Bravo to confectionary and candy-making mainstay Mars Inc. for giving their chocolate products — Snickers, Dove Bars, Twix and M&Ms, to name a few — a slim down. After signing a pledge with Michelle Obama’s Partnership for a Healthier America, the company began a project to phase out all portions exceeding 250 calories by 2013. This means smaller portions, new packaging and hopefully less obese Americans. While we can all agree there is nothing fun about “Fun Size” candy bars, this is a king-sized leap in the fight for a healthier America. Snack responsibly.
Boo to the roller coaster of emotions that is LeBron James. James, who caused “The Decision” to be one of the most viewed shows of 2010, returns to Quicken Loans Arena as a member of the Miami Heat to face his former team Friday. Following his decision to "take his talents to South Beach," James and owner Dan Gilbert exchanged an onslaught of childish, Comic Sans-filled insults. Since then, it hasn’t gotten much better, including recent statements from James that he would consider returning back to the team and city that once called him “King.” Come on, LeBron. You really think the city that held ceremonies to burn your jerseys is going to accept you back with open arms? Let it go already.
Bravo to the Dow Jones industrial average rising 123.13 points Thursday, the third triple-digit gain of 2012, and closing at 12,904.98, as reported by The Associated Press. This was the highest close for the Dow since May 2008, just four months before the bottom began falling out of the American economy. This isn’t the only uplifting economic news. As Reuters reports, the number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits fell to a near four-year low last week. News like this gives Americans hope that the economy is on the turn-around.
Boo to the explosion of memes on Facebook. The meme is perhaps the most basic yet scathingly true avenue of Internet comedy, and it’s nearing the point of becoming stale. We get it, people say “sh-t,” what you “think you do” is a gross exaggeration of what “you actually do,” and college kids love to glorify their laziness. The users populating the darkest corner of the Internet — an image and message board known as 4chan — are experiencing the same nausea you did when you realized your entire family requested to be your friend on Facebook or follow you on Twitter. Drop the trend, n00bz.
BooRavo to Tempe’s free shuttle service, the Orbit, potentially implementing a 50-cent fee next January and possibly replacing some of their buses. We’ve blended our scorn and praise into one acknowledgment. Boo to the new fee, though inexpensive, it could have an effect on those who rely on the free service as the ridership varies from college students, to working families to transients. Bravo to Tempe Transportation for exploring avenues of decreasing a $3 million budget deficit that don’t have a terribly negative effect on the community while simultaneously improving their service.
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