Blogcritics Author: Connie Bennett

Announcement: Short-content feeds

Phillip Winn — Sun, 26 Aug 2007 12:00:00 EDT

Sunday, August 26, 2007, marks the switch of all Blogcritics.org article feeds from full-content to short-content. This is the result of several converging factors, and is unfortunately a permanent decision (as permanent as any decision can be on the web, that is). We are aware of all of the reasons that this is a Bad Idea, and we are aware that some of you will be quite upset about having to click on something to read the free content, and we're sorry. Unfortunately, despite great effort, full-content feeds are not currently economically viable. Two other factors are involved: full-content feeds have resulted in an unprecedented level of content theft, with BC content appearing on many websites, usually spam sites, without attribution or permission. This duplicate content causes a cascading set of problems, not the least of which is that search engines generally aren't favorable to duplicate content, and don't always guess correctly. Finally, our RSS advertising partner is strongly in favor of short-content feeds. We hope that you'll continue to subscribe to BC via RSS, and when an article grabs your eye, it's only a click away, still free on the BC website. Thank you for your understanding.

CBS News Sunday Morning Airs Story About Sugar This Sunday, June 17

Connie Bennett — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 13:34:58 EDT

I'm pleased to let you know that CBS News Sunday Morning is airing a story about sugar this Sunday, June 17, at 9 am EST and various times in other markets. Previously, I wrote on my Sugar Shock! blog about my exciting day with the CBS crew, when they filmed me, as well as some other sugar addicts I'd gathered. Now, here's a press release that I just wrote about this exciting sugar story that will air on CBS News Sunday Morning. Spread the word. NEW YORK -- Connie Bennett, author of SUGAR SHOCK!, is one of several experts appearing this Sunday on the national show, CBS News Sunday Morning, in an approximately 8-minute segment about sugar. It is the lead story, barring any breaking news. "This is heartening that a major national TV show such as CBS News Sunday Morning is delving into this extremely important subject and telling people the truth about sugar," says Bennett, a former sugar addict, journalist and certified holistic health counselor."Americans need to learn that they're probably getting at least one-quarter to one-third of their calories from refined sugar and processed carbs. And they should know that consuming so many nutrient-deprived foods and drinks could lead to a host of health-damaging problems, including depression, failing memory, fatigue, headaches, heart disease, cancer, hypoglycemia, type 2 diabetes and premature aging," adds Bennett, whose book SUGAR SHOCK! has been endorsed by a number of renowned health experts, including frequent "Oprah" guest Dr. Mehmet Oz. Bestselling author Nicholas Perricone, M.D. wrote the foreword; and Stephen T. Sinatra is the SUGAR SHOCK! contributing author. The CBS News Sunday Morning segment about sugar is reported by the talented, Emmy Award-winning journalist Susan Spencer and produced by the thorough Jason Sacca.Other experts or self-described "sugar addicts" interviewed for the segment include:* Children's obesity expert David Ludwig, M.D., Ph.D., author of Ending the Food Fight.* Sugar historian Sidney W. Mintz, author of Sweetness and Power: The Place of Sugar in Modern History.* Melanie Miller, vice president of public relations for the Sugar Association. * Six self-described current or former "sugar addicts" -- Bhaswati Bhattacharya, MD.; Deborah Buell, H.H.C.; Sheila Drew; Christy Goldfeder, C.H.H.C.; Moe M. Leary, H.H.C.; and Donna Sonkin, C.H.H.C.Check here to find out where and when CBS News Sunday Morning airs in your market.

Connie Bennett is an experienced journalist; author of the engaging, engrossing book, SUGAR SHOCK! (Berkley Books, Jan. 2007); and a former dedicated "sugar addict," who reluctantly quit sugar and refined carbohydrates on doctor's orders in 1998, which made all 44 of her perplexing symptoms vanish. Connie is a sought-after "Savvy Sugar Sleuth," who playfully but seriously spreads the sour scoop about sweets and other "culprit carbs," which could send you into SUGAR SHOCK! You can visit her at her website.

