Obesity a New Hope?

As I was growing up, "everyone" smoked. The smell of smoke permeated everything and was everywhere. Though the health dangers were obvious and well document, still most people lit up all too frequently, as measured in "packs-per-day."  I remember, like Curtis in today's comics, trying to get my parents to stop smoking when I was only 6.  Yet, the US government did little by today's "control" standards to curtail the health hazard. It seemed to take forever to bring about the current changes and reality.

Did you ever, wonder "why?"

Now, we see a similar story unfolding, one which the First Lady is attempting to address. Yet, she is being attacked for her efforts to bring to the fore the health problems associated with childhood obesity.  Sunday's article in The Baltimore Sun (2/27/11), notes the backlash against her from those who "warn of Big Brother" controlling our dinner plates.  Is this their real fear? 

Certainly, we recognize that childhood obesity all too frequently results in adult obesity with the associated medical risks.  Why shouldn't we try to minimize those problems both for the individual and for society in general, for society will no doubt be picking up the associated medical bill, just as it has for many smokers.

Is there perhaps a correlation with the history of smoking? 

In answer to the first question asked above, perhaps the delay in curtailing smoking, thus letting it continue, unabated for so long, was seen as a way to curtail the other (unspoken) problem which we are currently encountering - too many old folk! (Including me and the rest of the baby boomers.)

My parent's entire generation, at least most of their friends and relatives, died from smoking related illnesses, dare I say diseases. This kept Social Security under control as fewer people were living longer lives.  (Though few could have foreseen the massive medical improvements that extended the lives of smokers, thus perhaps actually increasing overall expenses of the aging society.) The no smoking 'do gooders' ruined that balance!

Yet, have no fear - Obesity to the rescue.  

While the baby boomers may potentially be living to ripe old ages, the obesity epidemic may once again restore the balance of nature. Senior citizens will be "less senior" and collect less Social Security, etc. That is, unless the obesity 'do gooders' succeed in improving things again. Even now it is starting with all sorts of health related "controls" of this and that aspect of cooking and eating.  Ms. Obama and others are attempting to keep our children healthy and direct the public's attention to this problem.  They will likely spoil the future Social Security balance.  

Where is the American born freedom to abuse oneself?  Is it, along with so many others, gone forever?  At least with smoking, there was the issue of "second hand" smoke that could impact others, and thus the needed control for the "greater good" (though we can't possibly control CO2 for similar reasons.)  But with obesity, who besides the individuals (and of course their offspring living on the same ill-chosen diets) are being hurt?  Is this truly a "Public Health" problem?  Or, is it really a "Private Health" problem which should be sequestered until everyone has to buy two seats to ride an airplane or are forced by shear size to drive SUVs ?

It's just one of my many questions.  In the meantime, "Eat now and preserve Social Security.  May it live on!"



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Cheap Electrical Generation

I recently sent the following to the editor of the Baltimore Sun (we will see if it is published):

Since many ideas have recently been presented, after reading Ajax Eastman’s article, Turbines are too inefficient to help.. in today’s (February 7, 2011) Sun, I too have a potential solution to the electrical generation problem.  Take about 3,000 bicycle powered electrical generators, like those used in the Columbia Athletic Club, (January 30, 2011 Sun) and have each of Maryland’s roughly 20,000 prison inmates ride them for about four hours a day. The combined output should be about 16,000 kWh a day which should supply electrical power to about 500 homes.  Each inmate could be paid for the electricity generated, roughly 12 cents a day, plus of course, room and board.  At least we would not have to worry about lack of wind or nuclear disasters, and the training requirements will be minimal.     

Scarifice

Today's Sun noted how some Maryland farmers are, for the want of a better word, "catering" to "Muslim religious tradition" by allowing followers to ritualistically sacrifice and slaughter goats at their facilities. Now, I fully understand the issues of livestock and even Kosher slaughtering. None of it is pretty. Still, unless you are vegan, it is necessary. In this case, however, wouldn't wafers be more humane?

Question of the Day

I have a question: If BP has plugged the leaking oil well and has things under control, why don’t they leave it available, rather than cement it shut? Then they could start pumping more oil out of it in the future. I guess there is more to this process than I know. But don't they have a spare rig they can move into place, connect, and "pump baby, pump?" (I suspect it has more to do with public perception than logistics.)

To All My Musicians and Car Fanciers :)

Yamaha has recalled 20,000 pianos due to a problem with the pedal sticking, causing pianists to play faster than they normally would, resulting in a dangerous number of accidentals. The sticky pedal also makes it harder for pianists to come to a full stop at the end of a piece making it extremely risky for audiences. Although there have been a tremendous number of accidentals, fortunately it has so far caused no deafs. Analysts are wondering if it will put a damper on their bass market and if they will be able to sustain sales. Congress is also considering calling in the President of Yamaha for questioning as to when the company first learned about the treble.

Hypocrisy

Hypocrisy is like pregnancy. You are or your aren't.

The Ultimate Goal

Before mankind, like the dinosaurs, becomes extinct, do you think we will be able to plant our seed in some other galaxy? (Just wondering.)

When is Life not Life?

One of the basics of "life" is the ability to reproduce. I have heard that some of Monsanto's corn hybrids are designed specifically to produce non-reproducing corn kernals. Ignoring this marketing ploy that forces farmers to purchase new corn each year, one might ask "is the corn even alive?" (Just wondering.)

George Carlin

From the title of this blog, you might have recognized that I am a fan, to some extent, of George Carlin. So, for the near future, I will be posting, via the link to the right, a daily quote from his last book When Will Jesus Bring The Pork Chops? Please see my notes there. In the meantime, here is one I thought appropriate for this post and this blog:

I saw a homeless guy sitting on the sidewalk, yammering to himself and repeatedly punctuating his remarks with, "You know what I'm sayin'? You know what I'm sayin'?" And I thought, For God's sake, the man is talking to himself! If he doesn't know what he's saying, who would?

Is anybody listening?

News Crews

Did you ever wonder why a news reporter stands in front of a darkened building to report the day's pertinent activities that occurred there? Does it really add ANYTHING? Just wondering.

Flowers for the future?

Today I received a beautiful basket of flowers from the UBC Choir. It meant a great deal to me that they were concerned about my recovery from some minor surgery.

Accompanying the flowers was the usual piece of advertising from the florist. And part if it caught my eye.

I noted that one of their available "free services" is "Pre-arranged sympathy flowers." How do you know?