So. A couple of weeks ago, MTV announced it would be attempting to bastardize the world of high fashion modeling a la America's Next Top Model for our viewing pleasure with their new show, Model Makers.

In the very lengthy press release that the network inconspicuously dropped on Betty at Models.com, they made very little mention about the specific details surrounding the show -- except for one little blurp about it centering on the model's weight gain.

I assumed this meant that the show would encourage healthy eating habits, considering the unfortunate stories from some of our favorites faces, Coco Rocha and Ali Michael, about the pressure placed upon them to maintain stick thin bodies. But according to a new press release received by Urbanite, I apparently thought wrong:

"Women come in all shapes and sizes, but models don't. The term model conjures an image of stick-thin, towering beauties oozing confidence, glamour, poise and sexuality from every pore. "Skinny," "no body fat," and "size zero" are the words and phrases associated with models. "Chubby," "well-fed," and "big- boned" are not."

But wait, that's not it! There's more absurd talk: "With weekly eliminations looming, models must put their best foot forward at all times while staying focused on losing weight."

Much like the other shows on MTV, Model Makers will probably be just as tacky, mocking the contestants as they struggle to reach an unrealistic beauty standard for our entertainment, which unfortunately, isn't anywhere near being funny.

What's more interesting, though, is wondering which reputable modeling agency has attached themselves to this show. Maybe that's why the went anonymous in the press release. Don't try to get a conscious now, man.

  Before anyone chimes in about "the evil corporate giant", let me explain. Walmart has the cheapest grocery prices in town, we need to eat, we like to eat, and Walmart makes it a little easier. They also have better prices on diapers and other baby things, we definitely need diapers. So, for convenience, and the price, we shop there. One other thing that makes it worthwhile would be the gift cards. Recie is the parts manager at the truck shop where she works, which means she is in charge of purchasing. They use a large number of odds and ends, such as nuts and bolts, and various fittings for air lines and things. Many companies supply these sundry items, and as a result, competition is high among vendors. These vendors court their buyers with perks, free stuff for the guys in the shop, discounts, and etc. The purchasing manager ultimately decides who has the best deal and buys from them, one such vendor offers ten dollar gift cards for each hundred dollars spent. As a result we often get 40, 50, or more dollars a week to spend at Walmart.

  It's a matter of economics- free money is free money.

  So, back to the story, Yesterday, after spending about two hours wandering about Wally world, we were in line and almost checked out. With only a few items left, the head cashier came running up, shut off the register and told us to get out of the store.

  You guessed it, someone called in a bomb threat. Some idiot with nothing better to do than disrupt hundreds of peoples lives, played an ignorant prank. We were escorted out of the store, and told to leave the lot. An employee said it would take several hours for the police and bomb squad to clear the store, so we left, with no groceries. There were a lot of mad people, but I understand why they did what they did, there could have been many lives at stake, and no one knew if it was real or not.

  What a surreal experience that was, stuff like that just doesn't happen down here in podunkville.

This is a responce to this (apparently it's famous in mexico?? dunno, but if found it because I like mexico and this came up, then I found the one you just watched...). You could watch it- but this one is funny enough by itself and doesnt need context. My fav is a tie between the McRubik and the last one.

I'll be back tomorrow with food, but for now I'm off to my date with Anthony in Peru. Anthony Bourdain, that is :)

WARM WELCOME: President Thabo Mbeki is welcomed by Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe upon his arrival in Harare.

(Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi, AP)

... Just a question ...

... do they?

