StarBulletin.com

Brief asides


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POSTED: Wednesday, May 12, 2010

BOOK 'EM , SARAH

'Rogue' takes America to heart

Just in time for Christmas: Sarah Palin's new book, “;America By Heart: Reflections on Family, Faith and Flag,”; is due for release on Nov. 23. The former GOP vice presidential candidate's first book, “;Going Rogue,”; sold more than 2 million copies. The new one was partly inspired by folks she met on her book tour, which skipped metro cities but instead focused on smaller communities more receptive to Palin's message. For her fan base, tome is truly where the heartland is.

TIME OUT

A good reason to not work long hours

Feeling buried by overtime? Consider it a health alert.

An 11-year study of 6,000 British civil servants concluded that people who work 10 or more hours daily are 60 percent more likely to suffer heart trouble than those working seven hours.

Among the study participants, researchers found 369 cases of heart disease, including deaths, non-fatal heart attacks and angina.

Regularly working an extra one to two hours beyond the Brits' normal seven-hour day was not associated with increased cardiac risk.

THOSE KIDS TODAY

In Uncle Sam we trust, but less so after we turn 30

Here's a poll result that will warm the heart of New York Times writer Paul Krugman, who in his column today (see next page) blames many of our woes on a rampant “;anti-government”; ideology.

Turns out, according to a survey by the Pew Research Center, that people ages 18 to 29 are more trusting of the government than people in any other age group. Almost a third, 32 percent, “;trust the federal government to do what is right”; compared with only 20 percent in the three, older-ages categories (30-49, 50-64 and 65+).

As reported by NPR, “;Analysts say that 'Obama-love' may be what's propping up young people's trust,”; since most under-30s supported (President Barack) Obama in 2008 and still do today.”; One researcher noted that the “;millennials”; also are “;quite positive toward other big institutions—like corporations and the military and faith—so it does give you the feeling that it's a different generation.”;

But, as NPR notes, “;polls going back to 1958 show that trust always begins to head south sometime after age 30”;—so let's just give 'em a little more time, eh?