Studying Aging & Propping Up Local Economies

Studying Aging & Propping Up Local Economies plus Food Forethought. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Northwest Report.

Getting older? Every morning is a new and exciting time for me as I discover new aches and pains. Now researchers are using spiders and their webs to try and discover more about aging. Liz Hodge has more.

HODGE: Young spiders weave webs with perfect angles and regular patterns - but as they reach old age their webs deteriorate - showing gaping holes and erratic weaving. The reason web building skills are lost as spiders grow older may be due to degeneration of the central nervous system. By studying spiders - scientists may be able to provide insights into how age affects behavior in other organisms - including people.

How to prop up local governments surrounded by federal forests without adding to the nation's swollen deficit is the question being asked in Oregon. One suggestion is to soften environmental protections and dramatically increase the amount of timber harvested from federal forests. But Rep. Greg Walden said he is open to other ideas along with boosting production of timber from federal lands that dominate the rural communities. Walden want's lawmakers to "think outside the box" to find a successor to the county payments program that expires Sept. 30. One idea being considered is to put certain federal lands in trust status.

Now with today’s Food Forethought, here’s Lacy Gray.

The war on childhood obesity, has already led to some extreme measures, body mass index report cards for one; there have already been reports of children now suffering from psychological and eating disorders due to this particular well meaning but obviously counterproductive measure. Now the Journal of the American Medical Association has made the suggestion that it may be appropriate for governments to remove obese children from their homes and their parents care. Not surprisingly, food police zealots such as MeMe Roth are wholeheartedly backing this proposal for Uncle Sam to seize overweight children. While extreme obesity in children is a major concern, an even more pressing concern involves setting this type of dangerous precedent. Condoning government seizure of overweight children, could easily lead to the removal of children who are too thin, or perform poorly in school testing. Rather, let’s help families learn about proper nutrition, the benefits of physical activity, and responsible parenting. Otherwise the trauma and psychological damage to these families will far outweigh any possible benefits of such an action.

Thanks Lacy. That’s today’s Northwest Report. I’m Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.