It's common knowledge that Americans collectively weigh more than an equal number of citizens from any nation you choose. According to the Centers for Disease Control, an estimated 66 percent of U.S. adults are overweight (33 percent) or obese (33 percent), and the $1 billion of "Your Money" used to pay for 57 federally-funded nutrition education programs might as well be spent on hot dogs for our soldiers in Iraq to honor the American who captured the Hot Dog Eating championship.

This should give a sane person the shudders, for in addition to the massive amount of fat content in hot dogs, the animals from which they are made are full of growth hormones. At least one state is taking this seriously enough to investigate whether there really is a human obesity effect caused by animal growth hormones on humans. You can try this experiment to verify this for yourself. Don't eat meat for a week, then have a meal based around it. See if you aren't hungry all the time over the next several days.

The fact that this effect has recently attracted the attention of the media over the howling objections of the meat growers in America just might have something to do with doctors (and their professional organizations, natch!) feeling the pinch from reduced Medicare payments. I understand their pain, as I wouldn't want to take a 9.9% pay cut either!

That may be the reason why rural Reps. Greg Walden (R-Ore.) and Earl Pomeroy (D-N.D.), along with 52 co-sponsors, would like to see H.R. 2860, the Health Care Access and Rural Equity Act (H-CARE), passed. The bill is intended to reverse the reduced Medicare payments - but only in rural areas!!! Those residing in the Big City can fend for themselves! For once, I find myself in agreement with The Wall Street Journal over this issue. Their editorial board has examined the beast, and has determined that it can be identified as pork.

You know it's pork if there's no money left after taking care of the needs of the rural-living meat industry for the barbecue sauce. At least a little dark chocolate for dessert is good for you!

Just a little food for thought while you are busy digesting your ample share of dead cow, pig, or bird.