RAF_Louvert

. Thanks VP and Creaghorn, mucho appreciato. Creaghorn to your question: I use information on the packaging, independent online calorie counter guides, and product/company websites. I then use the HIGHEST value for each particular item as companies have been known to fudge numbers a bit in order to make their 'low calorie' products even more attractive. "What?! Companies being less than honest about their products?!" Yes, it's a shocker, but it's been known to happen. .

. Good on you Flyby! I am a firm believer in whatever works for the individual, as long as it isn't unhealthy. Update on my progress: I've dropped 9.2 pounds of my 'Christmas ' weight in the first week. I knew a large chunk would fall away fast and I will likely lose another 4 to 5 this week as well. After that however the real fun begins. So far though the 1,200 calories per day and increased exercise and walking is going very, very well. Me so happy. .

. Perhaps this will help Crossbones, (courtesy of spl0uf over in France): Breguet_pronounced_01.mp3 .

. I have heard the name used in French conversation and it was pronounced "Br-ray-gay", with a slight role to the 'r' resulting in it sounding almost as if it had three syllables with the emphasis on 'ray'. Also, the 'a' sound hovered somewhere between the long 'a' and the short 'e' sound. At least, that is how I heard it pronounced north of Paris, (dialects can of course differ). .

. Then I'm going with this one: It's one of my better shots. Really shows off my eyes. .

. OvS, sorry Sir if I phrased it poorly, I am not a member of our local fire department, I only work with them a lot. In my role as an ambulance and rescue vehicle sales and service man I often get to work with many of the finest volunteers on the face of this tired old Earth. My hat's off to you Sir, and to Bullethead, and the other OFF flyers here who give of themselves in such a fine way. True heros each and every one of you. Si, I wish you all the best in your quest to quit smoking. I did the same myself when I was 20, and even though I'd only been smoking for a year or so it was still gawd-awful stopping. But I've been glad for it ever since. CW3FS, I should be as fit as you when I hit 75. I love to hike and have started going at it again. However, out here in the midwestern prairies, I'd have to walk to the other end of Wyoming to climb 2000 feet in elevation. Tranquillo, we have ourselves a contest then! Gaw, glad of that, and I figured as much. Thanks again everyone. .

. Sorry Squadron Leader, I thought you said to take 37 back to Blighty for a 100-hour and an ale change. Now don't I feel the fool. .

. My favs have already been named so nothing to add here, except to say: "You have clearance, Clarence" "Roger, Roger." "What's our vector, Victor?" "Huh?" "What?" .

. Kidding everyone, just kidding. Violence is never the answer ... except when it is. Again, for any Big Brothers reading this ... just kidding. .

. Sorry to read of your computer woes Captain. Unfortunate that there are so many companies that now operate under such principles, or rather lack of same. Perhaps a good firebombing is in order; that'll teach 'em some respect for their customer base. .

. Ah yes LIMA, without a doubt the Brisfit is one of the finest in the shed, both in looks and performance. But then I am partial as my heart belongs to the B/R buses. Good show Sir! .

. Wow. You folks have listed sooooo many of my favorites here already. I did notice a few however that have not come up yet. 'Sergeant York' . Not a lot of action scenes but still one of my all-time favorites because of Gary Cooper's superb performance. 'The Great Escape' . Classic, simply classic. 'Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo' . Wonderful and now seemingly forgotten film about Dolittle's Tokyo Raiders. 'The Guns Of Navarone' . Gregory Peck, David Niven, and Anthony Quinn together in one film; how can you go wrong. 'Midway' . Epic. 'The Sand Pebbles' . Here's another gem that's been overlooked for years. When Steve McQueen has to take "the shot" from the deck of the ship ... worth it for that scene alone. 'We Were Soldiers' . Might be hard to watch if you can't stand Mel Gibson, but it is still an outstanding war film. 'A Farewell To Arms' . More romance than war, but still worth a watch. There are others, just can't think of them at the mo. .

. Tranquillo, what is the brand and model number of your current mobo? Maybe we can simply find you another one. .

