WOD

I kept up with my exercise from last week! Even though my distance wasn't as far as last weekend's, but my time has improved!

I pushed for a longer northbound route this time and got a great view!

4.17mi/6.7km Run Northbound
2.05mi/3.3km Run Southbound
3.6mi/5.8m Walking
0.12mi/200m Walking Lunges

Weekend Skincare (Facial Mask) Routine

Saturday's run was sunny and windy; Sunday's was sunny and a bit dusty (a decent length next to the highway). After spending hours outside running and going to places this weekend, I had to do some extra work on my skincare routine. 

I found my skin a bit drying with the strong SPF sunblock and the thick lotion seemed to clog pore, so I used oil cleansing to ensure that the sunblock is entirely remove and added some cleaning mask in the regimen to clean out the pores. Then of course, a lot of hydration masks with Sodium Hyaluronate help replenishing moisture.

Saturday

Cleansing: Origins Never A Dull Day

1. Caudalie Instant Detox Mask 
2. Origins Maskimizer 
3. Fresh Black Tea Instant Perfecting Mask Mask 
4. boscia Tsubaki Deep Hydration Sleeping Mask 
5. Clinique Moisture Surge Overnight Mask 

Sunday

Cleansing: NudeSkincare Perfect Cleanse Omega Cleansing Jelly
Exfoliating: NudeSkincare Detox Brightening Fizzy Powder Wash

1. Origins Maskimizer 
2. Blue Lagoon Algae Mask 
3. GLAMGLOW GravityMud Firming Treatment
4. Fresh Black Tea Instant Perfecting Mask 
5. Sisley-Paris Radiance Glow Express Mask 
6. Sisley-Paris Express Flower Gel  Mask 
7. Sisley-Paris Eye Contour Mask
8. GLAMGLOW Thirsty Mud Hydrating Treament 
9. Fresh Rose Face Mask

Okay, I know it sounds crazy. But I'll do anything to prevent drying skins.  For sure I don't just rely on skincare products and weekend routines. For diet, I increased my proteins intake (good for the post-exercise recovery too) and will make some bone broth to give the skin (and bones) a boost. :)

Sunday workout

10K Run

The beautiful day and post-workout scenes totally worth the distance :)

WOD (Workout of the Day)!

7.25mi/11.7km Run
2.8mi/4.5km Power Walking
0.12mi/200m Walking Lunges

Ok I'm no marathon or even half marathon runner, my usual run is 5K (3.1mi) with occasional 10Ks.  So it's a pretty lengthy workout for me :)
I'm content but also a little disappointed at the time I clocked for the run. 

Homemade Meatballs

Getting back to cooking weeknight dinners!

Tonight's menu: Homemade meatballs
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1 lb (16 ounces) ground beef
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
2 tsp parsley (1 tsp for garnish)
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp garlic powder
1 egg
1/3 cup whole milk
1/3 cup panko breadcrumb
2 tbsp freshly grated Parmesan cheese (more for garnish)
1/2 finely chopped red onion

1. Combine milk and breadcrumbs, let the milk soak up the breadcrumbs for 10 mins
2. Place ground beef on a cutting board and loosely break it up into small pieces (until the meat is not in strands)
3. Add salt, black pepper, oregano, 1 tsp parsley, garlic powder and mix them up with the ground beef
4. Whisk an egg in a bowl, place the meat mixture into the egg.  Quickly fold the mixture a few times to absorb the liquid evenly
5. Add milk/breakcrumbs mixture, grated cheese, and chopped red onion into the meat mixture. Quickly and gently mix until combined
6. Roll the meat mixture into golf ball size balls
7. Turn the heat on medium high, add olive oil
8. Add meatballs and cook for 7 mins, until brown (Do not flip meatballs until the sides are not pink)
9.  Turn meatballs over, cook for another 7 minutes
10. Add marinara sauce. Simmer the sauce and meatball on low heat for 25-30 mins
11. Serve meatballs on a plate, garnish with parsley and freshly grated Parmesan cheese (optional)

Running outfit

Ran a 10K on Saturday.  Tempature was 70F (21C), Sunny.

