You gotta love this picture! Fat kid. Dumb mom. Fresh from today's front page of the Dallas Morning News (photo taken by G.J. McGarthy).

This ten-year old child dons his mask as he leaves his Dallas area elementary school with his mother yesterday. Shouldn't his mother be more concerned about his obesity?

What is a greater health risk to this child? The flu or being too fat?

Yes folks, we are getting fatter as Americans. But perhaps it's because we are getting dumber too!

Pierre Cutler
The Sacramento Executive

Posted by Pierre Cutler at 4:24 PM | Permalink | Can you digg it?

Earlier this week I saw a news report (I think on CNN) that the military recruiting business was booming because of our weak economy. However, it was noted the pool of eligible recruits is dwindling, boding difficult times ahead for recruiting when the economy recovers.

The problem? 75% of the target age group of 17 to 24 year-olds are not eligible. Why not? Potential recruits are being turned away due to medical and physical problems, mostly obesity, along with poor test scores and lack of education, drug use, criminal records and too many dependents.

That's right - too many dependents! Over 6% of 17 to 24 year-olds have too many dependents. How many dependents is too many? I'm not sure. But I will investigate and get back with you.

35% are medically disqualified and usually because the potential GI Joes and Janes are just frankly too fat. And 18% are barred because of abusing drugs and alcohol.

This is a sad commentary ... we are becoming fatter and dumber drunkards and stoners and producing offspring like hogs on the farms of Iowa.

Pierre Cutler
The Sacramento Executive

Posted by Gillian Parrillo at 2:36 PM | Permalink | Can you digg it?