Sunday, December 31, 2006
Requiem for a Bastard
By Hunter: Of all of Christ's teachings, the one Christians rebel against most gleefully is the "turn the other cheek"... the admonitions against vengeance and violence are simply ignored... With due respect -- which is to say, none -- don't celebrate Saddam's death with glee and call yourself a Christian... while I felt no pity for Saddam's death, I did at the least feel pity for us, as a nation and as a world, for all our religions and all our laws. The grim celebrations of the event were yet another reminder: we are not who we claim to be, not even the best of us. We have less honor than we claim, and fewer morals than we profess to. Saddam was caught, practically stuffed and mounted already. The killing blow itself was not justice met, just vengeance satisfied.Labels: Christianity, death penalty, Saddam Hussein
While You Were at War . . .
By Richard Clark: Without the distraction of the Iraq war, the administration would have spent this past year -- indeed, every year since Sept. 11, 2001 -- focused on al-Qaeda. But beyond al-Qaeda and the broader struggle for peaceful coexistence with (and within) Islam, seven key "fires in the in-box" national security issues remain unattended, deteriorating and threatening... Global warming... Russian revanchism... Latin America's leftist lurch... Africa at war... Arms control freeze... Transnational crime... The Pakistani-Afghan border... As the president contemplates sending even more U.S. forces into the Iraqi sinkhole, he should consider not only the thousands of fatalities, the tens of thousands of casualties and the hundreds of billions of dollars already lost. He must also weigh the opportunity cost of taking his national security barons off all the other critical problems they should be addressing -- problems whose windows of opportunity are slamming shut, unheard over the wail of Baghdad sirens. (Ed. note: Read Mr. Clark's opinion piece for details about the seven key issues.)Labels: Iraq war, richard clark
A Sign of Hope for our Policy Towards Latin America?
By musicalhair: Over at Yahoo I saw an article about [Senator] Harry Reid going to Bolivia to meet with Evo Morales... We will all be substantially better of if the Democrats can take the lead in at least presenting [a] way to have relations with South American (Central American and Caribbean as well) countries in a way that goes beyond the never ending drug wars and the equally never ending internal meddling/military coup/dictator installing... Real steps towards restoring the beacon of freedom and global brotherhood that we are supposed to represent can replace the torches lit in the name of "yer either with us or agnist us"... I think Senators Reid and Salazar meeting with President Evo Morales could be the start of more harmonious and just relations in our hemisphere. Am I dreaming a little too much, like a child dreaming of puppy dogs and rainbows?Labels: bolivia, evo morales, harry reid, south america
Consumption obsession
By VictorM: In an excellent post, statusquobuster makes the valid point that America is in the throes of class warfare. The super rich keep getting richer at the expense of the rest of us, in part because they have conditioned us to spend beyond our means, getting into debt, gambling, and buying crap we don't need. He talks about how some people have resisted and have started groups or campaigns like "The Compact" and "Buy Nothing Day" but they are few. Then this line stood out: "The book 'Not Buying It: My Year Without Shopping' was a success." Huh? How was that book a success? People went out and bought it, of course! Oh the irony.Labels: buy nothing day, class warfare
Religion: The worst and best of 2006
Religion took center stage in the news many times during 2006. In Religion Today, we have a small review of some of the major stories, most of which were negative. But one case was different, when the heart of Christianity had a glowing and inspirational moment.
Saturday, December 30, 2006
And they vote
By rasbobbo: overheard in safeway:-- "they killed saddam today."
-- "yeah, i saw the flag at half staff."
gerry ford just cannot catch a break.
Labels: gerald ford, Saddam Hussein
New Way Forward... to where?
By VictorM: Doesn’t this extensive round of consultations Mr. Bush is conducting with various experts to arrive at a “new way forward” alarm you? I mean, the man started the war and has been in charge ever since. Shouldn’t he have been coming up with “new ways forward” all the time? Adjusting to the enemy as needed? Surrounded by experts every step of the way? The current get-togethers and slogans denote panic and just how clueless this administration really is about how to conduct this war.Labels: George Bush, Iraq war, new way forward
Saddam Hussein and our safety
By VictorM: The United States had Saddam Hussein hanged. A ruthless dictator is gone. Fine. No tears from me, that's for sure. But now, a question for you: after hundreds of thousands dead and wounded, near complete destruction of Iraq's infrastructure, half a trillion dollars of American tax players' money spent, and the death of Saddam, will the Department of Homeland Security threat level go to green?And now I'll answer the question I have been asked a thousand times over the last few years: isn't the world safer without Saddam? The answer: NO!
Labels: Saddam Hussein
School band defy officials to appear in London parade
By VictorM: Officials for a Fort Meyers, Florida school banned the marching band from traveling to England for a parade because the kids would be "safer in America." But with the help of governor Jeb Bush, the pupils forced a vote by their families, who overturned the ban. The students raised the money and are now in England where they will lead the parade. Bob Bone, the parade's executive director, said of the person who set the ban: "Here is an educator that seems to delight in the knowledge that he is ignorant of the facts. London is not a city under siege... Fort Myers's murder rate is several times higher than that in London and you are three times as likely to be the victim of rape or violent crime," Mr Bone said.This story is a good example of what fear does to people.
Labels: fear, london, marching band
Friday, December 29, 2006
Iraq: You know your country is in trouble when
By Riverbend, an Iraqi female blogging from Baghdad: A day in the life of the average Iraqi has been reduced to identifying corpses, avoiding car bombs and attempting to keep track of which family members have been detained, which ones have been exiled and which ones have been abducted.
You know your country is in trouble when:
1. The UN has to open a special branch just to keep track of the chaos and bloodshed, UNAMI.
2. Abovementioned branch cannot be run from your country.
3. The politicians who worked to put your country in this sorry state can no longer be found inside of, or anywhere near, its borders.
4. The only thing the US and Iran can agree about is the deteriorating state of your nation.
5. An 8-year war and 13-year blockade are looking like the country's 'Golden Years'.
6. Your country is purportedly 'selling' 2 million barrels of oil a day, but you are standing in line for 4 hours for black market gasoline for the generator.
7. For every 5 hours of no electricity, you get one hour of public electricity and then the government announces it's going to cut back on providing that hour.
8. Politicians who supported the war spend tv time debating whether it is 'sectarian bloodshed' or 'civil war'.
9. People consider themselves lucky if they can actually identify the corpse of the relative that's been missing for two weeks.
