You know you're out of shape when you do pilates once and wake up the next day unable to move your back.
Note to self: exercise more frequently...
Hurdle hints and answers for September 30, 2026
2 hours ago
7.7.08
Cool new tool
As someone who's always looking for the best way to get (and stay organized), I've tried many things that have come along in the social media world.
I've tried Google Calendar, Remember the Milk and Mozilla Lightning.
I have a PDA, cell phone calendar, paper agenda, wall calendar, post-it collection and numerous to-do lists.
And sometimes things get messy.
So when I discovered Sandy today, I was intrigued.
Sandy is an e-mail personal assistant that sends you reminders, compiles lists and goals for you, and tries to help you be organized.
It's really easy to use. Once you get set up, you can have reminders e-mailed or texted to you, and you can even use Twitter and Jott, too.
For example, my first task for Sandy was an e-mail that said "Remind me to wash that peach in 1 minute". In one minute, I got an e-mail from Sandy reminding me to wash that peach. I could snooze the reminder, change it to a later time, mark it as done or delete it without washing the peach.
Sandy sends you a daily digest of things you need to do and remember, so that kills the need for writing it all out yourself. Unless you want to.
It's a useful little tool I recommend.
Communications blogger Shel Holtz compiled a list of a few social media tools he found useful, including Sandy.
I've tried Google Calendar, Remember the Milk and Mozilla Lightning.
I have a PDA, cell phone calendar, paper agenda, wall calendar, post-it collection and numerous to-do lists.
And sometimes things get messy.
So when I discovered Sandy today, I was intrigued.
Sandy is an e-mail personal assistant that sends you reminders, compiles lists and goals for you, and tries to help you be organized.
It's really easy to use. Once you get set up, you can have reminders e-mailed or texted to you, and you can even use Twitter and Jott, too.
For example, my first task for Sandy was an e-mail that said "Remind me to wash that peach in 1 minute". In one minute, I got an e-mail from Sandy reminding me to wash that peach. I could snooze the reminder, change it to a later time, mark it as done or delete it without washing the peach.
Sandy sends you a daily digest of things you need to do and remember, so that kills the need for writing it all out yourself. Unless you want to.
It's a useful little tool I recommend.
Communications blogger Shel Holtz compiled a list of a few social media tools he found useful, including Sandy.
6.7.08
Good eatin' at the Hacienda
A few times a year, Ian and I go for Sunday brunch at The Grill at the Hacienda del Sol resort in Tucson.
It's a little expensive ($80 for two people, including tip), especially if you're on a college-student budget.
But you don't have to eat again for the day, so it's a good deal in that sense.
Basically, The Grill hosts a large buffet spread for Sunday brunch. It isn't as big as it used to be, but it's still impressive.
Even though I'm a vegetarian, there was still plenty for me to eat: blueberry blintzes, cheese, croissants, fruit pastries, fried (lightly, not too much) potatoes, waffles, omelet, fresh fruit and a fruit salad. I tried all of those things except the waffles and omelet, and I liked everything except the fruit salad. There was also plenty of meat for carnivorous types like Ian--turkey, bacon, sausage, sushi, eggs Benedict, various salads and more.
If you are seated in the right place, the view is fantastic. Even though I felt squinty because the sun is so bright, I had a lovely view of the mountains as the storm clouds gathered around them and drifted away. The scenery is also fairly green and overlooks Tucson as the resort is nestled in the Foothills.
I'm going there with some friends on Tuesday for a wine tasting--$5 a person for the tasting and $5 off entrees for the evening. It will be the first time I visit the Grill in the evening, so it'll be a change. If it's anywhere near as good as the brunch, I'll let you know.
It's a little expensive ($80 for two people, including tip), especially if you're on a college-student budget.
But you don't have to eat again for the day, so it's a good deal in that sense.
Basically, The Grill hosts a large buffet spread for Sunday brunch. It isn't as big as it used to be, but it's still impressive.
Even though I'm a vegetarian, there was still plenty for me to eat: blueberry blintzes, cheese, croissants, fruit pastries, fried (lightly, not too much) potatoes, waffles, omelet, fresh fruit and a fruit salad. I tried all of those things except the waffles and omelet, and I liked everything except the fruit salad. There was also plenty of meat for carnivorous types like Ian--turkey, bacon, sausage, sushi, eggs Benedict, various salads and more.
