Social Workout

Politics

The Other Health Care Bill

Crain's reports (via the A.P.) that Richard Simmons appeared at New York City Hall in "red and white striped shorts and a red tanktop decorated with sparkly stars and stripes." Do we need to write anything else? OK, he was there with Queens Councilman and Mayoral candidate Tony Avella to promote the FIT Kids Act. We're all for it: Phys Ed for kids is an inalienable right. Pay billions now, save trillions in medical bills later. The beauty of this news item, however, beyond the chance to run a photo of Simmons, is the the hint of humor displayed by the A.P reporter. At this stage of the campaign, he or she notes in a final last sentence, "Mr. Avella trails far behind his Democrat primary opponent." Right, Simmons in stars and stripes might well suggest political desperation.

Politics

Of Fitness and Governors

In England, "fit" means sexy, as in "hot." In America, it's a painfully dry term, used most naturally by gym teachers and politicians....

• Ironies abound: Sarah Palin encouraging Alaskans to sign up for the National President's Challenge, (which is alot like our B.O.W.C., but different.) Apparently, Alaska somehow won the challenge last year, though "recent surveys show that about 65% of Alaska adults are overweight or obese."
• Meanwhile, Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue (Republican, no relation to the chicken) signed legistlation requiring all Georgia students to take a yearly fitness test. Apparently, an earlier version of the bill requiring a twice yearly weigh-in was shot down. "Critics complained the weigh-ins could be humiliating for overweight students," writes the AP. Doh!