Al Gore: Person of the Year
By LadyInBlack: After thirty years of perseverance, commitment, and passion, his message is finally reaching the people it must reach in order for us to now begin the work needed to sustain our planet and our future, while also fulfilling his own personal visionary quest. And he is now sharing that fulfillment with all of us and telling us through his work as a private citizen that we all have that power within us to make changes, and that indeed for all of us to use that power would certainly move mountains. He is without a doubt the leader of a grassroots movement finally taking root, and hopefully uniting our world in a common cause: The cause of taking care of our planet, and each other. There is then no other person we could entertain recognizing this year as our Person of the Year other than the Honorable Al Gore.Labels: al gore, person of the year
The Meaningless Presidency of Gerald Ford
By Tim Dickinson: America’s most forgettable president since Millard Fillmore has died... The fact that “Ford Disagreed With Bush About Invading Iraq,” would have been totally un-newsworthy if the man were still alive. But now that he’s dead his Monday-morning quarterbacking is front-page news. Perhaps if he had used his ex-presidential platform to speak out prior to the invasion of Iraq, this might have been interesting, even important. But Ford’s from-the-grave “I wouldnta done that” is just about as uninteresting as the fact that he almost fired Henry Kissenger: “I often thought, maybe I should say: ‘Okay, Henry. Goodbye,’ ” Ford said, laughing. “But I never got around to that.” Perhaps in another life president Ford could have built a legacy beyond the controversial pardon of his predecesor. But, well, he never got around to that.Labels: gerald ford
Growing up under Bush
By ReadHead: I was born in 1988. I was 12 years old when President Bush was "elected". I will cast my first vote in the 2008 election... the American political system has been dominated by the incompetence of the Bush administration. One might expect such a repulsive executive would lead to outrage among the youth... Instead, it's lead to widespread apathy and detachment... Instead of taking to the streets with signs and songs, the youth has taken no unified public action... Basically, we lack inspired leadership... Policy-wise, no leader has articulated a position that engages the youth enough to activate us... If the Democrats are counting on this generation for their future well-being, they had better adjust their television screens. They're risking creating the most politically-disengaged generation ever. This is what the Republicans are counting on, because when these MBAs-to-be grow up primarily concerned with their finances, that's who they'll turn to.Labels: democrats, republicans, youth
Thursday, December 28, 2006
Bush: Biggest Villain of the Year
By VictorM: This is the opinion of the American people in response to an AP/AOL poll asking the question: "If you were asked to name a famous person to be the biggest villain of the year, whom would you choose?" These are the top five answers:-George W. Bush, 25 percent
-Osama bin Laden, 8 percent
-Saddam Hussein, 6 percent
-President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran, 5 percent
-Kim Jong Il, North Korean leader, 2 percent
Labels: George Bush, Osama bin Laden, Saddam Hussein, villain
Brazil Transfixed by 4th Anorexia Death
By VictorM: After the much-publicized death of model Ana Carolina Reston, Brazil is reeling from what is now the 4th high profile death due to anorexia nervosa. Just as Italy has done, the fashion industry in Brazil seems poised to bar modeling by girls younger than 16. That, it appears to me, is the extent of the proposed solution to this problem. Are they kidding? The problem is not the age of the girls; the problem is the fashion industry perverse fascination with super thin models, who serve as role models for many young girls. Why not demand that models have a minimum body mass index, as a Spanish show just recently did? But I doubt we’ll demand that the models feed themselves as long as the current setup feeds the greed of the fashion executives.Labels: ana carolina reston, anorexia, models
Gerald Ford's take on the Iraq War and GOP retribution
By Steve Benen, commenting on president Gerald Ford's just revealed criticism of the Bush administration handling of the Iraq war as a "big mistake": will Ford's criticisms of the Bush gang's handling of the conflict change the way the former president will be honored? Based on his comments to Bob Woodward, Ford's concerns were very much in line with those of many congressional Democrats, most of whom were dismissed by the right as weak on national security and dangerously ignorant on foreign policy. As it turns out, Ford agreed with Democrats that the U.S. should only go to war when a conflict is "directly related to our own national security" -- and Iraq didn't fit the bill. I'm curious; will this temper the GOP's praise of the former president?Labels: gerald ford, Iraq war
Bush, Iraq, and Blackjack
By bobinson, commenting on president Bush considering increasing the troop level in Iraq, called by some as "doubling down": "Doubling down" comes from Blackjack. It is what one does when the odds are in favor of the player to win. If the player is dealt, for instance, a nine and a two, and the dealer is showing a two, the odds are better than even that the player will be dealt a card that will beat the dealer. Bush, however, wants to "double down" with his ten and two while the dealer is showing an ace. They call that "throwing good money after bad."Labels: double down, Iraq war
Once Again, Viagra Wins
By Eesha Pandit: Planned Parenthood and two female employees of Union Pacific filed a lawsuit that would require the company to provide coverage for FDA-approved prescription contraceptives... The plaintiffs asserted that the policy of excluding coverage for prescription contraceptives from a comprehensive employee health plan constitutes sex discrimination... Union Pacific... attorneys... argued that this policy is not discriminatory "because fertility is 'normal,'" and, therefore, birth control is not "medically necessary."... Under this logic, carrying a pregnancy to term is not a sufficient health risk and an unwanted pregnancy falls at least several rungs below erectile dysfunction on the scale of health-care coverage priorities; effectively meaning that Viagra is more medically important than birth control. I wonder if all this will change when there's finally a viable male contraceptive on the market.Labels: contraceptive, planned parenthood, union pacific, viagra
Bacteria in Digestive Tract
By VictorM: Researchers found that "Obese people have a distinctive mix of bacteria in their digestive systems that seems to make them prone to gaining weight... Obese people have more digestive microbes that are especially efficient at extracting calories from food... when the scientists transplanted these bacteria from obese mice into lean mice, the thin animals start getting fat."May I suggest they call this bacteria Rush Limbaugh?
Labels: obese, obesity, rush limbaugh
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
Climate change at crisis level
By Mercury News: Global warming is the greatest environmental threat that humanity has ever faced... The United States produces about one-fourth of the world's carbon dioxide emissions, yet we're the only major nation that officially denies there's a problem. This is the year for all of us -- government, business, individuals -- to aggressively attack global warming... Sadly, the Bush-Cheney administration, loyal lackey of the energy industry, has consistently opposed any national efforts to reduce carbon emissions... That puts the pressure on Congress -- particularly California Sen. Barbara Boxer, the new chair of the Environment and Public Works Committee. Congress needs to pass sensible and veto-proof legislation to reduce U.S. production of greenhouse gases.Labels: climate change, global warming
Soy is making kids 'gay'
By VictorM: So I'm reading this page about soy and the author says "Soy is feminizing, and commonly leads to a decrease in the size of the penis, sexual confusion and homosexuality." He goes on to explain how soy has a lot of estrogen and how if you consume a lot of soy as a child it suppresses you testosterone and voila, we have gay babies. Well, I have no idea if this guy is on to something or if he's a kook -- I'm betting on kook -- but it just sounds like another homophobe backpaddling away from the "being gay is a choice" mantra because even they are realizing how lame that position is.And on a side note, if the soy quote is true, wouldn't it mean that gay men commonly have small penises?
