Thursday, October 27, 2005

Beer fights cancer! Well, it does, but only a little bit. It's really the chemical xanthohumol, found in trace amounts in hops, that appears to fight cancer. Here's the full story from KATU News. "Xanthohumol is one of the more significant compounds for cancer chemoprevention that we have studied," said Fred Stevens, a researcher with OSU's Linus Pauling Institute and an assistant professor of medicinal chemistry in the College of Pharmacy. "The published literature and research on its properties are just exploding at this point, and there's a great deal of interest." Quite a bit is now known about the biological mechanism of action of this compound and the ways it may help prevent cancer or have other metabolic value. But even before most of those studies have been completed, efforts are under way to isolate and market it as a food supplement. A "health beer" with enhanced levels of the compound is already being developed.... It's possible, scientists say, that hops might be produced or genetically engineered to have higher levels of xanthohumol, specifically to take advantage of its anti-cancer properties. Some beers already have higher levels of these compounds than others. The lager and pilsner beers commonly sold in domestic U.S. brews have fairly low levels of these compounds, but some porter, stout and ale brews have much higher levels. However, don't expect to start drinking a lot of beer to prevent cancer: according to this, you'd have to drink 120 gallons of beer a day to get any benefit. But I'm sure a beer a day wouldn't hurt... (Via The Brew Site.) 9:38:02 PM    comment []

Naughty tombstones A woman in Minnesota is in trouble for putting up naughty Halloween tombstones, including Ben Dover and the ever-popular I. P. Freely, because, well, think of the children! "I like Hugh Jass the best," said AJ Knollmarer, 11 year-old This recalls the great nasty pumpkin controversy of 2003. (Via This is not your practice blog.) 9:30:41 PM    comment []

It takes one to know one It takes one to know one O'Reilly's coward list. Picture from The General's latest post. (Via Crooks and Liars.) 6:20:41 PM    comment []

Quote of the Day "Yesterday in another hand-picked audience propaganda speech in front of military spouses, George Bush said: 'This war will require more sacrifice, more time and more resolve.' "Besides asking him for What Noble Cause did he kill 2000 of our wonderful and brave young people, I would also like to ask George what he is sacrificing. Is he even sacrificing a good night's sleep? Is he sacrificing his future with his child? He is not sacrificing anything." - Cindy Sheehan (Via Left I on the News.) 5:39:25 PM    comment []

What Goes Around Comes Around This is just strange. SBC Communications, which is awaiting regulatory approval to buy AT&T, announced today that it will adopt the AT&T name once the acquisition is approved. The announcement means that AT&T, formed in 1885 - just nine years after the invention of the telephone by Alexander Graham Bell - will live on, at least in name. 11:36:24 AM    comment []

How to be a Republican Give up, join the GOP. 9:45:01 AM    comment []

Harriet we hardley knew ye As was pretty obvious was going to happen for some time, Harriet Miers withdrew today. It looks to me the Democrats played this one well, staying out of the fray and letting the Repubs fight amongst themselves. You can bet the wingnuts are going to take this as a victory and try to assert continued power over an administration which is falling apart. But it seems clear that Democrats should have no problems opposing radical appointments Bush may make to appease the right; if the right can oppose judges, why no the left? 8:40:36 AM    comment []

© Copyright 2005 Steve Michel. Last update: 11/1/2005; 9:47:50 PM.