HOW MUSICAL TASTES HAVE CHANGED!

 

Well, Adele's "21" has just been confirmed as the best selling album of 2011, having sold over 5.28 million copies in the U.S. alone.

I don't know about you, but no matter how many times I listen to her hit songs "Rolling In The Deep" or "Someone Like You" above, I just can't bring myself to be enthusiastic about them.  To me, they are just so-so songs.  Perhaps, it's my fault!  The music-buying millions can't be wrong.

Now, listen to Diane Birch's "Nothing But A Miracle", the lead single or "Fools" from her 2009 album "Bible Belt" which only peaked at No. 87 in the US Billboard 200 back in 2009.  Probably, I'm weird, but I prefer Birch's music about a million times more!

I never cease to be amazed by her voice, musicality and song-writing talent; so much so that I don't get tired of listening to her even after repeated plays!

 

If you bear with me ..., please listen to Donald Fagen's "On The Dunes" from his second solo album "Kamakiriad" released in 1993.  In my opinion, this is about the coolest song I've ever heard.  Though this is one of the most under-rated albums, at least, the album peaked at No. 10 in the US Billboard 200 back in 1993.

So, just imagine - if Fagen's "On The Dunes" is a million times cooler than Birch's "Nothing But A Miracle"; and Birch's song is a million times cooler than Adele's top selling "Rolling In The Deep"; then, where does it leave today's music in the ears of music critics?  Ok, maybe it's just me and my one solitary opinion ...

 

So, if you have the stomach for it, here is one more gem from Fagen's album. Enjoy!

UNDERSTANDING SENESCENCE - THE SCIENCE OF AGING

For most people, aging or senescence is taken for granted to be an inevitable process. Much as we resent growing old and put in much effort fighting the ravages of aging by exercise, healthy living, cosmetics or aesthetic surgery and procedures; we can't deny that we all age.  It is the ultimate social leveller.

Though commonly thought to be natural, from the scientific viewpoint at least, aging is quite a mystery and its investigation had been exercising the best scientific brains for centuries.  Now, we do know a few things about it.

Types of aging

First, we have to discriminate between the different types of aging:

1. Cellular senescence
If you put some somatic cells in a petri dish with their required nutrients, they will undergo about 50 cell divisions and then stop. If there is DNA damage or breaks during replication, divisions may stop even earlier (Hayflick phenomenon). This loss of ability to divide constitute cellular aging. Cell divisions are limited by at least 2 factors.  First, the ends of chromosomes, called telomeres, which are needed for maintaining chromosomal integrity shorten successively with each cell cycle. It is this shortening of the telomeres that contributes to aging by limiting the number of cell divisions; and is associated with increased mortality from heart disease, infectious diseases, dementia and cancers.  Secondly, limiting the number of cell divisions is an in-built mechanism to prevent the onset of cancer since unlimited divisions will inevitably lead to an accumulation of DNA mutations.

2. Organismal senescence
Organismal aging refers to the aging of the whole organism.  This is marked by a progressive deterioration of physiological and homeostatic functions, a decreased ability to respond to stress, a lowered efficiency of DNA repair, an imbalance between antioxidant enzyme secretion and free-radical production, an increased vulnerability to infections and an increased risk of age-related diseases.

3. Brain senescence
Brain aging is marked by poorer cognitive abilities, poorer memory, more aggression and anxiety and the higher risks of developing Alzheimer's disease and Parkinsons's disease.  Recent research suggests brain aging is related to a reduction of the activity of a protein called CREB1 (cAMP response element-binding 1) which plays a crucial role in regulating important brain functions.


The role of cell senescence in organismal senescence and and the co-relations between organismal and brain senescence are at present unclear.

Determinants of human life-span

A.  Genetic determinants - 25%

1. Genes that regulate nuclear integrity, DNA repair and the production of proteins.

2. Genes that regulate telomere length.

3. Genes that affect stress resistance and the control of oxidative damage by reactive oxygen species.

4. Genes in mitochondrial DNA. Under attack by reactive oxygen species, mitochondrial DNA mutates about 10 to 20 times faster than nuclear DNA.  The resultant damage or loss of mitochondrial DNA reduces the production of ATP and leads to cell death and aging.

5. Genes that regulate gene expression through the sirtuin pathways.  Sirtuins are enzymes called deacetylases thought to mediate the lifespan-increasing effect of caloric restriction. Caloric restriction is known to retard age-related changes in skin, bone, muscle and blood vessels; and reduce the incidence of tumors.

