The New York Times is pathetic.

I have been getting hits from http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/. Unfortunately, I am not a TimesSelect subscriber and thus cannot see what the cloistered blog linked to.

Unrelatedly, I am going to Japan in September. I am also on a diet, with the goal of losing 15 pounds total and at least 10 before my trip. I would like to be able to buy clothes in Japan without having shopkeepers giggle at the giant white girl. Hints for making exercise tolerable, purchasing elliptical machines, or finding cool places to go in Japan are appreciated.