10. Share a Guinness...


9. Common - Soul by the Pound [1992]


8. Calorie Compliance
A new ordinance in New York City requires all fast food chains to post the number of calories of each menu item (in that same item size) on menus and menu boards. The full ordinance can be obtained here (www.nyc.gov/html/doh/downloads/pdf/cdp/calorie_compliance_guide.pdf). The purpose of such action to address the problem of obesity in NYC. The question is whether such policy will have any effect.

It seems to me that the lawmakers behind this understand obesity to be an informational problem in the sense that consumers are not fully aware of the side effects of their consumption and the associated externalities. I feel that consumers of fast food are aware of its effects, but choose to eat it anyways because of the lack of similarly priced alternatives. The relatively low cost of food at fast-food and other restaurants allows consumers to substitute away from more healthy alternatives (i.e. preparing food at home).

Therefore the problem of obesity has more to do with the relative price of food than an informational problem. I'm sure that some would be quick to point that that smoking rates (an addictive activity comprable to eating fast food) among Americans shrunk by nearly half in the three decades (mid 60's to mid 90's). As consumers become more aware of the risks of eating fast food they may similarly substitute away, but this will still depend more on the relative price of food than any "fear" of eating too much. My solution would be to treat fast food as any other negative externality: a tax. For any tax to work, the government would have to calculate the social costs of eating fast food and consequentially obesity (i.e. higher medicare costs, potentially lower medicare costs in the future due to earlier death, pollution, etc.). Such a tax would help raise the relative price of fast food compared to healthier alternatives and consumers would respond accordingly.

6. Clyde Carson f/ Sean Kingston & The Game - In Da Club


5. The LA Angels trade 1B Casey Kotchman and pitching prospect Stephen Marek to the Atlanta Braves for 1B Mark Teixeira.

Teixeira is a huge pickup for the Angels, adding a bonafide cleanup hitter (.283/20/78) and gold glove defender to an already potent offense. Kotchman is a solid hitter and defender in his own right (.287/12/54) who stuck out only 43 times last year in 443 ABs. Stephen Marek is having a solid year out of the bullpen in AA this year (2-6, 3.66) with a solid K/9 ratio (10.99). He'll need to get his rather high BB per 9 innings (4.05) down if he wants to be effective in the majors.

4. Yankees Draft Update

The Yanks still have not signed their top 3 draft picks, namely flame-thrower RHP Gerrit Cole out of Orange Lutheran HS (CA), craftly LHP Jeremy Bleich out of Stanford, and RHP Scott Bittle from Mississippi.

3. Exact Science

Ya dig?

2. O.C. - Born 2 Live


1. Brett Favre

Looks like even Favre couldn't escape the Madden Curse. Even if Favre ends up sitting this year out, I think it's fair to say that his legacy has been tainted by this year's drama. We'll never know whether Packers GM Ted Thompson in any way "pushed" Farve towards retirement last year or if Favre really convinced himself to retire only to realize this summer that he still has some gas in the tank. It would be a real shame to see Favre walk away from the franchise that made him an American icon. Favre left the Packers as close to the top as any player in recent history and I wouldn't like to see him spend the twilight of his career bogged down in mediocrity, assuming he goes to the Jets or Bucs. Then again, maybe the Packers should just let Favre do as he pleases.