Depressed? take a hike!

AUSTIN, Texas (AP)—Just 30 minutes of brisk walking can immediately boost the mood of depressed patients, giving them the same quick pick-me-up they may be seeking from cigarettes, caffeine or binge eating, a small study found.

Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin found that people suffering from depression who walked on a treadmill for 30 minutes reported feeling more vigorous and had a greater sense of psychological well-being for up to an hour after completing the workout.

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"People shouldn't feel like the only thing they can do is take their medicine and wait till they feel better,'' Nelson said. "This kind of shows there are things you can do to help yourself in the short term.''

www.livescience.com

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I loves my new bike, but a few people are confused and concerned about how a self-confessed pauper can afford to blow $4k on a new toy. Fair enough question, and something I should really have cleared up sooner.

At present I spend $30/week on gas. With the bike that will drop to about $10. Hmmm... $20/week surplus. I wonder if that's enough to service a $4k loan? It is if you spread the loan out thinly enough...

250cc bikes have an unusual market in NZ- theyre the biggest bike learners are allowed to ride, and so depreciation is very slow. A 1988 250cc sportbike of any flavour will sell for $3k, 1998 or newer for $4-5k. A tidy VTR250 with less than 30,000 miles sells for $5500.

So the theory goes like this: savings on gas pays the bank until I'm ready to move, and then I sell the bike (which will be gorgeous shiny, reliable and well-maintained) and use the money to repay the principal. (I made very sure there were no early-repayment penalties!)

I can justify a loan that holds no financial burden. If the bike proves difficult to sell I can either take my time (at $20/week) or drop it to $4000 and still be comfortably able to clear the debt.

And in the meantime I'm a very happy Growler, zipping around the city in the last of the summer.

Islands for sale!

Island real estate!





Mmmm. Tropical island pocketbear sanctuary and resort...