Six Tips to Help Your Children Slim Down From Renowned Children's Obesity Expert Dr. David Ludwig

Connie Bennett — Thu, 7 Jun 2007 15:15:07 EDT

Parents, no need to be perplexed any more about how to persuade your kids to eat their veggies and quit overdosing on soft drinks and other sugary foods. Acclaimed children’s obesity expert David Ludwig, M.D., Ph.D. can help you to help your kids.In fact, if anyone can inspire you and your kids, Dr. Ludwig can do it. He’s director of the Optimal Weight for Life (OWL) Program at Children’s Hospital, Boston, one of the oldest and largest pediatric weight management programs for children in the country. Since 1996, he and his colleagues have cared for a whopping 5,000 overweight youngsters and their families. What’s more, Dr. Ludwig – who has been featured in USA Today, and has appeared on a bunch of top TV and radio shows – can educate you so you empower your child to have fun losing weight, getting fit, and shunning those culprit carbs. Anyhow, in Dr. Ludwig's new book, Ending the Food Fight: Guide Your Child to a Healthy Weight in a Fast Food/Fake Food World, he offers an exciting, proven, nine-week program so that you can turn your children’s health around. So, here are six pointers excerpted and adapted -- with permission, of course -- from Dr. Ludwig’s book, Ending the Food Fight.1. Working together as a family, make a “Clean Sweep” of your home environment. First, empty your cupboards, cabinets, refrigerator, pantry, and other food storage areas where you keep sugary drinks, chips, cookies, candies, ice cream, refined crackers, and other “fake foods” that just don’t support your family’s health. Now, toss away all the health-defeating fake food. (Don’t worry about being wasteful – the health costs of eating those commercially processed foods are far greater than the actual purchase price.) Next, go out as a family to grab a healthy lunch or afterwards do something fun outdoors like play miniature golf, take a trip to a water park or go for a hike. Then, later in the afternoon, shop together as a family and buy delicious and nutritious foods to replace all the fake foods that you’ve tossed out.2. Introduce your children to nutrient-rich, low-glycemic real foods. This means they’ll learn about raw and cooked vegetables, fresh and dried fruits, beans, nuts and nut butters, seeds and unprocessed whole grains, and lean proteins. 3. Start replacing refined sugary cereals and processed breads. Instead give your kids whole grains such as brown rice, millet, barley, quinoa and buckwheat, steel cut oats or stone ground breads. 4. Go for family walks. Teach your kids that walking 30 minutes a day at a moderate pace would burn over about 50,000 calories in a year or about 15 pounds of body weight. What’s so great about walking is that you can do it almost anywhere; you don’t need special training or equipment; you can take it at your own pace; it’s relaxing; and it’s free. 5. Learn “The Power of Ten.” If your children have become video-watching, confirmed couch potatoes, encourage them to get active for ten minutes at a time. They can walk, jump rope or play outdoors in three ten-minute blocks over the course of a day or two 15-minute blocks. This is like dropping nickels and dimes into a piggy bank; no matter how you count it, you still have 30 cents. 6. Let your child participate in menu planning and food preparation. You’ll find that if your kid cooks it, he or she eats it. Again, bear in mind that these are some of many, many proven pointers from Dr. Ludwig, one of America’s foremost children’s obesity experts. His book, Ending the Food Fight, goes into much more detail, and it even presents an easy, effective nine-week program. Excerpted from Ending the Food Fight: Guide Your Child to a Healthy Weight in a Fast Food / Fake Food World by David Ludwig, M.D., Ph. D., published by Houghton Mifflin Company. Copyright © 2007 by David Ludwig, M.D., Ph. D. Reprinted by permission of Houghton Mifflin Company.

