I cannot stop watching the shiny new TV. I didn't realize how crappy the old TV truly was.

We went through that too. We replaced a 24" RCA CRT that was never all that great with a 37" LCD and the difference with the same SDTV input was amazing. Looking at photos on the TV was especially a whole new experience.

That probably explains why Coraline in 3-D was not very 3-D on our old 27 inch CRT made in the last century.

omnis, if you push yourself too hard (ie, crank up the resistance as high as you can) and get into anaerobic exercise territory you aren't so much burning fat. Longer time and lower resistance is the ticket for that. Higher resistance will build muscle faster, but also make you more sore the next day, so I, for one, find it harder to keep up.

I have heard that l0-30 minutes of cardio is some sort of sweet spot as far as duration goes but I don't remember where that information comes from.

I might be going to check out this R Crumb exhibit in Santa Ana tomorow.

thanks -t. That's what I seemed to recall. For the first few forays, I'm aiming for 20-30 min cruises with a little resistance. I don't want to be sore, as that will not encourage me to try again, but I do want to burn some fat.

o_a, cardio workouts should be 30-60 minutes. If you're trying to burn calories, you should aim for 85% or so of your maximum heart rate. You can use {205.8 − (0.685 × age)} to get your max HR.

That's all with a grain of salt - if you have a doc, I'd strongly recommend discussing this with her.

Also, the traditional formula for increasing resistance/time/mileage is to add 10% of your previous week's r/t/m. So, if you cycled for 20 minutes last week, go for 22.

I don't know if this translates into international contexts, but here, there are various types of disability allowances - not just ones to replace income if you can't work. I get one to help with my care and mobility needs. You have to reapply for these at several-year intervals, depending on how your situation has been assessed. Well, three years on from my last award, I'm reapplying. And I would just like to say: After this? Writing a PhD thesis will be a breeze. My current MA dissertation is going to seem like a nice holiday in the sun, when I have the time to get to back it, in comparison. We're at 6,000 words and counting, and it's all about how crappy and useless I am. How... exciting. After five hours on this today, I'm now going to bed.

IsomewhatmorefunN: had dim sum for lunch! There is nothing more delicious.

Glamcookie, yay for baby loveliness!

omnis, I have not the experience with the exercise (except odd bits of swimming), but good luck with it.

New TVs (and mattresses) are fantastic things. I go to the electronics shops and stare at the HD-TVs. I do not need one. But, dude. Beautiful.

Seska, I'm hip. Maybe not the *exact* same, but I've done similar. All these years and I still hate it too. So much for that so fascinating "But this is all you've ever known!" hypothesis.

erikaj: Fun, huh? Wonder if I can sue the UK government for making me more disabled with their crappy forms that take hundreds of hours to fill in. Or, maybe I'll go stand outside the Houses of Parliament and glower. Or, just have another vodka and get back to the form. (Wonder if the alcohol helps or hinders...!)

So much for that so fascinating "But this is all you've ever known!" hypothesis.

Why yes, doctor, it actually *does* still hurt when I dislocate my shoulder, even though it's been doing that since childhood. And stop calling me 'interesting' you insensitive bastard.

Definitely time for more vodka.

YAY for all the good billy tea news!

yay for better weather

Boo for stupid forms.

I need to go get dressed for work