I wore a long sleeves running tops and a pair of crop pants (few inches above the ankles. approximately 5/6).  The morning was a bit chilly so I went out with long sleeves tops and just wore the same thing for running later...horrible idea.

I actually have a gauge at the distance it takes for me to feel 'warmed up', at the same pace, under different weather. It takes about 1 mile to fight off the cold when the temperature is around 30F;  then it takes 0.25 miles less as the temperature rises by 10F.  So on a 70F sunny day, it took almost no time to 'warm up'. Actually 68-70F is around room temperature, so as soon as I started running, I felt warm or even hot quickly. The most comfortable outfit would have been something lightweight and mesh-y to keep the body cool. As a leisure runner, I spent about 1 hour to run the 10K.  With the wrong outfit it was quite a long time to be uncomfortable.

So I will stick with the following outfit rules from now on:
F(C)
30s (0-5C) - long sleeve tops & running jacket, long pants, hat, running gloves
40s (5-10C) - long sleeve tops, long pants, earband
50s (10-15C) Cloudy/Windy: long sleeve tops, long/cropped pants; Sunny: short sleeve tops, long/cropped pants
60s (16-20C)+ - short sleeve/sleeveless tops, cropped pants/shorts

I find that the best weather for running is around 40s-50s. 60s is not bad too when it's not too sunny.  I really enjoy the cool breeze (but not strong wind) when running on a trail by the water - it really helps cooling down quicker and motivates me to make more strides and go faster. 30s could work as well but it is usually accompanied by some strong and chilling wind that makes my skin feel dry and irritating.  I used to complain that Chicago maintained at high 30s to 50s for a long time in the year.  It was a bit chilly to be out and about, but for runners it was a paradise.  Now I feel like that my time there was ephemeral!

The Miracle of Leicester City

Another great underdog story. It almost sounds like at some point the money spent in transfer fees has a diminishing or even negative return.

The Miracle of Leicester City (Fortune).

The Wall Street Area: A Change of Scene in (almost) One Decade

Finally, it seems like the cold and chilly days are over for now.  On a sunny and warm Friday, I decided to take a walk during lunch. 

I have been working in this area for quite some time now - long enough that I almost lost track of how many years I have been here. I still remember on my first day of work in NYC after spending a few years in CT, it was also a bright and sunny day, except that it was in the summertime.  I was full of enthusiasm and energy, and was ready to build my career in the world renowned financial center. 

On that day, I got off onto the old and narrow platform on Wall Street station during the morning rush hour traffic, marching out of the station along with a crowd of professionals, until I couldn’t keep up with them anymore because I had to stop to pull out my phone and check the address and the map of the new office building.  In this concrete jungle full of skyscrapers, there was no way to determine directions by looking at the shadows. I got to the office, had a warm welcome and an informative orientation, and met everyone on my team in the morning. During lunch on that day, I took the same walk outside, got lost in a quiet alley, and had to pull out the map app on the phone again in order to find my way back to the office. I told my cheerful and welcoming coworkers about my incident, and they were kind enough to print a nice little map of the downtown area for me. Soon a few coworkers and I formed a lunch group to try different lunch spots together, sometimes even spending over an hour taking walks, going to Chinatown for authentic noodle soups/rice bowls, or even checking out nearby events and bargain deals.  Back in the office, during days when we were not too busy, in some afternoons we would take breaks to get the humongous 4" Crumbs cupcake for snacks, join the neighboring department for monthly birthday celebrations, or attend happy hour at a nearby Irish pub.

