Melamine from contaminated pet food enters human food chain
This is absolutely ridiculous. We have the FDA, CFSAN, USDA, FSIS, HHS, and who knows what other governmental agencies are tasked with protecting the US food supply, whether grown overseas or in the US.
The past 12 months have seen recalls of Peanut Butter, spinach, green onions, pet food, olives, milk, hamburger patties, prepackaged salads, prepackaged sandwiches, prepared potato salad, bread, fruit trays, melons, and I'm sure much more that I'm not seeing in the 5 minute search on Google I just performed.
The government is paying OUR farmers not to produce food then importing from other countries and because of a lack of manpower they only inspect less than 1% of the imported products.
If you don't have enough people to inspect the products you have been tasked to inspect and protect, then halt all the damned imports of food and at least inspect what is already within our borders.
These governmental inspection agencies are screwing around with our health and welfare. The vast majority of our citizens however don't seem to give a damn, so the government continues doing nothing or little to nothing.
What the hell is wrong with people that they do not give a damn about what they are eating, what they are feeding their children. Wake the phuk up people. Hold your government accountable, you know, the people that promise to protect the citizenry and instead do nothing but line their own pockets.
28 April 2007
Text reveals more ancient secrets
This is freakin cool!
Text reveals more ancient secrets
Text reveals more ancient secrets
Experts are "lost for words" to have found that a medieval prayer book has yielded yet another key ancient text buried within its parchment.
Works by mathematician Archimedes and the politician Hyperides had already been found buried within the book, known as the Archimedes Palimpsest.
I can't go long without a post on my favorite topic
He is still just too cute to resist.
When I was just starting out as a reporter, all fired up over exposing corruption and saving the poor, my (wonderful) metro editor at an American daily newspaper asked me if I could cover this one story the entire newsroom was hot for.
Pakistan's Cultural Heritage in Peril - Part 3
Here is part 3 of the article by Joachim Hoelzgen
A Fight against Time and the Water Level
A Fight against Time and the Water Level
In a recent presentation at the Aga Khan's Serena Hotel in Islamabad, Hauptmann outlined to the city's elites the harm the dam project would cause to the cultural legacy of the upper Indus River area. Senior officials from Pakistan's Culture Ministry attended and were surprised to hear what Hauptmann had to say about the remote river canyons. "They were completely taken aback to find that they hadn't been made aware of the cliff drawings before," Hauptmann recalls. It wasn't the kind of event that happens often in the Pakistani capital. With such heavy German involvement in the project, the country's ambassador also attended the event, serving as its chairman.
Raiders of the Lost Codex
Now this would be absolutely freaking cool to see. I can imagine the translation of now would be much different from the translation of the first Bible. I do hope these various people can come together long enough to do this.
Scholars Piece Together Ancient Bible
Scholars Piece Together Ancient Bible
Parts of the 1,600-year-old Codex Sinaiticus -- which includes the world's earliest complete New Testament -- are scattered between Leipzig, London and St. Petersburg. Now researchers want to digitize the fragments and publish the whole volume on the Internet. But controversy still rages over the proper ownership of the relic.
27 April 2007
Pakistan's Cultural Heritage in Peril - Part 2
I posted the link to part 1 of this story yesterday.
A Fight against Time and the Water Level
A Fight against Time and the Water Level
It now appears inevitable that Pakistan will construct the Basha Diamer Dam, imperilling a cultural legacy that goes back to the end of the Ice Age. With time running out, German archeologist Harald Hauptmann is racing to document the area's thousands of cliff carvings before they are lost.
Food of the Week
I love avocados.
Avocados
Avocados
Avocados are a good source of potassium, a mineral that helps regulate blood pressure. Adequate intake of potassium can help to guard against circulatory diseases, like high blood pressure, heart disease or stroke. In fact, the U.S. Food and Drug Association has authorized a health claim that states: "Diets containing foods that are good sources of potassium and low in sodium may reduce the risk of high blood pressure and stroke." One cup of avocado has 23% of the Daily Value for folate, a nutrient important for heart health. To determine the relationship between folate intake and heart disease, researchers followed over 80,000 women for 14 years using dietary questionnaires. They found that women who had higher intakes of dietary folate had a 55% lower risk of having heart attacks or fatal heart disease. Another study showed that individuals who consume folate-rich diets have a much lower risk of cardiovascular disease or stroke than those who do not consume as much of this vital nutrient.
26 April 2007
Replacing junk foods in our schools
I really hope that our lawmakers do something about this. There is no reason to NOT offer healthy food to growing children. It is truly sad when the snack food industry is competing for spots at schools around the nation and the schools are taking them up on it to get more money.
Panel Urges Schools To Replace Junk Foods
Panel Urges Schools To Replace Junk Foods
Federal officials recently proposed raising the nutritional standards for school lunches or breakfasts, but the recommendations issued yesterday are the first national attempt to address the healthfulness of "competitive" school foods -- snacks and drinks that often are sold to raise money for schools.
Pakistan's Cultural Heritage in Peril
Dam Threatens Ancient Buddhist Stone Carvings
I do hope this archaeologist is able to save as much of this history as is possible. It is such a shame when history is destroyed like this. It's terrible enough that such historical objects were destroyed hundreds and thousands of years ago before their importance was realized. Now that we know the importance, we need to be doing everything possible to save sites such as this.
Some 35,000 petroglyphs located in Pakistan's Indus River area will soon be flooded by a giant dam. An archeologist from Heidelberg is trying to save as much as he can before encroaching modernity destroys the remote area's cultural history.
I do hope this archaeologist is able to save as much of this history as is possible. It is such a shame when history is destroyed like this. It's terrible enough that such historical objects were destroyed hundreds and thousands of years ago before their importance was realized. Now that we know the importance, we need to be doing everything possible to save sites such as this.
Kitty interviews Twango
Here I am being interviewed by Joie de Kitty
1. Tell me what your favourite memory with a male family member (Dad, uncle, grandpa, etc.) is.
My favorite memory with a male family member? Hummm, that's a tough one. I only remember this from being told, but it is my absolute favorite. I was the 2nd grandchild and the first granddaughter on my mom's side. To say I was the apple of grandpa's eye is an understatement. I could do no wrong in his eyes. Not long before he died, (I was 5) I got into his matches. Now, he had those big enormous boxes of the sulfur tipped matches. I decided to play pick up sticks with those matches while he was at work. My grandmother told me to pick them up. I responded by getting a wet wash cloth, lying on the couch and telling my grandmother, I can't, I have a sezer (fever). She made me pick them up and I did begrudgingly, crying the whole time and hyperventilating the phrase, 'wait till pawpaw gets home'. As soon as he came home, my grandmother said I was off like a rocket to meet him at the back door and proceeded to tell him all about what a horrible person 'his wife' was. He told my grandmother, Linda, those are my matches and if that baby wants to play pick-up sticks with them, she can. Grandmother said I looked at her with a 'take that' look. It's a favorite, because it truly let me know that I was special.
