Now Pouring: Soda Pledges, Politics & Public Health

Nov. 7, 2014 Election Outcome: Historic passage and precedent of  Berkeley vote on soda tax; synopsis article via SF Gate on why Berkeley passed a soda tax and SF didn't. Oct. 8, 2014 Update: NYTimes' Mark Bittman and Mother Jones both weigh in on the politics of the soda tax, which has vaulted to $9.1 million "Big Soda" (ABA) spending combined to try to crush the measure in SF … [Read more...]

Hawking Hydration Low: Gatorade Tells Kids To Avoid Water

Aug. 20, 2015 Update: Now Gatorade's G-Force is forcing their bottled neon into schools under the guise of 'hydration education?' Seriously? Paging media watchdogs! Crickets. Jan. 10, 2014 I’ve written a lot about the heavy marketing of sugary/salty sports drinks over water for hydration, and this post about “kidney stones in kindergarten” serves as a public health reminder … [Read more...]

Project Raceway? “ShopGirls” Create Their Own Eco-Marathon Reality

Update Apr. 7, 2015 Now this is what I'm talking about! Our hometown entrepreneurial hub for startups, Draper University is 'going Hollywood' next week as ABC begins filming a new 'reality TV' series called "Startup U" to capture the challenging environs of Silicon Valley dreamers and doers out to achieve their concept to completion ideation. Now..."What If" this series were to … [Read more...]

Turning Boys Into Monsters: Energy Drink Leaves A Foul Taste (Again)

Dec. 8, 2009 It’s Tuesday, time for our weekly “Packaging Boyhood” focus, so what better time than the holiday season to sound the 'red' siren on the 'green' brand that tween and teen boys are sucking up to...Monster energy drink. With everything from motocross and macho madness to the thumping, screaming, ‘over the top’ rebel yell, Monster ‘packs a vicious punch’ by … [Read more...]

Starbucks Filters In Feedback For Healthier Choices

July 2, 2009 Back to part three in our series on healthGAMERS in a jiff…but first, a quick coffee break, with some health news you can use. Love ‘em or hate ‘em, Starbucks' ubiquitous media and marketing presence has had a grande (venti?) impact on kids. From status symbols of socioeconomics in school, to age compression where caffeine-culture equates with being a … [Read more...]