where has the health blog gone?

well- its moved- this site will be more public and the food site will be more of a personal diary type of thing. Good news? I am still not giving up. Bad news? not much weight loss. Tune into my new food site for all the data.

AFI's 10 top 10 Animation

AFI did their top 10 Animation films, as they did for several other film genres. I thought it would be fun to offer my two cents. These are the areas I will address for each genre.
How many of the 10 have I seen? ( to qualify)
What should be on the list and isn't?
What is on the list and shouldn't?
What's my number one pick? ( from their list)

So here's the first list:

#1 SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS

#2 PINOCCHIO

#3 BAMBI

#4 LION KING, THE

#5 FANTASIA

#6 TOY STORY

#7 BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

#8 SHREK

#9 CINDERELLA

#10 FINDING NEMO

I have seen every movie on this list except Finding Nemo- it just never grabbed me for some reason.

What should be on the list and isn't?
Akira:
The sound track in combination with the movie is amazing. The scenes of the motorcycle gangs racing down the barren freeways of neo-tokyo seem to capture all of the characters excitement and despair at the same time. The hospital scene with Tetsuo and the giant teddy bear is so dreamlike and horrifying- it's what I imagine being on a hallucinogen would be like.

Somehow they should have found a way to honor the WB cartoons. This list without Bugs and Daffy ( and Popeye for that matter) seems wrong. I know you're saying they are on TV- but they started as movie shorts.

What is on the list and shouldn't?
Lion King. It's a given that the soundtrack is great- I really love it. However, this list is too Disney centric, I want to respect the history and all but sheesh. Even more important is the subject matter- Kimba's er... Simba's father is killed in a horrible stampede - which Simba witnesses- and then runs away, because he thinks he is at fault for his father's death. What's the fun in that? Akria was way more violent you say? Akira never pretended it was for kids was for kids, while Lion King does.

What's my favorite from the AFI list? I'd pick Fantasia for its historical relevance and the the whole thing with the giant demon and the whole Mickey scene.

George Carlin: shit, piss, fuck, cunt, cocksucker, motherfucker , and, tits!

1972- The album George Carlin, Class Clown came out- I was 8 years old. One of my older brothers bought it and snuck it home in a brown paper bag, like its was a playboy or something. We listened to that album so many times and laughed and laughed. I still remember the "artificial fart under the arm" and of course the 7 words you can never say on television.
"Tits doesn't even sound like a word, its sounds like a snack, ( i know, it is a snack) New Cheese Tits!- Bet you can't eat just one!"

Rest In Peace George, I hope wherever you are, you're laughing.

PS- for those of you offended by the vulgar language in this post, go fuck yourself you fucking, fucking, fuck. =)

+1! gained a pound

Ok- am I serious or am I not? I'm serious. Gained a pound this week. Tune in next week.

Support Pandora

I Listen to Pandora all the time at work. I saw this article on Brad Kava's website and thought it was worth reposting here:

Plea to help save Pandora, the great Internet music service

Hi, it's Tim from Pandora,
I'm writing today to urgently ask for your help. Our future and that of all webcasters is being threatened by the actions of the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America). In an effort to cripple Internet radio they have defied Congressional direction to negotiate reasonable performance fees and are trying to shut us down.
In spite of overwhelming opposition, including from thousands of musicians, they have blatantly pursued a strategy of undermining the process, making outrageous demands, and trying to run out the clock, hoping we will just quietly fade away. There is only one way to stop this violation of the public trust, and that is by mobilizing the collective will of our listening audience.
I am writing to you because your Senator is on the crucially important Senate Judiciary committee. It would be tremendously helpful if you would take just a minute to call your Senator:

Senator Dianne Feinstein: (202) 224-3841

** When you call, please tell them your home town, and ask them to support the Brownback Internet Radio Equality amendment that will be considered in the Judiciary Committee this Thursday.
This amendment sets webcasting royalties at the same level as those paid by satellite radio, which would compensate musicians fairly and allow web radio to survive. For more info on the bill, please visit: www.savenetradio.org

I hope you'll take just a few minutes to call. It's easy to do and it will truly, truly make a difference. As a young industry, we do not have the lobbying power of the RIAA. You, our listeners, are by far our biggest and most influential allies.
Thank you very much for your support,


-Tim Westergren
(Pandora founder)

lost 1.6 more...

