When it comes to exercise equipment, treadmills are one of the most frequent purchases. If you actually use your treadmill on a regular basis then it is money well-spent. If, on the other hand, your treadmill becomes a place to hang your clothes or stack unread magazines then it will have been a waste of money.

The debate between people who swear by the benefits of using a treadmill and those who say walking outside is the way to go has gone on for years. When it comes to exercise equipment, treadmills, stationary bikes and elliptical machines, there is an associated expense whether you purchase the equipment directly or go to a health club.

Simon Deng and his Freedom Walkers completed their 300 mile walk on Wednesday, April 5, 2006. They were greeted in Washington D.C. by senators and human rights activists. The walk took 21 days.

"I walked to be the voice of those who have no voice" Deng said at a rally, speaking for the hundreds of thousands suffering in modern day slavery and human rights abuses in Sudan.

On April 5, 2006, the U.S. House of Representatives approved the Darfur Peace and Accountability Act. The act authorizes sanctions against those responsible for the genocide in the Darfur region of Sudan.

According to Isaac Rowlett, president of STAND at New York University, "The walk went incredibly well. We had swelling numbers of people come out to provide us with places to stay, good food, and with warmth and love. It's been a definite success."

The most appealing aspect of Steve Vaught's (aka The Fat Man Walking) walk across America is that he is completing his walk as many of us would. He did not set off on the first day and walk uninterrupted from California to New York. As with most of us life got in the way preventing a direct route. There have been physical ailments, personal issues and a change in goals that prevented Steve Vaught from reaching New York City by April, 2006.

The Fat Man Walking restarted his walk and is now in West Virginia. He has completed approximately 2409 miles and has about 406 to go before he reaches New York City. Steve Vaught estimates that it will take about 4 more weeks to complete his walk.

When Steve began his walk he weighed 410 pounds and is now down to 282 pounds. Along the way he has gained a sense of humor saying that with all the stopping and starting and visiting with the new friends he is making on the way he will get to New York City when he is 52. He is 39 now.