We're fat, we're poor and we're armed to the teeth.

Here are some things to chew on for today.

U.S. most armed country with 90 guns per 100 people

U.S. citizens own 270 million of the world's 875 million known firearms, according to the Small Arms Survey 2007 by the Geneva-based Graduate Institute of International Studies.

36.5 million live in poverty in United States

More than one in ten Americans, or 36.5 million people, live in poverty in the United States, with children and blacks the worst hit, an annual report by the US Census Bureau showed Tuesday.

The number of poor out of the total US population of 302 million was equivalent to the entire state of California -- paradoxically one of the richest states -- one-and-a-half times the population of Malaysia or nearly everyone in the central European nation of Poland living in poverty.

Obesity Continues To Grow In The United States


Mississippi, the country's fattest state for the third year running, has 30.6% of its adults citizens classed as obese - it is the first state to cross the 30% mark. The thinnest state is Colorado, where obesity rates rose to 17.6%, compared to 16.9% the previous year. Of the country's 15 fattest states ten are located in the south. Nineteen US states have obesity rates over 25%, compared to 14 the previous year. In 1991 the state with the highest obesity rate reported that 20% of its adults were obese.

Indiana is tied for the ninth highest obesity rate.

Number 31--always Blue and Gold?

The greatest Pacers in history, Reggie Miller, decided today against a return to the NBA. You might have heard that the Celtics had made an inquiry to Mr. Pacer if he would return to the NBA as a back up. After a series of off season moves, the Celtics appear to be one of the contenders for the Eastern Conference.

You may recall the Dallas Mavericks tried the same thing last year. And Miller turned them down. I was ambivalent about Miller's return last year but found myself excited about the possibility of his return for this season. Maybe it was my repressed Celtics pride from the Larry Legend era coming back after twenty years or so.

Miller told the Star that physically he could return for a full season but mentally he could not.

I think it is a bunch of baloney. Anyone who watched Miller his final season knows that he still has gas in the tank. I see Miller staying in shape and seeing if the Celtics actually compete. If the Celtics find them self atop of the Eastern Conference, look for the Celtics to make a phone call to Miller again. And my gut is telling me that considering he took so long to consider their overtures this time he will be receptive.

Kudos from our friendly neighbor to the North

While surfing the net today I stumbled upon this article from the Chicago Tribune. It espouses the qualities of the city of Indianapolis. Indy has gotten a lot of good press but I thought it was especially nice to see it from the Trib. It actually is the second glowing story I have seen this summer from a Chicago paper.

I think it is fantastic. I can't tell you how many arguments I have had with folks from Chicago defending the Nap. It is nice to see a Chicagoan say some good things about Indy. Indy will never be Chicago--one of the world's truly great cities. But it certainly has more than its fair share of qualities. Heck the writer of the article didn't even seem sore about the Colts' smack down of Da Bears in Super Bowl 41.

But as a Delaware County native I could have done without the dig on Muncie.

Shouldn't we just buy a Harley instead?

Anyone else weirded out by this Viva Viagra commercial?

If you have missed it, a group of guys are hanging out signing the praises of the little blue pill that could--Viagra. They are all hanging out in a shack with a full band. The chorus as you might have guessed is "Viva Viagra" in tune with song "Viva Las Vegas". I am telling you this band is complete! There is a guy on piano and one guy has a harmonica. We'll show ED by harmonizing!

If and when the Kid's equipment gives out the last thing I will do is bring my buddies together to break it down in song. Well maybe Torpor. That guy has a voice like an angel.

New York Times Editorial On Healthcare

This editorial lists how the US ranks almost last in every healthcare category:

For those of you too lazy to read it, here are some of the highlights:

* All other major industrialized nations provide universal health coverage, and most of them have comprehensive benefit packages with no cost-sharing by the patients. The United States, to its shame, has some 45 million people without health insurance and many more millions who have poor coverage.

* The United States ranks dead last on almost all measures of equity because we have the greatest disparity in the quality of care given to richer and poorer citizens. Americans with below-average incomes are much less likely than their counterparts in other industrialized nations to see a doctor when sick, to fill prescriptions or to get needed tests and follow-up care.

* We have known for years that America has a high infant mortality rate, so it is no surprise that we rank last among 23 nations by that yardstick. But the problem is much broader. We rank near the bottom in healthy life expectancy at age 60, and 15th among 19 countries in deaths from a wide range of illnesses that would not have been fatal if treated with timely and effective care.

Link

Anomalies--Shelbyville's got 'em!

The Heritage House Convalescent Center in Shelbyville, Indiana was already home to the world's tallest woman, Sandy Allen, at 7 feet, 71/4 inches. Now, it also boasts the world's oldest woman, Edna Parker, age 114.

I always knew there was something special about Shelbyville.

US Life Expectancy 42nd in the World

Americans are living longer than ever, but not as long as people in 41 other countries.

For decades, the United States has been slipping in international rankings of life expectancy, as other countries improve health care, nutrition and lifestyles.

Countries that surpass the U.S. include Japan and most of Europe, as well as Jordan, Guam and the Cayman Islands.

"Something's wrong here when one of the richest countries in the world, the one that spends the most on health care, is not able to keep up with other countries," said Dr. Christopher Murray, head of the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington.

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Universal Healthcare around the globe

(Click to make larger)