1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
obscurantism
n 1: a policy of opposition to enlightenment or the spread of knowledge 2: a deliberate act intended to make something obscure.
Source: WordNet 
1.6, 1997 Princeton University
I was awakened this fine morning at 4 am here in beautiful Cody, WY by snow blowing in my window. I left the window open last night before going to bed, for it was a beautiful warm day yesterday and I figured a good nights sleep would be best served with fresh air. After cleaning the snow off my window sill and a few flakes off my bed, which sits right next to the window, I got up, made a cup of coffee and pulled up the late night USMS posts.
As I read the late night posts I found myself starting my day in a bad mood, filled with anger, hostility, indignation and pain. I read Ion’s post many times and figured the most appropriate response would be to ask for a clarification to his post. I then looked up the word obscurantism on the internet dictionary. I posted that meaning above.
PLEASE read my thoughts as they are intended. That is, to enlighten Ion to his incessant attacks, belligerent manner and inaccurate posts. My understanding of Ion’s post is that I have been lumped into this USMS secret conspiracy that fosters deceit, misrepresentation and a policy of opposition to enlightenment or the spread of knowledge.
For the record….and I warn the USMS forum readers that the following information is graphic in nature and possibly disturbing:
• On 28 November 1977 while working on a paving crew right out of college, I was backed over by the rear right four tires of a dump truck carrying asphalt. The dump truck had a scale ticket that listed its weight at 27.7 tons. It had no back up bells and was not supposed to be backing up in the area it was….and I got squashed in the street.
• I spent the next five to six straight months in the hospital.
• During the first three days after being squashed I underwent five serious life or death operation to repair the damage caused by being squashed.
• Those operations included reconstruction of my intestines to place a colostomy in my stomach.
• Temporary rebuild my blown out rectum where my intestines were squashed through.
• Temporary rebuild of my right hip which was crushed out of my body.
• Massive blood transfusions to replace a massive loss of blood loss caused by evisceration. I took over forty pints of blood during the first three days.
• My pelvis was CRUSHED, my right hip was CRUSHED, my sacrum was CRUSHED and the entire right side of my buttocks was SQUASHED of in my Levis. When they removed (cut off) my Levis they literally picked up my right buttocks and tossed it in a pan next to the operating table. As a point of reference, I was conscious and watched this happen.
• To date, I have undergone twenty one operations, suffered from Hepatitis C contracted from the massive blood transfusions, two total right hip replacements and three rectum reconstructive surgeries to repair a blow out rectum (which leads to the removal of my colostomy which I had for two years after the accident).
• Thirteen or fourteen years ago while living in Greensboro, NC I started back swimming with some very, very unique and inspiring people.
• One year later I moved to Texas and continued swimming with a great group of USMS.
• NOT ONE TIME over the past thirteen or fourteen years that I have competed in Masters Swimming have I ever asked for special consideration, expected special consideration or wanted special consideration.
• I have competed in four USMS Nationals and I have worked very, very hard to swim seven Top Ten USMS times and one FINA International Top Ten Time.
• I won the Alcatraz Sharkfest Swim in 1997 in the (10 year age groups then) 40-49 year old Non-Wet Suit div.
• I placed second on the Golden Gate Bridge Swim the following day.
• In 1998 I again swam both San Francisco Bay events as the proud father of an outstanding 12 year old son who became the youngest person in the world to race across the Golden Gate Bridge, which he won in the 10-19 year old age group, Non-Wet Suit division. Then the following we raced the Alcatraz Sharkfest together.
At first glance after reading your post ION, where you refer to me as a member of USMS obscurantism, I became angry. After a few cups off coffee and a few hours to think about your post, I am going to set you straight once and for all. My record of USMS speaks for itself. My record of hard work is well known by all who swam with me. My record of attempting to help and guide new USMS is well known. My record of never ever loafing in workout is well known, my record of leaving every single ounce of strength in the pool after a mile swim is also well known. Every single mile I ever competed in was swum right up on the very edge of human conditioning.
Your reference to me by lumping me into this nonsense regarding obscurantism is a perfect example of your indifference to the truth and your inability to see dedication, hard work and grit…as opposed to making excuses why your times are not comparative with the MEN in your own age group. Please, think about what and who you write about.
