Wednesday, November 29, 2006

Gym Muppets 2: Poor Form

Continuing on from my post of a few days back, and after stealing the title of 'gym muppets' from the comment left by my brother, here we return to something else that i have noticed on my many trips to the gym of late. With MUSC being a considerable employer in Charleston, there are - as you can imagine - a wide variety of people who work/study there. This means there are also a wide variety of people using the gym at the MUSC Wellness Centre (as it is so called). There are a considerable number of students, but also a few doctors, and some senior citizens - good for them, I say. However, one thing that has struck me repeatedly of late is that an awful lot of people just really do not what they're doing - almost always when it comes to the weights and machines. Now this is not just limited to the more senior folk (who may not have had much exposure to this sort of thing before anyhow) but actually a surprising number of my generation and therabouts clearly aren't sure what they're doing. What is even more surprising is that a few of the guys (in the weights room) are reasonably built - and it makes you wonder how much better off they may be if they were doing things properly.

Take, for example, the bench press - a mainstay of any chest routine (or it should be). Now as I usually go to the gym on my own, i use a Smith machine to do my sets (as i don't have anyone to spot me - unless i ask). I've seen a lot of people doing presses by themselves - fair enough, they hopefully know the limits of their strength and so won't get stuck - although on occasion i have had to step in to help someone out who's clearly struggling. This is minor compared to those who seem to think that bench pressing means you have to bounce the bar off your chest - and i'm just waiting for the day that i hear a loud 'crack' when that happens - and someone fractures a rib or two. On top of this, many people seem to think arching your back off the bench as you lift is the correct thing to do. Throughout my time in the gym over the last few years, one thing I was always told by my then-training partner Phil was that quality is always far better than quantity - something i have tried to remember. It looks like a few people here need a lesson or two in that, before someone does some serious injury to themselves.

Monday, November 27, 2006

Photos from Charleston 2

I realised it's been a while since i actually posted some pics on here. Having FINALLY gotten round to downloading my digital camera on to my laptop after quite a while, i thought it was as good a time as any. Watch for photos from Cashiers, NC coming later in the week. These are from when my friend Rachel visited in September.


The Angel Oak - as mentioned before. It's OLD.


Rachel, a LONG way from home (London)


The Ravanel Bridge - i'll be running over it in April.


Sunset over Charleston from the Cooper River Bridge


The Ashley River as seen from Middleton Place Plantation

Sunday, November 26, 2006

Stamps

Picture the following scene, if you will. It's a Sunday, and i'm in the middle of a big list of things that i have to do. Having just spent a fun hour going round the supermarket (it usually takes me 30 mins but for some reason everyone was just getting in the way today), i decide to nip into the card shop next door before i hurry back to the lab, and the gym. In short, I'm in a bit of a hurry. Having decided to send Christmas cards back home to the UK this year, i think it would be a good idea to get stamps. After patiently waiting in line at the till as the woman in front went through the excrutiating ritual of counting out her money in virtually five and ten cent pieces, it's my turn. I step forward and put my purchases on the counter.

Me: 'Could I just ask, do you sell stamps?'

Cashier (a 40-something year old woman with Farah hair): What?

Me: Do you sell stamps?

Cashier: I don't understand.

Me: Stamps (mimes putting stamp on envelope)

Cashier: Sto-umps? (Phonetic)

Me: Postage Stamps. To send mail.

Cashier: Oh! You mean stay-umps (laughs) Oh, i didn't realise you had an accent (no s**t, I think). I bet you don't understand a word of what i'm saying either (Where the hell does she think i'm from? Outer Mongolia?).

Anyway, i get my stay-umps and, once she figures out how to work the till, i get my stuff and am on my way. However, I remembered a phrase that someone once said back in the 80s, i think it was. Something about the US and UK being two countries separated by a common language. I'm thinking they MAY have had a point.

Friday, November 24, 2006

A Brief History of....

One thing that moving to America has allowed me to do is to delve into American history a bit more than i probably would've done had i remained in the UK. Whilst I was aware of American history to a point - indeed, part of my GCSE Modern History course was studying America in the 1920s and 1930s - I didn't know a lot beyond the basics. The Mayflower, independence, civil war etc. etc. etc. (Tracey, i'm sure you'll be disappointed in me). Perhaps, then, i should feel less guilty about it all - as through my various daily activites, it's come to my attention that, actually, a surprising amount of everyday Americans are surprisingly ignorant of history. Now, this is nothing to unusual in terms of history of the rest of the world, but given that this is a country were something built in 1850 is ancient - and that they have so little history (which is often pointed out to me), you'd think that they'd at least no some of it.

