The Fat Kids and McDonalds

I saw this post on Jeff's blog and I went to make a comment about it, only to realize that I was filling up his comments box, so I'll post my comments and thoughts here...

I actually caught the interview with the Plaintiff’s lawyer on the Today Show this morning. What a Wack-job. He told the woes of one child who is 15 and 400lbs. This child has eaten at McDonalds "EVERY SINGLE DAY" since age 6. He claimed that the child did this because McDonald's encourages people to eat there everyday with their "(Fill in the Blank Sandwich) that's only (Low Price) EVERYDAY" slogan on their ads. He also said that they specifically target young kids with their bright ads, toy giveaways and "theme-park like characters and atmosphere"

There are so many things wrong with his claims that I don't even know where to start:

First....of course McDonalds is going to encourage you to eat there everyday...that's how they make money moron. They don't sit there and say "Eat at McD's everyday and you'll be the most physically fit person on earth...girls will like you...you will be cool." So I see no false advertising or wrong doing there. Wal-Mart runs similar ads with their "Everyday low prices" slogan and round smiley face. The case can be made that more damage can be suffered by someone who goes to Wal-Mart everyday than someone who eats McDonalds every day. At least the person eating at McDonalds reaps some sort of satisfaction from their meal...and they might die quicker. I say this because, going to Wal-Mart daily would make me suicidal, there for wishing I'd opted for the clogged arteries route.

Second... A Theme park? I have been to Disney World (19 times) and I think I can safely tell you that McDonalds is NOT a theme park. Ok, some McDonalds have playgrounds but if that makes it a theme park then EVERY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN AMERICA is a theme park. I don't see kids clamoring to go to school because it's a theme park. McDonalds has characters that appeal to children and they offer toy giveaways and kids meals this is true. However, once again it does not make McDonalds the cause of children's weight problems. If this was the case, then every entity that has a spokes-character that appeals to children can be at fault for something. Let's start with the Olympics, they have a cute mascot (they can be blamed for teaching children to be overly competitive therefore causing them to fight with their friends), or any NBA team (the list of things they teach children to do is so frightening I can't bring myself to post it), Kellogg's cereals all have cute spokes-character's (and their cereals are oh so good for you)...the list could go on...

Third...who is McDonald's target audience? Kids? Why? Because they are the only ones who's digestive systems can tolerate the food, and they are the only ones who don't know the difference in taste between the grease burger they are eating and an actual hamburger. Also, McDonald's doesn't care if your child is throwing their food on the floor, wiping it on the walls and running around like a crazy person, some other eating establishments may. Therefore...if McDonald's is going to have customers they must rely on children to drag parents into their business, thus they market to the kid. Anyone who's been alive for at least 15 years would recognize that this is not a new concept in marketing many other products do the same thing (anyone seen the Mini-Van ad with the guys from Mosters,Inc in it?).

Fourth...and finally....exactly where were the parents while this particular child was eating at McDonald's every day??? Did they not see any reason for concern? Did they not see the need to feed their child? If that's not grounds for a DHS investigation I don't know what is.

Anything to help a fellow blogger

Mike needs to be famous... and fast.

Help him out guys...Thanks!

Crusin' the Blog World

Since I am a master at wasting time, I am crusing the blogosphere this morning looking for new blogs to read. This one warrents a link...there is some FUNNY FUNNY stuff out there at: Happy Fun Pundit.

Friday Five

No Friday Five today folks. Life has bombarded the writers of Friday Five this month...stay tuned for it's return in December!

Coal for Christmas

Last week I lamented about how because of the pending insider trading investigation of her shady stock deal last year, Martha Stewart Canceled Christmas. Well, in that post I made the following comment: "I suppose she canceled because she was having a hard time developing creative uses for the coal that Santa is leaving her."

Alas...I underestimated my girl! In the Good Things section of her December 2002 issue that just hit newsstands this week she teaches her loyal readers how to make Candy Coal and tie it in cute little bags with tags that say "Naughty." Who whudda thunk she would come up with this one? From the picture she provides, this stuff really looks like coal, but it's peppermint flavored!