Labels: homosexuality, soy
America's High Anxiety: Health Care
By Mortimer B. Zuckerman: If there is one single source of risk our policymakers must tackle, it is health insurance. We must not muddle on, a band-aid here and a band-aid there. We must find some way to provide universal health insurance, especially to cover all children. This is one of the critical reasons that Americans are nervous and no longer believe that the next generation will be better off.The deep disquiet in this newly anxious American nation was evident in last month's midterm elections. Whichever party better focuses on healthcare will do a world of good for itself and the country.Labels: health care, universal health insurance
Site Pages Updated Today
- Ask A Real Guy - The dog, a funeral, and moving back home.
- What Boobs! - Boobs, gas, and prison: dumb criminals
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
David Beckham: Time for The States?
By VictorM: David Beckham is soccer's best known star in the United States. At 31, he no longer figures in England's National Team's plans and his playing time at Real Madrid has been sparse. A move back to the English Premier League -- it's highly doubtful he'll play for one of the big clubs there -- or a move to the USA would mean the same thing: admission that his career at the highest level of the game is over. So, he can warm the bench at Real Madrid, languish in a middle-of-the table club in England, or he can try to be the man who pushes soccer over the top in the USA. His positive impact on the sport in the USA is almost certain, and it's a nicer epitaph than finishing 9th in the Premiership. But the time to make the move is now. With his effectiveness declining and the level of play in USA's Major League Soccer increasing, Beckham may not be worth nearly as much in 2 years.Labels: david beckham, epl, mls, real madrid, soccer
Racism and the American Legal System
By daveinchi: the USofA has both the highest number of prisoners in the world, and the highest per capita... we lock up black men 8 times as often as white men, and hispanics almost three times as much... It's interesting to make some international comparisons: South Africa under Apartheid was internationally condemned as a racist society...South Africa under apartheid (1993), Black males [in prison]: 851 per 100,000;
U.S. under George Bush (2004), Black males [in prison]: 4,919 per 100,000...
If that last statistic isn't a little frightening to you, you're probably a fucking racist.
Labels: legal system, racism
The Slippery Barak Obama
By VictorM: After the Democratic National Convention in 2004 I remember reading a comment in a conservative blog that said "we gotta stop this guy." And so it has come to pass to some that Barak Obama must be stopped -- the politics of personal destruction against Senator Obama have begun. The "his middle name is Hussein" angle went nowhere -- even conservative pundits boo-hoo it. The "he's not black enough" is losing steam. They are even trying to taint him on a land deal with sinister implications -- does that ring a bell? So far, all attempts to smear him have backfired; Obama's light is shinning ever brighter. His name is a constant fixture in front pages of major newspapers and the "is America ready for a black man?" discussion is a serious topic. His detractors are likely to get desperate and stop at nothing. Senator Obama should be prepared for the "Obama wears French speedos" charge.Labels: Barack Obama, barak obama
Site Pages Updated Today
- Ask A Real Guy - D, asks: My boyfriend doesn't like talking about our relationship... but I can't get it out of my head until I get it off my chest and 'resolved.' ... How do I get him to just sit tight and give me some closure on our relationship bumps?
- Funny Pictures - When dads babysit: beer feeding time
Monday, December 25, 2006
Dare I say... Merry Christmas!
By Tom Ball: Happy Hanukkah!Happy Kwanza!Happy Winter Solstice! Let's be clear. It's okay to say any one of these AND exclude the others if you wish... It drives me nuts (and I'm probably not the only one) when some people get soooooo uptight about various seasons greetings. They think that being culturally sensitive means being culturally neutral. That is NOT true. Instead, the way to cultural sensitivity is through cultural acceptance. That means that we embrace different cultures and revel in the brilliance of diversity they offer. It does not mean that we ignore those differences and treat others as though their cultural make-up is some ambiguous hodge-podge of innocuous thoughts worthy only of the most generic well-wishing. Nor does it mean that we should be fearful of expressing the joys of our own preferred celebration.Labels: Christmas, hanukkah, kwanza
Site Pages Updated Today
- Ask A Real Guy - Who should say "I love you" first?
- What Boobs! - Boobs being naughty for Christmas.
How Religious-based is your Christmas?
By stormbear: The Christmas tree is often explained as a Christianization of the ancient Pagan idea that the evergreen tree represents a celebration of the renewal of life. In actuality, when the Roman Empire was converted en masse to Christianity, many cultures did not give up their Pagan ideals and traditions and so they were incorporated into the Christmas tradition... When the first missionaries began converting the Germanic peoples to Christianity, they found it convenient to provide a Christian reinterpretation for popular feasts such as Yule... versus trying to confront and suppress them.Labels: Christianity, Christmas, yule
Christmas in Iraq
By VictorM: Wondering how Christians in Iraq may be celebrating Christmas, I found this, via Juan Cole: "The Our Lady of Salvation Church in Baghdad appeared almost deserted on Christmas Eve. Christian celebrations of Christmas were limited to private homes. Iraqi Christians had announced last week that they would suspend official celebration, out of solidarity with the tragedy of the Iraqi people." Iraqi Christians, who had enjoyed relative freedom under the regime of Saddam Hussein, now face fear of attacks by powerful Islamic groups or Shiite militias. Few are making any use of the Christmas lights and decorations of yesteryear.
Sunday, December 24, 2006
Pope urges global goodwill
By VictorM: Pope Benedict said people should strive to “overcome preconceived ideas and prejudices, tear down barriers and eliminate contrasts that divide—or worse—set individuals and peoples against each other, so as to build together a world of justice and peace.”Does that mean he's going to tell his flock to lay off gays, stop opposing pro-choice candidates, insult Islam, and cover-up for child molesters? After all, when it comes to moral leadership, one ought to lead by example. Pope Benedict, unfortunately, does not pass that test. If only he listened to his own message. Anyway...
Happy Holidays to everyone!