The local businesses were quite unique in the Wall Street area, it was entirely catered to the nearby companies, and professionals working in the area during the day, or residing in one of the high rise condos during weekdays. At that time there were shoe repair and tailor shops for the busy folks who needed some quick fixes on their outfits; there were floral shops delivering beautiful bouquets to building lobbies and floors, or to company sponsored events; there were some full service authentic restaurants for business guests to grab a decent lunch; there was a famous burger shop that sold special burgers with Kobe beef patty, sliced black truffle, foie gras sauce, and topped with gold leaves, for an outrageous $275 price tag.

Those.Days.Were.Long.Gone.

After a financial crisis that crippled the industry and almost the entire world economy, a superstorm Sandy to add insult to injury, and the steep growth in real estate prices, the scene on Wall Street has changed rapidly, drastically and permanently. Companies began to downsize and offshore jobs to less costly areas or countries in order to reduce expenses and exposures to the flood-prone area; some even packed up and relocated headquarters or back-office departments to suburbs, leaving many offices and retail spaces vacant, and causing some office buildings to remodeled as apartment rentals; most if not all companies heavily monitored and controlled discretionary expenses; and more professionals are working more hours than ever. This was a trend in the beginning, and after a few years people have gradually adapted to and accepted the new norm.

Fast forward to today, less people are eating out during lunch now, either because the area has lower headcount, or people are just too busy to eat out. People opt for more quick options – promoting growth in fast food Chipotle-like restaurants and cheap option food trucks; people are working longer hours, so restaurants that offer late night food delivery flourish, and apartment rentals are highly sought after; companies are promoting fitness by offering discounted price to local gym memberships (in order to save on health insurance premium), so Pure Barre, Soul Cycle, and CrossFit xxx are popping up next to office buildings, and salad only/vegan restaurants and juiceries are the hottest trends; floral bouquets and business lunch are considered discretionary expenses, so the 3 remaining floral shops and a few full service restaurants are now closed.

Since I don't go out often during lunch, and my new location is pretty far from everything, these changes don't have any real impact on me.  When I strolled to the quadrilateral area with 5 company-owned/leased buildings, where I used to walk from one building to another, it was a little sad that I didn't run into any familiar faces and businesses anymore.  I couldn't help but thought of the old days for a moment, where I walked by during my commute; hailed a cab to get to the airport to start my weekday travels; rushed in between buildings for meetings, and weathered snowstorms to deliver projects. Yup, those footprints were made with many laughters and frustrations. 

I picked the old go-to casual lunch spot to grab a quick bite. The restaurant has also relocated - from a few blocks away from the exchange, to a less expensive location near the neighborhood border.  As I sat down to eat, the stereo started playing a cheerful song that I listened to a lot during my first days working in this area  - it really gave me a nostalgia. I carried on with my thoughts, until I got disturbed with fire-drill requests and meeting buzzes on my phone. 

As I walked back to my office, I realized that the streets are just too familiar to me to get lost in and I can even find the way back with my eyes closed; I know all the stops and exits for all of the subway lines in the area; I still have passion and enthusiasm in my work and in this industry, although on a different level in comparison to the minty me.  I came to a stop at the traffic light, and saw a group of tourists looking bewildered by the scene across the street - it was a group of union workers on strike outside of their employer. I guess the only surprise to me was that things like this wasn't even enough to catch my attention anymore. 

The Wall Street area seems like a dreamy place on movies, but it might not a place to pursue a perfect dream. 

"If it's not the like movies, that's how it should be."

Data science is beautiful

WSJ: The Golden State Warriors Have Revolutionized Basketball

Finally.  A business case along with data science that digs deeper into the rise and success of the Golden State Warriors.  I love numbers, statistics, data analytics, and most importantly, how these come together and translate to operational efficiency.

Using data sciences to improve results is nothing new in sports.  For years we have seen success stories similar to this in baseball (like Moneyball), swimming, track and field, American football, soccer etc.  These information can help athletes to past the finish line just millisecond faster, or securing that one important field goal for the team in the last second. While they seem like big projects and hefty investment for minuscule effects, these small effects can potentially change the outcome of the game, which are crucial in sports. Data science revolutionizes the game and playing field permanently and raises the bar for everyone.

