[ Friday, September 16, 2005 ]
It's kind of funny to me that, considering the format, The ISAA Rapport was a podcast two whole years before podcasts were cool -- although it never officially had an RSS feed. Now I'm adding one, so bear with me. I did it the easy way, by adding an RSS feed via this blog. But, for it to work, I need to add the archived episodes to the blog, for it to pick them up, such as the Interview with EMME show. Fortunately (or unfortunately, depending on your point of view), there were only 10 shows of The ISAA Rapport, so archiving is easier but alas, this show did not go on.
So, I have taken down the ISAA Pods feed and added the archive MP3 links.
Another announcement...a big one!
Although there will officially be no new episodes of The ISAA Rapport, I'm happy to announce that Gia Marciano might be a part of ISAA latest podcast offering: PODWOM! PODWOM is short for "Podcast Without Measure," and is tied-in with ISAA's official e-zine, Without Measure.
The first PODWOM show is online at http://www.podwom.com. More as things develop...
Best Wishes,
Allen
Allen [8:09 AM]
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[ Thursday, July 28, 2005 ]
Now that ISAA has moved to it's new webhosting provider, GoDaddy.com, I've made some significant changes to the ISAA Rapport archive files of previous shows. First, all of the Windows Media (WMA) and MP3 files are all in one directory on the ISAA web server. Secondly, all of the WMA files in the archives are ONLY the "high bandwidth" (56k and 64k) versions. The reason for this is an obvious one: the high bandwidth versions are much higher quality and the original format of the show. They do take longer to download but given a choice between a medium to low quality 10 MB download and a high quality 17 MB download, the 17 MB will usually win out anyway. In addition, the high bandwidth WMA files are still smaller in file size than the MP3s, which are also high quality. It took the better part of last night to move the files, even at broadband speed, but they are now all where they need to be.
I do not know when the next ISAA Rapport will be recorded, but in the meantime, please feel free to check out the new ISAA Pods, which podcasts several times a week, and nearly daily. And there are even more podcasting ventures in the works. Stay tuned to ISAA Pods for the latest on all things ISAA (including the Rapport) in MP3 format.
Best Wishes,
Allen
Allen [10:20 AM]
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[ Thursday, July 21, 2005 ]
The slogan goes like this:
In the tradition of "The ISAA Rapport," ISAA presents size acceptance LIVE through podcasting! ISAA Founder and Director Allen Steadham audioblogs/podcasts regularly on up-to-the-moment size, weight, and health-related topics.
ISAA Pods
http://isaapods.blogspot.com
I literally had this idea yesterday. Not that podcasting is new but implementing an active audioblog in association with ISAA is.
This does not mean that "The ISAA Rapport" is gone for good. My co-host, Gia Marciano, has had some scheduling issues for some time but were her schedule to open up, I'd be delighted to re-start the Rapport. I respect my co-host immensely and the Rapport has and always will have a special place in my heart.
Still, in the meantime, the work must go on. This is why I started "ISAA Pods." It's important to get information about size acceptance, Respect Fitness Health and helping to end weight-based discrimination.
It's even possible to have an occasional guest or even guest host for ISAA Pods. We'll just have to see how it goes.
Keep this blog bookmarked but bookmark ISAA Pods, too.
ISAA Pods
http://isaapods.blogspot.com
Best Wishes,
Allen
Allen [8:30 AM]
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[ Wednesday, May 18, 2005 ]
I wrote the following editorial for the New York Times as a potential rebuttal to an article that appeared in the NY Times on May 3, 2005. Of course, I received no follow-up, indicating that my editorial wasn't accepted for print. Still, their own editorial policy states that one week after submissions, if nothing is heard, then I can submit the article wherever I want -- so I'm going to put it here, in The ISAA Rapport Blog.
I'm eating a doughnut as I write this, a nice big fat cruller. I don't eat them every day and I haven't had one in months. In Kick The Doughnut Habit, and Make Your Nutritionist Smile, (May 3, The Consumer) the author made the claim that doughnuts should pretty much be outlawed or at least strongly frowned upon. The author supported her claims with quotes from obesity researchers and nutritionists.
Fear not, my friends, the doughnut is not in danger…but your civil liberties might be. Really, this isn’t even about doughnuts, it’s about the food police. The recent admissions by the Centers For Disease Control (CDC) that they overestimated and overhyped obesity’s death risk by more than 75% was a huge blow to the food police. Who are the food police? The diet industry, the obesity researchers and all those who profit from keeping you scared about your waistline, thighs and what you eat.
