Morford: John McCain is no one's hero anymore

It was a good day for death, a good day for shameless cruelty, for the worst tendencies of the human animal; it's a good day to have that sickening, sour feeling in your stomach turn to abject disgust at your fellow man – Republicans very much in particular – as the Senate GOP, with coward John McCain’s help, shoved through a motion that will allow them to continue to destroy lives, take away the health care of millions and leave countless thousands to die.

Oh, John McCain. The cantankerous war hero, the nobly decorated war veteran, the once-outspoken critic of all political BS, the ill-fated presidential candidate, hereby returning from his government-paid sickbed, where he is receiving hundreds of thousands, if not millions of dollars’ worth of insurance-funded surgery and brain cancer treatments, to a hero’s welcome in the Senate, only to cast a vote that could ultimately take away that same health care from millions of others, resulting in the death of thousands of women, children, disabled, the poor, Republicans, war vets like him – you know, everyone.

It’s nothing short of appalling, which is saying a lot in the age of Trump. McCain voted, along with 49 other lockstep Republicans, to allow the GOP to keep trying to destroy Obamacare, AKA the most popular and successful health care legislation in modern history – a move absolutely no one wants, aiming toward a sadistic social policy that is already the worst devised in all of American history, opposed by everyone from the insurance industry to the AARP, 7,000 Catholic nuns to the vast and overwhelming majority of America.

So why do it? For the so-called “win.” For Trump’s sociopathic ego. For a show of heartless Republican solidarity, perhaps, despite how the vote was nothing but political cowardice of the highest and most revolting order, a shameless kiss of the Trump ring. With the exceptions of Alaska's Lisa Murkowski and Maine's Susan Collins, the GOP still kneels before Trump’s megalomania, because they're drunk on the poisonous power he affords them.

For McCain in particular, the sting of his vote is particularly sickening. Despite his famous bluster and “maverick” grumpiness, the 80-year-old Arizona senator has voted lockstep with Trump's policies more than 90 percent of the time, veering away only on inconsequential items like sanctions on Russia and a political appointee or two. He has voted against LGBT rights countless times. He inflicted Sarah Palin on the world. He is a war hawk bar none. He hasn’t been any sort of “maverick” for years, if ever.

Regardless, many on the left still consider him a potential savior – sporadically at least – one of the few credible, sagacious Republicans who could (maybe, hopefully, someday) stand up to Trump’s air-headed, authoritarian bloviation and speak with a level head, set the record straight, push back on the Trump administration's annihilation of America.

Apparently, he will do no such thing. As today’s vote proved, he will only "heroically" hobble out of his sickbed and fly to D.C. to cast the vote that could decimate 1/6th of the American economy, put one million out of work, kill thousands, treat cancer just like his own as a pre-existing condition, set caps on said treatment, bankrupt families, destroy Planned Parenthood, and on and on.

McCain’s legacy, such as it was, is no more. His heroism appears to have been leeched out of him, leaving a strange, hollow shell full of political kowtowing and baffling flip-flopping. His famous good humor, his irascibility, his erratic but laudable skill at reaching across party lines (a lifetime ago, as a presidential candidate), these qualities are now but dust in the political wind. If Trumpcare passes, McCain will be merely the “heroic” enabler who helped the nightmare happen.

While it’s theoretically possible McCain only voted on this particular motion to make it appear like the GOP can actually “get something done,” and his final vote, if/when Republicans can’t come up with a decent alternative to Obamacare (which they most certainly cannot), will be against it, this is just legislative masturbation, more sadistic maneuvering, a pathetic show of "force." It's also, more than likely, a lie.

Today, despite his weird speechifying to the contrary, McCain merely joins with the rest of the heartless GOP, AKA the most dangerous, anti-intellectual, globally despised, mean-spirited cult of conservative white politicians America has ever known. He appears to have sacrificed whatever remained of his integrity and humanity for – well, it’s hard to know what, exactly. But whatever it is, it sure ain’t legacy.

I sincerely hope McCain beats brain cancer. I’m sure he’ll enjoy the best medical care his fully paid government insurance can provide. But McCain is no one’s hero anymore. And cancer just had a very good day indeed.