. Au contraire, mon frère! There are many on eBay right now, and Newegg also has a few as well. .

. As SkateZilla noted, with no beeps it is likely the mobo, Tranquillo. Bummer. .

. Yes, if your mobo has onboard graphics you should be able to boot up, and it will likely just do that automatically with the GC removed. Good luck. .

. If the fan is not running on your graphics card and you are sure all the plugs on it are nice and snug, then I'm afraid you may have a toasted card. Do you have another one you can swap in just to be sure Tranquillo? .

. Tranquillo, have you popped the side cover yet to see if you have any cables off inside? Could be a loose plug at the graphics card or HD. Of course it could also be a fried graphics card or HD, but let's hope not. Great minds think alike Lima, I was posting basically the same thing just as you were. .

. I don't know where this 2012 apocalypse idea has come from, (well, I've a hunch it's coming from folks looking to sell papers, books, air time, and end-of-days products). Nostradamus didn't predict any such thing, but rather the last great war followed by 5,000 years of peace, after which time the world would end. The Mayan calendar is actually three calendars in one, with the 'Long Count' simply starting over on 21 Dec 2012, (or possibly 23 Dec 2012), to record the next epoch; but again nothing about the world ending. So actually, using the real intent of the Mayan calendar, the next epoch could be, "The Age of P4 - OFF2". Has a nice ring to it, don't you think? .

. Thanks again everyone for all your support and motivation, it will serve me well over the following months in my quest for 186. Gaw, it may be sounding rather Jenny Craig-ish in here, but as you've noted my wish to shed a few stone is obviously a common theme. But liposuction? I am going to assume you're joking. Hasse WInd ... "Battle of the Bulge" ... hee, hee. Normally we would have enough snow right now for X-country skiing, but not this season. It was a brown Christmas in my part of Minnesota for the first time in many years. As to the skiing itself, I have done that in the past and in fact just found my kit this last weekend in the garage. It was all sitting right next to my roller blades. Tranquillo, best of luck on your program Sir. You have the same distance to go as I do, so how about the first to get to their goal and stay at their ideal weight for all of 2012 treats the other to a $20 gift certificate to their favorite online book store? OvS, I will look into P90x and see what it's about. I have a couple of friends here on our local fire department who are in a program that sounds very similar to the one you are following, and this is what I am aiming for as well. I want to do a general toning up again, and get a bit more muscle back in my shoulders and upper arms. Alrighty then, off to do some road work. "I'm going to get thin, 'cause when I lose I win! I'm going to get thin, 'cause when I lose I win! ... " .

. Flyby, that is an impressive amount of weight you've dropped Sir. Sucks that your diet plan was more or less foisted upon you by the same lot that's put the world into it's current financial mess, but good on you anyway for coming out ahead in at least one regard. As to metabolism, I once had one where I could have eaten a horse a day and never gained a pound, but that was a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. Now it seems I can gain weight simply by walking past a donut shop. Perhaps I'll try walking much faster past such shops and see if that helps. .

. Thanks for the advice Creaghorn and for your weight loss plan. It is quite similar to one I've used myself, though I didn't cut out the carbs completely in the first phase. There are many such plans, and I believe a person should go with the one that works best for them. My problem has been keeping the weight off once I've lost it, and that is where the lifestyle change is going to have to come into play, IMHO. .

. You're on HPW! .

. You know, it occurs to me, with others here also considering dropping a few pounds this year we could serve as a pretty damned good support group for each other. I've found over the years that when it comes to such endeavors it is often very helpful to have others know your intentions who can then help 'keep you strong', (so to speak), when temptations rear their seductive yet ugly heads. .

. Many thanks everyone for your words of support, it is much appreciated. I will be sure to keep you all informed of my progress. Gaw, I agree that we are all odd reflections of our younger selves, and I am quite comfortable with most of that: my graying hair and muzzle; my wrinkles and age spots; the ever increasing size of my ears and nose. However, when it comes to my overall weight, I'd like there to be a bit less of it to be comfortable with. .