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Think Before You Pink
by Molly McCall
Tue, October 09, 2007, 3:00 am PDT

Every October, companies from BMW to Yoplait roll out lavishly funded campaigns to raise money for breast cancer research. Test drive this car and we'll donate to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Buy this yogurt and we'll pass a percentage along to medical studies. That all sounds great—but is it, really?

The non-profit group Breast Cancer Action calls for a critical awareness of the corporate "parade of pink." Since 2002, their "Think Before You Pink" campaign has urged consumers to ask six questions about marketing efforts that brandish the famous rosy-hued ribbon. The project also tries to stem the tide of "pinkwashers," companies that "promote their dedication to curing breast cancer while manufacturing products that contribute to it." This year, let businesses know that fighting for a cure means more than increasing sales of mascara. Or key fobs. Or pretty pink candies.

Visit Think Before You Pink

Filed under: Health, Philanthropy, Cancer, Yahoo! Picks for Good

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Lip Balm Anonymous
by Molly McCall
Mon, June 18, 2007, 8:00 am PDT

For nearly a dozen years, Kevin Crossman has done everything he can to raise awareness about the "industry of addiction" found in lip balm. Yes, lip balm. Blistex, Carmex, Vaseline Lip Therapy. You name it, he's indexed it on Lip Balm Anonymous. There, he catalogs the Chapstick cravings, posts statements from angry pro-balmers, and shares testimony from those who struggled with breaking free from a daily application of gloss.

As always, we're impressed by a soul who not only keeps a vibrant site running for 12 years, but endures a fair amount of doubters and gigglers along the way. We caught up with Kevin over email to ask him how he does it:

You started Lip Balm Anonymous in 1995. As far as we're concerned, that makes you an Internet pioneer. How have you seen the Web—and people's responses to it—change?

The initial response was phenomenal, and people seemed excited about both the topic and the fact that this information was published for all to see. There has been a resurgence of "wow, what a great site" emails in the past few years; perhaps those are the children of the original web users.  Read the full profile...

Filed under: Health, Beauty, Yahoo! Picks Profiles

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Susie Flynn for President
by Molly McCall
Wed, April 18, 2007, 3:00 am PDT

Never mind that the Constitution forbids 10-year-olds from becoming president. Susie Flynn is going for it anyway. And though her single decade on the planet puts her solidly in the underdog pack, she runs with the arsenal of a natural-born politician. All smile, charm, and boundless energy, she's pushing her one-issue platform hard: In the U.S., 9 million children live without health insurance. Backed by the Children's Defense Fund, Susie's got facts. She's got real stories. She's got a petition. Most amusingly, she's got some spot-on videos from the campaign trail. In one, she uncovers surprising numbers in the White House trash. In another, she asks politely if she can place her placard on the president's lawn. "We... can't do that," says the guard, sounding very much like a fine upstanding young Storm Trooper. Susie takes no for an answer in that case, but we have a feeling it's only a matter of time before she's behind doors at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
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Filed under: Health, Children

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Montana Meth Project
by Molly McCall
Tue, April 03, 2007, 3:00 am PDT

"Big sky country." "Land of shining mountains." "The last, best place." The free-spirited, wind-scoured state of Montana inspires many names. But "ground zero for Meth" isn't one we hear that often. Yet, the savage effects of Methamphetamine are suffered daily throughout the Western state. The highly addictive stimulant is the #1 cause of crime in Montana. It costs the state millions each year in foster care, incarceration, and substance treatment. And it's killing or maiming the souls most susceptible to it, the young people who live here. Since 2005, the Montana Meth Project has fought the drug with TV, radio, and print ads designed to "graphically communicate the risks of Meth use" to teens. Forget "this is your brain on drugs." These grim, gorgeously crafted clips are some of the best we've seen about substance abuse. Here's hoping they succeed in their mission. We want Montana to always be the last, best place.
Visit Montana Meth Project

Filed under: Health, Yahoo! Picks for Good

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What Does 200 Calories Look Like?
by Molly McCall
Mon, January 22, 2007, 3:00 am PST

It's a rude awakening to go from six slices of luscious, green honeydew to two slim tumblers of Coke (no ice). And yet, both clock in at 200 calories. According to this photographic parade from WiseGEEK, four Tootsie Pops, 17 Gummy Bears, and a pour of Bailey's Irish Cream also meet the calorie criteria. Why 200? It's a "tangible volume" that yields a pretty—and understandable—picture. It also makes for quite a gastronomic lineup. This may be the first time that a bowl of low-fat strawberry yogurt posed next to one of canned chili con carne, although we can't be sure of that. Some of the usual suspects of the high-calorie lifestyle make an appearance: Jack in the Box stands in for more than one entry. A heap of Smarties looks almost innocent. Whether the gallery will succeed at making you think differently about the quantities on your plate, we can't say. But it sure made us admire the ample proportions of that gorgeous, whole avocado. What a looker.
Visit What Does 200 Calories Look Like?

Filed under: Health, Food and Drink

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