Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Check. It. Out.

Indeed, Coldplay has a CD debuting this summer. Sweet.
What's sweeter? No, not the fact that all radio stations will overplay their new tunes and cause many to actually never fall in love with the music due to constant repetition of one song. Stupid radio.
What is muy sweet is that you can download their new single, "Violent Hill" off their website.
Just click here.
It's a fab song- true to Coldplay- slightly somber lyrics with a "how did they achieve that?" make you smile tune.
Enjoy it and turn off your radio so you don't get tired of it before the CD is even released.

Thursday, April 24, 2008

Injecting Stupidity

A recent article in Newsweek confirmed that Botox may be bad for you- shock.
Besides making you look like Charro or the skanky girls from Rock of Love 2- they were way skankier than Rock of Love 1- Botox contains neurotoxins.
I'm sure based on the prefix you can deduce that neurotoxis are toxins that enter the brain. The study shows that injecting Botox can have lasting effects on the mind- including speech and memory.
Basically, every time you've wondered why it seems like airheads are the only ones getting Botox, you may have to realize that stupidy comes with the injection.

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Things I hated as a kid

It amazes me that the older I get the younger my palette gets.
Don't get me wrong, I still crave things like baked brie, crepes, sushi and a number of other things most kids- and my sister- refuse to look at.
However, I was always the kid who hated snacks like goldfish, pretzels and "Ants on a Log" aka gross raisins and PB on celery.
Well, apparently I'm six years old because I seriously- as of the past few months- love so many things I didn't.
Here they are...

1. Graham Crackers- yum! Esp. the cinnamon variety and are you aware of how few calories are in them?
2. Popcorn- once I got braces, I was so over popcorn. Not anymore.
3. Animal Crackers- what was I thinking all these years?
4. Honey Nut Cherrios- my dad always loved them and now I do too.
5. Goldfish- I love fishes cuz they're so delicious.
6. Hot dogs- Ben's Chili Bowl and Grey's papaya changed me forever.
7. Plain Ole' Yella' Mustard- This does not mean I am as crazy about it as Cassie is.
8. French Toast- I still like waffles better, but breakfast is breakfast!
9. Milk- Does a body gooood.
10. Peanut Butter- Seriously, did anyone ever think i would like this?!

Things I STILL and probably will never like- bleh...

1. Pretzels- the hard gross kind.
2. Slurpees- too sweet.
3. Kraft Mac and Cheese- let's be real.
4. Shriveled Grapes- I only like raisins in salad.
5. Oreos- the cookie, the filling, it's all so wrong.
6. Cheez Its- way different than goldfish.
7. Oatmeal- the texture makes me want to die.
8. Apple Juice- a staple kid drink.
9. Thin Mints- always a Girl Scout, never will be my cookie.
10. Corn- The day I like this is the day I become a republican.

Thought for Food Vol. 3

"The cost of the war's present course far outweighs anything we can reasonably hope to gain by it, for ourselves or for the people of Vietnam. It must be ended, and it can be ended in a peace for brave men who have fought each other with a terrible fury, each believing that he alone was in the right. We have prayed to different gods, and the prayers of neither have been answered fully. Now, while there is still time for some of them to be partly answered, now is the time to stop."
Robert F. Kennedy

Wednesday, April 9, 2008

For Your Information

Over the past almsot 15 months, I've learned a lot about exercise, eating healthy and losing weight.
With only 35 lbs. left to lose- woo hoo!- I think I've become semi knowledgable in what works and what doesn't.
One thing I've always struggled with is accurate calculations for ideal weight for height, burning calories and needed caloric intake.
I would't say that I'm a math person, but I always have a desperate need for facts and accuracy for proof.
FINALLY I feel that I've received real research and calculations.
Scouring the internet for truth and usefulness can often be as fruitless as scouring the sea for mermaids. However, thanks to The Biggest Loser website, I think I have a wealth of helpful information. I thought I'd pass it onto you in case you wanted it and were always hitting the same cyberwalls that I was.
Enjoy the links and info that I translated from the website.

3,500 calories=loss of 1 fat lb.
The average person burns a total of 1,800 just by being a human and moving from day to day!
Combine that with your exercise and subtract it from your food intake to discover what you burn per day.
Example: Tookie Clothespin burns 1,800 c. a day by being a person (1,450) and working as a telephone operator (350). She also burns 300 c. by going to the gym. (2,100). She eats 1,600 c. a day, which means she's burning 500 c. Multiply that times 7 days a week and that's a total of 3.500 c., or 1 lb. Tookie loses 1 lb. a week- burn, baby, burn!

