A Tribute to My Father

Only about one person in 1,461 is born on February 29. They’re the 0.07%. My father was one of them.

Today would have been his 22^nd birthday.

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Merry Christmas Rocks

There is another State Nature Preserve that I’ve been aware of for a long time: Christmas Rocks. However, it was closed to the public and required a permit to visit it (and I’d never inquired to find out was what necessary to get a permit—I always figured you had to be part of something like a college class). Anyways, Hiker White, who comments here, let me know that the Preserve has been opened up for general visitors.

So that was yesterday’s hike.

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More Barefoot Sailors

When I wrote about Barefoot Sailors, the example I used was the Spanish-American war (during the blockade of Cuba). It really only showed those sailors doing their exercises on deck in bare feet.

But what about real sailing (as opposed to powered) ships?

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The Sickle of Life

Bird feeders give life. I’ve had so many different birds there. But they also attract the sorts of birds that take advantage of that.

So this is what I saw outside my window yesterday afternoon.

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Another Lost in the Wild: Cody Lundin

In Lost in the Wild: Cody Lundin I highlighted a short-lived show that starred Cody Lundin. That particular episode was filmed in Nova Scotia.

There is another episode online.

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Escarpment Escapement

Yesterday I returned to the Hocking State Forest around Cantwell Cliffs in Hocking Hills. Temperature was above 50°. That’s not even a challenge anymore for hiking barefoot.

My challenge, though, was to work my way along the escarpment of one of the gorges there.

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How Long Before Barefoot Kid Equals Child Endangerment?

Here is a story that makes me think this whole country is just losing its mind: Mother to face charges for unusual punishment.

What did she do? Make her 10-year old walk to school.

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Walking on Broken Glass

With apologies to Annie Lennox, Walking on Broken Glass is not all that difficult.

I just made a YouTube video of me crushing broken glass, barefoot.

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Colorful Characters: John Sparks

Newark, Ohio, has its own historical barefooter, John Sparks. In fact, he is “historical” enough to have his very own historical marker:

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Hidden Hocking Hills

I am always struck by how much of Hocking Hills is so totally unknown by so many people. They (almost) all seem to stick to just the standard “official” spots: Ash Cave, Cedar Falls, Old Man’s Cave, Conkle’s Hollow, Rock House, Cantwell Cliffs. They rarely even go much of a distance beyond the standard fare.

I, on the other hand, enjoy thoroughly exploring what is out there off the beaten path.

Yesterday was another sunny 50° day (we’ve had a lot of those this “winter”), so I did a bit of bushwhacking around the State Forest near Cantwell Cliffs. Total hiking was around 4 miles, with 2½ of that bushwhacking.

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Lost in the Wild: Cody Lundin

Folks might be interested in this short program starring Cody Lundin (barefooter and survivalist extraordinaire).

It dates from 2004, and was aired on Discovery.

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Barefoot Runners Society Update

A quick entry: the Barefoot Runners Society just updated their server. As part of the migration, they had to use a new URL. So, if you are having trouble reconnecting, here’s the new URL!

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The ACLU and Me

In this comment, Dan asked if I ever asked the ACLU for support in my lawsuits. The answer is a long story that I’ve kept procrastinating in telling.

Finally, here it is.

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Trying to Interest the Ohio Supreme Court

Folks may remember that I lost my appeal in my lawsuit against a local library. I talked a bit about that in How Judges Cheat — Part 2. After you lose at the appeals level, you have two choices: accept the loss, or try to get the Ohio Supreme Court interested.

I felt I had to at least make the attempt to get the Ohio Supreme Court interested.

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A New Running Study Looking at Injury Rates

Dr. Daniel Lieberman of Harvard is well-known for his studies of barefoot running, and I’ve discussed that before. He and his colleagues have a new study out, Foot Strike and Injury Rates in Endurance Runners: a retrospective study, in Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise. (The lead author is Adam Daoud.)

It is not a barefoot running study, but does address some of the issues related to barefoot running.

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