Science news asks: Does sprawl make people fat?  and Could smart urban design keep people fit and trim? 

"As scientists investigate the relationship between sprawl and obesity, a compact style of city development sometimes called smart growth might become a tool in the fight for the nation's health. However, University of Toronto economist Matthew Turner charges that "a lot of people out there don't like urban sprawl, and those people are trying to hijack the obesity epidemic to further the smart-growth agenda [and] change how cities look."

For decades, housing and population growth in U.S. suburban areas have outpaced those in city centers. Shifts in commuting patterns reflect the trend toward people residing at a sizable distance from where they work, shop, and play. According to U.S. Census data, the average commute lengthened from 22.4 minutes to 25.1 minutes between 1990 and 2000, and the proportion of workers walking or biking to work dropped by one-quarter.

TIGHT FIT. Densely built urban areas such as Vancouver's downtown may encourage pedestrian traffic and promote physical activity. In contrast, cities of low density, where people depend on cars to get to stores and other facilities, seem to favor obesity.
Corbis

A few communities buck the national trend. For example, Frank says, "there is a great deal of new development in Atlanta that is walkable."

Source:
Weighing In on City Planning
Could smart urban design keep people fit and trim?
Ben Harder
Science News, Week of Jan. 20, 2007; Vol. 171, No. 3 , p. 43
http://www.sciencenews.org/articles/20070120/bob9.asp

Posted at 06:01 PM in Art & Design | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

From the Guardian's news blog, comes this tidbit.

One would hope that the president of the World Bank, Paul Wolfowitz would dress appropriately for the job. Apparently, not so much:

Paul Wolfowitz: Embarrassing the United States since 1976

Posted at 05:55 AM in Current Affairs, Photo Caption Contest!, Politics, War/Defense | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Very funny: 

Part II

Part III

Part IV

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From a lovely website titled "lovegodsway" comes this lovely list of BANDS THAT WILL MAKE YOU GAY 

The Doors? The Rolling Stones? Frank Sinatra? (What is this guy smoking?)

Ted Nugent wants you gay? That's ridiculous. He may want to shoot you, but making you gay doesn't seem to be big on Ted's agenda. And I guess John Mayer sleeping with hottie Jessica Simpson is just a good cover for his musical attempts at gayification. Elton John is on the list twice; Once listed as "Elton John" and in case you missed it, a second time as "Elton John(really gay)."

How does this person think this works?  Some kid hears a song and goes to his friends, "Hey check out this tune? That's awesome! Who wants to sodomize me?"

I have decided that this is really negative side effect of societal evolution: We have now reached the stage where even if you are incredibly dumb, as long as you look both ways before crossing the street, you can live long enough to procreate. A few 100 thousand years ago, this degree of stupidity would have resulted in a simple but fatal demotion down the food chain.

~~~~
http://lovegodsway.org/GayBands

One of the most dangerous ways homosexuality invades family life is through popular music. Parents should keep careful watch over their children's listening habits, especially in this Internet Age of MP3 piracy.

Bands to watch out for

The Spores (endorse suicide)
Scissor Sisters
Rufus Wainwright
Merzbau
Ravi Shankar
Wilco
Bjork
Tech N9ne
Ghostface Killah
Bobby Conn
Morton Subotnik
Cole Porter
The String Cheese Incident
Eagles of Death Metal
Polyphonic Spree
The Faint
Interpol
Tegan and Sara
Erasure
Le Tigre
The Gossip
The Magnetic Fields
The Doors
Phish
Queen
The Strokes
Sufjan Stevens
Morrissey(?questionable?)
The Pet Shop Boys
Metallica
Judas Priest
The Village People
The Secret Handshake
The Rolling Stones
David Bowie
Frankie Goes to Hollywood
Man or Astroman
Richard Cheese
Jay-Z
Depeche Mode
Kansas
Ani DiFranco
Fischerspooner
John Mayer
Angel Eyes
The Indigo Girls
Velvet Underground
Madonna
Elton John
Barry Manilow
Indigo Girls
Melissa Etheridge
Eminmen
Nirvana
Boy George*
The Killers
Lou Reed
Lil' Wayne
Motorhead
Jill Sobule
Wilson Phillips
DMX
Lisa Loeb
Ted Nugent (loincloth)
Dogstar
Thirty Seconds to Mars
Lil' Kim
kd lang
Frank Sinatra
Hinder
Nickleback
Justus Kohncke
Bob Mould
Clay Aiken
Arcade Fire
Bright Eyes
Corinne Bailey Rae
Audioslave
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Panic at the Disco
Elton John(really gay)

~~~

Here's what else that have to say:

In Our effort to keep this list up to date we'd appreciate your help. If you know of a band that is Gay or propogating a Gay message please email us so we can update. Donnie is handling this his email is: [email protected]

The response is overwhelming. You guys know of a lot more Gay Bands than I do. I can't keep up. Hopefully soon we'll have it so you can add them by yourself

Posted at 06:09 AM in Music, Religion | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBack

The Beatles - From Me to You -- live in Washington DC

Posted at 06:29 AM in Music, The Beatles | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack

  One of my favorite Jazz musicians is Dave Brubeck. Its perfect music to chill to after a harried week such as this one.

Even if you don't know Brubeck, you probably know him via Take Five, off of the album Time Out, which was the first million selling jazz disc..  Take Five may be the single best known Jazz recording of all time (argue amongst yourselves whats better known in comments).

Brubeck is one of those rare musicians where you can just about randomly select anything he's recorded -- and its pretty great. If you want some suggestions, consider any of these favorite Brubeck albums:

Time Out
Concord on a Summer Night   
Jazz at Oberlin 
Jazz at the College of the Pacific   
Live at the Berlin Philharmonie

Even his "fun" stuff is terrific -- check out Quiet as the Moon. Its "Peanuts inspired" (except for a song or two, its not the actual Peanuts music -- thats Vince Guaraldi playing A Boy Named Charlie Brown).

Also worth checking out are Dave Digs Disney and Brubeck Plays Music From West Side Story.

Take Five

St Louis Blues 1961

Other Videos:

Blue Rondo a la Turk

Kathy's Waltz

Sounds of the Loop - 1964

St Louis Blues Brubeck Dave 1961

Strange Meadow Lark

Live At The Lincoln Center 1972    

via Crooks & Liars

Posted at 06:30 AM in Music | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Posted at 10:59 AM in Art & Design, Television | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Great Ad:

Adverbox via The New Shelton Wet/Dry

Posted at 06:41 AM in Photo Caption Contest! | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack

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YouTube: History of the Middle East in 2.5 Minutes

Who has controlled and conquered the Middle East over the course of history? Pretty much everyone. Egyptians, Turks, Jews, Romans, Arabs, Persians, Europeans...the list goes on. Who will control the Middle East today? That is a much bigger question.

Posted at 06:09 AM in Politics | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack