Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Chicken nuggets

Hey everyone,

You know them. You love them. They taste delicious with some Bar-b-Que sauce or sweet and sour sauce. They make you feel better after you eat them, but from where do they come? Well, it's a simple process. You start with genetically modified chickens whose breasts have been so enhanced that they can't stand on their own power. If they survive the farm process, they are shipped to a plant where they are cleaned and prepared for the next step. In this step, they're put through a mechanical separator which removes the breasts and leaves the unwanted parts. It's ingenious really, but, then, the chicken breasts are ground up and turned into a collective paste which can then be shaped into signature shapes which we are so used to consuming. However, here is one more fact for you. Chicken nuggets contain 38 ingredients (at least for McDonald's). The choice to eat these foods is up to you, but I've decided against it. Personally, I think that people should have as much food knowledge as possible, so they can make decisions for themselves. The choice is now yours.

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Fast food continued

Hey everyone,

Fast food may be addicting, but there isn't overwhelming proof of this. However, the proof necessary will probably not come because that research would be unethical and possibly dangerous. In despite of this, the message still remains the same, fast food should be avoided. Other reasons exist for this stance other than addiction. First off, the food is loaded with salt, fat, sugar, and calories. Moreover, it's also how the food is created. Particularly, I would avoid hamburgers (I don't always) and chicken nuggets (I do avoid these however). For anyone who wants to enjoy these foods without any reservations, I would quit reading now. Hamburger comes from beef, as I'm sure you know. However, in the old days, cows were fed grass and grazed normally. When they were butchered, the meat of one or just a few were ground into ground beef which has fat added to it to create hamburger. Today, the process is very different. Cows are raised on massive farms where they are fed corn and antibiotics. Yes, antibiotics, but that's another post. These massive farms are so crowded that cows live in their own feces. Images like this are not pleasant, but this is what food production has become. Some of this is bound to be included in our hamburger (which is why I would not recommend letting children eat hamburger). The meat from these cows is gathered into one lump sum which allows thousands or even tens of thousands of cows to be in one package of hamburger. If this doesn't disturb you, go ahead and keep eating regular hamburger. However, there are better options, but they cost a little more. For example, you can purchase hamburger made from cows that have been grass fed which will be listed on the package. However,I would recommend buying it from your local butcher or a local farmer who create their own (if they're around). This may not seem like much, but it's a start to consuming safer meat.

Next post, chicken nuggets.

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Fast food

Hey everyone,

So, I would assume that everyone knows that fast food (yes, even the ones that claim they are healthy) isn't good for you. Considering that we know this food isn't healthy for us, why do we still consume it? Well, the first impulse would say that it's quick, easy, cheap, and usually tasty. Or, maybe, the food is addictive. I know it sounds crazy, but science has began to back up this view. Fats and simple sugars can have similar effects to nicotine and heroin, according to some scientists. For example, John Hoebel, a psychologist from Princeton, has done experiments with rats concerning the concept of food addiction. Rats were fed a diet that consisted of 25% sugar. After being taken off the diet, rats began to suffer from apparent withdrawal in the form of chattering teeth and the shakes like those seen in people who quit nicotine or morphine. Another level was added to this research where he gave the rodents a drug blocking opioid receptors, and the rats went through the same withdrawal process as heroin addicts (this has been simplified). If you want to read this article, the address is http://banzhaf.net/docs/newsci.html. Neuroscientist Amy Kelley has found even more convincing evidence to support the addictive notion of food. Rats which were given a synthetic enkephalin (better known as endorphins) ate up to six times more fat than normal and increased amounts of salts and sweets even when not hungry. She also found that overeating tasting foods lead to long-lasting changes in brain chemistry similar to morphine addiction. Now, hopefully, you are saying "rats are not people". Yes, you are correct. These results are a generalization. However, we can't conduct research like this on people because it is unethical. If we could, we'd be able to confirm these results. However, I doubt that will ever happen, but we should seriously consider the implications of this research and eat less fast food in general.

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Bariatric surgery

Hey everyone,

For anyone who doesn't know, bariatric surgery is a procedure where either part of the stomach is removed or there is a band placed around the stomach. Both of these approaches allow less food to be consumed, and, thereby, the recipient loses weight very quickly. There are various benefits to this procedure including recovery from diabetes and decreased risk for heart disease. Likewise,the weight loss in these cases are dramatic with averages ranging from 35kg (77lbs) to 53kg (116.6lbs), depending on which surgery people receive. However, I am not a fan of these surgeries because they encourage the idea of the quick fix that everyone seems to want for every problem. Now, I will admit that the surgery isn't easy on its recipients, but years of overeating and under exercising has lead to the level of obesity necessary for these surgeries. Personally, I think a natural weight loss is more rewarding and teaches people the skills necessary to maintain their weight. Now, there is one thing that this surgery proves without a doubt. People can lose weight through calorie restriction. If it were true that the many people who claim they can't lose weight, this surgery shouldn't work. Its efficacy, without question, proves these people wrong. My final concern is that I've seen no evidence that the diets of bariatric surgery recipients changes after surgery. There is a regimen that they have to follow for a time, and they are encouraged to eat a protein heavy diet. However, I have found no evidence concerning behavior, good or bad, after surgery. When I do, I'll discuss it. However, the message to focus on here is that people can lose weight. It simply takes exercise and calorie restriction.

Friday, November 20, 2009

Health dairy: Post 10

Hey everyone,

So, I've finally done it. I've cut out regular pop from my diet. I'm still consuming diet pop which has carbonated water and caffeine, but I'm not consuming those regular calories. I'm down to 305.1 lbs, but I need to exercise more because I am definitely lacking in that area. I'm still pretty good about food. I don't eat that much per meal, and I, largely, don't snack. Finally, I still don't eat after 8 PM, and I always eat a good breakfast. I have to say that this really makes me hopeful. One continued difference in my diet is my consumption of meat. Probably, I consume three servings of meat a day which is still a lot, but I want that protein to maintain my muscle mass. Finally, this morning, I weighed in at 305.1 lbs, and I'm almost back to what I weighed three weeks ago. It wasn't even hard. That's the awesome thing. There is hope for weight loss.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Breakfast, it's more than a meal

Hey everyone,

We've been told time and again that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. However, when I talk to people who want to lose weight, breakfast is meal that they skip. Not surprisingly in these cases, their largest meal tends to be supper. This is the wrong way to eat if weight is your concern. Breakfast should not only be the largest meal, but it is the most forgiving because you have the entire day to burn off those calories. However, the best benefit of breakfast is that you burn more calories throughout the day; consequently, your body burns 20-30% more calories when you do this. This is an amazing way to boost weight loss. Assuming you want to lose weight, this is a powerful tool to add to your arsenal, and it is a relatively easy behavior change. When it's combined with a smaller lunch and supper, weight loss becomes easier without reducing total daily calories much or at all. I think you'll find that you'll have more energy throughout the day as well possibly making exercise easier. Personally, I've used this as part of my weight loss journey, and I've lost 25 pounds over a two and a half months (although I've used other things like healthy eating and exercise). Think about doing this if you don't already.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Processed foods, friend or foe

Hey everyone,

The cheap food that we continually enjoy today is largely processed. Almost anything you want can be packaged or canned. Various meats, fruits, and vegetables can be bought out of a can. Pasta, eggs, milk, and damn near everything else is packaged. This, in and of itself, is not a problem nutritionally. However, many of these are not the same as what they would have been even 50 years ago. For these food items to have a long self life, they have to be enhanced with preservatives. Many canned foods don't need these preservatives, but items in plastic do. However, most processed foods have been changed, none the less. Foods, now, are created to be made as cheaply and easily as possible. This has lead to the overuse of the vegetables corn and soy. If you don't believe me, look at the ingredients on the back of a package. More than likely you'll see high fructose corn syrup or soy. However, there are other corn derivatives, such as gluten, maltodextrin, natural flavorings, sucrose, and xanthan gum. I know those probably don't look familar, and that's because they are not natural. Processed food is meant to be cheap and easy to cook, but these foods contain ingredients that our bodies haven't encountered even two generations ago meaning that our doesn't know how to process them. They are also nutritionally deficient to their natural counterparts (white vs. brown rice). However, there is a simple solution. We can consume foods that are derived from whole wheat flour or is the natural product (e.g. rice, pasta, bread), or, better yet, we can make these items ourselves. Also, we can focus on foods with five or less ingredients, which becomes difficult. So, I would recommend eating food with ingredients that you recognize, if there are more than five ingredients exist. Now, it's probably difficult to not purchase all of these items, but a reduction is an excellent start. Processed food is a foe to health and diet.

Monday, November 16, 2009

The Godfather Parts I and II

Hey everyone,

Over the last week, I watched these movies which are undisputed classics. This isn't the first time that I've watched these installments of the Godfather series. However, the difference was that, this time, I watched the commentaries for both movies. Coppola who directed both movies discussed the process which was very different for each movie. The first Godfather was terrible for him because he was a young director who they hired to make a small movie. At this time, the novel was not nearly as popular as it would become. At first, they wanted a contemporary movie with hippies and all, but, eventually, a closer adaptation of the novel would be created where the main story occurs in the late 1940s. Once the production began, Coppola would have to answer to executives constantly who he thought was going to fire him. They claimed that the scenes were not as good as they should have been and also claimed spending and casting issues. Marlon Brando and Al Pacino were two supposed errors. As you know, they would prove to be some of the best casting decisions. As a final blow, the studio wanted the movie to last less than two hours and fifteen minutes. Coppola's first version was two hours and forty-fve minutes, but he cut it down to two hours twenty minutes. Upon viewing this version, Bob Evans, a producer, would side with Coppola and tell him to add the material which had been removed. This would save the movie and prove to be the best decision made by the studio. The movie, of course, moved on to be a monumental success and even earned three Oscars for Best Picture, Best Actor, and Best Adapted Screenplay.

On the second movie, Coppola would have complete control from the studio. He would also receive a large paycheck as well as a piece of the ticket sales. Coppola would win three Oscars for producing, writing, and directing. Coppola described the production as smooth and much less stressful. While there is an argument about which movie is better, the second film is, at the very least, an equal in every sense. These two movies are considered to be a couple of the best films ever made filling two of the top three spots on imdb.com's list of 100 top rated movies. They also both made AFI's list of 100 greatest movies, and, if you haven't seen them, you are really missing out.



Sunday, November 15, 2009

Health diary: Post 9

Hey everyone,

I missed last week and not for a good reason. I fell off the wagon. My exercising has largely stopped, and I'm eating too much again. However, I haven't gained much weight. My weight yesterday was 309.2 lbs which is fairly close to my accurate weight. This is a turning point for me however. Will I get back onto the wagon or won't I? I know this post is short, but you'll find out next week. Good luck to other people who are trying to lose some pounds.

The Men Who Stare at Goats

Hey everyone,

On Friday night, I went to see this movie starring George Clooney, Ewan McGregor, Jeff Bridges, and Kevin Spacey. The story begins simply enough. As a journalist in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Bob Wilton (McGregor) has a normal life with his beautiful wife. Things begin to change when he interviews a man who claims to be able to use remote viewing, a psychic ability which allows the viewer to see anything in the world. With this ability, the man tells Wilton that the Loch Ness monster is a ghost of a dinosaur. Wilton can only draw one conclusion at this point, this man is clearly crazy. However, he also shows him a videotape where he supposedly kills a hamster using his mind. The video reveals a hamster that falls over, but the creature is not dead. Wilton asks how long it took this man to do this, and he responds: "three hours". The man also mentions the names of others in the program including Lyn Cassidy. Wilton doesn't think much of the encounter and continues on with his life. Soon, his life takes a turn for the worst, and he seeks a new adventure. Iraq becomes his new destination, but, upon arrival, he has a difficult time finding a way into the war torn country. To pass the time, he waits in Kuwait, where he meets Lyn Cassidy (Clooney) who begins to tell him about the First Earth Battalion, a secret paranormal psychic program to enhance soldiers. Leading this group is Lt. Colonel Bill Django (Bridges) who finds and encourages new age techniques to warfare. Cassidy quickly becomes the top pupil with abilities far beyond any other recruit. Soon, another recruit joins the team, Larry Hooper (Spacey) who hates everyone especially Cassidy and will eventually will bring about adverse consequences for the First Earth Battalion. Cassidy explains all of this as he and Wilton head into Iraq on a special mission. While I'd love to tell you more, I really liked this movie and think that you should go see it. 8/10

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Clinton Gustra Sustainable Growth Initiative

Hey everyone,

This branch works in South America, specifically in Peru and Columbia. They are working to improve the problems that come with poverty. There are three main efforts: economic development, health, and education. The economic development includes supporting organic farms, providing housing for displaced persons, and helping the poor in general to climb above the poverty line. The education program provides schooling for displaced children which includes nutritional classes, counseling programs, self-esteem building and others. The final approach is health based, and it focuses on cataracts which is a serious problem due to unsafe drinking water, and a lack of Vitamins A, C, and E. In the United States, I think that we tend to take these privileges for granted (health, education, and poverty). Imagine where you'd be without these privileges, the time for action is now.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Clinton HIV/AIDS Initiative

Hey everyone,

HIV/AIDS has become a pandemic. However, the problem has hit the Sub-African continent the hardest. Depending on the source, world-wide estimates put the amount of HIV positive at 33.2 million to 42 million people. In Sub-Saharan Africa, there are nearly 25 million who have HIV or AIDS. While in developed countries the outlook is promising, life expectancy is considering lower for those in Sub-Saharan Africa with HIV or AIDS. The HIV/AIDS Initiative branch of the Clinton Foundation focuses on supporting governments to deliver services to underserved populations such as children and rural populations, increasing countries' human resource capacity to deliver care and treatment, and preventing the transmission of the disease from mothers to their children. Africa is where the problem is the worst, but this branch also helps other countries in South America, Asia, and Europe. Together, we can prevent the spread of this disease and eventually wipe it out.

Clinton Economic Opportunity Intiative

Hey everyone,

This branch was created to help families and individuals in the United States succeed and businesses in underserved communities grow. They are doing this by providing entrepreneurship opportunities and helping people with personal finance. Since this has begun, these programs have given 72,000 hours of pro bono consultation, helped Hurricane Katrina survivors to earn tax credits, and developed relationships with cities and states to increase access to low cost financial services. This is the kind of charity that this country needs. Poverty is far too common for how much money is available in this country.

Monday, November 9, 2009

John F. Kennedy quotes

Hey everyone,

I haven't posted in a while, but I'm back. Next Sunday, I'll write a health diary post, and, after this post, I'll continue to discuss the William J. Clinton Foundation. JFK was a man who I admired very much, and I wanted to share some of my favorite quotes with you. I hope you like them.

"Our problems are man-made, therefore they may be solved by man. And man can be as big as he wants. No problem of human destiny is beyond human beings."

"For in the final analysis, our most basic common link, is that we all inhabit this small planet, we all breathe the same air, we all cherish our children's futures, and we are all mortal."

"If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich."

"Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable."

"There are risks and costs to a program of action. But they are far less than the long-range risks and costs of comfortable inaction."

"Let us think of education as the means of developing our greatest abilities, because in each of us there is a private hope and dream which, fulfilled, can be translated into benefit for everyone and greater strength for our nation."

"If we cannot end now our differences, at least we can help make the world safe for diversity."

I may compile a second list in the future, but this is good enough for now.

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Prop1 results

Hey everyone,

So, Prop1 passed which repealed the gay marriage law in Maine. Forty-seven percent of voters voted in favor of gay marriage, so it was close. Ironically (at least it seems ironic), legislation allowing medical marijuana passed in Maine. However, on a brighter side, Washington passed a bill to allow same sex unions. Still, it raises a question as to why this was repealed. Perhaps, it's the definition of marriage as compared to same sex unions. However, I don't see how there's a difference. I'm sure there will be an appeal, but I doubt that the results will be overturned even though it's discrimination. Honestly, I'm surprised that a socially liberal state such as Maine would overturn this decision, but, apparently, I'm wrong about the direction of this country. However, with every loss is a possibility of hope because increasingly conflicting results will encourage the Supreme Court to hear these cases and change the law once and for all.

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Prop1 in Maine

Hey everyone,

Maine passed a law allowing same sex marriage a few months ago. Today, there is a vote to repeal this law. As you may have figured out, I am in support of gay marriage, and I hope that Maine will prove that the state, in whole, is as well. The problem for me is that this is even an issue at all. I can understand where the opposing side is coming from. The world is changing to something where they aren't the majority. As a straight, white man, I can see how gay rights may make someone feel like their glory days are over or that morality is slowly being destroyed. However, this is not the case. These laws are balancing the scales creating equality. So, people say that the bible speaks against it, and that gay people are unnatural. However, examples exist in the animal kingdom (google it) showing that it may not be as unnatural as you think. And, if you're against gay rights because the bible says so, well, you've never read the passage about loving your neighbor. This didn't say love everyone but gays or some other minority. All were included. Jesus also discusses a man and a women becoming one, but this seems more like a condemnation of divorce than gay marriage. Marriage is a unification of two people (man and woman, woman and woman, or man and man). Marriage is a right that we all deserve to whichever human being we want to marry as long as it consensual. Imagine if you had been told that you couldn't marry the person that you love and who loved you back. Would that be an injustice or discrimination? Absolutely. Not allowing the same rights to a minority group is discrimination. There are no exemptions to this rule. If Prop1 passes in Maine, it will be a sad day in this country and will set a precedent for discrimination. No one should have to fight for rights, and no one has to as long as they aren't denied to anyone.

Monday, November 2, 2009

Health diary: post 8

Hey everyone,

So, I actually weighed myself on Friday, and I was 305.0lbs. The weight loss continues, but I'm becoming less consistent with my running and habits. I'm worried that I'm going to fall off the wagon soon, and I can't allow that happen. Personally, I think I need to get out of the house for a while and shake things up. Maybe I should move my exercise outside while I still can. Treadmills are incredibly monotonous, and they aren't helping me out. Pop is still an issue, but I'm becoming sick of it. The really good thing is that, when I don't eat well, I feel terrible, and I never want to eat consistently like that again. The final thing is to eat more fruits and vegetables and possibly drink more alcohol on a regular basis. Other than that, the weight loss journey continues.

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Clinton Hunter Development Initiative

Hey everyone,

So, I'm still talking about the William J. Clinton Foundation and all the work it does around the world and in the United States. However, this branch focuses on Africa and achieving sustainable growth there. In Africa, 325 million residents live on a one dollar a day or less and don't have access to clean water, quality health care, and other goods needed for survival. Also, this branch is focusing on agriculture because two thirds of Africans depend upon it to survive, but many lack markets that offer fair prices as well as fertilizer, disease resistant seeds, and other farming implements.

Currently, this initiative is working in Rwanda and Malawi to change these problems in a way that is locally sustainable. So far, $100 million will invested over ten years, but I'm sure they could always use more money or people.

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Clinton Global Initiative (CGI)

Hey everyone,

I'm finally going to return to the William J. Clinton Foundation. This another branch of the foundation which was established in 2005. This uses the non-government sector to improve specific problems around the world, and, by so doing, it helps to build a more integrated global community of shared benefits, responsibilities, and values. Members of the CGI create pragmatic solutions to various problems around the globe. These problems are then solved through "commitments to action". So far, there have been 1700 of these which has raised $57 billion and helped 200 million people in over 170 countries. Examples of these commitments to action include the access to clean, safe drinking water for 12 million people, more than 10 million children have gained better access to education, and 33 million acres of forest have been protected or restored, just to name a few. There are many more, and this organization is doing a lot of good in the world.

