Yes, I'm a spoiled brat...

I think the picture speaks for itself...

Canada Part 4...

The vacation is over. Back in the Netherlands now and fighting against the jetlag. My eyes are closing as I write, so I'm going to keep it short.

The last couple of days have been characterised by the statement: "A room with a view". Going for a 10km run at 7:30 in the morning in Stanley Park, Vancouver, was great, eventhough I am definitely not a morning person. Vancouver is a lot like Sydney, very multicultural, relaxed people with a young population and a sea climate to die for. You're never more than 20 mins drive from a beach in the summer and an hour drive from the ski slopes in the winter. Not too bad, eh!!!

So here a final couple of pictures from the room with a view at the last hotel on the 8th floor and my little room with the view in the plane back.

Canada Part 3...

Bears, Bears, Bears...

They are not half as cuddly as they look... Thats a dead sealion he's standing over...

The sun is shining again... yeah, yeah... Its been a good day...

Canada Part 2...

It can rain in Canada. We've had rain for the past 4 days, might have stayed at home if I wanted to experience rain. Oh well, I've kept myself busy by buying new running shoes. Very cool, and they run great. So, back in training and enjoying the experience. Interesting experience, a bear sighting on the golf course. He just came ambling down the driving range in Whistler. I missed the foto opportunity though, was too much in shock. These things happen, very disappointing.

So here's a few pictures that I did manage to capture. Oh yeah, I'm in a town on Vancouver Island now that has as its motto: Half the speed, twice the pleasure... A good motto to live by and do stuff I think...

Canada Part 1...

In case you didn't know, I'm out enjoying a 3-week trip in Canada. Travelling from Calgary to Vancouver going through the Rocky Mountains is the plan, and so far has proved a success. The Rockies are such a different landscape compared to the Netherlands. Obviously, we're above sea-level here, and there are lots of mountains etc. but the vastness and ruggedness of the area is scary sometimes. Kilometers followed by kilometers of forest and mountains. Unbelievable, and nothing that I've seen before. Deer walking in front of your hotel window, bear sightings on the golf course, it just doesn't stop. The best mountainbiking I've experienced in a long time over tiny trails up and, more enjoyable, down the mountain. Plus going for a swim in a bright blue lake where there's no one to be seen or heard for miles is a refreshing experience (in more ways then just the swim). The lakes in the Canadian mountains are such a bright blue, and completely clear. The science behind this phenomenon is that minerals from the glacier melting water in the lakes absorb all the colour out of the sunlight except for blue, so the blue colour is the reflected. It left me to enjoy the beautiful cool water in the 30 degree heat (yes, it's been 30+ degrees every day this week), and be able to see my shadow on the bottom of a 6 metre deep lake.

There is one negative to this story, the mosquitos... No further explanation needed... And I'm falling behind in my training...

Enjoy a selection of my pictures...

The Genius of Economics...

Why I like economics... Reading an article in the Economist of July 7th made me realise once again why economics is so interesting. Its the question of whether all economic decisions taken are rational decisions, and in particular those that concerning the splitting of a pot of money. The example is from the ultimatum game where the first player proposes how to divide a sum of money with the second party. If the second player rejects this division, neither gets anything. If the second accepts, the first gets his demand and the second gets the rest. You'd think that the second party would always accept the money offered, who would reject free money?? However, this often doesn't happen when the offer is low, usually under 25% of the stash of money. Of course, the rejection of money is often done by people not trained in economics.

To continue along these lines a doctor from Harvard University tried to understand why even economists would reject the offer of free money. The study looked at only male subjects and found that the respondents that rejected the offer of free money had a 50% higher level of testosterone than the average level of the accepting respondents. In fact, in a final offer game (where only one offer is made) 5 of the 7 men with the highest level of testosterone rejected a $5 ultimate offer (out of a pot of $40), yet only one of the 19 others made the same decision. The explanation for these results? People strive for relative instead of absolute prosperity. They would rather accept less themselves than see a rival get ahead. This behaviour is more likely in individuals with high testosterone levels, since that hormone is linked to social dominance.

The question remains whether this behaviour is irrational. It is not irrational per sé, but it is differently rational. The things that money can buy are merely a means to an end, in this case social status, which consequently brings desirable reproductive opportunities (yes, SEX!!!). If another route brings this status more directly, the money becomes irrelevant. Therefore, the money isn't important, the sex is!!! (would this premise also hold for women??)

If you really want to wreck your brain, think about what effect oestrogen might have in this economic game.

Information and theory found in the article: "Money isn't everything" from The Economist of July 7th 2007.

One Training Partner Less...

Back in training for less than a couple of days and I've lost my favourite training partner, Max, the family dog. He's going on 12 years old now and unfortunately he can't keep up with me anymore. It makes running that much more of a lonely enterprise. I enjoy the loneliness though, sometimes... In many ways Max has been a perfect training partner. Always gave his best, no matter what, never complained, doesn't talk continuously (which implies that you have to talk back), and always had a grin on his face. I have seldomly seen a more content character on this earth.

I've therefore decided that its better if max doesn't join me for my runs in the dunes on the Dutch coast. He slows me down, and comes back a broken dog. Who ever said running was healthy? Its a shame though, but has been good fun while it lasted. A sentence that can be used to describe so many things in life...

If you want info. on what breed Max is, check: http://www.drentschepatrijshond.org/
The site is in Dutch, but the pictures are good...

Update on me: injuries are under control, everything else is doing fine, jobsearching is exciting...

Have a good one...