Pork and gravy for the obesity problem

Yesterday while making a salad for the meal to take over to my daughter's home where a beehive of activity is taking place to build a deck, I had a flashback to my childhood. The after school snack. A chunk of cabbage. Crisp, crunchy and sweet, and probably from Mom's garden. I'm sure kids would turn up their noses at vegetable snacks today, but that's what we got. Desserts were for meal time, and that might be something I call "warm milk cake" because I don't think it had a name, and it certainly didn't have icing.

For years women's magazines have been sounding the alarm on the obesity problem--a lot of good that has done. Personally, I think the current feminist movement which started the back to the workplace shift for women in the 1970s, which grew an entire casual eating out restaurant industry-- take-out, pizza, and fast food empire--because women weren't home at 5 or 6 p.m. to cook, is the source of many of the problems we have in 2010 with over weight children, who then become over weight adults.

There are medical problems--some genetic--that can cause obesity, such has metabolic syndrome, but even these can be controlled or helped with a simple plan of ELMM. Eat less move more. It's darn hard work, but not a penny from the government pork and gravy train is needed. Here's a common sense tip from a government program called Letsmove dot gov:

•Keep fruits and vegetables within reach; store cookies, chips and ice cream out of immediate sight.

•Schedule specific family activities at regular times. Instead of saying "we need to be more active," plan a 30-minute neighborhood walk after dinner three evenings a week.

•When shopping, park the car as far from the store as possible. Make it a game: Count the steps as you walk to the store -- and next time, try to park even farther away.

When my mother sent us outside to play, I don't think it was a plan to be more active, but it worked. As did mowing the lawn, pulling weeds, riding our bicycles to friends' homes, and running around outside at school recess, even in extremely cold weather. Ice cream? We didn't have a freezer, so if we had it, it was a very special event.

But where's the money in common sense?

What could possibly go wrong?

This was forwarded by guest blogger, Murray.

Let me get this straight.

We're going to be "gifted" with a health care plan we are forced to purchase and fined if we don't,

written by a committee whose chairman says he doesn't understand it,

passed by a Congress that hasn't read it and

whose Speaker states we will pass it to see what it says,

and by a Congress that exempts themselves from it,

to be signed by a president who also smokes,

with funding administered by a treasury chief who didn't pay his taxes,

to be overseen by a surgeon general who is obese,

and financed by a country that's broke.

Food Crisis Worsens in Central Africa

Read between the lines of this New York Times "green" article and do a little research, and you'll find food aid is often the cause of the crisis in these intractable hunger areas. Their governments use the food aid to hold the people hostage and to relocate them at will; the food aid depresses prices driving farmers from the land.

Food Crisis Worsens in Central Africa - NYTimes.com

Today's WSJ reviewed a new book on the outcomes of money gathered from the feel-good Live Aid concert. The government of Ethiopia killed more people than the famine through forced resettlement. You can read sections of the book at Google. "Famine and foreigners, Ethiopia since Live Aid," by Peter Gill.

As Gill notes, aid agencies (generally foreign) have been involved (and/or meddling) in Ethiopia for decades now, as have foreign governments, and the roles of these often very well-backed foreign governments and institutions has played a part in the course various famines (and periods where famine was a threat) took. In the mid-1980s, for example, the Derg imposed a mass resettlement policy, trying to move people from one area of the country to another. They often did so forcefully, and the policy divided both the nations providing aid as well as the aid agencies with their differing policies of non-interference and conceptions of sovereignty.

As Gill repeatedly notes, many aid agencies did very well by the famines -- in getting cash, raising their profiles, becoming players. While avoiding outright condemnation, Gill does note that, for example, Oxfam in particular not only expanded rapidly into a dominant player, but eventually also was closely tied to the British Labour government -- and that its self-interest seem to have influenced at least some aid-decisions, such as silence on the resettlement policy. (On the other hand, he seems to approve of Médecins Sans Frontières' (Doctors without Borders') focus solely on conditions on the ground, and indifference to stepping on anyone's (and particularly any government's) toes.) Link

ARRA at Ohio State University

As of a year ago, Ohio State University had been awarded 174 grants from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act--and although I think any one project is worthwhile and will help Americans and world citizens in the long run, in the short run, they probably have done nothing for the economy. Even little for the immediate Columbus community. Over 82 million dollars. Multiply that by all the other universities, colleges, and non-profits who got their cut. These are not "shovel ready," "boots on the ground" jobs for working people. Like $1.5 million for "autonomous vehicles." Or $1.5 million for "understanding cancer" spread around 240 scientists in 14 colleges? That will hardly pick up the travel tab at the conferences they'll attend.

"Conquering disease and improving health, reversing the effects of climate change from global warming, creating new nanotechnological materials, and exploring alternative energy sources – these are just some of the research thrusts in ARRA awards to The Ohio State University."

ARRA Funded Research at OSU, November 2009

Labor Day Detour

Usually we go to the Upper Arlington Art Show on Labor Day, but this year we'll be at my daughter's home to help with building the deck, the decorating and whatever else needs to be done before our party next Sunday. So I've got some bratwurst grilling on the stove top which I'll reheat there; made some cole slaw with carrots and pineapple; about 2/3 of my pumpkin coffee cheese cake (made without the pumpkin since there's none to be found); and I'll swing by the store for chips and buns.

Not that I didn't know this, but I'm not an "event planner." Oh, I have great ideas 6 months going into it, but as the day draws nearer whether a luncheon, dinner, bridal shower or 50th anniversary party, I lie awake at night thinking about the "what ifs." In this case, where will everyone park. Well, at least we've cancelled the one in Illinois--I've been awake since mid-June. I need some sleep!

Shiny lip glosses gluten free?

You look at the list of ingredients on the internet for your cosmetics for gluten free products, but with ingredients like polybutene, octydodecanol and others maybe you should check a bit further?

"Although Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is more commonly known for its use in pans found in the kitchen, it is now seen in cosmetic and beauty products, in a wide range of products including mineral make up, nail polish, injectable wrinkle fillers, skin care creams, and other formulas. It is used as a bulking agent, slip modifier, binding agent and skin conditioner, according to the Cosmetics Database, and can create a smoother application for a variety of products, and fill in fine lines and wrinkles on the skin."

Here's an interesting use of a natural product we're probably all pruning and throwing into the garbage. Scientist Creates Sunscreen from Ivy

Tough times call for creative gifting

Richard, at Three Score and Ten tells the story of a friend who got a very creative gift for high school graduation.

"One of the guys in my high school class received a gift that is probably unique, at least I have never heard its duplicate. His father was a trucker, or contractor, or something like that. He gave his son a great big, brand new, six wheel, diesel dump truck, with a belly dump. He told his son that he should go to college if he wished, or go full time into the trucking business, but if he wished to sell the truck he had to wait at least six years. By then the truck would either have become a permanent part of his life, or it would have financed four or five years of college." The friend then sold shares in his "business" and they all made money. Read more at 3 Score and 10

The Uncool Kid featured in (614) Magazine

This should resonate with every kid, because in junior high no one thinks he's cool. Vada Mitchell aka L.E. wrote this. He's a Columbus (former) high school basketball star, who attended Columbus College of Art Design, and musician.

"Whatever you think is cool, is cool
And you ain't have to change for them bustas at ya school
'Cause after graduation there is no communication
So stay focused and keep ya concentration
And you're lame if you make people lame
And you should be ashamed about that garbage on your brain"

featured on p. 18 of 614 (magazine).


The Uncool Kid - (614) Magazine - Columbus, OH

There's no joy in being right

Neo-Neocon writes: "A number of readers felt that the high rates of unemployment among the young is a case of just desserts: serves them right. And although I want a great many young people to learn the lesson that voting for a con man, an empty suit with little or no experience who makes beautiful promises that mean little or nothing, is a bad idea—and that they retain the information for decades to come, so it doesn’t happen again—there’s no joy in my heart about the rest of it."

Like me, she used to be a Democrat, so she knows how easy it is to fall for that feel-good, do-good line. And these young people didn't even have parents who made it through the Great Depression like we did. They've never known anything but good times. It's tough out there.

Spouses do not grow more alike, study at MSU finds

"Contrary to popular belief, married couples do not become more similar over time, according to a team of researchers led by Michigan State University." I didn't think so, did you? My maternal grandparents were married 63 years, my paternal grandparents over 70 years, and my parents over 65 years. They weren't at all alike. We've been married 50 years next week. Although we've learned to accomodate each others' differences, I don't think we have similar personalities.

Spouses do not grow more alike, study finds | MSU News | Michigan State University

Vanity Fair reporter admits error in Palin article

Vanity Fair has a very unflatteringly article about Sarah Palin--hostile, some might call it. Nothing sells magazines like a negative Sarah Palin article, the independent, no-man's-shirtail politician from Alaska. She lost me when she resigned her governorship, but I still admire her pluckiness and willingness to go up against the male dominated political system on her own. Hillary had Bill. Look at the bio of any woman who's made it to the top in business or government, and you see a man with money or a name behind her.

Vanity Fair reporter admits error in Palin article - KansasCity.com

The truth about dishonesty

More on this "Gross" topic at Adrienne's blog.

Now I feel better--I'm not the only one who doesn't finish books

"The older I get, the fewer books I finish, and the more I read highly selectively — fast forward set on high. This is either the getting of wisdom — or the gradual shutting down of (what to call it?) one’s social and engagement functions as one gets closer to in-turnedness of dying, the inability of the aging to take in new stuff because we are too occupied trying to process the accumulation of the previous decades."

Kenneth Anderson The ethics of not finishing but still criticizing books

Loving my "new" Easy Loving" CD

I got a 2 disk Time Life Superstars of Country Easy Loving (2005) at a yard sale in Lakeside for $1.00. There were several others--wish I'd bought them, too. Johnny Cash, Marty Robbins, Lynn Anderson, Crystal Gayle, Tammy Wynette, Charlie Rich, etc.

Library of World Religions and Spirituality

If you've ever wondered how many are in the various religious groups, here's a good chart.

Library of World Religions and Spirituality | Faith | Patheos

At this time, Christians (2.1 billion) outnumber Muslims (1.5 billion), but when they take over a piece of land, say, near Ground Zero to build a mosque, or a convert who later converts to Christianity, there's never a reversal in their view, so that could change.

There's a pumpkin shortage

I've been to 5 grocery stores / supermarkets and can't find a can of pumpkin. If you have one, better hang on to it. I gave my stash to my daughter last Christmas and figured there'd be more, but there isn't it. Apparently a freeze in 2008-09 growing season caused the problem.

Now I'm wondering what I can substitute for canned pumpkin in my Pumpkin cheese coffee cake recipe. Applesauce? Pineapple? Sweet potato?

Why Progressives aren't for progress anymore

I'm not sure how historians date "progressivism." Some equate it with socialism and marxism. If so, that's a bit more recent. I don't think it started that way, because originally it was positive and liberal, in the classic sense of the word. The far left has stolen that movement and its good heart and spirit.

Since the 1950s the American poor and working class have become the most upwardly mobile and culturally comfortable of any in the world. For some reason, that made the "progressives" mad. They lost their base when their goals were being met and that transformed them into mean, angry scoundrels and turning to "victimhood" instead of righteousness. When Wal-Mart began suppying Americans workers with similar consumer goods the rich had always enjoyed, the progressives blamed Wal-Mart instead of themselves that the successful chain stocked so many "Made in China" goods! Progressives never wanted the poor to have what they had.

If you don't believe me, just look at what they--progressives in both parties--are doing to regain their base--they are making people in the lower quintiles less free and less wealthy with less access to the "good life." Since the women's movement and the envirnmental movement took off in the 1970s, the only way to get ahead if you were at the bottom was to move up the quintile graph. I know that sounds obvious, but think about it. The women's movement advocated killing off their offspring (and safety net) in the name of privacy and personal choice, and environmentalists through over regulation have been forcing American companies to close down or move, first to the south, and then out of the country, leaving their manufacturing base in service or retail jobs, or dependent on government benefits.

And still they call for more "progress." They will march Americans right to the progressive poor house.

Roger Ebert--still cooking

When I was at the University of Illinois, Robert Ebert was writing for the Daily Illini. We knew then he would go on to something big. Years later I read his columns occasionally, and although I wasn't a big movie fan, I watched him many times when his show was "Siskel and Ebert," thumbs up, thumbs down, movie reviews. His final show was this August (with other co-hosts). I had no idea his cancer had resulted in the loss of his jaw and ability to eat or speak:

"The thing is, he doesn’t eat and he doesn’t talk. Or rather, he can’t eat and he can’t talk. He hasn’t for four years, ever since cancer took his lower jaw, and three attempts to rebuild his face and his voice failed."

He communicates with notes, gestures, smiles, and his wife and is now a blogger and food writer.** He still loves to cook and has a cookbook coming out this month based entirely on meals to be made in a rice cooker. The title is “The Pot and How to Use It: The Mystery and Romance of the Rice Cooker” (Andrews McMeel Publishing, $14.99).

Roger Ebert on Food - Still Cooking - NYTimes.com

**"While Ebert has lost his ability to speak to multiple surgeries, he also revealed on the [Oprah] show a revolutionary technology that has synthesized his own voice from past show recordings, and allows him to type what he wants to say into a computer, and have it come out in his own voice, rather than a robotic or mechanical voice." From Thyroid About.com

Michael Douglas cancer discovered late

This article says his British wife, Zeta-Jones is furious that his throat cancer was stage 4 before discovered. Well, he's probably been using the British national health system, she married a guy twice her age, and they both smoked until recently. That sounds like some cause and affect to me. Wife #1 probably would have decided something was wrong and hauled him off to a specialist.

No word on where he's getting treatment, but I'm betting it's somewhere in the United States.

The Third Great Awakening

After watching live streaming of Restoring Honor by Glenn Beck last Saturday, it occurred to me I might be watching the start of the 3rd Great Awakening in the United States. Then tonight he's been showing excerpts from the Friday night event Divine Destiny show at the Kennedy Center and interviewing 3 religious leaders. The rabbi also mentioned it. Yes, I think it is a third great awakening.

G.O.P.’s Wall St. Support is growing

Wall Street usually favors the Democrats, lavishing contributions on Democratic candidates and causes. What? you say. Well, look. If they can use government regulations to take out the competition, it's just the cost of doing business. Did you really think Obamacare was about healthier citizens? It isn't. It's about business--the insurance business. But when the Obama team took over, I think Wall Street began to realize their folly. These guys aren't just liberals. They are statists. Can't donate if you can't do business at all because you don't own it. So the money is shifting to Republicans. That should be interesting, because the Tea Party folks are asking Republicans to be responsible Americans too. Who knew?

Paul Singer’s Largess Reflects G.O.P.’s Wall St. Support - NYTimes.com