As a side note, all information comes from http://www.clintonfoundation.org/what-we-do/clinton-global-initiative/, and ten percent of proceeds from this blog go to this foundation (hopefully more someday).

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Health diary: post 7

Hey everyone,

I've followed my diet with a strict adherence, but I need to drink less pop still and eat more vegetables. I'm doing better with the pop situation, but I still consume way too much. My running has also fallen off a little bit (I missed two days) but that will bounce back soon enough. Other than those issues, I am steadily losing weight and quickly approaching 300 lbs. I know that's still a lot, but it's been over four years since I've weighed less than that. One other thing, I need to lift more weights and consume more protein. I don't feel like I've lost muscle mass, but it's inevitable. I need to start hitting the local weight room and do a half hour workout three days a week. However, eating less, not eating after 8, and focusing on eating better have yielded an awesome result. When I stepped on the scale this morning, I weighed 307.7 lbs. Actually, I had weighed quite a bit less yesterday, but I didn't run or walk yesterday. This is still an excellent loss, and I really can't wait until that 3 is a 2.

Friday, October 23, 2009

Stephen Colbert and conservapedia.com

Hey all,

On October 7th, 2009, Stephen Colbert presented a story about the website conservapedia.com which is a conservative version of wikipedia. Apparently, wikipedia is liberal, anti-christian, and anti-American. However, I don't see it. Well, they also think that the bible is too liberal and have set about changing it to coincide with conservative values. This is a fairly simple process. They remove the liberal parts. However, this has lead to criticism (of course) even from conservatives. Well, Dr. Stephen T. Colbert D.F.A. discussed this topic on his show and told his fans that he wished to be included in the bible as an historical figure. His fans promptly replied and did just that. However, the overflow from the fans crashed the site for an extended period of time which was considered mass vandalism by conservapedia.com. However, as a fairly liberal person, I love this site and love the Colbert Report, yet I am disheartened by a group which would go to such extremes to present their views. As a side note, I recommend that, if you go to the site, read about Stephen Colbert. It's a hoot.

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Alliance for a Healthier Generation

Hey all,

This arm of the William J. Clinton Foundation focuses on fighting childhood obesity. Clearly, this is a problem in this country. As I've expressed in previous posts, I agree that this is a major problem, and something needs to be done about it immediately. With increasing rates of type 2 diabetes, the United States is a facing an emerging epidemic, yet there are many other problems relating to obesity (heart disease, certain cancers, etc.). Children and teenagers present an excellent opportunity to reverse chronic health problems because they are more likely to permanently change health behaviors. The approach taken by the Alliance for a Healthier Generation is a four pronged one. School is the first one, and, while it is obvious, the Alliance for a Healthier Generation focuses on teaching parents, teachers, and principles about health promotion, healthy eating, and physical activity to decrease obesity and improve health of children. The second prong is children themselves. They use children and popular names or outlets for children to educate, engage, and activate healthy lifestyles. The third prong is healthcare; consequently, prevention, treatment, and the diagnosis of obesity by these agencies is the main goal here. The final prong is by working with industries to provide healthier food for children. They are, in my opinion, moving in the right direction towards solving this problem. If we don't fix it now, the solutions in the future will cost much more.

Monday, October 19, 2009

William J. Clinton Foundation

Hey everyone,

This is one of many excellent organizations that is focusing on major problems facing the world today. While there are also many other charities that I will talk about in upcoming posts, I want to focus on this one because it trying to improve many of the issues facing the world today (which are also important issues for me). This organization was started by former President Clinton after he left the White House to tackle the many issues facing the world today. He felt limited in government and thought a private organization could achieve the things he wanted to in office. Currently, the William J. Clinton Foundation is focusing on global climate change, HIV/AIDS in the developing world, childhood obesity and economic opportunity in the United States, and economic development in Africa and Latin America. Now, I doubt that there is anyone who can say that any of these issues are not important. However, if you feel that one or some are not important or that one is more important than the rest, you can choose to which area you want to give. Donations start at just $25, but you can make monthly contributions or volunteer if you are that committed. In later blogs, I will outline the areas of giving, but I encourage you to look for yourself at www.clintonfoundation.org. Also, 95.9% of the money donated goes directly to the programs. If you look at these problems and think that your donation won't help much or that the problems are insurmountable, well, $25 dollars can provide clean water for a person for life in underdeveloped countries. Now, imagine if just a dozen people gave $25 a month for 30 years. This group of people could provide a lifetime supply of clean water for 4320 people. That's two of my hometowns. Everyone can make a difference, we just have to believe it and act.

P.S. Ten percent of proceeds from this blog will go to charity (I get paid by the click).

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Where the Wild Things Are

Hey all,

Last night, I saw this movie (it's also a book), and I was blown away. The story was fantastic. It was breathtaking, heartbreaking, heartwarming, and fun. The story centers around Max who just wants to play but no one wants to play with him. Eventually, he makes a scene around his mother and her boyfriend. She grabs him, and he bites her still trying to play. She berates him, so he runs away. At this point, he enters his fantasy world. Max hops into a sailboat and traverses the seas until he reaches an island. Once on the island, he encounters creatures who are an amalgam of different animals. There's Carol who is good at smashing and breaking things. Douglas who is Carol's best friend and a yes man. Alexander who no one listens to or even likes. There's Ira and Judith who are in love. Ira is good at making holes and Judith is a downer. Then, there's K.W. who Carol wants to be close to, but she has left. Eventually, they make Max king after he is able to lie about special powers and promises to take away all of the sadness. While the beginning is good, conflict erupts and things don't stay good. I won't spoil any more because it is worth seeing. I'll conclude by saying that this movie really affected me. I was on the brink of tears in the theater, and that almost never happens to me. Honestly, 10/10.

Health diary: post 6

Hey all,

Today was my traditional weigh in, and I thought I would actually weigh a little more this week. However, I weighed 311.6, and, while it is only 0.2 lbs, it is an improvement. I actually weighed 310.8 on Friday morning, but I ate at a Mongolian grill that night (it's my weakness). This bumped my weight up a little, but I still weigh less. My body fat percentage continues to drop, and I'm still pretty good with how much and what I eat. I've been running, but my parents treadmill broke. I didn't run yesterday (I maybe would have weighed less if I had). Now, I'm going to move to the high school where I can lift weights and run in a warm environment. I'm guessing that next week I will have another big dropoff. The only hurdle that's left for me is pop. It's still a part of my diet, and it has to go. It's not good for my teeth, bones, or body. However, I routinely pass up other unhealthy foods such as chips, candy bars, or candy. I'm definitely on the path to health. Hopefully, by next fall, I will weigh 250lbs or less.

Friday, October 16, 2009

Arrested Development: the movie

Hey all,

It's official. There will be an Arrested Development movie with the entire original cast. This is old news, but I'm still excited for the event. Mitch Hurwitz, who created the show, and Jim Vallely, a writer and executive producer, are currently working on the script. Reports suggest that they are about half-way done. Originally, there was some dispute because Michael Cera did not sign onto the production immediately; honestly, I don't blame him. This project may not have moved anywhere and wanting a script is a reasonable response for a budding Hollywood star. Hopefully, it will not be in development hell or (yeah, I'm going there) arrested development. According to imdb.com, it's slated for a release in 2011. However, Mitch Hurwitz has said that it will not be an expensive production. This has left some fans worried, but, if you assume that they spent about 3 million dollars per episode, they could make a pretty good movie for 20 or 25 million dollars. With Hurwitz and Vallely at the wheel, I think the movie will be just as good as any of the episodes. Personally, I can't wait for the Bluth family to be back, and, hopefully, there will be an appearance by Barry Zuckercorn, Ann Veal, Franklin Delano Bluth, and many others from the show.

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Colbert Report

Hey all,

I love this show, but I especially have to give it credit for accurately lampooning politics. Stephen Colbert (announced Col-bear(oh, he wouldn't like that)) hosts this show as the fictional uber-conservative version of himself. Recently, I love that he has taken a stand for health and health care reform which I can't applaud enough. Best of all, the show has continued to be funny, smart, and on point. Any of which could easily fall by the wayside. Colbert also tends to lampoon religion even though he teaches Sunday school and is a devout Catholic. It's a pleasant change from the belief (in the U.S. at least) that religion is essentially infallible on television or in the media. Also, I have to laud his charity work (he makes plugs for charities on the show), and his recent trip to Iraq. While he doesn't seem like a supporter of the war, it was ballsy to go over to Iraq just to entertain troops and boost morale. Since I'm fawning over this show, I'll also mention the other segments that I really enjoy which are The Word, That's the Craziest F***ing Thing I've Ever Heard, and Alpha Dog of the Week. Finally, his narcissism another excellent part of the show with such efforts as having a Hungarian bridge named after him, and having a treadmill on the International Space Station named after him. Or, his effort to change the bible at conservapedia.com. Honestly, the entire show is great because I laugh out loud at it, but it also makes me think. Thank you, Dr. Stephen T. Colbert D.F.A.

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Alfred Nobel

Hey all,

This will not be a long post about Alfred Nobel, but I wanted to mention this man. Nobel was a Swedish chemist, engineer, and inventor. Nobel invented dynamite in 1867, but he always intended for this explosive to be used for peace. However, this would not always be the case. While it is arguable, this is one cause for the Nobel Peace Prize. Towards the end of his life, he included the creation of awards in his will. These would be the Nobel Prizes which included the categories of Literature, Medicine, Physics, Chemistry, Peace, and eventually Economics. Famous recipients include Albert Einstein, Ivan Pavlov, Teddy Roosevelt, Sinclair Lewis, William Faulkner, Winston Churchill, Ernest Hemingway, John Steinbeck, Mother Theresa, Elie Wiesel, Toni Morrison, Nelson Mandela, Jimmy Carter, Woodrow Wilson, and, now, Barrack Obama. The list goes on and on. But, I think this is Nobel's greatest achievement because science and peace should be rewarded. These gifts and abilities should be exalted.

