Indianapolis, IN

Thu 12 July 2007

So, I’m thinking about Harry Potter. Recently the newest release in the Harry Potter saga opened at the Kerasotes Showplace 16 on Indy’s southside (near 465 and 31/East St. exit). Video from Channel 13 showed people lining up for the midnight showing, which was sold out. According to the Indianapolis Star, national sales of the movie had already passed Spider-Man 3 and Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End. There were many people who were so enthusiastic about the movie that they dressed up like characters in the book. Now, I’ve read all six books in the J. K. Rowling series (I’m waiting for the seventh, just like everyone else), and I really enjoy them. And I’ve also seen all four of the movies that are out (some more than once). But I don’t think I’d be willing to stand in line for hours to see a movie that starts at midnight. Even if it’s the best movie in the world, one that changes the future as we know it, I still wouldn’t wait in line for hours to see a movie at midnight. Why do that, when I can see it the next day. Besides, who cares if you are the first one to see a movie if everyone is asleep when you get out? Who are you going to tell? The book comes out in a few weeks, and I know there’ll be people waiting in line for hours, possibly days even. I just don’t get the waiting in line culture. (If you watch the auditions for American Idol, you’ll know what I mean. Don’t even get me started on all those morons.) The only thing I’d wait in line for is if someone was handing out a free house, everything included and no taxes. Yeah… Maybe I’m just not fanatical enough. Maybe I’m just content with waiting a few weeks (or a few months) to buy the book. Maybe I’m content with waiting until the movie comes on HBO. I’m not sure I’ve ever been crazed about anything. Ok, that’s not true. I used to really be into the X-Files, the band They Might Be Giants, Leonard Bernstein, the British comedy show Absolutely Fabulous, and Totino’s pizza rolls. But I wouldn’t stand in line for days for a show. So, right now I’m just going to sit back and wait for the book and movie while all the other morons camp out in the urban jungle.

: Harry Potter, J. K. Rowling, Spider-Man 3, Pirates of the Caribbean, American Idol, X-Files, They Might Be Giants, Leonard Bernstein, Absolutely Fabulous, Totino’s pizza rolls

Wed 11 July 2007

So, I’m thinking about the Indianapolis Museum of Art. I went specifically to see the new exhibit “Nature Holds My Camera.” However, even though there is no admission charge to the museum itself, there was a $6 exhibit fee. (Unfortunately I only had $3.17 in my pocket.) So, I ended up taking a look at the American art, Asian art, African art and Contemporary art. The Asian art exhibit is one of the finest in the country, I’ve heard, and I believe it. (Ok, I haven’t been to every art museum in the country to test that statement, but I think it’s very thorough.) It just amazes me (and this is true about a lot of the exhibits all through museum) that there are some paintings and pottery pieces that are many centuries old and are in excellent condition. It makes me wonder where it has been all these years. I had not been to the American art section before today, and I enjoyed it as much as the other sections. I really liked it that a lot of Hoosier pieces were on display. But the IMA isn’t just an art museum. There are many hands-on art rooms for school groups. It also houses Puck’s restaurant, part owned by renowned chef Wolfgang Puck. There is also space for conferences and other large events. (I personally went to a linguistics conference there a number of years ago.) The IMA also has many gardens and nature walks throughout the area. If you go to their website, you can see other events that take place at the IMA campus. I recommend the IMA to anyone, either to go by yourself or with your family.

: IMA, Indianapolis Museum of Art, art museums, Wolfgang Puck, Puck’s, Lilly House and Gardens

Everyone swooned over Rupert when he won–he was “America’s Choice”. And–he is from Indianapolis? So, you think you have what it takes to do what Rupert did? Well–here’s your chance.

On Thursday, July 12, in Greenwood’s Ashley Furniture, you can come and “try out” for the show! You will need to have the basic forms of identification, show that you are in physical and mental condition that is conducive to the show (although I would argue after seeing some of them that both of these things aren’t looked at entirely too closely), and then you’ll be able to show your “stuff” for two minutes. All of the tapes of the two-minute interludes will be forwarded on to producers of the show who will be able to select and whittle down the bunch for the next round.

