commentopia

APRIL 26, 2010 -- MAY 2, 2010

"TOO FAT TO FIGHT" -- ARE SCHOOL LUNCHES A NATIONAL SECURITY THREAT?

Why does it take the military to point out what a disaster school lunches and nutrition in America in general are? It is way past time to increase education and awareness about healthy eating and exercise. And also to require true transparency and accountability from the food industry. They get away with much too much while slowly killing millions.

At least, with the weight of the military behind this (no pun intended), the politicians who are in the pocket of the food industry lobby might actually get their fat back sides up and start to do something sensible for the health of the country. They need to stop letting the food industry get away with murder. Transparency, accountability, education and awareness are needed.

Read the article YAHOO NEWS/Are school lunches a national security threat?

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As an elementary school teacher I see the tons of food the kids throw away every single day. If you look at that, you would doubt that the kids eat anything. However, I also see kids whose parents spend their money on other things and there is no food at home. Due to the regulations, teachers are only offered the same food as the children - there is some pretty nasty food being put on the table. I never buy the school lunches.

Stop blaming the schools - start looking to what is happening in the homes of these kids. Who is feeding them there? How much exercise are they getting at home? Who teaches them healthy eating habits? Start holding parents responsible. Healthier lunches would be a welcome change.

Read the article YAHOO NEWS/Are school lunches a national security threat?

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I recently retired from a school cafeteria after eleven years. We had to meet state requirements on all menus. We were not allowed to add to nor take away from what state selected. We did serve lots of fruits and vegetables and more often than not the kids threw out the good for you stuff and ate only what they liked on their trays.

Then on the way home because they were starving, Mom drove through McDonalds or Jack in the Box for a snack. From what I saw of sack lunches the kids brought, it was much more unhealthy than anything we served on the line. Junk food. So please don't blame the hard working cafeteria workers for kids being too fat.

Read the article YAHOO NEWS/Are school lunches a national security threat?

 

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The lunches are truly horrific. My kids tell me they have 3 choices every single day-- pizza, nachos, or deep fired breaded chicken sandwich with fries. That's it.

On top of that, most schools in the city do not have facilities to offer regular gym classes. When I was in school, we had gym every day from 3rd grade on, plus a half hour recess in grade school, and we did calisthenics in gym & took fitness tests twice a year. My kids had gym once a week, & did very little up until 9th grade, when for a year and a half they were required to take an actual gym class (but only because the HS they were in was big enough to have the space). There is a state law requiring daily gym classes for all students, but because the schools have neither the teachers not the facilities to make that happen, they all get waivers and pretty much no schools actually have gym.

So kids eat hugh fat junk and get zero exercise. And then they wonder publicly about childhood obesity and the fact that kids don't concentrate in class.

Read the article HUFFINGTON POST/School lunches blames as more Americans too overweight to join the military

 

APRIL 19, 2010 -- APRIL 25, 2010

MUCH ADO ABOUT CILANTRO

 

I HATE cilantro! For all you non-haters out there there must be a chemical difference between you and me because it is horribly overpowering to me and I can taste if there is just one tiny flake in my food.

And what's up with people putting cilantro in everything! I mean, I know I'm gonna get it in certain Thai and Mexican food, but I got a BBQ pulled pork sandwich the other day that was just loaded with the stuff...WHY? And NO, I can't just pick it out of the food, I'll still taste it. 

Read the article NEW YORK TIMES/ Cilantro haters: It's not your fault

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I love, love, love cilantro. It boggles my mind that it would taste like soap to anyone. To me, it's just springtime fresh and dewy. I guess it just proves once again the astonishing diversity in the human species, and that on some issues--like cilantro--it's of no use to try to convince anyone to change. You either like it or you don't, and that's that.

Read the article NEW YORK TIMES/ Cilantro haters: It's not your fault

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As a farmer who grows cilantro, I can just add that the taste of cilantro is not always consistent. If the weather is too hot or too cold when it is harvested, the soapy, weird flavor people are describing becomes much more dominant. I have found that people who love cilantro passionately do not seem to notice this, but I will only allow it to be harvested when I think it tastes good. I've noticed that other farmers are not so picky, and I've certainly tasted plenty of bad cilantro in stores and at restaurants.

Also, when I traveled Thailand in the winter (their dry season), there was no cilantro in the food or at the markets. I asked why and they told me it was out of season, which I took to mean that it was too hot and dry to grow it that time of year without it tasting bad. I believe it is just another seasonal ingredient that we have decided needs to be available 24/7/365, even if the flavor/quality is bad.

Read the article NEW YORK TIMES/ Cilantro haters: It's not your fault

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Why on earth would I want to "work on" my "cilantro patterns?" Cilantro tastes to me like the smell of a mildewed canvas deck chair combined with the flavor of an old window screen.