Monday, October 12, 2009

Zombieland

Hey all,

On Saturday, I went to see Zombieland. As the title suggests, there are zombies involved. In this take, the zombies have mad cow disease that causes a swelling of the brain, fever, and a taste for human flesh. All science aside, it is an innovative idea. For once, this is an intentional zombie comedy which can be gruesome at times, but it is a lot of fun to watch. It centers around four main characters who go by city names, so they don't become too personal with each other. There's Columbus who was effectively a hermit before the outbreak. He is the main character who has survived the two month outbreak by following certain rules. The main four are: Cardio, Wear Your Seat Belt, The Double Tap, and Beware of Bathrooms. After being alone for two months, he decides to head East looking for his parents. Along the way, he meets another survivor who is heading to Tallahassee which is also the name by which he is known. The man is a zombie killing machine, and it's a lot of fun to watch him work. The other two characters are sisters named Wichita and Little Rock who just happen to be scam artists. Consequently, they scam Columbus and Tallahassee and steal their vehicle. Revenge becomes the motive after they stop heading East and chase after the sisters, but they are scammed again and eventually join the sisters on a trip to California where a supposed safe haven exists. I won't spoil the rest of the film, but I liked it. It had good characters, good action, and great comedy. 8/10.

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Health diary: post 5

Hey all,

I weighed myself this morning and found that I had lost some weight over this previous week. Running, some weights, and healthy eating were my continued strategies. However, I'm still drinking pop, and it has to go. Because it's been cold, I've been running on my parent's treadmill where I sweat more than I would outside. This may be why I've lost so much weight this week. There is also another problem. I haven't eaten as many vegetables this week as I usually do, but I didn't eat much meat either. More processed foods were consumed by me, so I have to work on that. Still, I''m just eating less food at every meal, and I try not to consume any calories after 8 PM. The strategy is still working. Just for the record, I've ran 24 miles this week. So, I suppose you're wondering how much weight I've lost. Well, this morning, I weighed in at 311.8 lbs. My weight last week was 319.3lbs, but I felt I was water heavy and thought that maybe 315 or 316 was closer. That said, I'm losing about three pounds a week which is the max weight loss that anyone should lose in a week. Honestly, two pounds a week would be better, but I weigh so much that it isn't difficult for me to lose 3 pounds a week. I expect this rate of weight loss to lessen once I hit 280 or so. Any suggestions or questions?

Saturday, October 10, 2009

Dr. Horrible's Sing-a-Long Blog

Hey all,

So, a few months ago, I watched this, and I loved it. It was unbelievable because it combined some of my favorite things. Excellent acting, comedy, and spectacular music. This online sensation came about because of the writer's strike. There was nothing new on television, but Joss Whedon and his brothers wanted to create some new content. Dr. Horrible's Sing-a-Long Blog was born with a straight forward narrative. There are three main characters: Dr. Horrible who is an aspiring super villain played by Neil Patrick Harris, Captain Hammer who is Dr. Horrible's nemesis and, technically, a good guy played by Nathan Fillion, and Penny who is a social activist played by Felicia Day. It starts with Dr. Horrible doing a video blog and pining for Penny who he loves even though they have never spoken. The only time he sees her is when they wash laundry together. However, during a heist, she approaches him, and they have their first conversation. Captain Hammer appears and foils the robbery and captures the attention of Penny. At the same time, Dr. Horrible is trying to show off for the Evil League of Evil, but a botched robbery only means that his actions will have to become drastic to gain acceptance. Dr. Horrible will have to kill somebody. At first, he is apprehensive until he runs into Captain Hammer at the laundromat with Penny. They recognize each other, and Captain Hammer tells him what he's going to do with Penny just to spite him. After this, Dr. Horrible knows who he wants to kill. I won't spoil anymore, but I can't laud this work enough. Check it out. It's on hulu and youtube or you can buy it.

Friday, October 9, 2009

We've crashed into and caused an explosion on the moon

Hey all,

This morning, NASA crashed two spacecraft into the moon in the search for water. The results have not been confirmed, but I'm guessing that there is a significant amount of water on the moon. The first explosion was not caused by a bomb, but by the sheer energy of the first spacecraft. However, the crater is the size of a tennis court and about 10 feet deep. The explosion also kicked up moon dust through which the second craft flew to obtain data about the water situation on the lunar surface. The second craft also collided with the surface. Still, this information could be helpful for establishing a moon base for future space missions, but the prospect of space travel beyond the moon by humans is what really excites me. However, at the same time, this mission seems like a step back for NASA. Moon landings by humans ended in 1972, and we've never been back. The work and expense may be more than the knowledge obtained, but that thinking is only looking forward 50 or 100 years. Information obtained now will be used for, hopefully, thousands or even millions of year. I hope that this situation will change in a decade or two, but we are ignoring the importance of space travel. It's not more important than many problems which plague this planet, but it can't just be pushed aside either. We need to go back to the moon and on to Mars.

Nobel Peace Prize

Hey all,

I was surprised to learn (as I'm sure you know) that President Barrack Obama has won the Nobel Peace Prize. He is not the first United States president to receive this honor. Teddy Roosevelt received it in 1906 for his work to end the Russo-Japanese War. Woodrow Wilson received it for his work after WWI with the League of Nations. Jimmy Carter received it in 2002 for his continuing humanitarian work and peacekeeping efforts. Now, the obvious question is, what has President Obama done to deserve this. I'm sorry to say that the answer seems to be, next to nothing. Personally, I'm still a fan of President Obama, but this award should have gone to someone else. This country (the United States) still has two wars that are being fought. While the troops are being withdrawn from Iraq slowly, we may up the ante in Afghanistan. Consequently, this is maybe where this award comes into play. The Nobel committee may be saying, we expect something out of you. Now, it's time for you to deliver. However, if that's the case, I doubt that it will work simply because Afghanistan is not moving in a favorable direction for us. And, honestly, out of 204 candidates, there was no one better? I think that President Obama will do a lot for peace in the future, but the award is premature. What does everyone else think?

Sunday, October 4, 2009

Arrested Development quotes and a shameless plug

Hey all,

There used to be a show on Fox called Arrested Development. In my opinion, it's the best comedy to ever be on television. So, I just wanted to list some of my favorites quotes. Here it goes.

Shop lady at a store for transvestites:"Are you actually going to buy this time or are you just looking?"
Tobias:"I guess you could say I'm buy curious."

Tobias reads an excerpt from his book to a group of gay men: "Only once the man inside me is out, can I walk free again."

Saddam Hussein look-alike: "I'm sorry. I'm acting like an Uday look-alike."

George Michael: "Maybe, it was the singer songwriter George Michael."

G.O.B. in front of a group of children: "Tricks are something whores do for money.......or candy."

Mrs. Featherbottom: "Who'd like a banger in the mouth?"
Michael: "Over here, we call it a sausage."
Mrs. Featherbottom: "Who'd like a sausage in the mouth?"

Michael talking to his father: "You made a deal with Saddam Hussein?"
George: "I thought he was the soup nazi. I told him that I loved his work."

Lucille to her daughter: "We're having Lindsey chops for supper."

There are many more, and I'm sure I'll have another post of quotes. It's time for a shameless plug. If you like this blog, please click on ads to generate some revenue for me. Thank you and enjoy.

Health diary: Post 4

Hey all,

For the first time, I have not lost weight. Today, I weighed 319.3 lbs. It's no wonder why I didn't drop any weight this week. I ate out for supper twice, and I also went to a wedding last night where I ate a lot and drank some beer. Also, I am still drinking pop, but I am going to quick it cold turkey tomorrow or at least drop down a lot (I'm still having trouble with this). However, while the scale doesn't say that I've lost weight, I still feel like my stomach is smaller, and I'm maintaining my muscle mass well with weight lifting. Also, I don't think I consumed as much vegetables as I normally would which didn't help either. My diet is still a lot healthier than it used to be, and, also, it's okay to wander from the a lifestyle change once in a while as a reward or for situations that are not common. However, if I don't lose weight this week, I need to re-evaluate my intake and make some changes. With this combination of diet, exercise, and weight-lifting, I think this system is foolproof.

Saturday, October 3, 2009

Yes, I am a Gleek!

Hey all,

I am a straight man who is 24 years old, and, yes, I am a Gleek! I love Glee, but, apparently, this brings my sexuality into question (apparently, being gay is a terrible thing). Personally, I think this is hilarious because enjoying anything remotely effeminate is apparently proof of the fact that I am gay (gay being derogatory). Clearly, they have never seen the show (or are insecure about their sexuality). Otherwise, these insults would not be hurled at me, but I am going to continue watching Glee because it is amazing. I listen to the music all the time, and, honestly, many of the songs are better than their originals. Also, every genre is covered from rap to country (yes, I consider them to be nearly opposites). The show is fantastic, and all of the episodes are available on hulu.com still, so I implore to watch the show if you haven't already. It's airs Wednesday at 9PM/8PM Central time. It is infectious.

Rent: The Musical

Hey all,

I went to see Rent last night, and it was the time that I had seen this musical. Sadly, the seats weren't great, so I couldn't hear everything. However, I still thought that it was excellent. The music, of course, was fantastic as well as the storyline. The story centers around a bunch of artists who are living in New York. It follows one year in their lives. Overall, there are eight main characters. Four of these characters have HIV. They are mainly poor and struggling to survive. Love blooms for four of the characters at the beginning while two are already a couple. Over the course of the musical, one of them succumbs to AIDS while the others mourn. Relationships fall apart and come back together, and it ends happily (or as happily as it can). Overall, this play seems to be a statement about poverty as well as HIV. Last night, two pieces of the AIDS quilt were on display. I have actually seen part of it in Duluth as well, and it is moving. Personally, I believe that we should never forget the past, so we can learn from it. The AIDS epidemic has become a pandemic. It's time that we move on this issue. With simple preventive tactics, we can stop AIDS. If you haven't seen this, I recommend that you see it.

