Oregon study ties teen ‘choking game’ to rural setting, mental health and substance abuse
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A new report suggests a large number of eighth-graders in Oregon have taken part in the “choking game,” the dangerous practice of choking each other to get a feeling of euphoria.
As many as 2,600 eighth-graders may have risked injury, long-term disability or even death by trying the so-called “game” that also carries nicknames such as “Pass-Out,” ”Space Monkey,” ”Flatliner” and “Blackout.”
“That’s a lot of kids,” said Dr. Mel Kohn, the state public health director.
The results of the Oregon Public Health survey released Thursday by the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta were compiled from responses from nearly 8,000 eighth-graders at 114 schools in Oregon.
The survey, conducted in 2008, also showed that more than a third of those eighth-graders had heard about the choking game.
Almost 3 percent of those responding said they had helped someone, while about 6 percent said they had participated themselves. Read more
Seitan
Definition: Although it is made from wheat, seitan has little in common with flour or bread. Also called “wheat meat”, “wheat gluten” or simply “gluten”, seitan becomes surprisingly similar to the look and texture of meat when cooked, making it a popular meat substitute. Seitan is also high in protein, making it a popular protein source for vegetarians. Asian restaurants often use seitan as a vegetarian mock meat, and seitan is also the base for several commercially available products such as Tofurky deli slices.
Seitan can be prepared by hand using either whole wheat flour or vital wheat gluten and is made by rinsing away the starch in the wheat, leaving a high-protein gluten behind. Although not as common as tofu, seitan is quickly gaining popularity, particularly in vegetarian restaurants, due to its ability to take on the texture and flavor of meat. Prepared seitan can be found in the refrigerated section of most health food stores.
Decapitated baby's mother had psychosis diagnosis (AP)
AP – The father of a newborn baby who authorities say was mutilated, killed and cannibalized by his mother said Tuesday he wants to see her executed.
Scott W. Buchholz told The Associated Press that Otty Sanchez, the mother of 3 1/2-week-old Scotty Wesley Buchholz-Sanchez, seemed fine in the days before the killing, even though they argued.
