Finally... from the No Big Deal department:

Whew, that was a close call. It's a load off my mind to know that Limbaugh was right all along, and all that stuff about global warming and climate change was just a load of horse manure.

Sarah gets pissy

The Associated Press, which I believe has a conservative bias, is under attack from Palin because they're fact-checking her new gift to the world of publishing. That woman sure whines a lot for someone who plans to be president soon. And it's not like there could be anything misleading or false in her book, is there ?

Added 8:58 pm, Tuesday 17 November: The latest thing Winky is being pissy about is the cover of Newsweek, featuring a shot of Winky that rightwingers are calling sexist. The picture was taken for a different magazine, and apparently no one was holding a gun on her when she struck the provocative pose. So what's her beef ? Hell if I know.

Calories

My parents subscribe to a several magazines, most of which eventually wind up at my house in the recycling basket. I try to skim them for interesting articles before they're hauled to the recycle center, and I found an intriguing cover story in the August 17th issue of Time. According to their report, people who study the subject are concluding that exercise really doesn't have much to do with weight loss. In fact, heavy exercise may result in weight gains because it makes us hungrier, and most people tend to satisfy their hunger by scarfing down high-calorie snacks or beverages.


I was glad to read this since it confirmed something I'd already figured out on my own --- if I want to maintain my weight or lose a few pounds, it'll be accomplished mainly by watching my diet, not increasing my exercise level.


My primary form of exercise is walking three miles per day in as close to 45 minutes as I can make it. Walking at four miles per hour is fairly vigorous exercise, and at my age and weight, the activity will burn an average of 305 calories per day. To exercise off one pound, I have to walk approximately 35 miles without increasing my calorie intake. It can be done, but it isn't easy. There are many benefits to walking, but losing weight isn't among them.


I've reached a point where I feel guilty any day that I skip my walk, whether due to bad weather or travel, so I'll continue the routine, maybe even try to improve it. But I'll also continue my routine of counting the calories in the stuff I eat, and try to stay under 2200 a day, and under 1500 when I can.

Consistency

It's not surprising that the Army major who went on a killing spree at Fort Hood is now being described in rightwing circles as a terrorist. This is apparently because he is Muslim, and started long before all the facts were available to the public.

I personally use the word terrorist when referring to people who are members of covert organizations that plan terrorist activities and implement their plans. The people who planned and executed the 9/11 attacks met my definition, which includes organized conspiracy.

Maybe Hasan was a terrorist, but right now he looks to me like another psycho with serious problems to be added to a growing list that started at least as far back as Charles Whitman.

For discussion's sake, let's call Hasan a terrorist. If he is, then Jim David Adkisson of Tennessee is another one. If all Muslims are potential terrorists, then maybe all Fox News viewers and fans of Hannity and Bill O'Reilly are potential terrorists, too. Let's be consistent.

The Adkisson manifesto is here.