Maverick Philosopher

Footnotes to Plato from the foothills of the Superstition Mountains

Category: Health and Fitness

  • Mayor Bloomberg on the Purpose of Government

    (CBS News) New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg shrugged off criticism of his controversial public health initiatives, saying that "if government's purpose isn't to improve the health and longevity of its citizens, I don't know what its purpose is." [emphasis added.]  Bloomberg most recently put forth a plan to ban the sale of sugary drinks…

  • Popcorn Too? Food Fascists Gone Wild

    Here.  First soda pop, then popcorn, milkshakes . . . . The trouble with nanny-state liberals  is that they do not understand or value the liberty of the individual , a liberty which includes the liberty to behave in ways that may be foolish.  If you grant the state the power to order your life there will be no…

  • Dispensation

    I hereby absolve you of the duty of physical exercise on any day on which you do not eat.

  • Heart Attack Hill and Heart Attack Grill

    I'd rather toil up Heart Attack Hill than put away one of these bad boys.  It would take about 80 miles of hiking to burn off the calories from just one of these burgers if you have the fries and milkshake as well.  Up for an 80-miler? Nanny-state liberals would use the power of the…

  • Universal Health Care

    I'm for it: I want everyone to have health care. But the issue is not whether it would be good for all to have adequate health care, the issue is how to approach this goal. I can't see that increasing   government involvement in health care delivery is the way to go. Phrases like 'universal health…

  • ‘Celebrating’ the First Anniversary of ObamaCare

    There is a caucus of GOP physicians in the House of Representatives.  Here they reflect on ObamaCare's first year.  It's good that there are M.D.s in the Congress.  Negatively, physicians are not lawyers.  Positively, they are scientifically trained without being mere theoreticians: they diagnose, they cut, they sew.  They are the plumbers and the auto…

  • Jack LaLanne Dead at 96

    An inspiration.  Brother Jackass will carry you over many a pons asinorum for many a year if properly fueled and disciplined.  Reform your diet and set aside two to three hours per day for vigorous exercise.  Lalanne swam an hour a day and lifted weights for two.  Right up until the end.  And he always…

  • Is Obesity a Disease?

    Long-time reader Bob Koepp e-mails: Since, for me, exploring the concepts of 'health' and 'disease' is a minor hobby, I couldn't resist commenting on your recent "How to Lose Weight." While I agree with what I take to be your moral point, I think your argument goes off the rails when you consider the "disease…