1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
obscurantism
n 1: a policy of opposition to enlightenment or the spread of knowledge 2: a deliberate act intended to make something obscure.
Source: WordNet 1.6, 1997 Princeton University
I was awakened this fine morning at 4 am here in beautiful Cody, WY by snow blowing in my window. I left the window open last night before going to bed, for it was a beautiful warm day yesterday and I figured a good nights sleep would be best served with fresh air. After cleaning the snow off my window sill and a few flakes off my bed, which sits right next to the window, I got up, made a cup of coffee and pulled up the late night USMS posts.
As I read the late night posts I found myself starting my day in a bad mood, filled with anger, hostility, indignation and pain. I read Ion’s post many times and figured the most appropriate response would be to ask for a clarification to his post. I then looked up the word obscurantism on the internet dictionary. I posted that meaning above.
PLEASE read my thoughts as they are intended. That is, to enlighten Ion to his incessant attacks, belligerent manner and inaccurate posts. My understanding of Ion’s post is that I have been lumped into this USMS secret conspiracy that fosters deceit, misrepresentation and a policy of opposition to enlightenment or the spread of knowledge.
For the record….and I warn the USMS forum readers that the following information is graphic in nature and possibly disturbing:
• On 28 November 1977 while working on a paving crew right out of college, I was backed over by the rear right four tires of a dump truck carrying asphalt. The dump truck had a scale ticket that listed its weight at 27.7 tons. It had no back up bells and was not supposed to be backing up in the area it was….and I got squashed in the street.
• I spent the next five to six straight months in the hospital.
• During the first three days after being squashed I underwent five serious life or death operation to repair the damage caused by being squashed.
• Those operations included reconstruction of my intestines to place a colostomy in my stomach.
• Temporary rebuild my blown out rectum where my intestines were squashed through.
• Temporary rebuild of my right hip which was crushed out of my body.
• Massive blood transfusions to replace a massive loss of blood loss caused by evisceration. I took over forty pints of blood during the first three days.
• My pelvis was CRUSHED, my right hip was CRUSHED, my sacrum was CRUSHED and the entire right side of my buttocks was SQUASHED of in my Levis. When they removed (cut off) my Levis they literally picked up my right buttocks and tossed it in a pan next to the operating table. As a point of reference, I was conscious and watched this happen.
• To date, I have undergone twenty one operations, suffered from Hepatitis C contracted from the massive blood transfusions, two total right hip replacements and three rectum reconstructive surgeries to repair a blow out rectum (which leads to the removal of my colostomy which I had for two years after the accident).
• Thirteen or fourteen years ago while living in Greensboro, NC I started back swimming with some very, very unique and inspiring people.
• One year later I moved to Texas and continued swimming with a great group of USMS.
• NOT ONE TIME over the past thirteen or fourteen years that I have competed in Masters Swimming have I ever asked for special consideration, expected special consideration or wanted special consideration.
• I have competed in four USMS Nationals and I have worked very, very hard to swim seven Top Ten USMS times and one FINA International Top Ten Time.
• I won the Alcatraz Sharkfest Swim in 1997 in the (10 year age groups then) 40-49 year old Non-Wet Suit div.
• I placed second on the Golden Gate Bridge Swim the following day.
• In 1998 I again swam both San Francisco Bay events as the proud father of an outstanding 12 year old son who became the youngest person in the world to race across the Golden Gate Bridge, which he won in the 10-19 year old age group, Non-Wet Suit division. Then the following we raced the Alcatraz Sharkfest together.
At first glance after reading your post ION, where you refer to me as a member of USMS obscurantism, I became angry. After a few cups off coffee and a few hours to think about your post, I am going to set you straight once and for all. My record of USMS speaks for itself. My record of hard work is well known by all who swam with me. My record of attempting to help and guide new USMS is well known. My record of never ever loafing in workout is well known, my record of leaving every single ounce of strength in the pool after a mile swim is also well known. Every single mile I ever competed in was swum right up on the very edge of human conditioning.
Your reference to me by lumping me into this nonsense regarding obscurantism is a perfect example of your indifference to the truth and your inability to see dedication, hard work and grit…as opposed to making excuses why your times are not comparative with the MEN in your own age group. Please, think about what and who you write about.
