Free Republic

With rising obesity, America faces an increased number of type 2 diabetes cases. With an aging Baby Boom generation, the country is bracing for an increase in Alzheimer's disease. Could the two be related? Previous studies have hinted at such a link. But researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis say they have nailed down the connection. Their study, using mice, found that elevated glucose in the blood – a primary consequence of diabetes -- can rapidly increase levels of amyloid beta, which shows up in brain plaques in Alzheimer’s patients. The buildup of these plaques is...

A Subway sandwich shop worker whose social media posts about Saturday's killing of two police officers in Mississippi sparked outrage online said her comments were misconstrued — and now she's being threatened. "They took the status the wrong way," Sierra McCurdy of Laurel, Mississippi, told NBC News Monday. McCurdy wrote the Facebook post following news of the fatal shooting of two officers, Benjamin J. Deen, 34, and Liquori Tate, 25, during a traffic stop in Hattiesburg. "2 police officers was shot in hattiesburg tonight…GOT EM," read the post, which also included a crying-laughing emoticon and a gun emoji. "They took...

BEGIN TRANSCRIPT RUSH: The Washington Post, however, has a story with the headline: "Whole Foods is Learning that Millennials Aren't Who it Thought They Are." I think a lot of people are starting to figure this out. "For years, Whole Foods has thrived by selling pricey food with a promise that it is better for you, better for the planet, and better overall. The mantra has proved so successful that it has helped the high-end supermarket chain to expand from its flagship store in Austin, Texas, to more than 400 locations. But lately, Whole Foods' model hasn't looked quite as...

(VIDEO-AT-LINK)DENVER — Black History Month is February. Hispanic Heritage Month is Sept. 15 to Oct. 15. And at one Colorado barbecue joint, June 11 is White Appreciation Day. Two Hispanic restaurant owners, Edgar Antillon and Miguel Jiminez, who recently bought Rubbin Buttz BBQ in Milliken, Colorado, have decided to offer a 10 percent discount that day to white customers. “We have a whole month for Black History Month,” Mr. Antillon told 9News in Denver. “We have a whole month for Hispanic Heritage Month, so we thought the least we could do was offer one day to appreciate white Americans.” It...

All children, regardless of their circumstances, deserve safe, nourishing and delicious school meals.One of the best ways to help district nutrition programs as they transition to healthier food is to buy school lunch for your children. When I talk with parents about school food, many are so disappointed in the options their schools provide that they’ve simply opted out. They pack their children’s lunches every day, giving up on their school’s nutrition program as a lost cause. I understand and support parents who insist their children eat healthfully and responsibly. My dream is a nation in which all food –...

Amazon.com, a leader in the world of online retailing, is making waves due to the recent launch of Amazon Business, a new marketplace on Amazon.com that combines the selection, convenience and value with new features and unique benefits tailored to businesses. It was one of the reasons Amazon had a booth at the NAMA OneShow last week in Las Vegas, NV. I stopped in while walking the show and talked to the representatives. They were announcing the Amazon Business opportunity and gauging the interest from operators. From what I’ve seen so far, while Amazon Business is in its early stages,...

Regular readers of this column are aware that I am no fan of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Let’s examine the agency’s official mission… Here’s the first paragraph: “FDA is responsible for protecting the public health by assuring the safety, efficacy and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products, medical devices, our nation’s food supply, cosmetics, and products that emit radiation.” Good stuff. But now, take a look at the second paragraph: “FDA is also responsible for advancing the public health by helping to speed innovations that make medicines more effective, safer, and more affordable and by helping...

The White House gave a sneak peek today at the food and décor for the Tuesday night State Dinner in honor of Japan’s prime minister and his wife. The guest chef for the evening will be Masaharu Morimoto of “Iron Chef” and the Morimoto restaurants in New York and Philadelphia. The first course for tomorrow’s State Dinner is a toro tartare and Caesar sashimi salad.Morimoto has been working with White House Executive Chef Cris Comerford and Executive Pastry Chef Susan Morrison on the menu, a celebration of American cuisine with Japanese touches. The first course, Toro Tartare and Caesar Sashimi...

“Most of us are so used to running out to the supermarket or to Wal-Mart for whatever we need that we never even stop to consider what would happen if suddenly we were not able to do that. Already the U.S. economy is starting to stumble about like a drunken frat boy. All it would take for the entire U.S. to resemble New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina would be for a major war, a terror attack, a deadly pandemic or a massive natural disaster to strike at just the right time and push the teetering U.S. economy over the edge.”...

I noticed that my Congressman (Roe TN-1) was in Pigeon Forge this past weekend to welcome Paula Deen. Recall that she got the business not too long ago for thoughtcrime. Thought some FReepers who might be coming to East Tenn for vacation or passing through might be interested. Menu looks mouth watering.