PS my spell checker wants to change Thabo Mbeki to Taboo Meek

"Studijas izmaksā tik dārgi, ka nepietiek naudas ēšanai?" - līdzjūtīgi jautās profesori, kad drīzumā simtiem studentu & skolēnu eksāmenu laikā kukrstēs vēders. Tomēr pie tā būs vainojama nevis studiju maksa, bet gan Jeila medicīnas skolas pētījums - izsalkums nodrošina ātrāku informācijas apstrādi un iegaumēšanu. Kurkstošs vēders ražo hormonu grelīnu, kas izraisa apetīti. Pētniekiem par pārsteigumu, tas stimulē arī neironus tajā galvas smadzeņu apgabalā, kas atbild par mācīšanos un atmiņu. Kad šis hormons tika injicēts pelēm, to testu rezultāti ievērojami uzlabojās. "Tas pierādija:" saka pētījuma vadītājs Tamašs Horvāts, "ja kādu moka izsalkums, visas viņa organisma sistēmas sāk strādāt pastiprinātā režīmā - koncentrējas uz to, lai tiktu pie kaut kā ēdama." Horvāts uzskata, ka rezultātus var attiecināt arī uz cilvēkiem un ka eksāmenus vislabāk būtu kārtot tukšā dūšā.

p.s. Latviešu sakāmvārds - bads nav brālis - šajā gadījumā varētu būt diezgan tālu no patiesības :D

(info: GEO)

No food to post about- I'm fasting and haven't eaten since I last posted. But I will talk about WINE

Isaac and I went to an Iron and Wine concert the other night, which was pretty amazing- I hadn’t seen Sam Beam live before. We were front row!! I was a bit disappointed because he only did 3 acoustic songs and didn’t play Each Coming Night. I should have assumed this would be the case though, because his latest album is with a band. I do love his voice and he seems like a genuinely nice person- he thanked the crowd for coming at least 10 times. The only really annoying thing was a guy behind us kept talking really loudly during songs, which made me wonder if he even liked Iron and Wine. BUT I guess he did because the for the encore he was screaming so loudly I thought my ear drum might burst and then he sang along to the entire song. Maybe that one was the only one he actually knew and he wanted everyone else to know he knew it. Ha- I hope that was the case. People who sing along LOULY at concerts are one thing that really annoys me, (don’t get me wrong I like to sing along, but not so loud others can’t enjoy the concert) and it all depends on the band- when its a mellow, acoustic artist these are my thoughts- I paid to hear the band not the guy standing in the crowd next to me. The concert was good though- I don’t know why but I usually cry when I listen to Iron and Wine and I had a few tears during the first song- I don’t think Isaac saw. I try to decode why his songs do that to me, because it happens often. It’s not a sad cry, well maybe a little bit, but not in a bad way. I think I have decided it’s because when Isaac and I first started dating he told me about Iron and Wine, I hadn’t heard of him. I listened and fell in love. And Isaac and I listened to him a lot together when we first started dating and when I hear songs I think of that time and it brings back good memories that get me all teary eyed.

That's all - no food to post about. I'm starving myself and haven't eaten since I last posted.

First, the sad stuff. Literally, I haven't been grocery shopping in three weeks. I accidentally went to Costco with FVD two Saturdays ago which was probably the biggest mistake of the New Year. Costco...sucks if you don't have at least 4 people in your household. I bought some Diet Coke because yes, I like Diet Coke. I am no longer ashamed. I also bought Orange Juice. Everything else just seemed like a rip-off. Also, driving to Costco on a Saturday is definitely the worst possible idea that could ever happen.

On to other topics. Since I have been working and in school I have had about 1-3 hours of personal time a day. I usually like to spend those hours showering, checking email, having some red wine, and watching TV. That sounds lame but when you only have a very small amount of free time in your day and it is 1 degree outside, please try and tell me that that is not what you would do too. Come on. Because of this lack of time, you might wonder...Eating on Jitneys...what are you eating? Well, I ask myself that every night while I'm walking back from the train. I have realized that it's all about stocking up and hiding food from yourself. If I hadn't bought that sweet potato 3 weeks ago or hidden those toasted (whole!) almonds from myself this summer I would be starving tonight. Being busy leaves to to make small egg sandwiches (scrambled eggs inside toasted bread, spread with mustard and cream cheese and sprinkled with diced artichoke hearts) and have boiled sweet potatoes for dessert.

Speaking of dessert...here are some pastry school pictures. I tried not to include these, but I am so proud: