San Francisco Treat

The San Francisco board of supervisors has voted by a veto-proof margin to ban Happy Meals that have foods containing excess sugar and fats. The LA Times states, "under the ordinance, scheduled to take effect in December 2011, restaurants may include a toy with a meal if the food and drink combined contain fewer than 600 calories, and if less than 35% of the calories come from fat." The new ordinance also requires Happy Meals (meals containing toys) to have a serving of a fruit of vegetable in the meal.
Considering that at least half of American adults, and almost one-third of American children are overwieght, including fruit or vegetables in Happy Meals seems like a great idea. On the other hand, consumers have their right to choose what to stuff their faces with, even if it is as the expense of their child's health. Parents don't want the government making choices for them (especially when it comes to their kids), but many others believe that due to the obesity epidemic in America government needs to step in and regulate what people eat.
Here's the thing: many parents are NOT responsible for their health, or their kids' health. Here's a concept: make your own sandwiches. Buy some fruit. Drink WATER. Your children will thank you later-when they are not overwieght, suffering from diabetes, and having heart problems.
Parents are not entirely to blame. McDonalds has put toys in Happy Meals for years, knowing that children will ask for the meal to get the toy. McDonalds could add fruit and vegetables to the meals, and still give the toy, but they more than likely think that without the addictive sugar, fat, and additives, kids won't want the Happy Meals.
Consumers have a right to chose what they want to eat. San Fransisco's local government is simply trying to reverse the widespread disease of obesity in this country. Too bad people cannot just eat healthy and choose wisely. The government should not have to butt in on this issue-or decide what consumers should buy. Hopefully this is the start of a nation wide movement of people deciding for themselves to eat healthy and choose healthy foods for their kids.

I Can Afford To Be Suze Orman For Halloween

So, Halloween is a day away, and adults all across America are scrambling for a costume. Adults...scrambling...for costumes? My husband said it best when he said that adults should be one thing for Halloween: adults. Stop wasting money in this economy on cat ears, slutty nurse costumes, Spiderman outfits, and buy yourself some dignity. Unless that doctor at your friend's Halloween party claiming to have gone to Yale shows you his diploma, run, don't walk to the next barrell to bob for apples.

Going to a Halloween party is not out of the question. Going to a Halloween party dressed as a Jersey Shore character at the age of 30 is not only out of the question, it is downright embarrassing. Stop it! It's not cute. It's pathetic. Put the money you are going to spend on Situation's foam abs in a B-A-N-K account. Instead of Googling, "Halloween costumes", Google, "Credit Union". Or call Suze Orman, she will tell you if you can really afford to look like a slut for 5 hours on October 31st.

Whatever you do, don't give in to the pressure. Not everyone's doing it (hopefully). Stay home and watch the History Channel like a real adult (okay, don't be THAT boring), or CNBC's To Catch A Predator (at least you will know whose house to NOT send your kids to Trick-or-Treat). If you HAVE to dress up, pretend to be someone with a little common sense. Steven Slater. Nancy Grace. Jon Stewart. Keep Halloween classy, people.

So, when you are downing your 3rd Pumpkin Martini at So-and-So's costume party, remember that the guy hitting on you is not a doctor. He is a community college dropout living in his parent's basement. Tell him to Google, "Suze Orman's Can I Afford It?" Then be prepared to lend him your cell phone to call her show. Because, let's face it, he spent all his hard earned McDonald's money on that pair of scrubs not an iPhone. Now go buy 10 packs of Crest White Strips, an amazing shiny pink jacket, and the shortest I'm-not-a-lesbian-blond wig you can find. And be prepared to get a whole lot of annoying, "Who-are-you-supposed-to-be?" type questions. But who cares, at least you could afford your costume.

"What if this is as good as it gets?" Melvin Udall

Jack Nicholson won an Oscar for his portrayal of Melvin Udall in the Oscar nominated film, "As Good As It Gets." He portrayed a man with OCD who was so set in his ways that he was avoiding love, friendship, and enjoyment in his life. Many Floridians who are voting November 2nd may feel like Melvin; stuck in their political ways, avoiding feeling love for any political figure, and not enjoying the state of the economy. With the upcoming Florida Governor election, has the state of Florida recognized the best of the best when it comes to who can run the Sunshine State?

No matter what party in which one is affiliated, a registered voter has to wonder, "Do I really want to vote for this person?" Does Rick Scott (R) really get a voter fired up about the future of the state? Does Alex Sink (D) really have the trust of voters from Pensacola to the Florida Keys? Sigh. A man accused of fraud, and a woman accused of being responsible for the sub prime mortgage flop is all we could drudge up to run the peninsula. Is this as good as it gets?

