My Fastest Marathon Ever

So, yeah, yesterday … big day for me. As is my custom, I spent most of the week complaining about how un-ready I was to run a marathon. In the hours leading up to the race, I was convinced that I was going to do poorly in the Detroit International Marathon. I’m not sure what happened … maybe someone put the voodoo on me, maybe I was caught up in the beauty of running the streets of a city I love so much but I managed to beat my previous personal best marathon time by 40 minutes! I felt really good for much of the race and was pacing about an hour faster than my previous best time but I knew that I would have to slow down a bit near the end so I didn’t want to get ahead of myself. I just kept looking forward toward the finish line and was completely overwhelmed by emotion when I crossed the line. It was a great, great day for me :D

The race starts in Detroit but then heads into Canada over the Ambassador Bridge … we run a few miles along the riverfront in Windsor, Ontario before we run back to the US underneath the Detroit River thru the tunnel connecting the countries. The rest of the race takes place entirely in Detroit and I have to say … I started getting teary eyed as I ran thru the streets of Detroit. There are parts of Detroit that are so beautiful, I dare you not to weep at the beauty. We runners were met on the streets with high fives, cheers, free beer (yes really, a lot of beer, actually), smiles and friendly love. The weather was perfect, the atmosphere in the city was so electric … I think a little bit of all of these things in sum helped me run my fastest marathon yet. I had hoped that I’d get a sub 5 hour marathon under my belt before I retire but I didn’t think I’d be able to get near 4:30 so quickly (my official time was 4:33). Now my new goal is to get a sub 4 hour marathon under my belt so I can qualify for the Boston Marathon. Maybe my retirement will have to be delayed a bit.

Thru it all my BFFs Sarah and Mark … no, wait, they are more than BFFs … thru it all, my dear family Sarah and Mark were encouraging me thru my complaints and worries. They woke up at 5AM to brave the cold temps not only to drive me to the race but to be by my side at the race start and finish. They, too, are a huge part of my success yesterday:

When I crossed the finish line, I started crying … like, a lot. Emma saw me weep when I finished my first marathon in Hawaii last December but my fast time in the city I love was just too much. I got to hug Mark and Sarah and bawl into their necks. That’s family stuff, y’all. To keep from having my legs tighten up completely, we decided to not rest and just keep moving … so we made our way to a Cider Mill, the perfect way to end a great trip home to Michigan:



The flight home last night was painful, I can assure you but I’m feeling much, much better today. I want to thank all of you guys out there for YOUR support as well. On Facebook, on Instagram and here on the blog, you have constantly enriched my life in such a way that I can never express properly. I carry you guys in my heart, always. We have a bit of a family around here too. To see all the love you have heaped on Shannon and her family, it just makes me so proud to “know” you guys. Thank you.

I’m home in LA again and have a pretty full week ahead. No rest for the weary :) Have a great Monday! Love you all!!

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/pinkisthenewblog/~3/ytUSFuqHvcc/my-fastest-marathon-ever
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Apple iPhone 5C narrows 5S' lead in global activations

The number of active iPhone 5S devices is now about double the number of 5C devices, not triple, according to a new report from mobile analytics firm Localytics

Apple's iPhone 5C comes in multiple colors.

(Credit: Josh Lowensohn/CNET)

Apple's iPhone 5C has narrowed its gap with the iPhone 5S in terms of activations, according to a new report, but the pricier phone is still about twice as popular.

For every iPhone 5C activation in the US, there are 1.9 iPhone 5S activations, according to mobile analytics firm Localytics. Globally, the gap widens to 2.3 iPhone 5S devices per iPhone 5C. Still, the difference is much better than a couple weeks ago when Localytics found that the iPhone 5S outpaced the iPhone 5C by a factor of 3.4.

The smaller gap in the US indicates the cheaper device is more popular here than in other markets, including the much-desired developing regions, the firm said. It examined 20 million devices as part of the iPhone study.

The iPhone 5S is still outselling the 5C globally by more than double, according to Localytics.

