h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

In northern Idaho there exists a small little haven of liberal thinking called Latah County. It also happens that the state University resides in the county seat Moscow, a smallish community of about 25K that serves as the cultural hub of the area. Coincidence?

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Almost certainly not...

Not of course to suggest that there's a link between education and liberal thinking

Careful Empty Sky will get quite annoyed if you suggest there are any rational liberals in america. Remember all americans are fat ignorant polluting war-mongers!

I had seen that news article a couple of days ago. That just chaps my nipple, you know! People are way too nipple about nipples these nipples. If nipples would spend less nipple worrying about other people's nipples, and more nipple worrying about their own nipples, we'd all be happier nipples. Know what I mean?

No no no. Sir misunderstands me. I have always been careful to say 'the MAJORITY of Americans are fat ignorant polluting war-mongers etc.'

I don't think that such a small comminity is going to make a dent in that 'majority'.

Nope.

Nevertheless...

GO IDAHO GREENS!!!

Isnt it a case of sexual discrimination.

A pie munching bloke could go about exposing his nipples and creases and get nothing more than a few odd looks, but its illegal for women.

one love

Hmm..say, could this mean that Victorias Secret is actually seeking to *liberate* women with their gel-filled, underwired, push-up bras; in making ies look ready to pop out of their respective shirts, they are sending a message!

Oh yes, I am in perfect nipplement with you there, Lentilla.

Here's a question based on anecdotal experiences. It seems that people (male & female) are generally in better shape in the US if they live in a location with a warmer climate. My friends and I have a theory that it is because the social norm is to have more exposed flesh in these climates. Has anyone else observed this in or out of the US?

I'm not sure I agree. Last year Houston, Texas, which has a very warm climate was named the 'fattest' city in the US. I can't remember who it was that took it upon themselves to do this ranking or what criteria they used.

I can tell you this, I live on the gulf coast and desperatly tryingto lose some weight. Having a layer of insulating fat when it's 92° in the shade is NOT beneficial.

I live in Denver where the current temp is 15F/-9C and we are, in general, a pretty fit city. But we do have many mild days in winter (though not usually mild enough to prompt much exposed flesh.) But outdoor activity is year round, and I think that promotes healthier lifestyles. So warm weather cities may be in better shape because people can be more active than in cities where weather can limit activity.

good point about houston, and about being able to be comfortable when it's hot outside. You could say the converse is true...living in a cold climate, that insulating layer would be kind of nice.

Here's another anecdotal story. When my appendix burst, I was layed up in the hospital 2 weeks, 1st week couldn't eat, only getting sugar water. I dropped 20 lbs, from 180 -> 160 lbs. (82 --> 72 kgs). I was suddenly ridiculously sensitive to the cold, and I had to wear twice as much clothing to stay warm. I don't think it was the illness, b/c I wasn't on any medication, just recovery program.

Hmmmm. I can understand if New Orleans were the fattest city in the U.S., but Houston? And I thought Wisconsin was the fattest *state*.

Anyway, when it's 100 degrees outside, not many people will want to be jogging. ,yuk>

Some of us don't want to be jogging any time!

Ah... That's exactly the reason why.

Anybody that's spent any time outdoors in Houston, Texas will tell you it's like trying to breathe through a hot, wet, moldy towel. It's just nasty. Five minutes outside and you've broken into a thick sweat, and as for trying to jog... fuhgeddaboudit. When it's 90° outside, and the humidity is 50% or worse, you stay inside, or drive your car around.

Fort Worth is better, because the humidity is much lower, but the heat is almost stifling in August and September. A couple of months of 102° days will really hurt your electricity bill, and doing anything outdoors is not only uncomfortable, it's downright dangerous. In the summer, the air doesn't move, so we have a build-up of pollution over major population centers - Dallas usually has a brown haze from June through September. Air quality problems abound.

All this adds up to a lot of fat Texans. Everything's too far apart to walk, so we drive our cars around, which contributes to the ozone problem and pollution. We can't go outside to work on our yards, or play ball, or take a walk around the block. This is one reason why I advocate alternative fuel sources, like alcohol-powered electric cars. It would help with the air quality, and make it less dangerous to be outside.

Another thing I'd like to see that would improve everybody's quality of life is some sort of state-mandated exercise time. Maybe a sort of tax bonus to those people that spend time on being healthy and fit, because it certainly hurts the insurance companies to have so many overweight people on their rolls. With one out of four people being overweight, and one out of seven morbidly obese, we've got to do something to stop this trend - and fad diets aren't going to fix the problem.

Interesting stuff. I'd never thought about the aspects of climate when it came to weight. Food culture is important too - don't most people in California/Florida seem to be stick thin and on some kind of "restriction" diet?

*is a wee bit so please excuse her for her lack of expansion on above thought*

My impression of Florida when I went, ooh about 6 years ago now, was that the natives were pretty fat. They all seemed to be retired. And the food there is so cheap. You can get a decent meal out of the 'salad bar' at Sizzler.

Yeah..florida has tourists and retirees. Unless you're in Key West, then all bets are off

And you're right about the Sizzler