Read the article NEW YORK TIMES/ Cilantro haters: It's not your fault

 

GOOD NEWS: MATERNAL DEATHS DECLINE WORLDWIDE

 

This is very good news. However, it gives one pause to recall that until very recently women were the disposable sex. If a woman died in childbirth, the man may have mourned but he then found a replacement. In many places in the world, we still are disposable if we violate our family's honor or anger our husband's family.

I do not understand the commenter who asserts that infanticide and sex selective abortion contributes to mothers' survival of childbirth. I do recognize these practices as yet more evidence that we are still the disposable sex; we are simply being disposed of as fetuses or infants rather than dying in childbirth.

The points made about population control are well taken: fewer people use fewer resources and put less stress on the environment. Stopping world population growth and then shrinking world population through mindfulness about responsible reproduction should be
a global initiative.

Read the article NEW YORK TIMES/Maternal deaths decline sharply across the globe

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I knew it was only a matter of time before some self-righteous first-worlder pulled the 'stop having so many kids' line. Fewer women are DYING in childbirth. Let's celebrate that and stop viewing them as cattle. It's a step in the right direction - greater health, better education, fewer children. It's a link in a chain. Get over yourself and stop likening poor people to roaches!

Read the article NEW YORK TIMES/Maternal deaths decline sharply across the globe

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In response to: "Can we have some good clear explanations, now please, about what these shocking figures at the bottom of the table are telling us and whether there's anything decent people can do about it, apart from wringing our hands and giving another £5 to Oxfam. "

Specifically Afghanistan, until recently, women couldn't see doctors if it involved taking clothes off... therefore, they are stuck at home being birthed by their sisters, husbands and other non-medical professionals, let alone not having had proper pre-natal care.

What can we do about it? Get rid of the Taliban and help the country rebuild.

Most of the countries in the bottom of that list have corrupt governments with very poor treatment of women and/or extremely high AIDS and other infectious disease rates already weakening these women.

Read the article GUARDIAN/Maternal mortality: How many women die in childbirth in your country?

 

APRIL 12, 2010 -- APRIL 18, 2010

 

TO SPANK OR NOT TO SPANK? -- STUDY SAYS TODDLERS CAN BECOME MORE AGGRESSIVE

 

People seem to forget that every child is different. What is acceptable for one, may not be for the other. I am pro spanking, but only when absolutely necessary. My mother spanked me, and I don't believe I turned out to be a violent person. Quite the contrary, I've never been in a fight, and don't have any desire to inflict physical harm to anyone. I get angry, I get upset, but I don't get violent, which are normal for any person.

There is a very distinct difference between spanking, and beating. Beating is done out of anger and the desired effect is to harm the child. Spanking is done out of love, when the parent is calm and has a clear head, it is not too harsh, it isn't done excessively, and it is done in an appropriate place. I remember once while getting a spanking, I looked up at my mother and I saw her crying. She hated spanking me. All of my spankings were followed by a discussion, a kiss, a hug and an "I love you".

At the same token, not all children need spankings. Some are just as effected by a "stern talking to" as a spanking. No two children are the same. Not all horribly behaved children aren't spanked, and not all spanked children are horribly behaved. I think when a child routinely acts up, it is a reflection on the parent and their inability to effectively parent their children. To me, it's not a spank, or not spank, it has everything to do with the parents.

Read the article ABC NEWS/Spanking moms spur aggression in kids

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If the only reason your kid doesn't do something bad is out of fear of you spanking them, what's to stop them when you're not around?

Read the article ABC NEWS/Spanking moms spur aggression in kids

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This makes sense. I was a hyperactive kid and was spanked on a regular basis. Guess what? I was a nasty bully through most of elementary school. Ultimately, I turned out okay in spite of my parents.When I became a parent, I committed to never hitting my kids -- no matter what.

But, the mistake folks all the pro-spanking folks make is they equate the lack of spanking with a lack of discipline. Nothing could be further from the truth. We have discipline in our house. My kids go to bed at 8:30 with little effort. They clean up after themselves. They do their chores. They do not speak back to their parents (or any adults for that matter).

Simply put, they're well-behaved, polite kids.Why? Because we have strict rules in our house and we enforce them. We use time outs when needed (following the "Super Nanny" method). That corrects any discipline problems quickly. I compare our kids to our neighbor's kids. While the parents spank them all the time, they generally are lax at enforcing rules. Their kids are impolite, talk back to their parents, watch television all day, fight among themselves, and are generally hellions.

When they get really out of control (all the time), their bully parents spank them on their behinds, which of course, creates even more chaos. The kids cry for a few minutes and then go right back to the same behavior (only to be spanked even more). It's a vicious cycle over there.But, all you pro-spanking folks immediately assume that non-spankers are undisciplined. In my experience, nothing could be further from the truth. I see far more chaos in spanking households.