(Credit: Localytics)

While Apple still sells a truckload of iPhones, the fate of its continued growth is a little less certain. The Cupertino, Calif., company may have invented the modern generation of touchscreen smartphones, but it faces stiff competition from companies unafraid to offer dirt-cheap, but functional, phones. While the iPhone remains king in the US, it has since ceded its leadership position elsewhere around the world. Globally, Apple has been losing market share to Android devices, particularly from Samsung.

The company also has faced more competition in tablets. Apple on Tuesday will unveil its newest iPads as it attempts to stave off competition from Android devices.

Check out CNET's live coverage of the Apple's event on Oct. 22.

Source: http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-57608448-37/apple-iphone-5c-narrows-5s-lead-in-global-activations/?part=rss&tag=feed&subj=News-Apple
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Kenya gov't believes 4 terrorist bodies recovered

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — The Kenyan government says it believes it has recovered the remains of the four gunmen who stormed a shopping mall on Sept. 21 and killed more than 60 people.

Joseph Ole Lenku, Cabinet secretary for interior, said that on Sunday "we recovered a fourth body, which we know from CCTV footage to be that of a terrorist." He said in his message late Sunday that officials believe the remains of three people recovered at the mall last week are also "those of the terror suspects." Closed-circuit TV footage from Westgate Mall shows four gunmen taking part in the attack.

Lenku said "DNA and other investigations will confirm their identities."

So far, one gunmen has been identified: Hassan Abdi Dhuhulow, a Somali-Norwegian.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/kenya-govt-believes-4-terrorist-bodies-recovered-130554295.html
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Taking the cover off Apple's October 22nd event: What you can expect

Apple's iPhone event last month was undoubtedly crucial for the company, but it left quite a few would-be customers wanting more. Much of Cupertino's product lineup is practically begging for an update. There haven't been new iPads in a year; both OS X Mavericks and the Mac Pro redesign have yet to ...

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/GZqd4ZFPj3w/
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Disney's Under The Sea Gets An Eco-Friendly Makeover!

Um, could this Disney cover BE any more creative?!

The Bottle Boys, who are known for their AH-Mazing musical skills, covered The Little Mermaid's upbeat musical number Under The Sea with just bottles, air and sand!

Yes, you read that correctly. Bottles, air and sand!!

Insane, right?!

They definitely take the word eco-friendly to a whole 'nother level!

Ch-ch-check out their adorable SEA-ful cover (below)!!

Source: http://perezhilton.com/2013-10-19-disney-the-little-mermaid-bottle-boys-musical-cover-under-the-sea-cool-creative-amazing
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From crab fishers to office staff, nation reboots

The end of the federal shutdown means boats will be back out on the Bering Sea to fish for king crab. Loggers are being allowed back into national forests in Oregon. And barriers keeping nature lovers out of national parks across the country have been removed.

Crews on about 80 boats have been sitting out the multimillion-dollar harvest of red king crab because federal managers who assign fishing quotas were among workers furloughed during the government's partial shutdown. They're relieved that they'll soon be able to start their harvest, bringing back an industry that was one of many private sectors of the economy stalled around the country by the bickering in Washington.

"I'm glad the madness has ended," said Capt. Keith Colburn, a regular on Discovery Channel's popular reality show "Deadliest Catch."

Life started to return to normal as the federal government sprang back to life after the 16-day partial shutdown that came to a close after the House and Senate voted late Wednesday to end it. Even the popular panda cam at the National Zoo was back online, though the zoo itself won't reopen until Friday. Federal workers who were furloughed or worked without pay during the shutdown will get back pay in their next paychecks, which for most employees come Oct. 29.

National parks removed barriers and welcomed visitors who had previously been turned away. The Twitter feed of Mount Rainier National Park in Washington state posted a picture of the 14,411-foot mountain backed by blue skies, with the message "What a beautiful morning to welcome us back to Mount Rainier! Park gates are now open."

National Park Service Director Jonathan Jarvis said all 401 national park units — including landmarks such the Liberty Bell and Yellowstone — reopened Thursday.

Visitors from around the world flocked to Yosemite National Park to see such famous sites as El Capitan and Half Dome after weeks of closure brought local economies to a near standstill.

More than 20,000 National Park Service employees had been among the 800,000 federal workers sent home at the peak of the shutdown.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park spokeswoman Dana Soehn said that returning employees faced a backlog of work, particularly emails from people applying for permits, and other requests.

