PowerBar Pria CarbSelect

I got a coupon for a free PowerBar Pria CarbSelect, so I tried it. My thoughts:

- Is "Pria" the feminine of "Prius"? If so, this pair fits many stereotypes about the sexes: the Pria is smaller and can't carry nearly as much, but tastes a whole lot better.*
- They're inventing even more excuses for carbs now. This thing has 2g "Impact Carbs", which is the remainder when you've taken the total carbs and subtracted off fiber and (get this) "sugar alcohol". Tellingly, there's a note on the wrapper cautioning diabetics that Impact Carbs aren't intended for YOU. I deduce that "Impact Carbs" are a lie marketing trick and "sugar alcohol" means "the manufacturer wanted a smaller Impact Carbs number".
- It doesn't taste like a protein bar, which is wonderful. However, it has an odd smell.
- At my local Safeway, it's $1.99 for this 110-calorie thing. I wonder how many Impact Carbs I'd get if I just ate two dollar bills.

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* I hope this will start several interesting arguments in the comments.

Le Coureur qui ne Pouvait Pas

A year or so ago I saw a sculpture that instantly spoke to my heart. I had nerve tumors in my feet, causing enough pain to stop me from running, but this problem was probably not yet correctly diagnosed by that time. I had just missed Bay to Breakers and was sad about that. I went to Silicon Valley Open Studios to see the photography of my friend Joe Decker, and by chance I also got to see the work of sculptor Fabienne Bismuth.

There was a sculpture of a woman trying to run while her foot was trapped in a chunk of granite.

I went back to that sculpture over and over. She was me! The athlete who was immobilized, the runner who couldn't! Sadly, she cost a bundle, and I didn't have a bundle. I'd been out of work for a year (by choice, but still expensive) and needed to be careful with money.

A year later I still can't run. My left foot's improving but not healed, the right isn't improving at all, and I don't know why. For some reason I was reminded of the sculpture I'd seen. With Joe's help in identifying the artist, I went to look for a picture of it.

I about cried when I saw Le Coureur qui ne Pouvait Pas again. It's the same foot. It's her right foot that's stuck, just like me. And she hasn't given up.

I don't know if the sculpture is still available or how much it costs, but I've sent mail to ask. I'm going to be very damned tempted.

Ceiling Fan Massacree

Dear rfrench:

Please do not fall in love with ANY of these. [link via kitiara, with thanks.]

Cordially,

Me