SLEEPLESS (AND VIOLENT) IN BIS-MAN A front page story in the Bismarck Tribune noted a dramatic increase (45-100%) in assaults in Bismarck and Mandan this summer compared to last year. That is of concern. Why are more people settling disagreements in this way? Why is Bis-Man more violent this summer? Why are we less human, less civilized? Some say our population is up, some blame alcohol. Some say the police force needs to be bigger. Could increased noise be to blame? Behavioral scientists have clearly proven that increased violence accompanies increased noise exposure in both humans and animals. Noise increases rage. A major criterion that defines noise is that you have no control over it. It’s the lack of control that triggers a release of stress hormones. Thus I can blissfully mow my own lawn while my neighbor, trying to sleep, would find it intrusive and noisy. The Jet Ski is fine to the person riding it but not to the person quietly reading a book. Noise causes high blood pressure

A Harvard study shows America's obesity extends to its infants too.All in the space of two decades. The last year studied was 2001 and from my experience in my medical office obesity has made tremendous inroads the last 5 years so things could be even worse by now. Vinod Seth http://online.wsj.com/article/SB115525548877732835.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

Impact of adolescent overweight on adult mortality Published: Sunday, 6-Aug-2006 BEING OVERWEIGHT AT 18 PREDICTS INCREASED MORTALITY AND HEALTH CARE COSTS TO COME! ALL PAYORS OF HEALTH CARE, PRIVATE AND GOVERNMENT NEED TO WAKE UP TO THE HUGE COSTS IN THE YEARS TO COME FROM WHAT USED TO BE A GENERALLY HEALTHY POPULATION IN THE PAST. BABY BOOMERS AGING, THE YOUNG GETTING UNHEALTHIER DUE TO OBESITY FROM SUGAR LOADED DRINKS AND FAST/FRANCHISE TRANS FATS LADEN CHEAP FOOD AND ALWAYS-IN-THE-CAR-INACTIVITY --WE ARE IN FOR AN EXPLOSION IN COSTS FOR HEALTH CARE.VINOD SETH 8-7-06 Children and adolescents in the U.S. and around the world are becoming more overweight. A new study from the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) has found that there may be serious consequences to that trend. Researchers found that being overweight at age 18 is associated with an increased risk of premature death in younger and middle-aged women. The study appears in the Annals of Internal Medicine. "Our findings