Mayor Michael Bloomberg is on a mission to save the lives and figures of New Yorkers – one food group at a time, I think. I’m not sure. It’s not really clear. I’m going to try to explain what he’s been up to, but I can’t guarantee that it will make any more sense to you when you’re done reading this than it did to me when I started writing it. Mayor Mike has a lot of rules about and issues with certain types of food and beverages, but his reasons don’t seem to follow any logic – or a consistent pattern.
The mayor doesn’t like the fact that people are consuming too many sugary soft drinks, and that’s part of the reason they’re putting on weight and costing insurance companies a lot of money. He’s decided that no sodas – even the diet kind – should be served in cups larger than 16 ounces. Now, naturally, some people aren’t so thrilled with this idea and they plan on challenging it. They’re probably going to lose, because the city’s Board of Health has already approved a number of the dietary measures Mayor Mike has requested.
The sugar laden 16 ounce containers can be filled with other things, though. The proposed ban doesn’t cover juices, milkshakes or alcohol. I get that juice is alright; it’s the other things that confuse me. There are ways around that 2 cup limit, however. You can buy two 16 ounce drinks, or if you happen to be in an establishment that allows it, you can go right up and get a free refill. Maybe His Honor just doesn’t like large drink containers. They are hard to balance in the cup holders in your car. By the way, those plastic bottles of Coke and Pepsi are 16.9 ounces, so there are a lot of folks carrying around some serious contraband.
The self-proclaimed fitness czar has found himself at odds with other things people consume. He’s gone to the mat over trans fats, and has seen to it that restaurants print or post nutritional information on their menus. That’s not so bad if you’re interested in how many calories are in that porterhouse you’re about to order, but he did take his zeal a little too far when he wanted to limit what people could purchase with their food stamps. Some federal regulators had to remind him that he could only change the laws in New York City.
There’s a little more to this than just a mayor gone wild. He doesn’t seem to understand that the rules should be applied fairly and consistently, and should also apply to him – you know – a little less talking the talk and a little more walking the walk. Mayor Mike, I’m sorry to say, is a salt-oholic. Yes, he sprinkles the stuff all over the place – not just on popcorn but on things like pizza and bagels. Too much salt is bad for you, right? It also makes you thirsty, so I don’t know what he’s going to do when that 16 ounces just isn’t quite taking that parched feeling away.
Now, just for a second here, I’d like to go back to that trans fat issue. Mayor Mike recently issued a proclamation honoring New York City’s Donut Day. Even Matt Lauer got a little lost with that one and asked the Mayor how that could possibly send a positive message about fitness. Bloomberg told him that everything was okay in moderation, one donut really doesn’t hurt anyone. I understand. I’ll have one of these, please.
New York is also known for the annual “Nathan’s Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest”, held on the 4th of July. The “athletes” – Bloomberg’s description, not mine – have 10 minutes to shove as many of these things into their mouths as possible. The record stands at 68. I’ll give you Mayor Mike’s official comment on this :
“This Fourth of July, roughly 150 million Americans across the country will enjoy at least one hot dog,” the mayor rejoiced. “Think about that: 150 million people scarfing down a typical American food.” Bloomberg noted with admiration that there’s a “science and strategy to the massive and swift consumption of hot dogs. I have to tip my hat to all of you who are competing. You are fine athletes. Independence Day is a wonderful time to celebrate our freedoms,” he declared “The right to eat as many hot dogs as possible—although not expressly named in the Bill of Rights—was no doubt on the minds of the framers.”
Yep, he’s a funny guy, alright. It could very well be that Thomas Jefferson or John Adams really wanted to include an amendment guaranteeing the right to bear condiments. The Mayor also explained why he wouldn’t raise taxes on hot dogs, as he did with cigarettes. He said, “I like hot dogs”. I guess that covers that. As for the weiner eating champions, well, those folks look like they have all the makings of true Olympians. I don’t think it’s doing much to promote his aggressive campaign against obesity, but I guess we should give him some credit for irony. I’ll bet a lot of people are happy that he worked out that pesky term-limits problem. Eight years just isn’t enough when you’ve got this kind of work to do.
Just for the hell of it, I looked up the recommended daily sugar intake as suggested by the American Heart Association. Men should be consuming no more than 36 grams per day, women should keep it at 24 grams. I also looked up how many grams of sugar there are in one apple – there are 23. If New Yorkers aren’t careful with their fruit intake, we may be referring to their city as the Big Brussel Sprout – as long as it’s only 16 ounces.
For All the Dads – Happy Father’s Day
Fathers need not fathers be.
All one needs to do is choose
To love for life, and that embrace,
Held long and hard, bestows the grace
Each craves. For all in time must lose,
Restored alone by memory.
So now it is with you and me.