If you are going to the tryout, what are you going to do for your two minutes? It’s hard telling what they are exactly looking for, this isn’t exactly American Idol where you have to be able to sing or any of the other reality shows where it takes a special “niche” in order to score. Will you go in and juggle for them? Put on your best one-man comedy show? Try to act all cool and aloof? Let them in on how you can scheme with the best of them? Just basically be yourself and see what happens from there?

It’s definitely something to think about, but I would think that from being an avid watcher of the show, that they are looking for average, even-keeled people who can talk about things at a given time, be social on a somewhat larger scale, and have a personality that is endearing to the American public. Obviously, you look at someone like Rupert and stereotypically would go–no way, this guy’s never going to make it–and then when you watch the show, you see how and why he was able to do it–so, come on Indy, show ‘em your stuff!!!!

cbs survivor, survivor tryouts, indianapolis, indy, indiana, greenwood, reality television

All of those long months that drivers had to wade through traffic on I-70–even without truck traffic. Now, all of that is changing as the “new” lanes that have been built to expand it to the “Super 70″ are being unleashed, although that doesn’t mean the end of the project–in fact, all it means is that the westbound lanes will now be changing over to the eastbound ones that will be worked on.

This is, however, a lot of progress, and drivers should notice quite a difference, although state troopers have warned to take it easy–riding on that smoooooooooth surface just might make people want to rev it up, especially in the face of having to crawl through traffic over the last several months, but the speed limit will still be 45 through the construction zone, and with the new laws now in effect where the fines for getting in an accident in these areas almost being exponentially higher, it would be wise to really take it easy, although temptation may tell you to push down on the gas pedal.

We should be very proud of this development–this small six mile stretch houses almost 180,000 drivers a day on it, and this is not only making it more practical, but should end up being more safe! Now, the woes will start on the other side, but take heed, Indy-ites! We’re making progress, and it will all be over soon enough, so just grin and bear it for a while!!

indianapolis, road construction, super 70, interstate 70, indiana

Tue 10 July 2007

So, I’m thinking about teenage sex. An Indystar.com article announced that Indiana has eased up on the law concerning teen sex. Before, the age at which you could consent to sex was 16. But now, the new law states that 14- and 15-year olds are old enough to consent to sex. (Having sex with someone 13 and younger is still considered child molestation. At least we still have something to hold onto.) My question is: Who in the hell decided that a 14-year old was mature enough to decide whether or not sex is a good idea? And it doesn’t matter if we’re talking about boys or girls—they are not ready to deal with all of the consequences of having sex. And part of the law was changed so it read that if there was a difference of four years between the two in a dating relationship, then it was ok. (Even if one is over 18.) On one hand, it saves an 18-year old who is dating someone (and having sex with them) who is a year or two younger from having a felony conviction and requiring them to register as a sex offender. That would always dictate which jobs they can get, or whether they can get student loans or go to school for the rest of their lives. But on the other hand, these teenagers don’t need to be having sex. What about focusing on school? What about sports or music? What about religion (almost every major world religion, no matter what you believe in, denounces pre-marital sex)? What about getting a job? What about all the other kids thinking you’re a slut? I hardly think they are ready to take care of kids or deal with STDs if they happen? Whatever happened to morality? Well, thank you Indiana, for overriding the parent’s decision on whether 14- and 15- year olds are old enough to have sex.