6. Genes that regulate signaling by insulin and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1)- like molecules. Reduced insulin signalling is associated with lower risk of diabetes mellitus, reduced oxidative stress, increased tumor suppression and prolonged lifespan . The association of small body size within a species with increased longevity may also exert its effect through this pathway.

7. Genes involved in chronic low-level inflammation. Chronic inflammation is associated with several age-related diseases, including atherosclerosis, cancer, and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

B. Non-genetic determinants -75%

1. Environmental exposures.

2. Accidents.

3. Injuries.

4. Chance events.

How to decrease aging and increase your lifespan? 

A. Stop damage to your health

1. Stop smoking, drinking and abusing drugs.

2. Change to a low salt, low sugar and low fat diet.

3. Reduce weight and maintain your Body Mass Index at between 18.5 to 23.0 (for Asians).

4. Exercise by brisk walking, cycling or swimming for 30 minutes 5 times a week.

5. Reduce stress.

6. Sleep adequately (between 6 to 8 hours nightly).

7. Adopt a positive attitude/outlook in life.

B. Practise Caloric Restriction

A calorie restriction diet reduces your intake of calories by 20 to 40% from your usual intake while ensuring that all the necessary nutrients and vitamins are provided.  This probably constitutes the only presently available method that can positively extend your life span.  It had been proven in every species so far tested, including worms, spiders, rodents, dogs, cows and monkeys.  As stated above, recent research had shown that caloric restriction dramatically increases the action of CREB1 protein in the brain.  In turn, CREB1 activates many genes linked to longevity and to the proper functioning of the brain by switching on the sirtuins.

HOW TO FACE AND RESPOND TO CRITICISM

Let me confess right here that before writing this, I have not the faintest idea how to face and respond to criticism.  You can call it self-righteousness, pride or stubbornness, but in the past, I have always responded badly to criticism.  So, this is really partly my own self-therapy.

Reflex reactions

The following immediate reactions are normal:

(1)  Denial

(2)  Anger

(3)  Hurt

(4)  Defensiveness

(5)  Tendency to counter-attack

These constitute what I call the Disastrous Immediate Reaction (DIR).  It should be avoided at all costs because once the recipient of the criticism manifest the DIR, you can bet that from that moment on, no useful discussion can ensue.  All pretense to gentlemanly behavior will surely be thrown out of the window, and only an unhelpful battle of wills and pride will prevail.

So how should we proceed?

On receiving any criticism from anyone, I recommend the following steps:

Step 1: imagine you are kissing your girl now!

When you do that, it effectively suppresses the DIR (disastrous immediate reaction).  You can't get angry, you can't talk and you feel good.  That's exactly how you should behave when you first realize someone is criticizing you!

Step 2:  Listen to your critic as if he is the invigilator giving you instructions at the start of an important exam you are taking!

That way, you will concentrate and listen very carefully to what he has to say. You will not be thinking of how to conduct a counter-offensive but trying very hard to understand the substance of his message.

Step 3: After he finished, discuss with him his main points as if he is a doctor and you are his patient!  Make sure that he confirms your understanding of his feedback.

Ask for his suggestions where improvements can be made.  When you adopt such a positive attitude towards his criticisms, your critic is likely to soften his stand and may be less likely to criticize you in the future.

Step 4: Thank him sincerely as if a helpful bystander had helped you to your feet after you had a fall.

It'll be unwise to immediately tell him that you disagree with his feedback and suggestions.

Step 5:  After that person had left, imagine directing the same criticisms at yourself.

That way, you'll be forced to confront, analyze and evaluate the criticism by judging whether they are consistent with your fundamental beliefs and personal goals.

In conclusion

If you accept that you are not perfect, you must entertain the possibility that others may see something about you that you are not aware of.  You must appreciate that it took great courage, trust and caring from others to tell you what they really think about you or your actions.  The least you could do is to meet such frankness and sincerity by showing an equal degree of openness and humility.

So, when someone criticizes you in the future, just remember the kissing girl, the invigilator, the doctor, the helpful bystander and the self-critic.  They are really your good angels!

MONA LISA

 

This is the original oil portrait by Leonardo da Vinci of a seated woman, Lisa del Giocondo completed circa 1503–1519.  Fascination with the subject's enigmatic and ambiguous smile has contributed much to its enduring appeal and is probably the most famous painting in the world.  It is now on permanent display at the Musee du Louvre in Paris.

