EDIT: I like this article about it more: http://www.livescience.com/health/090909-smart-choices-food-labels.html

So the NY Times ran an article about a new food labeling campaign called Smart Choices.

Basically, it puts a green label on certain products, thus indicating they are a healthier choice than other products. The only catch is, this label is being slapped on things like Fruit Loops and Fudgesicles. Now, I'm no expert, but I'm going to go ahead and guess that even though these items may not be terribly high in calories per serving, they probably aren't so healthy.

It kills me that business will do anything to get people to buy their product. It is immoral, to say the least, to tell consumers that these products are smart choices with the intention of convincing them to purchase these products in lieu of real fruits and vegetables.

And it kills me even more that there are millions of people out there that are going to buy into this baloney.

Um, how hard is it to read a label? If you want to know if something is healthy, check out the ingredients and then the fat, sugar and sodium content. See if it has vitamins and minerals. Chances are, if you can't pronounce most of the ingredients...it's not healthy.

And if you want to buy it anyway, then go for it. But people shouldn't allow themselves to be ignorant to the fact that what they're eating actually isn't a smart choice. Anyone with a brain should be able to figure it out without the help of a green checkmark.

So, fruit loops and fudgesicles are delicious, but they are a far cry from broccoli. Don't be fooled.

Things that I would like to get done by September:

1) 1st issue of online mag (HA...so much for the July deadline)
2) Enroll in online classes
3) Lose 10 pounds (aiming high, I know...but maybe it'll help me push myself?)
4) Finish Amazing Race application with Marissa (*chortle*)

Ok, a little over 3 1/2 weeks is plenty of time to do this...right?

Thank DOG for coffee.

So my department was transferred to a northern suburb, which means I'm no longer working in the downtown, and thus losing all my street cred (ok, so I didn't really have any...and I didn't take advantage of my job's location as much as I could/should have in the months that I was there). I think the novelty of working in the city was wearing off anyway.

But, I am a bit pissed about the move, because it involves driving 60 miles a day. This bothers me because it's going to be a pain in the ass, and it's bad for the environment.

I guess I have no choice until this economy fixes itself and I can pursue my dreams of being a newspaper man (if those are even my dreams anymore).

It's weird how being at home is so the same and so different. I definitely wasn't looking forward to coming back here, but the things I feared turned out ok...however, the things I thought I could depend on have completely fallen through.

It's funny how life mostly can't be controlled.

I still have hope that things will work out as I want them to, but I am quickly realizing I need to be patient (something I have never mastered).

Sometimes I think it would be fun to move to a completely new place and tackle new problems and make new complicated friends...

Yeah, I can see myself leaving this place in the coming years.

Do they not teach proper stop sign procedure in driver's ed anymore?

Seriously, right of way only applies if 2 cars arrive at the stop sign simultaneously. If I got there first, it's my turn to go, bitch. Just 'cause you're to my right doesn't mean you can take that away from me!

Ummmm....

James Iha just formed a group with Taylor Hanson.

The apocolypse is near.

http://www.tintedwindowsmusic.com/

Today was swell.

With the Valentine's Day coming along and all, work has been pretty lax. Everyone basically has spent the day socializing and eating. Very much needed, I might add. For once, it seems like everyone is getting along and likes each other. But I'm sure that Monday will bring back the drama and tenseness that I've come to know so well here.

Anyway, I'm a pain and brought in Vegan muffins and scones for breakfast for my team, and they all ate them, even though I'm sure they think the real deal is a bit better. I'm quite impressed they tried them instead of writing off the idea immediately. Kudos to my team.

Plus, while purchasing said breakfast items, I totally got to flirt with one of the whole foods guys, so that made my night.

While we're on that subject, there is this kid that works at whole foods who looks exactly like Thom Yorke. So much so that it freaks me out and I stare him down until I realize he's looking back at me, and I awkwardly run away.

Anyhoo, we all ate lunch together, which was a pleasant change from everyone isolating themselves in their cubicles while they eat. While we ate, we played "Would You Rather..." which was hilarious and sometimes awkward.

I'm looking forward to the weekend. I've applied to 3 colleges, and feel relieved to finally be done with the application process. Now comes the hard part- the anticipation of finding out whether I've been accepted or denied.

So, in honor of today's shindig, I think I am going to start a bloggy Would You Rather...

Would you rather:
Have a foot long eyelash that you can't cut or pluck
or
have an earlobe the size of a basketball?

Definitely overdue for an update.

Skippy is currently resting in an urn upon my dresser. It's really uncomfortable and depressing to look at a bag of ashes and bone fragments, and realize that it was once a solid body with substance, personality, life.

Needless to say, I already got myself another cat, because I'm crazy. And also because it's really important to me to help shelter animals find a home. So my new cat's name is Dexter, he's 3 years old, and the very epitome of a scaredy cat.

I took him to Petsmart to see the vet on Saturday morning for a check-up, and when they asked me to take him out of his carrier to weigh him, I barely had the door open when he bolted. I went running after him, followed by my sister, and the veterinary assistant dived to catch him, but missed. Then, all the dogs were being let out of the grooming section as he whizzed by, causing all kinds of mayhem. They locked the doors to the store so he couldn't get outside and me and about half a dozen workers chased him around the store until he finally crouched below a shelf and some guy was able to pull him out and put him back in his carrier. Oy vey.

But I guess I can forgive him, because he is really sweet (doesn't bite, hiss, growl, or scratch). But he's super chubby, and I'm putting him on a diet ASAP. He totally tries to eat everything I'm eating, including my BBQ soy crisps (I found him with his head inside of the bag). What a little stinker.

Other than the fact that I'm a crazy cat lady, everything else is fairly blah.

I am entirely sick of my job, and dread getting up to come to work each day. Everything I have to do is way too easy, and I spend most of my time surfing the web, sending e-mails to friends, and twiddling my thumbs. Today I was so bored that I went over to my co-worker's desk (who's out sick), and actually stole some of her work. That's right. I'm doing other people's work because I am so restless. I don't think it gets more pathetic than that.

I hate to sound so egotistical, but I am seriously way too smart for this position.

I need a drastic change of scenery.

First day of being raw: so far so good. I soaked some nuts (hardy har har) to turn into different spreads and dressings. Then I spent the day "cooking" food for the week. I tell you what, cooking is easy when you don't actually have to cook.

I even got my parents to try the stuffed mushrooms I made, and, shock me shock me, they liked them!

It's a good thing I eat bananas now, because they are quite filling (though I still haven't grown completely fond of the taste/texture).

I'll check back in a week and see if I'm hanging in there or completely miserable.

So, my mom's really into these genealogy stuff, and tonight she told me that her mom's side of the family was jewish, but converted to catholicism to avoid...certain death...and that her dad's side of them family likely did the same because his last name is apparently jewish.

You know what that makes me? A jew.

And thank Abraham, because I knew I couldn't really be a christian.

Sure, I'm still an atheist, so it doesn't matter either way. But I was delighted to learn this small fact anyway.

Plus, now every time my mom yells at me about not believing in god, I can yell back that she's betraying her heritage.

Anyway, Christmas was lackluster.

New Year's was...pukey.

I'm 23, and somehow less accomplished than I was at 22.

New year's resolutions anyone???

I didn't make any, but decided that since I'm 23, I'm going to make some adjustments. I am taking guitar lessons (finally), and I'm going to eat raw for 30 days (starting Monday). I know the latter decision will undoubtedly cause people I never wanted opinions from to tell me how stupid I am. Because what I eat clearly has a direct effect on people I hardly know.

My job sucks. My room is clean. I don't have a life.

Everything seems to be in order.