tweeted:

Well, it’s legit. I’ll be competing in the Tough Mudder here in Colorado next June.

My reason? I feel like I need a little motivation. Like so many other people, I’m bad about setting tomorrow as my day to start fresh. Thing is, “tomorrow” never comes, and what was intended to start the next day is still intended to start the next day several months down the road. (Anyone notice my “I’m doing the Whole 30″ banner that’s been hanging out off to the right for well over 30 days?)

So, with a definite ending point, I’m hoping the procrastination will go away. Is 8 months enough time to get myself to where I can run a 10-mile obstacle course? I think so, but it means I have no time to mess around or slip up. I’ll keep everyone up to speed on my progress.

I’m not quite sure why Planet Fitness even allows men to join.

I try to avoid politics on this blog, but Ari brings up an important issue. While we won’t know what Beck has in store until the event happens, I do think he’s sincere in his support of Israel. Curious to see how this rally turns out.

I’m actually a little proud of this one…

Back around ’08 I decided to get away from Blogspot and set up this blog in its current form. I decided on the domain inyourgoing.com (the reason has to do with theology I no longer accept, but I think “in your going” is vague enough that I can still get by), but someone else already had it (as a blog, oddly enough). So, I opted, for inyourgoing.org, which was available.

About a year later, I got an email from someone saying that they’d recently purchased inyourgoing.com — I guess the original owner decided to not renew — and they’d be willing to sell it to me for $500. Needless to say, that’s more than I cared to spend, and I was perfectly happy with my .org domain.

Well, I’m guessing that person couldn’t sell it and also let it expire, as I was able to pick it up Sunday for $11! Sometimes, a little patience pays off.

As for this blog, I have plans to make it a little more useful than the current random musings and songs that are stuck in my head format, but I’ll have to see how that pans out.

I hate using The Daily Show as a news source, mostly because it’s a comedy show and can distract from the issue by making fun of it, but this is a truly bizarre story. In summary, an Orthodox Jewish group wants to set up an eruv in part of The Hamptons, and some non-Orthodox Jews wants to prevent it. Not sure how a string that most people won’t notice will harm anyone, but apparently some think it will. Truly baffling…

Here’s a video from Rabbi Lazer Brody with a little more insight:

I seriously want to give this a try, but something about it makes me a little nervous. Not entirely sure what.

The sign of successful Torah study is when it becomes an insatiable addiction. If something doesn’t make sense, you will rack your brains to figure it out. And every time you succeed in working it out, the pleasure makes you want more and more. This level is called Ahavat Torah — true love of Torah. You become so overwhelmed that Torah study becomes your very essence and you want to absorb as much as you can.

Now, while I really want to be at that point, I just can’t seem to get there. I’ve been confused about my lack of motivation, but after reading some teachings of on the topic of prayer by Rabbi Lazer Brody (side note: how cool would it be to have the name “Lazer?”), I may have the answer:

If hitbodedut is so pleasant, convenient, and easy, why isn’t everyone speaking to Hashem for an hour a day? What’s stopping people from doing what they know is right and beneficial, from talking to Hashem in personal prayer?

The answer is that the Yetzer Hara – the Evil Inclination – knows full well the virtues of hitbodedut. He knows that by way of personal prayer, a person will realize his potential to the maximum and see blessings of success in all of his endeavors. Most of all, personal prayer is the vehicle that brings a person close to Hashem, to his true mission in life, and to his soul correction. For these reasons, the Yetzer Hara will fight tooth and nail against hitbodedut and do everything to convince and discourage a person from doing personal prayer.

Now, I’ve never been comfortable with anything that even slightly resembles a “the devil made me do it” defense, but I also know my knowledge is nowhere near that of Rabbi Brody. So, is it entirely possible that my desire for comfort and fear of the unknown qualify as some sort of “evil inclination” that have me spinning my wheels and going nowhere? Sadly, they are.

Problem diagnosed. Now, for a solution…

Anyway, two songs I really dig by these guys:

(yes, it was my fondness for Matisyahu’s music that caused me to check these guys out. I just couldn’t ignore the “featuring Matisyahu” next to the song title for “Rachamana.”)

Back when I was in high school (’89-’93) I was a huge Anthrax fan. On top of that, I really dug Public Enemy (how awesome is Chuck D?). So, when thos two groups got together to do this, I thought it was the most amazing song ever recorded:

Old hat nowadays, but groundbreaking back in ’91!