This is the original photographic portrait by this author of a seated woman, who is obviously of great importance to him, completed circa Nov. 2011.  Fascination with the subject's enigmatic and ambiguous smile has contributed much to her enduring appeal to him and he considers himself the luckiest man in the world.  It is now on permanent display in his mind.

THE THREE EPOCHS OF HUMAN HISTORY

Human history can be divided into 3 distinct but overlapping epochs. Though these epochs followed a chronological sequence, the distinct mindsets that characterized these epochs are, in fact, co-existing today.  In any part of the world, we see people having their foundational beliefs determined by these 3 basic flavors.  There-in lies the key to the seemingly irreducible differences and inevitable conflicts among all peoples, whether they appear outwardly as national, political, cultural, philosophical, religious or racial differences.

These epochs are:

(1) The epoch of tradition and religion (before AD 1750). The masses looked for guidance from the ancients and the supernatural; under the guise of traditional conservatism, religious authoritarianism or totalitarian absolutism.  This epoch was dominated by unchangeable ideologies that imposed rather than bestowed power to the masses. 


(2) The epoch of the Enlightenment spirit (1750 - 1900).  The intellectual zeitgeist was infused with the cultural values of universalism, rationalism, secularism, science and human progress, liberalism and democracy.  Truth was founded on empirical observation and rational reflection; to be followed by wise action.  Darkness was thought to be the result of a self-imposed intellectual immaturity caused by a lack of resolve and courage to use our own understanding without guidance from others.

There was a basic belief in intellectual freedom which was essential for attaining autonomy of thought and having a sense of moral responsibility for one's own actions.  Education was treasured for its capacity to teach the skills of knowing (knowledge), thinking (reason), choosing (courage) and doing (resolution).

The Enlightenment spirit encompassed deep faith in the perfectibility of Man; a celebration of life in the here and now, instead of the afterlife; a liberation of our minds from ignorance and superstition through reason and experience; and a belief in the inter-connectedness of all existence under the grand scheme of a benevolent Nature.


(3)  Epoch of post-modern relativism and narcissism (after 1900).  Full-blown application of the democratic fallacy had given rise to intellectual confusion, social anarchy and cultural disharmony.  This fashionable mindset of Romantic subjectivism and rebellious irrationalism was a direct oppositional response to the perceived oppressive dominance of reason and reductivism of the preceding era.
Despite claiming no adherence to any ideology; in fact, this movement imposes an ideology of nihilism with a tentative and uncertain approach to life.  In short, anything goes!

Out of these 3 compartments, where does your mind belong?

BOTERO SCULPTURES

Born on 19 April 1932, Fernando Botero Angulo is an abstract Colombian artist who came to national prominence when he won the first prize at the Salon de Artistas Colombianos in 1958.

I have a strong admiration and liking for his sculptures which are characterized by proportionally exaggerated figures.  He had explained that this inclination arose from natural and intuitive aesthetic thinking.  Especially endearing is his recurrent use of the voluptuous female form.  

THE TEN CORE LIFE SKILLS

...as laid down by WHO

Life skills are abilities for adaptive and positive behaviour, that enable individuals to deal effectively with the demands and challenges of everyday life.

They should be acquired in the adolescent years of between 13 and 19, that is, during the children's Secondary and Junior College education periods.

1. Self-awareness - this is the ability to recognize our own identity, character, feelings, preferences, behavior, the manner we present ourselves to others and includes the capacity for self-directed learning.

2. Empathy - this is the capacity to understand and appreciate the feelings, needs, desires and position of others.

3. Critical thinking - this encompasses the ability to subject information to logical analysis and think objectively and independently.

4.  Creative thinking - this has 4 components – fluency (the prolific generation of relevant ideas), flexibility (the taking of different perspectives), originality (the conceiving of something new), and elaboration (the refining of known ideas).

5. Decision-making - this is the ability to weigh different options and arrive at the best compromise.

6. Problem-solving - involves defining the problem clearly, looking for relevant information and making connections between them, establishing all the alternative viable solutions, evaluating them, taking the right actions in good time, reviewing the outcome and re-formulating new solutions.

7. Interpersonal relationship skills - describe the knack of being able to relate to others and maintain friendly relationships with them.

8. Effective communication - includes a proficiency in expressing ourselves, whether verbally and non-verbally, in a clear and appropriate manner.

9. Coping with stress - this is the ability to face challenges by recognizing the presence of stress, identifying its sources, assessing its effects and taking action to prevent or control it.

10. Coping with emotions - this involves the ability to focus and exercise self-control in the face of the different emotional influences and responses to different situations.