If you are seated in the right place, the view is fantastic. Even though I felt squinty because the sun is so bright, I had a lovely view of the mountains as the storm clouds gathered around them and drifted away. The scenery is also fairly green and overlooks Tucson as the resort is nestled in the Foothills.
I'm going there with some friends on Tuesday for a wine tasting--$5 a person for the tasting and $5 off entrees for the evening. It will be the first time I visit the Grill in the evening, so it'll be a change. If it's anywhere near as good as the brunch, I'll let you know.
4.7.08
Independence Day
Call me anti-American all you want, but I've never been terribly excited about Independence Day, other than getting a day off from work and having an excuse to barbecue with family and friends.
I've always abhorred the garish combination of red, white and blue on clothing, foods and decorations. It reminds me of patriotism, and patriotism reminds me of Nazi Germany. (I study German history, I can't help it.)
So while I skip the gaudy "Proud to be an American" t-shirts, themed napkins and flag cakes, I hope you have a great holiday. Ponder the things that make it good to be American and dwell on the things that aren't so great about it. Because it's not all butterflies and unicorns in this country, and the more you can question things, complain and find reasons to be appalled with the government, the better off everyone will be.
I've always abhorred the garish combination of red, white and blue on clothing, foods and decorations. It reminds me of patriotism, and patriotism reminds me of Nazi Germany. (I study German history, I can't help it.)
So while I skip the gaudy "Proud to be an American" t-shirts, themed napkins and flag cakes, I hope you have a great holiday. Ponder the things that make it good to be American and dwell on the things that aren't so great about it. Because it's not all butterflies and unicorns in this country, and the more you can question things, complain and find reasons to be appalled with the government, the better off everyone will be.
3.7.08
Vacation Photos
I promised photos of my vacation would come. Rather than spend hours uploading them to blogger, here's a link to the public album on Facebook.
Enjoy.
Enjoy.
2.7.08
Shoes, shoes, shoes!
I haven't done anything with shoes in a while. So here are my "Fourth of July Week 15" (favorite finds).
Emilio Pucci galoshes, $879 on Zappos
Franco Sarto flats, $83 on Zappos
Giuseppe Zanotti Design pumps, $854 on Zappos
Givenchy pumps, $514 on Zappos
RSVP pumps, $65 on Zappos
Colin Stuart espadrilles, $36 at Victoria's Secret
Sigerson Morrison flats, $429 on Zappos
Ralph Lauren espadrilles, $149
Ralph Lauren flats, $229
BC Footwear wedges, $55 at Nordstrom
Tory Burch wedges, $295 at Nordstrom
Anthropologie wedges, $68
Anthropologie flats, $36
Ann Taylor Loft thongs, $29
Ann Taylor Loft thongs, $34
Emilio Pucci galoshes, $879 on Zappos
Franco Sarto flats, $83 on Zappos
Giuseppe Zanotti Design pumps, $854 on Zappos
Givenchy pumps, $514 on Zappos
RSVP pumps, $65 on Zappos
Colin Stuart espadrilles, $36 at Victoria's Secret
Sigerson Morrison flats, $429 on Zappos
Ralph Lauren espadrilles, $149
Ralph Lauren flats, $229
BC Footwear wedges, $55 at Nordstrom
Tory Burch wedges, $295 at Nordstrom
Anthropologie wedges, $68
Anthropologie flats, $36
Ann Taylor Loft thongs, $29
Ann Taylor Loft thongs, $34
1.7.08
Craving killers
As an American, when you get a craving for something edible, will the standard serving size do it for you?
Probably not.
Growing up I didn't know anyone who would be satisfied eating two chocolate chip cookies. I think my friends and I could eat at least a box and still be thinking about food when we were in middle school.
Even though the serving size won't cut it, most of us *I hope* are still smart enough to know that the more you eat, the more weight you gain--unless you're one of those lucky people with an amazing metabolism (I hate you).
So I thought it was funny reading this article my mom sent me about curbing food cravings without needing to go up a pant size.