2. What is your earliest memory involving food? Was it positive or negative, and do you still eat that food?
Easily, the times cooking with my grandmother (the one from above). She didn't teach her daughters to cook. She thought, what do they need to know how to do that for, I cook. Well, when they got married, her phone would ring off the hook with, 'Mamma, how do I make/do xxx?' When I came along and showed interest in what she was doing, she plopped my butt on a counter and began teaching me how at around 4 or 5. The first thing I remember making with her was meringue. She would give me a bowl with the egg whites and a fork and tell me to beat it till it was stiff. Now that I'm a mom, I know she was just trying to get me out of the way, but I kept coming back for more, so she gradually increased my responsibilities till I was chopping and applying heat right along with her.
3. We know you love Cute Knut. Do or did you have any pets? What do you love about them?
We do have a pet, actually he is my oldest daughters and he is a Second Chance pet. His name is Freedom. He's really a pretty cool dog. He knows I'm 'grandma' and gets the grandparent spoiling treatment. He of course gets a stocking and presents at Christmas and a present on the 4th of July, as that is supposedly the day he was born, hence his name. What I love about them is the unconditional love. They are happy to see you whenever you get home; 5 minutes is like 5 days to them. It just makes ya feel loved. It was really cute when after he had broken his leg, but it was healed, he had gotten used to the sympathy thing and when he would hear someone in the kitchen, he would come in there to see if any snacks would be coming his way. If he didn't get any, he would play that sympathy card and limp as if he still had the cast. Funny thing was, he didn't always limp on the same leg. It was too cute and I had to give a treat for that.
4. One of the things I miss about the US is the commercials on TV... What is your favorite commercial, and why?
Right now, I'm loving this commercial Nationwide titled light switch. I don’t' know why, but it just cracks me up.
5. Where would you like to travel and why?
There truly are so many places I want to travel. France, Italy, Germany, oh hail, all of Europe truthfully. I would love to do a culinary tour of the world as that would serve two purposes, both the culinary aspect but the cultural end as well. Egypt for sure as I am fascinated by their ancient culture. The Middle East for the religious aspect, Germany as I am more German in heritage and I'd love to see my 'roots' so to speak, but I think I'll cheat and just say everywhere, cause honestly, it is true.
Now it's your turn to play if you wish:
Leave me a comment saying, “Interview me.” I will respond by asking you five questions in the comments here on this post so check back here. I get to pick the questions. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.
1. Tell me what your favourite memory with a male family member (Dad, uncle, grandpa, etc.) is.
My favorite memory with a male family member? Hummm, that's a tough one. I only remember this from being told, but it is my absolute favorite. I was the 2nd grandchild and the first granddaughter on my mom's side. To say I was the apple of grandpa's eye is an understatement. I could do no wrong in his eyes. Not long before he died, (I was 5) I got into his matches. Now, he had those big enormous boxes of the sulfur tipped matches. I decided to play pick up sticks with those matches while he was at work. My grandmother told me to pick them up. I responded by getting a wet wash cloth, lying on the couch and telling my grandmother, I can't, I have a sezer (fever). She made me pick them up and I did begrudgingly, crying the whole time and hyperventilating the phrase, 'wait till pawpaw gets home'. As soon as he came home, my grandmother said I was off like a rocket to meet him at the back door and proceeded to tell him all about what a horrible person 'his wife' was. He told my grandmother, Linda, those are my matches and if that baby wants to play pick-up sticks with them, she can. Grandmother said I looked at her with a 'take that' look. It's a favorite, because it truly let me know that I was special.
2. What is your earliest memory involving food? Was it positive or negative, and do you still eat that food?
Easily, the times cooking with my grandmother (the one from above). She didn't teach her daughters to cook. She thought, what do they need to know how to do that for, I cook. Well, when they got married, her phone would ring off the hook with, 'Mamma, how do I make/do xxx?' When I came along and showed interest in what she was doing, she plopped my butt on a counter and began teaching me how at around 4 or 5. The first thing I remember making with her was meringue. She would give me a bowl with the egg whites and a fork and tell me to beat it till it was stiff. Now that I'm a mom, I know she was just trying to get me out of the way, but I kept coming back for more, so she gradually increased my responsibilities till I was chopping and applying heat right along with her.
3. We know you love Cute Knut. Do or did you have any pets? What do you love about them?
We do have a pet, actually he is my oldest daughters and he is a Second Chance pet. His name is Freedom. He's really a pretty cool dog. He knows I'm 'grandma' and gets the grandparent spoiling treatment. He of course gets a stocking and presents at Christmas and a present on the 4th of July, as that is supposedly the day he was born, hence his name. What I love about them is the unconditional love. They are happy to see you whenever you get home; 5 minutes is like 5 days to them. It just makes ya feel loved. It was really cute when after he had broken his leg, but it was healed, he had gotten used to the sympathy thing and when he would hear someone in the kitchen, he would come in there to see if any snacks would be coming his way. If he didn't get any, he would play that sympathy card and limp as if he still had the cast. Funny thing was, he didn't always limp on the same leg. It was too cute and I had to give a treat for that.
4. One of the things I miss about the US is the commercials on TV... What is your favorite commercial, and why?
Right now, I'm loving this commercial Nationwide titled light switch. I don’t' know why, but it just cracks me up.
5. Where would you like to travel and why?
There truly are so many places I want to travel. France, Italy, Germany, oh hail, all of Europe truthfully. I would love to do a culinary tour of the world as that would serve two purposes, both the culinary aspect but the cultural end as well. Egypt for sure as I am fascinated by their ancient culture. The Middle East for the religious aspect, Germany as I am more German in heritage and I'd love to see my 'roots' so to speak, but I think I'll cheat and just say everywhere, cause honestly, it is true.
Now it's your turn to play if you wish:
Leave me a comment saying, “Interview me.” I will respond by asking you five questions in the comments here on this post so check back here. I get to pick the questions. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.
24 April 2007
Lycopene-just what is it
So what is lycopene you ask.
Lycopene is a strong antioxidant, which can help to combat degenerative diseases such as heart disease. It was found that increased concentration of lycopene gives an increased protective effect, so the most concentrated food sources, like tomato puree and ketchup, are better protectors against these diseases. The human body cannot produce lycopene and needs to obtain it from the foods in our diet. High lycopene foods are the most effective against degenerative diseases.