WHAT REALLY MATTERS: TRUTH OR BELIEF?

Definitions


*Truth is the state of being in accord with fact or reality.

*Belief is the psychological state in which an individual holds a proposition or premise to be true.

So these 2 words are intimately related.  Of the 2 concepts, our beliefs are arguably more important to us because they are truly under our possession and our individual actions are necessarily dictated by them.

Our current state of beliefs

Yet, in practice, our beliefs had proven to be highly unreliable.  According to a Harris Poll in 2009 of 2,303 adult Americans, the prevalence of belief in the following entities were found to be in high percentages:

God                                                     82%
Miracles                                               76%
Heaven                                                75%
Jesus being God or the son of God        73%
Angels                                                 72%
Hell                                                      61%
Darwin's theory of evolution                    45% (the only scientifically-verified theory)
Ghosts                                                42%
UFOs                                                  32%
Reincarnation                                       20%

It may shock us to know that many more people believe in miracles than in the veracity of evolution.  This is especially alarming if we remember that false beliefs will lead to faulty actions!

The biology of beliefs

To psychologist and science historian Michael Shermer, who is adjunct professor at Claremont Graduate University, this is hardly surprising and he has a ready explanation.  In his book, The Believing Brain, his theory of "belief-dependent realism" contends that beliefs come first, and explanations and justifications for these beliefs only follow afterwards.

Apparently, the brain is a belief-forming machine that does this not by analyzing data with logic, but by actively looking for patterns in sensory data and then infusing them with its own meaning. Once formed, our brains subconsciously seek out confirmatory evidence in support of those beliefs and thereby reinforce them in a positive feedback loop.

In other words, beliefs arise from subjective, personal, emotional and psychological factors as influenced by family, friends, culture and society. They are rarely the result of dispassionate analysis of the facts.


Methods of fixing beliefs

According to Charles Sanders Pierce, beliefs are fixed in 4 possible ways:
(1)  Method of tenacity - you hold on to your beliefs stubbornly regardless of any contrary evidence.
(2)  Method of authority - you subscribe to beliefs as dictated by figures of authority.
(3)  Method of congruity - beliefs are held for their intuitive reasonableness.
(4)  Method of science - scientific beliefs are discoverable by subjecting fallible hypotheses to a continuous process of independent testing, experimentation and evaluation by sensory perception.  Only beliefs established by the scientific method are considered safe and reliable enough to help us match them to reality.  So, how do we get people to adopt the method of science and reject the methods of tenacity, authority or congruity?

Is education the answer?


In his paper "The Effects of Education on Americans’ Religious Practices, Beliefs, and Affiliations" published in the Review of Religious Research in August 2010, Philip Schwadel contended that increases in education does not uniformly lead to declines in religious participation, belief, and affiliation. Apparently, education influences strategies of action, and these strategies of action are relevant to some religious beliefs and activities but not others. For example, education negatively affects exclusivist religious viewpoints and biblical literalism but not belief in God or the afterlife. Education positively affects switching religious affiliations, particularly to a mainline Protestant denomination, but not disaffiliation. Though education is positively associated with questioning the role of religion in secular society, it does not increase support for curbing the public opinions of religious leaders.  So, the effects of education on religion, and on a wider scale - its effects on the fixing of beliefs are complex.

How then can we improve the belief-forming process?

A qualitative enhancement of our beliefs can only come about from a personal psychological readiness to improve and a deeper social and cultural shift towards a humbler and more honest evaluation of our own opinions and prejudices.

At the same time, we should also realize that non-scientifically derived beliefs like religious beliefs can play a useful role in reinforcing group cohesion and social co-operation on the one hand, and in encouraging altruistic and moral behavior among their adherents on the other.  An esoteric understanding of the metaphysics of existence may also help to ease the existential anxieties of life, something that is too much to ask of science!

BOOK SUMMARY - THE CODE FOR GLOBAL ETHICS: TEN HUMANIST PRINCIPLES - by Rodrigue Tremblay (2010)

Global warming, nuclear proliferation, economic instability and terrorism inspired by religious and cultural tensions are the dominant issues facing the world today.  There is thus a need to provide a humanist code for establishing the moral foundations for a just and peaceful global community.

Professor Rodrigue Tremblay, an economist and former Minister of Industry and Trade in the Government of Quebec awarded the prestigious Condorcet Prize of political philosophy in 2004, proposes these ten principles to capture the essence of the human ideals needed for us to face the future.