The thing that bought this to mind, actually, is not so much a direct history related event. When I was getting my hair cut the other day, the hairdresser asked me if I was ready for Thanksgiving and I said 'Yes. Just about, although it's not something that i'm used to celebrating'. Naturally, she twigged the accent and guessed that I was from Eng-er-land. And then she asked me if we had Thanksgiving over there and when i replied 'no', she was surprised. 'Why not?' was the next question - and I gave her a brief history of it all (as I mentioned in my post this time last year). And she really had no idea about it all - not what Thanksgiving originally meant, nor why it's celebrated still. I guess to her it was just an excuse to eat a lot (well, given the size of her...) Okay, so you could say 'well, she was just a hairdresser' but believe me, it doesn't end there. I've even had medical students in my department being completely unaware of a number of major historical happenings over here. When you think about it, I suppose this could explain why a lot of mistakes of the past seem to keep on coming round again and again.

Thursday, November 23, 2006

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

Read the title - nuff said.

Tuesday, November 21, 2006

Turkey Time

As the last Thursday of the month approaches, it brings it with it some chilly weather, the start of the holiday season (of course, the shops were jumping the gun and advertising early) and, of course, Thanksgiving - that annual American holiday where it's absolutely your patriotic duty to eat as much as humanly possible and then spend the rest of the day moaning about it as you lay there doing not much of anything. No, seriously. I find it somewhat ironic that a few days after having talked about America and obesity again, that I will likely be following suit (although i'm determined not to overdo things that much. We'll have to see what happens). I find it even more interesting that a friend of mine was absolutely convinced that they were going to be able to stick to their diet over this most gluttonous of holidays. Of all the weeks to chose to start a diet....

Anyway, as with last year, my lab manager Charlene has kindly invited myself and a couple of co-workers to join her and her family for a Thanksgiving dinner - although this isn;t on the scale of last year (when, I think, about 16 of us went), mainly as it's going to be at Charlene's sister's this year. Still, it promises to be enjoyable - and very very Southern. Which means a lot of food. Suffice to say, i think i'm going to follow this up with a run across the Bridge tomorrow (the first in my training schedule!) and maybe a few sticks of celery.

Sunday, November 19, 2006

Trolley Trouble

What with me having had a car for three months now, i've found myself heading out shopping a bit more often - both for groceries, as well as occasionally to the shopping malls to have a general wander and browse (at least when the shop assistants let me!). That said, i've taken to noticing quite a bit about American car parks. Aside from the obvious ones that i have mentioned before (people driving round and round to get to a spot nearest the door etc. etc.), it's quite interesting to note the American regard (or rather lack of) when it comes to shopping trolleys aka carts - it should be noted that I asked someone where the trolleys were once, only to be look at as if I was insane (I was gonna say 'off my trolley' but it seemed a pun to far!). The funny thing is that the stores themselves seem to hold little regard for them as well!

The first thing is that a lot of the trolleys here are plastic - and, as you'll see in a few lines, this is a good thing. Secondly, you don't have to pay for one (unless you're at the airport). In the UK, you have to usually put a pound into a slot on the trolley to unlock it, and then when you return it, you get the pound back. A simple and effective way of keeping things in order, although it can be annoying if you don't have a pound handy. Of course, the Americans don't have many coins here so that would be difficult (i can see people happily abandoning them if it was just a quarter involved). Because of this lack of control, you get a liberal sprinkling of trolleys (I wonder what the group verb is. How about 'a trounce of trolleys'?) around the place. Whilst the stores put trolley parks up all over the place, it doesn't seem to do much good. The other day, I saw an average-sized guy leaving the trolley behind the car next to his when the trolley park was a mere 10 strides away. All this leads me to the point of how thankful I am that these things are plastic lest i ever have the misfortune of running into one. At the minute it's not happened but it seems that wherever i park, someone likes to put the trolley RIGHT BEHIND MY CAR. One of these days, i may just flip and go on a trolley-squashing rampage. I'll keep you updated if that ever happens!!

Friday, November 17, 2006

American Gym Etiquette

What with me being back in the gym for nearly four months now, i've grown somewhat used to the general atmosphere and quirks of the American gym - or at least the American student gym, as i go to the MUSC student centre to exercise. Aside from the fact that it's facilities are pretty damn good, it's also pretty cheap for me ($300 a year - which works out at about 160 pounds in real money). Anyway, what follows is a bullet point list of how to get by in an American gym. What to do, what not to do and....er...well, a couple of other things as well. Don't use at your peril:

1. Wear an iPOD, personal CD player or personal radio and use it at five times the normal volume so that anyone and everyone can hear it no matter what they're doing. This is essential as it may drown out any excessive grunting you do whilst exercising.