Read the article ABC NEWS/Spanking moms spur aggression in kids

 

SEAWEED-MUNCHING GENE MAKES THE SUSHI GO DOWN

Since the earliest peoples into the American continents probably came from Asia via the Bering Straits, it would be interesting to test native Americans and indigenous Central & Southern Americans to see if they have this gene in their gut bacteria.

If found, it could perhaps indicate how far back in time the gene transfer happened i.e before or after the immigration - although it may be that the gene has been lost over time if it was no longer useful to the immigrant Asians as their diet changed in the Americas

Read the article USA TODAY/Japanese have seaweed-eating gene, Americans don't

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Japanese people often tell me how eating nori (the dried, flattened seaweed around sushi) is the reason their hair stays black and that, if I ate enough, mine would turn black too. It's probably not true but nori has a special place in the minds of Japanese.

Many, I'm sure, would be honored to not only have the genes for seaweed-eating bacteria amongst their own digestive flora's genes but to actually have the genes for seaweed mixed in with their own. We may even find that there is a virus that has managed that trick. Who knows. But, so revered is nori that my friends Noriaki and Masanori were named after it, as were many Japanese, including the King of Japan's only daughter, Princess Nori (until she became plain Sayako Kuroda).

Read the article GUARDIAN/Sushi-munching bacteria found in the guts of Japanese people

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I will share my method for making sushi more digestable.
1.Take raw fish out of roll and put it on a hook.
2.Catch a catfish with your baited hook.
3.Skin and gut the catfish.
4.Roll the catfish in seasoned cornmeal.
5.Drop catfish in hot peanut oil.
6.Remove catfish when thoroughly cooked and serve it with hushpuppies and tartar sauce

Read the article NPR/How gut bacteria evolved to feast on sushi

 

APRIL 5, 2010 -- APRIL 11, 2010

REWRITING HISTORY FROM THE RIGHT

History is neither a static nor a unified field. Historical viewpoints and narratives are CONSTANTLY being criticized, questioned, and revised. In fact, if you are a young historian just starting out in your career, you often WANT to publish on some facet of history that's been minimized or overlooked, or to challenge orthodox views -- it's a way to get your name out there and make a career.

If a person with an interest in history and a right-wing political orientation thinks there was a socialist aspect to the Jamestown settlement, he or she is free to investigate that topic and publish his or her interpretation of the evidence. There is no left-wing cabal out there that would stop it. Anyone who thinks otherwise is being paranoid.

Right wing efforts to redefine history for the public are something altogether different. They are not simply presenting and defending a point of view -- they are attempting to suppress information that supports a world view contrary to their political philosophy, while distorting or even making up facts to bolster their own version of events. Totalitarian regimes have done the same thing. If these right wingers knew or cared about history, maybe they would realize that.

Read the article MCCLATCHY/Not satisfied with U.S. history, some conservatives are rewriting it

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George Orwell was prescient. He just missed the date by a few decades. Yes, we are now living in "1984". Our kids will grow up to be among the most ignorant in the world. Because of course, ideology always trumps science.

Welcome to the 21st century, where our kids are taught that the earth is only 5000 years old and that we rode dinosaurs-the Flintstones being a documentary-where evolution does not exist-even though of course it does and is easily proven-and where our kids drop out of school-30% per year-and then work minimum wage jobs for the rest of their lives. Where not only children but adults do not know how to use dictionaries, so do not know the actual meanings of the words that they throw around. Socialism being one example. Fascism being another.

Welcome to our future, where the authoritarian party always believes in party purity over truth and will use its propaganda to turn our children into like minded robots. Yep. 1984 is here. God help us all.

Read the article MCCLATCHY/Not satisfied with U.S. history, some conservatives are rewriting it

IS JUNK FOOD "ADDICTIVE?"

A definition of the word "addiction": the state of being enslaved to a habit or practice or to something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming, as narcotics, to such an extent that its cessation causes severe trauma.

The ludicrous thing about saying food is "addictive" is the fact we would die if we gave it up completely.

The problem I'm having with this article is the use of the word "addiction". Food, in and of itself according to this definition, is most certainly "addictive".

Perhaps it would be better to write something like, "sugar creates overt cravings for more and more sugar" rather than bandying around a harder hitting, but much more imprecise word. Read the article FOODCONSUMER/Study: Junk food is addictive

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While it is true that we do need food to live, what we don't need are all of the transfats, cholesterol riddled,sugary snacks, and processed food that a lot of people are obviously addicted to. This country is full of people with weight problems because they eat compulsively and they are not eating veggies now are they? NO. Food alone is not addicted but the additives, sugars, salts, and fats (all the things that make it taste good) are. It's just too bad that exercise isn't.

