Leaderboard

Health Experts Recommend Standing Up At Desk, Leaving Office, Never Coming Back News in Brief • health • fitness • Lifestyle • ISSUE 51•05 • Feb 6, 2015 ROCHESTER, MN—In an effort to help working individuals improve their fitness and well-being, experts at the Mayo Clinic issued a new set of health guidelines Thursday recommending that Americans stand up at their desk, leave their office, and never return. “Many Americans spend a minimum of eight hours per day sitting in an office, but we observed significant physical and mental health benefits in subjects after just one instance of standing up, walking out the door, and never coming back to their place of work again,” said researcher Claudine Sparks, who explained that those who implemented the practice in their lives reported an improvement in mood and reduced stress that lasted for the remainder of the day, and which appeared to persist even into subsequent weeks. “We encourage Americans to experiment with stretching their legs by strolling across their office and leaving all their responsibilities behind forever just one time to see how much better they feel. People tend to become more productive, motivated, and happy almost immediately. We found that you can also really get the blood flowing by pairing this activity with hurling your staff ID across the parking lot.” Sparks added that Americans could maximize positive effects by using their lunch break to walk until nothing looks familiar anymore and your old life is a distant memory. http://www.theonion.com/articles/health-experts-recommend-standing-up-at-desk-leavi,37957/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=SocialMarketing&utm_campaign=LinkPreview:2:Default

One vaccination too many

Lookin, this type of administrative/procedural decision requires no opinion and normally there would be none. Even for a final judgement on a fully argued case the only opinion required is that of the majority. If I remember right the decision last year not to hear an appeal of several marriage cases carried no opinion. SCOTUS just announced they wouldn't hear them (meaning there was not 4 justices who voted in favor of hearing them). You have to remember that the vast majority of Federal Appeals Courts decisions are allowed to stand as is w/o the Supremes weighing in one way or the other. That's why appointments to the Circuit Courts of Appeal are so hotly contested in the Senate. On the other hand, any justice can attach a written explanation to damn near any action that requires his vote. In this case, attaching an opinion was not so uncommon as to be weird but it was uncommon enough to be a surprise. In any case what gave the good justice umbrage was not on its face the issue of marriage rights. He opined that, as the Court already had what amounts to a controlling case before it, (1) not issuing a stay pending the Court's decision on the Ohio case amounted to pissing in the face of the great state of Alabama and (2) not granting a stay would be read by the great unwashed as tipping the court's hand on the Ohio case, something the Court traditionally dislikes to do. So basically he's grumbling about the majority not showing much respect for our federal system of government and not wanting to give the appearance of having pre-decided a pending case. A case can be made for both his points. PS I agree with Oz. The marriage equality cases present some tricky legal questions and the Court, in its call for briefs, focused precisely on the diciest issues (for our side). So as Oz says, don't reserve the wedding hall just yet unless you can get a full refund on your deposit.

Not a high roller, but, I know some. If you include the cost of operating a business aircraft then the total goes way up. But, I was only along for the ride, so to speak. Actually to keep the pointy side in front. The ride comes later. Best regards, RA1

Well, perhaps you could go and start a High Rollers Poll and leave the rest of us to lick our wounds as best we can.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/supreme-court-tip-hand-gay-marriage http://www.politico.com/story/2015/02/gay-marriage-alabama-clarence-thomas-antonin-scalia-115042.html?hp=lc1_4

DON'T WORRY ABOUT OLD AGE - IT DOESN'T LAST THAT LONG.

Perhaps a nice new Chia Earth. Has anyone seen my car keys?

For our New England friends...

Where does the line form to watch those about to be inoculated? Best regards, RA1

A classic industry expression, no doubt. Never heard it put better!

Yep, I gave one hot and reviewed twunk in LA a pair of Bruno Magli loafers.

I don't see how the expensive gift could not be part of the fee paid to an escort. Like you wrote, the gift is sort of a tip - but a large tip, indeed. -

There is a secondary element of compensation for time. Suppose you have a continuing relationship with an escort (not lovers) and you and the escort agree on a specific sum in addition to paying for transportation etc. Suppose you enjoyed the escort so much that you buy an extraordinary gift for the escort. I think this might happen in many cases. Some "gifts" can cost many thousands of dollars. Such a gift would distort your poll to include the gifts in the "time" but if it were not for the time spent with the escort, the extraordinary gift would not be given. What say you?

I think so. I think even the dissent even alluded to that. But, with these guys, you just never know.