I know my cravings usually result from boredom. So I drink something--usually water, milk or orange juice. Or those great Vita Rain (Talking Rain) drinks sold at Costco that aren't glutted with corn syrup, much unlike those horrid Vitamin Water drinks that purport to be so healthy for you.
The suggestion that eating a small piece of chocolate will hold you over...not gonna cut it. There's a fine line between teasing yourself and pleasing yourself in this case. If you think, "OK, I'm just going to eat one square of chocolate because I'm going to drop dead if I don't," you'll probably open the packaging, inhale that heavenly scent, and devour the whole thing before you know it. At the same time, if you decide to with hold and just drink a gallon of water to force yourself to be full, the craving's just going to grow and you'll end up feeling entitled to much more than you should eat.
The safest way to approach the munchies, I think, is to drink something first. Then think about it. Find something to do that's involved and not just busy work. Then, if you're still hungry for, say, Cheetos, drink something else and eat some Cheetos--but not the whole bag. If that still doesn't work, go somewhere else (run errands, go to the mall, anything!) and find something new to occupy you. And if that doesn't work, it's probably time for a meal. And if you don't want to go through the whole try-this-then-that ordeal, just fix a meal and thwart the craving.
And no, don't snack while you're cooking. That defeats the purpose.
Another option: try eating something healthy that's like what you crave. So for sugary candy, try fruit--and fruit that you like, not just fruit you'll force yourself to eat because it's healthy and you feel like you have to. And if you don't like fruit, well, there's no help for you.
And dangit, this post just gave the munchies.
Probably not.
Growing up I didn't know anyone who would be satisfied eating two chocolate chip cookies. I think my friends and I could eat at least a box and still be thinking about food when we were in middle school.
Even though the serving size won't cut it, most of us *I hope* are still smart enough to know that the more you eat, the more weight you gain--unless you're one of those lucky people with an amazing metabolism (I hate you).
So I thought it was funny reading this article my mom sent me about curbing food cravings without needing to go up a pant size.
I know my cravings usually result from boredom. So I drink something--usually water, milk or orange juice. Or those great Vita Rain (Talking Rain) drinks sold at Costco that aren't glutted with corn syrup, much unlike those horrid Vitamin Water drinks that purport to be so healthy for you.
The suggestion that eating a small piece of chocolate will hold you over...not gonna cut it. There's a fine line between teasing yourself and pleasing yourself in this case. If you think, "OK, I'm just going to eat one square of chocolate because I'm going to drop dead if I don't," you'll probably open the packaging, inhale that heavenly scent, and devour the whole thing before you know it. At the same time, if you decide to with hold and just drink a gallon of water to force yourself to be full, the craving's just going to grow and you'll end up feeling entitled to much more than you should eat.
The safest way to approach the munchies, I think, is to drink something first. Then think about it. Find something to do that's involved and not just busy work. Then, if you're still hungry for, say, Cheetos, drink something else and eat some Cheetos--but not the whole bag. If that still doesn't work, go somewhere else (run errands, go to the mall, anything!) and find something new to occupy you. And if that doesn't work, it's probably time for a meal. And if you don't want to go through the whole try-this-then-that ordeal, just fix a meal and thwart the craving.
And no, don't snack while you're cooking. That defeats the purpose.
Another option: try eating something healthy that's like what you crave. So for sugary candy, try fruit--and fruit that you like, not just fruit you'll force yourself to eat because it's healthy and you feel like you have to. And if you don't like fruit, well, there's no help for you.
And dangit, this post just gave the munchies.
30.6.08
My favorite place
My grandmother, who works for the economic sector at the U.S. Embassy in Berlin (on the German side--she's not American) sent me this New York Times article about Berlin, which I think is a) well-written and b) an interesting take on travel writing--as in the style used being in the "you" voice and third-person, rather than the "I" voice. It's a cool lens to look at the city through.
Berlin really is my favorite city. This article gives just a few reasons why.
Berlin really is my favorite city. This article gives just a few reasons why.
29.6.08
A safe return
I have returned from my one week of vacation this summer. Chicago was fantastic. The rest of the Midwest was probably nice, but I got a sinus infection so I didn't appreciate it nearly as much.
The best thing: Chicago, in general. Although I was disappointed with the eating situation there. I expected to find wonderful restaurants on every corner (like you do in Berlin, or even Tucson). Instead, all we could find in Downtown were McDonalds, Subway, Jimmy John's and Chipotle. Am I missing something? Where's all the world class cuisine promised me?
The worst thing: Being sick and sitting in a car for three days. Or rather, just being sick in general. I hate you, sinuses.
Some photos to follow soon.
The best thing: Chicago, in general. Although I was disappointed with the eating situation there. I expected to find wonderful restaurants on every corner (like you do in Berlin, or even Tucson). Instead, all we could find in Downtown were McDonalds, Subway, Jimmy John's and Chipotle. Am I missing something? Where's all the world class cuisine promised me?
The worst thing: Being sick and sitting in a car for three days. Or rather, just being sick in general. I hate you, sinuses.
Some photos to follow soon.
12.6.08
Social Media Sites Abound
Part of the research I do at work is in researching new social media--that's anything in the realm of Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and last.fm.
One thing my research has shown in the last week is that there are so many new social media sites popping up that I will never be able to catalog them all.
I think it's fascinating there are so many reasons people decide to build social networking sites. Some of those reasons are actually pretty dumb, but others are really neat.
Some sites I found this week that I think are cool:
LearnHub
It's all about exchanging knowledge. Anyone can form a "community" about something and use it to create lessons, tests and trivia to help other people learn more about that topic. You can be a student and a teacher at once, offer tutoring sessions and even make money by teaching a course. Sure, if you haven't got all the time in the world, this may seem like more time-wasting idiocy. But when is learning something new ever a bad thing? I dig it.
Chictopia
As stupid as it sounds, the fashion-lover in me shouted for joy when I found this site. It's a social network for fashion lovers--the motto is "ordinary people can be super models, too". The great part is that it's for guys and girls, and you can learn what's most flattering for your shape while you're on there. You put in your personal and size information (everything from pant size to bra size if you're a lady), write a few things about your style philosophy, and start posting photos of yourself in various outfits, or your favorite accessories, in your ChicBlog. If you look super-stylish, your photo gets picked to go into the gallery and others can vote on how chic you look, and comment about what they love most. While the pursuit is, at its heart, shallow in every way, I think it has useful (and fun!) applications.
mEgo
This thing creates an Avatar for you that you can post on your blog, Web site, social networks, etc., with all of your information in one place. The review on Mashable said it was a two-hour commitment to make an avatar, which could be a bad thing if you're a busy bee. Another downside the review cited was that the widget felt a lot like MySpace--which I characterize as trashy and difficult to navigate. I tried the widget (you can see mine on the right sidebar, under the blog archive) and didn't think it was that bad. There is the possibility of making a trashy, flashy, overpowering-looking avatar, but hopefully you won't do that. It also didn't take me two long to create the avatar--maybe half hour tops, but then I am a 20-something Web whiz, right?
Glassdoor
This network is nifty for anyone job searching. When you create a profile you can look at information about different companies--everything from ratings of the management to salaries in the position you're looking at. This is particularly interesting since so many companies have that "you may not discuss your salary with anyone" policy that usually accompanies unequal and unethical salary assignment.
These are just specks in the spectrum of social media I've discovered lately, but I think they're worthwhile. None moreso than Facebook or studiVZ, though. :-)
One thing my research has shown in the last week is that there are so many new social media sites popping up that I will never be able to catalog them all.
I think it's fascinating there are so many reasons people decide to build social networking sites. Some of those reasons are actually pretty dumb, but others are really neat.
Some sites I found this week that I think are cool:
LearnHub
It's all about exchanging knowledge. Anyone can form a "community" about something and use it to create lessons, tests and trivia to help other people learn more about that topic. You can be a student and a teacher at once, offer tutoring sessions and even make money by teaching a course. Sure, if you haven't got all the time in the world, this may seem like more time-wasting idiocy. But when is learning something new ever a bad thing? I dig it.
