In Briefs

Couch potatoes can no longer justify their sedentary lifestyles by rationalizing that "well, smoking is worse." According to World Health Organization experts, the couch potato lifestyle is harder on your health than smoking.

New statistics show that poor diet and lack of exercise are responsible for more diseases and health-related illnesses than puffing away on a cigarette. For the first time, the couch potato lifestyle has overtaken smoking as the major cause of bad health in EU countries, according to the WHO.

The main diseases caused by sedentary behavior are heart diseases and cancer. At the annual meeting of the European Society of Cardiology in Berlin, Dr. Aileen Robertson, a regional adviser for nutrition at the WHO in Copenhagen, said that doctors and governments must use stronger measures to bring about changes in the diets of their people.

"I am not saying that smoking plays no part in ill-health. I am saying that diet is as important, and we have to get that through because it is not understood at the moment," Robertson said, as quoted on Telegraph News.



In an attempt to make fast food healthier, McDonald's announced plans to cut back fat in their famous fries. Some experts say tampering with the fries is a risky move because it could alter the taste of the fries.

The move is specifically designed to lower the trans-fatty acids-also known as unsaturated fats-in fries. Unsaturated fats are now feared to equal or exceed the artery-clogging, heart-stopping power of saturated fats.

Coincidentally, the announcement was made three weeks after a 272-pound man sued McDonalds and three other fast food chains, blaming them for his obesity. Company executives say the change is unrelated, noting that trans-fatty acid reduction has been in the works for years.

As a result of the change, the trans fat in a small bag of fries will decrease by 47 percent and saturated fat will drop by 17 percent.



"I need the flexibility to put the right people at the right place at the right time to protect the American people-and the Senate better get it right." So challenged President Bush as he spoke to union workers in Pennsylvania on the new Homeland Security bill.

The Senate recently began a debate on the establishment of a Cabinet-level Homeland Security Office. Bush's proposal calls for all or parts of 22 agencies to be pulled together under the umbrella of the Homeland Security Department.

The major point of contention is granting top officials more control over personnel-authority the President has over all other departments, argues administration officials. That would also include the power to restrict collective bargaining rights in cases that affect national security.

Connecticut Democrat Joseph Lieberman said that despite the furor over federal employees, the Senate bill largely mirrors Bush's proposal.



Teen heartthrob and boy-band crooner Lance Bass has just received the boot-the space boot. The Russian Space Agency reportedly told Bass he would not be going up on the Soyuz rocket to the International Space Station due to Bass and his sponsor's failure to pay the required $20 million fee.

Jeff Manbar, president of Mir-Corp, who has been working with Bass said it is not the end of the singer's dream. "It is a little dramatic to say he was kicked out," said Manbar as quoted on the BBC, adding that negotiations are still ongoing.

According to Bass, launching himself into space has been a dream since he went to space camp as a child. At 23 Bass would be the youngest person in space. Bass would be following in the steps of the other two space tourists: U.S. businessman Dennis Tito and South African entrepreneur Mark Shuttleworth.



In a sign of the times, U.S. manufacturing has posted far less growth for the month of August than expected. The Institute for Supply Management said its index of U.S. factory conditions showed a reading of 50.5. The number is less than the expected 51.6.

Any reading above 50 signals growth, while numbers below 50 indicate contraction in a sector comprising 1/6 of the U.S. economy. Another cause for concern is the new orders index, which showed a 49.7, down more than 10 points from June. This raises fears that factory output will shrink in the coming months.

U.S. companies also announced 188,067 layoffs for the month of August, up from July's 80,966 job cuts. The unfortunate showing by the manufacturing sector sent stocks plummeting during the first part of September.

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