CM. Damn you McDonald.

Sweet. An opportunity where I can follow the healthy jog down McDonald's path to nutritious cuisine. It shall be sung in poetic praises.

"it all started with supersize me."

super. size. me.

with those three words. and those three bites. i was large.

how come? how so?

transfat. hydrogenated oils. oh woe.

then morgan spurlock. the renegade who spurred change.

super size me.

drained his vitals and packed up his sex life. all for our health strife.

then came....apples, and caramel and salads.

the tools of health. the yellow arches of hope.

RS - I am not sexually attracted to women who smell like cashews

Also, frogs under stress smell like cashews.

If you were ever sexually attracted to frogs RS, don't put them under duress. You'll be sorry.

You can read the cashew-smelling frog article here.

The ad that spurred the madness:

MI who names their son Marion

Or Garage Empty

Hysteria Johnson

King Arthur

Infinity Hubbard

Please Cope

Major Slaughter

Helen Troy

Ima Hogg, Ima Pigg, Ima Muskrat, Ima Nut and Ima Hooker…??

Parents who have a wicked sense of humor and most probably a gambling problem...that's who.

These are all real names. Found in census records from 1790-1930.

PN thinks Oprah can be a real bitch.

OMG!! What could Oprah have possibly done to elicit such harsh criticism?! This post required a little more than google search or right click + save image. I went straight to the source. In PN’s words:

“Yeah - I have long felt she can be real bitchy. You know she has those home decorating shows where she shows someone's home before and after? Well the before picture - she always sounds so ridiculing and judgmental and she thinks it's funny - and there's some weird undertone of what's acceptable and what's not as far as lifestyles go. It's easy for her to say when she has all these people doing the work for her; I just don't think she can relate to the average American lifestyle the way her audience thinks she is so good at doing! So I stopped watching her.

But earlier this week, they were watching it in our staff room, and again, she had a spotlight on some woman who is a major pack rat - they showed pictures of her home,
about how dysfunctional she is, how there's stacks of books and papers and piles of clothes and stuff everywhere, she can't even find her bed. And Oprah dramatized this to the max, had these crazy dramatic commercials of it, pathologizing this poor woman who just has some kind of problem - you should have seen this woman - she was in tears, sobbing, saying how embarrassed she was, that she couldn't have her own son over for dinner, and then Oprah has the gall to put her on national television, claiming it's "good for her"? Ugh. I just felt so bad for that woman...”

I love my friends and their fierce analytical powers!!

But, it's sooo easy to love Oprah! She's like our crazy aunt that we're willing to forgive for laughing at us because her honesty is usually so refreshing and sometimes kicks us into the gear that we need to be in.

So, I guess Oprah, if you ever ran for President I can tell you now you'll be at least one vote shy.

BR http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/important_life_lesson.png

Hahaha... That's right up there w/ any modern day proverb. Shuffle all can be dangerous. For some reason I've clogged up my i tunes with this massive sound library, which is pretty useless and just gets in the way most times. i.e. the possibility of sex and the sound fx of 'wah-waaahhing' babies is...a turn off.

TW - Labor of Love

Wow! This is a phenomenal article by and about the world's first pregnant man!!!

This dude, Thomas Beatie, is trans gender and ended up deciding to carry his baby because his wife wasn't able to—and he happened to have the right plumbing, so why not, eh?

This is my best Schwarzenegger dream come true!!

MU highly recommends Step It Up 2 and always taking Daniella to the movies with you.

I can’t really speak for Daniella and her elite taste in step movies, but I will say, the latest bulletin is out….White people can dance!!

“Step It Up 2 – The Streets” doesn’t really take place on the streets…more inside some Maryland prep school, but there are some mean steps that take place inside those manicured walls. And it’s hot!

[disclaimer: there are some street scenes for those watching the movie for “the streets” part. Some sizzling hot scenes with dark shadows that evoke some trill street step, music video style….you will be satisfied]

KG - Dr Chopp

More irony...or a brilliant marketing ploy!

"Areas of Special Interest: Dr. Richard (Dick) Chopp is well known in the Austin community for performing Vasectomies."

HAHAHA.

PL illegally employed

Oh the irony! My very American friend trying to find illegal employment in Mexico..Hurray!!

So, to take the irony even further—a couple of years ago Rolling Stone reported, "The Golden State Fence company, a firm that builds border fencing to keep illegal immigrants out of the San Diego area, has just been fined $5 million for… wait for it… employing illegal immigrants to build its border fencing."

God bless capitalism!

SMT is chillin' in Dubai, eating some Toblerone :).

Why is Toblerone the chocolate passport of international travel?? Everytime I step into a duty-free shop, it's like enough already with the giant kitschy almond and honey nougat bar!

And please! Like a triangle is THAT unique a figure?! I learned about it when I was four...it can't be that cool. Now, if it was like a Robot chocolate bar or alligator chocolate bar, then I'd be impressed.