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What's the least stressful way to commute

According to recent research, cycling to work can reduce your risk of early death by 40%. But if avoiding an early demise isn’t enough to get you on a bike, there’s also a more immediate benefit – if you commute by bike, you will feel less stressed and be more productive at work. A study last week in the International Journal of Workplace Health Management found that, for the first 45 minutes of work, employees who cycled in had less stress than those who travelled by car. And how stressed you feel early in the morning is apparently a strong predictor for how you will feel throughout the day. The authors say it “can shape how subsequent events are perceived, interpreted and acted upon”.

The solution

Given that cycle commutes in cities can be blighted by air pollution and heavy traffic, that there is a reduction in stress levels by biking to work may seem counterintuitive. Or it could be that other commutes are even worse. The study was done in Montreal on 123 employees at an information technology company and it was small – only 25 were cyclists. This is actually more than the country’s national average – only 6% of Canadians cycle to work. In Britain about 4% of commutes are on bikes. In contrast, in Copenhagen, which has prioritised cycling so that no car or bus can travel faster through the city than a bike, about 40% of commuter trips are by bike.

Even allowing for injuries and pollution, the risk-versus-benefit analysis for cycling comes down firmly in favour of pedalling as much as possible. A study of 264,377 people from the UK Biobank who were asked to record how they commuted found that during the five years of the study, those who did their commute by bike were less likely than any other commuters to die of anything. Walking to work reduced heart disease but not dying from cancer, and benefits were only seen at more than six miles a week. Studies show that, while cars are the favourite way to commute because they provide freedom and control, driving in heavy traffic and having to concentrate is stressful. Public transport may be even more stressful because it can be boring and you can’t control it. Think Southern Rail. Research shows that cycling wins out because commutes by bike are rated more interesting and exciting. Cycling isn’t always feasible – but some research suggests a third of people who drive to work live within a comfortable cycling distance. And the benefits of a cycling commute are also going to be felt after the journey home.

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HOW TO SLEEP WELL: FILL YOUR LIFE WITH PURPOSE, STUDY SAYS

Though we may constantly feel tired, sleeping isn't always easy. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2016 found that one in three Americans doesn't get enough sleep. This can lead to a host of health problems, and more and more Americans are resorting to sleeping pills to ensure they're able to get a good night's rest. The American College of Physicians has recommended against using prescription drugs to treat insomnia, if possible, and now there may be hope for sleeping well without popping a pill. According to a new study, the best way to get through the night in peace may be to simply have a solid sense of purpose in your life outside of bed.

The study, conducted by Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, found that people who felt their lives had purpose experienced better sleep quality than those who didn't. They were also 63 percent less likely to suffer from sleep apnea, and 52 percent less likely to suffer from restless leg syndrome. The aim of the study, published Monday in the journal Sleep Science and Practice, was to examine the relationship between purpose in life, overall sleep quality and the presence of sleep disorders in a bi-racial sample of older adults: people who are more likely to have problems sleeping.

“Helping people cultivate a purpose in life could be an effective drug-free strategy to improve sleep quality, particularly for a population that is facing more insomnia,” said Dr. Jason Ong, one of the study's authors and an associate professor of neurology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. “Purpose in life is something that can be cultivated and enhanced through mindfulness therapies.”

To conduct the study, the Feinberg School's team of researchers gathered 825 people between the ages of 60 and 100. Participants were given surveys on their purpose in life and their sleep. The average age of the participants, 79, was high because people have more trouble sleeping as they get older (almost 40 percent of older adults suffer from a sleeping disorder). Trouble sleeping is also more common among African Americans, which made up more than half of of the pool of participants. None of the study's participants suffered from dementia.

Through establishing a link between purpose in life and sleep quality, researchers found that the idea of purpose in life may be applied in a clinical setting, and recommended further research into the connection between positive psychology and sleep health. The more this is studied, the more effectively treatments like mindfulness therapy can be used to curb issues like sleep apnea and restless leg syndrome, which means fewer people will have to rely on prescription pills to make it through the night undisturbed.

