Yum & Yuk

Interesting new website, PlaySpent, "designed to help people understand the challenges and trade-offs faced by low-income people with insecure employment. The 'game' begins when you’ve been unemployed, have only $1,000 left in your bank account, and need to get a low wage job." Give it a look.

Image: source.

This pillow is adorable. (Poppytalk Handmade has lots of lovely things.)

Mark Bittman on how McDonalds manages to even screw up oatmeal.

Among other things: "Incredibly, the McDonald’s product contains more sugar than a Snickers bar and only 10 fewer calories than a McDonald’s cheeseburger or Egg McMuffin. (Even without the brown sugar it has more calories than a McDonald’s hamburger.)"

On that note: Hey all, I'm crafting a "self-syllabi" on food issues (sustainable growing and eating etc). Here it is so far, I welcome suggestions! "King Corn," "Sweet Poison: Why Sugar Makes Us Fat" (D. Gillespie), "Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal" (E. Schlosser) (I've actually read it but I would like to reread it), "The Dirty Life: On Farming, Food, and Love" (K. Kimball), "Eating Animals" (J.S. Foer), "In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto" (M. Pollan), "The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals" (M. Pollan), "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life" (B. Kingsolver), "Jamie's Food Revolution: Rediscover How to Cook Simple, Delicious, Affordable Meals," "The Way We Eat: Why Our Food Choices Matter" (P. Singer), "Veganomicon: The Ultimate Vegan Cookbook" (I. C. Moskowitz). Also these books, which are a bit different but similarly about our relationships with food: "Mindful Eating: A Guide to Rediscovering a Healthy and Joyful Relationship with Food" (J.C. Bays), "Women Food & God" (G. Roth), "Perfect Girls, Starving Daughters: The Frightening New Normalcy of Hating Your Body" (C. Martin). Also, are there blogs on eating/food that people recommend as well (I read Mark Bittmans...)?