DOWNLOAD: Fat Boys - Fat Boys (MP3)

We've done it - NYC has banned trans fat. Watch out rest of the country, you're next.

Part of me (most of me really) is happy about this. I don't think restaurants, or any money-making businesses, should have the right to unknowingly poison us. The other part of me wonders if this falls under the category of the the government controlling our decisions - I'm against trans fat, but hesitant to support the government's right to control what we eat (or where we dance, what we smoke, what we read, what our religion is, etc...). But trans fat is more like polonium-210 (lead paint is the example the health commissioner used) than butter. Some may argue that trans fat = flavor, but I think this is about protecting us from those who put their bottom line before their customers' health -- so maybe 'trans fat' and 'rights' don't belong in the same sentence. What do you think?

Restaurants will have until July 1, 2007, to find substitutes for oils and other trans fats used in frying and spreads. But eateries will get until July 1, 2008, to find substitutes for oils and shortenings used for deep frying baked goods

And speaking of thinking about trans fat, one of my favorite non-fiction books Fast Food Nation is now a movie. It may still be playing at a theater near you. I haven't seen it yet. Is it good? The soundtrack features songs by Spoon, Dr. Dog, Elvis Perkins, Robbers on High Street, and the Capitol Years....

And in keeping with the theme here, now seems like a good time to also mention that Al Gore's excellent documentary An Inconvenient Truth is out on DVD (in environmentally-safer packaging) (I did see it) (so did Antony) .

"An Inconvenient Truth is an important, powerful and necessary film -- it's one that connects like few others in 2006 and one places the onus of action upon you, the viewer. How you feel upon the film's conclusion is much less important that what you will do -- having the courage to take action can be the hardest step, but also the most rewarding. Don't miss this film. Highly recommended." [DVD Talk]

Rent it or add it to your holiday shopping list. Then you can get a nice vegan (trans fat free?) meal at Ruby Tuesday's.