Read the article FOODCONSUMER/Study: Junk food is addictive

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Here's a shock. The percentage of calories consumed as fat has actually decreased since the 60s in the United States. However, instances of obesity have increased in the same time period. What are the culprits? Likely an increasingly sedentary lifestyle and an increase in the consumption of refined sugars, both of which have been observed.

Read the article CNN/Fatty foods may cause cocaine-like addiction

 

MARCH 29, 2010 --  APRIL 4, 2010

FDA RAISES THE HEAT ON TANNING BEDS

 

My question: why do we, as a society, need to prove tanning beds are unsafe? (And for that matter anything.) Why does the industry not have to prove beyond reasonable doubt that they are safe? I am sick of this "you cant prove it kills you, so we can continue selling it - until you can, and even after (we will just put a warning on it). But corporations and industry fight every step of the way. Outrageous!

I say to the tanning bed owners: Prove to ME your product is safe using scientists we pick and you pay for. If it is safe, you will have my support and can pass the costs of research on to me. If it is not safe, agree to be taxed heavily (which you can try to pass on)".

Read the article CBC NEWS/Tighter controls on tanning needed, FDA told

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I despise the idea of tanning beds. You live in Canada, we don't get sunny beach weather for very long periods of time. Get used to it.

Nothin' like tyring to look good today so in ten years you look like my wallet.

Read the article CBC NEWS/Tighter controls on tanning needed, FDA told

SLIM CHANCE? -- STUDY RECOMMENDS 60 MINUTES EXERCISE FOR WOMEN EVERY DAY

 

From my personal experience, I'd say this is exactly true.

If I exercise an hour a day, more or less, I can eat pretty much what I want and stay at my normal weight.

If I slack off, I have to start watching what I eat.

And the recommendation at my local gym to work out every other day (so muscles can rest) is not true. I can alternate the type of workout to work different muscles, and skip a day maybe once a week, but it's got to be basically every day.

Glad to hear someone saying it officially.

Read the article LOS ANGELES TIMES/Women should exercise an hour a day to maintain weight

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Great, now all I need is an extra hour in the day. Read the article BOSTON GLOBE/Exercise remains an effective tool in fighting obesity

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Obviously the great majority of us have no comprehension of what a study like this is saying. Recently my wife and I spent a couple of days in DISNEY and compared to our previous stop about 12 years ago we could not believe the obesity we saw. Most scary was how young the families are and the condition of fathers and mothers only in their 20's and 30's.The children made us most sad.

Read the article BOSTON GLOBE/Exercise remains an effective tool in fighting obesity

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There is a simple equation that I learned in chemical engineering that I found equally useful in my medical practice: Input = Output + or - Storage. If one takes in more calories than are burned, the excess is usually stored as fat. If one takes in less calories than are burned, part of the storage, usually fat, is burned.

This mechanics of weight loss or weight gain are quite simple. The psychodynamics are apparently not so simple.

Read the article USA TODAY/ Walking an hour a day keeps the weight away

ARTISTIC FARE SUPER-SIZES LAST SUPPER

This “study” is absolutely unscientific. None of the paintings studies were contemporaneous with the Biblical Last Supper, and were painted by artists living over 1000 years after the Biblical event. Further, it is well known that these paintings were highly symbolic were not meant to convey actual proportions. The food seen in these paintings are purely representative and symbolic, and ultimately artistic interpretation. This “study” is purely fictional, and it baffles me that a Cornell professor wouldn’t realize that this is a ridiculous way to try to study human eating habits

Read the article REUTERS/Super-sizing The Last Supper

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I consider myself a rather curious person, always wanting to know tidbits of information, but this is something I've never wondered about in my entire life and if I lived 10 lifetimes I wouldn't wonder about this... and I'd venture to say 99% of the people in the world never wondered about this. What's next, analyzing the how much Michelangelo's David privates has increase/decreased over the years?

Read the article USA TODAY/Portion sizes increase in 'Last Supper' paintings

 

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The problem with interpreting paintings from the first 500 years of the study (A.D. 1000-1500) is representational accuracy within the works themselves is suspect. Why? This period roughly corresponds to the Medieval Period, a period in which works of art are characterized by a lack of true objective accuracy.

Elements within a painting, for example, might depict distorted or out-of-proportioned figures, an absence of what we now consider western perspective principles, and relative sizes of objects (like platters of food) could easily be misrepresented. The period immediately following the Renaissance (I don't recall its name) also distorted representations of people, objects, and space.

Conclusion: the study assumes accurate representations of how food is depicted on the table in paintings from A.D. 1000-2000, an assumption whose premise is flawed from the onset.

Read the article USA TODAY/Portion sizes increase in 'Last Supper' paintings