IOUSA

Nehal : Jun 10, 2009

I just finished watching I.O.U.S.A., a documentary describing the history and current status of the U.S. National Debt and fiscal policy. It is quite an eye-opening movie as it talks about the four greatest deficits we (as a nation and as individuals) face: Budget, Savings, Trade, and Leadership. Initially I was afraid this would be more right-wing propaganda lambasting “big government”, but I was pleasantly surprised at a pretty non-partisan approach. The movie does not seem to favor one political agenda over another (though it does seem to poke a little more at Reagan’s supply-side economics and the Bush Tax Cuts). Former U.S. Comptroller David Walker and Bob Bixby of the Concord Coalition play pretty big roles, and Alan Greenspan and Warren Buffett make appearances as well.

The main topic of the film is the National Debt (which is over 10 trillion dollars now) and how weour nation is saddling future generations with more debt than they can possibly hope to pay. It emphasizes the weight of the Social Security and Medicare programs and how they may continue to eat up larger and larger portions of GDP if we do not do something about it. It utilizes some pretty interesting charts and other graphics to show the history of the national debt, budget deficits, and savings rates throughout history. It also provides some education about how Monetary Policy attempts to create economic growth while trying to limit inflation. It also shows how government debt has changed over time. Whereas after World War II, 100% of the government debt was held by U.S. citizens, it is no longer the case; China, Japan, and other nations hold about 25% of our debt.

The movie is careful to point out that the creators do not favor one political or fiscal policy over another; the main purpose seems to be raising awareness of the crisis, presenting the facts, and motivating us to take action. While the film is nearly two years old, it is still worth watching. It is informative with facts and statistics as well as educational about how fiscal and monetary policies interact with inflation, savings, and economic growth. I wonder what they would say about the current situation with bail-outs and President Obama’s plans.


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The Importance of Hydration

Nehal : Jun 10, 2009

[ Another of my guest posts at CrossFit Genesis ]

As summer temperatures are already upon us, we need to remember to stay properly hydrated. I find that even on a moderately warm day, an intense workout will leave me rather parched. Some common symptoms of dehydration include cramping, headache, general sluggishness or fatigue, and sometimes even hunger. While sweating during a workout is one of the most obvious ways we lose water, it is not the only way so it is important to stay hydrated throughout the day. I typically keep a glass of ice water at my desk and fill it up at least a couple times throughout the day. I don’t grab the super-size variety cup because a smaller glass ensures I always have ice-cold water to drink and that I get up from my desk more often to walk around and stretch when I need a refill.

Sometimes after a long or particularly sweaty workout I find that plain ice water doesn’t cut it. It either tastes funny or just doesn’t quench my thirst. When that happens I know I’m likely a little low on electrolytes so I either make myself an electrolyte drink or make sure I eat something with a little salt. I’ve used products from CytoSport, Hammer Nutrition, and Ultima during and after long runs and rides, but many electrolyte drinks can be pretty heavy on the sugar and other carbs (Ultima is actually really low – about 3g carbs) and endurance athletes also use them as a fuel source. Most of us working out less than a couple hours at a time, though, can do just fine with a pinch of salt in a glass of water or 1/2 tsp of salt mixed in about a 1/2 cup of good ol’ orange juice.

Share your hydration tips in the comments.


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