Chictopia
As stupid as it sounds, the fashion-lover in me shouted for joy when I found this site. It's a social network for fashion lovers--the motto is "ordinary people can be super models, too". The great part is that it's for guys and girls, and you can learn what's most flattering for your shape while you're on there. You put in your personal and size information (everything from pant size to bra size if you're a lady), write a few things about your style philosophy, and start posting photos of yourself in various outfits, or your favorite accessories, in your ChicBlog. If you look super-stylish, your photo gets picked to go into the gallery and others can vote on how chic you look, and comment about what they love most. While the pursuit is, at its heart, shallow in every way, I think it has useful (and fun!) applications.
mEgo
This thing creates an Avatar for you that you can post on your blog, Web site, social networks, etc., with all of your information in one place. The review on Mashable said it was a two-hour commitment to make an avatar, which could be a bad thing if you're a busy bee. Another downside the review cited was that the widget felt a lot like MySpace--which I characterize as trashy and difficult to navigate. I tried the widget (you can see mine on the right sidebar, under the blog archive) and didn't think it was that bad. There is the possibility of making a trashy, flashy, overpowering-looking avatar, but hopefully you won't do that. It also didn't take me two long to create the avatar--maybe half hour tops, but then I am a 20-something Web whiz, right?
Glassdoor
This network is nifty for anyone job searching. When you create a profile you can look at information about different companies--everything from ratings of the management to salaries in the position you're looking at. This is particularly interesting since so many companies have that "you may not discuss your salary with anyone" policy that usually accompanies unequal and unethical salary assignment.
These are just specks in the spectrum of social media I've discovered lately, but I think they're worthwhile. None moreso than Facebook or studiVZ, though. :-)
9.6.08
Nutrition Homepage...Found!
So I keep track of my food life online, at Fitday. I do this not so I can scrutinize everything I've eaten as extra fat grams, but rather to see if I'm getting enough vitamins, calcium, protein, etc.
One of the pains about the site is that you have to manually put in food that isn't already in the site's tiny, junk-f00d riddled database.
Sometimes I just don't have the nutrition information with me. And I hate that.
But I just discovered Nutritiondata.com, the official Web site for those little labels on food packaging. Genius, huh?
Not only does the site have nutrition information for practically everything, but it has a conversion tool so cooking with a German recipe doesn't turn into a ridiculous math problem.
Yay, right? Yay!
One of the pains about the site is that you have to manually put in food that isn't already in the site's tiny, junk-f00d riddled database.
Sometimes I just don't have the nutrition information with me. And I hate that.
But I just discovered Nutritiondata.com, the official Web site for those little labels on food packaging. Genius, huh?
Not only does the site have nutrition information for practically everything, but it has a conversion tool so cooking with a German recipe doesn't turn into a ridiculous math problem.
Yay, right? Yay!
7.6.08
Bicycling Indecency
I read something vaguely ridiculous yesterday.
So there's this naked bike ride taking place in Tucson.
It's really not a big deal--they happen all over the world, and the point is to show how vulnerable bicyclists are as they ride alongside Hummers and monster trucks (although that's mostly on U.S. streets).
The ridiculous part is that people can't really do it all the way in Tucson unless they want the potential of being slapped with a misdemeanor or class 6 felony for public indecency.
Basically, you can't show anything between your waist and thighs, and women can't show their nipples OR any part of the areola. (It's not fair that men get fewer restrictions, for one thing). Sounds like common-sense decency from an American point of view, but the more I think about it, the whole law bit just seems so stupid.
I mean, if you're really staring at a bunch of naked people on bicycles, you deserve to be grossed out, right?
Oh, America the prudish, you've struck again!
So there's this naked bike ride taking place in Tucson.
It's really not a big deal--they happen all over the world, and the point is to show how vulnerable bicyclists are as they ride alongside Hummers and monster trucks (although that's mostly on U.S. streets).
The ridiculous part is that people can't really do it all the way in Tucson unless they want the potential of being slapped with a misdemeanor or class 6 felony for public indecency.
Basically, you can't show anything between your waist and thighs, and women can't show their nipples OR any part of the areola. (It's not fair that men get fewer restrictions, for one thing). Sounds like common-sense decency from an American point of view, but the more I think about it, the whole law bit just seems so stupid.
I mean, if you're really staring at a bunch of naked people on bicycles, you deserve to be grossed out, right?
Oh, America the prudish, you've struck again!
6.6.08
Call for Cafes
I'm not a big coffee drinker.
I definitely don't drink it every day, although I used to during my first two years of college. And then I realized all the double shots were making me porky.
