Does this mean America is going to pay even more people not to work?

[The Dude 206]

So Slim is a criminal and not an ex-con?

I have no idea. However, I have incorrectly used the terms interchangeably.

[SuperDuper! 230]

Too Much Work, Food, Media May Be Hurting Health

Many would do better, physically and mentally, with less, expert says

MONDAY, June 6 (HealthDay News) -- America may be seen as a land of plenty, but some experts are beginning to believe that plenty may have become too much.

Cheap and convenient food, busy work and social lives and a constant barrage from media sources have overloaded Americans and are having a detrimental effect on their mental and physical health, according to Mary Jane Rotheram-Borus, a psychology professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, and co-director of the UCLA Center for Community Health and the Global Center for Children and Families.

All of this prosperity goes against the survival instincts that human beings adopted as they evolved, said Rotheram-Borus, who teaches a class at the UCLA Family Commons titled "Too Much? How to Do Less & Enjoy More."

"We were groomed for millennia to survive on too little," she said. "We didn't have enough food. We didn't have enough clothing. Our genetic code was built on those who could survive adversity."

But because it's ingrained in human nature to enjoy what you have when you have it, people may have taken too well to having too much.

Cheap fast food has led to Americans eating an average of 1,000 more calories a day than they need, Rotheram-Borus said. Constant media exposure creates stress while also numbing people to normal human interaction. And to pay for it all, people are working longer hours and enduring longer commutes.

Dr. Patricia Wong, a Los Angeles psychiatrist and a spokeswoman for the American Psychiatric Association, said that the advent of text messaging and smart phones has added to people's stress because they "create a pressure to be constantly available" that used to be endured only by doctors, police officers, firefighters and other professionals who spend much of their lives on call.

"Everyone is on call every minute of their lives now," she said. "There's no wonder people feel stressed out. Now mundane life is an emergency."

But doctors are finding that when people cut back -- by eating less or reducing their media viewing, for instance -- their mental and physical health improves, Rotheram-Borus said.

"The shift to paring down is new," Rotheram-Borus said. "Now we do better if we have less."

She emphasized that these problems are societal in nature. "It's structural," she said. "Changes in society have been major in the last 30 years, and we haven't adjusted our lifestyles. These are structural problems that have nothing to do with people making bad decisions."

Nonetheless, if something isn't done about this, Rotheram-Borus said, she sees a future in which obesity is rampant, stress is overwhelming and everyone is deep in debt from trying to fulfill their various appetites.

Wong doesn't completely agree with Rotheram-Borus' hypothesis. For example, she thinks most stress these days is not caused by having too much but rather by hoping to maintain what you already have in tough economic times.

"I don't think, in this current climate, that is as relevant to people as real economic need," Wong said. "I do know people who are driven by that 'chase of a dream,' but the general public is stressed out because they're wondering if they're going to keep their job or pay the rent."

And, though Wong agrees that stress from overfilled lives is contributing to the obesity epidemic, she doesn't think it's because people haven't adapted to having food readily available.

"People are overwhelmed, and they don't know how to deal with everything and become stressed or depressed," she said. "They turn to eating as a form of self-therapy."

But if people want to improve their health by cutting back, Rotheram-Borus and Wong suggest that they:

Set a consistent routine that is aligned with the values they want their children to have. For example, make family dinners the norm, rather than an occasional treat. "If you value your kids more than your job, you need to be at home for dinner," Rotheram-Borus said. "If you want your kids to be balanced human beings, you can't work 100 hours a week yourself."

Take a time out before making a purchase. Be clear about what you need when you go into a store.

Cut back on your food intake, and choose healthy foods. Throw out all the junk food in your house. "Once you have it in the house, you're very likely to eat it," Rotheram-Borus said.

Turn off the cell phone and disconnect from other media for a set period of time each day. "The reality is, in most situations a text message can wait," Wong said.

Remember that gifts don't always have to be purchases. Experiences, favors and thoughtful gestures can be just as meaningful.

http://health.usnews...-hurting-health

WOW! What a great article. All the glib hipsters quickly derailed your great topic, and did not realize it's value. Thanks for posting it

American culture is rough and tough for most folks.

The truth is, there is a real national epidemic of loneliness and poor mental health in America which is taboo but all too obvious based on the following dominant patterns in the US:

• The lifestyle and environment are devoid of human connection. Every man is an island. There is an "ice barrier" between strangers. Communication is mostly business-related and greetings are superficial. People tend to be segregated, paranoid, closed and mistrustful. They meet for convenience and go their own way. Groups are cliquish and non-inclusive. Most don't know their neighbors. One feels alone in crowded places. Trying to meet people feels awkward. All that matters is working and making money.

• Dating and relationships are a no-win nightmare for many men. Women are unapproachable, uptight, paranoid, and look down on men as fools, creeps and predators. They hate femininity and lack positive feminine qualities. Flirting is offensive and creepy to them. They are angry and self-centered with an off-chart sense of entitlement. Having too many choices, they become super picky and reject 99 percent of their admirers. Every attractive girl says she's taken. They do not need men, and harbor an inner resistance toward relationships with them. Men do not feel wanted or needed, and their niceness counts for nothing. Single men outnumber single women. There are more dateless males than in any other country.