: teenage sex, pre-marital sex, Indiana law, statutory rape, sex offender, child molestation, sex offender registry

Mon 9 July 2007

So, I’m thinking about the national protest against keeping your dog chained up that took place this weekend. According to the Indianapolis Star, a 19-year old college student chained herself to her porch for 12 hours on Saturday in South Bend. I guess there is some substance to the protest. According to a woman from the Humane Society, dogs that are chained up for long periods of time tend to suffer from anxiety, tend to bark more and tend to be more aggressive toward strangers if they do escape. I understand that people need to be kind to animals (I don’t want to make PETA mad at me), but I just don’t think I could chain myself to my front porch with a dog collar. That just seems a little extreme to me. (But then again, I’m not much of a dog person. I just don’t trust them. Dogs to me are like an unexploded landmine, just waiting to go off and attack.) And supposedly there were 99 people in 32 other states who participated in the “Chain Off 2007” event. Across the nation, states and local governments are passing laws that restrict the amount of time a dog can be attached to something stationary. In the case of St. Joseph county (where South Bend is), dogs cannot be chained up for more than three hours at a time. But my question is: What do you do if you have to go to work? Are you supposed to spend hundreds of dollars on a large chain kennel to put them in? What if you have more than one dog? Isn’t putting a dog in a kennel worse than keeping a dog on a chain? Are you supposed to spend hundred of dollars to put up a tall privacy fence? Some neighborhoods require special permission for these kinds of fences, and in some cities (such as Chicago), they are prohibited. Perhaps people with dogs only work for 3 hours at a time (a novel idea, but I doubt I’d get any real work done). I understand they have an objective, but I think that it’s sad to create a law because people just don’t have common sense. So, I guess while I was sitting in the gazebo eating hamburgers from the grill and drinking a Diet Coke on Saturday, others were chaining themselves up like animals. In the words of a favorite teacher of mine, “It takes all kinds to make a world.”

: dogs, chaining dogs, Chain Off 2007, Humane Society, cruelty to animals, PETA, laws against cruelty to animals

Indianapolis’ own Greg Oden is marked for stardom. The problem is, Oden needs to learn that to be a star, you actually need to play!

In his NBA summer league debut for the Portland Trail Blazers, Oden picked up three fouls in the first three minutes and ended picking up the maximum 10 fouls before being disqualified. Overall, Oden finished with a paltry six points and two rebounds in 20 minutes of action.

Ouch.

While Oden has had the label of the “next” bestowed upon him, he had his problems while playing for Ohio State and getting into foul trouble. If he’s going to reach that level, he’s got to learn how to stop slapping! Still, don’t underestimate his ability to work on it and reach the pinnacle that everyone expects of him.

greg oden, basketball, indianapolis, indy, indiana, nba, portland trail blazers

City officials are getting a little nervous as the thermometer continues to rise. They’ve already asked once for a decrease or even banned excessive water use in many areas–are they bold enough to ask for another? The way the forecast looks, they just might.

But why wait until officials turn on the red light? Here’s some things to remember when considering watering your lawn, straight from american-lawns.com:

Water early in the day if possible.
Given a choice, water early in the day when lawns are normally wet from dew. Avoid midday watering due to excessive evaporation, and at night due to potential increased chances of some diseases gaining a foothold. The exception to this guide is when you are in extremely hot weather and nighttime temperatures don’t go below 68 degrees. Early or late in the day reduces the amount of evaporation that takes place during the very hot day, allowing more water to reach the root zone.

Spread the water uniformly across the lawn.
Sprinklers vary in distribution patterns, and require spray overlap for uniform coverage. Placing coffee cans or similar straight-sided containers on the lawn can help measure water application rates. Avoid flooding areas, or missing other spots. On heavy clay soils and slopes, watch for excessive runoff; it may be necessary to apply the water in several applications to allow for adequate penetration.

Water conservation.
To help conserve water, mow your lawn at a higher than normal height, avoid applying an excess of nitrogen as warm weather approaches, limit traffic over the lawn, improve turf rooting, control thatch and soil compaction, and avoid pesticide use on drought stressed lawns. Don’t allow water to hit the driveway or into the street. This is just wasteful.

Avoid overwatering
Use a rain gauge to measure how much water you’re applying. Overwatering does more than deplete the water supply, it also makes plants prone to pests and adds to storm water runoff, which pollutes our water systems. By choosing and operating a watering system correctly, you can reduce water bills, insect and disease problems, and maintenance requirements. For example, the more you water your lawn, the faster it grows and the more it needs to be mowed.