I only drink coffee or espresso drinks as part of my social routine these days.
My favorite cafe in Tucson has long been Espresso Art.
It has this comfortable European atmosphere, good espresso drinks, smoothies and pastries, and ample seating. I even played my harp recital there in March. It's a bit expensive, but I just love the place.
My friend Jamie is an espresso connoisseur. She also digs Espresso Art, but now she's got a new favorite at Cafe Luce, the evil competitor cafe on campus that I abstained from trying for a whole year.
So we went there together, and it's not bad. Jamie claims the cappuccino's cheaper, but I can't tell since I rarely just get a cappuccino. She also says it's consistently the best cappuccino in Tucson. I guess she would know.
*On a side note, I just found a really cool blog about Arizona coffee shops. Lots of neat photos of coffee art. Worth checking out.*
I'm curious. If you're reading this, what's your favorite coffee shop or cafe, regardless of your location?
I definitely don't drink it every day, although I used to during my first two years of college. And then I realized all the double shots were making me porky.
I only drink coffee or espresso drinks as part of my social routine these days.
My favorite cafe in Tucson has long been Espresso Art.
It has this comfortable European atmosphere, good espresso drinks, smoothies and pastries, and ample seating. I even played my harp recital there in March. It's a bit expensive, but I just love the place.
My friend Jamie is an espresso connoisseur. She also digs Espresso Art, but now she's got a new favorite at Cafe Luce, the evil competitor cafe on campus that I abstained from trying for a whole year.
So we went there together, and it's not bad. Jamie claims the cappuccino's cheaper, but I can't tell since I rarely just get a cappuccino. She also says it's consistently the best cappuccino in Tucson. I guess she would know.
*On a side note, I just found a really cool blog about Arizona coffee shops. Lots of neat photos of coffee art. Worth checking out.*
I'm curious. If you're reading this, what's your favorite coffee shop or cafe, regardless of your location?
5.6.08
A Perfect Ending
I went to see Sex and the City with some friends last night. It was a nice birthday gift from Steffi.With any movie based on a TV series, there's a danger of it sucking. And since I am a fan of the six-season-long Sex and the City TV show, I was prepared to be disappointed.
Luckily, I was over-prepared.
The movie was delightful. I thought it was the perfect ending for the TV show and didn't have any oddly unexplainable gaps after a three year hiatus. The characters were all the same, their attitudes and personalities hadn't changed, and I was in SATC heaven.
I had heard of bad reviews of the movie, but I didn't want to read them and have them ruin my experience. I personally give the movie five stars. I even cried four times (half from happiness). What could be better!
4.6.08
This is a real blog
A few years ago I got a hateful comment on my blog (in a comment about one long-ago post about skinny jeans, someone told me I needed to get a life--I suspect this one someone wearing skinny jeans at the time). [In a youthful indiscretion I deleted the comment, which I now would not do--I'm all for free expression and rollicking discussion.]
That's step one towards becoming a real blogger/having a real blog.
Step two is getting a media call/e-mail/something about one of your blog posts.
This happened today, when a journalist from the Arizona Daily Star asked me to talk about hypermiling, which I wrote a post about in May.
After three years, this has become a real blog. Yay!
That's step one towards becoming a real blogger/having a real blog.
Step two is getting a media call/e-mail/something about one of your blog posts.
This happened today, when a journalist from the Arizona Daily Star asked me to talk about hypermiling, which I wrote a post about in May.
After three years, this has become a real blog. Yay!
3.6.08
Combatting Poor Body Image
One thing that has happened (in some places) over the past few years is a campaign for women in the U.S. to accept themselves as they are.
One article does this by giving quotes from men who are love women of different body times, from the plump to the pencil-legged and beyond.
Other articles, like those in some women's magazines, try to give fashion tips for women of differing body types. The problem with these is that the models are usually just that--models ascribed to the rungs of "normal modely type" and "plus-size modely type" and therefore not realistic at all. I guess they work as mere guidelines.
Marie Claire does, however, have a Virtual Model program on its Web site that allows you to find "the best fashion for your figure", and the models are fairly realistic looking--you can expand or decrease the size of the model to look more accurately like your figure. The clothing they've chosen to include are really frumpy, though. Your three choices are Land's End (eh), Sears (EW!), Levi Strauss Signature and Speedo.
