Wii Fit Benefits MLB Pitcher
Wii Fit Benefits MLB Pitcher
September 16, 2009
The Wall Street Journal has an article on the benefits San Diego Padres pitcher Heath Bell reaped from using Nintendo’s Wii Fit in the off season.
Bell was driven to work out more—not to lose weight—but to make his avatar smaller, after the game declared his character obese. The baseball player ended up losing 25 pounds and credits the game with increasing his balance. Bell is enjoying his best season to date, with his 37 saves ranking among the league leaders, though he did give up a game winning, ninth inning two-run homer last night.
Perhaps The New York Mets should look into ordering a full compliment of Wii Fit’s for their entire roster?
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Posted 02/09/10 at 01:16pm
Andrew Eisen: Shouldn't be. Spirit of anti-discrimination laws would seem to include sexual orientation (and eye color). Plus there's always equal protection and such. Never know until you try.
Andrew Eisen: Shouldn't be. Spirit of anti-discrimination laws would seem to include sexual orientation (and eye color). Plus there's always equal protection and such. Never know until you try.
Posted 02/09/10 at 01:10pm
Andrew Eisen: Should have sued (unless that wasn't an option given her financial situation or something). Might have won.
Andrew Eisen: Should have sued (unless that wasn't an option given her financial situation or something). Might have won.
Posted 02/09/10 at 01:00pm
Valdearg: Story about a Male to Female TG who was expressly told she wouldn't be given a job because she was TG. Its not the main point of the story, but explicit, perfectly legal discrimination like this exists.
Valdearg: Story about a Male to Female TG who was expressly told she wouldn't be given a job because she was TG. Its not the main point of the story, but explicit, perfectly legal discrimination like this exists.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:53pm
Valdearg: Lol, I don't know. It may very well be legal to do so. Though that might able to fall under the "race" restriction, depending on how that point is argued.
Valdearg: Lol, I don't know. It may very well be legal to do so. Though that might able to fall under the "race" restriction, depending on how that point is argued.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:51pm
Valdearg: I don't think they do have any legal recourse. I'll have to dig around, but I seriously believe that if the law doesn't specifically mention Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity, they can still be discriminated against in those 29 states.
Valdearg: I don't think they do have any legal recourse. I'll have to dig around, but I seriously believe that if the law doesn't specifically mention Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity, they can still be discriminated against in those 29 states.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:51pm
Andrew Eisen: Eye color isn't covered either but I doubt it would be considered legal to refuse to hire people with green eyes.
Andrew Eisen: Eye color isn't covered either but I doubt it would be considered legal to refuse to hire people with green eyes.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:48pm
Andrew Eisen: My explanation is longer than the Shoutbox will allow. Suffice to say that while those who are discriminated against do have legal recourse, anti-discrimination law should specifically cite sexual orientation so that there’s no question about it.
Andrew Eisen: My explanation is longer than the Shoutbox will allow. Suffice to say that while those who are discriminated against do have legal recourse, anti-discrimination law should specifically cite sexual orientation so that there’s no question about it.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:42pm
Valdearg: "There is no federal law that consistently protects LGBT individuals from employment discrimination; it remains legal in 29 states, and in 38 states to do so based on gender identity or expression." From the Human Rights Campaign.
Valdearg: "There is no federal law that consistently protects LGBT individuals from employment discrimination; it remains legal in 29 states, and in 38 states to do so based on gender identity or expression." From the Human Rights Campaign.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:40pm
Valdearg: @AE: Why don't you think I'm correct? I know Wiki could be flawed, but as far as it says, its up to date as of June 2009.
Valdearg: @AE: Why don't you think I'm correct? I know Wiki could be flawed, but as far as it says, its up to date as of June 2009.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:39pm
Andrew Eisen: I don't think you're right but I really don't know and don't have the time to find out. However things actually are, it's very clear how they actually should be.
Andrew Eisen: I don't think you're right but I really don't know and don't have the time to find out. However things actually are, it's very clear how they actually should be.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:34pm
Valdearg: "just because there's no specific state level protection for it, doesn't make discrimination right or legal." I would disagree. If there's no laws against it, it makes it perfectly legal. It's definitely not right, but perfectly legal to do.