2. On that note, grunting is an absolute no-no when lifting weights. However, yelling, cursing, shouting, screaming, praying, whistling the Star-Spangled banner, and any other such noise is fully acceptable and, indeed, HAS to be done. Particularly if you happen to be relatively short and skinny, and absolutely HAVE to show how hard you are working out.

3. Walk to and from the water fountain a lot. And preferably choose the machines furthest away from the fountain for your exercise. Not only does this give you extra cardio exercise as you stalk to and fro but also gives you ample time to pose and admire yourself in the mirrors around the gym. Cause, hey, who wants to do all that work if you can't admire the results.

4. Don't smile. NEVER smile. This is a gym and BY GOD, you're here to be serious about weights. If you want to smile as you work out, go to the nearest aerobic class and giggle at all the senior citizens trying to touch their toes without putting their new hips out of joint.

5. Along those lines, it is PERFECTLY acceptable for you to come to the gym, stand around and talk to your buddies (without smiling), chat on your cell phone at the top of your voice, organise your social life, book your holiday for next year and organise any other of the small miscellany that clutter your life. Then, after that effort, it's perfectly okay for you to do a couple of sets of one exercise and then leave. And please do complain loudly as to how you're exercising so hard but not showing anything for it.

6. When working out specific areas, please assume entire control over all the requisite machines for that body part in the gym. After all, if you're in the middle of your super-intense workout, it's just rude for someone else to use any of the possible machines that you may or may not want to use. Even if you're stood talking for five minutes in the middle of said workout, this doesn't mean that you're not going to use a machine at random just for the hell of it. Does it?

7. The directional signs for running around the track are PURELY suggestive and should no means be followed at all. On top of that, please feel free to walk three abreast and block the track as you organise your latest social events, or catch up on gossip and pay no heed at all to the irate runner who is trying to get past. If he's not thin enough yet to squeeze between the three of you then he's obviously not doing enough exercise. Also please do stop without warning and complain when someone behind runs into you.

So there you go, seven golden rules on how to get by in an American gym. I would've written more but i have to go and throw some weights around myself. Not to work out, you understand. Just to get rid of a few etiquette experts.

Wednesday, November 15, 2006

Four Words, One Big Problem

I'm sure that i have already touched upon the general size of the American waistline over here (or the fact that most people fall into either the 'very health conscious' or the 'rather overweight' category). Indeed, even if haven't, i'm pretty certain that a lot of us are already aware of this particular American stereotype (it sits well alongside the high pitched highly vocal american, and the banjo twanging redneck). What I may not have touched upon are possible reasons for such obesity. A lot of readers may well have seen 'Super Size Me' - the fantastic documentary about the fast food business in the US and, basically, how a hell of a lot of people eat it regularly (even though it clearly isn't good for you). But fast food is just one symptom of a larger problem. Having discussed it with a lot of friends, one thing we came up with is the fact that there is a LOT of corn produced in the States and this is not a good thing. For one thing, a lot of cows get fed corn as it's cheap - meaning that the good ol' steak that many people indulge in over here are rather more fatty than if the animals had been fed on grass like they're SUPPOSED to be. And through this rather roundabout way, we come to the other main problem with too much corn. Those four words: High Fructose Corn Syrup.

Y'see, all this excess corn gets made into our four-worded friend above and this is used very liberally in food. What makes things worse is the complete lack of regulation of food labelling in the US meaning that we have all these foods with '0g Fat (usually with a small 'trans' in front meaning that there is still other fat in it' or 'reduced sugar' and when you actually look at the ingredients, High Fructose Corn Syrup is very high on the list. Thus, all these customers who believe they're actually eating well, are in fact eating something just as bad (if not worse). You see, high fructose corn syrup is essentially like eating sugar. When it gets in the bloodstream, HFCS stimulates a big release of insulin (as does glucose) in order to regulate levels in the blood. A consequence of this, is that it gets converted into fatty acids quicker in the liver, and studies have suggested that it increases adipose tissue in mice, as well as possibly increasing risk for cardiovascular disease as well. In terms of appetite, the excess of insulin means that you end up feeling hungry again pretty quickly. And the trouble is that HFCS is EVERYWHERE - on a recent shopping trip, I had a browse out of curiosity and I was hard pushed to find at least one item without HFCS (out of the various things I bought). So when a culprit like HFCS is everywhere, is it any wonder that obesity is still everywhere.

Disclaimer: Of course, aside from diet, i haven't mentioned the fact that a lot of Americans drive everywhere, or sometimes use golf carts instead of walking, and often view exercise with immense distrust. Aside from the health freaks of course.

