Did you know that about 15 million pounds of petroleum-based dyes are used in food each year, even though some are known carcinogens or pose other serious health risks? Yikes. I became even more concerned when I read some of the statistics in the new book, Rich Food, Poor Food, which is due out this February, including this one: "Three dyes—red #40, yellow #5, and… Read More >>

Beck's latest album, "Song Reader" is collection of 20 new songs unlike anything you've ever heard before. That's not an excited fan's hyperbole: The project was released only in sheet music, leaving it up to other musicians and fans to record their own versions of his songs. NPRreports that "after making a dozen solo albums, crowdsourcing seemed like a way to make… Read More >>

After finally succumbing to the hype and watching two seasons (in two weeks) this summer, I'm hooked on the saga of my favorite society family and their household help. The third season started last Sunday, and of course, watching a special show should include a special menu. What would Mr. Carson serve? (Mad Menwas so much easier. Martinis. Repeat.) According… Read More >>

Books on tape aren't exactly new, but as e-books become more and more popular, it seems that audiobooks are following suit: Audible.com, a gigantic purveyor of audiobooks, saw a rise in popularity last year if its Alexa ranking is to be believed, and a new partnership with New York City's public transit system allows commuters to download a book for free. That in mind, a new Salon… Read More >>

You don't have to be a bird watcher or a bird lover to enjoy Audubon Magazine's Top 100 Photos of 2012. I guarantee you will be amazed by these stunning images of our feathered friends in action. An osprey with a freshly caught fish in its talons; a young swan, really just a ball of fluff, dozing on the water; a great horned owl and a crow flying in tight formation; a tricolored… Read More >>

Hasbro is sending one of their iconic Monopoly tokens to jail for good. In an effort to refresh the 110-year-old board game, the toy giant has crafted a new cast of pieces, one of which will replace either the classic race car, the iron, the Scottie terrier, the wheelbarrow, the shoe, the top hat, the battleship, or the thimble. Players can vote in a Facebook poll, "Save Your Token," for the… Read More >>

I'll admit it: this video scared me to death. I was holding on to my computer for dear life as I watched, and I don't think I took a breath until it ended. Adam Riemann is a photojournalist (and daredevil) from Motologywho took a trip through the Himalayas on his dirt bike. I wouldn't even want to walk on this path! In one of those great inexplicable… Read More >>

If you're reading this blog, odds are you can remember a time before Facebook. Now, however, the social networking site is part of the daily routine, which goes something like: wake up, brush teeth, check Facebook. That said, it's impossible to have such a close relationship without a few bumps in the road (i.e. getting hacked, dealing with over-sharers, and… Read More >>

Are you looking for a new line of work? You could do worse than taking a cue from the folks at Downtown Abbey. PBS.org posted a quiz for you to take to see which Downtown Abbey job is right for you. I answered the 10 questions, and it turns out my mentor is Isobel Crawley, the philanthropic do-gooder. Frankly, I didn’t want to settle for anything less than lord, but I suppose… Read More >>

Disney movies are hard to outgrow. Whether you watched them over and over again with your kids (admit it, you can hum along to "Hakuna Matata"), or, like me, grew up with them and still cry during Bambi, it seems like the timeless classics will never fade into obscurity. That's why I was beyond excited when I stumbled across a round-up of Disney songs that… Read More >>