Because Life Doesn’t Have a Spam Filter

Hey guys!

Do you ever wish your life had a spam filter? I do! In it you’d find useless (and unsolicited) comments, questions, interjections; nuisances interrupting progress on important projects; telemarketers; door-to-door sales-people; my insecurities; gross processed foods, etc. — basically anything that acts to take away time and energy without a helpful exchange.
[photo cred]

If you’re a blogger, I’m sure you’ve seen some rather hilarious comments sitting in your spam filter. It’s not typically the obvious spam comments that are funny, but the ones that are meant as accolades. They usually go something like this “thanks for such a great post. i have bookmarked this page.” These spammers are relying on the fact that we all like our egos stroked and are certainly more likely to approve a comment, without investigation of the commenter’s link, praising us than one that says “Canadian pharmacy sells Viagra cheap.”

But life doesn’t have a spam filter. We’ve got to filter through all the crap that comes our way on a daily basis — even the crap that seems legit — or that we want to believe is.

People have often acted as spammers at my previous jobs by delivering messages intended for someone else; delivering half-ass messages (ex.: “apparently the shit’s gonna hit the fan if we don’t remember that key message point!” “Which one” “I can’t recall!” “D’oh!”); or by delivering undeserved praise on something like a nervous tick (and because constructive criticism wasn’t a part of their vocab.). People can be toxic when they’re intentionally mean and when they’re intentionally saccharine.

Think about it when it comes to your health, too. Many of us on weight-loss journeys have gotten more public participation than a Princess Leah bikini scene reenactment at ComiCon. By making unsolicited and ungrounded comments on your diet, exercise routine, whatever, others often leave us feeling a tad…gross. Just picture a giant can of Spam when you see people like this, and run. They are embodiments of that junk food — placeholders stealing our time and energy from more useful and meaningful (and nourishing!) interactions.

Declare this week a “no Spam” week and make it a habit to reevaluate the people and comments you validate, and the food you let into your body. Abstaining from metaphoric and literal spam are equally important parts of the health equation. In my humble and cranky experience, anyway.

Who or what would I find in your life’s spam filter?

Food News

• Tribe Hummus has launched a new, all-natural creamy hummus line called “Origins.”
  The varieties are Classic, Zesty Spice & Garlic, Spicy Red Pepper, and Tomato & Veggie. By taking a gander at the ingredients and comparing to Tribe’s preexisting Classic line, it seems the main difference is simply that tahini replaces canola oil as the second ingredient (and canola oil then follows as the third). The calorie and fat counts differ a bit with this new line having, in general, 10-20 more calories and 1.5-2.5 more grams of fat per 2-tbsp serving. See here and here for more info.
• See yesterday’s post for news on LA Food Fest and two new restaurants slated to open this summer and next year.

<3,

The Cranky One

p.s. if you’re expecting Nadia’s weekly post today, expect it later this week. Our own improv princess has some sweet gigs she’s tending to! Awesome!