Labels: pope benedict
Italian Poet Dies With Help From a Doctor
By VictorM: Piergiorgio Welby, an Italian poet died when a doctor removed his respirator. Mr. Welby had muscular dystrophy for 40 years. Mr. Welby was sedated and then removed from an artificial respirator, something that for years had been his wish. It doesn't surprise me that the case is controversial but the comment by a politician with ties to the Vatican that his "death cannot go unpunished, if only because it was committed in such a violent, scandalous and exploitative way” is utter nonsense and right down ridiculous. Opponents of such practice may claim whatever motivation they wish but statements like that just reveal a streak of sadism. Mr. Welby's death was an act of courage and compassion by his doctor.Labels: Piergiorgio Welby
Religion's Credibility and Homosexuality
By Oliver "Buzz" Thomas: Christianity is in danger of squandering its moral authority by continuing its pattern of discrimination against gays and lesbians in the face of mounting scientific evidence that sexual orientation has little or nothing to do with choice... The suffering that gay and lesbian people have endured at the hands of religion is incalculable, but they can look expectantly to the future for vindication. Scientific facts, after all, are a stubborn thing. Even our religious beliefs must finally yield to them as the church in its battle with Galileo ultimately realized. But for religion, the future might be ominous. Watching the growing conflict between medical science and religion over homosexuality is like watching a train wreck from a distance. You can see it coming for miles and sense the inevitable conclusion, but you're powerless to stop it. The more church leaders dig in their heels, the worse it's likely to be.Labels: homosexuality, religion
One in 20 Latinos 'goes hungry'
By VictorM: One in 20 Latinos in the US regularly goes hungry and as many as one in five does not have proper access to nutritious food. We can go on about the many reasons for this situation but the first question that came to mind was: how many of you read those statistics and either don't care or think Latinos deserve that fate? Given recent public opinion polls about attitudes towards Latinos and the voting records of large portions of our country, I bet more than one in five.
Site Pages Updated Today
Saturday, December 23, 2006
He said she was better in bed than me
Amber asks: "[My boyfriend] finally told me he has been seeing another girl the whole time we have been dating. Then to make it worse, like a dummy I wanted to know why. He ended up telling me she was better in bed than me. He said I didn't know enough, blah, blah...It has given me a complex. It hurts to hear the one you love tell you someone else is better than you. What do I do other than cry?" (Answer at Ask A Real Guy)
Return of the Military Draft?
By Ezra Klein: The Bush administration's VA Secretary, Jim Nicholson, just said that our society would benefit from "replacing the all-volunteer force with a tough draft purged of the deferments that allowed many to avoid service in Vietnam." Meanwhile, Mark Krikorian wants a draft so we have a bigger military to fight more awesome wars. And Charlie Rangel wants a draft so we have a more diverse military that will make it nearly politically impossible to fight any wars. Meanwhile, I don't want a draft because, unlike Krikorian, Rangel, and Nicholson, I'd actually be vulnerable to it, so such a plan looks less like an awesome political theory abstraction and more like my life would be in the hands of the fools and knaves currently running our government. I didn't feel this way about national service a few years ago, incidentally. But one effect of the Iraq War was to shred any illusions that our leaders are wise and prudent and take seriously the lives entrusted to their care.Labels: draft, Iraq war, military
Insurer to limit policies in state
By VictorM: Global warming or climate change, whatever you want to call it, has pretty much become a foregone conclusion for most people. But many good people, caught between scientific mumbo jumbo and the argument of naysayers, still have doubts. Well, for you fence-sitters, here's something you should be able to understand: "Allstate Corp., one of Maryland's largest insurers, will stop writing homeowners' policies in coastal areas of the state, citing warnings by scientists that a warmer Atlantic Ocean will lead to more strong hurricanes hitting the Northeast... Allstate also decided recently to let thousands of homeowner policies lapse in the Carolinas, New York and Texas, and to no longer write new policies in parts of Virginia and all of Connecticut, Delaware and New Jersey. " Executives at Allstate, unlike political pundits and paid consultants, are only taking one side -- the bottom line. They aren't fooling around waiting for proof that satisfies everyone; they already know all they need to know -- global warming is here!Labels: climate change, global warming, insurance
Virgil Goode's America
ByMeteor Blades, commenting on Congressman Virgil Goode's anti Koran and anti-Muslim statements: According to an August Gallup Poll, 39% of Americans believe that Muslims should carry special identity cards. According to a poll taken to accompany the Discovery Channel's Ted Koppel program, "The Price of Security," 25% of respondents believe Muslims should be put in camps until they can prove they are loyal to the United States. If Virgil Goode were making his statement in a vacuum, just some latterday Ku Kluxer without a sheet, nobody would care. But a Congressman? How does he feel about the two Buddhists - Reps. Mazie Hirono of Hawaii and Hank Johnson of Georgia - who will be serving this term? What about the 15 Mormons? Unless Goode apologizes, a censure vote ought to take place in the first session of the 110th.Labels: koran, muslim, virgil goode
N.J. Governor Signs Gay Civil Unions Law
By VictorM: It is now the law in New Jersey that gay couples have all the rights and responsibilities of marriage allowed under state law but without the title of "marriage". Many gay couples welcomed the new law, but some same-sex couples remained lukewarm because the law creates, according to them, an inferior institution than that of marriage. While I don't disagree with their assessment, any expectations that our society will go from "staying in the closet" to full "same-sex marriage" is utterly unrealistic, particularly when a segment of the population is so homophobic. As long as this new law is not viewed as the final destination, but instead, another big step in the right direction, there is ample reason to rejoice over the law's passage for anyone who cares about civil rights.Labels: civil rights, gay couples, same-sex marriages
Site Pages Updated Today
- Ask A Real Guy - Christa asks: I read his emails and I found one from a girl and him replying to it about how he wants to have sex with her... Does all this sound as screwed up as it is?
- Funny Pictures - When dads babysit: down the toilet
- Pop Culture - Girl Gamer Makes a Killing; Creating community, one stitch at a time
Friday, December 22, 2006
Miss Nevada, Miss USA, and Donald Trump
By san antone rose: So now Miss Nevada has been stripped of her title due to racy photos. Miss USA has been sent to rehab... These women are asked to look, talk, and walk like sexbots for... then when the women actual act like sexbots the pageant officials go "Whoa, there, girlie girl. You've gone too far!" It's ridiculous. It's a double standard... it's all about the sex. Sex sex sex sex sex. The judges encourage it. The music they play. And the clothes!... And Donald "trophy wife" Trump can eat my shit and die. I've been eating chalupas all day, so I'm sure it'll taste real good. Fucking prick "I'll give you a second chance, because I'm a male authority" condescending asshole.Labels: donald trump, miss usa, miss virginia
Iraq: One Way Or The Other
By Ned Lamont: If you believe the Churchillian rhetoric, it's time to move from Donald Rumsfeld's minimalist force to Colin Powell's overwhelming force. To do that, you must prepare the American people for the real costs of war, financial and human - with the prospect of higher taxes and a draft; and you must sober up the people to the fact that we will be in Iraq a long time, as long as necessary to transform the country and the region. To stay or to go - we cannot have it both ways... Sen. John McCain said we must send the troops necessary to win the war; otherwise, it is "immoral" to leave our outnumbered troops to die. It is high time for Washington to decide. Splitting the difference is politically palatable, but it is the coward's way out and simply delays the inevitable.
