Basketball on Insanity

This week was my recovery week and boy did I need it! I have been going hard for the first 30 days and have dropped a lot of weight. I have also gotten a whole lot quicker and stronger. How can I tell? Well, during this recovery week, I have decided to get back out and start playing basketball again.

About 11 years ago, when I was stationed at Offutt AFB, NE, I used to play basketball everyday. I was 24 yrs old and could run and jump with anyone. Even though I'm only 5'7, I play like I'm 6'6 and could jump out the gym. I was in pretty decent shape back then. Well, a few months ago, I decided to go play again... Bad idea... I was out of shape and still smoking cancer sticks... Boy, did it really show on the court! I ran, my almost 200 lbs ass, up and down the court and damn near had a heart attack! I haven't been back since; until this week.

Last weekend was the start of my recovery week, so I headed to the gym to play. It was awesome! I was so quick and felt as if I could run forever! Thus, yesterday, instead of doing Core Cardio and Balance for 6th time, I decided to go play ball again. Once again, my body didn't disappoint! But, there are two things that I notice; one good and one bad.

First, the good thing was my strength. I felt more powerful when I went up for rebounds or set picks. I could also fight through picks better and was even quick enough to sometimes jump around them. That is all a credit to how much better my strength and balance has become from my Insanity workouts. The only bad thing is that my stamina isn't where I want it to be yet. I found myself still getting gassed after a few sprints up and down the court. I want to improve that and hope that month two will be the catalyst to improve my conditioning. But, I did notice that even though I would get gassed, my recovery time was short and I was back in it after a minute or so break in action. I also credit this to my Insanity workouts.

I am totally satisfied with my results thus far and excited to see what the future holds for my body transformation. I plan on going hard during month two and working on getting my conditioning where I want it to be. I'm going to tweak my diet and tryout some new supplements, in an attempt to cut some more weight. I also plan on getting out there and jogging on my recovery days. I have my military PT test coming up and want to run my 1.5 mile course weekly, to see where I'm at. I will keep you all posted on what works and doesn't work for me, as I continue on this journey. Recovery week is over... I'm ready for month two!

Late

S

My new belly on Insanity... Recovery week after month 1

Oh... I almost forgot!!!! Here is my Insanity tip of the week...

This week I will leave you with an awesome and healthy alternative recipe to one of my all-time favorite breakfast items... The Breakfast Burrito!

Stan's Heathy Breakfast Burrito

1 Reduced fat flour, multi-grain, or whole wheat tortilla (the larger the better)

1 Raw whole sweet potato grated

1/2 cup Low fat mozarella cheese

1/4 cup Low fat cheddar cheese

1 cup Eggbeaters/egg white product

2 tablespoons I Can't Believe It's Not Butter LIGHT

1/2 cup Chopped onion

1/2 cup Chopped fresh tomato

Pinch of salt

Pinch of pepper

Hot Sauce, Jalapenos or Red Pepper Flake to taste

Nonstick Nonfat cooking spray

Preparation:

1. Place a skillet over low heat and spray with nonfat cooking spray.

2. Add the grated sweet potato to the pan along with the I Can't Believe It's Not Butter Light

3. Add onions immediately and stir until potatoes and onions are soft.

4. Add a pinch of salt and pepper.

5. Add eggbeaters.

6. Add hot sauce, Jalapenos or red pepper flake to taste and mix together until cooked (Note: Be careful here... Don't add this ingredient if you don't like spicy foods... I like it hot!!!)

7. Mix in chopped tomato near the end. (Note: You could also add a low fat salsa if you like... But I use fresh tomatoes)

8. Heat tortillas in microwave for 30 sec and add egg mixture down the center of the tortilla.

9. Add 1/4 cup low fat mozarella cheese and 1/8 cup cheddar over the egg mixture and fold tortilla into a burrito

Yields about 2 Burritos

Nutrient value:

1 Burrito:

350 calories

Fat: 12.1g

Saturated Fat: 5.1g

Cholesterol: 18mg

Sodium 668.8mg

Carbs: 28.6g

Fiber: 9.9g

Protein: 27.5g

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A sweet problem: Princeton researchers find that high-fructose corn syrup prompts considerably more weight gain

This is an awesome article that I found on the Princeton University website on the weight gain dangers of high-fructose corn syrup... Read and heed!

S

A sweet problem: Princeton researchers find that high-fructose corn syrup prompts considerably more weight gain

Posted March 22, 2010; 10:00 a.m.

by Hilary Parker

A Princeton University research team has demonstrated that all sweeteners are not equal when it comes to weight gain: Rats with access to high-fructose corn syrup gained significantly more weight than those with access to table sugar, even when their overall caloric intake was the same.

In addition to causing significant weight gain in lab animals, long-term consumption of high-fructose corn syrup also led to abnormal increases in body fat, especially in the abdomen, and a rise in circulating blood fats called triglycerides. The researchers say the work sheds light on the factors contributing to obesity trends in the United States.

"Some people have claimed that high-fructose corn syrup is no different than other sweeteners when it comes to weight gain and obesity, but our results make it clear that this just isn't true, at least under the conditions of our tests," said psychology professor Bart Hoebel, who specializes in the neuroscience of appetite, weight and sugar addiction. "When rats are drinking high-fructose corn syrup at levels well below those in soda pop, they're becoming obese -- every single one, across the board. Even when rats are fed a high-fat diet, you don't see this; they don't all gain extra weight."

A Princeton University research team, including (from left) undergraduate Elyse Powell, psychology professor Bart Hoebel, visiting research associate Nicole Avena and graduate student Miriam Bocarsly, has demonstrated that rats with access to high-fructose corn syrup -- a sweetener found in many popular sodas -- gain significantly more weight than those with access to water sweetened with table sugar, even when they consume the same number of calories. The work may have important implications for understanding obesity trends in the United States. (Photo: Denise Applewhite) Photos for news media

In results published online Feb. 26 by the journal Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior, the researchers from the Department of Psychology and the Princeton Neuroscience Institutereported on two experiments investigating the link between the consumption of high-fructose corn syrup and obesity.

The first study showed that male rats given water sweetened with high-fructose corn syrup in addition to a standard diet of rat chow gained much more weight than male rats that received water sweetened with table sugar, or sucrose, in conjunction with the standard diet. The concentration of sugar in the sucrose solution was the same as is found in some commercial soft drinks, while the high-fructose corn syrup solution was half as concentrated as most sodas.

The second experiment -- the first long-term study of the effects of high-fructose corn syrup consumption on obesity in lab animals -- monitored weight gain, body fat and triglyceride levels in rats with access to high-fructose corn syrup over a period of six months. Compared to animals eating only rat chow, rats on a diet rich in high-fructose corn syrup showed characteristic signs of a dangerous condition known in humans as the metabolic syndrome, including abnormal weight gain, significant increases in circulating triglycerides and augmented fat deposition, especially visceral fat around the belly. Male rats in particular ballooned in size: Animals with access to high-fructose corn syrup gained 48 percent more weight than those eating a normal diet.

"These rats aren't just getting fat; they're demonstrating characteristics of obesity, including substantial increases in abdominal fat and circulating triglycerides," said Princeton graduate student Miriam Bocarsly. "In humans, these same characteristics are known risk factors for high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, cancer and diabetes." In addition to Hoebel and Bocarsly, the research team included Princeton undergraduate Elyse Powell and visiting research associateNicole Avena, who was affiliated with Rockefeller University during the study and is now on the faculty at the University of Florida. The Princeton researchers note that they do not know yet why high-fructose corn syrup fed to rats in their study generated more triglycerides, and more body fat that resulted in obesity.

When male rats were given water sweetened with high-fructose corn syrup in addition to a standard diet of rat chow, the animals gained much more weight than male rats that received water sweetened with table sugar, or sucrose, along with the standard diet. The concentration of sugar in the sucrose solution was the same as is found in some commercial soft drinks, while the high-fructose corn syrup solution was half as concentrated as most sodas, including the orange soft drink shown here. (Photo: Denise Applewhite)

High-fructose corn syrup and sucrose are both compounds that contain the simple sugars fructose and glucose, but there at least two clear differences between them. First, sucrose is composed of equal amounts of the two simple sugars -- it is 50 percent fructose and 50 percent glucose -- but the typical high-fructose corn syrup used in this study features a slightly imbalanced ratio, containing 55 percent fructose and 42 percent glucose. Larger sugar molecules called higher saccharides make up the remaining 3 percent of the sweetener. Second, as a result of the manufacturing process for high-fructose corn syrup, the fructose molecules in the sweetener are free and unbound, ready for absorption and utilization. In contrast, every fructose molecule in sucrose that comes from cane sugar or beet sugar is bound to a corresponding glucose molecule and must go through an extra metabolic step before it can be utilized.