Valdearg: "just because there's no specific state level protection for it, doesn't make discrimination right or legal." I would disagree. If there's no laws against it, it makes it perfectly legal. It's definitely not right, but perfectly legal to do.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:33pm
Valdearg: Meaning in 29 states, private sector discrimination against gays is perfectly legal.. Sickening.
Valdearg: Meaning in 29 states, private sector discrimination against gays is perfectly legal.. Sickening.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:33pm
Valdearg: 19 states have no protections, and another 10 only have protections for public sector jobs.
Valdearg: 19 states have no protections, and another 10 only have protections for public sector jobs.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:32pm
Andrew Eisen: Well, most businesses have equal rights policies in place and just because there's no specific state level protection for it, doesn't make discrimination right or legal. Still, no argument against adding such protections.
Andrew Eisen: Well, most businesses have equal rights policies in place and just because there's no specific state level protection for it, doesn't make discrimination right or legal. Still, no argument against adding such protections.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:28pm
Valdearg: More information. Apparently, it's worse than I actually thought.
Valdearg: More information. Apparently, it's worse than I actually thought.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:28pm
Valdearg: Check the link. Apparently, its more like 20 states that have no protections.
Valdearg: Check the link. Apparently, its more like 20 states that have no protections.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:26pm
Andrew Eisen: In the US? Not that I'm aware of. Sad if true.
Andrew Eisen: In the US? Not that I'm aware of. Sad if true.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:25pm
Valdearg: @AE: Actually, I think, at least for now, businesses can still discriminate against gays in a few states.. Something like 5 or 8. Its part of why Gay Rights Advocates are in support of the Employee Nondiscrimination Act, or ENDA.
Valdearg: @AE: Actually, I think, at least for now, businesses can still discriminate against gays in a few states.. Something like 5 or 8. Its part of why Gay Rights Advocates are in support of the Employee Nondiscrimination Act, or ENDA.
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Comments
Look likes the Wii has done it again. I've been hearing good news about the Wii over the last few months. I've found out that the Nintendo Wii is probably the current console for excercising (I remember DDR and the PS2 and it's eyetoy were the exergaming back then) and rehab or should I say Wiihab. I remember back at NIH, I did a presentation on how the Wii helped people with Parkinson's Disease.
I wonder how Xbox 360's Project Natal and the PS3's Motion controller will help in the future. I wondered to myself if those can help with PD. I hope it can become true.
Well, since both MS and Sony are planning their own "balance boards" for stuff like Tony Hawks, we may be seeing more of this in the future.
The Wii balance board has had suprising good support, especially when compared to some the Wiis other accessories (cough, Wiispeak, cough). And it only seems to be gaining. Right now, the three consoles are trying to find a balance (no pun intended) between classic controller games and motion capture.
We will have to see how that support will gain (or not) with Wii Motion Plus, Project Natal, and [whatever Sony called theirs].
Interesting point, since you'd think the WiiSpeak would be more popular. However, a lot of game companies won't make online games for the Wii in the first place, so the WiiSpeak would be almost useless.
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He was dead when I got here.
Glad to hear the wii fit is helping out the guy
http://www.magicinkgaming.com/
Mmm WII speak to teach you /strike/japanase/strike/ english...I am so there!
Until lobbying is a hanging offense I choose anarchy! Stop supporting big media and furthering the criminalization of consumers!! http://zippydsmlee.wordpress.com/
I don't have any doubts that it worked for him, but to my knowledge 90% of people I know who have bought Wii Fit have played it a couple of times before putting it away and never playing it again.
It's not really any different from gyms who entice people with deals to improve their health and get them to sign some complicated contract which forces them to pay regular fees, even if they barely ever show up. Well, I suppose you make a one off payment for Wii Fit, but the principle is the same.
It's quite obvious that Wii Fit is a huge financial success for Nintendo, but in my opinion it makes a large profit off of a combination of people's good intentions and their inherit laziness. Stories like this (which I'm not saying are wrong) will probably convince more people to go out and busy open their wallet for a copy of Wii Fit, then play if a couple of times before putting it away and never playing it again.
I think it would be really interesting to see the statistics of how often people who have bought Wii Fit "don't" use it.
It's same with any piece of exercise equipment. People could have those amazing muscles and trim bodies just like the ones in the commercial if they actually used the machine longer than a week then put it in the closet.
And the cycle of unused exercise equipment continues. How many houses of friends and family have you been to where the ever present treadmill is sitting in a corner collecting dust?