Social Security Reform
By Jonathan Singer: I see little reason for Social Security to be a top priority of the coming Congress -- at least in its first months. If, however, Democratic leaders decide to move forward with an attempt to plug the long-term deficit in Social Security (the trust fund could run out in 30 to 40 years) then they should craft a plan largely on their own without the input of the White House... While this might make it more difficult to pass reforms with George W. Bush in office, the legislation crafted during the 110th Congress can always serve as guidlines for legislation to be passed in a future Congress dealing with another President... who is not as obsessed with partially privatizing the program.Labels: social security
Linking Minimum Wage to Immigration Reform
By aludlam: For the time being, what we have is a pool of cheap labor in the form of illegal immigrants... And since the laws against hiring illegal immigrants and paying them under the table are toothless, it is largely left up to the morality of individual employers to decide whether to play by the rules and hire legally, or increase profit margin by hiring illegally... what do you think will happen when the minimum wage is increased, but there's still a large pool of cheap labor available in the form of illegal immigrants? Once again, look to the capitalists, only this time throw in an extra $2/hour incentive NOT to hire an American over an immigrant... People want more money a lot more than they want their neighbors kicked out of the country. But I hope someone in congress realizes the link between Minimum Wage and Immigration. Else we may be in for a very rough time.Labels: illegal, immigration, minimum wage
Left Behind: Eternal Forces video game
By VictorM: In Left Behind: Eternal Forces, a faith-based video game, the good guys try to save as many souls as possible by converting them and killing those who get in the way. Liberal Christian groups have criticised the game because they don't believe "doing the Lord's work has much in common with amassing tanks and helicopter gunships in Manhattan." This is where I disagree. A video game about killing people and the Bible are perfect companions. After all if you grew-up reading about floods, plagues, torture, slavery, human sacrifices, crucifixions, etc. tanks and helicopters sound like tame stuff. Let the digital carnage begin!Labels: bible, left behind, video game
Site Pages Updated Today
- Ask A Real Guy - Kayla, 19, from Montreal asks: "He admitted to being on the phone with another girl talking about sex! Sex was the important thing he had to talk about. Then says that he doesn't see what the problem is. Am I wrong for being upset at him for talking to another girl about sex while I was trying to talk to him?
Thursday, December 21, 2006
End No Child Left Behind
By Educator Roundtable: The Educator Roundtable launched an online petition drive to repeal the 2002 reauthorization of ESEA, the so called No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB)... Aside from being an ineffective way to educate children, the new educational culture of NCLB is patently destructive. Our children, in lieu of being prepared for contributive citizenship in our democracy, or even being prepared for the world of work, are being reduced to nothing more than passers of minimum competency tests... For what purpose then does public schooling exist? Do we school to help all children develop into critical, reflective, engaged participants of their communities, or do we school to try to meet the expectations of ill-informed legislators and lobbyists who clearly have no interest in your children?Labels: education, esea, nclb, no child left behind, school
Sinister Spin on Immigration Crackdown
By Ruben Navarrette Jr.: Last week, when Immigration and Customs Enforcement rounded up 1,282 illegal immigrants... the operation was marketed as a crackdown on identity theft... Why spin this as a crackdown on identity theft? That has a sinister ring to it... More than likely, the extent of it was that people were using Social Security numbers that didn't belong to them so they could work at dirty jobs that Americans wouldn't do... Why were no charges filed against the employer -- Swift & Co? The world's second-largest meat processing company has "never condoned the employment of unauthorized workers, nor ... knowingly hired such individuals"... Note the word: knowingly... The 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act made it a crime to "knowingly" hire illegal immigrants. That's a monster loophole. Suddenly, whenever there is a raid, no one knows anything. Illegal workers? Who? What? Where? It's cynical, and it's the sort of thing that makes it hard to believe that Americans are serious about combating illegal immigration. How can we be if we don't address the problem at its source?Labels: immigration
Site Pages Updated Today
- Ask A Real Guy - He was incredibly attentive and loving.
- Funny Pictures - When dads babysit: jager
- Singles Center - Australian idea for speed dating
- What Boobs! - Boobs at the airport
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Bush's Surge of Another Kind
By Rude Pundit: It is the plaintive sigh of thousands, millions of men every day, faced with the spam deluge that promises them penis enlargement... It's a simple desire: "Just a little more, maybe 15 or 20% bigger, and all my problems will be solved"... But it's got nothing to do with your game building up to the deliciously anticipated sound of the unzip. It ain't gonna make you funnier, better looking, or rich... The ludicrous debate over whether or not to have a surge of U.S. troops in Iraq is being approached with all the wishful thinking of any man who has ever received his package of peter pills in the mail... This ain't golf, although the rich executives running our country would like to take a mulligan. Because, see, you have to fuck a partner with the [penis] that you have, not the [penis] you might want.Labels: Bush, Iraq war, penis enlargement, surge
You Don't Need an Extended Warranty
By Consumer Reports: This holiday season, shoppers are expected to spend a whopping $1.6 billion on extended warranties for laptops, flat-screen TVs, other electronics, and appliances. And almost all of it will be money down the drain... For the consumer, extended warranties are notoriously bad deals because: Products seldom break within the extended-warranty window (typically around three years), our data show. When electronics and appliances do break, the repair often costs about the same as the cost of the warranty. We have long advised against extended warranties. (Full Report)Labels: consumer reports, extended-warranty
The United States is Insolvent
By Dr. Chris Martenson: The US is insolvent. There is simply no way for our national bills to be paid under current levels of taxation and promised benefits. Our federal deficits alone now total more than 400% of GDP... That is the conclusion of a recent Treasury/OMB report entitled Financial Report of the United States Government... I am wondering how long we can pretend this problem does not exist. How long can we continue to buy stocks and flip houses, forget to save, pile up debt, import Chinese made goods, and export debt? Are these useful activities to perform while there’s an economic avalanche bearing down upon us? Unfortunately, I am not smart enough to know the answer. I only know that hoping a significant and mounting problem will go away is not a winning strategy.Labels: economy, financial, national debt
Site Pages Updated Today
- Ask A Real Girl - It's time for a jolt!