This creates a fascinating puzzle. The rats in the Princeton study became obese by drinking high-fructose corn syrup, but not by drinking sucrose. The critical differences in appetite, metabolism and gene expression that underlie this phenomenon are yet to be discovered, but may relate to the fact that excess fructose is being metabolized to produce fat, while glucose is largely being processed for energy or stored as a carbohydrate, called glycogen, in the liver and muscles.

In the 40 years since the introduction of high-fructose corn syrup as a cost-effective sweetener in the American diet, rates of obesity in the U.S. have skyrocketed, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 1970, around 15 percent of the U.S. population met the definition for obesity; today, roughly one-third of the American adults are considered obese, the CDC reported. High-fructose corn syrup is found in a wide range of foods and beverages, including fruit juice, soda, cereal, bread, yogurt, ketchup and mayonnaise. On average, Americans consume 60 pounds of the sweetener per person every year.

"Our findings lend support to the theory that the excessive consumption of high-fructose corn syrup found in many beverages may be an important factor in the obesity epidemic," Avena said.

The new research complements previous work led by Hoebel and Avena demonstrating that sucrose can be addictive, having effects on the brain similar to some drugs of abuse.

In the future, the team intends to explore how the animals respond to the consumption of high-fructose corn syrup in conjunction with a high-fat diet -- the equivalent of a typical fast-food meal containing a hamburger, fries and soda -- and whether excessive high-fructose corn syrup consumption contributes to the diseases associated with obesity. Another step will be to study how fructose affects brain function in the control of appetite.

The research was supported by the U.S. Public Health Service.

Source : http://www.princeton.edu/main/news/archive/S26/91/22K07/

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My Insanity Workout Journey

Ok… So, 30 days ago I decided that I wanted to change my life. Really, it started as just another New Years resolution. Every year I tell my family and myself that I promise to quit smoking and get in shape. I always start off pretty good and then I burn-out and go right back to smoking newports and eating pizza (hence the name of this blog). Every year I also tell myself that this year will be different… This year I will stick too it… Nope! Never happens… But, this year is a new year and a new promise. In order to keep this promise, I have decided to start posting on this blog and hopefully the world can help me out. Also, I might be able to inspire and help others along the way on my journey.

In January 2010, I started my second round of P90x. My first round went pretty good. Let me give you guys the background. I’m in the military and I saw the infomercial for P90x on TV late one night. I was skeptical, but figured that it might help me get in shape for my annual physical fitness test. Since I live in Alaska, it can be a little interesting, to say the least, trying to workout up here during the winter months. I had let myself go over the holidays again and decided to order the DVD’s last year. I was up to over 200lbs and was just feeling old and miserable. I got the DVD’s late March 2009 and tested that May. I told my wife that I was going to be a Spartan for Halloween...LOL... I was motivated and stuck with P90x for about 60 days. I went from 200lbs down to 174lbs! I had almost a 40-inch waist on day 1 and got down to a 35-inch waist on my test day in May. I felt great and passed my test. But, then I just gave up and stopped working-out again. I had passed my test and it was over. Also, I never quit smoking that entire time and I never became a Spartan.

This brings us to January 2010 and why I started my second round of P90x. See, I have been on high cholesterol medication since I was 26. My cholesterol has been in the 400 total point range before. No matter how I changed my diet or how much I worked-out, it never would drop on its own. Thus, I was put on meds; but I never really took them. I felt like I was too young to be put on these types of meds. I truly believed that high cholesterol was something old people got and I was young and invincible. Well, this year a young person I know was diagnosed with cancer. He is younger than me and it has gotten me scared to death! Then I went in for my yearly physical and the doctor asked if I was taking any medication? I said “No” and she said, “Why aren’t you taking your high cholesterol medication?” It was a setup! I had no answer… Nothing to say… She told me that I’m a heart attack or stroke waiting to happen. She explained that all the years that I had been smoking and not taking my meds had no doubt caused polyps and artery buildup. I was thinking to myself that I’m only 34 and will be turning 35 in June and this lady is talking to me about strokes and heart attacks?!? That was it! I had to take control of my life and my body! I have 2 daughters I want to walk down the aisle one day and a son I want to raise to be a better man then I ever will. I can’t do that sitting in an urn on my widows’ mantel.

