NEW YORK - New York on Tuesday became the first city in the nation to ban artery-clogging trans fats at restaurants, leading the charge to limit consumption of an ingredient linked to heart disease and used in everything from french fries to pizza dough to pancake mix.
In a city where eating out is a major form of activity — either for fun or out of hectic necessity — many New Yorkers were all for the ban, saying that health concerns were more important than fears of Big Brother supervising their stomachs.
"I don't care about what might be politically correct and what's not," said Murray Bader, nursing a cup of coffee at Dunkin' Donuts on Tuesday morning. "I want to live longer!"
The 72-year-old Manhattan resident called the ban a "wakeup call" for a public often unaware of the risks of artificial fats. "This stuff clogs up your vessels," he said. "When it comes to health, we only have one life."
Toni Lewis, catching a quick dinner at McDonalds before her child's piano lesson on the eve of the vote, acknowledged that yes, it might be going too far for the city to tell people what they can and can't put into their stomachs. But, she added: "I welcome the intrusion."
"This is New York," she said. "People eat out a lot. We don't have a choice. We need someone to make it a healthier proposition."
Trans fats are believed harmful in a number of ways, with health authorities saying they clearly contributes to heart disease. Studies have shown they raise bad cholesterol and lower the good kind. Partially hydrogenated vegetable oil, a common form of trans fats, is used for frying and baking and turns up in a host of processed foods: cookies, pizza dough, crackers and pre-made blends like pancake mix.
"It's basically a slow form of poison," says David Katz, director of the Yale Prevention Research Center. "I applaud New York City and frankly, I think there should be a nationwide ban." [READ MORE]
So, is this the end of the fat New Yorker? And why New York? Why not Wisconsin as a whole, seeing as how nobody around here is looking all too well-to-the-wise when it comes to cheese curds, brats, and beer. Then again, leave the beer alone.
Music
Featured Artist: The Human Value
I received an email from Nicole yesterday about the LA band The Human Value that I wanted to share with all you.
From their website: Awash in fuzzed out guitar, propelled by grinding rhythms and propagated by seductive ruminations this collection of songs achieves the rare feat of obtaining sonic bliss with pure pop overtones. Hiram, formerly of “kittens for Christian”, supplies the guttural, body grooving guitar riffs and yearning vocals, while Turu’s sensuous singing and come hither confidence provides an in-your-face performance of uncommon proportions. This unique blend of worlds allows the listener to become part of the story, to identify with the raw emotion and allows them to feel not so alone in their loneliness.
From UK Magazine: Who needs values when there are bands like this, introducing The Human Value. Superficial comparisons to Souxie Soux on vocals with a high-density
riot-grrrrrl assault against the fragility of the blokes (Hiram) voice, makes for a glass shattering combination! The bass was actually guitar - the ONE guitar making ALL the noise. The deepest shoegaze wall and riffs of slowed Stooges, a perfect fusion. All this over a female drum machine, absolutely flawlessly rock tight. If you need to see an example of how an interesting groove - like bossa nova - played fantastically can be more effective than any rudiment and spectacular drum solo, look no further, This girl is on the button.
The Human Value - "Give Me"
The Human Value - "Soft Spots Remix"
Video: "Give Me"
The Human Value website
Featured Album: Devendra Banhart, Golden Apples of the Sun Compilation
Already towering over the mostly West Coast-based freakfolk scene with his transcendent Rejoicing in the Hands LP, Devendra Banhart has cemented himself as its authority by assembling this epitomic compilation, which gathers 20 tracks from the best of the genre's artists, including Joanna Newsom, Six Organs of Admittance, Vetiver, White Magic, Entrance, Iron & Wine, CocoRosie, and others. Golden Apples of the Sun may be to the new folk movement what Brian Eno's No New York was to no-wave - Pitchfork.
Note: Created for Arthur Magazine, the CD was limited to 1000 copies, all of which are sold out.
Tracklist:
Vetiver (with Hope Sandoval) - "Angel's Share" (from the "Vetiver" LP)]
Joanna Newsom - "Bridges and Balloons" (from "The Milk-Eyed Mender" LP)
Six Organs of Admittance - "Hazy SF" (previously unreleased)
Viking Moses - "Crosses" (from "Crosses")
Josephine Foster - "Little Life" (prev. unreleased home recording)
Espers - "Byss & Abyss" (from "ESPers" LP)
Vashti Bunyan & Devendra Banhart - "Rejoicing in the Hands" - (from the forthcoming "Rejoicing in the Hands of the Golden Empress" LP)
Jana Hunter - "Farm, CA" (prev. unreleased)
Currituck Co. - "The Tropics of Cancer" (from "Ghost Man on First")
White Magic - "Don't Need" (from forthcoming EP)
Iron and Wine - "Fever Dream" (from "Our Endless Numbered Days" LP)
Diane Cluck - "Heat From Every Corner" (from "Macy's Day Bird")
Matt Valentine - "Mountains of Yaffa" (prev. unreleased)
Entrance - "You Must Turn" (prev. unreleased home recording)
Jack Rose - "White Mule" (from "Red Horse, White Mule" originally released thru Eclipse, forthcoming on VHF)
Little Wings - "Look at What the Light Did Now" (from "Light Green Leaves")
Scout Niblett - "Wet Road" (from "Sweet Heart Fever")
Troll - "Mexicana" (from "Pathless Lord")
CocoRosie - "Good Friday" (from "La Maison de Mon Reve")
Antony - "The Lake" (from "Live at Saint Olaye's With Current 93")
Longer review at Pitchfork Magazine
Arthur Magazine