I know it is such a temptation to make sure that your lawn is plush and looking better than the Jones’, but by having these thought processes above, you can do the same thing–with less!

indianapolis, water shortage, drought, lawn tips, indiana, indy

Fri 6 July 2007

So, I’m thinking about high-speed rail systems. An Indianapolis Star article stated that a high-speed rail system may be coming through Indiana. It will run from Chicago to Cincinnati, with stops in Gary, Lafayette, and Indianapolis. I think this would be great. The train is expected to have speeds of up to 110 mph in some stretches. I think the Midwest is behind when it comes to public transit and railway transit (with the exception of Chicago, which has an excellent public transit system.) The east coast has trains that run between cities all along the coast. Japan’s shinkansen (bullet trains) are some of the most efficient trains and widely used by travelers and businessmen alike. (I took the shinkansen from Tokyo to Maebashi and back. My host father used to use it regularly between Tokyo and Utsunomiya for business.) As one lady said in the article, she travels to Cincinnati often and it would be great to relax and get work done on the train. I used to travel to Chicago on Amtrak and spend the afternoon walking around downtown Chicago. At the time I used to go, a round trip was only about $35. You can’t drive to Chicago and park all day for $35. I could just bring a book and read on the way, and on the way back, you could sleep or whatever. Actually, I met my husband on the way back from one of these daytrips to Chicago. I went by myself, and I ended up sitting next to him on the train and we started talking, and well, we ended up getting married six months later. (See what happens when you take the train?) I wish they would run a line to Cincinnati, so that we could have another place to go visit. I actually think they should run a line to Louisville as well. See, I’ve always thought that they should run a line between Louisville and Indianapolis because I grew up about an hour south of Indy. We would’ve loved to get on a railway in Columbus, or Franklin or Greenwood and take it directly into downtown Indianapolis. Maybe they’ll build a line to Louisville after they build the one to Cincinnati. By traveling by railways, we would be cutting down on emissions by having more cars on the road. With gas prices the way they are now, we would be reducing our gas usage by riding the train. Another reason that it would be good to have a better rail system linking major cities in the Midwest (without having to change in Chicago—maybe go directly to St. Louis or Kansas City?), people would be given more options on where to take short vacations and boost regional tourism. I really hope they do close the deal and Indiana is able to build this high-speed rail system. However, INDOT (Indiana Department of Transportation) estimated that it will cost a little over a million dollars for one mile of track. But, I guess a good point is that President Bush has proposed $100 million for state rail grants for his budget in 2008. (One good decision doesn’t justify all the other ill judgments in the last 7 years.) I really hope that it gets voted on and finalized and that we get enough funding to make it happen. Who knows, maybe someone else will meet the love of their life on a train…

: railway systems, high-speed trains, bullet trains, shinkansen, Cincinnati, Louisville, INDOT, Amtrak

The Perry Township School Board in Marion County has faced already several allegations about the way they handled the indefinite suspension of H. Douglas Williams, but now they face another battle–and this time it’s on a different playing field.

A federal lawsuit has been filed against the school board for blocking two internet sites from their school’s computer accessibility, one that is www.takebackperryschools.com and www.wesupportwilliams.com. Obviously, these are against what the school board has done with this situation, and the groups that run this claim that it is discriminating against their right to free speech.

While I am sure some people are thinking that the move made by the school board is, well, bluntly, childish, I am really kind of at a loss why the groups running these sites believe that the claim is really worth the effort of defending their constitutional rights. Let’s think about this for a second: the government does have leeway in declaring what sites are termed as offensive and against the law according to the constitution, and shuts them down appropriately. However, as we all know, there are questionable sites out there that could be lewd, crude, and downright nasty–but they still exist. Essentially, what the groups are saying is that by blocking these sites, that they offend their right to this free speech and being available via Perry Township’s internet access. But, if this is the case, shouldn’t they have the right to be viewing porn sites that also have that free speech? Shouldn’t they have the ability to look at hate groups that have a right to say what they want to say?