- Ask A Real Guy - Husband has two cell phones
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
"Miss USA" Is A Pathetic Joke
By davefromqueens: I have no aversion to attractive women. Simultaneously I take the viewpoint that condiments are useless unless there's a main course underneath them. That is why I find most "Miss USA" types pathetic. Today, Tara Conner, who should be renamed Miss Trump Eye Candy Of The Year, gave a pathetic apology to Donald Trump about "letting him down." Coming across as a Victorian minded doormat, Ms. Conner delivered Donald Trump's script and Trump conveniently "believes in 2nd chances"... So while Tara Conner is only 20 and by her late twenties she may actually grow up and become a substantive person, right now she's at the bottom of the barrel. And it has nothing to do with drugs or a few drinks and everything to do with the insides.Labels: donald trump, miss usa, tara conner
Insurance industry to America: Up your A$$
By nyceve: AHIP [America’s Health Insurance Plans]... is the trade association which represents the for-profit insurance industry... AHIP is the enemy, AHIP hates the American people... they want only... more bodies, more premium paying customers, more profits for their member insurance companies. The only way the for-profit insurance industry generate profits is by denying you and me care and eviscerating reimbursements to physicians... If you understand only one fact, this is what you need to know: every dollar a for-profit insurance company spends on your care, is a dollar that goes against the corporate balance sheet.Labels: health insurance
Only USA makes bills hard for blind to use
By USA Today: Of the more than 180 nations that issue paper currency, the United States is the only one whose bills don't have features making them recognizable to the visually impaired. Because all U.S. currency has the same size, shape and feel, the blind can't tell a ten from a twenty without assistance... The world's richest and most technologically advanced nation ought to be able to do at least as well by the blind as do Bulgaria, Namibia and Uruguay.Labels: currency, dollar, visually impaired
Bush's "surge" tactic
By Juan Cole: Bush seems likely to try the "surge" tactic in Iraq of putting in substantially more troops, perhaps 20,000, in an attempt to take Baghdad and clear it of 'terrorists.' Hope springs eternal in the human breast, which is the only explanation for adopting this stupid idea. The Iraqi masses are now politically mobilized, and they are well armed. There are 27 million Iraqis, and some 6 million of them in the Sunni Arab areas. 20,000 US troops is a drop in the bucket. Some are saying the US should try to destroy the (Shiite) Mahdi Army. The Mahdi Army is an urban social movement, and cannot be destroyed by conventional military forces. Bush is about to take us on another destructive wild goose chase.Labels: Bush, Iraq war, juan cole, mahdi army
Site Pages Updated Today
- Ask A Real Girl - He Wants Another Chance
- Ask A Real Guy - Jessica, 24, asks: "I am madly in love with him, and want him to feel the same. He says that he doesn't feel any chemistry. What do I do? Please help me."
- Jokes Joint - Why do men whistle when they're sitting on the toilet?
- Pop Culture - Paris Hilton versus Camaron Diaz
- Singles Center - What Do Men Find Romantic?
Monday, December 18, 2006
Who the hell wants to live in Mississippi?
By VictorM: New York Representative Charles Rangel recently insulted Mississippi by asking "Who the hell wants to live in Mississippi?" Now the state is mounting a marketing campaign to improve its image. Come on, I have no doubt there's plenty of beauty and nice people in that state, but they can't hide these facts: with a population that is 37% African-American, no black has been elected statewide; when income, poverty, infant mortality or literacy are measured, Mississippi ranks at or near the bottom of all 50 states. Maybe instead of spending money on marketing to tell us that Mississippians wear shoes, they should do something about stifling ignorance and lingering racism. Putting lipstick on that pig will only continue to invite comments like Mr. Rangel's.Labels: Mississippi, racism, rangel
When will Iraq War get better?
By Atrios: I know I'm just a dirty fucking hippie with the stupidest blog on the internets, but I've known for a long time that Iraq is not going to magically get better and that George Bush isn't going to leave because he equates leaving with losing. One of the biggest disappointments with our broader political class is due to the failure of them to understand this rather obvious point. George Bush is stubborn and incompetent, wishes are not ponies, and hope is not a plan.
Christian right since November
By Rude Pundit: Sometimes you just gotta sit back and enjoy the panic on the Christian right since November. They're flailing around now, their leaders descending into madness because of their suppressed libidos and weakening grip on power, their minions running away, their politicians disappearing into the dark limbo of the loser's graveyard, their cause now nothing more than what it always was: steps backward, steps backward, when the unstoppable urge is forward.Labels: christian right
Site Pages Updated Today
- Ask A Real Girl - Long-Distance Drama
- Ask A Real Guy - Paige spent the night with a friend of a friend, now she wonders why he hasn't called her.
- Funny Pictures - When dads babysit: time to paint
Sunday, December 17, 2006
Time picks you as the Person of the Year. Yes, YOU!
By August J. Pollak: Seriously. Congratulations to Time for actually thinking of something even stupider than Rudy Giuliani in 2001... I'd like to apologize in advance for this, because I'm sure it will offend some. But Person of the Year isn't the Special fucking Olympics. The entire point of the exercise is that everyone doesn't get a medal for participating. The purpose of the issue is to address the person or persons who, for bad or worse, most affected world events of that year. So they picked... everyone? Well of course everyone affected world events the most, fuckwits.I mentioned Giuliani because I think most people who used to care about this would agree that 2001 was the year that without any argument Time blatantly copped out on the entire point of the issue. Osama bin Laden was clearly the person who, like Hitler in 1933, affected world events the most that year. But bin Laden wouldn't sell magazines and American readers would be too stupid to realize it's not an award. So now, five years later, Time's given in and decided that Person of the Year is, officially, an award. Congratulations, Time Magazine is now Everybody Gets a Trophy Day.
Wake me when we have journalism in America again.
Labels: person of the year, time
Male Circumcision and the Creator
By VictorM: Circumcising adult men may reduce by half their risk of getting the AIDS virus through heterosexual intercourse, the U.S. government announced recently. There have been other studies that suggest similar benefits. Also, over the years, there have been other reports that male circumcision has other benefits. If one believes these findings, it raises one important question: Did our Creator screw up when He/She/It gave us that extra piece of skin?Labels: health care, religion
Laura Bush and the good things in Iraq
By VictorM: Talking about Iraq, Laura Bush blamed the media: “It is not encouraging coverage for sure. There’s no doubt about it. But I do know that there are a lot of good things that are happening that aren’t covered.” Never mind that the count of casualties and acts of violence are being under-reported by the Bush administration. I’m willing to give Mrs. Bush the benefit of the doubt but I will need some token of her optimism. So here’s the deal: I’ll believe Mrs. Bush after she convinces her daughters to take their next fun trip to Iraq. Until then, I'll take Mrs. Bush optimism as just another lie.Labels: Iraq war, laura bush
Death Penalty suspended in Florida
By VictorM: In Florida, governor Jeb Bush suspended all executions in his state because of a botched lethal injection procedure. Then a federal judge in California ordered state officials to revisit how such injections are administered, citing a "pervasive lack of professionalism in the implementation." When are sadistic Americans going to realize that not only is the death penalty a failure at reducing violent crime but it's a cruel and unusual punishment beneath the dignity of decent human beings? Let's top this barbaric behavior across the whole country, please!Labels: death penalty, jeb bush
Site Pages Updated Today
- Ask A Real Mom - Colds and ear infections
- Ask A Real Guy - Does he like her, does he not: more confusing signs at work
- Funny Pictures - When dads babysit: kissing pig
- What Boobs! - Boobs with a gun (aren't they all?)
