Earlier this week my wife said I was a contrarian.   

contrarian/ kän·’trer·ē·ən / noun. 1. one who espouses contradicting viewpoints, especially toward the majority 

I decided she was right and that I was okay with that. 

• Religion is hemorrhaging membership in the U.S. So I headed off to seminary and built a temple in my backyard.
• Most martial artists are doing either doing MMA, BJJ, Muay Thai, or traditional Eastern martial arts.  I’m practicing Western martial arts — Frontier Rough ‘n’ Tumble and Cabal Fang. 
• The rest of the world likes e-books and digital music.  I read paper books and listen to CDs.
• R&B, Hip-Hop, Rap and Pop dominate the music charts.  I prefer Blues, Rock, Metal and Punk.
• If there’s a topic nobody wants to talk about, I usually bring it up.

The other night I watched a couple of videos about the ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine COVID controversies, and they scared my socks off.  The hydroxychloroquine video — an interview of Dr. Peter McCullough by NYT and Men’s Vogue award winner and best-selling author Peter Leake — had to be put on Vimeo to keep from being banned.  The other one was on the highly respected Dark Horse podcast with Brett Weinstein.  

Why are contrary viewpoints on COVID and other topics being banned on YouTube, Twitter and other platforms?  No tin-foil hats here.  I think it’s about money.  Advertising revenue drives the news and social media, corporations and their lobbyists drive our politicians, and the almighty dollar is in charge.

In 1776 — for the first time in human history! — a citizenry decided to take control of their government from kings, queens, emperors and princes.  Corporations are the kings and emperors of the 21st century.  The next revolution will be against Amazon, Pfizer, Facebook, and Google.  Don’t believe me?  Watch The Social Dilemma.

• Revolt against your phone.  Put it down and read a book.
• Resist your web browser.  Try Duck Duck Go.
• Throw your Amazon boxes into the harbor and try buying local, or getting your books and CDs on Alibris.

Be a contrarian.  Come on in.  The water’s fine.

Contrarian: Mettle Maker #263

• Warm up before exercise.  To avoid injuries, warm-up thoroughly for at at least 8 minutes before you train. Do 2-3 minutes each of (a) jumping rope or footwork (b) light calisthenics and (c) shadowboxing, forms, light heavy bag work, or 8 minutes of MBF.  
• 

  Wrestling dice ©

  Get out your floor bag or wrestling dummy.  Who trains catch wrestling techniques these days?  You do!  Set your timer for 12 minutes.  Complete as many sets as you can of Bottom Scissors (1 squeeze to failure), Shin Rides (10 each of mixed pop-ups and switches with perfect form from cross-body position), and Front Bridge (5 each mixed pop-ups and clocks from cross-body position). Created using the Wrestling Dice © program.  Get some. 
• Run two miles in two parts.  Who breaks up their run into two parts?  A contrarian, that’s who!  Run 1 mile, stop and practice your forms, flow drills, or shadowboxing for 12 minutes, and then run your second mile.  
• Try this month’s auto tire constitutional.  Who in their right mind uses auto tires for fitness?  A rebel, that’s who!  Complete 2 minutes each of Tire Flips, Tire Burpees, Tire Lunges, Tire V-ups, Tire Squats, Tire Hops, and Tire Slams.  Don’t know the exercises?  Read this.
• Practice meditation with an unspoken mantra.  Who keeps their mantra to themselves?  A renegade, that’s who!  Before you sit down, select a sacred phrase 10 to 15 words in length.  I prefer “Lord Jesus Christ, son of God, have mercy on me a sinner” or “That which is below is like that which is above.”  Set a timer for 5 or 10 minutes.  Assume posture of choice.  Keep your eyes open.  Do not fidget, wiggle or scratch.  Breathe in as you say the phrase in your head.  Hesitate with lungs full and airways open as you recite the phrase again.  Repeat, reciting the phrase in your head as you breathe out.  Again hesitate with lungs empty and airways open as you recite the phrase in your head.  An unspoken mantra times your breathing to a steady rhythm without having to count, and triggers a positively altered mental state. Get there.  

TWO MARTIAL ARTS DISTANCE LEARNING PROGRAMS AVAILABLE. 100% free and operated through my non-profit, Cabal Fang is martial arts for personal development, self-defense and fitness. Bobcat Frontier Martial Arts is just $19.99/month and that’s your choice if you’re interested in Frontier Rough ‘n’ Tumble — the fighting arts, survival skills, lifeways and ethos of the colonial and indigenous peoples of North American during the frontier period (1607 – 1912). What are you waiting for — enroll today!