Wednesday, September 12, 2007

Werd News Wednesday-Good News!!

I have to start by thanking TLP for making me aware of this important holiday. Today is National Sex Day!



BEIJING, Aug. 16 (Xinhuanet) -- In an effort to fight Russia's birthrate crisis, a region on the Volga River about 550 miles east of Moscow has declared Sept. 12 the Day of Conception and for the third-straight year is giving couples time off from work to have sex. (Wow! I think I should go look for a job in Russia. I don't have to call in sick. I can call in horny! 'Hey, boss, I won't make it into work today. No, I'm not sick. I'm gonna screw my husband blind today.')

Ulyanovsk has held similar contests since 2005. And since then, the number of competitors, and the number of babies born to them, has risen. The hope is for a brood of babies exactly nine months later on Russia's national day. Couples who "give birth to a patriot" during the June 12 festivities win money, cars, refrigerators and other prizes. (And those festivities would include stretch mark contests? Gurney races through labor wards? Tests of endurance like who can handle the worst contractions with the fewest drugs?)

Russia has one-seventh of the Earth's land surface, but only 141.4 million citizens, making it one of the most sparsely settled countries in the world. Because of a low birthrate and very high death rate, the population has been declining since the early 1990s. (Like I said at TLP's, take notice of where this was reported...China...where they penalize you for having more than one child. I say we tip Asia sideways by raising China several thousand feet and let some of the excess Chinese roll into Russia. That should even out the populations in both countries a bit. Of course no one ever asks for MY solutions)

In his state of the nation address last year, President Vladimir Putin called the demographic crisis the most acute problem facing Russia and announced a broad effort to boost Russia's birthrate, including cash incentives to families to have more than one child. ('Broad effort?' Why do I imagine all sorts of Mae West types out there encouraging hook-ups. 'Say, comrade...is that a hammer and sickle you're packing or are ya just happy to see me?')

Now in the interest of promoting cross cultural understanding I say we all, no matter of location or national origin, join in the celebration of National Sex Day. Gentlemen, start your engines!

In other news...


By ANI
Wednesday September 12, 10:54 AM
London, Sep 12 (ANI): Chocolate has already been linked with many health benefits, and now, a food scientist has given chocoholics another reason to savour their favourite sweet by suggesting that dark chocolate prevents heart disease. But the finding doesn't call for a cocoa binge; for Professor Roger Corder says that eating 'small amounts' of chocolate each day has "considerable potential to improve health and well being". (Then eating large amounts should have even better benefits)

After reviewing previous studies into chocolate and heart disease, Prof Corder calculated the perfect daily dose to an ounce, or 25g - around two or three squares. (Squares the size of my fist) He further says that the type of chocolate is also crucial as some contain more of the key ingredient, flavonoids. Cocoa flavonoids found in quality dark chocolate have a range of beneficial effects on the blood and circulation system - they cut the risk of dangerous blood clots and relax blood vessels, stimulating the flow of blood around the body. He said that flavonoid levels can even vary greatly between batches of the same brand, and called for manufacturers to include flavonoid content on labels. Prof Corder suggested that the best products to buy were those with at least 70 per cent cocoa, as they were the most likely to have high levels of flavonoids. (I think we should all just test the various brands and batches for our own independent verification....well, I should at least.)

He added that his research, based on studies of tribes in Central America whose diet is exceptionally rich in cocoa, has confirmed that these boost the elasticity of blood cells, and also cuts down the risk of high blood pressure, blood clots, strokes and heart disease. "Chocolate should be part of a balanced diet. (You read it here, folks!) It can't be your fruit and vegetable component of a chips and pizza diet. Lindt 85 per cent is what I have been eating. Their 75 per cent Ecuadorian chocolate is also very good," the Daily Mail quoted him, as stating at the British Association Festival of Science in York. Another study in the US has found that dark chocolate may also ward off age-related macular degeneration, the most common cause of blindness in the elderly, and dementia. (I dunno, a really good piece of chocolate can make my eyes roll back in my head and make me forget my surroundings.)

And still more news...

TOKYO (AFP) - Generations have praised the wisdom of getting up early in the morning, but a Japanese study says early-risers are actually at a higher risk of developing heart problems.
The study, conducted by researchers from several universities and hospitals in the western Japanese city of Kyoto, revealed a link between wake-up times and a person's cardiovascular condition. "Rising early to go to work or exercise might not be beneficial to health, but rather a risk for vascular diseases," said an abstract of the study. The study, covering 3,017 healthy adults aged between 23 through 90, found that early risers had a greater risk of heart conditions including hypertension and of having strokes. However, the study also noted that early risers were usually older. The study is being presented this week at the World Congress of the World Federation of Sleep Research and Sleep Medicine Societies, being held in Cairns, Australia. A separate study released in June by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania found that chronic sleep deprivation adds stress to the heart, putting a person at greater risk of cardiovascular disease and death. (If you'll excuse me, I need to go take a cardiac protecting nap...right after my husband and I take a bath in molten dark chocolate and lick each other clean.)

