.S. swim team would own so the coach could film and watch the stroke from the side?

This particular one is, and it is the kind of thing you'll find at the Olympic training center, but they also market smaller, simpler versions for home use (I think the most well-known company that does that is called Endless Pools).


Posted by: ogged | Link to this comment | 10-18-07 9:28 AM
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27: My people are adorable. I love it when he stops swimming and just drifts around.


Posted by: A White Bear | Link to this comment | 10-18-07 9:28 AM
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Yeah, he's fast, but the treadpool is doing some of the work, right, LizardBreath?


Posted by: TJ | Link to this comment | 10-18-07 10:18 AM
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30--

i read it at a young enough age. still didn't help.
wouldna helped you either.
the letter is addressed to readers internal to us, as well.


Posted by: kid bitzer | Link to this comment | 10-18-07 11:42 AM
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