TresSugar

The Food Court Musical

GiggleSugar — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 14:00:00 -0700

Improv Everywhere is known for busting out comedic performances in unlikely locations, so they staged a musical - in a shopping mall food court. It all started with the Hot Dog on a Stick girl crying over spilled lemonade and ended with the whole food court triumphantly singing about napkin shortage. Hungry patrons, clueless that the joke was on them, didn't know whether to laugh or cry. If you ask me, all they had to do was buy a corn dog from the crying chick and tell her to shove it. But that would have made this a lot less funny.

Should Congress Ban Michelle Obama From Policy Work?

CitizenSugar — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 08:00:44 -0700

As first lady, Michelle Obama has brought the cameras and awareness to a variety of issues. She's promoted sustainable food, highlighted the work of nonprofits, and honored female vets.

Back in 1993 (when Hillary was mixing things up in the White House), a federal appeals court ruled that the first lady was functionally a government employee. That means she (or maybe someday he) could participate in policy debates like a member of the administration.

Now House Republicans are pushing for an amendment that would overturn that decision. The new rule would force Michelle Obama to do her policy work in public, because she would be considered an "outside advisory panel." Essentially, it would keep presidential spouses from working on policy issues within the administration.

Regardless of the legal mumbo jumbo, do you think it's right for the first lady to have a policy role?

Everything You Need to Know About Joe Biden and Sarah Palin

CitizenSugar — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 07:54:41 -0700

OK, not everything, but I've taken the liberty of personally vetting the entire internet this morning and since the whole thing is full of BidenPalin-palooza, here are the tastiest morsels:

Joe Biden hypes his blue-collar-lunch-bucket cred, but does his actual life ride the same train? The Times delves into just how "everyman" he actually is, from his 6,800 square foot home to how much that train ticket actually costs per month.

You've heard the one about that "Bridge to Nowhere," right? Rolling Stone has a slideshow comparing Palin myth to Palin fact, including the story behind that eBay-ed plane plus 10 more.
I think I guffawed at this one: Politico has "10 Answers for Sarah Palin" to use tonight, including this one, “Sure, I said, ‘Putin rears his head and comes into the airspace of the United States,’ but at least I didn’t plagiarize it.” Kapow. Point Palin?

There's much more! To see the rest, read more.

Oh yeah. Everyone will be talking about this: here's the video of the Supreme Court question.
How is Joe Biden managing the gender issue? Apparently, it's a non-issue, with this quote, "Voters aren't tuning in for a vice presidential food fight." If they both had a pie at their podiums though. . . just an idea.
How are Alaskans feeling about Palin? Well. . . let's just say the word "cringe" was involved. Liberally.
And finally, some real advice for the candidates tonight from experts weighing in the Politico Arena, including one suggestion that Palin, "remember that she is under no obligation to answer whatever Ifill asks."

If these stories are any indication of what to expect, let the countdown begin! Meet me in St. Louis!

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Fun Ways to Get Together With the Girls

DearSugar — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 10:00:00 -0700

Sometimes it seems like we spend so much time focusing on new ways to go on a date or enjoy time with our guy that we forget there's an entire world of ideas for spending time with just our girlfriends. So in support of hanging with your ladies, I've come up with some ideas to make for a memorable time. But feel free to weigh in with other ideas of your own!

Host a good old-fashioned cocktail party with a signature drink and appetizers. Spice it up by asking your friends to each bring their favorite dessert. When you're not munching on finger foods, you can indulge your sweet tooth.
Get active. Slip on your tennis shoes and hit the courts, or pick a safe trail in your town and go for a hike. If guys can have pick-up football games, why can't girls have impromptu sunset strolls?
Take turns giving dinner parties and trading recipes. It's a fun way to bond and learn something new!

To see my other ideas, just read more.

Since most of us are trying to save money or can't take a few days off work for a vacation whenever we feel like it, try saving up to splurge on a cabin or house by the beach for a weekend together. It's a great way to actually relax for a while.
Try something completely out of your element! You can take a group self-defense class or sailing lessons. Exploring something new together is a great way to bond with your girls!
Throw an in-home dance party. You don't need a DJ or a full bar, just an iPod and your favorite bottle of wine. There's nothing like getting completely silly with your friends when there's no one around to watch!

And don't forget the Sex and the City night fall-back plan when all else fails. All it takes is a couple hours of good girl talk and a few hearty laughs to create the perfect get-together with your friends!

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Scrabble! "Scrabulous" Makers Sued & Championships Today

CitizenSugar — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 08:00:25 -0700

If three stories make a trend, I guess six makes an obsession: it's the all Scrabble news day, here's the big mixed bag (S-O-R-R-Y) of stories:

Do you play Scrabulous on Facebook? Well, the version that got everybody hooked is getting the creators sued. Hasbro owns the rights to the game and the Calcutta-based creators of Scrabulous are in court for copyright infringement. I hope they saved a U to go with their Q and get it settled quickly. Bonus draw: Scrabulous cheat words.