Saturday, December 16, 2006
Rosie's sort of apology
By VictorM: Rosie O'Donnell sort of apologized for her impression of a Chinese news presenter, in which she repeatedly used the term "ching chong." She said she wasn't aware the term was offensive and went on to say: "I'm sorry for those people who felt hurt or were teased on the playground. But I'm also gonna give you a fair warning that there's a good chance I'll do something like that again, probably in the next week, not on purpose. Only 'cause it's how my brain works."OK, Rosie, the real world has a word for the way your brain works -- stupidity!
Labels: Rosie O'Donnell
American Pastor
By Atrios: CNN has taken to referring to Rick Warren as "America's Pastor." Well, they put quotes around it so maybe they just mean that someone somewhere has called him that. Look, I know it's assholes like me who are always accused of being hostile to religious people, but that kind of thing from a major news network should be deeply hostile to people with or without faith. America does not have a pastor. America does not have a single religion. America does not have a single faith. America does not need CNN anointing a pope or choosing the county's religious leader.Labels: cnn, pastor, religion, rick warren
Iraq Study Group: waste of time
By VictorM: It took the Iraq Study Group 9 months to arrive at the same conclusions that sane people had all along (see here). Despite a voluminous report, they didn’t have the balls to say what needs to be said: that there are no good ways out of the worst foreign policy decision in the history of the United States. The Iraq war is George Bush’s anvil and he should be left alone to sink or swim with it. Everyone else should step out of the way and let him have his way; after all, our troops are volunteers who voted overwhelmingly for Mr. Bush and the American people freely elected him to a second term, even after knowing the mess Mr. Bush had created. So now both are getting exactly the stubborn and incompetent indecision they deserve. The real victims are the Iraqis, but neither the Iraq Study Group nor the Iraq war were ever about them anyway.Labels: Bush, foreign policy, Iraq war, ISG
Changing our course (cause we're not stubborn jerks)
This page will become a rants page. It’ll be used to express anger, outrage, or strong opinions about specific issues of general interest. Each post will focus on very narrow topics expressed in small chunks (one or two paragraphs).Initially we’ll post our own rants and those we find on the net that fit the style we’re after to serve as models for our intentions.
Once we have made enough posts to convey the idea of what we’re after, we’ll provide a submission form for anyone who wants to submit his/her rant. We’ll select which ones to post at our own discretion.
Labels: opinion, outrage, rant
Site Pages Updated Today
- Ask A Real Guy - How to make him commit?
- Funny Pictures - When dads babysit: messy
- Jokes Joint - More stupid men jokes
- Pop Culture - Pamela Anderson on Kid Rock and Borat
Friday, December 15, 2006
Gum for heartburn
Heartburn happens when stomach acids splash back into the esophagus and burn it. Treatment often includes antacids that reduce the amount of acid. But British researchers recently confirmed U.S. studies showing that chewing gum after a meal helps fight heartburn. Chewing gum increases saliva, which helps wash the acid back down to the stomach, the researchers say. The type of gum doesn't matter, but the latest research used sugar-free -- and it's easier on your teeth. If you try it: Chew for at least 30 minutes after eating. (Tip from health.com)Labels: chewing, gum, heartburn
Oceans on the rise
The world's oceans may rise up... faster than expected... a researcher said... "The computer models underestimate the sea level rise that has already occurred"... Almost all climate scientists reckon the world is warming because of emissions of greenhouse gases from human use of fossil fuels in factories, power plants and cars. Rising temperatures could bring more droughts, floods and heatwaves. (Full story; includes more details claiming that the consequences of global warming are getting worse and faster than previously expected.)Labels: climate change, global warming, sea level
Site Pages Updated Today
- Ask A Real Mom - Should you not kiss your baby if you have a cold?
- Ask A Real Guy - How to get over someone you're deeply in love with?
- What Boobs! - This time, you get to pick the boobs.
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Happy Birthday to us
Today is our one year anniversary. One year of updating the site every single day. So, come on... sing with us: Happy Birthday to us... Happy Birthday to us... Happy Birthday dear ARGville... Happy Birthday to us.
Site Pages Updated Today
- Ask A Real Guy - Sweetness, 27, from South Africa asks: I'm dating a guy from Senegal, he seems to be too busy for me... I sometimes feel as though our relationship is all about sex. Should I leave the guy or give him some space?
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Coming clean about "cruelty free"
60 percent of consumers agree that they look for beauty products that have a "cruelty free" label on them... about half of the poll participants assumed that the federal government monitored those products to ensure they weren't tested on animals... In fact, the Food and Drug Administration... has set no legal definition for what the term "cruelty free" means... there is no independent group that certifies, monitors or regulates the labeling of products as "not animal tested," let alone as "natural" or "hypo-allergenic"... "People shouldn't mistake those kind of claims for meaning that those ingredients were never tested on animals." (Full story)
Site Pages Updated Today
- Ask A Real Mom - Is the B.R.A.T. diet best for diarrhea?
- Ask A Real Guy - Beware those stares from a coworker
- What Boobs! - Boobs and marijuana
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Paris Hilton: time to destroy her?
Paris Hilton is... "synonym for American materialism, bad manners, greed ... parochialism, arrogance, promiscuity, antifeminism, exposed roots and navels, entitlement, cell-phone addiction, anorexia and bulimia, predilection for gas-guzzling private transportation, pornified womanhood, exhibitionism, [and] narcissism". Oh come on, don't hold back, how do you really feel about her? (Pop Culture)Labels: paris hilton
Site Pages Updated Today
- Ask A Real Guy - She likes a coworker who is in love with his girlfriend but...
- Ask a Real Mom - Treating a mild fever on a child
- Pop Culture - Paris Hilton: time to kiss the creepy dollie goodbye
- What Boobs! - Boobs on a bicycle
Monday, December 11, 2006
Behaving badly: Why harmful habits stick
Scientists have come up with a host of reasons why humans stick to bad habits, and they are zeroing in on what to do about it. Among the reasons: Innate human defiance. Need for social acceptance. Inability to truly understand the nature of risk. Individualistic view of the world and the ability to rationalize unhealthy habits. Genetic predisposition to addiction. You'd think people were on a one-track mission to self-destruct rather than desiring immortality. (Full story)Labels: bad habit, behavior, obese, smoking
Site Pages Updated Today
- Ask A Real Mom - Are colds and flu most contagious before symptoms appear?
- Ask A Real Guy - Lisa asks: I went out with this guy, thought we had a nice time. He said he'd like to meet me after work for dinner. That was three weeks ago... Shall I call him?
