As this is written, the lobbying of House Democrats on the health care bill is going on apace, and every hour brings news of another no vote converted to yes, or a yes vote switching to no.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the House Democratic leadership is expressing confidence that the jerry-rigged bill they've put together will pass — which is evidence either that they have the 216-vote majority pretty well in hand or that, like any party's House leadership, they're professing confidence to prevent a stampede against them. Republicans are saying the Democrats haven't gotten to 216 yet but admit they're getting close.

If Obamacare becomes law, about 30 percent of the primary care doctors in America will consider leaving the medical profession.

That bit of brightness comes from a survey by The Medicus Firm, the results of which were posted by The New England Journal of Medicine. Medicus interviewed more than a thousand American physicians, and 55 percent of them believe the quality of medical care in America will decline if the Democrats pass the current health care reform proposals. Apparently, many of them want no part of it.

Although the media largely ignored the Medicus study, the story is huge. Perhaps as many as 30 million more Americans may have access to health insurance. The question is: Who will treat them?

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 22 percent increase in practicing physicians over the next decade. But that will not be enough to treat the universal health care crush, especially if a bunch of doctors now on the job pack it in.

Probiotics Improve Digestion and Overall Health

Intentionally consuming bacteria may not seem like a good idea, but as long as the bacteria are those of the beneficial variety, known as probiotics, ingesting them may improve your health.

Probiotics are living microorganisms that normally thrive in and on the human body. Numbering in the trillions, the total population of these bacteria in the adult intestine can weigh several pounds.

Although probiotics are best known for promoting proper digestion and boosting immunity, a growing body of scientific evidence suggests that they influence health in other ways. The friendly bacteria have been used in the prevention and treatment of gum disease, stomach ulcers, hay fever and even colon cancer.

Bryan Davis led Texas A&M (24-10) with 17 points and 15 rebounds.

SPOKANE, Wash. --Determined and undaunted, 6-foot-3 Chris Kramer bulled past one defender 4 inches taller than him. He flipped a layup over another 6 inches taller. Seconds later, he was getting pounded by his own teammates.

A fitting way for Purdue's most rugged player, its soul now that do-it-all leader Robbie Hummel is out for the season, to send the Boilermakers to the regional semifinals of the NCAA tournament.

Kramer's daring drive and layup over Texas A&M big man Bryan Davis with 4.2 seconds remaining in overtime sent fourth-seeded Purdue to a 63-61 victory over the fifth-seeded Aggies on Sunday in a bruising, second-round game that just about left dents in the arena's floor.

"I had the ball and went right and crossed over to the left, and it parted like the Red Sea," Kramer said of the A&M defense. "Then it came down to finishing, as Davis came over and tried to block my shot."

Speed Hits His Groove

Four races into the 2010 Sprint Cup season, there are indications that Scott Speed has found a home in NASCAR.

A native of Manteca, Calif., the 27-year-old Speed has a varied background. In 2006-07, he competed in a total of 28 Formula One races, though he never managed a podium finish or earned any championship points. Since making the switch to stock-car racing, Speed has won four Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) events and one NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race. His best Cup finish was a fifth at Talladega Superspeedway in April 2009.
This season? So far, so good. Speed occupies 12th place in the Cup point standings after a 10th-place finish at Atlanta.

Asked about the possibility of making the Chase before the season, Speed said, "I'd like to say that we are still improving. I guess if we keep getting better and better, it should be possible, theoretically."