10 - The Michigan Daily - Monday, May 5, 2003 A Of peanut oil andTV Ki LRTS SOld bippie drops new LP 4 By Ricky Lax Daily Arts Writer BOOK REVIEW ***9 Greg Critser knows America has a weight problem - and not just a fresh- man fifteen/holiday bulge dilemma. In his new book "Fat Land," Critser inves- tigates what he sees as a Jacuzzi chock- full of peanut oil fiasco, the health of our nation. "Fat Land" does not argue that Americans eat too much fat, as the title might suggest, but shows how and Fat Land why the combina- tion of eating too By Greg Critser many Value Meals Houghton Mifflini and watching four hours of television every day has made us the second fattest people in the world (after South Sea Islanders). Critser examines obesity and the quest to fight it from several angles. He considers getting healthy "a rite in itself, replete with its own social institu- tions (health clubs), tonics (Meridia), taboos (Krispy Kreme), and aspiration totems (Levi's 501 regular cuts)." "Fat Land" not only looks at the problem of obesity in America, it sug- gests many solutions - some more controversial than others. Of course, most of these solutions require money. which usually requires higher taxes, which usually means people are not interested. Critser suggests training school cafeteria staffs to make fruits and vegetables more appealing to kids, creating after-school "health clubs" which would run similar to latchkey programs, and expanding Americorps (a program that sends college graduates to teach in inner-city schools for two years) to target physical education and physical activity training. He also men- tions (but does not advocate) some of the more "radical" solutions to obesity, like the "fat tax," a proposal calling for small taxes on unhealthy foods. The health of the American people is a complex scientific and political issue which Critser, interestingly, chose to navigate through in story format. His chapters ("Who Let The Calories In," "Who Got The Calories Into Our Bellies") are each miniature timelines that work their way into the bigger time- line of the book as a whole. The story- like format makes reading the book easy, but at the expense of simplifying some of the issues at hand. The first chapter, "Where The Calories Came From," answers the question by telling the story of the development of high- fructose corn syrup (HFCS) in Japan in 1971. Perhaps Critser wanted to start his book with a quick and specific example of how Americans became so fat, but doing so mane HtCs a shortsand scapegoat for all high-calorie foods. "Fat Land"'s inner-jacket claims "No one else writing on obesity in America takes as hard a line." If Critser is so hard-lined, why doesn't he go ahead and say what we are waiting to hear him say, that obesity is public enemy number one? Maybe because Critser does not feel this way; probably because he would lose the majority of his audience, who see obesity as a big problem in a world full of bigger ones. "Fat Land" is not a wake up call; it is a push in the right direction, which is why reading it is a pleasure and not a guilt-trip or chore. By Alyssa Kalata For the Daily MUSIC REVIEW ***I After nearly two decades of heading the jam-band behemoth Phish, Trey Anastasio hasn't slowed down one bit. On the ambitious live solo LP Plasma, Anastasio and his nine-piece stay true to the exploratory and freeform nature of Phish at their best, while venturing down new paths instrumentally through the use of a five-piece horn section and three-man rhythm section. The first disc opens with the ener- getic "Curlew's Call," fueled by diverse Afro-Cubano rhythms and a percussion solo that eclipses Anastasio 's preceding gui- Trey Anastasio tar solo. The y t opening track Plasma is followed by Elektra Records "Plasma," a song that touches on the jazzier side of Anastasio's abilities. Immediately fol- lowing is "Magilla," an older Phish favorite that features a powerful brass arrangement that adds a musical layer not present on the original version. The majority of the first disc stays consistent with the strong start of the opening tracks. "Mozambique," the standout track, showcases both the abilities of the band, through a lively call-and-response performance by the brass section and of Anastasio's guitar abilities in the Santana-like riffs spread throughout the song. Also of note is "Small Axe," an instrumental interpretation of a song by Bob Marley. Although less musically adventur- ous, Plasma's second disc still remains a worthwhile listen. "Night Speaks to a Woman," the sole track on Plasma drawn from Anastasio's self- titled debut, features a coarse, catchy lead guitar line and highlights Anastasio's masterful control of tempo. Similar to "Magilla," the clos- ing track, "Sand," also builds on pre- vious Phish performances through the addition of distorted guitar not promi- nent in earlier versions. Drawing from jazz, reggae, swing, African and Cuban influences, Anastasio creates a unique musical montage, just in .time for warmer weather. As Anastasio states in "Curlew's Call," "The message that I get from spring / Is that a change can surely bring / A break from the sullen winter skies." Through danceable rhythms and instrumental experimen- tation, Plasma makes a good accom- paniment to the change in mood. 4 GRADUATES! Wake up. Get coffee. 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