The Yogurt and Candy Diet

People who want to eat healthy often turn to yogurt.  It has all kinds of healthy attributes.  Yogurt can be low in fat and it can aid in digestion.  But why would anyone eat yogurt with Candy in it?  That’s like dipping celery in chocolate or eating grilled fish smothered in cheese. 

Check out the Yo Crunch Yogurt I found in my frig today.

Breyers labeled it “Low-Fat Yogurt” but then packaged it with Nestle Crunch bar bits.  Another “Low-Fat” yogurt option from Breyers comes with Oreo Cookie bites.  Let me make one thing perfectly clear.  The yogurt is good for you, the chocolate cookie and candy bar bits are not.

Why bother eating the yogurt with all the crap in it.  Why not just go ahead and eat the candy bar instead?

My wife is the one who bought the desert style yogurt sweet tooth treats.  She simply said, “it looked so good!”  I agree it looks tasty, but those toppings are better in a milk shake, which is almost exactly what you will be eating when you dump the chocolate bits into your yogurt.

So my question is this: Is Breyers really tricking people into thinking they are eating healthy, when all the are eating is a fancy malted milk ball shake?

And note to Breyers: Don’t label your Yo-Crunch “Low-Fat Yogurt”, when you know everyone is going to dump the chocolate treats into it.  If they weren’t, they would just by the regular yogurt.  And in case you were wondering this so-called “low fat” treat actually contains 210 calories, 40 which come from fat.

Happy 4th of July

We should all take this time to pay tribute to the men and women who put their lives on the line to serve this country.

On a lighter note: 

My wife asked me this morning, “How do married people celebrate INDEPENDENCE Day?”

I answered:  “We take time to remember our wild college days.”

My Father said: “I don’t think you spending my money during college counts as being independent.”

Is There A God?

Today’s front page article in the Dallas Morning News about religion was fascinating.  After reading it I came away with one fact made perfectly clear… There are thousands of different opinions and ideas about religion and salvation.  I know it’s uncomfortable to talk about this, but I wanted to share my thoughts, or confusion, about organized religion.

I personally believe in God, I have FAITH there is a higher power, even though no one can actually prove it to me.  But as far as picking a religion, that becomes a very tough choice. 

There are five ways for me to get to Downtown Dallas from my home in Kessler Park, surely there is more than just one way for me to get to heaven,  at least I hope so.  I come from the belief that I respect all religions that call on followers to live a decent and moral life.  My high school basketball coach, Rich Clinchy, once told me, “Good things happen to good people.”  I would assume that includes avoiding the depths of hell. (He also told me, “good shooters get the roll.”)

From a common sense perspective, I worry when leaders of different religions tell you, “It’s our way or the highway.”  or “We hold the real truth and path to salvation.”  Those are bold statements that can never be backed in fact only FAITH.

My friends know I am a gambler, but I refuse to take a gamble on eternal life.  It’s like the roulette wheel at the casino, I choose to sit it out because the odds are the little ball won’t land on the number I choose.  It’s estimated there are 270 major religions, all of which are led by spiritual people who have faith their religion is the only true and right way.  If you go under the assumption that only one religion is the correct religion, that leaves me with a 1 in 270 shot of picking the right one.

So instead I prefer to pray on my own and believe in my heart that they all are right.  There must be more then one way to salvation.  My God would never punish someone simply for following the “wrong” religion providing that religion called for people to be kind and compassionate to others.

I realize this post will anger many people, to them, I am sorry.  Remember most religions call for forgiveness too!

What’s Wrong With Cesar Chavez?

It’s very curious to me that the city conducts a web survey to re-name industrial blvd., then discounts the survey when the name that wins isn’t the name city leaders want.  I have a feeling, the administrators who conducted the survey never thought Cesar Chavez would win!  But it did.  The only problem is, it doesn’t fit the image the city wants the new trinity river project to portray.  City leaders won’t admit that, but common sense tells you that’s exactly the problem.

I voted for Riverfront Blvd.  But i still accept defeat. 

Here is the inside scoop.  The marketing gurus hired by Dallas City Hall are saying Riverfront Boulevard should be the name of choice.  The reason:  Convention and tourist business made up mostly of upper middle class “white” America.  I have been quietly told by city hall insiders that marketing executives want Dallas to “play down” it’s large Hispanic population and culture that goes with it.  They want the Trinity River project to serve as a sign that Dallas is a chic and trendy growing metropolis… Not little Mexico.  After all Cesar Chavez organized farm workers, not artists and actors in New York City.

But the fact is, whether the Anglo population wants to believe it or not, Dallas has a rich Hispanic heritage and the numbers of Hispanics flocking to Dallas grow by the day.  Apparently most of them voted in that web survey too.  Instead of changing the rules, next time the losers need to get more people to vote. 

The city said the whole process was just a “Survey.”  Sadly, by throwing the survey results in the trash the city actually is saying, “we don’t care what you think!” 

Tony Romo Wants Carrie Underwood Back?

…. Maybe so, if you believe Jessica Simpson.  Reports are now surfacing that Jessica can get insanely jealous by Tony’s constant communication via, emails and text messages with his ex-girlfriend, Carrie Underwood.

