Archive for June, 2010

Dr. Oz Recommends a Sex Schedule

Sunday, June 27th, 2010

Dr. Oz is a very busy man. I know because I sent an email to his show, and the automated response said something like, “Dr. Oz is a very busy man, but he appreciates your email. If you’re having an emergency, call 911.”

Calling 911 before emailing Dr. Oz in the middle of an emergency seems pretty obvious to me, but I guess we can’t assume anything these days. Apparently some people think Dr. Oz is on call for all of America.

He’s not. He’s very busy doing other things, like hosting a daily one-hour television show, writing online articles, and having sex.

That’s what he suggests in his MSN Health & Fitness article, “Dr. Oz’s 25 Health Tips to Swear By.”

Here it is. Tip #17.

Have as much sex as possible.

If a 50-something man could have sex 700 times a year, the exercise and stress reduction would make him look and feel years younger. I wouldn’t recommend quitting your day job in order to hit that number—but what’s the harm in trying? The next time your loved one says she has a headache, tell her she’s literally killing you. It works for me. Or use this  fun schedule to have sex eight times this week.

That link takes you to the Men’s Health article “Have Sex 8 Times This Week,” which you can read at your own peril.

I did and it makes me wonder why I spend time on the web.

By the way, even if you followed the sex 8 times a week schedule, you’d still be short sex 284 times on the year.

Still, maybe Dr. Oz is on to something. I saw President Clinton and Mick Jagger sitting together to watch the US-Ghana World Cup Soccer quarterfinal, and they both looked pretty good to me. And what’s the one thing they have in common? Groupies.

You Got Fired How?

Friday, June 18th, 2010

Boy, there are some wacky articles out there – like, “You Lost Weight How?” on The Victory Project website.

If you haven’t heard (and I hadn’t), The Victory Project is a new MSN web series that features 12 real women (nothing like “The Real Housewives,” thank god), all of whom are embarking on some life-changing transformation. I don’t know much more than that because I can barely make it through 15 seconds of the various videos. I’m not saying the site and videos are boring, but . . . they are very not exciting. Also on the site are Tools, Tips, and Articles. The whole thing is sponsored by Kellogg’s Special K.

The “You Lost Weight How?” article comes from the editors of Rodale Inc., who publish magazines like Men’s Health, Women’s Health, Prevention, and others. The subtitle of the article is “A Toe Tap Here, A Wiggle There Can Add Up To Real Weight Loss.”

The idea, according to the article, is that we can all keep our metabolism revving by doing simple things like standing instead of sitting. For example, the article says, “Take phone calls while on your feet, have quick stand-up meetings with colleagues, eat your lunch while standing, read the mail while stepping in place. You burn: 200 calories an hour.”

The article also suggests we fuss and fidget. “Make it a habit to never sit perfectly still. Instead, bounce your knee at your desk, tap your toes, shift in your seat, pace while you talk on the phone, sway and twist from the waist while at your computer. You burn: Up to 100 calories throughout the day.”

Like I said – wacky. Maybe the ideas make sense in a strong economy, but with unemployment creeping to double-digits, this is hardly the time to look unstable at work. I don’t know about you, but if I had a company and I had to downsize, I’d pick the looney who never sits still and steps in place while eating his lunch during quick stand-up meeting with his colleagues, for sure.

If you’re looking to cut a few hundred calories during your daily grind, I suggest you skip the three o’clock Twinkies instead.

CEO – The C Stands for Chief, Not Caring

Tuesday, June 8th, 2010

What this? Food makers, the likes of Coca-Cola, ConAgra, and Hershey, have committed to cutting more than a trillion calories from their products by 2015? That’s terrific.

But what does it mean?

Ummm…

Hmmm…

Well, let’s take a look at the story. According to the AP, these companies and others are part of the new CEO-led Healthy Weight Commission Foundation. A quick look at the website reveals the foundation’s mission is to “try to help reduce obesity – especially childhood obesity – by 2015.” That same quick look reveals the foundation’s Board of Directors includes bigwigs from Nestlé, Sara Lee Corporation, and Mars Chocolate, among others.

I don’t mean to be a cynic, but a CEO-led anything is a recipe for disaster. First of all, there are all those egos. Secondly, the only thing CEOs are interested in reducing are costs.

Back to the story. The foundation’s plan is to cut 1.5 trillion calories from their products, by doing things like reducing portion size and introducing lower calorie foods.

In other words, a 3-ounce 99-cent bag of baked chips will now become a 2-ounce 99-cent bag of baked chips. (Boy, CEOs are smart.)

Mrs. Obama was thrilled with the announcement, saying “This is precisely the kind of private sector commitment we need.”

Keeping a watching eye over the group’s efforts is the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, whose president said in the story, “”We’re confident their commitment to this cause is sincere and measurable — and thus has real potential for impact.”

That’s the third thing about CEOs. They’re never sincere. That’s not a part of the job. BP CEO Tony Hayward is a perfect example. In fact, the only sincere thing he’s said since the oil gush disaster began is that he wants his life back.

It’s no news that CEOs make economic decisions over every other consideration, but isn’t it time they stop pretending they care?

The Diet Joke in New York: A Smashing Success!

Thursday, June 3rd, 2010

From BookExpo. . .

BEA at Javits Center, New York City

to ballgame. . .

New York Yankee Stadium

My trip to BookExpo America in New York was a smashing success.

First, I received my Winner gold medal for The Diet Joke from the Next Generation Indie Book Awards at a swanky reception at the Plaza Hotel. (A smash hit.)

Next, I met some terrific people at BookExpo America.

When the book show was over, we headed to Yankee Stadium. A-Rod was awol for the game, but we got to see Robinson Cano hit a grand slam, helping the New York Yankees beat the Cleveland Indians 8-2. (Another smash hit.)