Groundhog Day Math

Yea, it’s Groundhog Day!  Groundhog Day is one of my favorite holidays.  Did you know that woodchuck is another name for a groundhog?  Here’s a Groundhog Day math question for you to enjoy:

If Beau would chuck wood three times as fast as Phil, and Beau and Phil together would chuck 20 cords of wood, how much wood would each woodchuck chuck?

I’ll post the answer tomorrow :)

By the way, this is my groundhog Woody.  He didn’t see his shadow today, which means we’ll have an early spring!  Woody is celebrating with a bottle of Woodchuck Cider.  I think I’ll join him – after a nice bicycle ride, that is.

Count Me In!

I love math!  Have you ever really thought about what math is?  I find it’s easier to start with science, which is discovering the physical world around us.  Math is simply the language we use to describe that physical world.  That’s why math and science are so often linked together.  Math gives us the tools to understand and communicate the beauty of the biggest supernova to the smallest quark and everything in between.

OK, so maybe MATHCOUNTS doesn’t get that philosophical, but it does lay a strong foundation for young people to explore and get excited about math.  Many MATHCOUNTS mathletes go on to careers in the STEM fields: science, technology, engineering, and math.  We all can agree that the United States needs citizens with skills strong in these areas so that we’ll have a vibrant and sustainable economy.  A recent study conducted by Education Next, an education policy journal, found that by boosting students’ math and science skills, the U.S. would add approximately two-thirds of a percentage point to the GDP each year.  MATHCOUNTS focuses on middle school students because research has shown that this is a critical age when students are forming their attitudes toward math.  Math can take some work to understand, but doesn’t anything worthwhile involve some effort?  Math doesn’t have to be dry or boring, however.  In fact, math is fun!  I’ll be posting some fun math stuff throughout February.

I don’t have any pictures of myself specifically from MATHCOUNTS, but I love the pictures below from my Lakeside High School math team.  Most of our math tournaments were county competitions among the DeKalb County public schools, but we also participated in several invitational tournaments each year.  Given the particularly stiff competition at invitationals, my school did well if it placed in the top 10 at one of those.  During my senior year, our varsity math team had a particularly good showing at the Woodward Academy invitational; we won the third place trophy!  A boy named Scott was also on our team that day, but he rode with someone else (probably the junior varsity team), which is why he didn't get in these pictures.  It's kind of cool to see just us girls together anyway.  Girl power!

 Karen, me, and Nevada with the 3rd place team trophy from the Woodward Academy invitational

Celebrating by offering our trophy up to the math goddess Mathena

 I drove us to the tournament in my mother’s car.  The bumper sticker reads, “Women are natural leaders.  You’re following one now!”

You know how athletes get their lockers decorated for a big game?  Well, Nevada decided that those of us in academic competition needed some recognition, too.  The Monday morning after the weekend Woodward competition, she decorated all of the math team members’ lockers.  I've kept this sign that she made for me in my scrapbook all these years (missing a few letters now, but I still love it).

Signs of an Abuser

Dear Abby periodically publishes the signs of an abuser.  If you recognize these signs in your partner, call the national Domestic Violence Hotline toll-free at 800-799-7233.  Here is Abby’s list: 

(1) PUSHES FOR QUICK INVOLVEMENT: Comes on strong, claiming, "I've never felt loved like this by anyone." An abuser pressures the new partner for an exclusive commitment almost immediately.

(2) JEALOUSY: Excessively possessive; calls constantly or visits unexpectedly; prevents you from going to work because "you might meet someone"; checks the mileage on your car.

(3) CONTROLLING: Interrogates you intensely (especially if you're late) about whom you talked to and where you were; keeps all the money; insists you ask permission to go anywhere or do anything.

(4) UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS: Expects you to be the perfect woman and meet his every need.

(5) ISOLATION: Tries to cut you off from family and friends; accuses people who are your supporters of "causing trouble"; the abuser may deprive you of a phone or car or try to prevent you from holding a job.

(6) BLAMES OTHERS FOR PROBLEMS AND MISTAKES: It's always someone else's fault if anything goes wrong.

(7) MAKES EVERYONE ELSE RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS OR HER FEELINGS: The abuser says, "You make me angry" instead of, "I am angry" or says, "You're hurting me by not doing what I tell you."

(8) HYPERSENSITIVITY: Is easily insulted, claiming hurt feelings when he or she is really mad. Rants about the injustice of things that are just part of life.

(9) CRUELTY TO ANIMALS AND TO CHILDREN: Kills or punishes animals brutally. Also, may expect children to do things that are far beyond their ability (whips a 3-year-old for wetting a diaper) or may tease them until they cry. Sixty-five percent of abusers who beat their partner will also abuse children.

(10) "PLAYFUL" USE OF FORCE DURING SEX: Enjoys throwing you down or holding you down against your will during sex; finds the idea of rape exciting.

(11) VERBAL ABUSE: Constantly criticizes you, or says blatantly cruel things; degrades, curses, calls you ugly names. This may also involve sleep deprivation, waking you up with relentless verbal abuse.

(12) RIGID GENDER ROLES: Expects you to serve, obey and remain at home.

(13) SUDDEN MOOD SWINGS: Switches from sweet to violent in a matter of minutes.

(14) PAST BATTERING: Admits to hitting a mate in the past, but says they made him (or her) do it.

(15) THREATS OF VIOLENCE: Says things like, "I'll break your neck" or "I'll kill you," and then dismisses them with, "Everybody talks that way" or "I didn't really mean it."

Focus on Domestic Violence

Domestic violence is not an easy topic to discuss.  Nevertheless, it’s a lot more widespread than most of us realize, affecting people of all socioeconomic levels, races, and religions.  We probably all know someone who has been a victim of domestic abuse, whether we know it or not.  The overwhelming majority of domestic abuse victims are women, but there are a few men, too.  Also, children often are involved; even if they are not physically harmed, they suffer from being in an abusive environment.

Personal stories are usually the best way to connect with something important, but on this sensitive topic, it’s often hard to share such stories publicly.  That’s not because the victims should be ashamed; they have done nothing to deserve abuse.  However, it’s understandable that victims might not speak openly, perhaps because they fear for their safety.  But the rest of us can speak out.  Here are some statistics from the website of the Partnership Against Domestic Violence:

National

·       Nearly 5.3 million intimate partner victimization occur each year among U.S. women ages 18 and older. This violence results in nearly 2 million injuries and nearly 1,300 deaths. – Centers for Disease Control, 2003

·       One in four women experience domestic violence in their lifetime. – Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, 2006.

·       On average, more than three women a day are murdered by their husbands or boyfriends in the United States. – Catalano, Shannan. 2007. Intimate Partner Violence in the United States. U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics.

·       In 2008, a 24-hour survey of domestic violence programs across the nation found that over 60,000 victims were served in one day. Unfortunately, due to a lack of resources, there were almost 9,000 unmet requests for services. – Domestic Violence Count 07 A 24- hour census of domestic violence shelters and services across the United States. The National Network to End Domestic Violence (Jan. 2008).

Children

·       15.5 million children in the United States live in families in which partner violence occurred at least once in the past year. Seven million children live in families in which severe partner violence occurred. – Whitfield, CL, Anda RF, Dube SR, Felittle VJ. 2003. Violent Childhood Experiences and the Risk of Intimate Partner Violence in Adults: Assessment in a Large Health Maintenance Organization. Journal of Interpersonal Violence.

·       Boys who witness domestic violence in their own home are three times more likely to become batterers. – Straus, M.A., Gelles, R.J. & Steinmetz, S. Behind Closed Doors. Doubleday, Anchor, 1980.

·       In homes where partner abuse occurs, children are 1,500 times more likely to be abused. – Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance, Family Violence: Interventions for the Justice System, 1993

Teen Dating Violence

·       One in three teenagers report knowing a friend or peer who has been hit, punched, kicked, slapped, choked or physically hurt by their partner. – Liz Claiborne Inc. study on teen dating abuse conducted by Teenage Research Unlimited, February 2005.

·       Nearly 1 in 5 teenage girls who have been in a relationship said a boyfriend had threatened violence or self-harm if presented with a breakup. – Liz Claiborne Inc. study on teen dating abuse conducted by Teenage Research Unlimited, February 2005.

·       If trapped in an abusive relationship, 73 percent of teens said they would turn to a friend for help; but only 33 percent who have been in or known about an abusive relationship said they have told anyone about it. – Liz Claiborne Inc. study on teen dating abuse conducted by Teenage Research Unlimited, February 2005.

·       Nearly 80 percent of girls who have been physically abused in their intimate relationships continue to date their abuser. – City of New York, Teen Relationship Abuse Fact Sheet, March 1998

In The Workplace

·       Domestic violence causes American employees to miss 175,000 workdays per year.

·       Abusive husbands harass 74 percent of employed battered women at work, either in person or over the telephone.

·       The costs of intimate partner violence against women exceed an estimated $8.3 billion. These costs include nearly $4.1 billion in direct costs of medical and mental health care and nearly $1.8 billion in the indirect costs of lost productivity. – Centers for Disease Control, 2003

Domestic abuse victims may have needs ranging from a safe escape plan to medical treatment to employment training.  In A Year of Centuries, I am highlighting the need for dental treatment and facial surgery in victims of domestic abuse.  The Face to Face program of the Partnership Against Domestic Violence provides these services free of charge.  If you would like to make a donation, please mail a check to

New Image Dental Laboratory

1395 Southlake Parkway

Morrow, GA 30260

 

Please note on your check that it is for domestic violence patients.  Thank you for helping these women start regaining their self confidence and building better lives for themselves.

