Brad Nelson
Administrator
עַבְדְּךָ֔ אֶת־ הַתְּשׁוּעָ֥ה הַגְּדֹלָ֖ה הַזֹּ֑את
Posts: 12,261
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Post by Brad Nelson on Jan 20, 2022 14:10:31 GMT -8
Oh goodness. Me either. And I read an article lately that said that basically Apple is kicking their ass with their relatively low-cost Apple Fitness+ service ($80.00 year family membership...or $30.00 a month bundled in Apple One). And you can use Apple Fitness+ with any exercise equipment (or none at all...just aerobics, for instance). Kicking their flippin' ass. I love it. I don't know why but I always hated Peleton. Instinctive. As is the idea of paying anyone a dime for videos having to do with exercise. Come on. Put on a record and pump the cycle. Jesus. It's not that complicated.
And aside from competition such as Apple Fitness+, I believe the downfall started when (last year?) there were a couple tragic stories of children being killed by being dragged under the treadmill machines. I don't know if that article mentioned that. But I believe that was the start of the slide. And the fact is, these machines are dangerous around children and pets.
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Brad Nelson
Administrator
עַבְדְּךָ֔ אֶת־ הַתְּשׁוּעָ֥ה הַגְּדֹלָ֖ה הַזֹּ֑את
Posts: 12,261
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Post by Brad Nelson on Jan 20, 2022 14:16:35 GMT -8
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Post by artraveler on Jan 20, 2022 14:41:48 GMT -8
Well, I feel my sanity has been reaffirmed. Like you I was amazed at the number of people who would willingly go into hock for this POS. It is not that I am against the idea of exercise but paying these prices to get it when a good walk will accomplish the same is just crazy. I recall mentioning to my wife when the commercials were on every station. The people they showed were not in any way needing an exercise program, and almost all were female with very tight bodies, round firm tush and long legs, making the commercial, at best, soft porn. Perhaps they might have been more successful using the women from my 600 lb life. I first heard rumblings that the Peloton empire had trouble through my broker news service when they mentioned lowered earning expectations last quarter. my first thought was to short the stock, which I would have done except it appears it is privately held. |
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Post by kungfuzu on Jan 20, 2022 15:36:18 GMT -8
I am sure you are correct that those stories hurt the business badly.
I suspected that Peleton was in for a fall at the same time I read they were valued at $44 billion. As I recall, the same article in early 2021 mentioned that they had bought another exercise company for a few billion and were aksi expanding their production. (Today's piece confirms both actions were completed) I thought that expanding so quickly was crazy given the fact that their big growth came during/because of the KFF lockdowns. I also know that it is very common for people to buy a bright shiny new piece of exercise equipment and use it religiously for a short time, before forgetting about it. Many such machines end up being sold second hand.
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Post by kungfuzu on Jan 20, 2022 15:41:19 GMT -8
I agree completely. The babes also didn't sweat. Anyone who has ever been in a gym knows that sweat is a big part of the environment.
As Brad, I always had a basic dislike of Peleton. I think you have just laid out one of the big reasons why. Selling a lie. They just seemed phony to the core.
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Brad Nelson
Administrator
עַבְדְּךָ֔ אֶת־ הַתְּשׁוּעָ֥ה הַגְּדֹלָ֖ה הַזֹּ֑את
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Post by Brad Nelson on Jan 20, 2022 16:22:55 GMT -8
That's a good point. That would tend to glut the market. And there are just certain products (such as exercise equipment) that are fad-oriented (religiously for a short time, etc.). And I think there is sort of a Scientology mindset (on the part of seller and buyer) that turns this market into one with its own peculiarities.
Also, you can shell out about $150 (or less) for a good "smart" watch that will track your exercises. No, it won't present you with happy, sweaty faces on a flat screen to dance to. But I'm guessing that people who are into moderate-to-serious fitness don't really need that. An Apple Watch (which I have) and a city to walk (or jog) in is really all you need. (A pleasant walk down Artler Avenue.) And once you buy the watch (which comes with pretty good fitness software), it's yours. I can't imagine being so rich that I would want to spend $40.00 a month plus $495.00 for a massive treadmill.
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Post by artraveler on Jan 20, 2022 16:27:32 GMT -8
I also know that it is very common for people to buy a bright shiny new piece of exercise equipment and use it religiously for a short time, before forgetting about it. Now if we can just get rid of those medicare supplement ads with Joe Namath and JJ Walker screaming a large measure of sanity will return to TV. |
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Brad Nelson
Administrator
עַבְדְּךָ֔ אֶת־ הַתְּשׁוּעָ֥ה הַגְּדֹלָ֖ה הַזֹּ֑את
Posts: 12,261
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Post by Brad Nelson on Jan 20, 2022 16:27:52 GMT -8
I see the basic problem with the soft porn babes-who-don't sweat treadmills. They need to come packaged with the tight bodies. Believe me, if I wake up to this every morning, I think I would be motivated to do at least a half hour on a treadmill. I get the seat behind. Forty bucks a month? Pfft. Chicken feed.  |
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Brad Nelson
Administrator
עַבְדְּךָ֔ אֶת־ הַתְּשׁוּעָ֥ה הַגְּדֹלָ֖ה הַזֹּ֑את
Posts: 12,261
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Post by Brad Nelson on Jan 20, 2022 16:33:58 GMT -8
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Brad Nelson
Administrator
עַבְדְּךָ֔ אֶת־ הַתְּשׁוּעָ֥ה הַגְּדֹלָ֖ה הַזֹּ֑את
Posts: 12,261
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Post by Brad Nelson on Jan 20, 2022 16:36:53 GMT -8
Here's someone's snarky take on it all. Kind of funny.
