(no subject)

U.S. heart group draws hard line on sugar intake | Sugar guidelines could hurt soft drink firms

From the first article:

The group said women should eat no more than 100 calories of added sugar per day, or six teaspoons (25 grams), while most men should keep it to just 150 calories or nine teaspoons (37.5 grams).

That's far below the 22 teaspoons (90 grams) or 355 calories of added sugar consumed by the average American each day, according to a 2004 government survey.

The guidelines apply to any sugar or sugar syrup added in food processing or at the table as opposed to sugar found naturally in food such as fruit.

memish

As seen on several friends' pages:

I propose a US health care meme which might help put faces on how screwed up the current system is.

If you are a US citizen and could never under any circumstances afford private health insurance, copy this meme to your LJ. Even if you have health care through work now, write as if your one-layoff-away-from-losing-it has happened and you're facing the job of getting insurance on your own.

If you have friends or family members who are in the same boat and are not on LJ, feel free to mention them too. I suggest thumbnail descriptions which include no names or identifying information, in the interests of privacy.

I had Medicaid growing up, which paid for all of my health care (especially eye care) until age 22, IIRC. Only two of my jobs ever offered me healthcare. Even when I worked for the home health agency, I didn't have healthcare. I have worn the same pair of glasses for over a decade.

No one in my immediate family except my father (and, through him, my mother) has health insurance. For the vast majority of our lives as a family, even that was not the case.

the false god is not the false god

While researching background information for "The Concubine", I came across this source on Middle Eastern history, specifically for the Hebrews for the period from Abraham to David (to 1000 BCE). One section reads:

The First Book of Samuel, 9:15, describes Saul as the Lord's choice. And in Chapter 10 of the First Book of Samuel, Saul is described as one of Yahweh's prophets. Saul appears to have been close to the worship of the Canaanite god Ba'al. He named one of his sons Eshbaal (meaning Ba'al exists) and another son he had named Meribaal (meaning Ba'al rewards). Also, one of Saul's Benjamite clansmen was Bealiah (which meant Yahweh is Ba'al).

This is incredibly interesting, etymologically and otherwise.

(no subject)

Was Barney Frank's 'Nazi' Questioner a LaRouche Cultist? -- by way of this article about the depths the rightwing fringe (thanks, supergee)

Majority of Americans Believe Health Care Reform 'Myths' -- the term should be 'lies'

(no subject)

'Glamour' is 'grammar', according to leopold_paula_b at etymology.

raspberry indeed

Comcast's On Demand currently has a flick called American Raspberry (1977) in its Free Movies section.

It's in the vein of Amazon Women on the Moon, and much of the flick is funny with the added bonus of '70s nostalgia. However, there were two or three jokes that just went beyond the pale. One of the very first sketches parodies assassination/sniping ala Death Race 2000. Amazed as I was to see such material unearthed in the current political environment, I was just stunned that anyone at any time thought that the subject could engender a joke, at least in that context.

what constitutes a civilized society?

The question of whether or not the interrogation techniques worked is irrelevant. I am rather stunned to see this rationale trotted out even at this late date.

atdt1991 points to Glenn Greenwald's estimation of what every American should be made to learn about the IG Torture Report.

I think this will be a significant event.

White House Warns of Massive Swine Flu Spread: Dire Report Says 50 Percent Infection Rate, Up to 90,000 Deaths Possible This Flu Season From H1N1

(no subject)

Obesity linked to dementia, Alzheimer's by Pitt researchers | Obesity linked to brain shrinkage, erectile dysfunction