Some might say that this is an unfair advantage, because the use of advanced data analytic is more available to teams that are more financially sounded and countries that are more resourceful.  However, I would see this as a fair game. As human beings we need to constantly strive for improvement and stay competitive, can't keep doing the same things over and over hoping for a different result (That would be the definition of "Insanity" according to Einstein).  I see data science merely an alternative way to lead to success and victory. After all, it is still up to individuals to take a risk and change their current behavior, sometimes for a very long time and many failures along the way, before they could see improvements and results.

Workout day!

I feel productive today! 

Morning:

100 squats, 75 modified pushups
300 mountain climbers, 300 crunches

Evening 1: 

10K run!
Northbound 5K 29'37"
Southbound 5K 30'14"

Evening 2: 

10 min weighted hula hooping 

GLAMGLOW Mud Mask Reviews

The GLAMGLOW treatment masks had been big hits since the brand first launched its cleansing and exfoliating masks by advertising their success stories, the unique formulas, and the popular use by Hollywood celebrities. Since then the masks were heavily endorsed and widely loved by celebrities and skincare pioneers and enthusiasts. I am not a pioneer on trying new brands and prefer new products from brands I trust and like. One of the concerns that I hadn't tried GLAMGLOW earlier was seeing Fragrance/Parfum on the ingredients list; but since they are free of parabens, sulfates, and phthalates, and since my beloved NUDEskincare will no longer be available in the US, I am ready to give something new a try.


So with the VIB rogue discount that Sephora is offering, I got the 3 masks in the forms of smaller sizes and 100-point sample (the pictures and links below are for the full size). I couldn't wait but tried them on the same night and the next day!


GLAMGLOW YouthMud Tinglexfoliate Treatment

Ingredients
-French Sea Clay: Absorbs impurities and toxic substances, while leaving essential natural oils and minimizing pore size. 
-Volcanic Pumice Rock: Multi-level surface exfoliation that you control to clear dead skin cells, smoothing out fine lines and softening skin texture. 
-Green Tea Leaf Pieces: GLAMGLOW® groundbreaking patent pending TEAOXI™ technology delivers fresh Super-Squalene, EGCG super antioxidants, and Polypenols directly into the mud from the real pieces of tea leaf. 

Water, Montmorillonite (Volcanic Minerals), Kaolin (French Sea Clay), Magnesium Aluminum Silicate (Purified Clay), Polyethylene, Pumice (Micro Volcanic Rock), Camellia Sinensis Leaf (Green Tea Leaf), Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract (Green Tea), Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract (Chamomile), Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract (Marigold), Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract (Cucumber), Hedara Helix Extract (Ivy), Symphytum Officinale Leaf Extract (Comfrey Herb), Lavandula Hybrida Oil (Lavender), Glycerin (Vegetable), Parfum, [Benzyl Benzoate, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Linalool], Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone.

Review
I followed the instruction and stirred it a bit to liquefy the paste. Was still a bit thick and dried quickly, making spreading evenly on face a little hard.  Instead of the claimed tingling feeling, my skin had a 'burning' sensation for a minute or so. It could be because of the clay ingredients as I have had similar burning from other clay masks. I waited for the recommended time and then added lukewarm water to start exfoliating in circular motion.  The jar does contain green tea leaf pieces, so be careful not to scrub with the pieces. It left my skin looking clean and feeling smooth, but  I didn't think that it provides any noticeable radiance and glow.  For the fragrance ingredient and burning sensation, I am a bit disappointed.