Thursday, October 1, 2009

Dentistry

Hey all,

So, again, my friend Nicole convinced that I should write a blog......about this subject. She is a current graduate student in dentistry, so I'm guessing that's why she wanted me to write this. Wow, she has a lot of influence over me, that's for sure. So, here it goes. My experience with dentists has always been positive. My teeth have always been good. I never needed braces as a teenager, but I wore a retainer for a time. In my entire life, I've only had three cavities. This is probably because I drink so much milk, but I do need a cleaning, soon. Overall, I have few complaints except that I don't like when my teeth are poked by that pointy metal thing. I know it removes plaque, but it kind of hurts. In summary, I think dentists are super cool and fun, especially my friend Nicole. Once she becomes a dentist, I'm sure she'll become my favorite dentist, even. She's already given me advice about my clicking jaw, and she was 100% correct about it. Personally, her level of knowledge in this field is really sexy because I find intelligence to be sexy. Yep, that's right. Intelligence is sexy and so is dentistry.

Satan as the insular adversary

Hey all,

I was thinking about how people always blame the devil for improper behavior, and I always think that they should take responsibility for their actions. However, they can't be responsible for their behavior, so, instead, it's saying their sorry and a trip to some sort of re-education camp where they learn how to be straight, sober, or whatever with a little bit of help from Jesus. However, here's the problem with this whole Satan argument. According to Christianity, God is all powerful, and it created Satan/Lucifer as an angel. This angel turned against it and started a war, so God banished this angel to hell where he(?) remains to this day. So, here's the problem. God has to be more powerful than Satan, so Satan has to be operating under the jurisdiction of God. However, I would argue that there is, in fact, no Satan. Or, at least, not the isolated enemy that we've been told about. It doesn't seem like a very loving God who would actively tempt people to sin and stray away from it. Due to the omnipotence of God, Satan can't be fully isolated like we've been lead to believe. Now, why would God need an enemy? Especially when it is all powerful. If God knows everything, including our thoughts, then why tempt us? Logically, this does not make sense. So, it's a better possibility that people who espouse these beliefs and fail to follow them are not tempted at all, except by themselves. They are hiding something, but they think that God will pass them by if they put on a good enough show. Then, perhaps, the temptation becomes too great or they realize that they can't fool God and give in, asking for forgiveness after the fact. This seems like a much more plausible solution to me, and I think it's time that people take responsibility or walk the walk. What do you think?

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Depression and drugs

Hey all,

When it comes to the treatment of depression, I'm not a fan of drugs. This was probably apparent in my last post, but I would like to expand on that. Also, I would like to talk about the ridiculousness of some drug ads. First off, drugs alone are not a good long term solution to depression because it doesn't get at the root cause of the problem which may be environment, thoughts, behavior, or probably a combination of the three. Without therapy, it's unlikely that people will identify these causal factors and the depression will likely occur again. Also, I would advise that the therapy is a form of Cognitive Behavior Therapy which is the most effective. While there is a still a stigma towards mental health, this is a long term solution that is better than drugs. After five years, the relapse rate is lower than just anti-depressants. Now, I will say that research has shown that the combination of the two is the most effective. However, antidepressants may have a placebo effect where the drug is effective simply due a psychosomatic response. I have to say that some mental disorders need to be treated by medications such as schizophrenia and bi-polar disorder.

As for some ads, I just want to say that drugs such as Abilify should not exist. If you need another anti-depressant because it's not working, then maybe you shouldn't be on an anti-depressant at all. Think about it. Also, if you think you are depressed, please see someone about it.

Monday, September 28, 2009

Depression: a case study

Hey all,

I have to warn you that this post may be hard to read, or, at least, it's hard for me to write. Almost five years ago, I was diagnosed with severe depression, and the truth was I lied about how much I had thought about suicide. However, after my diagnosis, I was sent to a general practitioner who gave me anti-depressants. While I felt better, the truth is that I was not fixed. Also, I may have dealt with this depression for years before my actual diagnosis. However, I took the pills and felt better, but I didn't receive any therapy which was a mistake. I went back to college where I became a psychology major. However, the underlying issues still remained. Intimacy was almost impossible because I felt unlovable, unable to be fixed, fat, ugly, and stupid. I honestly thought "Who would want me?". For another four years, I would suffer from these thoughts until one recent day I used Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Now, I treated myself which I don't recommend. If you think you're depressed, I recommend seeing a therapist. But, the point is that I openly challenged these beliefs and discovered something amazing. I was wrong. The thoughts were way off the mark. I was worthy of love and care as evidenced by my family and friends. I could fix myself as well as other problems. Some women were attracted to me. I couldn't be ugly. My grades were good, and I kicked ass at trivial pursuit, so I couldn't be stupid either, probably. My entire outlook changed, and I was a different person. I was finally hopeful about my future, and I knew that I would be okay. It was the most wonderful moment of my entire life. As I looked back upon that unspeakable period, I felt sadness because I had squandered so much, but the sadness would not last long because I was no longer trapped by it. I was finally free. If you think you're depressed, there are many online tests. You just have to be honest. If you are depressed, you should seek help right away. While I'm not a huge fan of drugs, the best treatment is a combination of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and anti-depressants.

Sunday, September 27, 2009

Health diary: post 3

Hey all,

I'm still on my diet, and it's still successful. Even after a rough start to the week, I lost weight this week. When I weighed myself this morning, I weighed 318.1 lbs. That's down over three pounds from last week. I am right on the edge of too much weight loss per week, but I'm guessing that this level of weight loss will even out. The good thing is that I'm lifting weights and running. However, I still have not conquered my pop problem. But, I may have found a solution, in that, I want to purchase more environmentally friendly foods. Now, I already buy my veggies locally (most of the time), but pop is produced and transported from the south which is not good for the environment if it has to come all the way to Minnesota. This may be the final straw that helps me to stop consuming this terribly unhealthy beverage. Other than that, I'm happy to be losing weight. I'm still eating less but mainly plants with a limited amount of meat. I don't eat after 8 (usually), and I always eat a moderate to large breakfast. Finally, I cover about 4 miles a day (walking/jogging) and lift some weights to keep my metabolism up. It's working. We'll see for how long.

Saturday, September 26, 2009

Beverage tax

Hey all,

So, I was just watching television, and I saw an interesting ad about the supposed beverage tax. This tax would add a few pennies to the price of pop, sports beverages, energy drinks, and many juices and iced teas, but it would raise 14.9 billion dollars in its first year according to estimates. And, overall, it may just help in the fight against obesity. Ironically, in this country, the poor tend to be obese while the wealthy tend to be healthy. If this were enacted, it may just begin to curb this trend and get us on the right track towards healthy eating and living. Honestly, I'm in favor of this tax because these drinks have no nutritional value, yet they are ubiquitous and loaded with calories. For example, the main beverages at any restaurant are likely to be soda, either in the form of Coke or Pepsi products. Honestly, I don't think this idea is ridiculous at all.

However, the funny thing is that, tonight, I saw a commercial opposed to this tax because these drinks are used to feed families and the pennies can add up to a lot for the average family. But, how much does the average family drink pop, energy drinks, or sports beverages? I can't imagine that it would amount to much more than a dollar a week in extra taxes if they consumed a lot of these drinks. I think that in this case, it's time we took a step towards health instead of away from it.

P.S. Diet drinks would not be taxed.

Friday, September 25, 2009

In Defense of Food: part 1

Hey all,

This is the new book by Michael Pollen and also the first book I have read by him. However, I loved it. It honestly has changed the way I eat. The food I used to eat was mainly processed, and I would cook quickly. Throw a pizza in the oven or something in the microwave and forget it. That was how I used to eat, but now I consume a plethora of vegetables, both cooked and raw. I also try to incorporate veggies into every meal. However, I should eat more fruits, but this will increase eventually. It not only changed my diet, but it also changed my view on the health labels and claims that we're supposed to believe (I did talk about this in an earlier post). We are bombarded by claims of less fat, lower sodium, lower calories, more omega 3 fatty acids, less saturated fat, no trans fats, and more vitamins. But, this should raise more questions about how processed our foods are. If foods can be modified like this, how is our food being made? I'm guessing that if we knew, we would be less likely to eat it. But, the point is: foods that make these claims should probably be avoided simply because it can be modified so much (already has). Food (real food) should not be able to be modified like this, so don't fall for the health claims and eat some food imitation because it has less fat, carbs, more vitamins, or omega 3 fatty acids. We vote three times a day simply by eating. Simple economics can make food healthier, but we have to eat healthier and buy less processed crap.

Thursday, September 24, 2009

I've been writing some stories

Hey all,

I just wanted to plug some of my short story work. My stories are available on lulu.com under the name Nicholas Kuvaas. The first is about a super hero who is vilified after being outed. This story is about 20 pages long, and I think it's a great story. The other story is about aliens who come to Earth. This story is 8 pages long. I'm working on another story about a future world where many of the problems today have been solved by euthanasia. People can apply for exemption, but this is only 5% of the population, and they are not given social security or medicare. The main character is Dr. Max Jensen. He only has two months to live. I won't tell you anymore, but I think it's going to be good. I'm also going to begin two other short stories that are part of the larger stories. I'll tell you more about these stories as they are released.

Glee!!!!

