Charles W. Morrison

So I’ve read the reviews that say that compared to the DVD’s the better way to learn Zumba moves is to buy the DVD’s. I can’t really compare because I haven’t purchased the DVD’s yet. That may be coming too.

The main complaint with the Zumba Learn the Steps mode in Zumba Fitness for Wii, is that the control reads successful moves on the controller and then skips quickly through all of the move break downs quickly, so that you can’t see the intermediate steps. I found the same thing.

However, I did find a clever cheat, or wii hack on how to get to the intermediate steps. I’m not sure, maybe it is even in the manual or somewhere on their website somewhere. This cheat is so easy that it WILL annoy you.

Here it is: Take the wii remote out of the zumba belt, and put it down on a table or chair or the floor. Once you have successfully completed learning a move, however long that takes you, pick it up, move to the music, and then put it back down.

The controller will read that you are successful, move you to the next stage, and then stop at the next stage of moves.

I hope this helps you learn Zumba.

Manitoba’s ‘controlled’ flooding will be worse than predicted, rural official says – The Globe and Mail.

Harper to visit Manitoba flood zone – Manitoba – CBC News.

Apparently I talk too much about my new fun fitness routine Zumba!: Therefore I shall make a few statements and then speak of it no more, unless asked about it.

1. Zumba is a one hour cardio interval workout. If you skate, cycle, run, swim or tri, then this is an excellent cross training activity and you owe it to yourself to try this once for the sake of making your regular sport better. If you like to workout and really sweat, then if you put the effort into the moves you will really sweat.

2. Zumba is crazy fun, and has music and movement. If you are into getting high on life, then you owe it to yourself to try three classes. It really is more like a party than working out. But you will feel it the next day in expected and unexpected places. . . that is if you can get out of bed. Did I mention that it was FUN!

3. Most GUYS are NOT in good enough SHAPE to handle this workout. And yes, that is supposed to sound like a challenge to men, you out of shape slackers. Grow a pair. Get over it. Give it a try. Real men can zumba.

4. Standing Friend OFFER: If you are my friend, then I will go with you, PAY FOR YOUR FIRST CLASS, and I will stand in front of you, not behind or beside you.  Don’t come to me in five years and say, “Why didn’t anyone tell me about this.” Please get over the fear of trying this. Yes, I was scared to move, too. (Yes, I’m the guy who brought notes to high school gym class with a note excusing me from dance class on religious grounds.) The two most important things in class are fitness and fun, not the moves.  If you are not from the area, and are passing through the offer stands.

5. Portage la Prairie has an absolutely awesome world-class instructor in Natalie. She probably shouldn’t be here, she’s that good. You had better take a class from a pro while you can. Search Youtube for zumba, and see how some instructors move or don’t move and you’ll see what I mean.

That’s the last word. Ask me in person about Zumba, I dare you.

I’ve been starting on accomplishing the things on my Bucket List. I am starting close to home and moderately. It is a mix of Jim Carrey”s Yes Man’ and Jack Nicholson’s Bucket List (‘Have I fired you lately?… Not since the Oprah incident.’). I am trying new things. Things that people have told me that I should do, or try. There are limits of course, to my behaviour. Provided the activities don’t violate my conscience, I’ll give it a go.

My list is going to be rather fluid, editable, and customizable to my own interests. And I am going to have to document and write about the results, of course.

The impetus for the list, is simply, the inescapable fact that “Life is too fricking short!” is hitting home with me.

When I tell people that I have a bucket list, some people react that “you are too young” to have one of those, or “are you dying?”

I suppose it  is a combination of the 80/20 rule, the checklist manifesto, and Getting Things Done. 80 per cent of people don’t write stuff down. The 20 per cent of people who do write down their goals do amazing things. US doctor malpractice lawsuits dropped dramatically when doctors began using checklists for surgeries. GTD states that minds only hold 5-7 items before they start dropping stuff out of memory. I’ll probably write more on each of these later.

Drive Slower, Brake less, time lights, and inflate your tires are the basics. Save money.

How to Save Money on Gas – 29 Tips | Open Travel Info.

With premium gas hitting $1.25 CDN again, it is time to post the basics of saving money on fuel. By changing the way you load and drive your vehicle. With some hypermilers getting over 150 miles per gallon, there is a few things to learn about how we drive. Even if you do not drive this way, it can help you understand why the people around you are driving the way that they do.

The basics include making your car more aerodynamic, and lighter, by removing unused items. And slowing down your speed.

Tricks for Saving Fuel | Top Gear Rules.

Friend Tip of the Day:

You can ask your friend if they want something from their favourite coffee place, and then treat them to whatever they want, delivery-style.

Or better yet, depending upon, the day, you can know what kind of coffee or treat your friend prefers. Then surprise them with a treat out of the blue, perhaps when they are feeling blue, and could use a pick me up.

Tim Hortons.

About to take Week Four of beginner Ojibway language class.

Week one was exciting and new.

Week two had my usual eloquent self stammering to find the words to say ‘Hello’. It was almost like learning an entirely new language! Frustration and a sense of the enormity of the task loomed large in front of me.

Week three has me bearing down for 30-45 minutes an hour of listening to the iPod with the language lessons that were ripped from CD. I don’t know how you could possibly do this without an iPod. Is the iPod the ultimate learning tool for language acquisition?

Ahow Ndinaawemaaganag, Anishinaabemodaa!.

I get this anishinaabemowin word of the day via twitter on my phone, so that I can integrate language learning on my walk to the car, or waiting in line.

So for most of my life, I’ve been family and marriage centred. I have recently discovered that I have a definite need for more friends in my life. I have also decided to be deliberate and intentional about adding people to my life. So as usual, I’ve decided to do some research and reading about friends, and also how to be a better friend.

To have good friends, we need to be great friends ourselves. So here’s one of my recent readings.

Rules of Friendship.