The National Scrabble Championship is being held today in Orlando, Florida. You can follow the scores all day. I'm rooting for Marlon Hill and Matt Graham. I'm not kidding. I have a little Scrabble-following problem. These guys are hot.

Want to be a celebrity in Senegal? To find out how, read more.

In Senegal, Africa, the game is a real sport. Locals train for the game intently, as it's an escape from daily hardships, "Scrabble is a way for us in Senegal to forget about the (food) crisis and the problems that engulf our country," as well as an educational tool - kids Scrabble in school to learn spelling and grammar.

The Francophone World Championships were held this week, the Cote d'Ivoire's Poka Elisée (pictured above) claimed the title. One competitor was disqualified for lying about his age. Senegal's Mamadou Youck was competing in the 14-15 year-old division at 16. Senegal holds nine world titles in Scrabble despite a literacy rate of 40 percent.

Can't get enough Scrabble? The book Word Freak by Stephan Fatsis started my scrambled obsession - and you can catch my favorites Marlon and Matt in the movie Word Wars. That sounds like a hot weekend plan to me.

Do you Scrabble?

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Feeling Gassy? The Government Is Too.

CitizenSugar — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 06:00:40 -0700

It's no secret that gas is completely expensive. This week the news about it has been a gusher. Big Oil execs were called in front of Congress to explain the hit we're all taking at the pump. What else? Oh, the truckers went on strike showing us how high gas prices can also send commerce to a screeching halt, and we found out ethanol is not the wonder-fuel everyone hoped and could actually be making the food and environment problems worse. Awesome.

Surely all that is just coincidence right? The energy and environmental problems aren't that bad. Well, yesterday 18 states filed to take the Environmental Protection Agency to court saying that even though the EPA was faced with a Supreme Court ruling to regulate greenhouse gas emissions, including carbon dioxide from motor vehicles, they've done nothing. 18 states. Suing. The EPA. For not protecting the environment. Oh golly.

If you're curious to see what Big Oil had to say for themselves, read more.

Senior VP of Exxon Mobil (whose company last year raked in the largest profit in U.S. history at $40.6 billion) explained that his company needed the huge profits to pay for future oil development. Oh. Well as long as there's a good reason right?

Big Oil claims that their profit margins are comparable to other industries, and the execs went on to questions as to why that money is paying for oil development instead of focusing on renewable sources. Exxon Mobil said that they're giving some ($100 million) but until renewable sources become more economically competitive, the company will focus on its core oil business. Chevron allowed that the US would be getting 86 percent of its fuel for at least the next 25 years.

One solution offered? The execs said one way to ease prices was to grant access to off shore deposits. They are presently off limits due to some pesky negative environmental impact or some such. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, (D-MO) probably summed it up best when he told these executives, “Your approval rating is lower than ours, and that means you’re down low.”

Are we ready to start walking everywhere yet?

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Briefing Book! Knowing Is Half the Battle . . .

LibertySugar — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 13:30:10 -0700

Election: Moving on? Democrats launch first ad targeting McCain. - Huffington Post

Adoption: Buying babies? US Embassy accuses Vietnam of allowing adoption fraud to thrive. - Jezebel
Food and Warming: Are they related? Tug-of-war between global crises: global warming vs. food shortages. - The Lede
Democracy: Justice? Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia tells haters to get over 2000's Bush vs. Gore. -Wonkette

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Who's More Trashy: Naples vs. San Francisco

LibertySugar — Wed, 07 May 2008 11:00:14 -0700

The European Commission (EC) has filed a suit against Italy in the European Court of Justice. The EC thinks a lawsuit will clean up Naples, Italy, which has been enveloped in piles of trash and a toxic stench, as seen in the pictures below. The EC hopes that potential harsh fines will prompt politicians to take more serious action to end the massive years-long garbage crisis, brought on by organized crime.

Meanwhile in San Francisco, residents recycle 70 percent of their waste. Recycling-obsessed Mayor Gavin Newsom wants to give city residents an incentive to take their recycling prowess to the next level - either they recycle, or they don't get their trash picked up.

Mayor Newsom is proposing legislation that would make it mandatory to recycle cans, bottles, paper, yard waste, and food scraps. So it looks like recycling may no longer be something you do to feel good about yourself - it will be the law. Newsom told the New York Times what's behind his plan:

It’s purposefulness that could otherwise be construed as ego. You want to be the greatest city. You want to be the leading city. You want to be on the cutting edge. I’m very intense about it.