Hey all,

I love this show. There's only been four episodes, but I am hooked. The show follows a glee club that is down on its luck. The show begins when a former glee club member who was on the national team 15 years ago takes it over. This man is Will Shuster. When he holds auditions, he only gets five members. There is the amazing Rachel who expects to be a star, but sings and acts like one. She is arguably the main character of the high school students. There is also Mercedes (the black girl with an amazing voice who is also a bit of a diva), Tina (a stuttering Asian), Kurt (an effeminate, fashionable tenor), and Artie (a kid in a wheel chair). It's a rag tag group, but it's all Will has. That is, until he hears Finn the quarterback singing a Journey song. Soon, he blackmails him into joining glee. At first, Finn doesn't want to be there, but he quickly learns to love it.

There are other supporting characters as well: Emma who is another teacher who happens to love Will. There is also Terri who is Will's wife. She is whiny, high maintenance, and lovably flawed. There is also Ken who is the head football coach. Finishing out the high school staff is Sue who coaches an amazing cheer leading squad. She is played by Jane Lynch to perfection and has become increasingly extreme yet hilarious. Finally, there is the other side of high school which includes the football players and Cheerios (cheerleaders) who regularly torment the glee club members. It's interesting how these worlds collide. I love the show. Check it out. 10/10

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Eat food (mostly plants)

Hey all,

Eat food (mostly plants). This is the advice of Michael Pollen who is an advocate of whole foods and a journalist. His advice sounds simple, but food has transformed substantially in the past 60 years or even 20 years. Food has become more and more nutritionally deficient while the food industry claims that they are better for us. It's difficult to find a processed without some health claim or benefit. I was drinking a soda yesterday, and, above the nutrition label, it said: low sodium. As though this makes it healthy or even non detrimental. But, these health benefits can infused into foods, but this makes increasingly complex and full of regular, unhealthy food sources (I dare you to find a processed food made without soy or corn). As a matter of fact, I recently thought about purchasing some apple sauce because it was a tasty option for fruit. However, there was high fructose corn syrup in it. Apples are already pretty tasty, so I didn't think that delicious apples needed sweetening. Needless to say, I didn't purchase the apple sauce. Maybe this gets at the problem with food in America today. In effort to make food easier and in a quicker fashion while also being maintainable for long periods of time, we have modified it to become a complex, nutritionally deficient imitation of the real thing. It tastes better. We're told that there are excellent nutrients and health benefits from eating specific processed foods, but we continue to get larger and rates of disease continue to increase. While I don't think that nutrition deserves the sole responsibility for this, it has to change. What does everyone else think?

Monday, September 21, 2009

Health diary: Post 2

September 21st, 2009

Hey all,

I'm still going strong on my diet. My brother's wedding was last weekend, so I wasn't too adherent to it. Still, I am down even more weight, and I'll continue to battle on. My weight was 321.7 lbs. I'm using my weight from Friday morning until I can get rid of most of the food and beer that I consumed. Everyday is a battle, but I'm still making healthy choices and exercising. Weights are still being lifted, but I need to stop drinking pop which has proven to be a weakness of mine. My method hasn't changed. I eat largely vegetables and try to consume milk and chicken for my protein. I cover four miles a day (it's mostly walking) which I hope to improve upon by increasing the distance and the amount that I run. I feel great and will keep you posted. If anyone has tips or questions, just make a comment. Thanks! Have a great day.

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Just an idea (sorry, Christians)

Hey all,

I was thinking about organized religion and, specifically, about churches. They are mainly used (in most cases) one day a week. These are large buildings that tend to be extravagant. First off, that space could be used for many things during the week. It could be a homeless shelter, a safe haven for battered women or any one of another Christian uses. The thing that bothers me the most is that these buildings are constructed at all. Imagine what 100,000 dollars would do for any poor area or 1 million dollars. It seems like this would be the Christian thing to do. Think about it.

Kensington Runestone

Hey all,

So, I'm watching the History Channel tonight, and I catch this show about the Knights Templar in the United States of America. Supposedly, they became vikings and journeyed over with them to North America. There are many myths about the Knights Templar including the discovery of the Holy Grail among many others. However, this show proposed that they helped write the message inscribed on the Kensington Runestone which explains the contradictions in the writings. Now, I am no expert on this matter, but this theory seems out there. However, the rune stone is an interesting piece of work. It claims that vikings visited the area where the stone was found in West Central Minnesota. A group of Swedes and Norweignans visited the area where 10 were killed or died from some other cause after the rest of the group went fishing. This happened in 1362, according to the stone. The stone was then found by a Swedish farmer in 1898, but it was quickly declared a forgery. I want to say that this isn't the case, but most of the evidence indicates that it is a forgery. Still, I want to see it (it's only an hour from where I'm currently living). It resides in Kensingston, Minnesota. Now, some evidence is inconclusive. The writing is still hotly debated, and carbon dating suggests that the stone is older (which doesn't mean much). If there were significant evidence to support its validity, I would be ecstatic.

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Duluth

Hey all,

So, my aforementioned attractive friend encouraged me to write a blog about Duluth, and I'm going to oblige. It's a great town with so many fun things to do. Personally, I've always been a big fan of Hawk Ridge (previously mentioned), Enger Tower, and Chester Bowl. Enger Tower is a structure that allows one of the most beautiful views of Duluth. Hawk Ridge is still my favorite, but Enger Tower really provides a great view of the harbor. It's not difficult to find and you can spot it as you enter Duluth. Chester Bowl is a short hiking trail that provides an excellent workout and a great view of a stream with many waterfalls. When the leaves change color in the fall, it is absolutely beautiful. There is also one other spot in Duluth that I love. It's called the Seven Waterfalls. If you go to Hawk Ridge and follow the road, you will come upon bridges. These are the seven waterfalls, and it is a stunning view. If you're ever in Duluth, these scenic views are worth your time.

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

God is not a 14 year old girl

Hey all,

This has been on my mind for some time. I'm sure that people will call me a plethora of names for what I'm about to say, but this is not anti-Christian, anti-God, or atheist. I'll say it simply enough. God is not a 14 year old girl. An all-knowing, all-powerful being does not need to be reassured of its greatness. We can praise and worship God all we like, but I doubt that a being with this much power(if it exists) is going to do something special because of it. Saying thanks, once in a while, makes sense if you believe that God is really watching your back but don't you think God would want us to do something better with our time than tell it something that it already knows? You could be helping people who need help. By worshiping and praising God, you are missing the point. The bible (or specifically, Jesus) says to love God above all else, but to love thy neighbor (who is someone who helps another person who needs help). God would want us to be helping others instead of telling it (God can't really have a sex) something that it (an all-knowing) being would know.

Preventive Medicine: the earlier the better

Hey all,

The health of this country is rapidly deteriorating with increasing incidents of cancer, coronary heart disease, and diabetes. While cases that are going to occur in the next five to ten years are not as preventable as they would have been twenty or thirty years ago, it doesn't mean that preventive care can't still have a significant impact. I won't, in this post, discuss preventive steps, but I want to make a case for preventive medicine at an early age. Our current health care system is largely reactionary, dealing with problems as they occur or just after. A proactive approach, starting in childhood, would have a very different long term effect. Simple things such as improved health education, yearly checkups, as well as social support and rewards for healthy habits can do wonders for the health of children. However, food and inactive activities are, many times, the basis for rewards. The problem with this approach is that it places value on these things. Now, I don't know if placing value on exercise and vegetables would facilitate healthy eating, but it just might. One thing is for certain, the health of future generations has to begin at childhood.

Sunday, September 13, 2009

9

Hey all,

I saw this movie opening night, and I have to say that I loved it. For those who don't know, the film centers around 9. He is a rag doll that has been brought to life by a scientist. He is able to speak and think, but he soon discovers that he is not alone. There are eight others who are all different from him. The world is the ultimate post-apocalyptic future where humanity has seemingly been destroyed by machines. However, the machines still exist and hunt the rag dolls. Nine first meets 2 who is apparently on his own wondering the ruins. Two also fixes nine's voice box and becomes his first friend. Soon enough, trouble rears its ugly head when a machine descends upon them capturing two. He tries to follow the machine but fails. Soon enough, he comes upon other rag dolls who are in hiding. They are largely fearful and controlling and refuse to after two, but 9 still does it anyway with the help of 5. This is where the story really takes off and I won't spoil anymore. Personally, I believe that the film presents an interesting argument and philosophy. Check it out. I loved it. 9/10

Health diary: post 1

September 13, 2009

Hey all,

I figured that it's time for me to document my progress with weight loss and healthy eating/living. I weighed myself for the first time in two months today. Honestly, I was apprehensive because I weighed 332 pounds the last time that I was weighed. I thought that it'd gone up since then, and I was worried that I'd step on the scale and weigh 34o or 350. However, when I finally did step on the scale, I weighed 324.5 pounds. My body fat percentage was high at 39%, but it was lower than what another scale had said last fall: 49%. I didn't lose that weight. Quite the contrary, that scale didn't measure what it said it did. This scale also provided me with the pounds of fat on my body: 128. It's a lot, but I'm ready and willing. Everyday, the battle becomes easier, and I'm finally winning the war. It's going to happen this time. I have no doubt.

Now, I still have to make some more calculations. First off, I would like to get down to somewhere between 205 and 215 pounds. Secondly, I should figure out at what weight will leave me with 23% body fat. According to my calculations, I need to lose another 54 pounds to achieve this goal. I would also have to lose 101 pounds to be under 10% body fat. I'm going to do it. For those who are interested, I'll write a post about this every week to keep you updated, and I will outline my process.

Saturday, September 12, 2009

Hawk Ridge

Hey all,

Fall is just around the corner, and it always brings back memories of Duluth. This is where I went to college. I still love it there and really miss it a lot. But, this time of year, I always think about Hawk Ridge. It's a high point in Duluth where people in the fall go to watch a massive Hawk Migration, but I especially enjoy the scenery. It's a beautiful view of the city during the day and at night. There is something so heartwarming and mesmerizing about it. Finally, the trees are beginning to change colors, and the view becomes so majestic that I ache to see it. It is something special because there are two mountains covered in trees to the north and a whole view of the city to the east. It's a short drive if you're there. However, you probably have to ask for directions or map quest it. Frankly, to this point in my life, it may be my favorite view.