According to the logic these groups are using, the answer is yes. But again, that is a ludicrous notion–because as we also know, businesses and schools have their own policies about acceptable internet usage–which is their right as well to dictate such policy. While it may seem like schoolyard shenanigans and sour grapes that the school board is thumbing their nose to by not allowing the sites available to anyone using their access, they do have the ability to make this decision.

To those groups “rounding up the wagons” against the school board, is your time really best served filing a lawsuit that is really just another form of tattling, or if you believe in your cause, couldn’t you be using other ways to try to get your message out? Seems like a lot of wasted time to me….

perry township, marion county, indianapolis, indiana, indy, school boards, constitutional rights, free speech, lawsuits, legal issues

Thu 5 July 2007

So, I’m thinking about the property tax increase in Indianapolis. Property taxes in Indianapolis went out last week, and most people are appalled. The expected tax increase was estimated to be between 30-40%, but some people’s taxes went up 100-200%. (A few people claim theirs went up as high as 350%!) According to a story from WTHR, about 300 people turned out for a protest in front of the governor’s mansion on Meridian St. yesterday. There were so many people that showed up, they police had to shut down a portion of Meridian St. for part of the time. (The governor wasn’t at home. He was off doing governor things.) The rally was led by former gubernatorial candidate Andrew Horning and volunteers from the group Americans for Fair Taxation. I do have to give Horning credit: he didn’t want people to start acting crazy stupid about all this and tearing up crap, but he wanted people to act civil (act like adults??) and use their power to vote out all the incumbents. That may work in the future, but what’s it going to do about their tax bills right now? These bills are currently due July 27. People can file appeals and maybe eventually have to go to tax court. What do you do if you are on a fixed income? Or what do you do if you live paycheck to paycheck? It was hard enough to pay your taxes as it was, but now when you double or triple (or even quadruple) your tax bill? They’re not going to make it. Even if you have money, who can afford $10,000-15,000/year in property taxes? And it doesn’t even make sense. One person’s property tax may go up 150% and your neighbor with a more expensive home only had a 35% increase. One assessor claimed that part of the increase is because developers keep building all of the new homes everywhere (even where they aren’t wanted.) We are in the process of looking for a home and one of the first things we look for is how much the taxes are. But even if we find a place where we can afford it, who knows what’s going to happen in three or four years? Are they going to triple it again? I think it’s ridiculous and so do most homeowners in Indianapolis. I guess it’s another way to keep the rich rich and the poor poor. Or maybe we’ll all end up like the Chris Farley character on a Saturday Night Live skit: We’ll all live in a van down by the river.

: property taxes, Governor Mitch Daniels, Andrew Horning, Americans for Fair Taxation, property tax appeals, Saturday Night Live, , Chris Farley

I admit it, I take certain holidays for granted. I don’t fully appreciate all of the sacrifices that were made for me in terms of being an American and don’t fully even comprehend the magnitude of what even is done on a daily basis to protect that. Just the fact that I can sit here right now, typing away about my thoughts, is evidence of the power we can take for granted every day with our freedom. Independence is a wonderful thing, and we should never forget the intent that was made a long time ago to set the proverbial stake in the ground that still lives on today.

I recently moved to Indianapolis about 2 months ago, and while I have been around the area indirectly for a couple of years, I’ve learned so many new things and been able to appreciate this very special place in Indiana. I appreciate the fact that this place is a HUGE city, yet the people here in so many ways reflect a simpler culture, a mom-and-pop feel even in some of the largest environments. If you go to a store, you’ll more than likely get smiles and acknowledgements from even other customers, people say excuse me when warranted, and even though I am “new” here, I am often made to feel that I have been here my whole life.

