TresSugar

For Some, Weight Is a Qualification For Surgeon General

TresSugar — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 15:00:00 -0700

This week President Obama appointed Dr. Regina Benjamin to be the US Surgeon General. Dr. Benjamin is a family physician from Alabama who arrived on the national scene thanks to her public efforts to rebuild her rural clinic after Hurricane Katrina. She also was the first African-American to head Alabama's Medical Association and served as an associate dean for rural health.

In addition to her resume, Benjamin also understands the importance of health as a result of tragedies in her own family. Sadly, her mother died of lung cancer, her father died with diabetes and high blood pressure, and her brother and only sibling died of an HIV/AIDS-related illness.

Despite these experiences and qualifications, some people think that Benjamin's weight is problematic. Considering that obesity is one of the most serious health problems facing the US, critics would rather see a fit-looking person as the face of health policy. (Judging from the picture, she may not be thin, but how do we know she's not fit?)

Do you think Benjamin's weight is irrelevant?

Briefing Book! Little Info on TV Doctor Rumored To Be Next Surgeon General

CitizenSugar — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 11:45:59 -0800

From CNN to Surgeon General: Little is known about Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Obama's rumored pick for Surgeon General. - Politico
Dirty Streets: The Mexican government wants citizens to swallow their gum, instead of spitting it on the street. -Good
Presidential Name: Find out why Barack Obama switched his name from Barry to Barack. - Huffington Post
No Recount: Congress counts up electoral votes in last election formality, and Dick Cheney says that makes Barack Obama president. - Wonkette
Impeachment: How can Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich weasel out of impeachment? - 23/6

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Grab Bag: Strange Romance Novels

TresSugar — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 12:00:00 -0700

Strange romance novel subgenres. - Lemondrop
Getting taken from behind by his girl won't make him gay. - Em & Lo
Obama's surgeon general made sacrifices to treat poor. - Jezebel
Introducing: The F-Bomb, for budding young feminists. Woot! - The F-Bomb
The secret code of mistresses. - The Frisky
Bride's bouquet brings down plane. - BBC
Today in eBay: MJ as a California raisin. - Urlesque
Is his behavior selfish or...guyish? - Single-ish

Grab Bag: How Do You Feel About Kissing in Public?

TresSugar — Tue, 05 May 2009 12:00:00 -0700

Where do you stand on public kissing? - Smitten
Plastic Surgeon General warns about small breasts epidemic. - The Onion
Is the crackdown on burlesque the sign of a new puritanism? - Jezebel
Mismatched moms and daughters. - Lemondrop
Chelsea Clinton rumors abound. - Huffington Post
Going Dutch on dates: a new trend? - The Frisky
15 reasons you should masturbate. (There are 15?!) - Em & Lo

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Front Page: US Unemployment Jumps to 25-Year High

CitizenSugar — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 08:04:53 -0800

The US unemployment rate has hit 8.1 percent, the highest rate since 1983. - AP
Secretary of State Hilary Clinton said today that there's a chance for improved US-Russian relations but that she also sees areas of significant disagreement. - Reuters
Police are on the hunt for an Ohio gunman who allegedly killed his newlywed wife, his sister-in-law, and three young children. - AP
CNN's resident Sanjay Gupta has withdrawn his name from the list of Surgeon General candidates. - Chicago Tribune

Millions in Sudan risk starvation, as 13 international aid groups were expelled after the ICC issued an arrest warrant for President Bashir. - Reuters
Consumer activists in Indonesia want the government to ban "Obama snacks" being marketed to children. - Reuters

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Pentagon Favors Stem-Cell Research to Help Soldiers

CitizenSugar — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 11:00:41 -0700

Imagine soldiers returning from battle with missing limbs, burned skin, and damaged organs from a confrontation. Then imagine them days later completely regenerated, healed with their own tissue. According to the Pentagon, this day is not far off.

The Pentagon has joined forces with universities and hospitals in a $250-million research institute to fund an initiative to regenerate soldiers’ torn bodies. Lt. General Eric Schoomaker, the army surgeon general said: “We’ll use the soldier’s own stem cells to repair nerve damage, to regrow muscles and tendons, to repair burn wounds, and to help them heal without scarring.” To see how the plan would work, read more.

The Pentagon is set to provide $85 million and another $100 million will come from grants through the National Institutes of Health. The big project stands to be "the largest US government-funded research consortium in the field of regenerative medicine," said Schoomaker.

If all goes according to plan, at some point in the future, adult stem cells will be harvested before a soldier goes into battle and then, should a soldier return with permanent wounds, those cells would then be used to regrow new tissue and limbs within days of the injury. Because the plan intends to use the adult's own stem cells it circumvents some of the administration's current stem cell restrictions.

Are you glad to see progress being made on this front? Do you think the fact that the research will use adult stem cells addresses ethical concerns or do you wish stem cell research could go further? Is the military the perfect research ground for this kind of work?

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Check This: Pakistan Suicide Blast Signals End of Musharraf?

CitizenSugar — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 00:05:28 -0800

A suicide bombing yesterday was responsible for the death of the Pakistani army's surgeon general, Lt. Gen. Mushtaq Ahmed Baig. The bomber was disguised as a beggar and approached Baig's car in a crowded commercial area before detonating his weapon. Eight people were killed and another 35 people injured. This is the second attack targeting the army's medical corps in Pakistan in less than a month.

Here's the chilling part: the Pakistani Taliban declared a cease-fire only a few days ago. The question then, is the Taliban behind these attacks or are we now uncovering other militant groups operating in Pakistan? Adding to the chaos of the bombing, which killed the highest ranking official military officer to die in an attack in years, is the political limbo the country faces while Musharraf hangs on to his job. The newly elected opposition leaders have declared their intention to begin talks with Islamic extremists. To see how Musharraf stands dangerously in the way of that, read more.

This weekend a top Taliban leader, Baitullah Mehsud, stated his group was ready to begin talks with the government to end hostilities, but promised that anything less than a sharp break from the policies of President Pervez Musharraf could have dire consequences.

A spokesman for the Taliban said, "We want to make it clear to those politicians who are going to form the next government not to impose war on us, otherwise we will retaliate vigorously."

Though Musharraf is a U.S. ally against terrorism, how can we reconcile our support of him when terrorists hinge attacks based on his presence? Should Musharraf step down?

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