In 2003, the Rudd Institute at Yale University published a study demonstrating that there is a clear bias against the overweight and obese by those specializing in the treatment of obesity. The study’s goal was “to determine the level of anti-fat bias in health professionals specializing in obesity and identify personal characteristics that correlate with both implicit and explicit bias” and was “administered to clinicians and researchers attending the opening session of an international obesity conference.” (Source: “Weight Bias Among Health Professionals Specializing In Obesity” by Marlene B. Schwartz, Heather O’Neal Chambliss, Kelly D. Brownell, Steven N. Blair, and Charles Billington. Published in OBESITY RESEARCH Vol. 11 No. 9 September 2003)
The study’s authors were concerned that “obese patients may be reluctant to seek health care because of weight bias, which prevents early detections, and, thus, increases the likelihood of medical problems and health care costs.” So, how does this tie-in to obesity researchers, nutritionists and doughnuts?
It’s hard to be objective concerning a simple subject like doughnuts when there is a bias present. The weight bias tends to lead people to assumptions like fat people all get fat by overeating, eating all the time, being lazy, etc. and it all goes downhill from there. Are there fat people who gained weight because of those types of behaviors? I’m sure there are, but not all fat people are like that any more than all people of Arab descent are terrorists. These are blanket statements that cannot apply to all people of any particular category. However, blanket statements themselves are a clear indicator of a bias or bigotry against a group of people.
Many more people gain weight in weight-cycling from yo-yo dieting, which is also responsible for heart damage, according to the 1991 Framington Heart Study. It is a fact that millions of people are trying to lose weight right now but few people are properly informed about how to become healthy at the weight they happen to be. In fact, there is considerable debate about whether one can be “fat and fit.”
At the International Size Acceptance Association (ISAA), we recommend Respect Fitness Health (RFH) to people. In short, RFH emphasizes self-respect, becoming more active (in a maintainable routine) and learning to make healthier food choices.
The bottom line is this: you don’t need the food police to tell you what foods you should or shouldn’t eat. The human body needs nutrients from a variety of sources and most are good in moderation. Could we take the time to learn more about what’s good for us? Absolutely. But that should be our decision and not the doctor’s or the nutritionist’s or the diet industry’s. Maybe they should lighten up and eat a doughnut every now and then.
- 30 -
Allen [4:55 PM]
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[ Friday, April 01, 2005 ]
The ISAA Rapport is going on the road! That's right, we have gained sponsors that are graciously supporting the show by letting us use an incredible RV and allow us to broadcast and record from various locations around the United States and Canada in the coming months!
 The new ISAA Rapport RV! |
 The amazing interior of the ISAA Rapport RV |
Please tell me you don't actually believe any of this.
HAPPY APRIL FOOLS DAY!
I've never been a huge fan of April Fools Day but here's just another example of the intriguing inspiration I've had since returning from vacation with my wife.
Besides, yesterday's subject was rather funky and I thought I'd lighten things up a little. Special kudos to Terrawind for their $1.2 million luxury Amphibious Motor Coach / Yacht (as pictured above -- and below).
  |
Best Wishes,
Allen
Allen [3:12 PM]
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[ Thursday, March 31, 2005 ]
Terry Schiavo died today. This would all be sad enough, but there's one final element to this that the media either didn't know about or chose not to report: Schiavo(the husband)'s lawyer has a bizarre book out that pre-dates this case:
So, we see the final results of the horror of Terri's destructive pursuit of the thin ideal, which ultimately resulted in her death...and we learn that the court-ordered removal of the feeding tube was lobbied for by "the legal advocate of his client's right to die, Attorney George Felos plumbed the depths of death and dying and spearheaded a social revolution to enable death with dignity in the state of Florida."
Now, read a little further (from Amazon.com):
"Litigation as Spiritual Practice describes the excitement and drama of the courtroom, and the ecstasy and anguish of spiritual evolution in a combative environment."
"If the seemingly barren and war-strewn field of litigation can be the playground where spirit dances, it can revel anywhere."
HUH??
Any way you slice it, whichever side you're on, this is a tragedy.
I won't be writing about this anymore.
Best Wishes,
Allen
Allen [3:13 PM]
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[ Tuesday, March 29, 2005 ]
Okay, so I imagine quite a few of you have been wondering "Okay, Steadham and Marciano, what's with the long breaks between the shows? You want us to give up on you or something?" Fair enough. We owe you many apologies. Still, there is good news.
We are looking at recording news shows in a whole new, semi-revolutionary way! And this new way of recording is, theoretically, something we could use much more often than previously. It may be "rough around the edges" at first but will still be made available in Windows Media and MP3 formats for your streaming and downloading pleasure. Plus, there will be more guests and there will be more shows.
Just bear with us a bit longer. I'll definitely keep you updated as things progress...
Best Wishes,
Allen
Allen [10:13 AM]
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