What's Good?

I am recovering from my half marathon just fine, thank you. I mean, I haven't run at all this week, but I'm out the door this morning for my regular three-and-a-bit miles with the Lake Merritt Donut Runners. I think the fried dough is precisely what I need to complete my recovery.

Or something like that.

Truthfully, I'm heading into the hardest weekend of the year for me: tomorrow is the three year anniversary of Isaiah's death, and of course Sunday is Mother's Day.

Some days I'm strong. Some days I'm faking it.

This week in food technology news: The New Yorker's Helen Rosner on "The Promises of the Home 'Composting' Machine." I’ve got a note-to-self to write about the history of the marketing campaigns that sought to convince us that natural gas was the best way to cook — meanwhile, "N.Y. ditches gas stoves, fossil fuels in new buildings in first statewide ban in U.S."  How do you say “quarter-pounder with cheese” in child-labor-law violation? The New York Times gives us yet another scary headline about ultra-processed foods and health that, upon closer examination, is another story that contains a lot of "mights" and "it's not clear" and "we're not really sure."

"What's Good" in breakfast news: "The Price of a BEC Has Doubled at Some Bodegas," The Eater regrets to inform us.   This week, it's The Washington Post with tips and tricks (gag) on how to eat a healthy breakfast.  Fortune profiles Magic Spoon  — look for my review of this cereal this summer: "How Magic Spoon Brought Innovation To The Breakfast Table."

This week in the business of sports and fitness: "'I See No Future': Sherpas Leave the Job They Made Famous." Elsewhere in sports and fitness: The NYT profiles Kaig Lightner, a trans youth soccer coach in PDX. One week, all the papers are telling us we need to walk more — for our heart, for our mental health. The next? "Dog-walking injuries may be more common than you think," The Washington Post cautions.

This week in the business of "wellness": "Mindpath seemed like a success story for private equity in mental health. Now, it’s a cautionary tale."  "Trendy 'raw water' source under bird’s nest sparks diarrheal outbreak."  ("You love to see it" feels apt and yet god no one wants to see that.) "Why Jenny Craig couldn't last in the Ozempic Age."  "Is It Time to Defund Food Banks?" asks Anjali Prasertong.  And why why why does The New York Times insist on writing these sorts of profiles, doing the work of reputation management for white-collar criminals?  Why would we ever believe anything that Elizabeth Holmes says, even if she says it while breastfeeding?! Elsewhere in entrepreneurs: “Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg wins medals on jiu-jitsu debut.”  "Why Is Everyone Talking About Blood Sugar Spikes? Ask The Glucose Goddess." "Kid critics weigh in on Michelle Obama’s new healthier drinks." “Healthier drinks” is apparently juice-water. Because blood sugar spikes or some such thing.

And finally, I would be remiss if I closed this newsletter out without a nod to Heather Armstrong, known to millions of course as “mommy-blogger” (cringe at that phrase) "Dooce." I have all sorts of complicated feelings about her death, many of which are wrapped up in my own experiences of living in public via one's blog but also my own grief and loss. She was a real one, for sure, and the world is better for her blogging. My thoughts are with her loved ones. If you or someone you know is in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.

Yours in struggle,
~Audrey