MSNBC quotes a friend of Jessica’s who claims Jessica asked Tony to stop all communication with Carrie Underwood.  Truth is, I can’t blame her.  I wouldn’t be happy if my wife was emailing and texting one of her old boyfriends, especially if he was a millionaire entertainer!

Tony doesn’t need the money, but we are getting close to training camp where he doesn’t need all the distractions either.  Why can’t he just find a nice girl from Garland!

Romo’s New Agent - Daddy Simpson?

NOT!!!

We all know Jessica Simpson’s Dad Joe, has been responsible for cooling off the two lovebirds.  The Boston Herald is now citing a reason!  Joe was pushing to be Tony agent!  He reportedly told The Cowboy superstar with the 67 million dollar contract to dump his current agent Creative Artists Agency and sign with big poppa. 

Jessica, can’t be happy about this, that is unless she was in on the plan all along… hmmmmmmm.

A Picture of a Rock Star - In Dallas!

Yes, that’s me and my buddy, former NBC5 staffer, Nigel Wheeler (AKA Kali Green).  As many of you know he gave up his status as reporter extraordinaire for life on the road as a rock star.  It appears things are going great for Nigel, not only does he look like he should be playing linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys, (he is in that good of shape), but the crowds and groupies are still flocking to see his band, Egress.

When I go on the road, (usually to Austin to cover the Legislature) I gain 15 pounds eating McDonald’s. Nigel goes on the road he gets sponsored by 24 Hour Fitness and losses 15 pounds of Fat, but gains 10 pounds of muscle.  If he was playing Major League Baseball, I would be accusing him of attending Jose Canseco BBQs!

If you ever get a chance to see Egress, you need to check them out.  Nigel’s new hairdo is just as cool as the music the play.  Think Reggae meets Red Hot Chilly Peppers.  The band rocks and I have a feeling the above picture might be worth something someday.  The Egress Band members are all extremely talented and I am very proud of my main man Nigel!

Romo, Simpson - The Saga Continues

Back the freak up, DAD!  That’s what Tony Romo apparently told Jessica’s overbearing father, Joe Simpson.  The Chicago Sun Times reports that if the Jessica - Tony combination is to work as well as the Tony - T.O. combination, Joe Simpson needs to mind his own business.

The two love birds, are apparently still an item.  They were even seen dining at N9NE Steak House at Victory Park last weekend acting like two love struck school children.

The Best Burger Recipe Ever

I don’t cook.  I don’t bake.  I don’t even grill.  The only thing I actually do in the kitchen is direct the person who is cooking and of course, I EAT the end result. 

The other day I came up with the greatest burger recipe in history, then told my wife how to make it.  I stole some of the ingredients from Chef Gordon Ramsey, some from my father, and the rest I came up with it on my own.  So if you like a good thick hunk of hamburger that tastes better then you have ever had, try this at home:

• 1lb of Ground Beef  (Must be PRIME Grade A)  The quality of the beef could be the most important factor.  Spend the money, you will not regret it.
• 1 minced onion (I like the pieces to be a little thicker)
• 2 teaspoons of garlic salt
• 1 teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon of tabasco sauce
• 1 quick pour of  Sam Adams Beer
• 2 tablespoons of Honey Mustard
• 2 egg yolkes
• dash of salt and pepper

Mix all the ingredients up with your hands.  Shape into thick large oval burgers.  Cook on Grill until temperature reaches medium.  Top with Cheddar cheese and melt breifly.  Eat up.  If it’s not the best burger you ever had, sue me!

My Sister the Pet Psychic

Spending nearly 15 years exposing cons, frauds and hucksters you wouldn’t expect me to have a “Psychic” in the family.  But my sister Laura is no ordinary psychic, she’s a Pet Psychic!  That’s right, Laura Stinchfield talks to the animals, an animal communicator, a regular Dr. Doolittle!

I was always skeptical of anything “para-normal”, coming from the Stinchfield line, just “normal” is hard enough for us.  But this I can tell you as fact:

I always knew my sister had a special connection with animals. Dogs, cats and horses just acted differently with her.

I know my sister truly believes in what she does. 

As a Reporter, it’s become hard for me not to believe, simply because of the stories she offers up and what her clients have to say.

Laura actually used her abilities to solve a crime.  Thieves stole a motorcycle from one of her clients barn.  Since no one was home only the three horses witnessed the thief in action.  Laura spoke to the horses.  She says two of them told her the same story.  It was a heavy set older man with greying hair, with a younger skinny teenager.  The culprits drove a red pick up.  The third horse told Laura, he didn’t see anything he was sleeping!

Anyway that matched the description of the people painting the victims house!  The cops paid the father/son team a visit, there was the motorcycle parked in their garage.  By the way, Laura was in California, the crime happened in New York, so she had no way to know who the painters were.  You’ll have to ask her how she does a communication from 3000 miles away.

It’s not just that that story but countless others that get you thinking, hey, maybe there is something two this?  I know all her clients praise her as “the cats meow.”  Living in California she also has some very famous clients that all use her services on a regular basis.  Including a former star of “Dallas.” 

Now if I could just get Laura to ask my lab Bella, why she starts howling every time I start singing.

By the way, Laura has a blog too, The Animals Tribune