So, I started doing P90x again and set a date to quit smoking. I had quit smoking before, about 5 years ago. I quit smoking for a 2-year period, but I got sent to fight a war and started back again. I quit cold turkey and that is the only way I feel that I can quit and stay quit. I have tried all the pills, patches, and gums; but I always started right back after I stopped taking them. Cold turkey is the best way!

The P90x workouts were good, but I really wanted more cardio. That is the only problem I have with P90x. The muscle building exercises are awesome, but the cardio workouts just weren’t giving me what I wanted. I needed something with more cardio… Something that was going to get me ready for my physical fitness test that consist of: 1.5 mile run, as many pushups you can do in 60 seconds, as many crunches you can do in 60 seconds, and a waist measurement. P90x covered most of it, but the run… Also, I wanted to slim down and P90x seemed to be buffing me up more. So, I started to modify P90x by doing the Plyometric workout 3 days a week and doing the other muscle building workouts for the other 3 days. I didn’t do the other cardio workouts (e.g. Kenpo, Core Synergetics, Cardio X, etc…), just Plyo. Plyo was the best cardio workout of the bunch and was one of my favorites.

Then one night I was up late and saw an infomercial for Insanity. Insanity is made by the same company that makes P90x; Beachbody. Once again I was a skeptic, but it looked like the cardio workout I had been longing for. Plus, I already owned P90x and I’m a believer in the products Beachbody puts out. I thought, ok, lets give it a shot!

The DVD’s came in and I did the pre-test at work one night. At the time, I was working night shift and all the guys sat there and cracked jokes while I did the test. But, about half way through it, all the jokes stopped. The guys started to realize that this was no joke. I huffed and puffed my 198lbs butt through the test. Well, after I was done, the other guys wanted to try it. They got their workout clothes and huffed and puffed their way through the test. These guys were in better shape, yet only did a little better then me on the test! I was sold! And the guys weren’t laughing anymore… They are all believers now and that was just the pre-test!

I started the first week and it sucked! I knew that there was no way I was going to be able to do this and smoke. More reason to quit, aye?!? I quit the second week in and haven’t had one since. The first month consist of Plyometric Cardio Circuit training, Cardio Power and Resistance, Cardio Recovery, Pure Cardio, and Cardio ABS, which you start at the end of week two. I have to say, that these workouts are tougher then P90x, in that I still can’t make it through without taking breaks. Nobody in the DVD’s can either though, so I don’t feel that bad… LOL… Also, P90x has never made me vomit… I can’t count how many times I have vomited in the first two weeks trying to do these workouts! Though, it never gets easier, it does get better. I find myself going longer and longer without breaks. Thus, the silver lining!

Let me break down the workouts:

Plyometric Cardio Circuit Training: It is just what it says it is and is a killer workout. Plyo is a whole lot of jumping and running in place after the warm-up. Circuit training is actually the 30-second rest you get in-between sets. Shaun T (the trainer) talks about watching your heart-rate and the point to circuit training is to speed up and then rest… Then speed up again and then rest…

Cardio Power and Resistance: Is an awesome power workout with lots of leg power moves and pushups, as well. This workout will get your legs stronger, while giving you a killer cardio workout.

Cardio Recovery: Is a nice break during the week. I look forward to it. It is a lot of stretching that really feels good mid week.

Pure Cardio and Cardio ABS: Nonstop cardio! This one kills! You do all the exercises with no breaks! It starts off light and gets worst and worst (or better and better… LOL). Then when you are worn out, you do Cardio ABS. Cardio ABS is an awesome AB workout where you do no sit-ups or crunches! Your back never hits the ground! I love it! These two are my favorite workouts so far. But, I break them up… I do Pure Cardio in the AM and Cardio ABS in the PM.

Now, the most important thing is the diet. If you aren’t eating right, then you will not lose weight. I was following the diet to the letter at first… But, now, I just eat healthy period. My logic is I’m not trying to do this for only 60 days. This is a lifestyle change for me, so I just used the basic blueprint from P90x and the Insanity meal plans and that is just how I eat. I can really gage my calorie intake now. I was tracking it for so long, that after awhile, you really just learn how to eat. I will post some of the diet things I do as time goes on…

Another important thing is supplements. I have found that the most beneficial thing is a good recovery drink. I use vanilla Isopure, Glutamine, and Chocolate Soy Milk… That’s right, Chocolate milk is one of the best recovery drinks out there.

