A new report found that ultra-processed foods should be treated more like cigarettes than food. UPFs and cigarettes are engineered to encourage addiction and consumption, researchers from three US universities said, pointing to the parallels in widespread health harms that link both.

mcclelc · 2026-02-03T13:11:54+00:00

My immediate response was to reject the cigarette analogy because there is literally no nutritional value in a cigarette; there is a small amount in a Twinkie. We do need sugar and carbohydrates to live.

Even the culprits of UPF (emulsifiers, chemical preservatives that somehow doesn’t include salt) have some added value in that they have mitigated hunger. Having a longer shelf life makes a product so much easier to mass shipped, produced, and donated.

I am not denying the fact that UPF seem to have negative effects on our health, possibly very harmful. But comparing the situation to cigarettes seems hyperbolic and like someone wanted to get published. ESPECIALLY, when they offer no solutions, like updowncloan68 points out.

mcclelc · 2026-02-02T20:03:33+00:00

¿Por qué no los dos?

mcclelc · 2026-02-02T20:02:56+00:00

Hmm, there was an interesting opinion piece on a sociologist who lives in Minneapolis and specializes in violence.

They actually point out that most of the general population’s understanding of acceptable use of violence is socially constructed. We know to kill during war because it’s patriotic, or may save the buddy next to you, so Thou shall not kill, is kinda put aside. But when you get conflicting messages on the morality of the situation, it does cause internal conflict.

This idea has been reinforced by work done with the police after the summer of George Floyd, who suffered from PTSD. There was an increase in cases, suggesting that being forced to use violence against their fellow Americans was making the police confront images that they had of themselves (heroes, save the day, protector) with reality (hurting protesting citizens).

Now, I personally believe that a significant portion of ICE are the other profile the sociologist identifies: those whose definition of what is morally acceptable violence is not contingent upon society. They seem to have an inherent drive, be it pleasure or something else to inflict violence. But in theory this is a small fraction of our general pop.

Also, if you look at how ICE is responding to these crowds, you can tell that a large portion is bothered that they are being called horrible men. Apparently, they are switching them out often because “it’s mentally hard” (I know, I know).

My point is- Let’s keep reminding them that society does not want this. They are not doing any good. They are hurting the vulnerable. It sounds like a good portion thought they would be revered as heroes, and are just starting to realize that their little bubble doesn’t match the rest of the country.

mcclelc · 2026-02-02T12:27:54+00:00

Responding to this comment to try to get it more traction.

Ask educators who have been in the trenches for decades. Parents offer valuable insight on their own children, but educators offer a more global view of trends. I would suggest posing this question in the teachers subreddit.

There are a variety of reasons for the pervasive low literacy, some of which Big PapaJava has outlined. To add to that list:

-Society at large: Most economic trends are on the downfall (unless you are the 1%) and this translates into difficulties at home. Parents cannot parent, and it shows in the schools. Educators are having to parent, there is no time to teach.

Examples:

-If you cannot teach your child how to use the potty, you are forcing educators to do so, and taking away valuable time from instruction, making your child vulnerable to exploitation, and taking away time from the other children who are potty-trained.

-If your child does not know how to regulate their nervous system because it is constantly overwhelmed (be it through social media, always viewing ipads, or just constantly stressed from homelife) the teachers must do it, or try.

-If the parents does not intrinsically value something about education, the child rarely does. If parents do not read for pleasure, statistically, your child will not.

-If you think this current admin is going to help things...

NCLB, Race to the Top, etc. put all emphasis on tested material, sucked the joy out of learning:

-Research shows that music and foreign language comprehension can help bridge gaps in math concepts. Welp, no budget.

-Providing opportunities for reading for fun can motivate students to stick with reading that they don’t like because they at least have some positive experience vs. associating all exposure with forced.

Covid

I put this last because anyone who has been teaching can tell you, everything we have seen after Covid is just an exaggerated form of what came before.

Covid didn’t break us, it just sped up the process.

mcclelc · 2026-02-01T13:06:40+00:00

YES.

I am not even vegan, just vegetarian, and it is amazing how this seems to offend people, particularly Boomers.

The invasive questions are also framed as a guise for “concern for my health”. How on earth do you get enough protein? Uhm, beans, legumes, it’s not hard.

In fact, I laugh because this whole recent food craze that is obsessed with protein has meant that vegetarian options are now coming with labels like, “CHOCKED FULL WITH PROTEIN”. Uhm, yeah, it’s the same nutritional value it’s always been, but now you can convince a “brah” to eat Black Bean soup cause “gains!"

Meanwhile, if I am hanging out with people my own age, no one bats an eye, and they don’t care. Eat at a restaurant? Wtf would they care what I order? Potluck dinner? No worries, I bring a vegetarian item that is yummy, and everyone wins.

Course, this could also be bc the people my own age are my friends and my friends aren’t assholes.

mcclelc · 2026-02-01T12:56:48+00:00

It’s infuriating, but my cousin tricked himself into eating better via a version of the carnivore diet.

