Big Eating, Let's Retire This Abomination Already

Whether it's the 125 ounce steak at Ward's Steakhouse in Milwaukee or Nathan's Hot Dog eating contest, there is no purpose for seeing how much a person can eat.  As we move toward conservation of energy and resources (still, after starting 40 years ago), and as we work to combat obesity in America, and as we would, naturally, want to work toward a more perfect union, could we ditch the glorification of wasteful, unhealthy practices?

I have an idea: instead of encouraging these, let's put our excess energy literally and figuratively not where our mouth is.  There are a hundred possible alternatives -- many of which would give us a deep satisfaction to the cores of our souls.  In direct opposition to throwing away good food, how about helping with any of the anti-hunger initiatives from soup kitchens to food drives to school lunch programs for needy children to helping homeless people find the means to get off the street to mentoring young people on healthy life-affirming habits to donating day old baked goods and unused produce and expired food to those who need it.

In any event, if you would please pick something that serves your soul and your fellow travelers, you'll be be on the winning side of your deathbed reflections.  I know that's not for everybody -- it's easy to convince yourself that you did what you could, but when it comes to seriously facing your mortality and the honest legacy you left to mankind, you'll be giving up the sublime peace that comes from a life well lived.  If you're the religious, afterlife type, then you know there's no escaping the selfishness, Pontius Pilot-esque self delusion you go for when you're meeting your Maker.  If you're the humanistic, secular type, you've got nothing to work for except the to-the-core integrity that frees your conscience of stress.  OK, that's a little touch-feely, but it's also true.

The "Busting Myths" Trend

You'll see articles in magazines and papers, books and webpages that are busting myths.  But often, they're just stating the tenets of a program.  When I read what they list as myths, and they are not commonly held misconceptions about their topic, it's pretty clear they're just trying to take pull in readers who think they know something about it and want to see if their myths are the same as everyone else.  When I read the mythbuster articles, I expect to see my belief busted, but there it is, just confirming what I already thought.  Disappointing.  Deceptive.  I don't fall for it anymore.