The Bret Contreras one, if I recall, includes a bodybuilding-style split (though correct me if I’m wrong), which is more “advanced” than a straight forward program like SS.

The SS folks actually just published a very, very good book on Masters (40+) training. It’s called The Barbell Prescription, and it’s written by two SS coaches (one of whom is an MD). Just came out last month, and well worth the $20.

No, Starting Strength applies to anyone 8 to 88. Buy the book on Amazon, do the program.

1. Start with the bar.

The basic program is for all people. Past the age of 40, most people don’t have the recovery to run the more aggressive progression presented in SS. The book, Starting Strength, covers the changes women and older populations should make to the program.

I always make beginners start with an empty bar, no matter how strong they think they are. SS piles on the weight fast enough that they’ll be lifting heavy soon enough no matter where they start and starting super light gives you time to get your form right before there’s enough weight to hurt you.

I had kid throw on…

at the beginning, focus on quality of reps, not quantity of weight. Form is supremely import in the long run, and getting into the right habits early will pay dividends.

...I don’t get it. These days, thanks to digital distribution, PC games go on 75%+ sale all the freaking time, just a few months after release, and you get automatic patches and updates.

It has never been proven (yet) with definitive facts that piracy has an overall positive or negative effect on the economy of any digital medium, especially not the economic success of a video game. Whether it has a real efect on the economy currently largely depends on which side of the argument you are and who did…