I always prefer butter over the alternative. But I succumb to the trans fat free stuff at times...but just doesn't taste or cook the same to me. And...bacon...well...I think you know how I feel about that - lol .Google the benefits of coconut, coconut oil sometime...it's eye opening...usually one oil they tell you to stay away from. Palm oil, too. Was eye opening. I understand your confusion.

OK...enough of the thread-jacking - lol..apologies to the OP :)

JanS: I have to say that there is nothing more unattractive and sad to me than to see a beautiful woman smoking. And it confounds me that young people still pick up the habit. I've lost two beloved grandparents to cigarettes and even though many of us can remember a time when cigarettes were common in offices and on airplanes, in 2009 it is just crazy that they endure.

I'm confused about all of the food stuff (partially for self-serving reasons, obviously). I've read heaps of material that suggests those rich foods in themselves aren't as automatically bad for us as it would seem. For instance, according to Jennfier McLagan's excellent 2008 book "Fat", bacon fat is mainly monounsaturated. And certain pork products, like cured Iberian hams, have omega-3 fatty acid levels that are four times that of regular ham. McLagan also claims that many of butter's fatty acids are very good for us "...lauric and butyric acids boost our immune system, while stearic and palmitic acids lower our LDL cholesterol. Butter contains the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K, plus copper, zinc, chromium, selenium, iodine, and lecithin."

I think the real evils are the processed foods and the fact that too many of us never want to walk more than 20 feet at a time. If we could just get out of our cars walking around and taking the stairs instead of the elevator we'd be in much better shape even with the rich foods.

Christopher...I watched a young woman down town last week..model material, dressed impeccably, beautiful, and a cigarette hanging out of her mouth..it did not compute...except for the fact that she was model thin..and the smoking may have been a factor in that. Our society, unfortunately, has aberrations like the breast cancer/heart attack statistics, yet look at how we eat..fast food isn't the only thing that kills...gourmet food, cooked with bacon, butter, etc., etc..(mmm...Julia Childs, Paula Deen - lol)..it doesn't help any, does it? Ahhh...well...still looking forward to the Swinery :)

Diane: Excellent points. When I covered the EPA rally for the WSB a few months back I was surprised to see so many young "Green" advocates smoking as well. People were up on the stage beating the drum of clean water and air and they're in the back deeply inhaling carcinogens.

Cigarette smoke even kills 10,000-40,000 people a year who don't even smoke! Exposure to it is even harmful if you're outside and standing directly down-wind of it.

I'm always entertained when I'm shopping at Metropolitan Market because they've got this brand of frozen cheese souffles that prominently advertises on the packaging that they devote a portion of their proceeds to breast cancer research. A worthy cause no doubt, but heart disease kills significantly more women every year than breast cancer does and eating cheese souffles isn't helping.

re: "maplesyrup Does anyone else find it sort of odd that they featured a cupcake store in a story about health care? "
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didn't even think about that; just thrilled to have a small business owner providing health insurance and advocating for more for all
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I did find it incredibly ironic at the packed health care meeting Wed night, the many folks shouting for health care reform, while reeking of cigarette smoke
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I had an interesting chat with a guy staffing a table out front for single payer health care; he was wearing a VEGAN shirt, and admitted he smokes cigarettes
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cigarette smoking kills half million a year; if people would stop smoking, that would drive down HUGE amount of costs to health care

With all of the caffeine, carbs, and sugar floating around that joint, she probably should offer them insurance.

Seriously though, it is good of her to do that.

maplesyrup, I understand what you're implying....but still it's great that she insures even her part time people (25 hours)....

Does anyone else find it sort of odd that they featured a cupcake store in a story about health care?

Christoper - Be sure to get there early if you want to get paid !

thanks for the links. it IS nice that they care for their employees and provide health care coverage.

They shot with Bazell at CR Ballard in late May, per this CR website:
http://legalizefrostitution.blogspot.com/2009/05/nbc-nightly-news-does-cupcake-royale.html

Not sure if that was the same interview, although it wouldn't seem likely they'd have him come out twice in 2-plus months to get the same person's soundbite.

As far as I know, he came out with his own photog and possibly a producer.

And for you twitter peeps, follow NBCNewsCrew. He's a photog who shoots for NBC all over the country and posts behind the scenes pictures which are fun. :)

Oh, and here is a web extra...more of the interview that didn't make it into the TV version: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/32408444#32408444

Oops. Right you are. Missed that. Well they could have paid me for this one in cupcakes! :-)

well, I did say "volunteer"...what...you want NBC to pay you money? lol...

anyway..it was a good story...:)

JanS: Are you kidding? With what their news division's budget has been cut back to these days I wouldn't be surprised if Bazell had to hitchhike to Seattle.

I saw the news piece...was well done, interesting.

Christopher...maybe you could volunteer to be his crew next time he comes out here :)

Interesting. How random.

TR: Do you think Bob Bazell flew out from NYC with a producer and his own crew? Or would they have him work with a crew from the affiliate here in Seattle?

You can view it online at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032619/#32409776

Awesome that they feature local businesses who are bringing these issues to the forefront.
Way to go!

NBC Nightly News at 6pm did a great story on Jody, her family, and Cupcake Royale, advocating for quality affordable health care for all small business owners; major kudos!!!