For those who did not see the 1997 film, Melvin was stubborn. So are voters. Melvin was a complainer. So are voters. Melvin was cranky. So are voters. The only person to blame for Melvin's life not going in the direction he wished it would go, was Melvin himself. Sound familiar, voters? The only people to blame for the two major party candidates on the ballot are the Melvins of Florida. The stubborn, complaining, cranky voters, who begrudgingly vote for their party candidate in the primary, then are less than excited when it comes time in the general election. Same story, different ballot.

Melvin's story, however, has a happy ending. Not a fairy tale, over the top, romantic ending, but a happy one. Melvin softens and falls for Carol, a waitress played by Helen Hunt. He befriends a homosexual artist named Simon. Melvin was able to overcome his need to insult everyone who crossed his path.

So, on November 2nd, take a good look at your ballot. Do you really want to vote for a candidate who is as good as it gets? It is hard to believe that out of all the eligible people in Florida, the list of candidates is less than impressive. Voters rely on their neighbors to vote for a party candidate, instead of rallying together for a middle class, family oriented, personable citizen to run for office. It's time Floridians realize that in order to have the state they want, they need to change. It's time for the Sunshine State to have its happy ending. And if Melvin can change, anyone can.

Raise Your Hand if You Own a Remote Control

If you have a TV, chances are you also have a remote control that allows you to choose what programs to watch. For many, Glee is one of the chosen shows. Director Ryan Murphy (Nip/Tuck) intended for the show to be an advocate of arts ( in this case,music) programs in high schools. During the course of any one show, Glee members are "slushied"-slushie drinks are thrown on them-for being nerds. There are so many love triangles between the characters, General Hospital is starting to look like Barney and Friends. And who can forget Sue Sylvester and her pure and utter hatred of glee club's director, Mr. Schue's hair. Sounds entertaining. Many people, young and old, choose to watch and sing along with the Glee characters every Tuesday. But how young is too young?

With the recent Glee cast GQ photo shoot controversy, many are asking, "Is Glee really family friendly?". The cast members are in their 20s,but they do portray high schoolers on Glee. High schoolers who have same sex kisses, get pregnant, and suggest threesomes with other glee club members. So, it takes a suggestive cover for parents to wonder if their child should be watching this show? Last week's Glee epsiode began with two female Cheerios (the show's fictional cheer squad) making out on one of the girl's bed. Kid friendly? A few episodes before that, two other charcters, Finn and Rachael are going at it in her room, and he is grabbing (over the shirt) her I-just-went-through-puberty-boob. Kid friendly? In another recent episode, John Stamos guest starred as a charming dentist. The girls went to his office to "get their teeth cleaned", and in the process suggestive and sexual innuendos were made. One female character on the show did a dream/fantasy scence with Stamos where she danced, er, thrusted, on top of him while he was in a dentist chair. 12 year olds are watching this?

The GQ cover is in-your-face proof that Glee is not intended for a young audience. But, we are a reactive society, and Glee was considered "cute", "cheeky" (no pun intended), and "positive," until yesterday's GQ magazine came out on stands. The show was never intended for a young audience, but seems innocent enough at first watch. Lessons of acceptance, forgiveness, and authenticity are taught to viewers through the show each week. Some parents are upset that Glee cast members participated in the shoot. They are concerned their child may see the cover and recognize the cast in barely there outfits and sexy poses. These parents should be concerned-about their parenting skills. TVs do not turn themselves on and tune into shows children should not be watching. So, if you don't have a remote (which I doubt), go get one, put the kids to bed, turn to FOX sing along to Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'". But not too loud, the kids are sleeping.

Not Hot for Teacher

MySpace. Facebook. Twitter. People are using social networks to connect with old friends, distant relatives, and search for jobs. People from high school who have not spoken in 10 years friend request an old classmate they spoke maybe two words at during Freshman English. Your mom's-cousin's-boyfriend's dog walker who you never met wants to be friends just because Facebook suggests you connect. You know where your middle school crush is becuase he or she Tweets his or her whereabouts every hour on the hour. So, who do you really need in your network? Well, if you are a teacher, the young minds you mold could possibly think they belong on your friends' list.

According to HLN news, three New York City teachers have recently been fired due to friending students on Facebook. In one case, a teacher was making sexual comments to a student about the student's Facebook pictures. Teachers are professionals, who also serve as role models to students of all ages. Does a teacher really want school age children knowing what he or she didover the weekend? Even if it was a tame Saturday night, it doesn't need to be discussed by ten year olds playing kickball at recess.

So, where do school districts draw the line on social networking outside school grounds? First, school disricts need a written policy that bans students and teachers from being friends on social networks. A teacher is not the students' friend in school, nor should he or she be a child's friend off hours. Next, teachers need to start acting like professionals. A simple, "I do not accept friend requests from students, but look forward to seeing you during the school day" is a firm but fair reply to little Suzy. Finally, if a teacher (who most likely at least 23 years old) has to accept middle school students into his or her social network, maybe friending mom's-cousin's boyfriend's dog walker isn't such a bad idea.