Death by chocolate

Eeek! What a way to go. No, not a delicious desert, but a man fell into a vat of molten chocolate in New Jersey.

(I've had to go to the UK news sites for the past week, to avoid MJ. There's much more going on than we knew!)

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/5/20090709/twl-man-dies-after-falling-into-vat-of-c-3fd0ae9.html

Glorious day of coming forth

I think I knew this already, but an item on the radio prompted me to check it out.

While music that was published before 1922 is not copyright - it is in the public domain - there is a disputed copyright of Happy Birthday. It seems we are all guilty of infringement!
The issue relates to the origins of the song. It is actually the melody of a song called "Good Morning To All" which was published in the late 1800s, but in 1935, the variation of the song (the first note having been changed and the Happy Birthday words added) was submitted for copyright. The copyright to this ditty sold in 1990 as part of a company purchase by Warner; the estimated value of this one song being $5million.

It turns out the song isn't licensed to other agencies - which I think means that BMI and ASCAP cannot cover it in general performance licenses. Instead, Warner charges a per use license; for the use of the song in a movie for example, they charge $10,000 (though that is a mechanical license, not just a performance license).

OK - excuse me if I don't sing Happy you-know-what at your next birthday party; I can't afford it. How about a rousing chorus of "For he's a jolly good fellow"? That one IS in the public domain!

(BTW - the public domain rules only relate to the published sheet music - ALL recordings are copyright, regardless of the piece, or the date on which they were recorded).

Back on the plan again...

In May 2006 I reached my goal weight on Weightwatchers - actually just under at 157# - my goal being 160#.

The weightwatchers program works well - if you stick to it. And therein lies the problem for most dieters. They gradually turn back to old patterns of eating. It's exactly what I did. Until Monday, when I realized I was back to my heaviest weight again - 183#.

So here I go again - I signed up for the online WW program, and my goal is the same as before. I think I'll make it - and I'm documenting it here as an added incentive to help me stick with it.

In addition to modifying my diet, I also have to increase my exercise. In the last few days I've dusted off the old gym equipment that has stood almost unused for seven years! It shocks me rather that I used to use both machines regularly when I lived in San Jose; then we hauled them both here in a 26 foot long uHaul in 2002, and I never did get back into working out. I'm also thinking about running again - after a break of 24 years!! Between 1982 and 1986 I ran every week with the Baghdad Hash (part of the Hash House Harriers - and in 1985 I ran the half-marathon in Baghdad; since 1987 I haven't run anything, except for short workouts on a treadmill.

There is a running club in Albuquerque - if I can get back to a reasonable level of fitness I might check it out. I even half-jokingly suggested to Bill that I might train up for a full marathon... though at 57 my days of long distance running are probably over.

I'll document from time to time my weight and how well I've stuck with the workouts. I'm hoping to be at my goal weight again by the end of September. Then the real challenge begins; maintaining that weight long term.