Senator Switchback throws in the towel.

Posted by: Ace at 07:51 AM | Comments (23)
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Dr. Helen notes a new theory about old ways of living. I don't know about depression, but bashing someone in the head whenever I felt like it would do wonders for stress.

So Ilardi, the numbers guy who had always made fun of psych majors, went to grad school at Duke University to study psychology and then to the University of Kansas. It was there he encountered the theory that some problems, including depression, might result from a mismatch between the modern era and our Stone Age roots. Important backing for the theory came from anthropologist Edward Schieffelin, who found that the Kaluli people of Papua New Guinea - contemporary hunter-gatherers - were virtually depression-free. Other studies suggested that less industrialized communities, such as the Amish, also have much lower depression rates.

"We've been engineering the activity out of our lives," says Ilardi. "The levels of bright-light exposure - time spent outdoors -have been declining.

The average adult gets just over six and a half hours of sleep a night. It used to be about nine hours a night. There's increasing isolation, fragmentation, the erosion of community."

The result? "We feel perpetually stressed. And the more we learn about depression neurologically, the more we learn that it represents the brain's runaway stress response."

From this article.

I dunno, the Caveman Diet is one thing, but the Caveman Lifestyle? Who wouldn't want to sleep nine or ten hours a day? But is it possible?

Even if he's right -- where do you go from there? I've tried living as a hunter-gatherer and trust me, chicks aren't that into it.

But who knows, maybe my parents were right -- sunlight, fresh air, lots of vigorous activity, occasionally talking to human beings. Sounds crazy, but it just might work.

Posted by: Ace at 06:43 PM | Comments (93)
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Protecting the constitutional rights of Osama bin Ladin:

Republicans successfully maneuvered to derail a Democratic government eavesdropping bill Wednesday, delaying a House vote until next week at the earliest.

The bill, which seeks to expand court oversight of government surveillance in the United States, fell victim to a gambit by the chamber's Republican minority. Democrats were forced to pull the bill from the House floor with no certainty about how it might be revived.

A Democratic staff member said the bill will not be rewritten but substantive amendments may be allowed when it finally does come up for a vote, which is the Democrats' intention.

The earliest that could happen is next week, as Thursday the House will be busy with an attempt to override a presidential veto of a children's health care bill.

...

The amendment would have said that nothing in the bill could limit surveillance of Osama bin Laden and terrorist organizations. While Democrats say their bill already provides that authority, voting against the amendment could make it seem as though a member of Congress were against spying on al-Qaida.

...

"Our proposal gives Democrats a very simple choice: They can allow our intelligence officials to conduct surveillance on likes of Osama bin Laden and al-Qaida or prohibit them from doing so and jeopardize our national security," said Republican leader Rep. John Boehner of Ohio in a statement.

Posted by: Ace at 06:30 PM | Comments (25)
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They're in danger of losing many of those freshmen "moderates" who won in swing districts and have to pretend they give a shit about national security.

- Since Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) and GOP leaders announced their motion-to-recommit proposal to ensure that our Intelligence Community can conduct surveillance on Osama Bin Laden, al Qaeda, or any other foreign terrorist organization targeting America for attack, Democratic leaders have been scrambling to line up votes from vulnerable Democrats to who are concerned about voting against the common-sense GOP proposal. With the House in disarray, Democratic leaders have delayed action on their bill amending the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA).

The Majority’s bill says that if a foreign target operating overseas – like Osama Bin Laden – has either had contact with a U. S. person or called a U.S. number, our intelligence officials would be required to obtain a FISA court order to listen into their communications. This is unacceptable, and it jeopardizes the safety and security of the American people. Boehner issued the following statement:

“Our proposal gives Democrats a very simple choice: They can allow our intelligence officials to conduct surveillance on likes of Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda or prohibit them from doing so and jeopardize our national security. Every member of the Majority will now have the opportunity to go on record and take a firm position for or against giving our intelligence community all the tools they need to keep America safe.”

In a post titled “Putting Democrats on the Record on Terrorist Surveillance,” Jeff Emanuel from conservative blog Red State said the proposal will allow Democrats to act on their rhetoric:

“Very cut-and-dried, and an opportunity for Democrats who have been calling the War on Terror a war simply against Osama bin Laden a chance to go on the record, before America, and reaffirm their commitment to capturing him and to thwarting (and defeating) his terrorist network.”

This Heritage piece lays out the stakes.

The House of Representatives passed the Protect America Act of 2007 (PAA) on August 4, 2007, and the President signed it into law the next day. Despite the disclaimers by Members of Congress who want to create a more restrictive regime for gathering intelligence on terrorists, the PAA passed because it had bipartisan support and because Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Mike McConnell spoke personally with approximately 260 Members. He explained why the PAA was necessary to remedy the damage caused by an unprecedented and seemingly erroneous decision by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court in May of this year.[4] The decision opened an intelligence gap by effectively requiring the federal government, for the first time ever, to obtain a FISA warrant for any surveillance of persons located overseas if their electronic communications (e.g., emails, cell-phone calls, and text messages) might possibly be routed through the United States.

Because most of the world's largest telecommunications and Internet service providers are located in the United States, this would have required a FISA warrant for surveillance of potentially every person located overseas. No one could know in advance whether any communication by a person located outside the United States might end up being routed through the United States. DNI McConnell disclosed that thousands of individuals overseas are being monitored for terrorist activities. Obtaining approval for each intercept would be nearly impossible.

After approving common-sense improvements in the process before the elections, they are now seeking to repeal the very law they voted for now that they've safely won Congress and have the advantages of incumbency to stave off challengers.

Posted by: Ace at 02:52 PM | Comments (23)
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According to Air America, which seems to be trying to save face with some sort of compromise bullshit claim.