I sincerely apologize for jumping the gun with my previous comment, Martha. May you have a coal filled Christmas!

Cleaning-UP

I have deleted some of my posts from yesterday, because after reading them again I really don't mean some of the things that I said. I appreciate everyone who read them and I am glad to present you with a more upbeat blog this morning. I am not going to use this blog as an outlet for my emotional outbursts....

Blogger seems to be having ftp problems...this frustrates me slightly...

Good news for Martha....

I made a HUGE mistake
The following post is from Jeff's blog...he deleted it off of his blog because he thought that I was mad that he posted my thoughts from our conversation and so he said that he was deleting the post. I was not mad, I made a comment and it came across that I was (how could I be...he called me beautiful and brillant). SO please...read and be enlightend. He phrased what I had to say better than I ever could have and I apologize that you have to read it here and not in it's orginial home.

Whiny Bitches, and Other Related Female Things

Last night my beautiful, brilliant bride (today is alliteration day in addition to gender day at SISL!) and I had a lengthy discussion about gender roles, particularly as they relate to sexuality and the objectification of women. We, of course, got on the topic with a great big thank you to Victoria's Secret and last night's fashion show. [aside]Last night's show, what I saw of it, was very poorly produced. I was getting motion sick with all of the bouncy camera work and rough cuts from shot to shot. Probably just a result of the director's ADHD getting the best of him or something.[/aside]


Anyway the upshot of the conversation was a brief rant by my wife. The basic jist (I'm paraphrasing) is that when thinking of presenting a positive image of women, there were two options on television last night. One was Tyra Banks in a thong and weird bird wings standing on a runway with a "you wish" look. The other was Brooke (or Helene? I don't know, I don't watch the show) bawling her eyes out because some man she hardly knows didn't choose to solve all of her life's problems. Katie's point is that the former makes a far stronger statement than the latter, but that women complain about Tyra and her scantily clad self representing the objectification of women because "[women] are whiny bitches". (that is an exact quote, BTW)


A note to women: you shouldn't want to be equal to men. You should realize that there are aspects of femininity that should be exhalted and worshipped because they're so much better than what us men have. Women have dignity and grace that rise above dick jokes and crude references to sexuality. Women don't call each other "lesbians" or "dikes" as an insult. Women have a warmth, a kindness and a sensitivity that isn't easily found in men.


More than that, women are inherently sexy. That isn't a fact that should be hidden or downplayed, it should be celebrated with confidence. I'm not saying that women should be walking around in bras and angel wings, I'm just saying that complaining because of the celebration of one of the wonderful ideosyncracies of femininity is ludicrous. So get off your damn high horses, stop picketing Playboy and Victoria's Secret and realize the real enemy: anything that presents women as the aforementioned "whiny bitches".

Open Invitation
Everyone who can make it is invited to...

A College Football Open House!
When: Saturday

Time: 10:45am until you can't watch any more...

Where: Jeff and Katie's House

Bring: Something to share with everyone if you wish...and your own beer...

Jeff will be cooking up some homemade Chicken Noodle Soup and maybe some Special Utech blend Chili...I will undoubtedly bake something yummy for your tummy! Fun will be had by all!

I am in a complete FUNK...
I don't know what my problem is. I am just unentusiastic about everything (except Iowa Football) right now. I am tired...I am not at all creative...and I feel just generally bummed. So, my blog is suffering. Hopefully I will snap out of this soon...

Somebody Pinch me...
This can't possibly be real...

Jeff and I have spent our morning emailing back and forth making plans for....THE ROSE BOWL! It looks almost certain that we will be ringing in 2003 as the sun sets over the Pacific Ocean and the Iowa Hawkeyes play in the Rose Bowl. I really never thought we'd ever make it out there...I am not sure I can find the words to express just how excited I am!