Now, at some point, I'm going to move out of Minnesota, and I'm sure that I will miss my family and friends (those who don't come with me), but it's also images like this that will leave my pining for this state. It's grandeur at its best. If anyone else knows of amazing views, let me know.

Friday, September 11, 2009

Empowering hunger

Hey all,

It's a simple enough concept. Although, I have to admit that it is very much like anorexia nervosa to a degree. For many people with anorexia, not eating is a form of control and a form of power. Eating (or not eating) is something that they can control in an otherwise, hectic and uncontrollable life. However, this concept should not be lost on those who want to lose weight. Hunger can be empowering, and this is exactly what I've discovered. For so long, I felt as though food had an uncontrollable grip on me from which I would never escape. Then something happened, with knowledge and optimism, I empowered myself. I decided that I will not fail. I will not give in this time. Success is the only option, and food would no longer control me. I would control it. When I was became down, food would no longer comfort me in my time of need. Instead, I would go hungry at night and feel better for not succumbing to the empty promise and satisfaction that food brought. With each passing day, my resolve increased. Now, I am certain that I will not only drop the weight, but I will become healthy. Hunger has empowered me, and I think that many people in this nation feel empty and are searching for something to fill the hole. Food is not only an appropriate substitute but a fairly acceptible one. You can empower yourself as well. It's not impossible. There is a solution.

Now, I have to say that I eat. I have three meals a day, but I've decreased how much I eat per meal, and, if I snack, I eat vegetables. Already, I feel better than I have in four years. It's something to think about for those who wish to lose weight.

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Obesity rates

Hey all,

This has been on my mind for some time. Since 1980, the rate of obesity has increased dramatically. Specifically, since 1985, obesity rates have more than doubled in every state. In 1985, there wasn't a single state with an obesity rate of more than 15%. Now, there are six states with over 30% of their populations that are obese. Alabama, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and West Virginia are included in those 30+%. With numbers that are so scarily high, I am worried for the future. Rates of heart disease, diabetes, and cancer are only going to rise as well as the cost of health care. At first, I was very interested in diabetes, but, over time, I realized it was only a symptom of the real problem.

As I broke down the problem, I realized that weight gain is caused by an over consumption of calories. It's simple really. However, it is a mix of a lack of exercise and over eating because metabolism comes into play. But, weight loss and diabetes control will mainly come from better nutrition. Now, I maintain that a simple increase in fruits and vegetables as well as a decrease in meat and high fructose food syrup will probably lead to weight loss (it's almost fool proof, really). That, combined with weight lifting (yes, weight lifting) will lead to some serious weight loss. This is sort of the weight loss plan that I have adapted. In the coming weeks, I plan on spending one post a week on my diet progress, but, first, I need a scale.

Monty Python

Hey all,

I've been catching up on my Flying Circus, and, at first, I didn't really enjoy the sketches very much, but it always takes me a while to get into Monty Python. Once I did that, I was hooked and now I can't stop thinking about it. The comedy was brilliant and innovative even by today's standards. While most people would characterize it as silly, I like to point out that it is, in fact, very high brow. On several occasions, they refer to famous philosophers and even have a sketch where they are playing soccer. These men are funny because they were smart. In my opinion, comedy takes a lot of work and quite a bit of intelligence. While comics such as Larry the Cable Guy may seem unintelligible, his act took a lot of work and has yet to be copied by anyone else, but I digress. Monty Python changed comedy and humor forever with sketches such as the parrot sketch, the silly walk, and the argument sketch. If you can find the DVDs, I can't recommend them enough. 10/10

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Chemistry lab

Hey all,

A friend advised me that I should write about chemistry lab. No other topic struck me, so I'm succumbing to the pressure. Just for the record, this friend is pretty attractive, in case people wish to persuade me into writing about another random topic. But, I digress. It was my freshman year of college, and I was kind of nervous about classes. At the first lab, we were just standing around (I don't think I was the only nervous one), so I casually mentioned the scar on my leg (I have a large scar on my left leg from a four wheeling accident, but that's another story). It broke the ice, and we began talking. Soon enough, we were in our groups. My group had three people: my friend Freeman, Nicole (the instigator of this blog), and me. We were a good team who were very efficient in the lab, and there weren't many shenanigans. However, I'm going to fabricate a couple. One time, we spilled hydrochloric acid on the floor, like 12 molar stuff, really potent. We neutralized it quickly with an appropriate base, but there was a hole in the floor for two years. The other embarrassing story occurred when we made deadly mustard gas out of chemicals that were supposed to create water. Oops! Don't worry, only six people were hospitalized. Needless to say, we were the legends of the chem lab and don't you forget it.

Monday, September 7, 2009

Extract

hey all,

The new film from Mike Judge is called extract. It's about a boss who owns an extract (vanilla, cherry, etc.) company. His name is Joel, but he isn't really satisfied with his life. Sex with his wife is a rare occurrence. The job is wearing and stressful, and when an offer comes to buy out the company, Joel can't wait to get out. After an accident at the factory, the sale of the company is in doubt. Enter Cindy who is established as a con artist in the first scene of the movie. She begins to flirt with Joel, but she is working on some other people as well. Things become complicated at this point. I will stop before I spoil the movie, but I will say that this movie wasn't as funny as I had hoped. The theater was dead silent through most of the movie. Now, this is in Fargo, North Dakota, so it may not be the best sample audience, but I was hoping for something more. Check it out if you really want to see it, but Idiocracy and Office Space were both way better. 5/10.

Saturday, September 5, 2009

Hunger for wholeness

Hey all,

There is a concept in regard to alcoholism called "thirst for wholeness" where the alcoholic is literally trying to fill a void. However, I don't think that this concept stops with alcohol or even drug addiction. I actually think that this applies to food as well. People may actually be eating to fill a void. I doubt that everyone who is obese is doing this, but I wouldn't be surprised if the number is higher than one might think. In this society, food is easy to come by, and unhealthy food is cheap and satisfying. If your life feels empty or meaningless, there could be a void that could temporarily filled by food which acts as a temporary pick me up, but it quickly leads to a long time problem if this behavior persists.

Personally, I feel that this is part of my problem with food. I eat and eat, not out of hunger, but out of some incessant longing for meaning in my life and dissatisfaction with my current situation. However, I have recently thought of a way to combat this problem. It's along the same lines, but it is nearly the exact opposite. Empowering Hunger is what I call it. This is a technique where I eat three square meals a day that are smaller than normal, but I don't eat after 8. When I get hungry, which I usually do, I find power and purpose in that hunger. I find strength. Instead of giving in to it, I relish it. I wait for it, and I stand at the precipice and say: "I will not give in". So far, it feels great, but I'm trying to prepare for some road bumps. Does anyone have any further advice?

Friday, September 4, 2009

Clear and Present Danger and the war on drugs

Hey all,

So, I've been discussing this topic over the past couple of days, and this book (movie) came back to me. This book presented a whole other aspect to the war on drugs in terms of enforcement. It suggested using a military approach to stop drugs. The method used by our government (after a friend of the president's is killed by a drug cartel) is very hands on. They send military teams into Columbia where they blow up airfields, drug production facilities, and even lower level drug production. They also take out most of the top drug dealers in a bombing, but it comes back to hurt the soldiers in a negative way. The groups are sold out and left for dead even though the operation was successful. Of course, some of the guys make it out, but they suffer heavy causalities in the process. Overall, it's a very good book, but it's also an interesting concept. Honestly, it'd be difficult for me to support it, but it was an idea that I wouldn't have thought of. What do you think?

Thursday, September 3, 2009

The Wire season 1

Hey all,

As I've expressed, I love this show, and I wanted to discuss the first season. The show is good, and I don't want to ruin anything, so I'll just let you find out for yourself. However, I did want to discuss the themes of the show and how it's changed my point of view.

Every season has an overall theme, and season one's theme is the war on drugs. David Simon who is the principle creator of the show feels that this is a war that will not be won with the current tactics. It also wants to show how much we are being watched. Cameras are everywhere. It also shows all sides to the story and not in the usual light. Characters are morally ambiguous. The drug dealers aren't evil, and they aren't stupid. The street level dealers are trying to make a living, and the top level players are criminal masterminds who wanted to make something of themselves. The cops are not the good guys either. This is what makes the show so good, but, overall, it has a tragic tone. Institutions and bureaucracies are displayed as ineffective, and they will ultimately fail unless they experience major reform. However, street level hoppers (drug dealers) receive a beating when they screw up, but cops receive pensions. These are some of the themes of season 1, but they are many more.

Finally, season one opened my eyes to the drug war and its enforcement in this country. It shows what the inner city is like which helps to explain why kids (yes, kids) turn to drug dealing to survive. Overall, it provides a humanizing aspect to its characters. I love this show.

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

The Wire and the war on drugs

Hey all,

I wanted to discuss the Wire because it is largely the source of my drug and drug enforcement knowledge. The most disturbing that I learned was from a documentary. In Baltimore, only 1% of those convicted of drug crimes are white. If this is the case, drugs in the white community are essentially legal, but I digress. In the pilot episode of this show, someone says "you can't even call it a war, wars end". It's been nearly 100 years since the narcotics law was passed, and we haven't moved towards the end of drugs. Yet, the great thing about the Wire is that it addresses the drug problem and says: the current enforcement strategy of shaking down corners and fiends is clearly uneffective. Clearly, a different strategy needs to be taken.

