People: Smoke! Drink! And go to the doctor!

Isn't that crazy? A blogger writes, "If people lived healthier lives, it would have disastrous consequences for our economy. The gross domestic product (GDP) comprises all economic output. And that, of course, includes healthcare output. And its share of GDP today is around 15%. Now she assumes that GDP would plummet if just a third of us lived healthier lives and incurred lower healthcare costs. By 5%, precisely. But that would be enough to immediately trigger a full-blown economic crisis.

New Year's resolutions - again

Are these really the 10 most popular New Year's resolutions?

1. Spend more time with friends and family
2. Exercise more
3. Lose weight!
4. Quit smoking!
5. Live life to the fullest
6. Quit drinking
7. Get out of debt
8. Learn something new
9. Help others
10. It's a good time for a spring declutter and self-organization

A flat stomach is better for men

50% less likely to suffer from heart disease. 

16% less likely to die from their first heart attack. 

50% less likely to experience erectile dysfunction. 

70% less likely to develop high blood pressure. 

35% less likely to get kidney cancer. 

90% less likely to develop gallstones. 

14% less likely to develop osteoporosis. 

19% less likely to be fatally injured in a car accident. Those are the numbers from an American health magazine.

I mean, 100% looks better too.

 

Heavy Thoughts

Suppose you have a book that weighs, say, 350 grams. 

When you've finished reading it, does it weigh less?

I wish us all a happy, healthy, and fulfilling 2012. And please don't believe in the end of the world. It's not coming.

Photo: High above the clouds... thoughts like that come to mind. My flight to the United States.