I wrote the original post about the food in America being full of sugar. I agree that Americans are way less active than they used to be, but I think it is a direct result of the sugar and other junk in their diet. Too much sugar (or even sugar withdraw) makes you generally feel like crap. It also causes fatigue. I know that when I'm not feeling great, I don't feel like exercising. We are basically too sick and tired to be more active. Just one more way the food we are eating is making us fat.

Americans are also way less active then they used to be. Walk a mile? Perish the thought....everyone has to drive and then of course, park as close as possible to the store. Exercise? Who has the time when Real Housewives marathon is on? I am constantly hearing how no one has time to exercise, yet everyone is up on the latest TV shows of course! Instead of walking down a hall to talk to someone at work, people intercom or text. It's ridiculous how lazy we are.

Why Americans are fat and getting diabetes: 80%, EIGHTY PERCENT of the food in your grocery store has added sugar. Most of them do not have sugar (or corn syrup) listed anywhere on the package, so reading labels doesn't mean squat. The percentage in other developed countries (like England) is much, MUCH lower. Why? Because most of the added sugars are derived from Genetically Modified sources (GMOs). Other countries require that products containing GMOs be labelled. So to avoid that, the manufacturers leave out the added crap. Even the French fries at McD's in England have about half the ingredients as those sold in the US. So why do manufacturers add the sugar to the products int he US? Because it is addictive. They know this. They have spent shitloads of money to research it. And if you become addicted, you will buy more. Sort of like adding nicotine to cigarettes. And the gov't doesn't do a damn thing about it because those same food manufacturers (and Monsanto) are some of their biggest financial supporters. Google Monsanto and government officials, and see how many (Democrat and Republican) gov't officials have either been employed by Monsanto or sat on their board. It should be illegal (and is in many countries). It is essentially taking bribes. But the only way to change it is for the same people taking these bribes (Congress) to vote to make them illegal. Could there be a bigger conflict of interest??? Makes me sick. In fact, it's making everyone sick. And your elected officials don't give a rat's ass so long as it's making them richer.

Put up or shut up Repubs! Let's see how grand America will be now since you all seem to think you can do better.

My mom left today and I am so, so very glad to have my really small apartment back to myself. She didn't really help do anything, but she did buy groceries, dinners, and a jogging stroller. Visits with my mom are always fraught with tension and anxiety. I also ventured out to a Halloween picnic for my husband's unit. Some of his teacher's were there and it is really difficult for me to gauge the culture differences since most of them have been living in America for years, but I did really well. I just didn't want them to touch the baby as much as they did. I was screaming on the inside and smiling like a psycho on the outside. I did it though, but with the reassurance that everyone must be vaccinated in these government positions. The risk was minimal. :)

"That's not a decisions want Americans to make" in reference to moms (or dads) choosing to stay at home with their children, statement made by president Obama.. Now I've not been able to find the entire interview, so does anyone have an explanation/opinion for that statement?

oh geez louise! No body is taking your damn guns away. Quit saying that. Every damn day you talk shit about your right to bear arms and have a gun, to protect your family from the gun haters, because you have this right as an American. Shut up already. You are starting to sound like Ted Nugent. A crazy nutcase.

Anyone read Dear Prudence? There was a letter writer today complaining that kids from poor neighborhoods come and trick-or-treat in hers, and if there was a way she could avoid giving only candy to children from her own, affluent neighborhood without being a bad person. It might be fake, but whether it is or not that is totally a microcosm of American attitudes towards the less well off. Even on a night dedicated to giving free candy to children, someone is always thinking about how to avoid giving it to those they see as beneath them.

I know in the UK, people don't get why interracial anything is an issue or why Americans are so uptight about it.

I'm curious as to what the Republican party can bring to the table should they win the next presidential election. What will they do to make America so "America the Beautiful" since apparently Obama drove us to ruins. Abortion will be outlawed? Insurance will be outlawed? Close the borders? Deport every single undocumented person? We all must own guns? No more gay marriage? No other religion will be allowed except Christianity? Continue the war (or stop it for that matter?) Take away all welfare? Give jobs to vets? I haven't heard anything that will make me vote republican, or should I say that they haven't said anything that makes me want to hear them out. All I hear is how Obama is a socialist prick with a ghetto fat wife. That's not politics, that's being immature.