The deep red color that is present in tomatoes, pink grapefruit, guava and watermelon is caused by lycopene, a carotenoid. Other carotenoids include beta-carotene and alpha-carotene, which give carrots their orange color. Carotenoids are fat soluble so they are found in fatty tissue and transported by lipoproteins. They assist Vitamin A and aid the immune system.
There have been many recent studies into lycopene so that it can be used to its fullest potential in fighting diseases. A heart study measuring lycopene in fatty tissue of 1,374 men showed that it could reduce the risk of a heart attack by 50%. But wait, lycopene does more than that.
It is an anti-carcinogen, greatly reducing the risk of some cancers. In a 6-year study of 47,000 male health professionals Harvard Medical School found that eating tomato products more than twice a week was associated with 21-34% reduced risk of prostate cancer. In 1995 Harvard School of Public Health studied further into this and found that those men who ate more than 10 servings of tomato foods a week were 45% less at risk to prostate cancer; those with only 4-7 servings were 20% less at risk. The University of Illinois found that comparing woman with the highest levels of lycopene and those with the lowest showed that the highest levels were five times less likely to have cervical cancer. Tomatoes are therefore a very important part of our diet and if tests are conclusive then this could be a serious step towards combating other cancers.
The following has more on Lycopene in addition to some of the most lycopene rich foods along with total mcg for each item. In addition to that site, I can't stress enough how wonderful WHFoods truly is.
Lycopene is a strong antioxidant, which can help to combat degenerative diseases such as heart disease. It was found that increased concentration of lycopene gives an increased protective effect, so the most concentrated food sources, like tomato puree and ketchup, are better protectors against these diseases. The human body cannot produce lycopene and needs to obtain it from the foods in our diet. High lycopene foods are the most effective against degenerative diseases.
The deep red color that is present in tomatoes, pink grapefruit, guava and watermelon is caused by lycopene, a carotenoid. Other carotenoids include beta-carotene and alpha-carotene, which give carrots their orange color. Carotenoids are fat soluble so they are found in fatty tissue and transported by lipoproteins. They assist Vitamin A and aid the immune system.
There have been many recent studies into lycopene so that it can be used to its fullest potential in fighting diseases. A heart study measuring lycopene in fatty tissue of 1,374 men showed that it could reduce the risk of a heart attack by 50%. But wait, lycopene does more than that.
It is an anti-carcinogen, greatly reducing the risk of some cancers. In a 6-year study of 47,000 male health professionals Harvard Medical School found that eating tomato products more than twice a week was associated with 21-34% reduced risk of prostate cancer. In 1995 Harvard School of Public Health studied further into this and found that those men who ate more than 10 servings of tomato foods a week were 45% less at risk to prostate cancer; those with only 4-7 servings were 20% less at risk. The University of Illinois found that comparing woman with the highest levels of lycopene and those with the lowest showed that the highest levels were five times less likely to have cervical cancer. Tomatoes are therefore a very important part of our diet and if tests are conclusive then this could be a serious step towards combating other cancers.
The following has more on Lycopene in addition to some of the most lycopene rich foods along with total mcg for each item. In addition to that site, I can't stress enough how wonderful WHFoods truly is.
23 April 2007
Decoding Food Labels
This explains quite nicely how to read the label on the foods and drinks you purchase. While this article is directed towards those with diabetes, everyone should know how to read one.
HealthCastle
HealthCastle
The nutrients at the top of the food label, total fat, cholesterol, & sodium should be limited to reduce your chances of developing heart disease. Look at the total carbohydrate value to determine if the carbohydrate content of the food will fit into your meal plan. If you are limited to 60 carbs per meal, it's not a good idea to buy bagels that are 70 grams per serving. Use the % daily values as a tool for healthy meal planning, but remember that your requirements may be higher or lower based on your calorie needs.
When it comes to food labels & diabetes management you have what it takes to solve the mystery.
22 April 2007
Dixie interviews Twango
DixiePeach asking little ol moi questions. A pretty neat concept actually. I know I don't have near the readers Dixie does, but anybody reading that wants to be interviewed by me (5 questions), leave a comment.
1. What five things, whole dishes or even just preparations, do you think all people who cook should learn to do well?
1. What five things, whole dishes or even just preparations, do you think all people who cook should learn to do well?
First up would be the mother sauces or grandes sauces. Knowing how to make a proper Béchamel (white sauce), Hollandaise, Espagnole (brown), Velouté, or Tomato is imperative. Each of them yields countless 'small' or daughter sauces.
Béchamel is used to make Mornay and soubise plus others.
Hollandaise is the base for bernaise and noisette plus others.
Velouté is the base for Allemande and supreme plus others.
Espagnole is the base for Bourguignonne and Sauce aux Champignons in addition to being the base for demi-glace.
Tomato is of course the base for marinara.
Second would be know how to sauté, pan-fry, poach and shallow poach.
Third would be knowing how to properly temp your meats.
Fourth is knowing how to blanch/shock.
Fifth is knowing how to season, taste, and adjust.
2. You're going to speak to presidential nominees from each party. What concerns or issues that directly affect you and/or your children would you ask them to address?
Improving our children's education is I think one of the most important issues we face as a country. Foreign language needs to start in elementary school when those little brains are just begging for knowledge. There is nothing wrong with our children knowing how to speak something other than English early in life. I would also like to see teachers allowed to teach. Quit tying their hands and let them do what they went to school to learn.
Food supply is another. I'm a huge proponent of organic and sustainable farming. Our crops and livestock do not need to be injected with all the hormones, fillers, and pesticides. Our earth needs the chance to recuperate from all the crap we have done to it.
Renewable energy sources need to be looked into. Being dependent upon others for the fuel to transport us around needs to stop. The government needs to be encouraging those individuals with the aptitude and desire to come up with alternatives to fossil fuels.
3. How have you evolved in the past five to ten years that makes you feel as though you are a better person or causes you to be more comfortable with yourself?
OMF that's a deep one. I am far more sympathetic and empathetic than I have ever been in the past, even as a child. I had always let my logic win and refused to ever allow my heart in on any of the thinking going on. It took a long time, but I did finally realize it isn't all black and white. There is a whole lot of gray in the middle. I figured, if I could deal with something, then so could the rest of the world. If it didn't hurt me, why should it hurt you? I like me better now.