"All of those still required response now that we're back to work," said Soehn, adding that she realizes there could be another shutdown in the next few months.

"That is not a prospect that anyone is looking forward to," she said.

At the World War II Memorial, which became a flash point of anger and blame over the government shutdown, the memorial honoring more than 400,000 who died was calm and peaceful again. The memorial's fountains were turned back on, and there were no signs of the barricades that had limited access to the site during the shutdown.

The U.S. Forest Service started lifting a logging ban on national forests. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services restarted the computerized system used to verify the legal status of workers. Boat trips resumed to Alcatraz, the former federal prison in San Francisco Bay, with 1,600 tickets snapped up by tourists in the first hour of business.

Among the many sites reopening in Washington were the Smithsonian Institution's museums, which lost about $2.8 million in revenue during the shutdown, according to Smithsonian spokeswoman Linda St. Thomas.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development is tackling backlogs in several of its programs as furloughed workers return.

HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan welcomed back workers in a video message posted on the agency's website.

"You are better than what we saw in Washington over the past few weeks," he told them. "And I want you to know that your work here at HUD is valued. It's important. It's necessary."

The Defense Department called back about 7,000 furloughed civilians. In an open letter to the workforce, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said the department still faces budget uncertainty as Congress struggles to pass a 2014 spending bill and deal with automatic budget cuts. Pentagon Comptroller Robert Hale said the department lost at least $600 million worth of productivity during the four days that civilians were furloughed.

In Cincinnati, Renee Yankey, a government alcohol and tobacco tax specialist, was sleep-deprived after staying up late to watch news of the shutdown-ending deal, but otherwise glad to be back at work with the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau.

"I can tell that the alcohol industry missed us," Yankey said. "The first thing I hear is 'I'm so glad I got a person on the phone!'"

Patrice Roberts, who works for Homeland Security, said she wasn't prepared for the emotional lows of the past 16 days.

"It's just frustrating having that kind of control over your life and just having it taken away from me," said Roberts, who is expecting another shutdown in January. "I'll be better prepared next time."

____

La Corte reported from Olympia, Wash. Associated Press writers Rachel D'Oro in Anchorage, Alaska; Matthew Barakat in Reston, Va.; Ben Nuckols in Springfield, Va.; Dan Sewell in Cincinnati; Michael Rubinkam in Pottsville, Pa.; Jeannie Nuss in North Little Rock, Ark.; Kathy Matheson in Philadelphia; Lucas L. Johnson II in Nashville, Tenn.; and Jessica Gresko, Brett Zongker, Andrew Miga and Sam Hananel in Washington contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/crab-fishers-office-staff-nation-reboots-051311620--finance.html
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Ark. man shot dead after getting lost in Chicago

CHICAGO (AP) — An Arkansas man who police say got lost driving around the city was shot and killed early Thursday, apparently by a man he had just asked for directions.

According to police, a man identified by the Cook County Coroner's office as 55-year-old Robert Franklin, of Blytheville, Ark., was with a friend in a car about 3:45 a.m. when a man that Franklin had asked for directions climbed into the backseat and pulled out a gun.

Officer Jose Estrada said the gunman robbed the men of cash and "as he is getting out he turns around and shoots (Franklin) four times in the back."

Estrada said Franklin's friend drove him to Stroger Hospital, where Franklin was pronounced dead a short time after he arrived.

Police had made no arrests as of Thursday afternoon. Police had not identified the suspect or determined exactly where in the city the shooting occurred.

Chicago's violent crime has been the focus on national attention, particularly last year when the city led the nation in homicides with more than 500.

Police note that the vast majority of slayings and other violent crime in the city are related to street gangs. In most cases, police say, the gunmen typically know their victims or they are bystanders caught in gang crossfire. In one such case that was reported around the world, police say two gang members mistook teenager Hadiya Pendleton and her friends as members of a rival gang and opened fire, killing the 15-year-old honor student not far from President Barack Obama's home on the city's South Side.

But apparently random crimes are not unheard of in the city. A current criminal trial receiving extensive coverage focuses on a brutal baseball attack on two women who apparently were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/ark-man-shot-dead-getting-lost-chicago-191824716.html
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