HDTV - Discovery Channel's "Planet Earth"

If ever there was a question as to why you should have HDTV and why you should have it now, The Discovery Channel in conjunction with the BBC has answered that question! Their new 11 part mini series "Planet Earth" is unequivocally the most breathtaking example of HD programming I've ever seen. I've only watched the first episode, "Pole to Pole", but the incredible shots they've gotten coupled with the most amazing scenery and never before filmed events in nature truly make this a landmark series. If you don't have an HDTV and have been on the fence about purchasing one, you need to run to your nearest AV store tomorrow and pick one up. I'm not one for beating my chest about how you absolutely have to have something, but this is an exception. I've had an HDTV along with HD programming for probably 3 or 4 years now. Being a home theater buff, it always bugged me that my nice 16 X 9 TV was wasted on analog TV. I wanted the widescreen format I had come to enjoy with my movies. As soon as it was economically feasible for me to get HD programming, I did. Even though most of the things I record are standard TV drama series that really don't show off the capabilities of HD, I'm happy that my screen is filled. But "Planet Earth" in 1080i is what HD is all about! From being able to see all the tiny air bubbles escaping from an elephants trunk as it plays in the water to seeing the faintest of feathers on a bird of paradise in the jungle . . . I mean I am simply blown away by the quality of the image and the depth of color. Even from my 6 year old Mitsubishi TV. I'm half way tempted to run out and buy a new Sony SXRD set JUST to watch 11 hours of "Planet Earth" its that good. For you Comcast folks with HD programming and a DVR, set that sucker to 663 and just record Planet Earth. Clear out episodes of Friends, MASH, or whatever it is you record and make way for "Planet Earth", I promise you . . . you WON'T be disappointed!

Workout Results for 3/28/07 - Day 3, Week 1, SI6

Day 3, Week 1, Slim in Six Workout:

Program Followed: Start it Up
Program Duration: 25 Minutes
Difficulty: Didn't feel like I worked as hard as I could have, maybe 70% today.

OK, I think my body is getting a bit fatigued . . . 3 more days to go this week and I can take a day off . . . the only thing I really have any problems with is keeping my arms up during the exercises. I have a 50% tear in my right rotator cuff and as such, my right shoulder is extremely painful during the exercises. I just have to work through it and strengthen the muscles around the shoulder to take some of the strain off. It's torn enough to hurt, but not enough to operate, which is good cause I don't want rotator cuff sugery! So this workout is like a standard aerobics class where you're doing squats while maybe doing tricep extensions, so keeping my arms up for the full 12 - 18 reps gets tough. I'm doing more today than I did on Monday, but still my shoulder is in pain the rest of the day. No pain, no gain right?

The push ups are getting easier, although I'm doing the easy ones on my knees. I figure by next week I'll be able to get those off the ground without much worry and bang out 8 - 10. The crunches (reverse, oblique and standard) are actually pretty easy. OK, maybe not easy, but certainly doable. I guess my workouts that I was doing last summer at the Y helped a bit with my abs. Because I remember those being a lot harder and I did quite a few less crunches there. 20 standard usually. Here we're doing 18 - 24 Reverse, Oblique and Standard . . . so probably 3 times the amount I was doing and I can do them. I feel good about that!