Expressing Opinions

If you have diabetes you know checking your glucose is important. SugarStats.com is a site where you can keep track of your readings, see trends, and share this information with your doctor or friends.

Checking your glucose is an important part of managing your diabetes. Test, don’t guess.

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Microsoft’s founder Bill Gates and New York City’s Mayor Bloomberg have donated 125 and 375 million dollars respectively to stop people around the world from smoking.

New York Times article: Billionaires Back Antismoking Effort

It will urge governments to sharply raise tobacco taxes, prohibit smoking in public places, outlaw advertising to children and cigarette giveaways, start antismoking advertising campaigns and offer people nicotine patches or other help quitting.

I like the fact there are people with money who want to use it for good purposes, but I also wonder if there are any other motives; particularly with Bloomberg being a politician.

On a another note… is it me or does McCain look like he is angry little old man when he talks about Obama? Is it Obama which is pissing him off or is it he realizes he finally gets his shot at being president and he knows he does not stand a chance? Or could be he knows he is the Republicans sacrificial lamb, because they know he won’t be able to run again and the re”thug”licans are saving their best for another election?

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There are 1,065 confirmed cases of Salmonella poising and the suspected food list is widening from tomatoes to now include Jalapeño and Serrano peppers. The FDA does not seem to be any closer to discovering what is causing people to become ill.

Does this affect the way I eat or buy food? You bet it does. For starters I started to shop at a local farmers market for my locally grown tomatoes and I consider what I eat when dining out. It has been a long time since I have been to the farmers market and I forgot how much I enjoyed shopping there and the quality of their products. The selection and prices are also excellent. In the bigger picture I am also purchasing a product which is fresher and has been transported less distance, thus having less impact on the environment and helping the local economy.

I have made it a bit of an outing by going in the morning, stopping for coffee along the way, and enjoy watching the diverse group of people at the market. And lets face it, people watching is fun activity most of us enjoy.

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It must have been a slow news day or something. Here is a headline from ABC news, which caught my attention: Do Obese People Aggravate Global Warming? Researchers Say Obesity Epidemic Threatens Environment

In the article it states researchers from the United Kingdom have linked obesity and global warming.

The letter, submitted by researchers from the United Kingdom, implicates the rising tide of obesity in greater oil consumption, more food production — and, ultimately, in an increase in the release of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.

“Eighteen percent more food energy is required in many populations where there is a large prevalence of obesity,” he said, citing a 460-calorie increase in daily food intake for an obese individual. “There is a clear impact in terms of greenhouse gas emissions in order to grow that food.”

I did not know Pizza, Pepsi, Twinkies, and Gummy Bears where a food which was grown. Maybe obese people should take up gardening to reduce their trips to the store for this food and thus, eliminate a trip to the store thereby helping to reduce global warming.

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Bicycle repairs and sales seem to be rising and this increase interest in bicycle sales seems to be directly related to rising gas prices.

The AP is reporting: Gas prices knock bicycle sales, repairs into higher gear

Commuters around the country are dusting off their old two-wheelers — or buying new ones — to cope with rising fuel prices, bicycle dealers say.

I have been a cyclist for years and have enjoyed the many benefits bicycling. At first I was a recreational cyclist, then I became a bit competitive and gave grief to those poser types with all the high end equipment and snobbery which went with it. Then I started commuting as a way to increase my fitness level and weekly mileage, in doing so I began to bicycle for more utilitarian uses. I now own a mountain bike, a very nice and speedy commuter bike, a carbon fiber racing bike, and I have my old road bike mounted on an indoor trainer. My only dilemma now is which bike do I ride?

I have been off my bikes for some time due to an auto accident and I am finally attempting to ride pass the inconvenience of pain. Getting back in shape over the next couple of weeks will be long, but worth it. Not just in gas savings, but in health benefits. I have diabetes and riding makes it so I can eat most foods without worrying about the adverse effect of extra carbohydrates. It is also a great stress reliever and puts my mind in a great place. Part of the great place will be the joy I feel when I pass a gas station knowing I am contributing to a gas company’s billions in profits.

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Health Canada is expected to rate the chemical bisphenol A as “dangerous.” This chemical is found not only found in food containers and water bottles, but it is also found in baby bottles, sippy cups, and used in baby formula containers.