4. Fill in the blanks: In the future I want to _______ more and _____ less. Expand on your choices, please!
Ok, honestly, I want to eat more and weigh less. I love to eat but I don't need for my ass to get any bigger. So, once I'm through with school, I'm sitting myself down and coming up with a way that I can do this. Hell, I'm a chef and nutrition buff, surely it can be done, without having to exercise every waking moment, cause truly, exercise is the biggest four letter word of all.
5. I know and, much to the chagrin of many, others know as well that I could talk for hours about knitting, even to non-knitters. What topic can you start on and talk about for hours?
Food and cooking, without a doubt. I could sit and talk food forever. Hail, that is what typically happens when me, SB, and another friend get together. We will sit and talk food forever, getting thrown out of the bar 30 minutes after closing time, but we move to the parking lot or IHOP or somewhere and discuss it some more.
21 April 2007
Politics
http://www.thenation.com/docprint.mhtml?i=20070212&s=moser
But when it comes to the South, myth always overwhelms reality. The Republican Party has come to rely on the mystical powers of its "solid South" to produce nearly two-thirds of the electoral votes its presidential candidates need every four years. National Democrats have leaned on the myth, too, using it to justify their drift from economic populism toward a Clinton-style, Wall Street-friendly centrism.
Religion
http://www.wilsoncenter.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=wq.essay&essay_id=229834
As a British Muslim told a columnist for The Guardian in the wake of the July 7, 2005, London terrorist bombings, the fact that you no longer believe in your religion is no reason we shouldn’t believe in ours.
Take a Knut Quiz
http://www1.spiegel.de/active/spquiz/fcgi/spquiz.fcgi?name=knutquizinternational
Maybe I'm reading too much about Knut. I got 10 for 10. Gave myself a gold star too.
Freaks!!!
What kind of a nutcase freak wants to hurt some little furry baby who is making probably millions of people smile on a weekly if not daily basis right now. How on earth could someone want to hurt such a sweet face.
17 April 2007
Food of the Week
Onions! One of my favorite things.
http://whfoods.org/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=45
Health Benefits
Onions, like garlic, are members of the Allium family, and both are rich in powerful sulfur-containing compounds that are responsible for their pungent odors and for many of their health-promoting effects. Onions contain allyl propyl disulphide, while garlic is rich in allicin, diallyl disulphide, diallyl trisulfide and others. In addition, onions are very rich in chromium, a trace mineral that helps cells respond to insulin, plus vitamin C, and numerous flavonoids, most notably, quercitin.
15 April 2007
Stem Cell Research
Ok, so I'm a verbose one today, it's to make up for the lack of posts coming over the next week (or so I'm telling myself).
http://www.boston.com/news/globe/ideas/articles/2007/04/08/embryo_ethics/?page=full
http://www.boston.com/news/globe/ideas/articles/2007/04/08/embryo_ethics/?page=full
It is important to be clear, first of all, about the embryo from which stem cells are extracted. It is not implanted and growing in a woman's uterus. It is not a fetus. It has no recognizable human features or form. It is, rather, a blastocyst, a cluster of 180 to 200 cells, growing in a petri dish, barely visible to the naked eye. Such blastocysts are either cloned in the lab or created in fertility clinics. The bill pending in Congress would fund stem cell research only on excess blastocysts left over from infertility treatments.
The blastocyst represents such an early stage of embryonic development that the cells it contains have not yet differentiated, or taken on the properties of particular organs or tissues -- kidneys, muscles, spinal cord, and so on. This is why the stem cells that are extracted from the blastocyst hold the promise of developing, with proper coaxing in the lab, into any kind of cell the researcher
wants to study or repair.
He's a popular little fella
BERLIN — Thousands of people line up at the Berlin Zoo each day to see Knut the polar bear cub, and his button-eyed face has become inescapable for many others who live far from the capital. Knutmania is in full swing in Germany, where the fluffy baby bear has become the latest merchandising sensation, inspiring Knut T-shirts, mugs, postcards, DVDs, keychains, candy and stuffed teddy bears that cost up to $40.
How I'd love to be able to get to Berlin to see this little guy, whilst he is still such a bundle of fur. I know I'd never be allowed to pick him up and cuddle him, I still wanna go while I know it is possible.
I do so hope that his popularity bodes well for all endangered animals. Anything that puts a spotlight on these beautiful, innocent creatures we share the earth with is a good thing.
Yes, I said innocent. Animals act out of instinct, not malice.
Somethings I just don't understand
Anybody that has kind of been reading the stuff I post will know I've been going through some personal growth (luckily it isn't my backside).
That being said, one thing I've noticed about it all:
People who thought they knew me, never really did or they thought so little of me before that they didn't believe I was capable of growing as a person.
I've gotten comments from more than one person along the lines of (it's not all, just a sampling):
Lots of people feel they know me. How I think and feel based on similar past situations. I've really given a lot of thought to a few things and either they just never really took the time to truly get to know me or they have such a narrow opinion of me as to think I could never possibly change.
Now perhaps they feel I could never change because they themselves are for the most part stagnant individuals, never having their own beliefs challenged by anyone, so they stick to their own little rut in life. That's fine. If that is the case and they enjoy where they are, then hey, more power to them.
To those who feel I've changed too much, sorry you feel that way. I'm enjoying the learning and growing and I intend to do a lot more of it. It's not as if my heart has changed. I'm still the same person, I just view some things differently than I did xxx years ago.
There is nothing wrong with changing your mind when you have new information; changing your mind just to change your mind, that's something else entirely.
Years ago, cocaine was used for medicinal purposes. Then people were given new information on cocaine and they decided, humm, not such a good medicine after all.
That being said, one thing I've noticed about it all:
People who thought they knew me, never really did or they thought so little of me before that they didn't believe I was capable of growing as a person.
I've gotten comments from more than one person along the lines of (it's not all, just a sampling):
- I've known you for xxx years. The person I knew would never think/feel something like that.
- Oh, you are just trying to fit in with your new friends.
- You've always felt xxx way about this issue. I don't believe you feel the way you say you do.
- You are acting so out of character.
Lots of people feel they know me. How I think and feel based on similar past situations. I've really given a lot of thought to a few things and either they just never really took the time to truly get to know me or they have such a narrow opinion of me as to think I could never possibly change.
Now perhaps they feel I could never change because they themselves are for the most part stagnant individuals, never having their own beliefs challenged by anyone, so they stick to their own little rut in life. That's fine. If that is the case and they enjoy where they are, then hey, more power to them.
To those who feel I've changed too much, sorry you feel that way. I'm enjoying the learning and growing and I intend to do a lot more of it. It's not as if my heart has changed. I'm still the same person, I just view some things differently than I did xxx years ago.
There is nothing wrong with changing your mind when you have new information; changing your mind just to change your mind, that's something else entirely.
