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Polymerase chain reaction is a cornerstone of molecular biology research. Using short pieces of single-stranded DNA called primers the previously invisible becomes tangible.

Friday, April 08, 2005

Monster Flip-Flops


Hoots the Owl explains the benefits of fruits and vegetables to Cookie Monster (via CNN)

“C” is for cookie, that’s good enough for me. “C” is for cookie, that’s good enough for me. Cookie, cookie, cookie starts with “C”.

The monster famous for these lyrics is Sesame Street resident, Cookie Monster. Many will remember C. Monster’s weak attempts to delay gratification and then his wild abandon in devouring cookies piled on plates. Blue fur flying, dilated pupils spinning, C. Monster would throw back a stack of cookies with such enthusiasm that sometimes even the plate would be consumed. I credit the honorable C. Monster as formative, not so much in my choice of food, but more so in my style of eating.

Well, times have changed, and apparently, so has Sesame Street. Hardy, Harrell and Bell commented, in a December 2004 edition of the Journal of Pediatric Nursing, that between 1963 and 2000 childhood obesity rates have alarmingly risen fourfold. To address this issue, the producers of Sesame Street have announced the Healthy Habits for Life initiative. The initiative is designed to promote healthy eating and physical activity. This season new characters, like talking produce, will appear in new features such as an American Bandstand parody, American Fruit Stand. Entertainers and politicians will appear with assorted muppets to discuss nutrition, exercise, hygiene and rest. Cookie Monster, too, will have new experiences. C. Monster will try healthier varieties of cookies and learn moderation. In a near paradigm change, “A Cookie is a Sometimes Food”, becomes C. Monster’s new song.

Although Sesame Street sources acknowledge some changes for C. Monster, some things will not change. C. Monster’s most characteristic trait, his food gobbling, will remain intact. Says Dr. Rosemarie T. Truglio in response to whether or not C. Monsters eating style is unhealthy, “He's still Cookie Monster.”

1 comment:

Just Me! said...

mmmm cookies