Advocacy Group to Rally in Support of Trans Fat Ban in New York City Restaurants on October 30

Connie Bennett — Sun, 22 Oct 2006 20:51:42 EDT

Unless you've been hiding out in a cave lately, you've probably heard about the horrific dangers of trans fats - partially hydrogenated vegetable oils found in processed cookies, cakes, crackers, breads, doughnuts, and deep-fried French fries, etc. -- which can lead to an increased risk of coronary heart disease. In fact, Harvard researchers believe just getting rid of trans fats could prevent between 30,000 to 100,000 premature deaths annually, as they reported in the New England Journal of Medicine earlier this year.Although in January this year the FDA began requiring all manufacturers label those potentially hazardous fats, eateries nationwide have been continuing to use the potentially deadly fat. Now, nutrition-minded people who live or work in New York have a golden opportunity for their voices to be heard and to help influence lawmakers so that trans fats will be given the boot from Manhattan restaurants.On Monday, October 30, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. (at 125 Worth Street, 2nd Floor, near City Hall), the New York City Board of Health's Department of Health and Mental Hygiene is holding public hearings to consider a groundbreaking proposal (81.08) to strictly limit this man-made toxic substance from restaurants. That same day, from noon to 2 p.m., join hundreds of us when we show support for the proposal by attending a public outdoor event rally sponsored by Trans Fat Free NYC at Thomas Paine Park directly across from the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. The goal is to show politicians there's a tremendous amount of support for this ban-trans-fat proposal. If New York restaurants stop using trans fats, it will become the second city in the U.S. to do so, following the lead of the much vastly smaller city of Tiburon, in northern California, which now works with restaurant owners and managers in the area's 18 restaurants to avoid trans fats in cooking oil or frying. The New York City rally sounds like it will be both fun and educational. Speakers include:Walter Willett, M.D., Ph.D., chairman of the Department of Nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health (Dr. Willett’s research has been influential in providing pivotal scientific information about the dangers of trans fats.) Joshua Rosenthal, founder of the Institute for Integrative Nutrition and Executive Director of the Trans Fat Free NYC campaign Anna Lappe, cofounder of Small Planet Institute and the author of Hope’s Edge: The Next Diet for a Small Planet. Michael Jacobson, Executive Director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest and author of Restaurant Confidential and Six Arguments for a Greener Diet Earl Ellis of Whole Harvest oils Other keynote speakers from New York’s political, culinary, and entertainment fieldsTrans Fat Free NYC also will present:A performance by Trans Freestyle Dancers, including NYC’s b-girl crew Fox Force Five Music by the legendary DP One of the Turntable Annihilists crew Trans fat free treats (don't know if they're sugar-free) from some of New York City's finest restaurants and Green Market vendors. Meanwhile, TransFatFreeNYC.org is urging New Yorkers to send e-mails to regarding Proposal 81.08 directly to Rena Bryant, Secretary of the NYC Board of Health. For more information, check out Trans Fat Free NYC's website.If you can't make the rally, then you can quickly fill out a petition to limit trans fats in New York City restaurants. It only takes a minute, and you could be helping to save hundreds of lives.

21-Day Kick-Sugar Countdown Program Kicks Off Jan. 5 -- Complimentary Until Nov. 1