Years ago, cocaine was used for medicinal purposes. Then people were given new information on cocaine and they decided, humm, not such a good medicine after all.
Funny, funny, funny
1: Under no circumstances may two men share an umbrella.
2: It is OK for a man to cry ONLY under the following circumstances:
(a) When a heroic dog dies to save its master.
(b) The moment Angelina Jolie starts unbuttoning her blouse.
(c) After wrecking your boss' car.
(d) One hour, 12 minutes, 37 seconds into "The Crying Game".
(e) When she is using her teeth.
3: Any Man who brings a camera to a bachelor party may be legally killed and eaten by his buddies.
4: Unless he murdered someone in your family, you must bail a friend out of jail within 12 hours.
5: If you've known a guy for more than 24 hours, his sister is off limits forever unless you actually marry her.
6: Moaning about the brand of free beer in a buddy's fridge is forbidden. However complain at will if the temperature is unsuitable.
7: No man shall ever be required to buy a birthday present for another man. In fact, even remembering your buddy's birthday is strictly optional. At that point, you must celebrate at a strip bar of the birthday boy's choice.
8: On a road trip, the strongest bladder determines pit stops, not the weakest.
9: When stumbling upon other guys watching a sporting event, you may ask the score of the game in progress, but you may never ask who's playing.
10: You may flatulate in front of a woman only after you have brought her to climax. If you trap her head under the covers for the purpose of flatulent entertainment, she's officially your girlfriend.
11: It is permissible to drink a fruity alcohol drink only when you're sunning on a tropical beach ... and it's delivered by a topless model and only when it's free.
12: Only in situations of moral and/or physical peril are you allowed to kick another guy in the nuts.
13: Unless you're in prison, never fight naked.
14: Friends don't let friends wear Speedos. Ever. Issue closed.
15: If a man's fly is down, that's his problem, you didn't see anything.
16: Women who claim they "love to watch sports" must be treated as spies until they demonstrate knowledge of the game and the ability to drink as much as the other sports watchers.
17: A man in the company of a hot, suggestively dressed woman must remain sober enough to fight.
18: Never hesitate to reach for the last beer or the last slice of pizza, but not both, that's just greedy.
19: If you compliment a guy on his six-pack, you'd better be talking about his choice of beer.
20: Never join your girlfriend or wife in discussing a friend of yours, except if she's withholding sex pending your response.
21: Phrases that may NOT be uttered to another man while lifting weights:
(a) Yeah, Baby, Push it!
(b) C'mon, give me one more! Harder!
(c) Another set and we can hit the showers!
22: Never talk to a man in a bathroom unless you are on equal footing: i.e., both urinating, both waiting in line, etc. For all other situations, an almost imperceptible nod is all the conversation you need.
23: Never allow a telephone conversation with a woman to go on longer than you are able to have sex with her. Keep a stopwatch by the phone. Hang up if necessary.
24: The morning after you and a girl who was formerly "just a friend" have carnal, drunken monkey sex, the fact that you're feeling weird and guilty is no reason for you not to nail each other again before the discussion about what a big mistake it was occurs.
25: It is acceptable for you to drive her car. It is not acceptable for her to drive yours.
26: Thou shalt not buy a car in the colors of brown, pink, lime green, orange or sky blue.
27: The girl who replies to the question "What do you want for Christmas?" with "If you loved me, you'd know what I want!" gets an Xbox. End of story.
28: There is no reason for guys to watch Ice Skating or Men's Gymnastics. Ever.
29: Pull out
We've all heard about people having guts or balls. But do you really know the difference between them? In an effort to keep you informed, the definition of each is listed below.
"GUTS" is arriving home late after a night out with the guys, being assaulted by your wife with a broom, and having the guts to say, "are you still cleaning or are you flying somewhere?"
"BALLS" is coming home late after a night out with the guys smelling of perfume and beer, lipstick on your collar, slapping your wife on the ass and having the balls to say, "You're next!"
We hope this clears up any confusion.
The International Council of Manhood, Ltd
2: It is OK for a man to cry ONLY under the following circumstances:
(a) When a heroic dog dies to save its master.
(b) The moment Angelina Jolie starts unbuttoning her blouse.
(c) After wrecking your boss' car.
(d) One hour, 12 minutes, 37 seconds into "The Crying Game".
(e) When she is using her teeth.
3: Any Man who brings a camera to a bachelor party may be legally killed and eaten by his buddies.
4: Unless he murdered someone in your family, you must bail a friend out of jail within 12 hours.
5: If you've known a guy for more than 24 hours, his sister is off limits forever unless you actually marry her.
6: Moaning about the brand of free beer in a buddy's fridge is forbidden. However complain at will if the temperature is unsuitable.
7: No man shall ever be required to buy a birthday present for another man. In fact, even remembering your buddy's birthday is strictly optional. At that point, you must celebrate at a strip bar of the birthday boy's choice.
8: On a road trip, the strongest bladder determines pit stops, not the weakest.
9: When stumbling upon other guys watching a sporting event, you may ask the score of the game in progress, but you may never ask who's playing.
10: You may flatulate in front of a woman only after you have brought her to climax. If you trap her head under the covers for the purpose of flatulent entertainment, she's officially your girlfriend.
11: It is permissible to drink a fruity alcohol drink only when you're sunning on a tropical beach ... and it's delivered by a topless model and only when it's free.
12: Only in situations of moral and/or physical peril are you allowed to kick another guy in the nuts.
13: Unless you're in prison, never fight naked.
14: Friends don't let friends wear Speedos. Ever. Issue closed.
15: If a man's fly is down, that's his problem, you didn't see anything.
16: Women who claim they "love to watch sports" must be treated as spies until they demonstrate knowledge of the game and the ability to drink as much as the other sports watchers.
17: A man in the company of a hot, suggestively dressed woman must remain sober enough to fight.
18: Never hesitate to reach for the last beer or the last slice of pizza, but not both, that's just greedy.
19: If you compliment a guy on his six-pack, you'd better be talking about his choice of beer.
20: Never join your girlfriend or wife in discussing a friend of yours, except if she's withholding sex pending your response.
21: Phrases that may NOT be uttered to another man while lifting weights:
(a) Yeah, Baby, Push it!
(b) C'mon, give me one more! Harder!
(c) Another set and we can hit the showers!
22: Never talk to a man in a bathroom unless you are on equal footing: i.e., both urinating, both waiting in line, etc. For all other situations, an almost imperceptible nod is all the conversation you need.
23: Never allow a telephone conversation with a woman to go on longer than you are able to have sex with her. Keep a stopwatch by the phone. Hang up if necessary.