GLAMGLOW ThirstyMud Hydrating Treatment

Ingredients
-Dewdration™: A blend of actives containing hyaluronic acid and citric acid for deep hydration; boosts and locks in moisture for a dewy, youthful look. 
-Hydrapack™: A blend of actives containing botanimoist, moisturizing sugars and acids from apples, oat bete glucan to soothe and calm the skin, and hydraclay to trap and retain moisture in the skin. 
-GreenEnergy™: A blend of actives containing raw honey and ginger root for radiance and detoxifying; coconut provides immediate skin conditioning. 
-Teaoxi Olive Leaf: Delivers naturally moisturizing linoleic acid. 

Water, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butylene Glycol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Pyrus Malus (Apple) Fruit Extract, Peg-8, Peg-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Fruit Extract, Zingiber Officinale (Ginger) Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Powder, Olea Europaea (Olive) Leaf Powder, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Honey (Mel), Allantoin, Saccharide Isomerate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hexylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Polysorbate 60, Menthoxypropanediol, Cetyl Alcohol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Avena Sativa (Oat) Bran Extract, Kaolin, Buteth-3, Trideceth-10, Benzophenone-4, Sodium Benzotriazolyl Butylphenol Sulfonate, Tris (Tetramethylhydroxypiperidinol) Citrate, Tributyl Citrate, Aminomethyl Propanol, Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance, Coumarin, Linalool.

Review
A wipe/rinse off mask.  This one has a lovely coconut scent.  It has Sodium Hyaluronate which will help hydrating the skin; it contains honey, coconut, and olive that will help with smoothing and nourishing the skin; it has Tocopheryl Acetate which is conditioning. When I had the mask on, it felt smoothing and that the cream was rich enough to be absorbed by the skin.  I chose to rinse off instead and after rinsing, my skin felt smooth for sure, but then a little dry after a minute or so.  I think it could be due to the multiple alcohol ingredients.  I'd say it's average if you like coconut scent and are looking for a mask that does what it says. Price wise ($69 1.7oz) it stands on the higher side comparing to other brands that Sephora carries.

GLAMGLOW GravityMud Firming Treatment

Ingredients
-Vizitight with a Firming Matrix and Marine Algae Plasma and BioDefine Polymers.: Provide tighter-feeling skin.
-Lunarlift with Soy Isoflavone Liposome and Red Algae Extract: Help skin feel tighter and more toned.
-Cosmiplexion with Icelandic Kelp, Hyaluronic Acid, and Mineral-Rich Glacial Clay: Help skin feel younger and more resilient.
-TEAOXI® Complex with Marshmallow and Licorice Leaf: Help skin look and feel firmer.

Water, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Alcohol Denat., Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Hydroxystearate, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Water, Montmorillonite, Pentylene Glycol, Illite, Polysorbate 20, Canadian Colloidal Clay, Caprylyl Glycol, Althaea Officinalis Leaf Extract, Tapioca Starch, Chondrus Crispus (Carrageenan), Colloidal Platinum, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Alcohol, Ascophyllum Nodosum Powder, Polysorbate 80, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Citric Acid, Lecithin, Pullulan, Porphyridium Cruentum Extract, Soy Isoflavones, Sodium Hyaluronate, Xanthan Gum, Fragrance, Coumarin, Disodium Edta, Phenoxyethanol, Sorbic Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Bismuth Oxychloride (Ci 77163).

Review
A peel off mask.  This one also has a coconut scent.  The consistency was very thick and the gel dries quickly, so apply quickly but evenly. Be sure to avoid eye areas, hairline, and eyebrows.  It did leave a bit burning sensation on my skin as well as I put it on and dried much faster than 20-30 mins on the instruction (and I did apply generously as instructed). I think it could be due to the multiple alcohol ingredients and clay as well.   If you feel like the mask is completely dried, you can start peeling immediately. Be sure to peel upward from your chin.  I was surprise to see that not only it made my skin feel smooth but my pores were noticeably smaller.  I think this is probably a pretty unexpected result. 

