Road To Fitsville
Jan. 7th, 2006 11:37 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
peterbirksThere are certain events forever associated with particular times of the year. Easter and Eggs, Christmas and Stuffing, Valentine's Day and overbooked restaurants, and, of course, New Year and fitness DVDs.
Just as the bookshelves of non-specialist stores only sell books on poker by "names" (for which, many thanks, since it minimizes the chances that any of these new players will read something useful, such as the Harrington volumes, or Feeney, or Ed Miller), so it would appear that only famous people can tell us how to get fit. In some cases, there is a certain rationale. OK, Dame Kelly Holmes might not be a qualified fitness instructor (or maybe she is, how am I to know?), but she is, at least in the technical if not in the aesthetic sense, fit.
But it would appear that we also have "Max & Paddy's Fitness DVD", as in Peter Kay. Well, all credit to the man, although I think that any person responsible for the resurrection of Tony Christie's career deserves transportation, but I can hardly imagine Les Dawson. if he were still alive, doing a "get fit with Les" video, or Morecambe & Wise appearing for a half-hour morning session of Pilates. And, well, is Peter Kay the best man to be directing us on how to live a healthier lifestyle? What next, Johnny Vegas?
Of course, it's like cookery books and TV shows of recent years. This is "get fit vicariously and be entertained at the same time" — nothing to do with actually getting up off your arse (or, of course, in certain types of Yoga and fitness exercises, staying on your arse) and getting healthy. You just sit on the couch, eat your crisps, and watch someone else half-heartedly stretch their way to kilo-loss-land.
After buying a new Digibox last week, I finally got around to downloading ITV 4 onto the old box. And, well, I'm glad that I did. Not only is this channel rerunning the unparalleled Larry Sanders Show (twice a week at 11pm), but it's also showing Homicide, Life On The Streets (Fridays, 9pm). Add to this the excellent More 4 (which showed both Downfall and Charlotte Grey this week) and one reaches the stage when, well, there's just too much good stuff on for you to watch it all.
++++++
I've got the new LCD TV running in the office, but a downside is that the screen shows up the flaws in DVDs recorded at LP speed. So, it's over to standard play for DVD recordings from now on. The price of discs has fallen by about 80% in two years, so I guess that isn't a problem. What might be a problem is that DVDs are probably going to be obsolete within five years anyway. HDTV will get you about 15 minutes worth of viewing time on current DVDs, I reckon. So, why bother building up any kind of library? Once the new high-definition stuff comes out, you won't be able to bear to watch it. Is this a blessing or a curse? Dunno. I quite like having a library of movies.
Just as the bookshelves of non-specialist stores only sell books on poker by "names" (for which, many thanks, since it minimizes the chances that any of these new players will read something useful, such as the Harrington volumes, or Feeney, or Ed Miller), so it would appear that only famous people can tell us how to get fit. In some cases, there is a certain rationale. OK, Dame Kelly Holmes might not be a qualified fitness instructor (or maybe she is, how am I to know?), but she is, at least in the technical if not in the aesthetic sense, fit.
But it would appear that we also have "Max & Paddy's Fitness DVD", as in Peter Kay. Well, all credit to the man, although I think that any person responsible for the resurrection of Tony Christie's career deserves transportation, but I can hardly imagine Les Dawson. if he were still alive, doing a "get fit with Les" video, or Morecambe & Wise appearing for a half-hour morning session of Pilates. And, well, is Peter Kay the best man to be directing us on how to live a healthier lifestyle? What next, Johnny Vegas?
Of course, it's like cookery books and TV shows of recent years. This is "get fit vicariously and be entertained at the same time" — nothing to do with actually getting up off your arse (or, of course, in certain types of Yoga and fitness exercises, staying on your arse) and getting healthy. You just sit on the couch, eat your crisps, and watch someone else half-heartedly stretch their way to kilo-loss-land.
After buying a new Digibox last week, I finally got around to downloading ITV 4 onto the old box. And, well, I'm glad that I did. Not only is this channel rerunning the unparalleled Larry Sanders Show (twice a week at 11pm), but it's also showing Homicide, Life On The Streets (Fridays, 9pm). Add to this the excellent More 4 (which showed both Downfall and Charlotte Grey this week) and one reaches the stage when, well, there's just too much good stuff on for you to watch it all.
++++++
I've got the new LCD TV running in the office, but a downside is that the screen shows up the flaws in DVDs recorded at LP speed. So, it's over to standard play for DVD recordings from now on. The price of discs has fallen by about 80% in two years, so I guess that isn't a problem. What might be a problem is that DVDs are probably going to be obsolete within five years anyway. HDTV will get you about 15 minutes worth of viewing time on current DVDs, I reckon. So, why bother building up any kind of library? Once the new high-definition stuff comes out, you won't be able to bear to watch it. Is this a blessing or a curse? Dunno. I quite like having a library of movies.
Kelly roolz
Date: 2006-01-07 12:20 pm (UTC)Kelly was an Army PT Instructor, so I'd forgive her for releasing a fitness DVD. (The two Olympic Golds notwithstanding).
I'm in agreement about the quality of stuff on ITV4/More 4 - watched Charlotte Grey last night, wonderful. I see no point any more in even thinking about SKY - all I need is for a decent strength digital signal.
Re: Kelly roolz
Date: 2006-01-07 02:12 pm (UTC)"Right then you 'orrible bunch! Gawd, I've never seen such an 'opeless collection IN MY LIFE! You, what's your name? Get yer arse over 'ere, DOUBLE QUICK!"
Re: Kelly roolz
Date: 2006-01-08 11:14 am (UTC)Actually I can see Les Dawson doing an exercise DVD in the same vein as Peter Kay. With about the same level nof seriousness as well.
I have a solution to your DVD dilemma. Just stick with a boring crap 26"/28" tele. Then you won't stress over imperfections in picture. And as you say, the whole Satelite/Digibox/DVD/CD thing has a limited life. 10 years down the road, every drop of home entertainment will be downloaded to a Box in the Corner, probably via cable. Every phone call will be going through the Box in the Corner in some way or another and people will just pay a monthly fee plus some kind of traffic fee.
Sell Sky and buy NTL.
Format
Date: 2006-01-08 10:13 pm (UTC)it's taken me three or four days to realise that you haven't stopped doing the blog, just because the top item is now constantly some sort of poker rake back scam. Stop confusing non-poker-playing readers! (even if we are only hitching along for the ride). Finding Rust Never Sleeps on the playlist was a bit of a shock to the system too. As for feeling shitty, it's January, what else do you expect? It's this bloody month's only reason for existence. After years of getting depressed about things at this time of the year while still within the bosom of my (mostly) loving family, this year I have to face it with only the company of a deranged spaniel to keep me going. And then it will be February. OK, rant over, but it made me feel better.
John W
Re: Format
Date: 2006-01-08 11:04 pm (UTC)Another site offered me $50 a month (no strings attached) to put a link up, but I just couldn't work out how to put it at the side of the blog rather than at the top (which even I realized would make it a bit ad-heavy at the top). So, you see, look at the money I give up, just to keep you happy.
I hope the deranged spaniel is giving you hell. And now, if you will excuse me, I'm off to bed.
Back tomorrow.
PJ
Re: Format
Date: 2006-01-09 03:55 pm (UTC)John W