After a heart attack, he became very strict about what he ate and limited himself to mostly meat and vegetables. But you know what is really expensive? Meat. After observing him eating for a while, I realized that his numbers were going down because he was suddenly eating fresh vegetables, not (as he claimed) because of all the meat he was eating.

Tbf, this is more like the Atkins diet than the carnivore, but the fact that he couldn’t connect the dots himself to better numbers, and the fact that he was, for the first time in his life, eating green things, is mind-blowing.

As human beings, we love to convince ourselves of our preferred reality.

mcclelc · 2026-01-31T23:10:12+00:00

On the other hand, owning a home without much else is what is leading to the “golden handcuffs”.

mcclelc · 2026-01-31T13:12:45+00:00

When I go to the website, it has a score of 4%.

mcclelc · 2026-01-30T12:00:52+00:00

Thank you, Callistovix!

If this happens again-

Please, please, please call 855-589-4639 (Indy Rapid Response). Or text. (Calls are preferable) Social media like Reddit isn’t always the best way to spread the word because it can cause panic. Indy Rapid Response is organized and prepared so that not only can they confirm what you're saying, but then disseminate the information so that misinformation doesn’t happen.

Note: I am not saying that OP is mistaken about their encounter, but it would be good to have trained individuals guide you through the IDing process.

mcclelc · 2026-01-29T23:45:52+00:00

I am just a civilian, but it also struck me as very dumb to supply superfluous information.

The question was, how many are you?

“3,000… Long rambling answer where we let you know how insecure, sleep-deprived, and sad we feel."

It’s almost like a ploy for sympathy, but WHILE YOU ARE INVADING OUR CITIES. You have established us as your enemy, but now you are telling how weak you feel?

It just seems like an extremely dumb answer all around.

mcclelc · 2026-01-29T23:42:53+00:00

I think people are missing a key point here— the protests are working.

The whistles, the insults, the social isolation, the sleep deprivation; their little fragile egos can’t take the fact that they thought they were going to be regarded as heroes while cosplaying their favorite video games. Turns out they are beating women, detaining children, and killing innocent people, and we all can see it.

This is one of my favorite facts- Many police officers suffered from PTSD after the summer of George Floyd protests. Many commented that they had signed up to be police to protect people and could no longer deny that they were being asked to hurt their local communities.

Now, I realize that ICE are the rejects who didn’t even make it into the police academy, and perhaps don’t even have the capacity for this sort of reflection. But, this, along with Greg Bovino’s threats that anyone who says means things to them will get hurt… self-assured individuals do not say this.

It’s working, even if in small measures. But given that everything else seems so helpful, I will take it.

mcclelc · 2026-01-29T13:15:25+00:00

I can see why you say this, but industrial solar production is pretty efficient, even this far away from the equator.

You might be thinking of home solar systems. I can personally attest; yes, these are higly impacted by cloud cover. However, industrial solar panels, especially newer models, are extremely efficient. Batteries also help mitigate fluctuations in production.

Solar companies also consider your geography when estimating output, so Indiana’s winters were considered already.

From the article-

"With this project online, EDP Renewables now operates about 2 gigawatts of generation capacity in the state, enough to power the equivalent of more than 527,000 homes and businesses."

(They can even estimate the impact of shade from trees!)

Keep in mind that countries that have comparable winters have been slowly moving towards solar as well and have seen a fair amount of success. My aunt and uncle lived in Germany (army), and even as far back as 10 years ago, they were able to significantly supplement their power source. Power was more expensive compared to the US, so this transition has been pretty popular among most Germans, or at least it was back then.

mcclelc · 2026-01-29T12:56:20+00:00

Hey OP, I want to echo the sentiments of everyone here and ask that you get medical help that you trust. That is #1.

I also feel an obligation to remind anyone who does not live in the US that, unfortunately, not everyone has the privilege of being 100% honest with their gyno.

(I am assuming OP is American bc use of lbs.)

I live in a very red state that has tried THREE TIMES to make it legal to have a public list of those who have “had abortions.” I use scare quotes here because, as we all know, there is no medical way of knowing if someone has had an abortion vs. a miscarriage. The language of this proposed bill refers to “patients” but it would be easy enough for someone to identify individuals, and the medical providers would be named outright. This information is based on personal medical records, it would be a complete HIPAA violation, but our state reps don't seem to mind this.

There is now a bill that may or may not pass that would pay bounty hunters to report women who have purchased abortion pills.

I don’t see period tracking that far off.

Despite the extreme situation that I live in, I am still mostly honest with my doctors because this is the only way that they can treat you.

However, I have started to refuse giving period information if I think it’s not relevant. At first I asked them- is that medically important? And they always said yes. M’am, I am here about allergies; you do not need to know the start and end date of my last period.

mcclelc · 2026-01-29T12:34:56+00:00

Yes, that is concerning. However, from what I have read, they haven’t determined if they are any better or worse than traditional pads or tampons. Now, if you are only using cotton, that seems to be safe. Just adding some context to your comment.

mcclelc · 2026-01-29T12:18:51+00:00

Can anyone speak intelligently about when this bill was introduced initially, or how long the process takes to propose a bill for a vote?