The ten principles are as follows:

1. Proclaim the natural dignity and inherent worth of all human beings.

2. Respect the life and property of others.

3. Practice tolerance and open-mindedness towards the choices and life styles of others.

4. Share with those who are less fortunate and mutually assist those who are in need of help.

5. Use neither lies, nor spiritual doctrine, nor temporal power to dominate and exploit others.

6. Rely on reason, logic and science to understand the Universe and to solve life's problems.

7. Conserve and improve the Earth's natural environment - land, soil, water, air and space - as humankind's common heritage.

8. Resolve differences and conflicts cooperatively without resorting to violence or to wars.

9. Organize public affairs according to individual freedom and responsibility, through political and economic democracy.

10. Develop one's intelligence and talents through education and effort.

 

THE TEN MOST IMPORTANT LESSONS I'VE LEARNT SO FAR

DANIEL'S TEN COMMANDMENTS:

1. Adopt a positive attitude.

2. Be kind to others; others will be kind to you.

3. Pursue excellence.

4. Hard work is necessary.

5. Love deeply without expectation of being loved in return.

6. Be sincere and authentic.

7. Setbacks are inevitable.

8. Learn to accept what you can't change.

9. Honesty is the best policy.

10. Never stop learning.

QUOTES FROM THE GREATEST PHILOSOPHERS OF ALL TIME

Karl Marx (1818-1883)

'The philosophers have only interpreted the world, in various ways. The point, however, is to change it.'

David Hume (1711-1776)

'Where men are the most sure and arrogant, they are commonly the most mistaken.'

Ludwig Wittgenstein (1889-1951)  

'I don't know why we are here, but I'm pretty sure that it is not in order to enjoy ourselves.'  

Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900)

'The man of knowledge must be able not only to love his enemies but also to hate his friends.' 

Plato (427-347 BC)

'Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools, because they have to say something.'

Immanuel Kant (1724-1804)

'Only the descent into the hell of self-knowledge can pave the way to godliness.'

Thomas Aquinas (1224-1274)

'The most hopeful people in the world are the young and the drunk. The first because they have little experience of failure, and the second because they have succeeded in drowning theirs.'

Socrates (469-399 BC)

'The unexamined life is not worth living.'

Aristotle (384-322 BC)

'I count him braver who overcomes his desires than him who conquers his enemies; for the hardest victory is over self.'

Karl Popper (1902-94)

'Philosophers should consider the fact that the greatest happiness principle can easily be made an excuse for a benevolent dictatorship.'

Rene Descartes (1596-1650)

'I think, therefore I am.'

Epicurus (c. 341 BC–270 BC) 

'It is impossible to live a pleasant life without living wisely and honorably and justly, and it is impossible to live wisely and honorably and justly without living pleasantly.'

Martin Heidegger (1889 –1976) 

'Why are there beings at all, instead of nothing?'

Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) 

'[In] this war of every man against every man; nothing can be unjust. The notions of right and wrong, justice and injustice have there no place. Where there is no common power, there is no law, where no law, no injustice. Force, and fraud, are in war the cardinal virtues.'

Søren Kierkegaard (1813-55)  

"Life is a mystery to be lived, not a problem to be solved.'

John Stuart Mill (1806-1873)

'Conservatives are not necessarily stupid, but most stupid people are conservatives.'

Bertrand Russell (1872-1970)

'Man is a rational animal - so at least I have been told. Throughout a long life, I have looked diligently for evidence in favor of this statement, but so far I have not had the good fortune to come across it.'

  

Jean-Paul Sartre (1905 - 1980)

'My thought is me: that is why I can't stop. I exist by what I think...and I can't prevent myself from thinking.'

Arthur Schopenhauer (1788–1860)

'All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.'

  

Baruch Spinoza (1632-1677)

'Ignorance is no argument.'   

  

IS IT POSSIBLE TO EAT MORE HEALTHILY AT MCDONALD'S? 

To answer this question, let's remember that a healthy diet should be one low in fat, sugar and salt but high in fibres.  For someone looking to keep his/her weight under control, a lower calorie diet may also be desired.

