Oh, you didn't know that muffin was bad for you?

MSNBC article about New Yorkers' reaction to the new laws the city finally got passed that requires fast-food type restaurants to display calorie content of food as prominently as the price.

Outside the Forest Hills’ Dunkin’ Donuts, Juan Restrepo, the 45-year-old owner of a construction company, said he was quitting corn muffins — 510 calories! — this time for good.

“My daughter warned me about them,” he lamented. “I just didn’t listen.”

Just proves the point that we don't believe it until we see it. So maybe seeing it over and over and over again will finally drill home how we managed to become to the fattest country on the planet. Changing our habits will change companies menu items (ah, capitalist supply & demand cycle) which means more healthy options for everyone - yay!

New York is not the only city pushing calorie labels. New laws in Seattle and California’s Santa Clara and San Francisco are scheduled to go into effect later this year, including some more stringent than New York’s, requiring restaurants to post information about sodium, carbs, fats and cholesterol in addition to calories.

Hey Boston - where are we? I want calorie counts on my menus!

I actually wrote my Law, Policy, and Society thesis about this topic in December. Here's some really fun facts:

* Only 35% of Americans are healthy (according to BMIs)
* After the Nutrition and Labeling Education Act 1990 (you know, all those lovely labels on the stuff you buy at the grocery store): 48% changed their decision to buy or use a product and 24% to 37% choose high calorie items less often
* New York City residents at Subway restaurants who reported seeing calorie information bought 48 fewer calories on average and those who claimed they actively used the information bought 92 few calories. “The Health Department estimates that, if the same pattern held at every restaurant covered by the proposed regulation, its adoption would spare at least 150,000 people from obesity over the next five years, preventing more than 30,000 cases of diabetes” (NYBOH PR). If we use US Census Bureau information to estimated the population of New York City to be 3% of the national population, these statistics become even more significant. Federal adoption of the MEAL Act would then spare an estimated five million people from obesity in the next five years and prevent one million cases of diabetes.

(Let me know if you'd like to read a full copy.)

Lately: Bball, DOTC, Bowling, Mac&Cheese

Being back in classes means a lot more running around, a lot more switching gears several times a day, and a lot less reading/blogging in between adventures.

Here's what I've been up to:
Saturday
Basketball tournament for AI kids out in Brookline. Watched some kid slam his face into the side of the pavement. Sports are so interesting because really, what does winning mean? For street games there is no trophy, no prize money. But the way these guys were playing, you'd think it was a battle to the death. Chanting, yelling, pouring sweat, harassing each other, half-court shots, scrapping for every rebound - it was unreal. But to be THAT in the moment with something, it's an intense thing to watch.

That night got eaten alive by mosquitos on my feet (damn flip-flops) at Dancing on the Charles. Definitely not my crowd, music preference, or age demographic, but we still managed to make it fun. (See Adam's post at www.bostonin60.com)

Tuesday
Worked at Banana. Met up with friends at King's Bowling Alley to watch them compete in the championship for the College League. Apparently it's "Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner." They were on fire for awhile, knocking out strikes left and right. But alas, there will be no chicken dinner or pizza party for us. Also - playing pool with intoxicated friends is dangerous.

Wednesday
Had the best homemade from scratch macaroni and cheese ever. Seriously, I can't explain how delicious it was. And made even better by the fact that I didn't have to cook it, or clean up really, just drank white wine on the couch while looking at my lovely flowers.

I'm a Bravo TV addict. I am SO, so excited to watch the new season on Project Runway. And there was a new Sheer Genius on last night too. Seriously, how can you go wrong with clothing design, haircuts, and bitchy queens?

More exciting stuff is on the horizon this weekend, so stay tuned.

Also, really interesting video (Lest We Forget) that we watched yesterday in American Society. Watch it and tell me what you think.

"Those who ignore the past are doomed to repeat it."

Writing will rot your brain

I protested to my mother: I did not want to be an engineer. The idea of toiling endlessly on applied calculus problems in Calc 4 is completely unappealing to me. But to be honest, I do miss being able to derive and integrate, or even just play around with trig problems. There's something nice about math in contrast to sociology, journalism, or policy classes -- it has answers. Maybe I should have sprinkled a few math classes into my college career just for the change of pace. Eh, who knows. But for now, to quote my favorite math teacher Mr. Nagy: "Don't drink and derive."

That tan looks great on you.

It's been awhile, did you miss me? Probably not. Or rather, hopefully not. You should have shut you laptop, donned your white-rimmed plastic sunglasses, and headed out into the great sunshiny world away from the blogosphere. Or at least that's what I was up to for the better part of the last two weeks. I spent three solid days at my lake house disconnected from the world beyond those who showed up to BBQ, play cribbage, sun themselves, and splash around in the lake. It was glorious. I always feel rejuvenated when I'm there; I think it has to do with the fact that so much of my regular life is spent indoors near electronic devices connecting with people. Disconnection is exhilirating.

Oh and I've also been doing a little bit of that thing called school again. Taking American Society, a discussion based sociology course, and Entrepreneurship. Both of which are challenging and rewarding in opposite ways. It's good to be in an environment that really engages my brain again (except for the homework).

On that note, these are some things you really should check out:
Boston in 60
My friend Adam has two months left before he leaves Boston for an internship in DC. He's challenging himself to do something different every single day. Follow along, tag along, and make suggestions!

You Look Great Today
A fun salute from Happy Corp to "capture greatness in the wild." Scroll through the pics and smile or go on your own greatness-seeking adventure and share your own pics.