24: The morning after you and a girl who was formerly "just a friend" have carnal, drunken monkey sex, the fact that you're feeling weird and guilty is no reason for you not to nail each other again before the discussion about what a big mistake it was occurs.
25: It is acceptable for you to drive her car. It is not acceptable for her to drive yours.
26: Thou shalt not buy a car in the colors of brown, pink, lime green, orange or sky blue.
27: The girl who replies to the question "What do you want for Christmas?" with "If you loved me, you'd know what I want!" gets an Xbox. End of story.
28: There is no reason for guys to watch Ice Skating or Men's Gymnastics. Ever.
29: Pull out
We've all heard about people having guts or balls. But do you really know the difference between them? In an effort to keep you informed, the definition of each is listed below.
"GUTS" is arriving home late after a night out with the guys, being assaulted by your wife with a broom, and having the guts to say, "are you still cleaning or are you flying somewhere?"
"BALLS" is coming home late after a night out with the guys smelling of perfume and beer, lipstick on your collar, slapping your wife on the ass and having the balls to say, "You're next!"
We hope this clears up any confusion.
The International Council of Manhood, Ltd
13 April 2007
Complex or Simple
So, what is a carbohydrate?
Carbohydrates come from a wide array of foods - bread, beans, milk, popcorn, potatoes, cookies, spaghetti, corn, and cherry pie. They also come in a variety of forms. The most common and abundant are sugars, fibers, and starches. The basic building block of a carbohydrate is a sugar molecule, a simple union of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. Starches and fibers are essentially chains of sugar molecules. Some contains hundreds of sugars. Some chains are straight, others branch wildly.
Carbohydrates were once grouped into two main categories. Simple carbohydrates included sugars such as fruit sugar (fructose), corn or grape sugar (dextrose or glucose), and table sugar (sucrose). Complex carbohydrates included everything made of three or more linked sugars. Simple sugars were considered bad and complex carbohydrates good. The picture is much more complicated than that.
The digestive system handles all carbohydrates in much the same way - it breaks them down (or tries to break them down) into single sugar molecules, since only these are small enough to cross into the bloodstream. It also converts most digestible carbohydrates into glucose (aka blood sugar), because cells are designed to use this as a universal energy source.
Fiber is an exception. It is put together in such a way that it can't be broken down into sugar molecules, and so passes through the body undigested.
Digestible carbohydrates are broken down in the intestine into their simplest form, sugar, which then enters the blood. As blood sugar levels rise, cells in the pancreas make more and more insulin, the hormone that signals cells to absorb blood sugar for energy or storage. As cells absorb blood sugar, its levels in the bloodstream fall back to a preset minimum. So do insulin levels.
In some people, this cycle doesn't work properly. People with type 1 diabetes don't make enough insulin, so their cells can't absorb sugar. People with type 2 diabetes usually start out with a different problem, their cells don't respond well to insulin's I need sugar signal. Known as insulin resistance, it causes both blood sugar and insulin levels to stay high long after eating. Over time, the heavy demands made on the insulin-making cells wears them out, and insulin production slows, then stops.
Insulin resistance isn't just a blood sugar problem. It has also been linked with a variety of other problems, including high blood pressure, high levels of triglycerides, low HDL (good) cholesterol, heart disease, and possibly some cancers.
Genes, a sedentary lifestyle, being overweight, and eating a diet filled with foods that cause big spikes in blood sugar can all promote insulin resistance. Cutting back on refined grains and eating more whole grains in their place can improve insulin sensitivity.
Some complex carbohydrates:
Spinach
Whole Barley
Grapefruit
Turnip Greens
Buckwheat
Apples
Lettuce
Buckwheat bread
Prunes
Water Cress
Oat bran bread
Apricots, Dried
Zucchini
Oatmeal
Pears
Asparagus
Oat bran cereal
Plums
Artichokes
Museli
Strawberries
Okra
Wild rice
Oranges
Cabbage
Brown rice
Yams
Celery
Multi-grain bread
Carrots
Cucumbers
Whole meal spelt bread
Potatoes
Dill Pickles
Pinto beans
Soybeans
Radishes
Yogurt, low fat
Lentils
Broccoli
Skim milk
Garbanzo beans
Brussels Sprouts
Kidney beans
Eggplant
Lentils
Onions
Split peas
Tomatoes
Soy milk
Cauliflower
Navy beans
Carbohydrates come from a wide array of foods - bread, beans, milk, popcorn, potatoes, cookies, spaghetti, corn, and cherry pie. They also come in a variety of forms. The most common and abundant are sugars, fibers, and starches. The basic building block of a carbohydrate is a sugar molecule, a simple union of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. Starches and fibers are essentially chains of sugar molecules. Some contains hundreds of sugars. Some chains are straight, others branch wildly.
Carbohydrates were once grouped into two main categories. Simple carbohydrates included sugars such as fruit sugar (fructose), corn or grape sugar (dextrose or glucose), and table sugar (sucrose). Complex carbohydrates included everything made of three or more linked sugars. Simple sugars were considered bad and complex carbohydrates good. The picture is much more complicated than that.
The digestive system handles all carbohydrates in much the same way - it breaks them down (or tries to break them down) into single sugar molecules, since only these are small enough to cross into the bloodstream. It also converts most digestible carbohydrates into glucose (aka blood sugar), because cells are designed to use this as a universal energy source.
Fiber is an exception. It is put together in such a way that it can't be broken down into sugar molecules, and so passes through the body undigested.
Digestible carbohydrates are broken down in the intestine into their simplest form, sugar, which then enters the blood. As blood sugar levels rise, cells in the pancreas make more and more insulin, the hormone that signals cells to absorb blood sugar for energy or storage. As cells absorb blood sugar, its levels in the bloodstream fall back to a preset minimum. So do insulin levels.
In some people, this cycle doesn't work properly. People with type 1 diabetes don't make enough insulin, so their cells can't absorb sugar. People with type 2 diabetes usually start out with a different problem, their cells don't respond well to insulin's I need sugar signal. Known as insulin resistance, it causes both blood sugar and insulin levels to stay high long after eating. Over time, the heavy demands made on the insulin-making cells wears them out, and insulin production slows, then stops.
Insulin resistance isn't just a blood sugar problem. It has also been linked with a variety of other problems, including high blood pressure, high levels of triglycerides, low HDL (good) cholesterol, heart disease, and possibly some cancers.
Genes, a sedentary lifestyle, being overweight, and eating a diet filled with foods that cause big spikes in blood sugar can all promote insulin resistance. Cutting back on refined grains and eating more whole grains in their place can improve insulin sensitivity.