The most interesting fact I was able to drum up—there's a bear hidden in the Matterhorn logo. Can you find it? I was able to spot a fish..but that's as far as I got.

DF is Happy Holi!

Holi hai!!

The Indian festival of spring harvests, color, and new beginnings! And also this strange marijuana smoothie called Bhang..

It happens around Feb / March every year when thousands of Indians, armed with pocketfuls of color run through the streets, smearing everything they can find. Men! Women! Cows! Infants! Nothing is safe!

I helped write a movie a few years ago (never got credit! no, I'm not bitter...I just would have loved to use the name Basmati Malhotra as my Bollywood ghost-writer name) entitled "Karma, Confessions & Holi"

Total gooey, melty, moldy Bollywood cheese!!

So, as a tribute to this colorful holiday, here's the trailer:

SD is encouraging everyone to join the six billion paths to peace initiative. I’m a fan and it’s good stuff!

I’d say promoting world peace one step at a time is pretty good stuff. It’s an age-old concept and something we mark in our heads in a moment of hope, but it just as quickly disappears when the Kebab stand guy catches our eye and our head starts swimming in Shawarma.

So, the Shinnyo-en foundation is trying to make this stick in our heads a little bit better with their Six Billion paths to peace initiative.

http://www.sixbillionpaths.org/home.html

There’s even a virtual paths to peace interactive section where you can submit your peace path. It’s surprisingly sticky once you actually jot it down.

Here’s a commercial from Liberty Mutual to kick-start some inspiration.

HA $109 oil, wtf

Seriously HA, wtf.

It's moments like these I reflect on the car I totaled two years ago and I'm glad it's in the dumpster. It probably has a better life there anyway...without all this pricey oil clogging its poor little heart.

Here's a quote from the Associated Press:

"Where gas and oil go from here is anybody's guess. Many analysts expect prices to moderate, while others predict oil could keep rising to $120 a barrel, or higher. And with demand for gas expected to rise as warm weather arrives, analysts say pump prices could spike as high as $3.75 a gallon, regardless of what happens with oil prices."

To combat this stress, here are a few helpful tips when you're at the gas pump:

1. Fill up your car or any vehicle in the morning when the temperature is still cool (that whole thermal expansion thing...)

2. If a tanker truck is filling the station's tank at the time you want to buy gas, do not fill up; dirt and sludge will most likely end up in your tank.

3. Fill up when your gas tank is half-full (or half-empty), because the more gas you have in your tank the less air there is and gasoline evaporates rapidly, especially when it's warm.

4. Leave the trigger at the 'slow' speed, so you'll minimize vapors while you're pumping.

BR - Who needs a movie?

This very very terrible video for Fred and Sharon's movies is it’s own masterpiece.

But the last laugh is with Fred and Sharon…b/c I actually think there’s a market for this…somewhere…maybe backwoods Alabama…but a market nonetheless. Wait for the sea monster at the end!

AK - GOOGLE STREET MAPS!!! CRAAZY!

It is pretty crazy - and creepy. But Google street maps (live street view) is more crazy than creepy.

The idea that my Uncle in India can have a sense of the street I walk through everyday, Crazy! The idea that some dude off craigslist that got my address for a well-worn couch and is able to put together an idea of me even before he steps into my house, Creepy!

Late last May, our favorite digital cartographers, Google Maps unveiled a new feature, Street View—there are either satellite images or several digital pictures composited together to create a live view of the street.

Here's a view of the street from an apt I lived in about 4 years ago..

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=90+Washington+St,+New+York,+NY+10006,+USA&sa=X&oi=map&ct=image

You can play around with the street view and check out different angles. Pretty cool. And yup - I lived across the street from the infinitely dusty construction project known as Ground Zero.

KP is at work, earning his "attorney fees"

Dude, KP…we feel for you and your billable hours.

So, here's an NY times article that just makes me laugh, “For Lawyers, Perks to a Fit a Lifestyle.”

These are some snippets about what the geniuses at some of these law firms are proposing to do to keep their staff o’ lawyers coming back for more…

- “In Perkins Coie’s Chicago office, members of the firm’s “happiness committee” recently left candied apple’s on everyone’s desk….last month the happiness committee surprised everyone with milkshakes from a local Potbelly Sandwich Works.”

Are you kidding me?? You want me to sit at a desk for more than 12 hours a day and then you’re treating me to high cholesterol and enough sugar to make me want to jump off your well-polished teak walls!? Assholes.

- “On offer now are concierge services, in which a lawyer can have the equivalent of a personal valet pick up theater and sports tickets, the dry cleaning, take a car to the repair shop or even choose a Halloween costume.”

Now you’re trying to take over my family too?? Maybe my kids will start to call the concierge lady Mommy. At least they’ll get to practice saying it once in awhile.

- “The consulting firm has a battery of staff psychologists and social workers to provide advice on issues including stress, anxiety, depression and divorce.”

A battery of staff psychologists! What are you doing to these people?? Though this is the most practical and helpful of perks, it’s sad that they had someone come up with a solution to assuage psychological trauma that’s happening under their watch.