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Feetures Expands Offerings With Lifestyle Collection

The new line incorporates the same technology found in Feetures running socks, allowing users to wear the socks from the boardroom to the BBQ.
Feetures, manufacturer of run specialty performance socks, has expanded its product offerings with a lifestyle collection.

The lifestyle collection will include a variety of styles for women and men, and will offer the signiture targeted compression and seamless toe features that helped elevate the brand. All socks in the collection will be made with Feetures’ proprietary iWick polyester, a fabric more durable than merino wool that provides moisture management all day.

“We consistently hear from our customers that they want the comfort and support of our running socks in a sock they can wear every day,” said Joe Gaither, VP of marketing. “These new socks are designed for you to Go. Do. Live., meaning they will effortlessly take you from work to play, and everywhere in between with the performance features our customers have come to love from Feetures running socks.”

Women’s lifestyle options come in ultralight or cushioned and include a Texture Crew, which is a high performance version of a cable knit design. Styles include a variety of colors and patterns, such as stripes and sunburst designs. The men’s lifestyle collection includes a dressier line of socks for business, as well as argyle and stripe patterns in ultralight or cushioned styles. Both the men’s and women’s crew collection will be available in October.

In addition to the crew styles, Feetures is debuting a Hidden Collection of socks to be worn with low cut shoes such as boat shoes, ballet flats or loafers. The Hidden socks utilize Feetures’ proprietary Heel Hugger silicone strip and an arch band to keep the socks in place from sight. The Hidden socks come in two styles for women, Hidden and Hidden Super Low, while men’s styles will be offered only in Hidden. They will be available in February 2018.

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Column: Add some Poutine to your routine

I know it’s been a long holiday weekend for you, hopefully filled with enough hot dogs and beer to make ’Merica proud, so I’m lobbing you a softball for this month’s dish.

We’re venturing to the Great White North, specifically Quebec, for Canada’s national dish, Poutine. It’s a mess of fries, cheese curds and brown gravy that any American would be proud to call their own.

Poutine, as far as recipes go, is kind of like the hamburger of Canada: everyone claims to have invented it, no one can quite prove it, and though there are a hundred variations, simple is always best.

This is a fast-food, greasy diner kind of dish. It can be as simple or as complicated as you want to make it. Hand-cut, twice fried potatoes? Sure, but frozen is fine too. Homemade gravy using great-gram’s recipe? If you like. Or just use a mix. Or a can. The only requirement for the cheese curds is that they be fresh. If they don’t squeak when you bite into them, the Poutine just won’t be right.

I opted to make my own fries since it’s a once or twice a year treat that my kids love. I had in mind the whole time I was prepping them that was the way to go. I made a batch of golden brown, crispy, skin on (of course) fries that were Instagram worthy. They were the envy of my friends (in my head) for which I heartily congratulated myself. Then, I poured on the gravy, from a mix if I’m being honest, and they were soggy within minutes. So in this case, I’d say go for the best quality frozen fries and bake them in the oven to save yourself time and calories.

Like I mentioned, this can be as easy or as complicated as you want to make it. If you don’t want to make gravy, there are actually good quality mixes available that will do the job just fine. If you have leftover gravy, this can be your go-to dish to use it up. Whatever works for you, works for the dish. Although I did see one recipe that called for making your own cheese curds, and I have to draw the line there. Who has the time and inclination to make their own cheese curds? If it’s you, no judgment though.

Anyway, for simplicity’s sake, I’m not going to give you a strict recipe. If you want handmade fries, use about 4-5 good-sized Russet potatoes. Leave the skin on. Soak them in cold water for at least an hour and use the double-fry method. (I’ve written about that before — if you aren’t a regular reader, your punishment is to Google it. I’m not going to explain it twice.) Use about a cup or so of brown gravy, to taste, and about 1-2 cups of white cheese curds, again, to taste.

Both my kids liked these, because fries and cheese of course. My husband and I liked the flavor but both agreed the cheese curds would suit both of our tastes if they were smaller. The curds we bought were huge and didn’t get as melty as I would have liked, so I suggest using smaller curds or cutting them up a little before adding them to the fries.

Though I wouldn’t make it all the time because I somewhat value my health, I won’t count Poutine out of consideration for one of those gotta-have-it junk food days.

