My pedometer is depressing me

Following the concept of healthy mind in healthy body, I got a pedometer. I thought I'd make the 10,000 steps a day easily, but not quite. The first week I averaged more than 9,000 steps a day but some days were much better than others. The second week, I did a little better but still didn't reach the 10,000 daily even on average.

And then I read about the problems a life spent parked in front of a computer can cause and started worrying even more. Is averaging fair?

I need a treadmill computer like the one A.J. Jacobs made.

Voices of Change, Sounds of Freedom

I don't know much about jazz, except for the obvious names and tunes. A gap in my knowledge I've been addressing. Last night I went to the opening lecture in a symposium on jazz and African influences. It was very good. The main speaker had been playing for over 60 years. He talked about learning from other players up in the Berkshires and going to Africa and learning about the roots of jazz.

The Sumner School was one of the first schools for black children in DC. Built in 1871, it's been beautifully restored.



( Blues Alley, a well-known DC club, sponsors the Blues Alley Youth Orchestra. They provided music before the symposium began. )