Ok, the math is getting crazy but I lost 1.5 pounds this week for a total weight loss of 4.5 pounds over Five weeks. A little under one pound a week, short of my two pounds per week goal. This has been tougher than I thought. I am still not getting to the gym. I'll take 4.5 pounds lost over any weight gain but I have to do more. I heard someone say once, "each week do a little more than you did before"- a little more than you did last week. So that is my mantra - not to eat a little more - but do a little more exercise and a little more meal planning this week than I did last week.

+2.5!

all right, so we went to the Greek fest last Saturday- tons of good food- no exercise this week. So, not a good week at all. It just means redoubling my efforts for next week. Still eating too much and I took a pass through a drive up window. Part of this project is eliminating the bad food, so I will attend no dining establishment with a drive up window. Honestly, at my weight it should be easy to lose weight- but slow and steady is my goal. I'll keep at it.

5.4 and counting

Great news! Despite having a few difficult food days, I lost an additional 3.2 pounds for a total weight loss of 5.4 pounds! Things that worked: exercised three days ( thanks Mr. Placitas!), stayed away from fast food- eating salads for lunch, getting lots of water. Things that need work: more meal planning ( more home cooking), more work outs.

2.2 and counting

Good news sports fans, I met my weight loss goal for this week -losing 2.2 pounds. I did not make my gym goal, I made it to the gym twice, which is better than last week. My eating is getting better. Need to plan my dinner meal, need to get to the gym more. Not a perfect week by a long shot but I'll take it!

SSB:Brawl - die Kirby

Ok- After eschewing SSB:Brawl for being a button masher, I bought in. Let me just say I don't normally go for fighting games but when I played the game at Ash's the other day- it was really fun. The wife likes Kirby and she's killing me.

I hate Kirby.
There is nothing like getting your ass kicked by a cute little pink balloon thing. Even if you don't like fighting games, give it a try. I like meta knight.

305 and counting....

Well, I'd like to say my first week was a rousing success... more like a good lesson- this is tough. No weight loss to report- have not been to the gym- I have to schedule my gym time better. I have been drinking more water and eating smarter- portion control is a problem. I am keeping healthy snacks at my desk and that has been working well. I guess my big take away for this week is as follows- I'm not giving up, I will do this, and I will succeed. Thanks for your kind comments last week, this next week will be better.

cans, not cannes fest

stumbled upon this- thought it was cool- cans fest

305 and counting.....

As many of you know I have struggled with being overweight for a long time, and health issues are starting to be more and more evident.

Following up on my wedding to my beautiful bride, I am dedicated to getting healthy. I have an eating plan and I have an exercise plan. In the past I always get off to a good start and then slack off when the going gets rough.

In an effort to get support, and maintain accountability, I will update this blog once a week with my progress. What can you do? Please leave comments of support, and check in with me when you don't see me making regular posts. THURSDAYS will be my posting day.
My goals?
Lose 2 pounds a week.
Exercise ( walking, swimming) 30 minutes 5-6 days a week.
short term goal- 30 lbs weight loss 15 weeks from now
long term goal- 100 lbs weight loss one year from now

Coupa Cafe - coffee from Venezuela

Oh my god, this place is so good- Go There Now! The Coffee tastes as good as it smells,rich and wonderful. Everyone there is so friendly too.

Wonder Woman

Gail Simone and the Dodsons just started a new run on Wonder Woman. The art and story work well together and its the first time a woman has written this character, ever. I like how WW "forces peace" with some gorillas in #14. Check it out.

101 cookbooks

I have more cookbooks that I know what to do with. So does Heidi Swanson of 101 Cookbooks
But she wrote a blog about them, clever person.

Rancho Gordo

These beans are awesome! Steve just got a write up in Saveur magazine as part of the Saveur 100, congats!

Dive resturants unite

Please go to my favorite site on dive restaurants in the silicon valley/bay area. I love Andy's Ribs.