Read here: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/152240.php

I haven’t really found anything I like for pre-workout. I used AMP for a bit, but it tore my stomach apart and I hated the way it made me feel. If anyone has any ideas on what to use, get at me. There are also supplements and recovery drinks that you can buy from beachbody, as well. I haven't tried any of them yet.

Well, this is enough for my first post… I’m done with the first month and starting my recovery week. Then all hell breaks loose in the next 30 days, with new workouts! I will keep you all posted.

Now for the pictures…

Below are the pics of day 1 and day 30. I will post day 60 and day 90 and so on and so forth. I plan on mixing it with P90x after day 60… I will try to post on this blog once or twice a week from here on out.

Late

S





Insanity Workout
Number of DVDs: 10
Workouts: Fit Test, Plyometric Cardio Circuit, Cardio Power & Resistance, Cardio Recovery, Pure Cardio and Abs, Cardio Abs, Core Cardio and Balance, Max Interval Circuit, Max Interval Plyo, and Max Cardio Conditioning & Abs.
Results seen in: 60 days
Fitness commitment: You are instructed to workout six days a week for the first four weeks of the Insanity Workout. Then you perform the Recovery workouts for one week before you complete the rest of the program. Workout DVDs last 40 to 60 minutes.
Cost: $119.95, plus$12.95 shipping and handling.

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Co-founder of the Detroit Trio Slum Village, Baatin has Passed Away... R.I.P.

Source: http://www.examiner.com/x-14684-HipHop-Music-Examiner~y2009m8d2-Baatin-of-Slum-Village-dead-at-35

 Kinga M. Spanier

Co-founder of the Detroit trio Slum Village, Baatin has passed away. Baatin (Titus Glover) was found dead on the 14000 block of Anglin Street in Detroit. Detroit Police Department spokesman John Roach said Saturday he did not know a cause of death.

Slum Village was founded by Baatin, T3, and the late J Dilla. The original lineup of the group released two albums, 1997's Fan-tas-tic (Vol. 1) and 2000's Fantastic (Vol. 2). 

Rapper/producer J Dilla left the group and was replaced by Elzhi for the groups third release, Trinity (Past, Present, and Future). After the release of Trinity Baatin began to exhibit unusual behavior prompting him to be removed from the group. Baatin was later diagnosed with schizophrenia.

Slum Village recorded two more albums without Baatin--2004's Detroit Deli and 2005's self titled CD. Founding SV member J Dilla requested that Baatin be invited back to the group to record a reunion album. J Dilla passed away in 2006 from Lupus complications, while T3 and Elzhi stayed true to their word and invited Baatin back into the fold.

The group had been performing on the summer's biggest Hip-Hop festival Rock the Bells in preperation for the September 22nd release of their album Villa Manifesto. Just two short weeks ago I spoke to Slum Village at the New York stop on the Rock the Bells tour and Baatin could not contain his excitement about being back with the crew.

"I'm happy to be back," Baatin said. "I just want to apologize for anyone that I hurt, but I'm glad to be back--I'm trying to do better, I'm trying."

"Baatin will be missed," Slum Village's T3 said in a statement. "I'm glad we got a chance to work together before he passed. We lost another Slum soldier, a dear friend and a brother. He touched many lives."

Baatin is survived by his son, Michael Majesty Ellis; his daughter, Aura Grace Glover; his parents, Howard and Alberta Glover, his sister, Eleanor Glover, and two brothers, Richard Riggins and Wendell Scott, all of Detroit.

To assist the family of Baatin visit: http://rensoul.com/2009/08/baatindonations.php

Baatin was an underrated MC with one of the dopest voices in rap history. His style was unique and his flow was original. He will be missed by the Hip-Hop community. R.I.P Baatin.

Warning! This song contains explicit lyrics:  

Author

Sherron Shabazz is an Examiner from the National Edition. You can see Sherron's articles at: "http://www.Examiner.com/x-14684-HipHop-Music-Examiner"

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Could Taxing and Regulating the Sale of Recreational Marijuana Help Us Out of Our Economic Misfortunes?

Why not? Cannabis can be used for everything from food to clothes to paper. I know plenty of responsible recreational smokers (who all shall remain nameless, no worries). We are now on our way towards cleaner, greener, technology and nothing is greener then Cannabis. Is it really that bad of an idea?

So why not? We can focus our police, government agencies and military resources on other crimes and higher classes of drugs. We can ease the burden on our judicial system and put a dent in the number of our citizens trapped in the prison-industrial complex. We can lessen the amount of gang turf violence over illegal marijuana in our urban communities. We can stop the violence on our boarders caused by the trafficking of marijuana. We can use cannabis for paper and other things that we currently destroy our forests for. I could go on and on…

So why not take advantage of this huge cash crop? Is it really any worst then cigarettes or alcohol? Is really that gateway drug that it’s been known as for years? With all this anti-socialist talk; should the government really be deciding these things for us anyway? What are all those people that work in our prison-industrial complex going to do? Will they be out of a job? What are all the gangs that are killing and making a living off of selling illegal marijuana going to do? Are they going to start robbing people instead? What about all the people in jail for the marijuana crimes? How are they going to be reintroduced into society after all those years in a prison system that has no interest in rehabilitation?

Just some things to think about…

Kas

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Taxing Pot Could Become a Political Toking Point
Tuesday 24 February 2009
by: Eric Bailey, The Los Angeles Times

Link: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-pottax24-2009feb24,0,7534269.story

An assemblyman from San Francisco argues that it's time to tax and regulate the state's biggest cash crop in the same manner as alcohol. Opponents say it would create new costs for society.

Sacramento - Could Cannabis sativa be a salvation for California's fiscal misfortunes? Can the state get a better budget grip by taxing what some folks toke?

An assemblyman from San Francisco announced legislation Monday to do just that: make California the first state in the nation to tax and regulate recreational marijuana in the same manner as alcohol.

Buoyed by the widely held belief that cannabis is California's biggest cash crop, Assemblyman Tom Ammiano contends it is time to reap some state revenue from that harvest while putting a damper on drug use by teens, cutting police costs and even helping Mother Nature.

"I know the jokes are going to be coming, but this is not a frivolous issue," said Ammiano, a Democrat elected in November after more than a dozen years as a San Francisco supervisor. "California always takes the lead - on gay marriage, the sanctuary movement, medical marijuana."

Anti-drug groups are anything but amused by the idea of California collecting a windfall from the leafy herb that remains illegal under federal law.

"This would open another door in Pandora's box," said Calvina Fay, executive director of Save Our Society From Drugs. "Legalizing drugs like this would create a whole new set of costs for society."

Ammiano's measure, AB 390, would essentially replicate the regulatory structure used for beer, wine and hard liquor, with taxed sales barred to anyone under 21.

He said it would actually boost public safety, keeping law enforcement focused on more serious crimes while keeping marijuana away from teenagers who can readily purchase black-market pot from peers.

The natural world would benefit, too, from the uprooting of environmentally destructive backcountry pot plantations that denude fragile ecosystems, Ammiano said.

But the biggest boon might be to the bottom line. By some estimates, California's pot crop is a $14 billion industry, putting it above vegetables ($5.7 billion) and grapes ($2.6 billion). If so, that could mean upward of $1 billion in tax revenue for the state each year.

"Having just closed a $42 billion budget deficit, generating new revenue is crucial to the state's long-term fiscal health," said Betty Yee, the state Board of Equalization chairwoman who appeared with Ammiano at a San Francisco news conference.

Also in support of opening debate on the issue are San Francisco Sheriff Mike Hennessey and retired Orange County Superior Court Judge James Gray, a longtime legalization proponent.

"I'm a martini guy myself," Ammiano said. "But I think it's time for California to ... look at this in a truly deliberative fashion."

He sees the possibility of an eventual truce in the marijuana wars with Barack Obama now in the White House.

A White House spokesman declined to discuss Ammiano's legislation, instead pointing to a transition website that says the president "is not in favor of the legalization of marijuana."

Several cities in California and around the nation have adopted laws making marijuana the lowest law enforcement priority, including Santa Barbara, Santa Monica, Denver and Seattle.

Oakland went even further in 2004, requiring pot to be taxed if it is legalized.

But where Ammiano sees taxes, pot foes see trouble.

They say easier access means more problems with drug dependency among adults, heavier teen use and an increase in driving while high.

"If we think the drug cartels are going to tuck their tails between their legs and go home, I think we're badly mistaken," Fay said.

"They're going to heavily target our children."

