A Dwarf’s Life in Sixteenth-Century Geneva

We don’t have much detail on the life of the dwarf, Michel Die, but one can’t help but notice the concern that he be treated “humanely,” suggesting that outcome was very much in doubt.

John Muir, Antoine Saunier and the Perception of Mountains in Past Times

John Muir spent his first winter as a shepherd on the plains of the Central Valley. His comments merit some comparison with Antoine Saunier’s description of Geneva in his 1538 prospectus for the Genevan school. Taken together, we have a sense of how the perception of mountains changed in the 300 years between Saunier and Muir and has changed again since Muir’s day.

EPA and DHA for vegetarians (Omega-3 Fatty Acids)

Everyone is talking about Omega-3s, but few people talk about the *variety* of Omega-3s and what that means for vegetarians. Short answer, you need EPA and DHA and algae-based capsules are the only vegetarian way to get significant quantities. That’s the same source fish use… but without all the mercury and overfishing.

What’s Your Real Workout Goal?

Most people are just trying to feel a little less guilty. The shame is, they are doing the most ineffective workouts possible — not enough intensity to get the benefits from a short, intense workout, but not enough volume to get the benefits of an endurance workout. They are in the sour spot. But it’s not complicated to come up with something bette.

Lift Weights Slowly for Good Gains with Less Risk

How fast should you move the iron when you’re weightlifting? You can find experts suggesting everything from explosive movement to very slow movement. Years ago, a famous bodybuilder, whose name escapes me at the moment, was a huge proponent of slow lifting, but as is often the case, these assertions were just anecdotal rather than based […]

Remembering Bob Kingdon, 1927–2010

Mentor, friend and inspiration. Bob is and will be missed. It was a privilege to know him, study under him and work with him.