- Jokes Joint - Ways that men are stupid.
Sunday, December 10, 2006
Gene linked to heavy smoking
A team of Japanese scientists have found a gene closely linked to nicotine addiction, which could lead to more effective ways for smokers to kick the habit... If doctors can find out the type of the gene in patients who want to quit smoking, they can change treatment methods accordingly, such as adjusting the amount of nicotine patches prescribed to the smoker (Full story)Labels: health care
Site Pages Updated Today
- Short Stories - "Why the Grudge?", a short story by Madiha Anwar
- Ask A Real Mom - Greenish mucus
- Ask A Real Guy - What's really driving Nicole to say this: "It is driving me nuts and I have to apologize to him"?
- Funny Pictures - When dads babysit: peeking
Saturday, December 09, 2006
Tips for Holiday Tipping
"Tipping is never required," according to Cindy Streit, president of Etiquette Training Services. "It may be expected in many situations... [but] should be thought of as a reward for excellent service." Streit counsels tippers to "follow your own heart and what your pocketbook dictates." She says generous holiday tips are mainly for "those who serve you all year long and with whom you have a personal relationship." (Full story; includes a table with tipping guidelines by profession, such as babysitters, nannies, garbage collectors, parking attendants, etc.)Labels: holidays, tipping, tips
Site Pages Updated Today
- Pop Culture - Young Singers Spread Racist Hate
- Religion Today - Congrassman wants to be sworn in on the Koran
- Singles Center - A magnet for attractive young girls at match.com
- Ask A Real Mom - True or false: Feed a cold, starve a fever?
- Ask A Real Guy - Sharon says: I have been seeing this guy for about 3 months... We were hanging out a lot for the first month or so and then he started avoiding me.
- What Boobs! - Boobs and a pig.
Friday, December 08, 2006
Birth control in good taste
Looking for a contraceptive that's convenient -- and tasty? The first chewable birth-control method, a tiny, spearmint-flavored tablet that also can be swallowed without chewing, has hit pharmacy shelves. Femcon Fe, which contains the same hormones as standard oral contraceptives, offers a new option for women who don't like swallowing pills or are on the go and want to take their birth control with them, according to Carl Reichel, president of drugmaker Warner Chilcott of Rockaway. (Full story)Labels: birth control, contraceptive, pill
Thursday, December 07, 2006
Plan B pill now readily available
A month after distribution began, the over-the-counter version of the morning-after pill is now available at pharmacies nationwide... Plan B, a high dose of a drug found in many regular birth-control pills, can lower the risk of pregnancy by up to 89 percent if taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex. Girls 17 and younger still need a prescription to buy Plan B, though an older person — male or female — could buy it over the counter on a teenage girl's behalf. (Full story; includes pro and con positions on the drug)Labels: birth control, contraceptive, pill, plan b
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Study Disputes Cell Phone-Cancer Link
A huge study from Denmark offers the latest reassurance that cell phones don't trigger cancer. Scientists tracked 420,000 Danish cell phone users, including 52,000 who had gabbed on the gadgets for 10 years or more, and some who started using them 21 years ago. They matched phone records to the famed Danish Cancer Registry that records every citizen who gets the disease and reported Tuesday that cell-phone callers are no more likely than anyone else to suffer a range of cancer types. (Full story)
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
Teens try cough medicine for a high
Teenagers' use of over-the-counter cold and cough medicines to get a cheap high — a practice known as "robotripping" — is rising 50% a year and becoming one of the fastest-growing drug abuse problems in California and around the country... Since 1999, teen abuse of Coricidin pills, Robitussin syrup and other common medications has risen 10-fold... The widely available and inexpensive medicines are growing in popularity while use of illegal drugs such as Ecstasy, LSD and the date rape drug GHB have dropped. (Full story)
Bring Home the Bacon
A little extra lean protein at breakfast will last you until lunch could provide the boost to help you maintain your weight during the upcoming holidays -- and beyond... protein blunts your hunger the most and is the most satiating... women who added a little lean protein to their breakfast -- in this case, a slice of Canadian bacon added to an egg sandwich made with an English muffin -- experienced less hunger over the next four hours than those who ate the sandwich sans bacon. (Full story here)
Monday, December 04, 2006
Obese women can get healthier without diets
Obese women can improve their health without dieting by changing their eating habits and exercising more... They showed that lifestyle changes including exercise programs such as tai chi, aqua aerobics and circuit training, coupled with behavior modification, can improve health risks in obese women even if they do not lose significant amounts of weight. (Full story here)
Rooney and Ronaldo: More than friends?
The feud between Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo was headlines all over the globe during and after the 2006 World Cup. But now that they are teammates again at Manchester United, it seems they have made up and are now friends again, this time is a Brokeback Mountain kinda way. You don't believe us? Visit Funny Pictures.
Sunday, December 03, 2006
I'm always naked with my boyfriend
Jaime, 15, California Asks: I have never had sex with a guy. I hate sounding stupid because I know that no sex = no baby. But I'm always naked with my boyfriend when we do stuff and I'm wondering if accidentally I may have gotten pregnant somehow? Is this possible? Am I just imagining being late on my period? (Answer at Ask A Real Girl)
Eating slowly really does make people eat less
A new study provides the first-ever scientific proof that if you eat slowly, you will eat less -- and you will enjoy the meal more. Women consumed about 70 fewer calories when they were told to take their time eating a meal of pasta and sauce, compared to when they were instructed to eat it as quickly as possible. They also rated the meal as more pleasant when they ate slowly. (Full story here)
Saturday, December 02, 2006
Top Five Ways to Get Ahead
TIRED OF LIVING PAYCHECK to paycheck? Digging out of debt and amassing savings doesn't require a winning lottery ticket or your discovery as the next American Idol. Actually, there are plenty of simple things anyone at any income level can do to get ahead. Here are five strategies: Switch to high-yield savings, pay yourself first, secure lower interest rates, take the full 401K company match, get a raise. (Full story here; includes specifics about each of the five strategies.)
An American decline
After a 25 year upward trend, Americans are doing something less. What is it? Come to our discussion forum to find out. Participate in the thread An American decline after a 25 year upward trend to share your experiences and let us know if you are contributing to this decline or not.
Friday, December 01, 2006
Could stress actually be good for you?
In small doses, yes. We may talk about cutting the stress from our lives, but we need those precious, powerful fight-or-flight hormones our bodies produce when we're about to be hit by a car or when confronted with an unexpected, needed-it-yesterday deadline at work. When the brain perceives physical or psychological stress, it starts pumping the chemicals cortisol, epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine into the body. Instantly, the heart beats faster, blood pressure increases, senses sharpen, a rise in blood glucose enervates us and we're ready to rock. Or leap away from the car. (Full story here)