For a more in-depth look into the absurdities, check out the rest of the article:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/22/business/22legal.html?incamp=article_popular

DDF is bringing back the passion for Taiwan professional baseball.

Taiwan’s major league baseball diamond has suffered some rough scratches and blows over the past few years. So, DDF we’re glad you’re trying to make them shine once again!

Game-fixing scandals and talent drainage had left a giant gap in attendance and appeal for the Taiwanese baseball league over the past five years.

So! And this is the stuff that gets interesting….The Taiwanese league was set-up to compete against the Chinese league, but after years of loses, the TML was absorbed by the CPBL in 2003. Kind of cruddy that you need to always default to the Master Sovereign when things aren't going so hot.

I’m at least glad that Taiwan stood up to China for the 2008 Olympic torch route. China intends to cover 5 continents, 85,000 miles, 130 days and ultimately reach Mt. Everest (straddling Nepal and Tibet), all in grand spectacle that’s never been done. I’m actually somewhat excited about the spectacle; however, they are also torching the rights of two sensitive territories, Tibet and Taiwan. It certainly seems more of a ploy to bolster their claims over both territories rather than reflect any true Olympic spirit of friendship or respect.

So, this is what the Taiwanese head peeps had to say: "This route is a domestic route that constitutes an attempt to downgrade our sovereignty," Tsai said. "It is something that the government and people cannot accept."

Helllz yea! Stand up for your right to fight....Olympic torch running tyrants!

(I know...we're celebrating the one year anniversary of this news, but this oppression from all kinds of sports against the Taiwanese...too much...)

HR Lonely hearts - Joakim

HR has great music taste. I trust this guy to be on the pulse of a good jam. And he delivers. However, this mish mash wedding montage it's set to leaves you...a bit uninspired.

JP wants ESW-9's

And I want some too! Sexy, sexy headphones.

The ATH-ESW9 Sovereign Wood Headphones, by Audio Technica, is crafted with care from the finest of fine, Japanese Hokkaido cherry tree wood.

At the $369 price tag, this is more for serious audiophiles than the white buds we sport for a jog, but it’s almost a shame that these bad boys are more appropriate indoors. It just makes such a succinct statement when you're strollin' around town. "I love drowning in my music and I love absurdly cool and unnecessary things from Japan."

I think I'll hold off until my next life...when I'm ready to combine these two statements and come out as DJ SquidKid.

NL cant believe shake shack is opening on the UWS!!!!

NL loves her some shake shack! I've never seen such explicit sadness as the day when NL realized that SS was closed during 12 degree weather. And I'm sure there were thousands more with that hang dog slump.

Danny Meyer's burger institution in Madison Square park draws ultra long-lines and a religious following when outdoor burger season is in. I guess it's that good. I don't know. I'm sans burgers.

Now, its not only going to be a stones throw away from you NL, but there's also a live web cam so you can scope out the lines and zip in when there's a lull.

http://shakeshacknyc.com/camera.html

Holla when you want to share a shake!

MM http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.wordpress.com/

This blog about what white people like is kind of hilarious because just like all good things that are hilarious, it's salted with the truth.

http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.wordpress.com/

NLZ loves the movie Jodhaa Akbar! Esp since she has been to majority of the places in the movie!

Joodha Akbar, a Bollywood movie that takes place in 16th century Muslim Mogul India where King Akbar defends and loves the Hindu princess, Joodha, among other things. What can I say? I have very little patience for Hindi movies most of the time, but there is a magic and a wonder when you see true beauty - in costumes, in color, in landscape, in movement, and music...and some pretty hot people...

I just need to carve out a solid 3 and 1/2 hours for this kind of beauty, but until then this will do.

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KP can breathe... and thinks that sinus rinse is the best solution ever.

Okay, this guy looks way more hard core than he needs to be.

He's actually performing an ancient yoga practice, called Neti, that clears the sinuses. Not some pre-show ritual for the Judas Priest concert.

Here are some jala neti facts:

• Neti removes all the dirt and bacteria from within the nose.
  
• It has a cooling and soothing effect on the brain by drawing out excessive heat - good for headaches, migraines and soothing for epilepsy.
• Neti is excellent for those trying to give up smoking. Since it reduces the tendency for mouth breathing, Neti re-sensitizes the nose to the actual pollution of ingesting smoke, thereby de-programming the brain of the physical and psychological addiction.

And here he is being even weirder. This is Sutra Neti. Clearing your nostrils using a cord. Yikes..

This is the low down:

This is a very effective method of keeping the nasal passages open to their fullest capacity. Sutra Neti is performed by passing a cord made of cotton threads or a rubber catheter into the nose through one nostril and then out via the mouth.

Anyone watch the Six Feet Under episode where Nate makes fun of George for his nostril pot?? This is the nostril pot!

Thanks KP for this insightful journey into a place of strange, yet ancient and trustworthy information...