Author Unknown
Empress
realhousewifeofaiken 
All politicians, save for a few, are nut jobs. In Michigan we are not allowed to say the word
v a g i n a, or we will be censored.
Maybe you can call it your p.e.n.i.s?
LOL v a s e c t o m y is also banned.
It’s a world gone mad I tell ya…. Sick of the GOOBERMENT telling us what we can eat , drink, smoke etc….Maybe if they spent more time on the IMPORTANT THINGS…..
Time to win the lottery and go buy an Island and start my own Country…. !!!!!! Heh.. a gal can dream right ??? FREE SPEECH FOR ALL !!! and 32 oz drinks…with umbrellas….
HAPPY FATHERS DAY TO AL THE DADS….
Thanks for the poem Empress…….
I’d like to know what’s in the school lunches in NY. And if the kids get a real P.E. period.
Who is Bloomberg to tell grown adults that they can’t purchase a soda in a particular size? Will he eliminate the bakers dozen for bagels and donuts? How about the slice of pizza pie. That has to be terrible for you. What Bloomy has done is eliminate one of the most profitable items off the menu of small businesses! How is that a help to his city? If I owned one of those businesses I would offer a free 2nd soda to everyone who purchased one. As a protest to the mayor. A free 2nd soda or a bag of greasy chips with every purchase. I’d make a huge deal of it so all the fast food places could do the same! We’d be on tv and undermine the mayor’s stupid mommy law.
Looks like the Mayor just doesn’t care for chubby people. Most people need to have their teeth cleaned more often. How about mandatory hygiene appointments?
I just hate politicians who make sweeping changes by fiat. Before you know it this craze will reach the White House!!!
He’s not the only mayor and New York is not the only city that’s adopted some of these measures. The new rules have also affected donations to food banks and homeless shelters because New York’s Health Department says that it can’t properly assess whether those foods fall within dietary and nutritional guidelines.
One more example of why these worthless politicians should stay the hell out of our homes.
Thanks for the giggle this morning Empress. Enjoyed it. Just have to shake your head and smile at this one.
I’ve also decided to enter Entenmann’s “win free donuts for a year” contest, but I’ll only eat one at a time. Glad you had some fun with it. 🙂
I think the good Mayor thinks he’s king of NYC. If I recall, they held a special election to allow him to run again, surpassing the old Mayoral term limit. There is good reason to have term limits, IMHO. It is said that the road to hell is paved with good intentions. No one makes all good decisions, and we have to accept the bad with the good. That is why there are Amortization Tables, used by Insurance Companies and Banks. The idea is to spread the risk to all, at a level that everyone can afford. Diva, I’d like to place an advance reservation for 2 adults and one furry senior citizen, just in case you are able to realize your dream of your own Island Country. Empress, I’m loving your blog!
Sorry, I thought I was only posting the link, not the whole video. My humble apologies, but I hope you enjoy the music. To change subjects: Happy father’s day to all of your fathers or to your husbands who are fathers. A good Dad is an amazing blessing. I have been blessed to have had the most honest, honorable, kind Dad anyone could hope for. Thanks Dad! I will always love you dearly!
For some reason, all videos that get posted here embed rather than link.
You and k.d. lang are welcome any time – her beautiful voice is always worth sharing.
Thank you so much Empress!
FLG…. Your reservation has been confirmed… I will let you know what time to meet us at the LOCAL GOOBERSVILLE AIRPORT ( wink ) and off we go…
maybe we can hit a Bank of America ATM on our way there…
http://now.msn.com/money/0614-atm-error
LOL
Diva
Diva,
We have to make sure not to have any extradition treaties in the new Island Nation! You may have found a way to get the treasury filled without winning the lottery! LOL! It would be nice to get the bucks and not have to stop for a photo op.
Not to worry FLG..Once we hit the blue skies and fly away and LAND…we wont be coming back … Call it a glorified citizen relocation program BUT you are still able to communicate with friends and family..LIMITED VISITATIONS….LOL LOL
Now we need a name for the ISLAND !!!!
Will there be a bit of the island for a pasture?
ABSITIVELY….. !!!!!!! this is ONE BIG ISLAND…..We will have fresh water and GREAT soil so we can grow our own veggies…I have it all laid out in my mind and some on paper
NOW…to get the $$$$$$$$$$$$$
Since you came up with the idea, how about Diva Island? The official name should be the Independent Island Nation of Diva.
FLG….. How about AVID KEY ISLAND ???
When I was designing a series of key west style homes for one of my contractors…we would take certain peoples names and use them backwards to name the model homes…
It was a great idea at the time and I recieved lts of THUMBS UP for it and also won a few awards for the designs.. I miss those days for sure….Too bad the economy took a dump…..
Great idea! A tradition well worth carrying on!
My gawd! That donuts looks sooooo good! It’s huge!
I’d be willing to share… 😉
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