• The cultural environment tears down your self-esteem and mental health. It makes you feel insecure, inadequate, uneasy, fragmented and alone in a highly toxic, stressful and lonely environment. A default state of worthlessness is instilled in you, making you always feel like you have to "prove yourself". The social culture is a fake façade where you can't relax and "be yourself". Many develop inferiority complexes, brag and act phony to compensate. To cope, many Americans go to therapists and psychiatrists, which is unheard of in the rest of the world, and speaks volumes about how dysfunctional and unnatural America is.

These conditions combined make America one of the WORST (if not the worst) cultures for Dating, Social Connection and Mental Health, and explain why it has the HIGHEST rates of mental illness and loneliness in the world (see these stats and studies). As the Indian sage Jiddu Krishnamurti stated, "It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society."However, these truths are TABOO to mention (especially #2), lest you be seen as a "loser", for our culture only allows you to 1) act fake and pretend that everything is great, or 2) blame yourself (neither of which changes anything).

[Nina~ 431]

Your cut/paste is a whole lot of baloney.

It is usually losers who tend to ascribe to this school of thought.. You seriously think an entire culture or gender is to be blamed just because you don't know how to make friends or find a good mate? I am not American, and trust me there are people in my culture too who like to be bitter and blame others.

[slim 1,525]

Slim, once again, read what I said. I was asking for clarification as YOUR verbiage was unclear. A criminal is someone who commits crimes.

So to be a criminal, you have to commit more than one crime? Is there a span of time in there too or is it just more than one crime ever in someone's whole life? Also, you still haven't broken down the seriousness of the crimes necessary to be labeled a criminal.

Does someone with two speeding tickets their whole life become a criminal under your definition or does it have to be something like speeding and jaywalking?

An ex-con is anyone who has committed a misdemeanor or above in the past. Small distinction, but one indicates a continuing action.

So an ex-con commmited one misdemeanor or above at some point in their life and a criminal is someone who has at least two convictions? Do those have to be misdemeanors and above too?

I have no idea. However, I have incorrectly used the terms interchangeably.

You've also posted that all criminals should be shipped somewhere like Zimbabwe or Somalia. Still sticking to that too or are you now saying only SOME criminals should be shipped to those places?

[The Dude 206]

So to be a criminal, you have to commit more than one crime? Is there a span of time in there too or is it just more than one crime ever in someone's whole life? Also, you still haven't broken down the seriousness of the crimes necessary to be labeled a criminal.

Does someone with two speeding tickets their whole life become a criminal under your definition or does it have to be something like speeding and jaywalking?

So an ex-con commmited one misdemeanor or above at some point in their life and a criminal is someone who has at least two convictions? Do those have to be misdemeanors and above too?

You've also posted that all criminals should be shipped somewhere like Zimbabwe or Somalia. Still sticking to that too or are you now saying only SOME criminals should be shipped to those places?

Slim, what is the point of all this? You're not a very good troll as this is obvious bait. I don't respect criminals, or ex-cons. Thank god they can't vote.

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

Slim, what is the point of all this? You're not a very good troll as this is obvious bait. I don't respect criminals, or ex-cons. Thank god they can't vote.

I'm an ex con, three time felon, did a year and a half in the state pen, not to mention I have a ####### load of misdemeanors yet I can vote and I do vote. Throw that in with the fact that I own a ####### load of guns and it's "party on"!

[Ban Hammer 13,352]

Slim, what is the point of all this? You're not a very good troll as this is obvious bait. I don't respect criminals, or ex-cons. Thank god they can't vote.

don't bet on that.

[ScottThuy 140]

Once rights are restored they can vote again as long as they are registered to vote.. they lose the right to have firearms and cant posess ammunition..

[The Dude 206]

don't bet on that.

I stand corrected, that is only Alabama, Arizona, Delaware, Florida, Kentucky, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, Tennessee, Washington, and Wyoming. Alaska felons cannot vote if they are incarcerated, on probation or parole. Kip, I don't exactly believe you, but even if you were telling the truth, being an ex-con isn't something to be proud of.

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

Once rights are restored they can vote again as long as they are registered to vote.. they lose the right to have firearms and cant posess ammunition..

Wrong. You can go back to court five years after the fact and reapply for your gun rights. And if it's a one judge town who you happens to be your neighbor...well then getting those gun rights back in court isn't a problem.

I stand corrected, that is only Alabama, Arizona, Delaware, Florida, Kentucky, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, Tennessee, Washington, and Wyoming. Alaska felons cannot vote if they are incarcerated, on probation or parole. Kip, I don't exactly believe you, but even if you were telling the truth, being an ex-con isn't something to be proud of.

Wrong...Alaska felons can vote after so many years have passed...not sure what the official amount of years is, but I'm registered and I vote. Go to the State of Alaska website...if that info. is anywhere, I'm sure it's on there.

As far as you believing me, or being proud of the fact... I don't hide it, and I could give two sh*ts less what you think. I didn't steal anything, it wasn't drug related, no sex crimes, and I didn't kill anyone. Iv'e proudly served my country and I pay my taxes which is a h*ll of a lot more than some weasels on this board have ever done.