Some complex carbohydrates:
Spinach
Whole Barley
Grapefruit
Turnip Greens
Buckwheat
Apples
Lettuce
Buckwheat bread
Prunes
Water Cress
Oat bran bread
Apricots, Dried
Zucchini
Oatmeal
Pears
Asparagus
Oat bran cereal
Plums
Artichokes
Museli
Strawberries
Okra
Wild rice
Oranges
Cabbage
Brown rice
Yams
Celery
Multi-grain bread
Carrots
Cucumbers
Whole meal spelt bread
Potatoes
Dill Pickles
Pinto beans
Soybeans
Radishes
Yogurt, low fat
Lentils
Broccoli
Skim milk
Garbanzo beans
Brussels Sprouts
Kidney beans
Eggplant
Lentils
Onions
Split peas
Tomatoes
Soy milk
Cauliflower
Navy beans
10 April 2007
Improve your mood
While browsing the internet this morning, I stumbled upon a few things. One, this article:
http://www.coloradoan.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070406/NEWS01/704060325/1002
A couple of websites:
http://www.foodmoodsolution.com/
http://www.goodmooddiet.com/
Now, I have never heard of either of these sites or this diet before about 1 hour ago. However, from the reading of these 3 this morning and my past experience, I can say, the good mood/bad mood stuff related to the food that is injested is certainly true.
Foods to improve your mood:
Protein and omega-3 fats
Choose anchovies, black cod, catfish, clams, crab, flounder, halibut, herring, lobster, mackerel, oysters, rockfish, sablefish, salmon, sardines, scallops, shrimp, trout, tuna
Carbohydrates
Choose whole grains, beans, potatoes and root vegetables, winter squash, all fruits and vegetables
Tryptophan and carbohydrates in one
Choose milk and dairy products — lowfat/nonfat milk, yogurt, kefir, smoothies
Antioxidants
Choose fruits, vegetables, grape juice, green tea and oolong tea
Crunchy foods (stimulate the secretion of serotonin by the trigeminal nerve)Choose popped corn, apples, carrots, celeryDecrease stress, anxiety, anger, frustration
Healthy fats (monounsaturated and polyunsaturated)
Choose olives, olive oil, nuts, seeds, nut and seed butters, nut and seed oils, avocados, fish
Whey protein
Choose milk and dairy products — lowfat/nonfat milk, yogurt, kefir, smoothies, whey protein powder
Tryptophan and B vitamins
Choose turkey, lean pork, beef, chicken
Magnesium (decrease headaches)
Choose nuts, beans, whole grains, spinach
Ginger (decrease headaches, pain relief)
Anti-inflammatory effects (bioflavonoids)
Choose pomegranates, grape juice, soy, kale, green beans, apples, citrus, prunes, pineapple, fish, wheat germ
Zinc and iron (boosts immune function)
Choose lean meats, eggs, seafood, whole grains
Feel-bad foods
Alcohol
Caffeine (in large doses)
Fried foods
Fatty meats
Fatty snack foods
Refined sugars and starches (most often in packaged foods)
*The above listing came from the article listed which got its info from The Good Mood Diet.
The above got me thinking, so I went here http://www.calorie-count.com/ and got the calorie counts listed below.
Did You Know:
Fast Food:
Burger King
King size fries (194 g serving size): 600 calories and 33 grams of fat
Small size fries (74 g serving size): 230 calories and 13 grams of fat
Whopper w/Cheese (315 g serving size): 760 calories and 47 grams of fat
Whopper Jr. w/ Cheese (170 g serving size): 410 calories and 24 grams of fat
McDonalds
Super Size Fries (198 g serving size): 610 calories and 29 grams of fat
Small Fries (74 g serving size): 250 calories and 13 grams of fat
Quarter Pounder w/ Cheese (199 g serving size): 396 calories and 49.8 grams of fat
Cheeseburger (119 g serving size): 310 calories and 12 grams of fat
Wendy's
Large Fries (190 g serving size): 590 calories and 24 grams of fat
Kid Size Fries (91 g serving size): 280 calories and 12 grams of fat
Classic Single w/ Everything (218 g serving size): 420 calories and 20 grams of fat
Jr. Cheeseburger (129 g serving size): 240 calories and 13 grams of fat
Sodas
Super Size at McDonalds - 410 calories
Kid Size at McDonalds - 110 calories
A great place to go with tons of wonderfully useful information
http://www.whfoods.com/
http://www.coloradoan.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070406/NEWS01/704060325/1002
A couple of websites:
http://www.foodmoodsolution.com/
http://www.goodmooddiet.com/
Now, I have never heard of either of these sites or this diet before about 1 hour ago. However, from the reading of these 3 this morning and my past experience, I can say, the good mood/bad mood stuff related to the food that is injested is certainly true.
Foods to improve your mood:
Protein and omega-3 fats
Choose anchovies, black cod, catfish, clams, crab, flounder, halibut, herring, lobster, mackerel, oysters, rockfish, sablefish, salmon, sardines, scallops, shrimp, trout, tuna
Carbohydrates
Choose whole grains, beans, potatoes and root vegetables, winter squash, all fruits and vegetables
Tryptophan and carbohydrates in one
Choose milk and dairy products — lowfat/nonfat milk, yogurt, kefir, smoothies
Antioxidants
Choose fruits, vegetables, grape juice, green tea and oolong tea
Crunchy foods (stimulate the secretion of serotonin by the trigeminal nerve)Choose popped corn, apples, carrots, celeryDecrease stress, anxiety, anger, frustration
Healthy fats (monounsaturated and polyunsaturated)
Choose olives, olive oil, nuts, seeds, nut and seed butters, nut and seed oils, avocados, fish
Whey protein
Choose milk and dairy products — lowfat/nonfat milk, yogurt, kefir, smoothies, whey protein powder
Tryptophan and B vitamins
Choose turkey, lean pork, beef, chicken
Magnesium (decrease headaches)
Choose nuts, beans, whole grains, spinach
Ginger (decrease headaches, pain relief)
Anti-inflammatory effects (bioflavonoids)
Choose pomegranates, grape juice, soy, kale, green beans, apples, citrus, prunes, pineapple, fish, wheat germ
Zinc and iron (boosts immune function)
Choose lean meats, eggs, seafood, whole grains
Feel-bad foods
Alcohol
Caffeine (in large doses)
Fried foods
Fatty meats
Fatty snack foods
Refined sugars and starches (most often in packaged foods)
*The above listing came from the article listed which got its info from The Good Mood Diet.
The above got me thinking, so I went here http://www.calorie-count.com/ and got the calorie counts listed below.
Did You Know:
Fast Food:
Burger King
King size fries (194 g serving size): 600 calories and 33 grams of fat
Small size fries (74 g serving size): 230 calories and 13 grams of fat
Whopper w/Cheese (315 g serving size): 760 calories and 47 grams of fat
Whopper Jr. w/ Cheese (170 g serving size): 410 calories and 24 grams of fat
McDonalds
Super Size Fries (198 g serving size): 610 calories and 29 grams of fat
Small Fries (74 g serving size): 250 calories and 13 grams of fat
Quarter Pounder w/ Cheese (199 g serving size): 396 calories and 49.8 grams of fat
Cheeseburger (119 g serving size): 310 calories and 12 grams of fat
Wendy's
Large Fries (190 g serving size): 590 calories and 24 grams of fat
Kid Size Fries (91 g serving size): 280 calories and 12 grams of fat
Classic Single w/ Everything (218 g serving size): 420 calories and 20 grams of fat
Jr. Cheeseburger (129 g serving size): 240 calories and 13 grams of fat
Sodas
Super Size at McDonalds - 410 calories
Kid Size at McDonalds - 110 calories
A great place to go with tons of wonderfully useful information
http://www.whfoods.com/
07 April 2007
Benjamin Franklin
Can you tell when I am procrastinating in regards to homework. Well, that or I have finished said homework. This is interesting none the less.
http://www.thenewatlantis.com/archive/15/weinberger.htm
http://www.thenewatlantis.com/archive/15/weinberger.htm
Scientific progress, Franklin commented, occasions my regretting sometimes that I was born so soon. It is impossible to imagine the height to which may be carried in a thousand years, the power of man over matter. We may perhaps learn to deprive large masses of their gravity, and give them absolute levity, for the sake of easy transport. Agriculture may diminish its labor and double its produce; all diseases may by sure means be prevented or cured, not excepting even that of old age, and our lives lengthened at pleasure even beyond the antediluvian standard.
Foreign Policy you say
I find this article most interesting.
http://www.hoover.org/publications/policyreview/6848097.html
http://www.hoover.org/publications/policyreview/6848097.html
'No subject in the world is as complex as foreign affairs. You are dealing not just with natural facts, such as disasters and disease, but also with social facts such as human beings who change their minds and behave creatively. Natural facts — like a virus — don’t do that. They behave according to fixed laws. Further, social facts are embedded in different cultures. People from different cultures interpret the same facts differently. What does a devout Muslim see when he or she walks by a Christian church? In some cases, an infidel institution. Not exactly what a devout Christian sees. Individual human beings and diverse cultures create multiple meanings from the same set of facts. Given this enormous complexity, how do we make any sense at all out of international
affairs?'
06 April 2007
I love cute Knut
You can also view a video of Knut. I swear I'm in love with the cute little ball of fur.
Interesting
http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,474636,00.html
Forty-eight percent of Germans think the United States is more dangerous than Iran, a new survey shows, with only 31 percent believing the opposite. Germans' fundamental hypocrisy about the US suggests that it's high time for a new bout of re-education.
03 April 2007
Cookbook as literature
The following is an excerpt of a book: Aguecheek’s Beef, Belch’s Hiccup, and Other Gastronomic Interjections: Literature, Culture, and Food Among the Early Moderns by Robert Appelbaum
It may only be of true interest to culinarians and foodies, but there ya go.
http://www.press.uchicago.edu/Misc/Chicago/021262.html
It may only be of true interest to culinarians and foodies, but there ya go.
http://www.press.uchicago.edu/Misc/Chicago/021262.html
Aguecheek’s Beef, Belch’s Hiccup tells the story of how early modern Europeans put into words these complex and evolving relationships between cooks and diners, hosts and guests, palates and tastes, food and humankind. Named after two memorable characters in Twelfth Night, this lively history of food and literature draws on sources ranging from cookbooks and medical texts to comic novels and Renaissance tragedies. Robert Appelbaum expertly weaves such sources together to show how people invented new genres and ways of speaking to express interest in food. He also recounts the evolution of culinary practices and attitudes toward food, connecting them with contemporaneous developments in medical science, economics, and colonial expansion. As he does so, Appelbaum paints a colorful picture of a remarkably conflicted culture in which food was many things—from a symbol of happy sociability to a token of selfish gluttony, from an icon of cultural life to a cause for social struggle.
Yet another interesting read
http://www.nationalinterest.org/Article.aspx?id=13716
Part of the problem is that even if countries share interests, they do not necessarily share the same set of priorities. The United States and the EU-3 share values and share an interest in a non-nuclear Iran. They also share an interest in continued stability in the greater Middle East region. But some in the United States give greater priority to stopping Iran from developing nuclear weapons than to maintaining stability in the region and are prepared to consider destabilizing military action. They may be right. However, few in the EU-3 would agree because they assign greater priority to stability, perhaps because they believe that a nuclear Iran could be managed at an acceptable cost. Even Iraq’s new democratic government, almost an American dependency, seems unlikely to support military action against its neighbor that could immediately and directly threaten its very existence. Telling these governments that they should support U.S. positions because as democracies they share our interests—a hallmark of the Clinton Administration’s foreign policy long before the Bush team came into office and adopted a similar approach—does not address the real issue.
Part of the problem is that even if countries share interests, they do not necessarily share the same set of priorities. The United States and the EU-3 share values and share an interest in a non-nuclear Iran. They also share an interest in continued stability in the greater Middle East region. But some in the United States give greater priority to stopping Iran from developing nuclear weapons than to maintaining stability in the region and are prepared to consider destabilizing military action. They may be right. However, few in the EU-3 would agree because they assign greater priority to stability, perhaps because they believe that a nuclear Iran could be managed at an acceptable cost. Even Iraq’s new democratic government, almost an American dependency, seems unlikely to support military action against its neighbor that could immediately and directly threaten its very existence. Telling these governments that they should support U.S. positions because as democracies they share our interests—a hallmark of the Clinton Administration’s foreign policy long before the Bush team came into office and adopted a similar approach—does not address the real issue.
Two of my favorite things
Being both a culinarian and extremely interested in archaeology, I found this article quite interesting.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2007/03/25/bojone24.xml
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2007/03/25/bojone24.xml
Neanderthal man could control fire and "cooked" food to add sweetness, make it more digestible and to reduce plant toxins. And since some foods - notably shellfish - are significantly more nutritious raw, these were also arguably acts of creativity, of experimentation with taste. With more of its work done for it
by the fire, the human gut became smaller, allowing the brain to grow larger, propelled by the demands of a developing language.
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