27 comments:

Commander Zaius said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Commander Zaius said...

Those Russians, and to think I thought they were a meance in the 80's. I want to party with them.

Tests of endurance like who can handle the worst contractions with the fewest drugs?

During the birth of our son my wife said things even with drugs that had the doctor and nurse in the room scared for certain bodily parts on me. Since both the doctor and nurse were female in the end they and my wife thought it was funny.

TLP said...

LOL. Funny. All the way.

BTW, I've quoted you on the tilting China line. I've told so many people about National Sex Day in Russia. I have to add your suggestion as to the solution to the population problem when I talk about it.

(M)ary said...

ew. i could not get in the mood if i was sent home from work and told to have sex.

Hypersonic said...

Sex and chocolate...hmmmmm.

What's the difference between sex and chocolate?

Well...you can make a bar of chocolate last all day.

lime said...

bb, i am sorry for the threat of pain inflicted upon you and enjoyed by all in attendence.

tlp, i am honored! to be quoted by one as witty as you! i love it!

m, but it's your patriotic duty! lol

lime said...

hypersonic, maybe YOU can...

Mona said...

NATIONAL sex day?

Awww.. not international? so saaad!

In India they[ fundamentalists] throw acid on the faces of girls & boys who celebrate valentine's day. I wonder if they would drown us in barrels of acid if sex day came to town!

Hypocrites!

S said...

A piece of choclate the size of your fist? Count me in.

I love the idea of tipping countries to roll em over where they need more people....silly girl!

Bsoholic said...

So, we should sleep late, eat some chocolate, and take the day off work to have sex? Fantastic!!! :D

Charley "Apple" Grabowski said...

Sleep late, chocolate for breakfast, sex, chocolate for lunch for more energy for afternoon sex, followed by another nap? Sounds good to me! But I think we should just practice today and then have our own national sex day in Oct for July 4th babies.

lime said...

mona, that is completey horrifying!

s, i'm glad you see the sense in my suggestion

bs, snoozing, humping and eating!

apple, YOU are a genius!

Anonymous said...

National Sex Day? I feel so unprepared. How come I didn't get the memo?

Paul Champagne said...

Always wanting to help out semi-friendly nations ... I hereby donate my Playboy collection to Russia.

Charles said...

What they don't tell you in their article is how bad cocoa butter is, it's nearly completely cholesterol. Be sure all that chocolate you're eating is dark chocolate, so the cocoa butter is removed.

I going on record as willing to help the sister city of the nearby city of St. Petersburg, Florida out in their population problem. :)

Crabby said...

National Sex Day? And I choose this day to be back blogging? Am I nuts?
I'm gonna go polish up the "special toys" under the bed.
Crabby leaves humming.

Sudiegirl said...

Of course, this has to be the day when my monthly friend comes to town.

*sigh*

Big Ernie is laughing his butt off on that one.

Anonymous said...

I think that's a hoot they let people take time off to make whoopee. What they don't say is most of the population is out of work anyway and most likely too busy drinking vodka to have sex.lol
tc

lime said...

lecram, it's a come as you are party we are having (pun fully intended)

paul, if they have partners what do they need with playboy?

charles, i read an article today stating that 1/3 of the fats are monounsaturated like olive oil so they have a good effect, 1/3 are the type that have no real effect on blood cholestrol levels, and the remainig 3rd are yes...the bad kind. so i figure it's all a wash. but yes, dark choccy is the kind recommended, which is fine by me.

crabby, sister can ya spare a battery?

sudie, get creative ;)

top cat, good point. all the more resaon those of us who are sober shoudl celebrate heartily

Moosekahl said...

I'm going to see what the boyfriend is doing tonight, maybe we can uhm...celebrate!

Dark chocolate...I must have one very healthy ticker :)

SignGurl said...

The day is almost done. I only have a few more hours to celebrate.

david mcmahon said...

and the twist is they are only eligible for the big-ticket prizes if the babies are born on Russia Day, June 12!

G-Man said...

National Sex Day??
I guess I'm NOT celebrating!!

xoxox

lime said...

moose, since you are a PA can yo uprescribe choccy for me?

signgurl, well get busy girl!

david, i'm thinking i'd have a shot at this!

gman, hugs, i understand

Jacob said...

Wow. That was long.

Unknown said...

Are we a day ahead or behind Russia? Is is still sex day here or did I mis it by 2 whole days?

Reverend Michael Kilgore said...

Ahhhh..I'm definately in for that first one, there.......