MatthewB

Somehow I think I'd need something larger than a roasting pan if I were going to roll myself in it. Sounds like something to try with the girlfriend, though... Depends on how you would define roasting pan. Didn't Le Creuset base the materials of their stuff on old claw-foot tubs?

Yup. So, are you going to try the "Skinny-Dipping at Dusk" recipe then?

The song is about chocolate malted balls, not sodomy, for gawd's sake.

Speaking of cocoa . . .

Hey, it's Friday afternoon. I'm starting to make weekend plans!

I've not smelled nor tasted nor seen castor oil since the aforementioned incident. I suppose you'll trump me with a claim of Freudian repression?

Thanks, Sam. The fact that you spent your formative years *in* ice cream & syrup explains a lot. Have you seen this recipe? Might be right up your alley! "Skinny-Dipping at Dusk" 8 c. water 25 lbs. cocoa Store the water in a cool place, allowing it to bio-ripen for a period lasting months or even years. Meanwhile, fill your largest roasting pan with cocoa. Roll in cocoa. Carry on. Edit: Added emphasis for clarity

As Kurt Weill noted, "Speak low when you speak love."

Probably when at age 3 I hurdled myself off the kitchen table whilst fighting my mother & grandmother who were attempting to put castor oil down my throat. I hurdled head-first from table to door casing. I have both the physical & emotional scars to prove it.

fresco, You mention starving children more than I mention Uma.

Marriage counseling.

Note: Amazon UK. (No trace of it on Amazon US.)

Previous discussion here.

Indeed, the most conceptually valid scheme would be to tax obesity: here's a height/age/gender/weight chart, and you pay for every pound by which you vary from the chart. I'm in. Much better for me.

Then try out that Vina Alarba Calatayud blend. I'll be picking up another case soon. It's currently my house red.

Oprah??? Nah. Uma!!!

Fried rice just about any way as long as I have access to some good Nuoc Cham.

Agreed. I was never assuming that any of my speculations would lead to regulation, revolutions, etc. *sings* "Just my imagination, running away with me"

The most important thing to realize when having this discussion is that we don't know. I don't mind if you speculate.

Here's what I was thinking of . . . 2001 Vina Alarba Calatayud (There a 100% Grenache, too. I like the Grenache/Syrah blend better.) I bet Sam's has some for $6/bottle. And, I wish I could make it but I can't. (Even with the 3 hour drive. GR, remember? ) Edit: I'm starting to sound like I only drink wine under $8/bottle. wait oh, wateva

On the wine . . . There are some nice Spanish reds--90% Grenache & 10% Syrah. (For about $7/bottle.)

Ok. And, your definition of the universal cause . . . I don't believe that you'd argue that this exists within a non-historical & non-structural & non-economic context. So what historical & structural & economic factors are in play, in your opinion?

fresco, I'm not following you here. I'm not talking about life expectancy. I'm speculating about the *structural* shifts concerning less & less fresh local food *and* less & less family farms, etc. This shift would follow from the "country to city" shift. And it might help to explain the correlation between poverty & obesity.

Surely. But I'm speculating about *structural* changes that have occurred over the last 70 years or more.

Do you know of any information that indicates less obesity among farmers than among the general population? Less obesity among rural people than among urban dwellers? I don't know the answer. I have my doubts, but I'm sure it has been researched and broken down along many demographic lines -- so perhaps a little Googling can short-circuit the speculation. Here's one discussion. (That's a Google PDF to HTML conversion. The original PDF is here.) My wild hypothesis would probably be hard to prove. I'm thinking about the issue by comparing, say, the socio-economic environment of 1945 (with a larger percentage of farmers in the US) to today. The 1945 environment would be complicated as "farmers" would have much higher activity rates than professionals. Etc. etc. etc. I'm probably in left field.