Stevenson College is apologizing to its students for serving Mexican food during "Intergalactic" night. In a letter sent out to students, the college apologized for having "a Mexican food buffet," while also featuring spaceships and aliens. The college received complaints saying the combination was racist because of the association between Mexicans and illegal immigrants. "We would never want to make a connection between individuals of Latino heritage or undocumented students and "aliens" and I am so sorry that our College Night appeared to do exactly that," wrote Carolyn Golz, who had taken this picture of the activities before the complaints:...

Dr. Peter Pry (Executive Director of the Task Force on National and Homeland Security) warns that the consequences - of not being prepared for this event - are much more severe than one may think: “within a year of an EMP event at least 2 thirds or the us population will perish from starvation, disease and social collapse” Former CIA double agent (Reza Kahlili) who spent time in the Iranian Army confirmed that the Iranian have conducted missile tests of ships in the Caspian See that are consistent with an EMP attack: “They are going to get to the Gulf...

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The number of breakfasts served in the nation's schools has doubled in the last two decades, a surge driven largely by a change in how districts deliver the food. Instead of providing low-income students free or reduced-price meals in the cafeteria, they're increasingly serving all children in the classroom. Food policy advocates say the change increases equity, however, it's fueled a backlash from parents and teachers. They contend that it takes up class time that should be devoted to learning and wastes food by serving it to kids who don't want or need it....

As the 2016 Presidential campaign heats up, competition among the candidates has spilled over into the fast-food industry, with eateries across the country wooing White House hopefuls in much the same way politicians seek out votes. Given the notoriety of Hillary Clinton's recent stop at a Chipotle Mexican Grill restaurant in Ohio, Los Angeles-based Pink Taco is vying to become the official fast-food choice of the former First Lady's 2016 campaign. "When we heard Hillary Clinton liked Mexican food, we were excited to have her as part of the Pink Taco team," stated a company spokesman in a recent press conference. Noting that their...

This post is in follow up to "ken5050" posting about "what kind of coffee maker do you use?" Posted on ‎4‎/‎14‎/‎2015‎ ‎1‎:‎23‎:‎50‎ ‎PM by ken5050 I started saving my grounds as a compost for my herb garden. I'm not sure if it will over power them or be balanced. So I googled the topic and not surprisingly someone else has already thought about it. Please check out the following and share what you do with them. https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=Uses+for+Coffee+Grounds

So this morning, while rinsing out the carafe of my Black & Decker coffee maker, I accidentally banged it against the side of the sink, cracking it. Frustrating, but no big deal. Go to WalMart.com..find out I can buy a replacement for $9.87. But then I noticed that I can buy a whole new machine..INCLUDING carafe..for $17.88. Yup..digital, programmable, auto-brew..with a two hour automatic shut-off. Which got me thinking....

We apologise for this aneurysm inducing news, but seriously a Mufti in Saudi Arabia has just declared that a Muslim can cannibalise his wife. You heard correctly: Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah, a man of religious power in Saudi Arabia, believes it is halal to eat your wife. Clarifying his stance, Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah explains that literally eating your wife is permitted only if you're extremely hungry. Translating what appeared on multiple Arab websites (here, here, here, here and here): “A fatwa attributed to the Mufti of Saudi Arabia, Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah, which allows a man to eat his...

Pasadena city officials recently signed a letter of intent to develop a vertical farming facility and education center in north Pasadena through an agreement with Indoor Harvest Corp., a Houston-based company that designs and sells hydroponic systems and specializes in high-tech urban farming techniques. “We were looking for low-impact development projects for north Pasadena and came up with the idea of vertical farming, which seemed to be a perfect fit for that area,” Pasadena Publications Manager Wayne Holt said. “We also hope to eventually add a farmer’s market and educational programs in partnership with Pasadena ISD. This type of project...

In a clearly orchestrated move, 28 McDonalds employees from around the nation filed health and safety complaints against their employer Monday, claiming they were severely burned while working and told by managers to treat the wounds with condiments. The employees were assisted in this effort by the "Fight for $15" campaign, a program launched by the Service Employees International Union. The SEIU has been attempting to unionize fast food workers, and as part of a broader effort, trying to get independent franchisees declared as "joint employers" so as to facilitate that process and gain access to the much deeper pockets...

Scientists in the Netherlands are one step closer to producing a viable lab-grown alternative to the conventional beef burger patty. Last year, Professor Mark Post and his team of scientists at the Maastricht University in the Netherlands produced the first prototype of a lab-grown burger. Benefits of this new burger production method include a decrease in animal slaughter, savings in land, water, and energy use required for livestock, and a reduction in greenhouse gases. The project has faced several hurdles, though, not the least of which was the enormous price tag of 250,000 Euros, or $273,000. That was roughly how...