Now, let's look at the published nutritional values of the food at McDonald's:

 Breakfast

Item	Kcal	Protein	Fat	Saturated Fat	Carbohydrates	Sodium	Cholesterol	Dietary Fibres
Hashbrown	156	1	10	4.1	14	330	0	2
Big Breakfast	561	29	31	10.7	42	1100	428	5
Sausage McMuffin	280	15	12	5.4	26	870	32	4
Sausage McMuffin with Egg	364	22	18	6.6	27	990	172	4
Egg McMuffin (with turkey roll)	290	18	13	4.6	26	720	151	2
Hot Cakes	344	9	8	1.8	58	540	21	2
Hot Cakes with Sausage	433	17	14	3.8	60	950	42	3
McGriddle - Sausage with Egg	484	23	22	9.0	48	1570	172	3
McGriddle - Sausage	351	13	12	5.2	47	1200	21	3

If only one item is to be chosen, "Hot Cakes" may be the best choice for a main.  It has the lowest total and saturated fat, 2nd-lowest in cholesterol and salt and the 4th-lowest in calories.  However, it is the lowest in fibres and 2nd-highest in carbohydrates.

If you have to have a side, "Hashbrown" is a reasonable choice.

Lunch & Dinner

Item	Kcal	Protein	Fat	Saturated Fat	Carbohydrates	Sodium	Cholesterol	Dietary Fibres
Hamburger	249	12	8	4.1	33	480	16	3
Cheeseburger	298	14	12	6.8	33	720	27	3
Double Cheeseburger	433	25	22	12.7	33	1080	54	4
Big Mac	522	24	26	11.5	49	970	51	5
Filet-O-Fish	351	13	15	5.6	40	670	15	2
Chicken McNugget	331	18	15	5.6	16	530	60	1
McChicken	395	14	18	5.2	44	770	21	3
McSpicy Single (Whole muscle)	585	23	26	7.8	65	1320	75	3
McWings (2x mid wings, 2x wing sticks)	497	31	34	11.2	16	1100	81	1
Mega Big Mac	695	39	38	18.0	50	1210	84	7
DblMcSpicy - Whole muscle	924	42	42	13.6	96	2280	140	4
Quarter Pounder with Cheese	508	28	26	7.4	37	1031	38	5
Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese	811	53	48	8.8	38	1178	61	9

Out of the main-meal burgers, "Hamburger" is the best choice as it is the lowest in total and saturated fat, sodium and calories, 2nd-lowest in cholesterol and joint 3rd-lowest in carbohydrates with some fibres provided.

Drinks, Sides & Desserts

Item	Kcal	Protein	Fat	Saturated Fat	Carbohydrates	Sodium	Cholesterol	Dietary Fibres
Apple Pie	232	2	13	6.3	26	190	0	2
Hot Fudge Sundae	334	6	10	6.1	55	180	1	6
Strawberry Sundae	283	4	7	3.2	51	90	0	5
Vanilla Sundae Cone - Small	147	3	4	2.0	24	60	0	3
McFlurry Oreo	400	7	14	6.6	62	230	0	8
Chocolate Shake	397	17	9	4.6	67	110	0	1
Vanilla Shake	390	16	9	4.6	67	100	0	0
Strawberry Shake	392	16	9	4.6	68	170	0	0
Yoghurt - Strawberry (M)	82	2	1	0.6	16	40	3	0
French Fries - Small	239	3	12	4.8	30	190	0	2
French Fries - Medium	374	4	19	7.6	47	290	0	4
French Fries - Large	441	5	22	8.9	55	350	0	5
Coca Cola - 16Oz	153	0	0	0.0	39	10	0	0
Coke Lite	1	0	0	0.0	0	40	0	0
Sprite - 16Oz	167	0	0	0.0	41	30	0	0
Orange Juice - 12Oz	157	0	0	0.0	38	3	0	0
Iced Milo - 16Oz	598	16	16	10.7	98	270	0	16
Iced Lemon Tea - 16Oz	142	0	0	0.0	35	10	0	0
Magnolia Lo-Fat Hi-Cal Milk	98	7	3	1.6	11	100	10	0
Cup Corn - 4.5Oz	90	3	2	0.5	16	240	0	0
Cup Corn - 3Oz	60	2	1	0.3	11	160	0	0
Apple Dippers	33	0	0	0.0	7	2	0	1
Jasmine Green Tea	95	0	0	0.0	24	20	0	0

The best choice of a dessert is "Apple Dippers" with absolutely no fat or cholesterol at all!  It is also lowest in salt and 2nd-lowest in calories and carbohydrates while providing a little fibre.

The best drink is probably "Orange Juice" which has no fat nor cholesterol, and has the lowest salt.  "Ice Lemon Tea" and "Jasmine Green Tea" are reasonable alternatives.

So, even if you are a health-freak or an obsessive healthy eater, you can still go to McDonald's once in a while.