Should recycling be mandatory? Will the Newsom's proposal make San Francisco the next Naples, if residents get lazy about recycling? Can a lawsuit clean up Naples, or is it just a waste of time?

View 5 Photos ›

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UT Judge Rules Tribe a "Sham." Are Tribal Exceptions Good?

CitizenSugar — Tue, 06 May 2008 08:01:39 -0700

A federal judge in Utah just ordered a $63,000 civil judgment against four people claiming to be chiefs of an American Indian tribe in eastern Utah. The men conducted tribal meetings at a fast-food restaurant and claim hundreds of tribal members. They won't recognize federal or state laws, issue their own drivers' licenses and have filed numerous lawsuits against Utah authorities for ignoring their purported sovereignty.

The group/tribe calls itself the Wampanoag Nation, using the name of Mashpee Wampanoag Nation, a Massachusetts tribe who greeted the Pilgrims in 1620. Yesterday the judge ordered the men to stop pretending to be American Indians and pay Uintah County damages. He called their tribe a "complete sham." Officials with the federally recognized tribe declared that the Utah men were obvious impostors.

Given some of the benefits extended to Federally recognized tribes, it's understandable the men might want to claim ancestry. Are tribal exceptions like gaming, good for everyone? To see a little bit about it, read more.

Benefits extended to members of tribes recognized by the US include: communication on a "government-to-government" basis with leaders of the tribes, medical and dental care, grants and programs for education, housing programs, aid in developing tribal governments and courts, resource management, and other services depending on need and interest.

One of the most visible tribal exceptions could be as close as your nearest casino: Indian Gaming.

Those in favor of Indian Gaming consider the thriving construction of casinos as a means of realizing the goal of full Tribal sovereignty, while opponents warn tribal leaders about the cultural costs of these operations. The two sides wonder whether or not casinos and culture can, in fact, co-exist peacefully - and still more wonder whether encouraging the growth of the gambling industry is good for the country or fair at the bottom line.

The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA), passed by Congress in 1988, provides a source of income for tribes. Though Tribes have the power to tax their members, with unemployment high and taxable income low, tribes turned to gaming as a source of revenue. The IGRA was a Congressional attempt to strike a balance between the rights of tribes to engage in activities mostly free from state jurisdiction as well as the interests of states in regulating gaming activities within their boundaries.

In 2006 revenue from gaming was about $25.5 billion. Gambling on tribal lands employs about 327,000 people, and according to recent reports, led to about $80.7 billion added the U.S. economy and $11.7 billion generated in taxes. 228 tribes use gambling revenues to fund tribal governments and support social services, about 34 percent of tribes distribute direct payments to tribal members. Considered sovereign governments, tribes do not pay corporate income taxes on tribal revenue or property tax on reservation land. Those who live and work on reservations do not pay state income or property taxes, purchases made on Indian lands are tax-free.

Is this plan best for all involved? Does gaming provide a tempting pay-out that keeps tribal leaders wealthy and keeps tribal members dependent? What does a reliance on gaming do to tribal culture? To the surrounding culture? Are we gambling a rich cultural history on a pull of the slots? And what about that tax situation. . .?

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French Parliament Outlaws Thinness

CitizenSugar — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 07:42:23 -0700

While we all know French women don't get fat, now they might be forbidden by law to appear too thin. The French parliament's lower house passed a controversial bill today that will make it illegal for anyone - that includes fashion magazines, advertisers, and websites - to publicly encourage extreme thinness.

If the bill passes the French Senate, the no-thin law will be the strongest of its kind. The measure was proposed in partial response to the 2006 anorexia-linked death of a Brazilian model. Her death has spurred efforts throughout the international fashion industry to address the impact of glorifying and showing ultrathin models.

The Conservative author of the law went so far as to argue that encouraging anorexia or severe weight loss should be punishable in court. The bill will give judges the power to imprison and fine offenders up to $47,000 if found guilty of "inciting others to deprive themselves of food" to an "excessive" degree. To see the fashion industry's response, read more.

Industry leaders in French couture are opposed to the idea of legal boundaries on beauty standards, and doctors warn that the link between seeing images of extreme thinness and anorexia is hazy at best. The president of the influential French Federation of Couture, said he was not aware how expansive the proposed measure was, but firmly expressed his disapproval of such a sweeping measure.

Never will we accept in our profession that a judge decides if a young girl is skinny or not skinny. That doesn't exist in the world, and it will certainly not exist in France.

Do we need government protection from unhealthy images of thinness? Should ads that encourage anorexia through showing the super skinny, be a crime? Is it the government's duty to ban this kind of speech, or should we be able to filter out negative images for ourselves? Will the ban make for a more hospitable environment?
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