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5 New Reasons Why You Should Stop Eating Red Meat

I travel around the world to much in my job to be messing around with red meat anymore. I'm done... Throwing in my fork... Not gonna be able to do it! I will stick with my fish, chicken and pork (the other white meat)... I'm done! Read below...


K

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Spain reports fifth human death from mad cow disease

MADRID (AFP) — The Spanish government late Friday confirmed the country's fifth fatality from the human variant of mad cow disease, a woman who died in the northern city of Santander in January.

The health ministry said laboratory tests confirmed that the woman had Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) as the human variant of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), or mad cow disease, is known.

"The appearance of sporadic cases of the disease does not indicate new risks for the health of the public," it said in a statement.

The last death in Spain which was confirmed to have been due to the brain-wasting disease took place in August 2008 in the northwestern region of Castilla and Leon.

Spain recorded its first human death from mad cow disease in June 2005 when a 26-year-old woman succumbed to it in Madrid.

More than 200 people around the world are suspected to have died, most of them in Britain, from the human variant of the disease, which was first described in 1996.

Scientists believe the disease was caused by using infected parts of cattle to make feed for other cattle.

Authorities believe eating meat from infected animals can trigger the human variant of the fatal brain-wasting disease.

The 27-member EU, of which Spain is part, has banned high-risk materials such as spinal cord from use in feed and stricter labelling was also introduced.

Link: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gAFZ583FrJLfABJMsHuJ1PhcU-cw Share

Stop Hatin’ On Terrell Owens… Geez!

By Kas

Alright… Alright… You haters in the sports media! Now I have to say something about this whole Terrell Owens “witch-hunt” I feel is going on. I get sick of reading article after article of hate on Terrell Owens. Though, I do feel some of his “supposed” off-field, on-field, locker room, antics might have been a tad divisive. He is still one of the most productive and entertaining wide receivers in the NFL today. The reason I say “supposed,” is because no one truly knows what goes on behind the closed doors of the NFL. The media is always looking for a story and the public loves drama; thus we will always have these types of players in professional sports.

Every professional sport has their T.O. type players. Tennis had McEnroe; Golf has Sergio, who changed his name just like the Bengals Chad Ocho Cinco. Hockey had Eric Lindros who whined his entire career and coincidently, played in Dallas as well. MLB has Manny, NBA has Artest (among others) and even the UEFA (European Football or “soccer”) has Cristiano Ronaldo; the best player Europeans love to hate. All of these athletes are/were top tier players in their respective sports and played integral parts to their teams’ success. Yet, these players are hated by many fans for different reasons and loathed by many sports writers for their off and on the field transgressions. But, sometimes the truth is in the eye of the beholder.



Take for instance the talk about T.O. being an aging wide-out who is losing a step. Many sports reporters and sports websites have made mention of how he dropped 33 balls this past season. They have also reported that the majority of NFL teams would be reluctant to sign Owens because he is poison in a NFL locker-room. But, Owens, at the age of 35, was 13th in the NFL in receiving yards (7th NFC), tied for 5th in receiving TD’s (4th NFC) and had only one fumble in 2008. He was arguably the Cowboys top offensive weapon and led the team in TD’s. It wasn’t T.O. that lost that pivotal week 17 game against the Eagles (6 rec. 103 yds.) or the week 16 defensive collapse against the Ravens (5 rec. 63 yds. 1 TD). Terrell Owens was never the problem in Dallas and I believe he was used as the scapegoat for an underachieving franchise. The Cowboys haven’t won a playoff game since 1996, which proves that they couldn’t win with T.O. or without him. The Buffalo Bills let Owens sit on the market for only two days after being released by the Cowboys. So much for that reluctant to sign T.O. attitude that everybody was been talking about.

Look, if you don’t like the man… Fine! But, you can not deny his talent and passion for the game. Stop hating in the media and report the facts. Stop fishing and making up stories from hearsay and give dude his proper’s for being the game changer he is. He is 35 years old and still has the swag to talk and back it up on the gridiron. I personal look at sports as entertainment and just a game. I want to see those 200 yd-3 TD games and crazy ass taunting celebrations. I want to see the passion of him blowing up on a dumb ass coach for not getting him the ball, when he is clearly the best player on the field. I want to see him call out his QB for getting tired in the Super Bowl and cry while defending a QB who just lost them a playoff game.

So, I’m sure T.O. will do just fine as a Bill and keep getting me silly points for my fantasy team.

Get your popcorn ready!

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