Weekly roundup: Friday potluck

Welcome to another installment of the weekly roundup we all know and love: Friday potluck! This week's theme: couch potatoes and other things to eat.


Couch potato nation!

According to a report released this month by the CDC, only one 1 of 5 American adults gets an adequate amount of exercise, based on the Physical Activity Guidelines:

The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommend that adults get at least 2½ hours a week of moderate-intensity aerobic activity such as walking, or one hour and 15 minutes a week of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity, such as jogging, or a combination of both.  The guidelines also recommend that adults do muscle-strengthening activities, such as push-ups, sit-ups, or activities using resistance bands or weights.  These activities should involve all major muscle groups and be done on two or more days per week.

Readers, if you don't call yourselves "athletes," it's time to start. After all, if you're reading this lil blog about running, chances are good that you're in the top 20% of the nation's fit people. (That said, runners, be sure not to neglect your strength training!)


Reaching the highest heights (alt. title: NOT the couch potatoes)

With this week's record-setting base jump off Mount Everest, and last week's record-setting "oldest person to summit Everest," it's no surprise that The Economist decided to run the numbers on the world's deadliest peaks...

Image source

The deadliest by total number? Everest. By rate (relative to the number of attempts): Annapurna and K2.

Note: The oldest person to summit the world's tallest mountain is Yuichiro Miura of Japan. He was 80 years old when he reached the peak this time. He successfully made the climb at at 70 and age 75.


In My Kitchen...
... or rather, in early morning kitchens around the world.

This photo essay of breakfast traditions around the globe will leave you drooling. My personal favorite is now (and probably always will be) breakfast in Mexico. Beans, eggs, and maybe some savory shredded beef or chilaquiles on the side, served with a stack of warm tortillas. Mmm... heaven on a plate.

Image source

On a somewhat more eye-opening note, see Time's photo journal of family food consumption - quality and quantity - for a week, in different nations around the world. (PS - I'd like to think the American families are an aberration, a statistical anomaly, an un-representative sample... but I know I'm wrong.)


Quote of the week:

"Cast your bread upon the waters and it will come back sandwiches..."
(shared by J. Weeks)

Happy Friday, friends!