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Post by artraveler on Jan 20, 2022 16:42:15 GMT -8
As an additional rant. I call to your attention the seasonal ads for Charities of all types from ASPCA, WWF, Shriners, the Danny Thomas thing, save Soviet Jews (collect the whole set and surprise your in-laws). Just because it is the end of the year and gifts in January can be written down into the previous year. We are continually berated with, "only you can save_____ just donate $19 a month for the rest of your life. The similarity of the pitch suggests all the ads are done by the same ad agency. While we are at it stop retailers from soliciting for charities by asking at checkout if you want to donate to their favorite charity.
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Brad Nelson
Administrator
עַבְדְּךָ֔ אֶת־ הַתְּשׁוּעָ֥ה הַגְּדֹלָ֖ה הַזֹּ֑את
Posts: 12,261
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Post by Brad Nelson on Jan 20, 2022 16:45:55 GMT -8
No kidding.
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Brad Nelson
Administrator
עַבְדְּךָ֔ אֶת־ הַתְּשׁוּעָ֥ה הַגְּדֹלָ֖ה הַזֹּ֑את
Posts: 12,261
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Post by Brad Nelson on Jan 20, 2022 16:51:14 GMT -8
Here's an interesting factoid that sort of relates to Peleton. I was told yesterday by a professional, long in the industry, that the reason their orthodontic business had been booming the last year or so is because she thinks people are more self-conscious about how they look on Zoom.
Maybe another reason personal expenditures are moving upward a bit from the bum area.
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Brad Nelson
Administrator
עַבְדְּךָ֔ אֶת־ הַתְּשׁוּעָ֥ה הַגְּדֹלָ֖ה הַזֹּ֑את
Posts: 12,261
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Post by Brad Nelson on Jan 24, 2022 10:57:13 GMT -8
For some good comedy, read this "Woe is me, I'm a victim (for the right price)" article about this chick who was married to Hugh Hefner. Here's a sample of the prattle: Perhaps she was confused at the wedding ceremony and thought she was marring Mr. Rogers. |
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Post by kungfuzu on Jan 24, 2022 11:36:51 GMT -8
One can't help but suspect she was prostituting herself when she married Hefner and the same manoeuvre is being executed now.
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Brad Nelson
Administrator
עַבְדְּךָ֔ אֶת־ הַתְּשׁוּעָ֥ה הַגְּדֹלָ֖ה הַזֹּ֑את
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Post by Brad Nelson on Jan 24, 2022 11:40:58 GMT -8
LOL. That's sizing it up rather well. And what a junk article to find on FoxNews. Never go there but was looking for some updates on the Ukraine situation. Good god. Did they pay to have this kind of publicity masquerading as news to promote their docuseries? If they got that article for free, that's amazing.
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Post by artraveler on Jan 24, 2022 12:06:36 GMT -8
Do dollars determine the difference between virtue and prostitution? One can't help but suspect she was prostituting herself when she married Hefner and the same manoeuvre is being executed now. An old man walks up to a beautiful women at a party. man: "would have sex with me for a million dollars?' Woman: "looking over the man says, yes" Man: "how about $50.00" Woman:very insulted, "what do you think I am a whore?' Man: "We have already established that. I thought we were negotiating price" |
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Post by kungfuzu on Jan 24, 2022 12:13:54 GMT -8
I think something like this was supposed to have been said by Churchill to some aristocrat.
As to the question of money and virtue. Someone can be promiscuous without taking money for it. That would be known as an easy lay.
A prostitute is someone who trades sex for money. I find the second worse as one has decided to debase oneself for money. It is a cold calculation. Yes, there are cases where poor women have little choice, but I am not talking about that.
Giving oneself away is very different from selling oneself.
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Brad Nelson
Administrator
עַבְדְּךָ֔ אֶת־ הַתְּשׁוּעָ֥ה הַגְּדֹלָ֖ה הַזֹּ֑את
Posts: 12,261
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Post by Brad Nelson on Apr 9, 2022 16:45:17 GMT -8
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Brad Nelson
Administrator
עַבְדְּךָ֔ אֶת־ הַתְּשׁוּעָ֥ה הַגְּדֹלָ֖ה הַזֹּ֑את
Posts: 12,261
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Post by Brad Nelson on Apr 9, 2022 17:37:24 GMT -8
Let’s hope the evil Disney Corporation goes broke. And Joy what’s-her-name has a very good article on an alternative to Disney porn: Dollywood |
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