I heard a really fantastic program on NPR last year about women around the world (and men and whole countries) trying to combat body image (and modern health) woes--something I strongly feel started in the U.S. with our bulemic, plasticized, whitened-teeth alternate reality.
While running small campaigns to make women feel better about themselves is a step in the right direction, I have a feeling it's not going to do much to make most women feel better about themselves. I mean, just stepping into any high-class mall makes you feel like purging your last meal (and skipping the next), and looking at our celebrity role models--especially those lauded for being curvy in all their size four glory--doesn't do any body good.
I think this is just one of those problems we're stuck with. Forever.
What do you think?
One article does this by giving quotes from men who are love women of different body times, from the plump to the pencil-legged and beyond.
Other articles, like those in some women's magazines, try to give fashion tips for women of differing body types. The problem with these is that the models are usually just that--models ascribed to the rungs of "normal modely type" and "plus-size modely type" and therefore not realistic at all. I guess they work as mere guidelines.
Marie Claire does, however, have a Virtual Model program on its Web site that allows you to find "the best fashion for your figure", and the models are fairly realistic looking--you can expand or decrease the size of the model to look more accurately like your figure. The clothing they've chosen to include are really frumpy, though. Your three choices are Land's End (eh), Sears (EW!), Levi Strauss Signature and Speedo.
I heard a really fantastic program on NPR last year about women around the world (and men and whole countries) trying to combat body image (and modern health) woes--something I strongly feel started in the U.S. with our bulemic, plasticized, whitened-teeth alternate reality.
While running small campaigns to make women feel better about themselves is a step in the right direction, I have a feeling it's not going to do much to make most women feel better about themselves. I mean, just stepping into any high-class mall makes you feel like purging your last meal (and skipping the next), and looking at our celebrity role models--especially those lauded for being curvy in all their size four glory--doesn't do any body good.
I think this is just one of those problems we're stuck with. Forever.
What do you think?
2.6.08
Sushi makes the world go 'round
Not sure if I've mentioned this before, but I LOVE sushi.
I'm a vegetarian, sure, but that doesn't mean I don't dig the veggie-only varieties.
My favorites? Cucumber rolls, veggie rolls and avocado rolls. Sort of spans the entire spectrum, but they're just so good.
So I recently tried Sushi Cho--twice. Once with my editor, once with my boyfriend. Both times were pleasant experiences.
The fare is cheaper than at most of the sushi restaurants we've tried in Tucson. The cucumber and avocado rolls are pretty small, but they're cheap enough to make up for it.
The veggie rolls are more expensive--and you discover why once they land on your table. They are MASSIVE--bigger than the palm of my hand. I found it impossible to eat them with chopsticks--I swallowed my pride and just used my hands. My editor approved. Those things were huge.
I also tried the avocado and cucumber rolls. More of the same, right? Actually, it was just right. If I were only mildly hungry and wanted sushi, just getting one avocado and cucumber roll would do it for me. Dee-lish.
The other stuff is good, too, from what I hear. My boyfriend tried the crunchy roll--cucumber and tempura shrimp wrapped in seaweed and rice, doused with tempura crumbs. He seemed satisfied. I haven't heard complaints about anything else.
Edamame? Good. Tempura veggie appetizer? Good. Teriyaki chicken? Heard it was all right. Vegetable yakisoba? Heard it was pretty good--although differently flavored than the yakisoba at Sushi Ten.
The service is also decent--my water was constantly refilled the second time I went (although the first time the waitress was careless and never came back to see if I had enough water, and I finished my first glass within five minutes and practically died of thirst during the rest of the meal).
A note for strict vegetarians: don't eat the soup. It's got fish stock in it.
But as far as Sushi Cho goes, I highly recommend it.
I'm a vegetarian, sure, but that doesn't mean I don't dig the veggie-only varieties.
My favorites? Cucumber rolls, veggie rolls and avocado rolls. Sort of spans the entire spectrum, but they're just so good.
So I recently tried Sushi Cho--twice. Once with my editor, once with my boyfriend. Both times were pleasant experiences.
