TOM FRIEDMAN has an interesting column on outsourcing today, taking a generally positive view of the phenomenon.

Meanwhile, in response to my Postrel-inspired outsourcing/massage column today, reader Greg Dougherty emails:

I’m a computer programmer, and a massage therapist. And I can assure you that concerns about our “national virility” are unfounded. :-) In fact, I went shooting shortly after finishing 250 hours of massage training. The guy in the next lane let me take two shots with his 44 magnum. I did the best shooting I’ve ever done with a large handgun (I prefer 9 mm), and felt the least recoil I’ve ever felt. I attribute this to the fact that my training focused on directing the strength of my whole body, non-destructively, through my wrists and into my hands. The recoil from the gun just followed the same path, in the reverse direction. Thus I took the recoil with my whole body, instead of just my hand / arm.

IOW, massage training is good for your shooting skills.

I guess that’s more bad news for the bad guys: in the future, Americans will be more relaxed, and yet more dangerous. . . .