Problem Scenario
You have read about Cato being someone named Reverend William Smith (a fervent loyalist) while George Washington had an affinity for Cato. Who was Cato in the context of the American Revolution?

Answer
There were different Catoes. There needs to be a disambiguation of “Cato.”

George Washington’s favorite play was Cato by Joseph Addison.

Addison’s play is a dramatization of the last days of … Cato (95-46 BCE),

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Continue reading “Who Was Cato in the American Revolution?”

Problem scenario
In Thomas Paine, the Author of the Declaration of Independence, on page 305, it says “In a letter to Richard Henry Lee, in 1825, he [Thomas Jefferson] makes one significant statement…” Richard Henry Lee died in the 1700s. Was Jefferson losing it and writing to someone who died roughly 30 years prior?

Solution
Apparently this was a mistake of the book.

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Continue reading “Why Did Joseph Lewis Claim That Richard Henry Lee Received a Letter in 1825?”

Problem scenario
You read the Declaration of Independence. One part refers to the free system of English laws. What are those laws?

Answer
Those laws were English common law. The Quebec Act of 1774 reversed the prevailing common law (also known as the “free system of English laws”) and set forth governance by French civil law for non-criminal activity (according to Brittanica.com).

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Problem scenario
You read in the book The Strongest Shall Survive by Bill Starr that deadlifts do not need to be part of a workout routine (or strength building program). Why is this?

Solution
Apparently it is geared toward football conditioning, and it was minimalistic to emphasize other lifts/exercises. (To read more, see this external posting.)

This is a rare but influential book.

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Continue reading “Why Does The Strongest Shall Survive by Bill Starr Advise Against Doing Deadlifts?”

Problem scenario
Does L.A. Fitness usually have hexagonal weight plates?

Solution
L.A. Fitness seems to use hexagonal weight plates. At 0:30 of a video it appears that L.A. fitness clubs tend to use hexagonal plates. You may want to call the club for more information.

Planet Fitness has smith machines without free barbells. So for deadlifting, it would not matter if the weight plates are hexagonal or round.

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Some children picked up (or collected) clams from the beach. They were fined $88,993.00. (Luckily they were able to reduce the fine to $500.)

To read more about the story, see the article.

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Continue reading “Taking Clams from the Beach Can Cost Your Family $50,000”

Problem scenario
Your gym has hexagonal plates. When you deadlift the weight rocks in unpredictable ways when you put it down. Deadlifts necessarily require you to pick up the weight from the floor (supported only by the ground, hence the term “dead”). It could hurt you if you place the weight down and the bar moves toward your shins. How do you deadlift with hexagonal plates?

Solution
Buy HexBumper plastic adapters for every 45 pound weight you use.

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Continue reading “How Do You Do Deadlifting with Hexagonal Plates?”