NBC’s outsized Tom Brokaw factor As Brian Williams flounders, his powerful predecessor stays neutral. By Mike Allen politico.com 2/9/15 8:31 AM EST Updated 2/9/15 12:10 PM EST With America’s #1 newscast at stake, NBC Universal CEO Steve Burke held a meeting with NBC News executives at his house yesterday to discuss the next steps in the Brian Williams crisis. Williams still hopes to survive, and is considering the timing and venue for his next apology. But his cancellation yesterday of an appearance on the “Late Show with David Letterman,” scheduled for Thursday, was a sign that the agony – for Williams and the network – may be prolonged. A potent background voice in these high-stakes deliberations is Tom Brokaw, Williams’s predecessor in the “Nightly News” chair from 1982 to 2004, and one of the country’s most respected voices, period. “Tom makes his views known at all levels of the organization – corporate on down,” said a network executive who has worked closely with both Brokaw and Williams. “Tom was surprised by a lot of the things Brian has said, and has become increasingly critical through the years.” In November, President Obama awarded Brokaw the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his career, including his bestselling “The Greatest Generation,” saluting World War II veterans. Behind the South Dakota native’s everyman appeal, Brokaw is an adroit internal politician with a keen understanding of power. Brokaw, who turned 75 last week, has the title of “special correspondent,” but wields internal and public power far beyond his on-air role, because of his celebrity and moral authority, and his relationships with top executives of NBC and its parent, Comcast. One NBC veteran said: “Tom is seen as the wise counsel, and what he says goes a long way. He’s not shy about making his opinion known about these things.” Brokaw, who has always had wary relations with Williams, issued a statement last week that many took as chilly, expressing no support for his successor, but simply saying that Williams’s future “is up to Brian and NBC News executives.”’ Brokaw elaborated in an email to Playbook: “There is a process underway, and I didn't want to impose myself on to it. This is a very serious issue that must be resolved on the facts. All this endless speculation is unfair to all involved.” The NBC veteran said: “There is no love lost between those two. It’s always been a very awkward relationship. Brian has always felt very threatened by Tom, and acts very strangely around Tom. Brian wants to make sure he’s out front, and Tom is not in the way.” “Brian always feels the need to embellish,” the NBC veteran said. “He has always been known for telling stories dramatically, and he’s known for making any story about him.” But the bluster had always seemed more like a quirk than a time bomb. “It was more people eye-rolling: ‘That’s Brian,’” the NBC veteran said. Friends of Williams were initially mystified, and have become irritated, by the lack of support for the anchor by NBC News and Comcast. He is the face of the news division — a priceless asset — and these friends feel he has been hung out to dry, which has encouraged insiders to assume the worst and outsiders to pile on. But the lack of support is partly Brian’s fault, according to some colleagues. “A lot of people have been very loyal to Brian over the years, but he doesn’t jump in when other people need help,” said one person who has long known him. “He is not a stick-out-his-neck person.” Brokaw is said by friends to be very upset about the controversy. “It’s a horrible mark on NBC, and reflects badly on everyone,” said one friend. The network executive described Brokaw as “the moral center and conscience of NBC News – the glue, the ballast, the backbone, the GPS.” Brokaw helped lead NBC out of its darkest time – the scandal over a 1992 “Dateline NBC” report with a rigged truck explosion – and took over “Meet the Press” after Tim Russert’s death. Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2015/02/tom-brokaw-brian-williams-lies-115012.html#ixzz3RHOUM1bz

Not to worry. Very often, OUR point of view is more to the whatever point than bloggers, columnists and others. I think we all appreciate your POV more than most. Keep on keeping on, as we say in the South. Best regards, RA1

Could work...

I take the Fifth.....

Guess I've been lucky to find preppy, fit-bodied young men in Europe who enjoy travel as much as I do. I don't haggle about fees: I find guys are eager to be my companions and I ask what they require; I simply move on if the amount seems excessive. In fact, the cash component has been remarkably little for some lengthy, long-haul trips and the other costs have amounted to a multiple of the fee. For shorter or weekend trips within Europe, however, the 'expense' to 'fee' ratio is in line with what jgoo and AdamSmith estimated.

Today would they call Laugh In LOL? Best regards, RA

Agree with all that. My total expenses are about in line with jgoo's -- the incidentals tend to run half to two-thirds of what the escort's fee is. Higher depending on class of accommodation, last-minute airfare costs, etc. Typically bringing them on a trip somewhere for a hotel-based visit. Has always been inside the U.S. for me, so not quite as high a ratio as international travel. I set the poll to ask for fee-for-time as the most constant baseline, exactly because the expenses on top of that can vary so widely depending on one's mode of hiring.

I wish to take this opportunity to Thank TomCal 1000 times for sharing his real world experiences on these boards. Unlike a lot of the folks here he actually goes out and lives a life filled with travel,adventure and sex with beautiful men. Tom-please keep up the fun times!