Wednesday, January 3 2018

Metro Parks is offering ice skating at two locations this winter ⛸

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I know of many people struggling with this weather right now.

The Buddhist concept of acceptance revolves

"recognizing the truth of this moment without resistance." As someone who has often mentally battled with the winter time lack of sunlight as well as the bitter temperatures, this has helped me. 

I have also found it helpful to frame the weather differently.  There is a season for everything. We live in a place with four seasons, and it's easier to surrender to that idea, and to use each season for their purpose, than it is to suffer through winter waiting for things to be better. 

That's a lot of words to basically say: get outside and do winter activities in the winter if you're able. You'll feel better. Go

, go

, and now, go ice skating. Columbus Metro Parks is offering ice skating at two separate locations this winter. The ponds at Blendon Woods and Battelle Darby Metro are free and great places to learn to skate if you've never been.

Wednesday Weather 🌡High will approach 21, but we'll see wind chills as low as -16.  Increasingly cloudy. Just a few more days - it's looking like this will break on Sunday. ☁️

Navigator Originals ✏️How To Work Out For Free In ColumbusIf you've made some resolutions this New Year, first of all: good luck to you! Second, I apologize for all the pizza talk coming up in this newsletter. And third, we have you covered with free places to workout in Columbus, as well as:The Best Gym And Fitness Deals To Start Off 2018 RightMany gyms and workout facilities around Columbus are running specials to attract new members, so if you're in the market take advantage. I'm personally a big fan of 11 Athletics. Many pro athletes choose to train at 11 when they are in town, which is as good a stamp of approval as you'll find. And even though it's good enough for the elite, it's also a very welcoming and non-intimidating place, which I think is what most people want.This Local Restaurant Did Something Amazing Over The Holiday SeasonBig Tony's Pizza in Worthington offered free meals from Thanksgiving to the end of the year to people with no money. They are looking to do this every year, and their attitude about the promotion is beautiful: they don't ask questions or expect anything in return. They just want to help people. I'll be putting this place in the back of my mind for the next time I'm on the north side looking for a spot to eat.Emergency Services Will Soon Be Just A Text AwayYou'll soon be able to text 911, which will fill many obvious and readily apparent needs. This is a nice upgrade.

Around Town 🏘CMH Gourmand is in with a review of Goremade pizza, and is effusive with praise. It sounds like the attention to detail is high here, and if you're the kind of person that likes supporting other people's passions then this is a must visit. [CMH Gourmand]COTA is hoping the new BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) line on Cleveland Ave. will lead to revitalization along a stretch of Cleveland Ave. that could use it. In a city with a lack of mass transit, this is actually cutting edge and should improve lives. COTA is predicting the CMAX route from downtown to Polaris will take 50 minutes - only 15 minutes longer than driving (during rush hour), without the hassle of fighting traffic.  [Dispatch/Perry]Potential ballot issues for 2018 are full marijuana legalization, Congressional redistricting reform, and an animal welfare law that would overturn a truly insane 2016 law that made it so Ohio cities can't regulate pet stores and irresponsible breeders (i.e. puppy mills.) [WOSU]Shannon Hardin was voted Columbus City Council president on Tuesday, becoming the youngest Council president by 5 years (Hardin is 30.) Hardin says his priorities are crime, affordable housing, and transportation issues. [Dispatch/Rouan]

Longread Not every leaker is an ideological combatant like Edward Snowden and Chelsea Manning. Reality Winner may be the unlikeliest of all.New York: ‘The World’s Biggest Terrorist Has a Pikachu Bedspread’

Something to say? Hit reply - we read it all.- James