HI all!

I am back from a LONG break from Blogging so here I am once again, to restart my passion and relit my interest in what started off as a online journal. (Refer to my old history and my PIONEER as a Blogger even before Blogging became mainstream or http://web.singnet.com.sg/~jatrav/)

Anyway, tis sad to start off because I have learnt that a church friend of mine has passed away. Yes, suddenly without warning at all. He's around my age and if that's not something to cry about, he just got married in Feb 05. You ask how you come to terms with such sudden departure and the answer is the same: that our Almighty God is always in control and that we should always put our trusts in Him no matter our circumstances in life. =0)


On a lighter note, read what's happening in Sesame Street:-

"Something must be wrong in the land of Muppets. First, the producers announced that Sesame Street would kick off its latest (its 36th) season with a story about healthy habits. No problem there; childhood obesity rates are soaring.

But then my Sesame Street world turned upside-down. The beloved blue, furry monster who sang "C is for cookie, that's good enough for me", is now advocating eating healthy.

There's a new song, A Cookie is a Sometimes Food, in which Cookie Monster learns there are "anytime" foods and "sometimes" foods.

"Sacrilege!" I cried.

Why did the Cookie Monster need a health makeover?

The first place I headed was the internet. On the Sesame Street website, little had changed. There was Cookie Monster in all his blue furriness. He was holding a plate of cookies. He was chomping on a cookie. He looked the same. But looks can be deceiving.

So I searched the site for news on Cookie Monster and up popped a press release about the show's new "healthy habits for life" emphasis.

Buried near the bottom was one-sentence about Cookie Monster eating fewer cookies. But what did that mean? Scarfing one plateful instead of two?

I picked up the telephone. "What's going on with Cookie Monster?" I asked the Sesame Street press office. "Why are you doing this?"

They sent me to Rosemarie Truglio, the show's vice-president of research and education. She says the show is now focusing on emotional and physical health along with teaching numbers and letters.

With the rise in childhood obesity, Truglio says, Sesame Street is concentrating on the need to teach children about healthy foods and physical activity. This season, each episode opens with a "health tip" about nutrition, exercise, hygiene and rest.

Even guest stars will address healthy activities - Alicia Keys will be talking and singing about the importance of physical activity.

Cookie Monster was not available for comment.

"We are not putting him on a diet," says Truglio. "And we would never take the position of no sugar. We're teaching him moderation."

The furry one also plans to try different kinds of cookies (read: healthier cookies) rather than his staple, chocolate chip.

But will he still scarf his food? Yes, plus the occasional object, Truglio says.

But isn't that unhealthy? "He's still Cookie Monster."

So there it is.

Cookie Monster still gobbles cookies, but they're healthier cookies. So he's allowed to be his old self, sometimes.

His eyes are still googly, his fur is still scruffy and he's still messy. Even Sesame Street recognises that we all need guilty pleasures."


Interesting yah? Anyways, at work now, should be working, not blogging.

Take care all!