So what is the U.S going to do about it? So far I haven’t heard a word about a recall or any warnings from the FDA. Don’t expect any action from corrupt Bush administration. If they took action it may hurt the corporate profits and they wouldn’t want to hurt the rich. In a United Press International report,”U.S. agency concerned over baby bottle BPA” they state:

“The National Toxicology Program’s decision corrects the scientific record. It reflects a significant body of science showing that Bisphenol A, or BPA, may play a larger role than previously thought in a host of common health problems, including prostate cancer, breast cancer and early puberty,” Dr. Anila Jacob of the Environmental Working Group said in a statement.

How many items do you have which have this chemical in it? How much have you and your family been exposed?

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Ask yourself this question, “How important is the health, safety, and well being of my family?”

First it is toys from China being recalled because of various safety issues, but more specifically from lead in the paint. Now there there is a recall on blood thinner manufactured in China, which is causing deaths in patience.

It is obvious in the Chinese quest for money it is willing to put our health and the health of our children at risk. When will the world community say acquiring cheap goods is not enough and demand quality in those goods? Do you support inhumane and unethical treatment of human beings just so you can buy more “stuff”? The Chinese should be scrutinized and held to our safety and health standards.

ABC News reports, FDA Links More Deaths to Blood Thinner:

Heparin is derived from a mucous obtained from pig intestines and other animal tissues, often processed by small, unregistered workshops in China.

FDA determined last month that Baxter’s drug was contaminated with an unnatural chemical during production at a plant in China.

This in part is our own fault. Demanding a bargain, the willingness to look the other way, and greed. The Wal-Mart economic plan (cheap second rate goods), which many of Americans support is jeopardizing our safety and economy. When will your family’s well being become more important than getting a good deal? It is your greed which is driving the Chinese economy.

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13 Major League Baseball teams are offering all you can eat seats this 2008 season. The Los Angeles Dodgers have 3,300 of these $35 seats (the most of any team), which includes Dodger dogs, nachos, peanuts, popcorn, soft drinks, and water. While the Pittsburgh Pirates only provide 164 seats to the over indulging fans.

CNN reports in their article All-you-can-eat baseball seats a nightmare for dieticians:

Nearly half of the 30 major league baseball teams have added the all-inclusive seats, and others are looking into it. The NHL has nine teams offering the deal; the NBA has six. The idea has not caught on with the NFL, but NASCAR has put it in overdrive, selling the tickets at multiple racetracks.

Don’t get me wrong, I am all about getting my money’s worth, but somethings are just too much. The United States is a country where the incidences of obesity, heart disease, and diabetes are growing each year. These health issues are not just growing in an aging population, but are also showing up at an alarming rate in the children of this country. Do Americans need to be over consuming pigs? Is this the example and message we want to send to our children?

If you want a more complete listing of Major League Baseball teams which provide fat ass fan seats you can go to the USA Today article All-you-can-eat seats for 2008.

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Do you have a teenage daughter or know someone who does? The BBC News is running a story about STD’s and teenage American girls.

This story opens by stating:

One in four teenage girls in the United States has a sexually-transmitted disease, a study has indicated.

How many of you are saying to yourselves, “That is not my little girl.” This is one of the BBC News’ most emailed and read articles in the U.S. today, so I bet many of you are thinking about it.

Here is a link to the BBC story STDs rife among US teenage girls. You can also go to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Tracking the Hidden Epidemic, which details sexually transmitted diseases by age, race, and region in the United States.

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An Associated Press probe find drugs in the drinking water of 41 million Americans. I came across this article which opens by stating:

A vast array of pharmaceuticals — including antibiotics, anti-convulsants, mood stabilizers and sex hormones — have been found in the drinking water supplies of at least 41 million Americans, an Associated Press investigation shows.

Of the 62 major water providers contacted only 28 tested the quality of their water, all due to the fact the federal government does not require testing and has not set safety limits for drugs in water. This is happening as scientists are finding the natural sources of most of the nation’s water supply, also are contaminated. Contamination by pharmaceuticals in the water supply is not only being found in the United States, but in most other regions of the world too. Japanese health officials have called for health impact studies after detecting drugs in drinking water at seven different sites.

The study closes by stating:

“We know we are being exposed to other people’s drugs through our drinking water, and that can’t be good,” says Dr. David Carpenter, who directs the Institute for Health and the Environment of the State University of New York at Albany.

This is nice to know but it does surprise me. Thank you for visiting Expressing Opinions.