In a nutshell, I think the products were efficient enough to provide their claimed benefits, but they also contain a few side effects as well. Personally I don't like fragrance in the ingredients as some fragrance can damage lower skin layer without apparent damage on the surface, causing skin cells to break down reduce collagen production; the alcohol ingredients could be irritating (especially for sensitive skin) and drying, but most of them are not unheard of in skincare ingredients and can help delivering results. In my opinion I most likely will not get the full size product but it's good to have smaller sizes to try, if you decide to get the regular products, be sure to not use the masks more frequent than the instructions recommended. 

Steph Curry - One of the Best Players of All Time

Yes I mean it...one of the best of ALL TIME.
Is it an exaggeration? Hardly.

I am not a Warriors bandwagon band (a sudden fan when the team starts to do well...like increasing number of Bulls fan during the 90s), and my team is still the disappointing Knicks, but Stephen Curry is the player whom I truly admire.

We all love an underdog story. Yup, Curry is kind of one.  He had a 'petite' physique in high school in comparison to other varsity players; did not get scholarship from his NBA father's alma meter; did not attend a top NCAA basketball college (yet led the school to the Elite Eight). Despite all of these, he was good enough to be an NBA draftee.  But almost no one (especially scouts) would expect that he would improve so much over his career years to become one of the best players we see today (and in history).

For more about Curry, read more at How Stephen Curry Became the NBA’s Best Player

Curry's 3-point percentage is just much higher other NBA players, and this figure is inclusive of all the 3-pointers he made way outside of the 3-point line.  Even for 24+ft 3-pointers with an opponent guarding him closely or with seconds left on the clock, his success rate is still as good as or even higher than other players shooting right at the 3-pt line without the pressure from opponents or the clock.

Distance between a player vs guarding opponent and success rate is often correlated, where the closer the guard, the lower the success rate is; the same is true for 'seconds remaining on the clock and success rate. But by including Curry onto the data, he would distort the correlation coefficients.  Milliseconds to the buzzer and defense mean little to him as they simply cannot stop him. And this is Curry's deadly weapon,

For more statistics on Curry, read more at Stephen Curry Is The Revolution

I'm a quasi-number geek and believe that the numbers don't lie (even though they can be misinterpreted), but the steady improvement of Curry's statistics is a strong support that he deserves all the attentions and recognition over the years; he will continue to improve and is here to stay for a long time.

Watch below for Curry's 3 pointers compilation:

I really enjoy the snippets of his great deep (ultra long, even as far as half court) 3 pointers.  He made them so effortlessly from anywhere and showed a devil-may-care attitude toward the distance of those 3-point ranges. This isn't only about knowing where he is, having a good sense of the distance, and adjusting his aim accordingly.  His great improvement and success story would require a combination of many driving factors. It would actually be best explained by the concepts in the book Outliers by Malcom Gladwell - where his physical attributes, passions, and most importantly, the hours of practice that made him an NBA sensation and an unexpected outlier.  Each 3-pointer success is a result of the hours he has put into practicing (think of practicing 3 pointers from every angle plus distance to the rim), and practicing with goals, disciplines and tenacity. His effort pays great dividends at the court.  To me, he is truly an inspiration, and a good reminder for us, even though we might not be basketball players, that success is rarely achieved by accident or luck.

Bonus: Half court shots

Het Belang van Spelen

Ik ben het helemaal eens met dit artikel...

Het belang van spel - Drs. T. de Vos van der Hoeven

"Spelen neemt een belangrijke rol in, in de persoonlijkheidsontwikkeling van een kind. Het heeft invloed op de ontwikkeling op het intellectuele vlak, het sociale vlak, het motorische vlak en ook het emotionele vlak. Het kind leert er door nadenken over dingen, leert vooruitdenken en plannen..."

Klik hier voor meer:

Het Belang van Spelen

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Ik heb nagedacht over ... Moet ik dit als cadeau voor baby kopen?

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Misschien Ik moet eerst om Starcraft II te spelen!!