First Ride in A Year of Centuries – A Benefit for Face to Face/Partnership Against Domestic Violence

Woo hoo!  Great first ride in A Year of Centuries!

Here Comes the Sun

There aren’t too many rides I’ve done in January without leg or arm warmers.  It was 61 degrees when the group started at 9:00 A.M.  When I finished at about 2:30 P.M., it was 79 degrees.  I’ve ridden in plenty of cold weather and willingly would have done so today, but it sure was wonderful to get to ride on this unseasonably warm and beautiful day.

Rocket (Wo)man

You might think it’s necessary to eat tons of calories on a century, but it’s really not.  The main thing is to fuel consistently.  For me, that’s about 200 calories per hour.  Usually, I eat something about every 1½ to 2 hours.  Today I had Claxton fruitcake and Dr. Lim’s rice cakes.

Recently, my husband Robert heard a radio interview with the owners of one of the fruitcake bakeries in Claxton, Georgia.  They said that, as you’d expect, their clientele is on the older side.  However, they have started marketing their fruitcake to younger endurance athletes.  Robert and I decided to give it a try, and it works great. 

Another recent addition to our bike food repertoire is Alan Lim’s rice cakes.  Dr. Lim is a trainer for some of the pro cycling teams, and he has come up with a rice cake recipe that’s a good balance of carbohydrates and proteins, which is important on long rides.  The rice cakes consist of cooked sushi rice (stickier than regular rice, which helps hold the cakes together), cooked bacon, scrambled eggs, soy sauce, Parmesan cheese, and a little brown sugar.  You press it into a pan, cut it into squares, and wrap individually to take on the bike.  It really tastes good to have something savory on the ride to contrast with the sweetness of Clif Bars, Gu, etc.

Here’s a photo of today’s bike vittles:

I Get By with a Little Help from My Friends

And now for the best part, the ride itself.  During the winter, Robert and I do long rides on Saturdays with our cycling group in Macon.  These winter training rides are called the Peach Peloton.  Today’s PP ride was already planned to be 95 miles, and so all I had to do was add a few more.  Here are some of the guys in the parking lot before we rolled out:

As always, it was a challenging yet satisfying PP ride.  These guys are some of the best cyclists in Middle Georgia, and I really enjoy the good workouts and their excellent companionship.  We usually ride two abreast, except when we have to ride single file on short stretches of busier highways that connect the less traveled roads.  When we’re two abreast, the front two people pull a while and then gradually fade to the back.  Everyone behind the front riders gets to take advantage of the draft effect.  This goes a long way to equalize the energy output between riders of varying abilities.  I’ve learned that on these long rides, I don’t need to be up front pulling because it uses too much of my energy.  When I make it to the front, I immediately roll off, letting the stronger riders ahead of me.  The guys are totally cool with this.  In fact, they respect you a lot more if you know your limits and ride within them.

Given all this, I still often get dropped from the group.  (I always study the route ahead of time as well as have my phone with me to make sure that I can find my way home!)  Today I made it to mile 71 when I cracked.  Even so, I’m very happy with the way I rode.  When I got dropped, we were averaging 21.7 mph.  Holy moly!  If I were riding by myself, I would be happy to average 17 mph.  That gives you an idea of how much faster you can ride with a group because of drafting.

A couple of guys popped at the same time I did.  Once I slowed my pace, I immediately felt like I could keep going for a while.  Things were good.  It got even better.  Gabe, one of the strong riders, hung back to help me and the other two who had popped.  That was really nice of him.  The four of us worked together to get back to the parking lot.

When we were a mile or two from the end, Robert and our friend Chad Davies joined us.  (They had already finished with the front group.)  Robert and Chad are on the Georgia Neurosurgical racing team.  They provided the Georgia Neuro Century Escort Service, accompanying me on the last five miles I needed to make it a century.  Thanks, y’all!  That really meant a lot to me J

I also have to give a special shout out to a couple of my other riding buddies.  One is Tom, who also had a bad bicycle accident last year.  He was on a cross-country ride, and about 10 days into the trip, he crashed on a steep descent.  He had some bad injuries, including a broken pelvis, which required several months of recovery.  He’s been back on the bike for a good while now, but today was the first opportunity I’ve had to ride with him since his crash.  It was good to be with him.  Props also go to Sidney, who rode his first century ever today!  Way to go, Sidney!

As I rode and appreciated my friends’ help today, I couldn’t help but contemplate on how much my friends did to help me through the toughest days of recovery from my crash.  These were my cycling friends plus friends from many other parts of my life.  They prayed for me, sent me cards and e-mails, called me, and brought food to me.  I couldn’t have made it without you all.  Thank you again to each of you.

I send today’s ride out as a prayer for the women who have or will receive treatment through the Face to Face program of the Partnership Against Domestic Violence.  May they experience healing and new life.