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How garbage food became normal

So what's a good family meal for an easy weeknight dinner? A quick stir fry with lean protein, veg and noodles ready in 20 minutes - or maybe a mushroom omelette with salad and sourdough?

Or there's this idea from McDonalds heavily promoted on TV recently: a family box of burgers, chips and coke, "made for midweek dinners, made for families"?

How did we reach this point when it's OK to push a product like this as an everyday family meal when it's the kind of food that, eaten regularly, makes us fat and sick - and is the polar opposite of the nutrient and fibre rich foods that keep chronic disease at bay?

Over the last 30 years or so our food supply has been so hijacked by over-processed junk that on average 58 per cent of the food budget goes on 'discretionary choices', meaning food we don't actually need for health like foods high in added sugar, salt and saturated fat, and alcohol.

Yet while health authorities wring their hands over rising levels of chronic disease, it's OK for supermarkets to flog breakfast foods loaded with added sugar. It's also perfectly fine to mislead consumers by implying a food is healthier than it actually is. The selling point on the front of Only Organic Kindy Yoghurt Rice Cakes is its organic-ness, which looks healthy enough until you read the fine print on the back and see the main ingredient is organic cane sugar - which makes up 30 per cent of a product made for one- to five-year-olds.

This load of over-processed food isn't just adding to weight woes - it's also displacing more nutritious whole foods, leaving us short on fibre and important nutrients.

How did we let this happen?

"Because the food system is now designed for the maximum profit of the food industry and not to nurture good health," says Professor Amanda Lee, Senior Adviser with the Australian Prevention Partnership Centre which works to prevent lifestyle-related disease.

"Discretionary food and drink is in our faces all the time. Humans have an innate desire for sweetness and for the mouthfeel of fat and we have a learned response to salt - and the junk food industry has preyed on these preferences."

"Junk food is cheap to produce and demand for it has been created by advertising and pricing," adds Jane Martin from the Obesity Policy Coalition, which has also protested about the McDonalds' burgers and chips for midweek dinner ad. But their complaint that the ad undermines the promotion of healthy balanced diets was dismissed by the Advertising Standards Board last week.

Could it be that Australia's lack of a strong traditional food culture has also made us easy pickings for convenience food? Maybe. Countries with strong food cultures and traditions like France, Spain and Italy have done better at holding on to home cooking says Lee.

"People talk about the French Paradox but I don't think there is one. The evidence suggests it's because the French have a policy of maintaining their traditional food culture - they have government subsidies for farmer's markets, for instance," she points out. "In Australia we embrace different cuisines from other countries but don't have a strong food culture of our own - and at the beginning of European settlement the food we relied on was cheap and had a long shelf life."

Can we improve processed foods by reducing ingredients like salt and sugar, as some manufacturers have done? It's helpful to a point, says Lee, especially with reducing salt - but it still doesn't turn a highly processed food into a nutritious choice.

Not only that, but by careful manipulation of ingredients like adding fibre in the form of inulin or more 'fruit' in the form of pear juice, processed food can earn a higher rating in the front of pack star rating system, she points out. "This is the problem with focussing on single ingredients and not the quality of the food as a whole."

Although Australia has been slow to get tough with food manufacturers when it comes to tighter regulations on marketing junk to kids, for instance, there are signs of a shift, says Martin - like the removal of soft drinks from vending machines in NSW hospitals later this year and banishing soft drinks and confectionary from Victorian schools.

But it's in poorer countries that can't afford the burden of sickness that comes with junk diets where bigger changes are happening. Mexico has a sugar tax, while Brazil's dietary guidelines strongly urge people to avoid highly processed food and stick with whole or minimally processed food. In Chile, foods high in saturated fat, sugar and salt carry a warning label and aren't allowed to be marketed to children and sugary drinks are taxed, says Jane Martin.

"Globally, diet is the number one cause of chronic disease. Wealthy countries like Australia can try to quadruple by-pass themselves out of trouble but the lower and middle income countries can't afford to, so they're investing in prevention," says Amanda Lee. "They're generating evidence that we can use in the west to create more change."

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