Don’t just sit there—
I have to say that, despite the fact that I do a lot of reading and writing, I don’t do all that much sitting. I’ve worked standing up ever since I hurt my back about twenty years ago.
The New Neo
A blog about political change, among other things
IThomas Jefferson used a tall desk at Monticello. My guess is that he also designed it.
I have wondered about using such a tall desk. I prefer stiff chairs instead of the flexible office chairs. I make sure I get out of my desk at least once an hour.
I had some bad back problems. Then one day about 5 years ago i got me a guardian angel in the form of a little white dog named Daisy that begged to be walked everyday. No problems since then.
SteveH: glad that helped your back.
Not gonna help mine, though. For about ten of the twenty years of my bad back, I had a little white dog (not named Daisy) that I used to walk every day. Never did a thing to help my back.
What’s more, I do fast walking for exercise almost every day (about three miles). That actually does help keep my back better than it would be without the walking, but still not stupendous.
I should be dead already.
Does fidgeting count as exercise?
You’re in good company, Neo.
Here’s a quote I found doing a Bing search (I hate Google’s politics so I only use Bing now and it’s every bit as good as Google):
“Vladimir Nabokov, who liked to write his novels using index cards, also enjoyed writing while standing.
American novelist Thomas Wolfe, a very tall fellow, is reputed to have written standing up in his kitchen, using the top of his refrigerator as a work surface.
Donald Rumsfeld and Winston Churchill are also known to prefer working while standing.
Leonardo Da Vinci, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Napoleon, and William Gladstone are reported to have preferred working while standing.”
Recently, a email from our company HR was about the dangers of sitting for long periods of time…I did a quick googly-moogly and found something similar that quotes the NY Times:
NY Times reports:
“To no one’s surprise, the men who sat the most had the greatest risk of heart problems. Men who spent more than 23 hours a week watching TV and sitting in their cars (as passengers or as drivers) had a 64 percent greater chance of dying from heart disease than those who sat for 11 hours a week or less.
What was unexpected was that many of the men who sat long hours and developed heart problems also exercised. Quite a few of them said they did so regularly and led active lifestyles. The men worked out, then sat in cars and in front of televisions for hours, and their risk of heart disease soared, despite the exercise. Their workouts did not counteract the ill effects of sitting.”
Some of it is sensible, such as sitting on your ass all day long isn’t good for long term health…but I also suspect that people not in great health aren’t exactly bustling about anyway. But in contrast to the active life our ancestors were burdened with – it’s only a blessing if you want to chase your meals – we’re a sedentary lot. But this study seems to go beyond mere inactivity, to the long term danger of desk jobs.
The fact that this is being reported by the SF media should be a serious “Oh, gimme a BREAAAAAK!!” warning.
The carcinogenic properties of dihydrogen monoxide are just now being understood. DHMO has been found in substantial quantities in every cancerous tumor ever tested. Support the ban on further use of DHMO until we understand it much, much better!
BTW, here’s what I think this is an example of…
The Scientific Method & Its Limits – The Decline Effect
I’m waiting on the study that suggest sitting, standing and lying down are the trifecta of an immenent death.
Cardinal Newman worked at a standing desk.
Neo, I know I’m off topic but this is the only way I can get to you. David Mamet’s book, is that an obvious subject for you to disscus? I would think so. Also one thing I’ve noticed on this subject. He’s making the rounds of Conservative radio, Dennis Miller, Rush Limbaugh, Monica Crowley, yet the intellectual Left sites are dead quiet. Nothing on New Yorker, NYRoB, Salon, nada. Not to mention the more rabid sites like the Nation or The Progressive. You’re much more a literati than I am, any thoughts. I’ll be back during the week.
JimG33: I haven’t read his book yet, but I’ve discussed him quite recently here and here.
Mamet’s book is a very very good read. It’s available for Kindle and Nook.
So no one has an excuse to not get it right now. 🙂
Title is “The Secret Knowledge”.
dihydrogen monoxide is a pollutant just like CO2!! So sayeth A and Z.
You do know that Winston Churchill liked to work standing up at Chartwell?