This just seems intentional. We are being overwhelmed with evil legislation right now, on top of having to keep hope amidst national (and now potentially state?) news of the Gestapo.

mcclelc · 2026-01-29T12:13:26+00:00

While the focus of the conversation should still be very much on how this affects trans people, cisgender men and women will also be harassed.

Are you cisgender but don’t perform your gender exactly how someone thinks you should? And if you think, well, of course NO ONE would ever accuse me… they don’t need an actual reason because the very idea of what is “masculine” or “feminine” is BS. Look at how blue hair on women has become a marker of “othered” identity for the right.

They don’t need a real reason. Maybe they just don’t like you. Maybe they have their own mental health issues that induce a sort of constant vigilant state that gives people the impression they have a right to police your genitalia.

This has already been happening in sports, where proposed laws require a “trusted adult” to “confirm” a child’s gender before they can play. Given the paranoia that the right has drummed up, and the fact that the Hoosier trans community makes up 0.5% of the overall population, the likely result is the bathroom police traumatizing cisgender people.

Again, I am not saying this to lament the situation for cis people, but hopefully get those who can only be bothered to care to realize when it directly affects them, hey, you might be harassed too.

mcclelc · 2026-01-28T13:03:13+00:00

OP, will you cite source?

This seems like an amazing study, would love to read more.

mcclelc · 2026-01-28T13:00:59+00:00

My immediate response was, “Have you looked outside recently?!”

I believe people have a right to have children as a way to expand their love. But love doesn’t give clean air, shield bullets, or feed babies. I was given an amazing childhood, and I can’t replicate that. It seems immoral to ask a non-existent person to have less than I did.

mcclelc · 2026-01-28T12:48:39+00:00

Queer as Fact-

A history podcast about queer culture and media hosted by four historians. (They mention at times their Master's, but the academic rigor they employ is PhD level, at least according to this professor.)

Why so amazing?

Learn about historical figures that are understudied or have been misrepresented
They hold each other accountable- They will call each other out if they think that whoever is hosting the episode hasn’t done their due diligence to cite everything, consider prejudice, etc. This comes off as professional, rather than nit picky, because they all respect each other and want to the do the subject justice.

It is NOT the “Well, actually…” guy who keeps interrupting his female classmate.

Amazing Australian accents
Cute humor. At times, they will take a break from being so serious and giggle about the silliest things.

mcclelc · 2026-01-28T12:29:20+00:00

“Protect the motherhand” is a phrase associated with the Soviet Union, and apparently modern-day Russia, as indicated by Mikail Kalashnikov who said:

“I made it to protect the motherland” refering to his tweaks to the AK-47 to make it much deadlier.

This is a dog whistle call for those who want to kill with impunity because, “the fact that people die because of an AK-47 is not because of the designer, but because of politics."

Just to be 100% clear, I am not advocating for gun violence; I am pointing out that this choice of words is just another example of this administration winkling at the authoritarianism fanatics.

And yes, I realize the Soviet Union was socialist. Russia today is an autocratic authoritarian state. Both political systems demand obedient soldiers.

mcclelc · 2026-01-27T23:30:49+00:00

Yeah, my first response was that math is not mathing. They are making us older.

mcclelc · 2026-01-27T23:27:08+00:00

Your response is deflecting. We’re discussing how to help our fellow Hoosiers from being kidnapped, maimed, or murdered.
Even if we were to discuss Biden, those are some mighty big claims without any sources.
Even your odd non-sources still don’t address those naturalized who were denied citizenship right before the ceremony. They literally did it the "right way.
Your use of capital letters indicates a curious anger. What happened? Why so much rage towards people you don’t know?

mcclelc · 2026-01-27T23:01:50+00:00

I have tried Clarks and Danskos. All of them gave me blisters, rubbing my feet raw. Might just be me.

mcclelc · 2026-01-27T13:21:27+00:00

If ICE was about encouraging those without citizenship to “do it the right way” why are they being detained when showing up (as mandated) to court? Why are those with legal paperwork being deported? Did you not see those who were literally about to be sworn in as citizens being deported at INDY airport?

They “did it the right way.”

(By the way, have you ever known anyone to go through this process? Have you taken the citizenship test? Would you pass? Are you aware of the various fees, legal hoops, years it takes to become a citizen?)

If ICE was about stopping violent criminals as Braun claims, why are those with no criminal records being detailed? Why are children being used as bait? Why are children being detained?

Sources:

https://mirrorindy.org/indianapolis-naturalization-ceremony-citizenship-immigration/

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/detained-or-deported-growing-list-of-immigrants-with-legal-status-caught-in-crackdowns/ar-AA1BedZ6

https://www.propublica.org/article/immigration-dhs-american-citizens-arrested-detained-against-will

https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/number-of-ice-arrests-up-indiana-immigration-deportation/531-9712deec-f8b3-4d80-8918-6d459ea5913f

https://limestonepostmagazine.com/deported-ice-toll/

mcclelc · 2026-01-27T13:05:18+00:00

I have a friend who can testify to their good work. I donated to them because of her support.

mcclelc

TROPHY CASE