Some funny comments. Lyle:

The Randi Rhodes Correction

We said she got mugged in the night

By jackbooted thugs of the Right;

But really we meant

That sidewalk cement

And vodka decided to fight.

TallDave:

Concrete does not break teeth!

Google it!

And, um...

I'd hit it, again.

-- A sidewalk

Strange... I usually find drunken, desperate women so much more, what's the word, enticing.

Via the Radio Equalizer, which wants to know why Randi Rhodes isn't being investigated by the Palm Beach police.

The "Toother Movement" Gets Rolling:

I built a chicken wire replica of Rhodes' face and even after repeated drops to the pavement, some from as high as 5 feet, I was unable to replicate the damage. However, explosive squibs behind the 'teeth' did remove them. Clearly, agents replaced the celery in Rhodes' BM with blasting caps.

Its scientific.

Posted by: the man with the umbrella in Dealey Plaza

Posted by: Ace at 01:25 PM | Comments (84)
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In a way, I actually think they're sort of right. Because nutritionists and scientists have no real answers to curing obesity. Or at least most don't.

I dunno. I don't think that the morbidly obese like being so, and if there were a good way to avoid it I think they would.

Still, I fall back into my usual take on the "individual responsibility" question: even if it is true that external, or genetic factors, largely influence the way one behaves, we must act as if individual responsibility cures all. Because without the sense of individual responsibility nothing can be fixed. As they say in logic, individual responsibility is a necessary but not sufficient condition for curing any personal woe. Alone it might not be enough, but without out it nothing is enough.

Anyway:

Individuals can no longer be held responsible for obesity and government must act to stop Britain "sleepwalking" into a crisis, a report has concluded.

The largest ever UK study into obesity, backed by government and compiled by 250 experts, said excess weight was now the norm in our "obesogenic" society.

Dramatic and comprehensive action was required to stop the majority of us becoming obese by 2050, they said.

Apparently this dramatic and comprehensive action will not involve individual choices, however. So who will stop obesity?

Well, this is Britain. Who do you think?

The government pledged to draw up a strategy to address the issue.

But the report authors admitted proof that any anti-obesity policy worked "was scant".

...

Obesity, the authors concluded, was an inevitable consequence of a society in which energy-dense and cheap foods, labour-saving devices, motorised transport and sedentary work were rife.

Hm. The largest British study of obesity, eveh, has determined fatness is due to too much food and too little exercise. And to think they gave the Nobel Peace Prize to Al Gore.

Dr Susan Jebb of the Medical Research Council said that in this environment, it was surprising that anyone was able to remain thin, and so the notion of obesity simply being a product of personal over-indulgence had to be abandoned for good.

"The stress has been on the individual choosing a healthier lifestyle, but that simply isn't enough," she said.

From planning our towns to encourage more physical activity to placing more pressure on mothers to breast feed - believed to slow down infant weight gain - the report highlighted a range of policy options without making any concrete recommendations.

Another surprise.

...

But Sir David said it was clear that government needed to involve itself, as on this occasion, the market was failing to do the job.

Health Secretary Alan Johnson described the report as "nothing, if not challenging" and said a national debate was needed about the best way forward.

He said a cross-government strategy would be developed to respond to the challenge of obesity.

National debates and cross-government strategies -- is there anything they can't solve?

Eh, you know my opinion.

Posted by: Ace at 01:13 PM | Comments (62)
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So frigging annoying.

You know what the hardest part of watching NBC is?

Having to tell your parents you're gay.

Sorry, I heard that joke about rollerblading. Apologies if it offends any of the gays. But the network, seriously, seems catering entirely to the urban metrosexual/gay/gay moll effete ultraliberal faux-intellectual Starbucks-swilling demographic.

Yes, an entire night will feature "eco-themed" sitcoms. Because, you know, if the dude from My Name Is Earl tells me to start torching SUVs, I listen.

And of course Matt Lauer is involved.

So NBC's "Today" show has unveiled big plans for next month to jet its stars to the far reaches of the planet -- Matt Lauer in the Arctic, Al Roker at the Equator and Ann Curry in Antarctica -- for live broadcasts aimed at alerting us to the effects of global warming.

Isn't this delicious? The world is coming to an end supposedly because of greenhouse gases which emanate from the burning of fossil fuels. So, the good folks at NBC are going to burn an astounding amount of jet-fuel to save the planet.

I get it:

"There's no question there are some travel arrangements that will require private transportation, and we've talked about that in terms of minimizing our carbon footprint," [Matt] Lauer said Tuesday in a "Today" call with reporters. "It's impossible at this moment to say we can absolutely come up with a neutral carbon footprint, but it's also something we'll examine.

"It's a fair question. It's something that celebrities and activists [face]. ... When you travel like this, is it speaking out of both sides of your mouth?"

Posted by: Ace at 12:15 PM | Comments (51)
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Okay.

It appears to be real.

"Many customers are buying one for both sides of the bed."

Perfect.

I wonder if they can do a custom job for my Limited Edition Sword That Was Broken Replica Greatsword. You never know when you'll have to go all Dúnadan on an intruder.

Thanks to CAD Daddy.

Posted by: Ace at 12:01 PM | Comments (49)
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This is so old I think even I've already linked it a couple of times, but it's kinda amusing.

A Shaolin monk who has trained his testicles to carry heavy weights and withstand kicks.

Thanks to Ogre Gunner.

Posted by: Ace at 11:56 AM | Comments (11)
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Apparently the haves (Flanders) are annoyed by the have-nots/need-subsidies (Wallonia) and are getting fed up with it.

In news of equal importance, I have a bit of basil stuck between two of my upper molars and the thing has Gymkata-level skills at dodging dental floss.

Posted by: Ace at 11:42 AM | Comments (23)
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