The fare is cheaper than at most of the sushi restaurants we've tried in Tucson. The cucumber and avocado rolls are pretty small, but they're cheap enough to make up for it.
The veggie rolls are more expensive--and you discover why once they land on your table. They are MASSIVE--bigger than the palm of my hand. I found it impossible to eat them with chopsticks--I swallowed my pride and just used my hands. My editor approved. Those things were huge.
I also tried the avocado and cucumber rolls. More of the same, right? Actually, it was just right. If I were only mildly hungry and wanted sushi, just getting one avocado and cucumber roll would do it for me. Dee-lish.The other stuff is good, too, from what I hear. My boyfriend tried the crunchy roll--cucumber and tempura shrimp wrapped in seaweed and rice, doused with tempura crumbs. He seemed satisfied. I haven't heard complaints about anything else.
Edamame? Good. Tempura veggie appetizer? Good. Teriyaki chicken? Heard it was all right. Vegetable yakisoba? Heard it was pretty good--although differently flavored than the yakisoba at Sushi Ten.
The service is also decent--my water was constantly refilled the second time I went (although the first time the waitress was careless and never came back to see if I had enough water, and I finished my first glass within five minutes and practically died of thirst during the rest of the meal).
A note for strict vegetarians: don't eat the soup. It's got fish stock in it.
But as far as Sushi Cho goes, I highly recommend it.
1.6.08
Cheaper tuition at elite schools?
So Harvard and a few other schools are making it easier for poor people to get in. And by poor, they mean anyone whose family makes less than $60,000 a year.
Good, right?
According to an article I read, these schools are getting rid of student loans, capping the Expected Family Contribution and giving away grants.
Does that mean everyone will have an easier chance of getting in? No.
It just means that the poor people who know someone who know someone who works at Harvard will be able to afford going there once they get in. Cutting costs doesn't change the admissions process. Even if you have a 4.0 GPA, stellar GRE scores and a fantastic 12-page CV, you probably won't be able to reap the benefits of these "cheaper" programs unless you've got contacts.
That sort of spoils it for everyone who got their hopes up, doesn't it?
Good, right?
According to an article I read, these schools are getting rid of student loans, capping the Expected Family Contribution and giving away grants.
Does that mean everyone will have an easier chance of getting in? No.
It just means that the poor people who know someone who know someone who works at Harvard will be able to afford going there once they get in. Cutting costs doesn't change the admissions process. Even if you have a 4.0 GPA, stellar GRE scores and a fantastic 12-page CV, you probably won't be able to reap the benefits of these "cheaper" programs unless you've got contacts.
That sort of spoils it for everyone who got their hopes up, doesn't it?
29.5.08
More parking problems in the works?
As if the shrinking amount of parking on the UA campus isn't enough to think about, the City of Tucson is talking change in the realm of parking meters.
Not in getting rid of them and creating more free public parking, but rather replacing the parking meters we have now with newer meters that take credit cards and cash, control 10 meters at a time and call the parking authority when it's time to give you a ticket.
There's going to be a pilot program this fall for three months to see if the new meters work in Tucson. There will be a few on University Avenue, but the majority will be downtown.
Apparently other cities have tried them. In New York, the worked well. But in other places, people found them too confusing and hard to use. I can only guess how they'll be received in Tucson...
Not in getting rid of them and creating more free public parking, but rather replacing the parking meters we have now with newer meters that take credit cards and cash, control 10 meters at a time and call the parking authority when it's time to give you a ticket.
There's going to be a pilot program this fall for three months to see if the new meters work in Tucson. There will be a few on University Avenue, but the majority will be downtown.
Apparently other cities have tried them. In New York, the worked well. But in other places, people found them too confusing and hard to use. I can only guess how they'll be received in Tucson...
22.5.08
Way of the future
If you've looked at the New York Times lately, you might have seen an article by Paul Krugman about the future.
"Stranded in Suburbia" basically said the rest of the Western world needs to pay attention to Berlin, Germany, to figure out how to progress.
Although there are a lot of problems in Berlin, Krugman's got a point. Basically, more public transportation + densely populated areas close to public transportation, shopping and jobs = efficient and better than what we have now.
As I've always said, we really need (better) public transportation in Arizona.
I encourage you to read the article.
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