Monday, November 13, 2006

All About the Money

I'm sure i've mentioned many a time in the past on the general niceties of customer service over here in the States - virtually all positive as well, i'd wager - save for the continuing annoying trend of shop/gas station assistants who seem far more concerned talking with their co-workers than serving you/telling you how much something costs etc. etc. It also has to be said that a large number of the places where i can judge service are the restaurants that i have been to. By their nature, these are small businesses rather than multi-national chains or big companies and it's here that we start coming across problems. Y'see, the big chains are generally here for one purpose and one purpose only. And as you've probably guessed, it isn't to serve the average Joe customer. In short, it's about the green. One thing that seems absolutely certain in this world (apart from death and taxes), is that the more money a person/company gets, the more they want.

It's this vicious circle that has resulted in an incredibly wealthy few in the world (of which a large number are Americans). These companies are just out to make a quick buck at the expense of everyone else. Take, for example, that stalwart of American supermarkets - Wal Mart (of which i have been to maybe three times since i got here). Watching the recent DVD 'Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Prices' revealed a few interesting facts such as: Wal-Mart actively encourage their employees to use the State Health Benefits (funded out of taxes) as their 'employee health plan' as they don't pay for one themselves. Add into that the way that they strong-arm their employees to work overtime hours and then casually remove the overtime from the pay system. Just two of the ways that this self-promoting 'caring company' work. Closer to home, think of the housing company (Meridian) who have built a small estate close to my friend Kellie's house (the lowest price of which is $400,000) yet they are loathe to actually repair any of the damage and mess they have caused in Kellie's street and garden (as well as her neighbours) in order to connect sewage etc. to these new houses. In total, this would probably cost about $2000 per house (and about 20 houses. No, this company are intent to do a half-arsed job and think they can get away with it. Remember the song 'Money Makes The World Go Around' (from 'Caberet', I believe). I'm dis-inclined to believe that anymore!

Saturday, November 11, 2006

Remembrance of Things Past

As many of us are probably aware, today marks nearly 90 years since the end of the First World War (aka The Great War) and is also the holiday of Veteran's Day over here in the US (although most people had the Friday off with it coinciding with a Saturday). There was a time, I will freely admit, when I thought that it was time to let the past stay in the past. Yes, there were considerable losses in that war (more so, I believe, that in any war since) and many people lost their lives to defend, certainly, my country. Yes, we should remember them, but time is progressing and it's perhaps better not to dwell on the mistakes of the past and hope that we have learnt from them. However, these past few years, my attitude to Remembrance Day (as it is called in the UK) has undergone something of a change although I have always had the utmost respect for all veterans of these wars. We owe these men and women more than can be said in simple words.

Certainly, given the current world climate, I think that remembering wars of the past now takes on an even greater significance. When such horrific losses have occurred in the past, it seems strange that we have governments in power with an almost resigned attitude to war. Whilst, lately, there has been a bit more of a swing towards diplomacy first, the threat of military action seems to be bandied about far too freely and, for me, far too quickly. Whilst I am aware that 'appeasement' was perhaps a major flaw leading up to the Second World War, I think that brandishing the lightsabres (as it were) at the first possible sign of maybe some danger is rather foolhardy indeed. Particularly when a lot of countries forces are spread very thinly as it is. Rather, instead of initiating new conflicts, perhaps trying to sort out existing problems such as the ongoing Darfur conflict for one would be far more beneficial for all. All in all, Remembrance of Things Past now seems more important than ever. Perhaps if we can remember what has happened before, we may all think twice about what's going on around us now.

Thursday, November 09, 2006

The Boathouse

As my quest to continue exploring the restaurants of Charleston goes on, I have been somewhat aided in the last week or two (or three) by having had the chance to take prospective postdoctoral candidates (for work) out for dinner. Of course, the added bonus of this is that it is paid for by the department (which ALWAYS makes food taste better). Anyhow, this time, I let my friend and colleague Kaz choose where to go and he decided on The Boathouse - one of a small chain of restaurants (there are three in total) of which two are located in Charleston. Having somewhat vague memories of this being a place that i was going to be taken to for my own interview, but having never made it here (it was the Superbowl on that day), I jumped at the chance. After all, with the combination of seafood and Charleston, you can't go far wrong.

