Ready for a shocker? American taxpayers subsidize the purchase of approximately $4 billion worth of soda products annually through SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as food stamps. Federal, state, and local governments have all tried to prohibit the purchase of sodas and other “junk food” items with…
Let’s face it, hip-hop is pretty stupid. Not, like, inherently. Because it used to be about self-reflection, empowerment, and fun. Now, though, the mainstream rap community’s message can be boiled down to a handful of misguided concepts, spewed and propagated by lying hacks. There’s almost nothing enlightening about radio-friendly rap…
The nutritional content of children’s food at restaurants should be government-regulated. As I’ve said before, I believe there’s no need to give in to “your whiny brat’s tirade.” The National Restaurant Association’s Kids LiveWell menu standards, a voluntary initiative, recommends meals for children have 600 calories or fewer, get 35…
305 Pride is not just another perfunctory saying any comemierda can go around claiming with no regard for what it stands for. It is something that is demonstrated through actions, not words. Whether you do things to help unite our community or publicly come to its defense when some comepinga…
As distressed as our economy is, the United States continues to spend about $1.4 billion per year on sending food aid to other countries.President Obama is proposing a major change to the foreign food aid program that could greatly impact Florida, which ranks seventh in the nation in food exports.As…
Whether you like it or not, dance music runs the world and therefore the cultural lexicon. We’re going to go ahead and say that’s a bad thing. Our hashtag-driven, buzz-worthy reality is giving us a headache, mostly because you dancing assholes can’t stop saying the same shit over and over…
As The Dissident, J.J. Colagrande turns his critical eye on Miami culture. This week: Mourning the death of Wynwood as a locals’ scene. Wynwood, long considered Miami’s hippest, trendiest, coolest neighborhood, is no longer that hip or trendy; in fact, burgeoning Wynwood might officially be risky business. Dozens of out-of-town…
Ah, government. It protects and serves. Floridians spent last year lamenting Gov. Rick Scott’s bright idea for welfare recipients: a ludicrous plan to drug-test every single person on state aid. (The courts later threw that idea out the window.)Believe it or not, there’s now a governor whose food stamp plans…
Last week, I was bombarded with emails regarding a Facebook post I made wishing the gay community luck and expressing my hope that the Supreme Court delivers a favorable decision on their behalf. The majority of the emails were from fans of my work, gay and straight, just saying “thanks,”…
There’s something funny about money. Once you have a certain amount of it, those greenbacks just keep multiplying. You don’t really have to do anything, except sit back and watch that money tree fruit up. Just look at Diddy. He hasn’t done anything in years, and he’s still the richest…
As The Dissident, J.J. Colagrande turns his critical eye on Miami culture. This week: why updating your profile picture online doesn’t make you a freedom fighter. Facebook feeds around the country are now filled with red and pink, as users change their profile picture to the Human Rights Campaign’s logo…
Confidence is sexy. But someone forgot to tell Kanye West about the rule of subtlety. Personally, we think the egomaniacal musician is the genius he claims to be. But all things in moderation. No doubt, his forthcoming album will be a righteous game-changer, inevitably topping charts, and burrowing into our…
At a meeting of the American Heart Association yesterday, data was presented that indicates there are high levels of sodium in packaged food made for toddlers. I’ve gotten flack about this column for my stance that food should bear clear and obvious labels that show nutritional and artificial-sweetener data. The…
As the Dissident, J.J. Colagrande turns his critical eye on Miami culture. This week: how the annual mega-rave that is Ultra and WMC makes Miami a second-class city. Miami is in the middle of a cultural and intellectual renaissance. We’re finally evolving from a stale reputation leftover from the ’80s…
The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) and the National Milk Producers Federation want to be able to use aspartame without having to include it on product labels, as is currently required by law. The FDA has been ignoring the petition, which was filed in 2009. Until now. The agency is…
The Daily Caller this morning reports that the U.S. government has been spending money advertising our food stamp program in other countries. “Contrary to sound policy, the United States is spending money advertising food stamp benefits in foreign consulates,” states a Thursday evening press release from the office of Sen…
The ReviewerCard belongs to folks who want to receive better and/or comped services. Anyone can apply for membership, but everyone must go through a rigid background check first — you know, to make sure you’re not taking advantage or anything…
Pepe Billete has always been proud of his Miami hometown. From openly admiring the city’s famous culo to delving into more serious political issues like the meaning of “Hispanic,” Miami culture is more than just an influence in his comedy; it’s the foundation of his work. So it’s no surprise…
Did you know EDM is a big moneymaker? Nothing sells better than sex, drugs, and uhntz uhntz. And now, thanks to modern technology, you don’t even have to be a respectable, talented DJ to cash in on the molly moola express. Corporations are dying to sign contracts with these party…
Listen, we have a problem. As we milled around the beachside tents of Moët Hennessy’s The Q last night, we noticed salt and pepper shakers on each of the tables. Yeah, salt and pepper shakers. You know, like the kind people put in the middle of a family dinner table…
Dear Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr.,Acere, it looks like it’s time for you to start re-evaluating your public image and the legacy you’re going to leave behind for your kids to follow. Right now, as far as the human race goes, you’re a step below una cucaracha con trensas. In the…
Record Store Day is a holiday we can all get behind. When Jack White was named the ambassador for this year’s Record Store Day, we thought it was a pretty damned apt choice. In his ambassadorial statement, he outlines what he perceives as the ultimate value of embracing physical music…