Check these links to calculate your BMI (level of weight) and your BMI: http://www.nbc.com/app/tbl/bmi/index.shtml and your BMR: http://www.nbc.com/app/tbl/bmr/index.shtml
(That's how many c.'s you burn just by being you. Like, Tookie's is 1,450 plus the 350 for her daily activity.)
This link is pretty much the info I gave you, but it's here for legitimacy and as an additonal resource: http://www.nbc.com/The_Biggest_Loser_5/the_club/articles/burning_calories.shtml

Anyway, just thought that if anyone is losing weight on their own- without the guidance of WW, a doctor, or an online program, this info might be helpful.

Happy Losing!

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Do Your Thang

It's time for you to once again vote for your fav. photo in my mom's photo blog poll. There are only two pics this time, so that may make your decision easier.
Spread the word- we want as many votes as possible.
Think of it this way, it's good practice for all the voting you'll be doing in a few months. Except, probably easier and in this case you don't have to choose between a radical change for America or a really, really old guy who will probably need a walker or a cane in a year or so.
All you have to do is vote between two super sweet photos, so go- I know you're not doing anything- those reruns of ANTM can hold off for five minutes.

VOTE!

Monday, April 7, 2008

The real issue

One of the top concerns for people across the U.S. is inefficiant health care.
The real issue is not whether we're dems, repubs or (wince) apathetic. This issue is that we don't all "cut the crap" and deal with the problem as a people.
Michael Moore created a documentary about that ideal and many politicians have received a band of support for following suit.
Now, the media is rallying to make the point that nothing is getting better and not just a handful of people need to care. Take a look at this commerical that I was touched by while at the gym this morning. I think it really drives the point home. And, props to the media and celebs for using their larger than life status for some positive change.

"Divided We Fail"

Friday, April 4, 2008

Thought for Food Vol. 2

This is a little bit later in the week than I'd hoped, but every time I went to write, the book I needed was nowhere near. It was that constant feeling of, "This is what losing half your brain must feel like." When I finally got my act together and made a to-do list (they really are the love of my life) I cemented my ability to remember my book when it was time to write the blog.
Anyway, if you didn't tune in for the first one, here's the drill: Below you will find a quotation. Your task is to read it and comment on any part of it. The author, the tone, perspective, positive or negative views, a current reference, etc., etc., etc. I will not comment on the quotation unless someone asks me to respond to them- this is all about you creating a forum for interesting thoughts in a mundane minute of your day.

Happy Thinking.

This comes from Lisa See, the author of Snow Flower and the Secret Fan. As I tell everyone, don't let the title fool you, this is not chick lit and it is a phenomonal book- one I'd consider teaching. The book centers around 19th century China and interweaves the story of two woman during a time of oppression, arranged marriages, war, footbinding and the joy of having sons and the sorrow of having daughters. I think this background information will provide a sense of the author.

Her quotation comes from her Final Notes after the novel, in reference to women in all nations:
"As women, we have all at one time or another wondered about the true and everlasting mystery of the men in our lives. These are universals, as is the fear women feel during times of political upheavel that occur in what could still be called the outside world of men- whether during the Taiping Rebellion so many years ago or today for women in Iraq... or even right here in the post 9/11 era. On the surface, we as American women are independent, free, mobile, but at our cores we still long for love, friendship, happiness, tranquility, and to be heard" (265).

Wednesday, April 2, 2008

How You Like Them Apples?

Yesterday I subbed as a junior high Sign Language teacher- I know, I know, start laughing and saying, "Whaaaat?!"
Anyway, the teacher had this framed list of rules on her desk that were actual rules from teachers in the early 1900's. I literally laughed out loud- wait until you read. Oh, and for even more laughter, picture your favorite or least favorite teacher, or even me, if you wish, following these rules- ha. Actually, the funnier thing is that a few of these rules seem to unintentionally be part of my life. Hmmm... maybe I could have survived as an old school marme in a one room school house teaching arithmetic and reading the Bible for hours. On second thought, mybe not.

Number 4 is my personal fav.

1. You will not marry during the term of your contract.
2. You are not to keep company with men.
3. You must be home between the hours of 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. unless attending a school function.
4. You may not loiter downtown in ice cream stores.
5. You may not travel beyond the city limits, unless you have permission from the chairman of the board.
6. You may not ride in a carriage or automobile with any man, unless he is your father or brother.
7. You may not smoke cigarettes.
8. You may not dress in bright colors.
9. You may under no circumstances dye your hair.
10. You must wear at least two petticoats.
11. Your dresses must not be any shorter than two inches above the ankles.
12. To keep the schoolroom neat and clean, you must: sweep the floor once daily; scrub the floor at least
once a week with hot soapy water; clean the blackboards at least once a day; and start the fire at 7 a.m.
so the room will be warm by 8 a.m.

*Tune in later for Thought for Food Vol. 2