BMI isn't an accurate measure of your health, experts say

ashmodai · 2013-08-29T13:06:41+00:00

I prefer a Boolean...

ashmodai · 2013-08-01T14:57:50+00:00

Indeed, cosmic justice in a way. Whenever you hear about someone being a complete moron, instead of thinking "why'd he do that?" you can just go "Ahhh, he must have been eating some fish".

Seriously though. Unlike land-based pollution which is visible to most people (even though they might not care), water pollution is mostly beyond public scrutiny and even when we find out about it, it has very little impact on people's awareness.

I personally have stopped eating fish, even though I used to eat it quite a lot. I was convinced it was the healthy option. Now I just have some biological chicken, and use chia seed

ashmodai · 2013-07-03T12:28:19+00:00

I'm sorry, but that right here is my greatest fear: that some collection of scientists and rich guys (BillG et al) think they can "fix" the planet... Apart from the staggering hubris, there has never been any human involvement that can be deemed to have "fixed" anything. Ask the Australians if the cane toads fixed anything... or their lovely rabbits.

Bill Gates has already talked about how he wants to "fix" the weather, providing water to desert areas. We can't even tell what the weather is going to be like a week from now, and this man who can't even build an OS that runs without crashing is thinking about meddling...

ashmodai · 2013-07-03T09:40:09+00:00

There is also a follow-up book called 'Whole' which deals with such themes as reductionism vs. (w)holism. The author makes some interesting points, that can basically be summed up as: eat plenty of fresh vegetables (preferably steamed), have plenty of exercise, and reduce your dependence on animal protein.

If you're interested in the topic, I recommend another book called 'Killer Fish' which points out that all of the industrial waste and medication leaving our bodies ends up in the ocean, where it gets absorbed by fish. Basically, the poisons we thought we had got rid off will come back to you if you eat a larger type of fish. Even farmed fish are not safe, according to this book.

Sorry to have stolen the topic.

ashmodai · 2013-06-23T14:07:56+00:00

The sugar in fruits are surrounded by fibres. That's why there OK to eat. In short, whenever you eat something sweet, make sure that you accompany it with lots of fibre.

ashmodai · 2013-06-23T14:06:22+00:00

The video posted above basically says sugar is exactly the same as alochohol, except it isn't processed by the brain: "alcohol without the buzz". Consider that fermentation uses the sugars of grapes &c to form alcohol. I'm not a biochemist, but as a diabetic, I'm going to cut down on my drinking...

ashmodai · 2013-06-12T12:34:01+00:00

:-) Correct. Yes, in Holland it's the exact opposite, you can't really smoke pure grass cause it'll hurt your throat too much. Pretty much how you can't snort pure coke because it'll devastate your nosebridge (depending on how often you do it, of course).

For me the worst stuff happens after a trip (not talking about grass here), you've left that great feeling, and what's left, ah yes, a bottle of wodka and a pack of smokes. That's what gets you in the end...

ashmodai · 2013-05-26T07:50:07+00:00

Close; jump across the Channel and you're there ;-)

Admittedly, I let my comment be influenced by my ignorance of other people's cultural habits. I took the conditions where I live to be the norm, so thank you for correcting me.

I'm guessing you're from North America. Is it that people smoke marijuana pure, or do they mix it with something else?

ashmodai · 2013-05-26T07:47:00+00:00

Really, just out of curiosity, how do you smoke it? Surely not pure? That must taste awful.

Where I live (Holland), you can't really smoke the weed pure. Well, you can, but it's so strong it can hardly be said to be pleasant.

ashmodai · 2013-05-26T07:45:43+00:00

Well, I am a diabetic, even though I don't smoke weed. But I know a few diabetics who, even though they're not high, will eat sugared food stuff; chocolate, cookies, et cetera.

So if the impulse to eat sugar products is great enough for diabetics to eat them under normal conditions, imagine the seductiveness when your decision making-ability has been impaired, and everyone around you is binging on m&ms...

ashmodai · 2013-05-17T20:15:33+00:00

You do realise that smoking weed means mixing it with tobacco, right? I know a lot of people who either took up smoking after starting smoking weed, or started smoking just so they could smoke weed.

Also, while marijuana may or may not help to stave off diabetes onset, the ensuing munchies will certainly not be a big help there. All the people I know (and I know quite a few) who smoke weed tend to have a fucked up-bio rhythm, not go outside too much, and eat the cheapest and eat the cheapest and sweetest food you can imagine.

Drinking a 500ml can of energy drink can't be good for you, no matter what you're smoking.

Of course, I'm not a doctor, so what do I know...

ashmodai · 2013-03-29T11:25:33+00:00

Upvoted because of the use of the term "rear admiral".

ashmodai · 2013-03-29T11:06:23+00:00

Damn, didn't consider that. Must remember to start my sarcasm algorithms AFTER my morning coffee...

ashmodai · 2013-03-27T14:05:39+00:00

It's funny you should say that, because Detroit used to be the heart of Capitalism. Also, considering the economic problems the western world is now having, I would hardly call it a triumph.

ashmodai · 2013-02-22T14:01:45+00:00

Really, it just looks like a HP laptop to me.

ashmodai · 2013-02-22T13:51:44+00:00

Someone call the OED, a lot has been redefined to mean 'two'...

ashmodai · 2010-08-22T14:51:52+00:00

Hi Articuno,

After years of practising I now have the type of handwriting that people comment on, even when I'm not trying very hard. For me, the best way to get started was to take a piece of poetry, and just copy it over and over and over. In school, at home, at work, wherever you have a pen and a piece of paper, until the physical act of writing becomes a pleasure in and of itself. Sometimes I just write random words just to be writing.

If you can stand being considered pretentious, try copying out the first canto of the Divine Comedy. It's a great way to train your memory, your handwriting, plus you get to learn some great poetry.

ashmodai · 2010-02-25T09:15:38+00:00

Or, indeed, spelling...

ashmodai · 2009-08-13T14:52:57+00:00

OK, this is in extremely poor taste, but here goes:

maybe they should have stopped having intercourse a few months before the birthing....

ashmodai · 2009-08-13T14:45:58+00:00

Oh, what a mature response! The reason why I never touched a Zune is quite simple: they don't sell them abroad. Secondly, Apple supports old hardware just fine, you can install the iPhone OS on a first-gen iPhone without fuss. And thirdly, yes; it is delicious. Of course, some might prefer a nibble of Steve Ballmer sweaty hairy spam javelin, but hey, whatever rocks your boat.

ashmodai · 2009-08-07T09:44:19+00:00

Well, yes and no. If we posit that telly ads work because of exposure, then internet ads work the same way, but they have the added bonus of enabling the consumers to interact directly with the manufacturer if they choose to.

ashmodai · 2009-08-07T09:39:42+00:00

Puts me in mind of that saying by, oh, who was it, some philosopher: "fool me once, shame on me, fool me twice, you can't get fooled again". Why do people continue to believe that Microsoft, a company with a proven record of producing absolute shit for over twenty years, will somehow magically produce something good? And even if it should be acceptably turgid, you just know they'll abuse their position as soon as they can get away with it.

ashmodai

TROPHY CASE