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Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Mrs. O to the Hula Hoops

You've all doubtless heard the story about Michelle Obama hula hooping on the White House lawn, to promote "childrens' health". In case you haven't, here's the picture:


(AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)

And the story: Michelle Obama Hula Hoops to Promote Kids' Health

But did you see the recipes selected to represent Healthy Eating?
No? Take a look.

We have Baked Sliced Apples and Baked Eggs for breakfast. Zucchini Quesadilla for lunch and Sweet and Zesty Popcorn and Creamy Salsa Dip for snacks.

Just for fun, I put a couple into FitDay to see what came up.

By my assumptions (on serving sizes etc.) and Fitdays' calculations, the Baked Sliced Apples came in about 30 grams of carbs per serving, the popcorn snack at 81.8 grams of carbs per serving and the Zucchini Quesadilla at approximately 44 grams of carbs per serving.

Now granted these numbers will vary according to the assumptions made about ingredients and serving sizes.

However, it is no assumption that most of the recipes are low fat, calling for low fat cheddar cheese and popcorn, and only a token amount of butter in the Baked Eggs (and Potatoes) for much needed taste. I'm a little surprised they let the butter in at all, but perhaps they felt the turkey sausage was adequate compensation.

Healthy kids?

Not grown by government.

The Environmentally Friendly Way to Slaughter Animals

Remotely. From thousands of miles away. And they whine about "canned" hunts.

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

From Meatless Monday to Fat Friday

The Baltimore School District has taken up the banner of Meatless Mondays. This is a government (taxpayer) funded school district, feeding children.

And they are planning to intentionally deprive those children of meat at least one day a week.

Now, if that isn't bad enough, let's look at this practice in combination with some other alarming school related policies simmering around the country.

In Philadelphia, the principals are being graded on the number of Breakfasts the school district serves.

Breakfast participation will be part of the report card that rates principals each year, along with categories such as attendance and math and reading performance.


Here's a sample breakfast from the Philadelphia School District:

Rice Krispies
Graham Crackers
Pineapple Juice
1% Milk


I'm looking really hard for some protein or saturated fats. Nada. In case you are unaware of the history of the Graham cracker, take a few minutes to be amused. Of vegetarians, by vegetarians, for vegetarians. For the suppression of sexual urges. Hmm. All other health/carbohydrate problems aside, do you think maybe the school district has some ulterior motives in pushing this dish so prominently?

Back on track. So far, we have in these two school districts a real drive toward a high carb, low protein, low healthy fat diet, extended to breakfast.

Now let's not forget the president's recent push to extend the school day. If the children are going to school until 5 pm, is it a stretch at all to anticipate that soon the government would be feeding them supper as well?

Meatless, of course.

Beyond the weird anti-paleo dogma, meat is expensive. And if those anti-paleos have their way, it will be even more expensive once cap and trade sets in. So of course, school districts will jump on any band wagon that allows them to cut corners in their mandate to feed the children. Just like they are cutting corners in their mandate to feed the prisoners.

In fact, it may have already begun.

"Children are the next targets.” Fallon cites an Illinois school district pilot lunch program that is using textured soy protein instead of meat in popular dishes such as chili, spaghetti sauce, lasagna and imitation chicken nuggets.


Meatless Monday, Tofu Tuesday, Wimpy Wednesday, Tired Thursday and Fat Friday.

What everyone misses

or noone believes, summed up in this brilliant quote from J.H. Huebert:

I respectfully submit that any strategy that relies on enlightened federal officials declining to abuse their power never held much promise at all.


Whenever you try to educate people about the problems with any particular piece of government legislation, they always come back with "oh, it's well meant, and they'll never go after you for violating it".

That's wrong. Why can't more people see that?

A law in North Carolina that makes it illegal not to recycle plastic bottles. While it's wrong on so many levels, one of them in particular illustrates this quote.

State officials say ordinary citizens need not worry about being penalized if they forget to salvage every last bottle. No one will be picking through trash cans or searching for recycling scofflaws.

Any fines that would be assessed would likely come from state landfill inspectors if they spotted a trash hauler trying to dump large amounts of banned items. But even that is pretty unlikely.

For now, the state is concentrating on making the public aware of the law and encouraging more communities to set up strong recycling programs.


A law just to raise public awareness? Well why the heck didn't they just pass a binding resolution that all the politicians favored this action, and not attach any penalties or requirements at all?

Now we have a recession on, and local governments are starting to get really strict with laws they never enforced before, to raise revenue. The laws ride in on a wave of emotion, and pass because they have great potential to raise lots of money, should the state ever need it. Now that states are beginning to "need" the revenue, perhaps some people will start to think before they vote.

But go ahead, citoyen. Live your comfortable life, feel good about all the laws your government passes to raise awareness, and pray to your gods that you stay in their good favor, and their pocket books stay full on someone elses' back.


Thursday, October 1, 2009

Margarine is worse than spanking.

First, we were told that spanking a kid will lower it's IQ by a whopping 2.8 points.

Then we found out that simply having a second child will force a 2 point IQ drop.

Now, we learn that reputable scientists have removed spanking from the top of the LIST OF DANGERS TO CHILDRENS IQ and replaced it with...margarine.

Margarine merits a full 3 point drop.

Of course, I'm sure the "scientists" didn't control for the fact that parents who would feed a kid margarine are probably a few IQ points short of a Mensa membership themselves.