Rants & Raves – 03/10/12

Oh, the webbernet! It gets me all riled up with dire news and mainstream idiocy, then blammo! it hits me with something so awesome, it must be shared. Dear friends, welcome to this week’s collection of Rants & Raves.

Rants

It was a good week — I didn’t trip over too much that made me feel stabby! But I did take note of two less-than-fabulous news items. Let’s get the bad news out of the way first, shall we?

The Atlantic addresses “What’s Really Making Us Fat?”
I trust the experts who say weight management is about more than calories in/calories out — and the explanation of obesogens in the article finally pushed me to buy BPA-free containers. It seems impossible to get away from harmful plastics (and other toxins) completely, but it seems worth the effort to do what I can.

I wonder if the other thing that’s making us fat is a 24-HOUR CUPCAKE VENDING MACHINE?!
I know to some people, that’s probably the coolest thing ever, and I don’t want to be a killjoy, but… financial benefits aside, does anyone really think is is a good idea?! And while we’re on the subject: Sprinkles bakery is not the first to dispense baked goods at the drop of a coin. I was dumbfounded/shocked/(mildly) impressed/grossed out when I saw the PECAN PIE in a vending machine at a nearby roadshow market devoted to pecans. This is located a 15-minute drive from my house; see for yourself.

Starts as a Rant — Finishes as a Rave

“Holland’s Next Top Model” Wins Lawsuit for Supposedly Being Too Big
Begin rant: The very lovely and incredibly lithe Ananda Marchildon was dropped by Elite Model Management for having hips  the agency deemed to large. Her hips measured about 36.2 inches (92 cm) when she won the Next Top Model title, but the agency demanded she reduce her “girth” to 35.4 inches (90 cm). Here’s a tasty tidbit from an email written by the agency: “We agreed that you would come by us every two weeks for an evaluation, how it’s going with your diet and exercise and losing weight. We’re going to keep measuring you.”

Begin rave: Ananda declined their impolite invitation to diet — and a court ruling supported her decision. “You’re still a person and you can be as beautiful as you want and it doesn’t come down to centimeters, it’s how you are and how you portray yourself.”

Raves

And now onto the really good stuff that was delightful, enlightening, or just plain fun…

MUST READ: Stop Postponing Your Life Until You Lose Weight
If you only read one thing in this post, make it this one! Amber Karnes — adorable girl, multi-blogger, and cohort of Robb Wolf — writes passionately and challenges us to be in the present and stop postponing our missions to have the things we want. Brilliant!

Colorful Pantone “Tarts”
For foodies, designers, and artists, gorgeous colors that explore a rainbow palette but don’t tempt the palate.

From Cook’s Country: Ripening Fruit
Sure, bananas and avocados ripen on the counter, but what about citrus? This handy list outlines when you can expect fruit to improve and when you’re stuck with it. Ripening basically means in increased in internal sugar content. After some debate on Facebook, we got to the bottom of the pineapple question: Pineapples are picked when they’re fully ripe and their sugar content doesn’t increase after harvesting — even if the shell turns yellow or golden.

Gourmet Magazine Test Drives Diets, Including Paleo
See what happens when the 17 Day Diet, Dukan, Weight Watchers, and Paleo go head to head.  Look for smart quotes from one of my favorite CrossFitters, Allison Bojarski of CrossFitNYC. (I’d never heard of Dukan, but the first week sounds miserable.)

What’s better than books about food? Books about PARIS and food, of course.
I’m pretty sure no other words are necessary.

From CuteOverload: The Aupossum Bon Pain
Poor opossum! We can all relate, right?! I mean, really… who among us hasn’t wanted to chew their way through a cardboard box to get to a treat, then over indulged, only to find themselves covered in sticky evidence of their crimes and rendered immovable by the ensuing sugar coma?! Godspeed to you, little opossum, godspeed.