Connie Bennett — Wed, 26 Oct 2005 21:30:02 EDT

Finally -- after months of being hounded by many of you -- you'll be able to participate (if you act fast) in my proven 21-Day, Kick-Sugar Countdown to help you to quit your unhealthy dependence on sweets and processed carbs.Mark your calendars!This 21-day countdown -- which begins Jan. 5, 2006 -- is specifically designed for those of you who are yearning to break away from your sugar or quickie-carbs habit.You'll want to join our sugarfree adventure if you suspect (or know deep down that) your quickie-carbs-laden diet is wrecking havoc on your moods, relationships, libido, health, weight and/or much more. I'll be blunt. This unique, highly anticipated coaching program is NOT for everyone. The unmotivated among you will hesitate---or maybe even feel paralyzed by fear. Yep, licking sugar is no simple project. But, let me tell you -- as I discovered back in 1998 -- turning your back on sweets brings benefits galore, from better moods to greater energy to improved relationships to increased concentration.If you say no to sweets, you could completely turn your life around. My three-week program is ideal for you if any of the following ring true:You feel enslaved by your sugar and quickie-carbs habit.You're fed up with dragging along excess weight and tonnage.You're befuddled and besieged by irrational mood swings or anger outbursts that make your loved ones throw their hands up in despair. You're waylaid by ferocious cramps and severe PMS.Your beloved is frustrated by your low libido, especially after you cram carbs.In short, your sugar highs are getting you down.If you're all too familiar with any of the above, you can escape soon from the clutches of your overwhelming habit!How? With powerful tips and tactics included in this innovative program.Here's what you get in this 21-day countdown:Daily e-mails and/or audio messages from me.Fun, easy assignments and eye-opening participatory exercises to get you in the sugar-kicking mood.A weekly teleseminar with me and some amazing, surprise guests, who are experts in the field of health and personal empowerment. (Stay tuned!)Strategies to combat those sugar or carb cravings. A meal plan from a nutritionist.Surprise bonuses. And much more... This 21-day program evolved because you asked! (In fact, for three years, my KickSugar group members and others kept been bugging me to organize this.) For those of you who don't know about me, I've been where you are now. Oh goodness! How well I know the pain of being trapped by these destructive dietary habits! (Read my story here.) By joining my program now, you'll get secrets and pointers that have worked for me. What's more, you'll get words of wisdom and ideas from many of the 250-plus experts that I interviewed for my upcoming book, SUGAR SHOCK! If you join my free, online KickSugar group now --- before November 1, 2005 --- you get a complimentary membership to this 21-day countdown when it kicks off January 5, 2006. That's right---because I want to help you so much, you'll be getting services valued at between $197 and $297, depending upon what level you join. Don't wait! Join KickSugar group now, before Nov. 1, and get a complimentary membership to this 21-day countdown.The following is a reprint from my SUGAR SHOCK! Blog.

Nearly 21 Million People in U.S. Have Diabetes -- A 14 % Jump Since 2002

Connie Bennett — Wed, 26 Oct 2005 17:31:43 EDT

Devastating news on the diabetes front. About 20.8 million Americans - or 7 percent of the U.S. population - now have diabetes, with more than 6 million of them unaware that they have the disease, according to the latest prevalence data released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This disease just keeps spreading. Indeed, a mere three years ago, when the CDC last tallied the number of people with diabetes, the figure was 18.2 million Americans. In other words, today, another 2.6 million people now have this disease.Or, to put it another way, the incidence of diabetes has risen by more than 14 percent in a mere three years!Furthermore, another 41 million people are estimated to have pre-diabetes, a condition that increases your risk of developing type 2 diabetes - the most common form of the disease - as well as heart disease and stroke. This is absolutely horrifying. I hope it serves as an effective wake-up call to couch-potato, exercise-ignoring Americans, who have packed on excess pounds, eat horribly and take a nonchalant approach towards their health.If you can avoid diabetes, then by all means do so! (Please read on...)Bear in mind that diabetes is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States.After all, diabetes is a leading cause of adult blindness, lower-limb amputation, kidney disease and nerve damage, warns Dr. Frank Vinicor, director of CDC's diabetes program. "Two-thirds of people with diabetes die from a heart attack or stroke," he adds.The American Diabetes Association also jumped to issue a press release, noting that these new stats "highlight the growing diabetes epidemic in the United States and reinforce the need for increased research and prevention."The CDC reports the following highlights:20.8 million people -- 7 % of the population -- have diabetes. (Diagnosed: 14.6 million people; Undiagnosed: 6.2 million people). Aged 20 years or older - 20.6 million or 9.6 % of all people in this age group have diabetes. Aged 60 years or older - 10.3 million or 20.9 % of all people in this age roup have diabetes."Diabetes continues to be the sixth leading cause of death in the United States."In 2005, 1.5 million people aged 20 years or older will be newly diagnosed with diabetes."Compared to non-Hispanic whites, diabetes continues to be more common (1.7 to 2.2 times more common) among American Indians and Alaska Natives, non-Hispanic blacks, Hispanic/Latino Americans, and Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders."The risk of diabetes increases with age. About 21 percent of Americans aged 60 years or older have diabetes. This compares to approximately 2 percent for people 20 to 39 years old and about 10 percent for those aged 40-59 years."The United States spends approximately $132 billion each year on diabetes - $92 billion in direct medical costs and another $40 billion each year in indirect costs because of missed work days or other losses in productivity.For more figures, get the 2005 National Diabetes Fact Sheet here. What's important to remember is that if you have pre-diabetes, you may be able to prevent or delay the onset of diabetes just by losing 5 percent to 7 percent of your body weight, the CDC's Dr. Vinicor said. Of course, this means it's important to start exercising, too.And, as I often point out here, it can be absolutely invaluable to cut back or cut out your intake of sweets and simple carbs and start getting more fruits and vegetables, as well as high quality protein and fats. Both eating healthily and getting physical activity are vital preventive tactics to take.If you don't have diabetes yet, then please take care of yourself now!Need some help to fight off pre-diabetes? Join my free, online KickSugar support group. (If you act soon, before Nov. 1, you'll get complimentary membership to my 21-day, kick-sugar countdown, which begins Jan. 5.)

Dr. Perricone's Diet Book Released

Connie Bennett — Wed, 28 Sep 2005 01:49:57 EDT

Strong anti-sugar advocate Dr. Nicholas Perricone has just come out with his Perricone Weight-Loss Diet: A Simple 3-part Program To Lose The Fat, The Wrinkles, And The Years.Although I haven't read his new book yet, I know that Dr. Perricone recommends a way of eating close to what I follow -- and have for years now. In fact, as he told me when I interviewed him for my upcoming book, SUGAR SHOCK!, Dr. Perricone suggests steering clear of sugary, starchy avoid foods -- that means sugar, breads, pasta, desserts, snack foods, etc. "Foods made with sweeteners and/or flour are pro-inflammatory and cause spikes in our blood sugar and insulin levels," he explains, noting that such foods will cause your body to store fat rather than burn it. "They will also rob you of your youth, beauty, energy and mental acuity. These foods also cause a rise and then drop in serotonin, the 'feel-good' hormone, leaving you depressed." Dr. Perricone advises eating foods that are anti-inflammatory and high in anti-oxidants, including brightly colored fruits and vegetables. He also advocates foods rich in anti-inflammatory omega 3 essential fatty acids, such as wild Alaskan salmon (his and my favorite) and other cold water fish such as sardines, anchovies, herring, trout, halibut, as well as flax seed and walnuts. To be upfront, I haven't yet read Dr. Perricone's new book so I don't know the specifics of his diet, but I suspect that it comes close to the one that I'd recommend. (But I still do need to read the book and see if I agree with everything.)You can catch Dr. Perricone this Thursday, Sept. 29, on NBC's "Today" show, between 7:00 and 10:00 AM Eastern Time (check local listings). Not that you need my best wishes, but good luck with the new book, Dr. Perricone. By the way, if you're not sold on salmon, try Vital Choice -- absolutely the most tasty and delicious salmon I've found anywhere. Vital Choice is the brand recommended by Dr. Perricone, as well as Dr. Andrew Weil, Dr. Stephen Sinatra, Dr. Joseph Mercola, Dr. Christiane Northrup and many environmental organizations, because the seafood is sustainably harvested and tested regularly to make sure it's free of harmful contaminants such as mercury.

Contrary Viewpoints on Bloggers

Connie Bennett — Tue, 27 Sep 2005 01:03:46 EDT

Thought I'd share this very enlightening piece, "In Defense of Citizen Journalism," from reporter/blogger Sean Gallagher, senior editor of Ziff Davis Internet's vertical enterprise sitesGallagher presents a thoughtful look -- one's that's both measured and opinionated at the same time -- about how bloggers (citizen journalists) do have a role to play in present-day journalism. He maintains: "Citizen journalists keep us so-called professionals on our toes, and get subjects into play that might otherwise never see the light of day." What I like about this column is that Gallagher is able to present the point of a professional journalist, who blogs both professionally and personally -- a vantage point that I also take. He writes:"...I'm getting really tired of journalists who spend their column inches, air time or page impressions bashing "citizen journalism" and weblogs. It reminds me of the way my teenager tries to rest away the game controller from his 'tweener brother, yelling, "Give me that, you're not doing it right! "To say that information from any source on the Internet is to be treated skeptically is like saying that pit bulls might bite. It's been pretty well established that anyone with a computer can, and will, create a Web site, post to Usenet or a discussion board, or otherwise pollute the Web and other streams of information with hearsay and libel..."Gallagher notes that there are "plusses to having that fire hose of unfiltered content. "It's not that I don't use those established sources of media; they have their purpose. But there's stuff on the fringes that just doesn't get picked up by them because, well, they just don't have the reporters, the budget, the space or the advertisers to justify them doing so. "So, let a thousand flowers of thought contend. Citizen journalists keep us so-called professionals on our toes, and get subjects into play that might otherwise never see the light of day. Just remember: Pit bulls sometimes bite." Thanks, Sean, for your interesting points. One word of caution, though: As Gallagher also observes, it's important to carefully decide which bloggers (citizen journalists) are to be trusted and which ones are to be regarded with skepticism. Meanwhile, check out another different point of view in "Citizen Journalism is Dead" from Vincent Maher, who teaches multimedia journalism at the New Media Lab at Rhodes University's School of Journalism & Media Studies.In particular, Maher's ethics chart is fascinating and to be applauded, because it really does pinpoint the drawbacks of citizen journalism. Old MediaCitizen JournalistsInstitutional code of ethicsUncoordinated individual self-interest and fear of litigation Formalised training either via tertiary education or internally within the media organisationSelf-taught amateurs - though you can do a doctorate in blogging with some less informed university facultiesFormal accountability, there is a boss to answer to Superficial accountability on an individual levelGate keeping and editing standardsSubjective selectionMonitoring, via industry bodies and associationsNothing, except commentary and feedback He continues: "Each of these differences point to one thing: citizen journalism is potentially devoid of any form of ethical accountability other than the legislative environment in which the individual operates. So, on the level of routine practice, there is very little control, especially in terms of accuracy."I truly find it hard to argue Maher's conclusions, but I still believe, like Gallagher, that blogs really do perform a valuable function. Read Maher's full story and see his insightful comments about the role of economics and epistemology in blogging.So whould blogs be trusted? Just be very careful.Read the "About Page" of the founder. Examine his or her motives, if any. Find out his or her background. Determine whether the blog seems to be accurate and informative. Gauge the quality of the blogger's sources.Then make an informed decision. Weigh the evidence. But bear in mind that, as Maher points out so aptly, bloggers have to be their own gatekeepers.I daresay Maher's points remind me to be vigilant in my reporting and in the sources I cite.

Lawmakers Smoking Hot Over Pot-Flavored Candies

Connie Bennett — Sun, 25 Sep 2005 08:17:34 EDT

This article in no way endorses the following product. This is provided for entertainment purposes only.Police, parents and lawmakers are smoking mad over a hot new candy, according to MSNBC, USA Today and The Daily News.The source of their ire: Marijuana-flavored lollipops and gumdrops named "Purple Haze," "Acapulco Gold," "Rasta" and "Chronic." The candies -- which have been sucked on by the likes of such celebrity fans as Snoop Dogg and Partis Hilton -- are sparking controversy among critics who feel these sweets promote drug use among kids. Allegedly, the pot pops -- which come in "nickel bags" and "20 sacs" and tout flavors like "Chronic" and "Icky Sticky Skunk Buds."-- contain no THC, the ingredient that makes pot users a "high." But it sounds like they plotted the marketing to promote the taste and feel of pot. This really angers lawmakers such as Councilwoman Margarita Lopez (D-Manhattan), who fumed to WPIX-Channel 11, ""How could we go into market and create a product for children that encourages them to taste the taste of marijuana? What is the message? 'Use drugs, that is okay?'" John Bazemore / AP FileCome to think of it, I've never heard of so much passion over a darn lollipop. Even anti-sugar forces are timid compared to irate anti-drug folks, who detest Chronic Candy's blatantly obvious slogan, "every lick is like taking a hit." Check out the tagline, too. "It's Not Just a Candy... It's a Lifestyle." Hmm. Sounds you could get a double whammy of a high -- sugar and the pot taste.Interestingly, the candy is legal even if it sounds like an advertisement for pot. This article originally appeared on my SUGAR SHOCK! Blog. ed/Pub:NB

Befuddled by Blogging? Books to Blog By

Connie Bennett — Sun, 25 Sep 2005 02:11:00 EDT

Curious about blogging? Wanna know how to do it? Wondering how it evolved? Don't have a clue as to its incredible impact? Many fellow authors and entrepreneurs have been tossing such blogging questions at me lately. Gee, I'm flatttered, but I'm just not an expert even though I'm happily posting my thoughts, which are getting "pinged" into the "blogosphere." (Flummoxed by those terms? So was I not so long ago.)You see, I decided to start a blog after attending a Publishers Marketing Association Publishing University in early June, where one speaker after another urged us authors to blog to build a platform and get the word out about our books. That convinced me. Not knowing how or where to begin, I consulted experts. Here, then, are my four hot resources to help you quickly become a blogger or blog watcher: 1. Blog by Hugh HewittEven if you decide not to blog, you simply must buy, devour (!), and digest the fascinating book Blog by the amazingly articulate and knowledgeable New York Times best-selling author Hugh Hewitt, a hugely popular blogger (hughhewitt.com), nationally syndicated conservative radio talk show host, constitutional law professor at Chapman University, and columnist for The Weekly Standard and WorldNetDaily.com. In Blog, Hewitt convincingly skewers the mainstream media or "MSM" (of which I used to be a member) and explains how blogging is revolutionizing our information landscape and dismantling the old media monopoly. Hewitt transports you into very recent history and explains how smart, savvy, muckraking bloggers kept stories alive that -- ultimately, with the help of the slow-to-dig-up-the-facts MSM -- led to the unraveling (so to speak) of Dan Rather (or "Rathergate," as the author dubs it) and Sen. Trent Lott (R-Miss.). Hewitt even recounts how bloggers unmasked John Kerry's lie (his "Christmas-not-in-Cambodia debacle," as Hewitt puts it) and doggedly pursued the truth about the embellishing, exaggering rogue journalist Jayson Blair, whose scandalous downfall also hurt New York Times editor Howell Raines. Whatever your political persuation, you'll be intrigued, I believe, by Hewitt's insights and perspectives, as well as his touting of blogging as "a nearly cost-free opportunity to establish or defend a brand and to introduce new products or buzz, and to do so over and over again."Hewitt also offers newbies a rundown of some of the most influential bloggers and blogs out there, including Glenn Reynolds (Instapundit), Atrios, Joshua Micah Marshall, (Talking Points Memo), TimesWatch, Jim Romenesko (at Poynter Online), Mickey Kaus (Kausfiles), Seth Mnookin, Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, Froggy Ruminations, Scott Johnson (PowerLine), Beldar (William J. Dyer) and Andrew Sullivan.2. Blog Coach Andy WibbelsWhile I was reading Hewitt's book, I next turned to another invaluable resource. Enter self-described "blogging evangelist" and coach Andy Wibbels, who patiently trained me and helped me set up my blog at breakneck speeds. Remarkably, my blog was literally up within minutes, and within days, I was easily posting entries! Very cool! I highly recommend Andy's services. Download his free, informative, 20-page Easy Bake Web Weblogs special report or get a free preview on building your own blog. You can participate in Andy's Podcasting Bootcamp. And if you want a course, Andy offers one from July 27 to August 24, 20053. Buzz Marketing with Blogs for DummiesLastly, I recommend Buzz Marketing with Blogs for Dummies by Susannah Gardner, co-founder and creative director of Hop Studios Internet Consultants. While the first part of the book doesn't apply to me (though it might to you, if you're with a corporation), the last section of Buzz Marketing is quite informative to anyone, including the chapters on understanding your audience, promoting your blog, and adding value to a blog. So gleefully go for it! Join us. Check out my three hot leads. Launch a blog. Speak out. Find your blogging voice. Spread the word about your provocative online home. Start schmoozing on the 'Net with fellow, thoughtful scribblers. Liberally link to other sites. Get some buzz for your product or services. Make an impact. Oh, and let me know when you become a blogger. At the least, start making comments on others' sites.This item originally appeared in my SUGAR SHOCK! Blog.

Handcuffed Swimmer Tackles Hudson To Fight Diabetes

Connie Bennett — Wed, 21 Sep 2005 18:59:44 EDT

Brian Friedman -- a member of my free, online KickSugar group -- is swimming handcuffed Friday morning across the Hudson River to fight the diabetes epidemic. Why handcuffs?Well, Brian, 43, wants to get the point across that people with diabetes "feel shackled by the disease."Earlier this afternoon, Brian casually announced his intentions via e-mail to my group, when Myra, my astute KickSugar Assistant Moderator quickly alerted me to his athletic prowess to help defeat diabetes. I immediately tracked down the swimmer through his EscapeFromDiabetes website and reached Brian on the phone.He was recuperating from another swim -- this one across the Potomac -- on Tuesday morning. 'Course most won't be able to tackle such a rigorous exercise regime, much less without the handcuffs. But Brian has experience testing the waters. In fact, he's a fitness trainer, who, last year swam handcuffed from Alcatraz to San Francisco in 54 minutes and 20 seconds (a world record, he says).If you want to see Brian swim, go to either Weehawken Harbor in New Jersey at 7 a.m. Friday or to Surfside 3 Marina at Chelsea Piers (23rd Street and the Hudson River) in New York at 8 a.m. (when he expects to arrive). Brian crossing the Hudson River in honor of his grandfather, "who developed type 2 diabetes in the 1960s and, had both legs amputated in the '70s and that's the way he lived the rest of his life until he passed away in 1989."I remember visiting my grandfather when I was in high school, and he couldn't be an active person any longer. It was a major production for him to even go to a restaurant."The sad part is that when my grandfather got successful he loved to eat and go to Giant games," says Brian, who believes that his grandfather's poor lifestyle habits helped trigger his diabetes. Brian -- who notes that diabetes is the # 1 cause of non-traumatic amputation -- is now horrified that young people are getting diabetes in record numbers. "I just want to do some small thing to motivate people to change their lifestyle -- to get outside and work out, whether it's running or hiking, and eating better," adds Brian, who claims that he's a "below-average athlete" -- that's pretty hard to believe when you look at his photo.For those of you into sugary foods, Brian says that exercising banishes his desire for them."When I'm exercising a lot, I don't have sugar cravings. When I do get a sweet tooth attack, I am happy with an apple or a banana. "I want everyone to know getting up and out of the chair and doing any exercise will kill those cravings," says Brian, who confessed to a donut weakness and a "sweet tooth." But he quips, "It's hard to eat a donut when you are swimming across the Hudson handcuffed!"Brian urges people to donate directly to the American Diabetes Association when they hear about his "publicity stunt." You can also check out his blog, where he's writing about his aquatic adventures. As Brian points out, research has shown that a person making lifestyle changes could delay or even prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes, as revealed by the Diabetes Prevention Program. Go for it, Brian! Wishing you the best! Hope you raise both awareness and money for the ADA. The following originally appeared on my SUGAR SHOCK! Blog.