Suffice to say, the food was pretty damn good - and the portions weren't unreasonable so dessert, for once, was not required. I ended up having atlantic salmon, grilled, in a thyme coating. This came with a risotto of some kind (I forget, but it was yum!) and i ordered some smoked Gouda macaroni and cheese on the side (one word - divine!). All this after starters of fried green tomatoes (how southern!), crab fritters and portabello fries (huge mushrooms covered in a light batter with horseradish sauce). We were, quite frankly, all stuffed to the gills. And the added bonus, at least for me, was the fact that they have Old Speckled Hen on draught. Now whilst this may not be my favourite english pint, it's a pretty good one and draught beer beats bottled virtually any day of the week (Wednesdays may be the exception to that). All in all, a great experience - and the waiting staff were very friendly (if a little absent minded here and there). The prices were also reasonable. In short, somewhere i may be taking visitors. If any more come my way that is!

Wednesday, November 08, 2006

Election Fever

So the big day has been and gone - the votes are (pretty much) in and there is a pretty clear indication of what the outcome is going to be. Of course i'm talking about the mid-terms that were held over here yesterday. I'm not going too much in depth about the whys and the wherefores - i did that a week or so back if you recall - more i'm going to skim over the results and what this may mean both for America and the wider world.

Alas, this isn't yet 2008 and so we haven't got a presidential change - but i guess it's a start. Ultimately, the Democrats (opposite to George W., a republican) have regained control of the House of Representatives (one of the two houses of Congress - akin to Parliament and Lords in the UK) and, at the very least, are going to tie in the Senate. This means, essentially, that the current administration may have considerable problems in Congress when it comes to passing new laws/amendments etc. etc. Additionally, the House of Representatives are allowed to introduce legislation themselves (akin to Parliament in the UK, and MPs) that may have a better chance of passing in a Democrat-friendly house (well, if they're democrats, of course!). In the long run, this gives the Democracts two years now to come up with some good policies before the presidential election as, i think, a lot of the votes here were 'against Republican' rather than 'For Democrat'. I sincerely hope they do come up with the goods - as i think American could do with a breather from such a conservative administration. Oh, and for anyone interested the 'Marriage Amendment' - essentially defining marriage as solely between man and woman (and creating a LOT of consequences in other things - not just same-sex partnerships) passed in 5 of the 8 states with it on the ballot so far - and probably will in the other three. In a nutshell, this implies that same-sex couples, as well as non-married male/female couples, single mums etc. are lesser citizens in the states where this law is enforced and is against the Federal Constitution instead. So much for equality, eh?

UPDATE: The Democrats have now officially taken the Senate as well, so control all of Congress.

Monday, November 06, 2006

Back on the Court

Well that time of year has come around again - the intramural Volleyball competition has started up again and, predictably, i'm on the team: I guess that's what happens when you're 6ft 7. However, this titme around, i'm Captain and we've managed to assemble a pretty decent team of players from the department. Of course, it helps when one of them used to play professionally about 20 years ago back in Italy. So, yesterday (5th November) was our first match and, although we lost the first game, it was by the bare minimum (28-30) and then we made up for it, coming to win 30-22 in the second and 30-17 in the last. If we can stay playing like this, we're in with a shot at the title I think. Of course, this is the non-competitive league - and it's a good job. After watching some of the competitive teams playing, i think we'd all be a lot worse for wear in terms of sore arms.

Anyway, after the first game yesterday, today was a chance for practice - and we got some good time on the court in again. Alas, we were playing a few better players, but i guess that it doesn't hurt too much (although my arms did after stopping a couple of particularly strong spikes). All in all, i think we're in good shape and am looking forward to our next game on Sunday. So watch this space, and i'll keep you all informed. Now i'm off to put some ice on my forearms!!

Friday, November 03, 2006

Photos from the Top

Okay, so i haven't updated this one yet - profuse apologies indeed. This is mainly as i have appeared to mislaid the lead that i need to hook my digital camera up to the computer. Rest assured, as soon as i find it or, at the very least, steal a suitable replacement from a friend/colleague, then the photos in question will be up here very soon.

Sorry!!!

Wednesday, November 01, 2006

Heading To The Hills. Again.

This is a recorded message. Chris isn't here right now. He's gone galavanting off to the Blue Ridge Mountains and North Carolina for a couple of days of intellectual scientific discussion and no drinking at all whatsoever. Honestly. Please leave your name, number, age, rank, sex, shoe size, IQ, blood type, whether you're an inny-or-outty belly button, favourite drink, name of the political party you voted for in the last election, name of your second cousin's wife's friend's tennis partner and any other piece of useless information you feel like disclosing (and might come in handy for blackmail purposes) after the tone. Please state this information in that order precisely otherwise your message will be broadcast to the entire television watching world. We hope you have a pleasant evening.

In short: Gone to Cashiers, NC for a conference. Back on Friday. See you all then.