As far as getting convicted goes...most of it depends on what attorney you can afford vs public defender. A public defender is usually the schmuck who finished at the bottom of their class so they took that job. If a person can afford a real lawyer than the law seems to work differently for said person. It's a money scam. The city get's money from the county, the county's get fed money from the state, and in return the state gets Fed money. Probation, classes, etc... all a racket to keep lazy state/civil workers in the pay loop.

Edited June 9, 2011 by Why_Me

[The Dude 206]

Wrong. You can go back to court five years after the fact and reapply for your gun rights. And if it's a one judge town who you happens to be your neighbor...well then getting those gun rights back in court isn't a problem.

Wrong...Alaska felons can vote after so many years have passed...not sure what the official amount of years is, but I'm registered and I vote. Go to the State of Alaska website...if that info. is anywhere, I'm sure it's on there.

As far as you believing me, or being proud of the fact... I don't hide it, and I could give two sh*ts less what you think. I didn't steal anything, it wasn't drug related, no sex crimes, and I didn't kill anyone. Iv'e proudly served my country and I pay my taxes which is a h*ll of a lot more than some weasels on this board have ever done.

As far as getting convicted goes...most of it depends on what attorney you can afford vs public defender. A public defender is usually the schmuck who finished at the bottom of their class so they took that job. If a person can afford a real lawyer than the law seems to work differently for said person. It's a money scam. The city get's money from the county, the county's get fed money from the state, and in return the state gets Fed money. Probation, classes, etc... all a racket to keep lazy state/civil workers in the pay loop.

That is where I got the info. You can't vote until you are released, and complete parole (if required by your sentencing guidelines). Criminals are stigmatized for a very good reason, they are not deserving.

AS 15.05.030. Loss and Restoration of Voting Rights.

(a) A person convicted of a crime that constitutes a felony involving moral turpitude under state or federal law may not vote in a

state, federal, or municipal election from the date of the conviction through the date of the unconditional discharge of the person.

Upon the unconditional discharge, the person may register under AS 15.07.

(b) The commissioner of corrections shall establish procedures by which a person unconditionally discharged is advised of the voter

registration requirements and procedures.

We've had this conversation before. Maybe thats how it works in small town Alaska, but not in the civilized world. Yes, there are horrible public defenders out there, and there are horrible private practice attorneys. But the fact is, for a major case (felonies) the public defenders are actually private attorneys who take the work pro-bono, or get paid from the state. I know several who put their name in the public defender pool simply because getting payment from the county is a sure thing as opposed to trying to bill a client who is in jail.

Edited June 9, 2011 by The Dude

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

That is where I got the info. You can't vote until you are released, and complete parole (if required by your sentencing guidelines). Criminals are stigmatized for a very good reason, they are not deserving.

We've had this conversation before. Maybe thats how it works in small town Alaska, but not in the civilized world. Yes, there are horrible public defenders out there, and there are horrible private practice attorneys. But the fact is, for a major case (felonies) the public defenders are actually private attorneys who take the work pro-bono, or get paid from the state. I know several who put their name in the public defender pool simply because getting payment from the county is a sure thing as opposed to trying to bill a client who is in jail.

First off in Alaska ex amount of time has to pass before you can vote again...whether your on probation or not. Secondly I got my felony's in the state of Washington when I was travelling out for local 86. Third off Alaska and Washington state gives anyone including peeps with a felony charge a public defender...even on a murder rap unless said defendant can afford his/her own private attorny (real lawyer). Fourth, my mom spent most of her life working for law firms, litigation firms, but law firms none the less. And the public defenders and prosecutors where always the joke of the law world seeing how they are the bottom of the barrel in the world of attorney's. They are the last rung on the ladder so to say.

It's like being a jail guard...usually fat and lazy ...someone who wouldn't last a single day out in the oil patch, yet receives tax payer money for the fact they were usually a former MP (another bottom of the barrel job in regards to the military) yet they had a clean record. Those are usually the peeps who couldn't score a date for the prom, felt left out by the rest of the world, and got turned on by wearing uniforms after one too many Star Trek episodes.

Edited June 9, 2011 by Why_Me

[Fandango 1,439]

As far as getting convicted goes...most of it depends on what attorney you can afford vs public defender. A public defender is usually the schmuck who finished at the bottom of their class so they took that job. If a person can afford a real lawyer than the law seems to work differently for said person. It's a money scam. The city get's money from the county, the county's get fed money from the state, and in return the state gets Fed money. Probation, classes, etc... all a racket to keep lazy state/civil workers in the pay loop.

Hey, you're improving! You only got 2 outta 3 wrong. Yay Kip!

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

Hey, you're improving! You only got 2 outta 3 wrong. Yay Kip!

Blame it on "Old English".

[Fandango 1,439]

Blame it on "Old English".

You slipped backwards in the subsequent post, so now I am disappointed again....

btw 'old english' the cologne? Please don't tell me you wear that.

Edited June 9, 2011 by Anita Cocktail