Moti Nissani: Reflections on the Presidential Races of Dennis Kucinich and Ron Paul (14 comments) That such an unabashed advocate of predatory capitalism as Dr. Ron Paul can successfully appeal to humanitarians speaks volumes for the sad, dysfunctional, state of American democracy and of the ideological chaos that afflicts the progressive camp.

Production notes

Even if you don't like comics or superhero films, there's a lot for you in MY SUPER EX-GIRLFRIEND. Don's dialogue was naturalistic, contemporary, sharp -- and funny."

Payne's love for comedy -- evidenced in his work on perhaps the greatest comedy series of all time, "The Simpsons" -- is coupled with what he calls his "pure nerdom."

"I grew up reading a lot of comics, and I love comics to this day, much to my wife's chagrin," Payne says. "It's a nerd fantasy to have a superhero for a girlfriend, and I thought it'd be a fun idea to have a regular guy dating a superhero to disastrous results."

Payne notes that the notion of a super-enabled woman dating a regular guy had been explored previously; the television sitcoms "Bewitched" and "I Dream of Jeannie" are two notable examples.

Study Links Daily Fast-Food Consumption, No Exercise to Liver Damage

The findings, published in the journal Gut, are based on 18 slim, healthy people (12 men and six women) who took a "fast food challenge" for four weeks, and a comparison group, matched for age and sex, who ate a normal diet.

Blood samples were taken before the challenge began and then at regular intervals throughout the study period, to check on their liver enzyme and fat levels.

Accused newlyweds killer avoids death penalty

TACOMA, Wash. -- Pierce County Prosecutor Gerry Horne on Wednesday said he is taking the death penalty off the table in exchange for a guilty plea and life in prison without possibility of parole for Daniel Tavares in the shooting deaths of a young couple.Horne made the announcement at news conference Wednesday afternoon.Daniel Thomas Tavares Jr., 41, will plead guilty to two counts of aggravated first-degree murder and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm in the Nov. 17 killings of Brian and Beverly Mauck in exchange for life in prison without the possibility of release - the only possible sentence besides execution.Relatives of the Maucks who attended the news conference said they supported Horne's decision and that it will be a huge relief not to have to sit through years of appeals.

Newy can be reached at his Web site, www.newdawg.com .

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Diet helps keep children seizure-free

LAFAYETTE, Calif. Without hesitation, Cathy Holt can tell you how long it has been since Noah's latest seizure.The Lafayette, Calif., mother keeps a running total. Her blond, blue-eyed 4-year-old has been seizure-free for 40 weeks.That is a life-altering change for Noah, who had been averaging a seizure a week since he was 6 months old. The longest one lasted three hours. Many ended in a hospital emergency room.Noah tried state-of-the-art medications to control his epilepsy, without success.A low-tech approach transformed the boy's life a strict high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet that defies all good-nutrition recommendations.Known as the ketogenic diet, it has been around since biblical times and has gone in and out of favor.Instead of fruits and vegetables, Noah's meals often include heavy cream, bacon and butter laced with cinnamon.Why and how the diet works remains a mystery.But Children's Hospital Oakland, Kaiser Permanente, the Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford and other institutions have put scores of epileptic children on the diet, with varying degrees of success.Experts stress that the diet can have side effects and should be attempted only under strict medical supervision.

Schools remind parents of reduced-cost meals

Collier County's public school district is reminding parents and guardians that reduced-price breakfasts and lunches are available at each public school.

Metabolic Syndrome Health Center

Metabolic syndrome is defined as elevated blood pressure plus at least two other risk factors, such as elevated fasting blood sugar and triglyceride levels. Having metabolic syndrome puts you at increased risk for heart disease and diabetes. Those with high blood pressure who also have metabolic syndrome are at high risk for cardiovascular disease.

In the study, Jackson T.

St. Jude Memphis Half Marathon results

Keith Mccain, 33 (Little Rock, AR.), 1:39:49.

Bush approves shoot-down of satellite by Navy missile cruiser

In a provocative action that raises many questions about US preparations for war in space, President Bush has authorized the US Navy to shoot down a US spy satellite that is falling out of orbit and due to collide with the Earth soon. A Navy cruiser could fire a single missile from its Aegis weapons system as early as the end of next week, Pentagon officials said Thursday.

General James Cartwright, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and NASA Administrator Michael Griffin, who briefed the press on the plans, both claimed that the only reason for the shoot-down was to minimize the danger that debris from the satellite, particularly from its fuel tank, could injure or kill someone when it crashes to Earth.