This is where season 3 suggested something that had actually been proposed by a previous mayor of Baltimore. You don't legalize drugs, but you choose to ignore them. If people stay in a predetermined area, drugs are legal. When you have these people in one area, it's easier to control from a criminal and health standpoint and crime should decrease. But, as is the theme with this show, this effective plan will ultimately fail and the proprietor of it will be demonized (much like the mayor was). Clearly, we're losing the war on drugs if it hasn't been lost already. If this isn't a viable solution, then what is?

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

the war on drugs

Hey all,

I was thinking about this after watching the Wire again (which I will talk about in other posts). Still, I wonder: are we even close to winning this war? The number of drug arrests have only increased since 1970 with the total number of drug arrests in 2006 at approximately 1.89 million. Today, I was thinking about possible solutions to this problem. First off, we could just legalize drugs in this country. It seems like a simple solution that would cut drug arrests to a minimum and allow them to be taxed. Regulation would come into play which would be seen as a positive. However, this may be part of the solution, but it alone has some problems. There is no reason for addicts to discontinue using in this scenerio. The excess money from taxes can go to drug programs, but addicts would have to voluntarily seek treatment. For users of heroin, crack cocaine, and meth, this is unlikely to happen, so I've been thinking about another possibility.

There is an economic approach to this as well as a reasonable criminal approach. First, stop arresting the addicts unless they immediately go into a treatment program. By reducing demand, it should reduce supply. Secondly, the amount of drugs coming into this country and being made in this country have to be reduced. I'm not sure about the best way to do this, either. At this point, I hit a road block. I'll think of a plan and discuss this issue again. Let me know what you think.

Sunday, August 30, 2009

The end of summer

Hey all,

Summer is coming to a close, and I don't like it. Summer is my favorite season, but fall isn't bad either. The real problem that I have with the end of summer is that I usually become less active and less motivated. It becomes harder to exercise, write, and just be productive. One good thing is that I finally have a job interview. The job is research related, but it's only part time which kind of sucks. However, at this point, it's better than nothing. It's kind of sad because, in the past, the end of the summer signaled the start of a new school year. It was a time where I'd see my friends and get back into the swing of things. This year is different because I graduated last fall, and I'm not starting graduate school. We'll see how I carry it.

Monday, August 24, 2009

Clearly, I don't look like an exerciser

Hey all,

I've run into a dilemma over the past couple of months. I have no desire to perform cardiovascular exercise. I lift some weights and working at my dad's sawmill is low level exercise, but I can't seem to do enough cardio. Occasionally, I play some basketball (which I'm not very good at) or go for a short walk, but I have to start covering three miles a day. Everyday! No exceptions! The only plausible way I can ensure success in this endeavor is to exercise in the morning which will be difficult. Or, I can do it immediately after I watch Jeopardy. But, it really comes down to motivation.

As I think about it, I don't know what's stopping me from losing weight. A lot of my confidence or lack there of is due to my body, but I can't seem to do anything about it. However, I also know that I'm not trying very hard. It's time for a change. It's time for me to lose some damn weight before it kills me. My blood pressure is high, and my blood sugar is probably above normal. I just don't get what it's going to take for this change to occur. There has to be an answer.

Sunday, August 23, 2009

UFO experiece

Hey all,

A few weeks ago, I was at a bar in Minneapolis. The bar happened to be on the rooftop, and there was a storm outside. At a random glance, I looked into the sky and saw four orbs of light. At first, I thought it was ball lightning, but I haven't heard of any cases where there are four balls outside of the clouds. At first, the orbs traveled in a straight line, then three disappeared behind a skyscraper, but the fourth traveled in a different direction and disappeared into the clouds. It was an unusual experience. For anyone who may suggest it, I was not drunk. This isn't my first experience with a UFO.

My first experience was in high school. It was late at night and I saw a large light floating in the sky. A beam seemed to be emanating to the Earth, and it stayed in this position for about 15 minutes, but I never saw it leave. This incident was late at night, and I was very tired. This could a case of mistaken identity.

The second experience was during deer hunting weekend. I was laying down in the back seat when I looked into the sky and saw two large orbs of light disappear into the clouds. Again, this may have been mistaken identity or some sort of dream, but this most recent was spotted by others. I just wanted to discuss my experiences for anyone who would listen.

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Inglourious Basterds

Hey all,

The new film from Quentin Tarantino is out after 8 year of work. I saw it today, but I have to admit that I was disappointed. With a running time of over 2 1/2 hours, the film felt long. The opening scene really drags and is loaded with dialogue. It's supposed to be dramatic and increasingly suspenseful, but I felt that it failed in this regard. These moments occur a few times throughout the movie, but they tend to be anti-climatic and wasted screen time. Honestly, I expected a fast paced action movie which I knew would be gory and violent, but the action was usually abbreviated which left me unfulfilled. And, for anyone who thinks that I just don't like Tarantino, I love Pulp Fiction and like Reservoir Dogs and, while the dialogue in those movies seems interesting and witty, it feels wasted and drawn out in this movie. I had incredibly high hopes for Inglourious Basterds, but it didn't live up to its expectations for me. On imbd.com, it's rated at 8.6, so I may have not watched it in the right mood. For any one who wants a synopsis, I'll discuss the beginning of the movie.

It starts in France with a character who is hiding Jews and gives them up (this must have taken at least 10 minutes if not 20) which introduces you to two of the central characters. Then, you meet the Basterds. They are a Jewish American force lead by a part-Native American lieutenant played by Brad Pitt. He's excellent in this role just like most of his movies. Honestly, he is probably the only face you'll recognize in the movie unless you know who Eli Roth, Sam Levine, or B. J. Novak are. The Basterds only have one mission, and that's to kill Nazis. Lieutenant Aldo (Pitt) also wants his men to scalp their enemies, and they oblige their leader. At this point, a short back story is provided for a couple of the Basterds. As the story advances, a German war hero takes a liking to a young woman who is a Jew that escaped execution at the beginning of the movie. This German has a movie about himself that he wishes to show in her cinema, and she eventually comes around to the proposition simply because she has no choice. This premier is such an opportunity for propaganda that many of the High Officers will be at the showing, and a plot begins. I won't tell you anymore. It's entertaining but not great. 6/10

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Eugenics, good or bad?

Hey all,

This is a topic that has been an interest of mine for about a year or so. For anyone who doesn't know, eugenics is a genetic based breeding approach which intends to improve society (it was the initial goal at least). However, after being associated with the Nazis and Adolf Hitler, it has since lost steam. It was also the basis for the movie Gattaca where people born outside of eugenics were forced to perform menial jobs, but one of these normal born men makes into the space program. Clearly, these examples are not the best uses of eugenics. Yet, in the future, there may be sufficient technology to repair our illnesses and overcome the weaknesses of genes.

As you may have guessed, I don't think that eugenics is a bad idea on a selective level. I think that if the technology exists, it should be available to everyone regardless of race, class, or any other separating feature. To some degree, it wrecks the surprise if you pick everything about your child, but it may eliminate poor eyesight, obesity, and many forms of disease which I don't think is a bad thing. Eugenics should not be a standard, but it's not evil and may be used to improve human beings one day. Think about it, and let me know what you think.

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Change...expanded

Hey all,

I should probably expand on what I wrote yesterday. I honestly doubt that anyone reads this, but what the hey. Yesterday, I outlined how I was a hypocrite and, in my opinion, an utter failure. In retrospect, I was probably a bit hard on myself. However, I was not wrong in the areas where I was lacking: Health, environment, and the underprivileged. To reiterate, I am currently a member of the underprivileged, so that one will be a difficult problem to fix. Yet, I can outline a plan for the other two. There is also a problem with this, and it's called planning fallacy. Everyone thinks that they are going to accomplish more than they do. Taking that into consideration, here are my plans.

The environment is an easy short term solution. I will look at products to see if they are recyclable, and, if they are, I will recycle them. In my area, no one has to recycle, so it is imperative that I help. This seems minor, but I have to start somewhere.

Health is simple as well. I need to reduce my consumption of food. I've began to eat more vegetables, but I fear that it's not enough. I have to eat less junk food which begins with pop. Also, I should set a weight loss goal of one pound per week which is only about a 500 calorie reduction in food intake for a day. Small steps are better than no steps. Here it goes.

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Change

Hey all,

I'm kind of in a gloomy mood tonight because I am a hypocrite. I am a hypocrite like so many other people. I want to improve the world and help to foster change, but I can't even change myself. I haven't lost any weight, and I haven't done anything with meaning in my life. I supposedly care about all these issues and really I've done nothing to support them. The environment is important to me, but I continue to buy non-biodegradable products, drive everywhere, and support companies that don't give a crap about the environment. Helping those who are less fortunate than me is also important, but I have no money. However, I could give rides or volunteer at a soup kitchen, but I don't. Health is another important area for me that, in reality, trumps all the rest, but I'm still fat. I eat loads of food that is unhealthy and slowly shortening my life.

So, the question is simple. How do I stop being a hypocrite? Is it even possible? Because I want to be optimistic, I will leave this alone for now and discuss it in my next post.

Monday, August 17, 2009

Negatives

Hey all,

I was reading an article in Men's Health that had an interesting tip. It recommended doing a negative weight work out because it supposedly increases your metabolism for 72 hours. Honestly, it seems too good to be true, and it didn't answer why regular weight lifting doesn't do this. Still, Men's Health is usually pretty accurate with fitness information. So, if you're wondering how to do a negative or what it is, I'll explain it in the next paragraph.

Doing a negative is pretty easy. It's the opposite motion of a normal lift. Usually with a lift like benching, the common practice is to use a weight over your one rep max. This, of course, means that you will need a spotter. However, there's no reason why this can't be applied to lifts normally done with dumb bells or kettle bells. I've only began to do this, and I have yet to see much change. If you want to try it, I would recommend taking it slow if you've never done these before.

If strength gain is the primary objective, you be able to do no more than six reps to achieve the maximum effect. Also, if you're plateaued with your current work out, this can be an excellent workout to break the cycle.. Have fun and good luck.