Okay, so like I promised.. I DO have more on this binge drinking study. While this website is geared to those with much more medical knowledge than myself, I do like it because it does a good job of covering all the bases:

http://www.medpagetoday.com/PrimaryCare/DietNutrition/tb/6248

And, in case you're interested, here is the link to the Gallup poll stuff: http://www.galluppoll.com/content/?ci=28180&pg=1 That website is a great place to poke around.. if you're ever curious about, well, just about anything to do with life in America.

Onto some responses!! ((It's about time, right??))

Richard just got back from Italy (lucky) and writes: When we turned on the AM news upon our return there you were with your new haircut and I felt compelled to email you....it looks fantastic.! Keep up the great work.

Yup, it's official. The nice hair emails don't get old. Wanna know a little secret?? The underside of my hair is REALLY red. I've mentioned the red before. This time my stylist Randi and I went for broke. Shhh....

Rick, who always calls things like he sees them, wrote this about the soda/ heart problem story: After reading the article about soda and diet soda, in particular, diet soda, I laughed all the way to buy my next 12 pack of diet coke.

I am 70 years old and have been drinking, at least, eight cans of diet coke aday for the last 30 years. I am about 20 pounds overweight from my weight when I was 21 years old.

Sadly, I wonder how many millions of individuals have died in the last 30 years who never drank diet soda.

Erik writes: I heard something briefly as I was running out the door a few days ago about how you can improve calorie burning in exercise if you just 'stop' - I'm sure it wasn’t stopping exercise, but I'm curious to know more - since I was on my way out the door, I didn't get to hear the story. I'm on the front end of a weight loss program and would love to find any way to maximize the effort - can you help me with this story?

Also, I didn't know you were an Alton Brown fan - he's my favorite Food Network chef too - always fun to know who the fans are.

Alton Brown is THE MAN. :-)
And while I gain weight just watching her cooking show, I sure like Paula's on camera personality.

As for the story... taaa daaa. What would I do without Google??
http://www.forbes.com/forbeslife/health/feeds/hscout/2007/07/24/hscout606636.html

Cindy writes about the exercise story: Hi! Haven't you heard of HIIT "High Intensity Interval Training", I did a lot of research on this type of working out, and does it ever work! All research leads to the fact that you burn fat 3x faster than the conventional aerobic class, and you spend only 12 -20 min. Now that is what hooked me, I do this and wts. You have good hobbies, I like all the things you do to. Although I am trying to locate a beginners beading book. Have a wonderful evening!

Great minds think alike, right? I never used a beading book.. I just kind of messed around with it. And made some mistakes. Like that time I spent hours on a necklace and bracelet for this friend of mine, only to have the necklace come up about a half inch shorter than was comfortable to wear.

Randy writes: I just had to complement you what I think is a change of appearance. I can't put a finger on it, new hair, back from vacation, make-over I don't know? I worry, Portland seems to lose good newspeople right when they start getting real good... hummmm, I wonder why? Bigger markets and bigger pay? Well, I just hope you stick around and keep us informed.

Psst... it could be this:

That's Randi in the photo with me. This gal just called me to get her contact info for a haircut and I gave her Randi's old salon by mistake! Oops. But she really wanted it so she called me back and we got it straightened out. She currently works at Wack Salon, by the way.

You are spot on, by the way.. it usually is bigger markets and better pay. But, as I've said before, I really have no plans to leave. I mean, unless the Today show comes calling and wants to pay me 7 figures, or something. But let's be honest. That's not going to happen. It doesn't even happen to people who spend their entire career shooting for that. And I love love love Portland. I just can't imagine myself being this happy someplace else.

Rob emailed me about the gross back sweat skeleton that showed up on my running shirt. Too bad it wasn't the Virgin Mary, but anyway, he writes: In the famous words of Justin Timberlake (I know this because of my daughter) your bringing sexy back!

LIAR! You love Justin. Don't blame it on your daughter, lol!!

Blog buddy Joe writes: Just a suggestion..I wouldn't use that 'back sweat' photo as a promotional photo. ;)

But why not? At least in that photo you couldn't see my ever-changing hair which means the picture wouldn't go out of date.

Debi writes: You must not sweat very much as I sweat more than your shirt looks just working in my yard or walking my dog. If I ran 7 miles in the heat, my shirt would be dripping (not to mention I would be dead from heat exhaustion) hope you had lots of water w/you.

I had NO water, and there were three of us. One of the gals is a very strong hill runner and as she left us in the dust on the big hill back to my house I told the her sister that we should withhold water when we got home. Just to teach her a lesson. About kicking my butt on those hills.

And Pastor Greg writes: Congrats on the 7 mile run. I completed 7 miles on Monday as I start my buildup to run the Portland Marathon in October and the Marshall University Marathon in November.

Are you training for anything or just staying in shape?

I'm just tagging along with those gals who are training for a marathon. I do half marathons-- and that's about enough for me, thank you very much. :-)

Chris, who has a cool email address, writes: I love the pictures from the gorge. Keep them coming. This is the first time I have e-mailed you, but I have been wanting to for a long time.

Welcome, Chris!! Ask and ye shall recieve!!

This from the DFW website: A lone male Rocky Mountain goat that took up residence along I-84 east of The Dalles is still in the area. It can generally be spotted south of the freeway between mile posts 90 and 93. ODFW biologists report he appears in no rush to move on.

Photos and information about the mountain goat:
http://www.enature.com/fieldguides/detail.asp?recnum=MA0041

And finally, look at this photo and take a guess as to what it's all about. Why is this wild bird sitting in this woman's hand?? Any guesses? I'll fill you in tomorrow.

Click here to email Stephanie Stricklen with your guess on that bird photo.

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