What day is it?
Tuesday is Rid the World of Fad Diets and Gimmicks Day. Part of Healthy Weight Week, the day is designed to call attention to dangerous and misleading diet products and trends.
The list
The 2009 Slim Chance Award “winners,” handed out since 1989 by the Healthy Weight Network:
Worst Product: Hydroxycut
Most Outrageous: Numerous pills spiked with powerful undisclosed drugs
Worst Claim: QVC shopping network
Worst Gimmick: Kinoki foot pads
In memoriam
Glen W. Bell Jr., founder of the Taco Bell chain, has died. He was 86. No word what this means for the Drive-Thru Diet, though we suspect its candidacy for a 2010 Slim Chance Award is unaffected.
Thank God, he’s a country boy
A Fond du Lac, Wis., man was cited for unnecessary loud noise last week after officers said they could hear music blaring through the man’s apartment door, and that he admitted to “rocking out.” The 42-year-old head-banger’s “rock” of choice? John Denver.
— Rob Manker
the number
$1,075
Bid price Monday night for a “Pat Robertson Voodoo doll,” listed on eBay. Urging Robertson haters to inflict pain by proxy on the controversial preacher, seller “johnnyvoodoo” claims that 100 percent of the proceeds will go to the American Red Cross, in support of Haiti earthquake relief. Bidding ends Jan. 26.
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the quote
“Let’s remove all doubt. We will have health care one way or another.”
— House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, on the uncertainty over the vacant Massachusetts Senate seat