The resources this town provides is immense and another reason to be thankful for what we have been able to accomplish as Americans. Indy is growing, growing, and growing some more. We have a plethora of activities we can do, places to see, churches to worship at, groups to be involved with, schools for our children to learn at, parks for us to play at and enjoy the fruits of the land. I came from a town of about 14,000 people and the things we had were good, but no where comparable to what Indy has to offer–and even still, it’s easy to get to, doesn’t take a huge chunk out of your wallet, and you literally should never be bored!

Take a second today to think about all that you have through the celebration of our freedom. Call it a “Thanksgiving for America”. And then, look around, fellow Hoosiers. You’re just a step away from heaven by being here in Indianapolis. It’s a great town, and let’s keep it that way!!

fourth of july, indianapolis, indiana, celebrations, indy, holidays, America

Wed 4 July 2007

So, I’m thinking about the Fourth of July. I remember back when I was a kid, and everyone used to go to my grandma’s house for a cookout. All of my cousins and I used to run around and play all afternoon. Sometimes my uncles would light some smaller fireworks on the sidewalk for us. It was a time of family camaraderie and good food. In the evening, we would drive to the city park to see the fireworks display after the sun went down. It was always a good memory for me. I loved the fireworks display. There was something amazing about the designs and colors of it (and wondering if we were ever going to be rained on from debris). (I also never remember hearing about fireworks accidents when I was a kid. We were always careful and had an adult around. We also let them off in safe areas. We had what was called common sense.) It’s also a celebration of the first motion in the Continental Congress for independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain. (Somehow the originally reason for the holiday gets lost in all the drinking and lighting off Roman candles.) But then I got older. One summer, I was in Japan. Two summers I was working in a grocery store and didn’t have off (my job position was “peon.”) Three summers I was teaching Japanese in northern Minnesota (with Concordia Language Villages); so, being an American holiday, we didn’t celebrate it at the Japanese camp. (However, the Japanese celebrate the Tanabata festival on July 7, so the kids weren’t completely devoid of celebrations.) Last summer, we spent it in Chicago, and watched people give off a nice display in a park across the street from my mother-in-law’s house. This year calls for rain, so I’m not sure what we’re doing. I would like to go somewhere to see a good fireworks display. But at the same time, I don’t think I want to battle traffic, rain and the crowds with a toddler. Maybe next year.

: Fourth of July, July Fourth, Independence Day, holidays, fireworks, fireworks safety

The fourth of July presents many rituals for people to follow, not unlike other holidays such as Thanksgiving or Christmas. We get up, go to a parade, wave our flags, see all of the pretty floats, and then we usually spend the afternoon with friends or family at some sort of cookout or event, and then by night time, we gaze up into the sky while the fireworks light up the night.

This is typical, and while it’s great, there is an alternative that you can do that right here in Indianapolis. AtConner Prairie, you can not only celebrate Independence Day, but you can do it the old-fashioned way. For those of you who are unaware as to what Conner Prairie is, the idea is that actors perform as characters from the “days of yore”, and they dress, act, and play the parts with fervor (if you even ask them about something that may not have been invented then, they act as if you were talking a foreign language to them). The events of the day include even an old-time baseball game that you can be involved in. It’s a great way to celebrate and at the same time get a small taste of something different and with historical significance.

The only negative is that going to this event costs a little bit to enjoy such “uniqueness”. Conner Prairie normally has an admission fee to see everything there, and while the events for the fourth are free with paid admission, if you choose not to pay that, it is from $5.00-$11.00 per person for the day’s fun. How ironic that when we are celebrating our freedom you can go to something like this–but not for free!!!

fourth of july, indianapolis, conner prairie, celebrations

Tue 3 July 2007

So, I’m thinking about MSG. Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a food additive that has been added to our food for over 30 years (or more). (My husband is highly allergic to it, so it’s quite an issue in our household.) When scientists want to raise obese rats to study obesity drugs and exercise, how do they make them fat? They add high amounts of MSG to their diets. We don’t have to look far to find MSG-laden food. Pick up any box, bag or can. It’s probably in it. Go to most fast food restaurants (and even many sit-down ones as well). It’s there too. The way MSG works is that it’s a flavor enhancer, and it also makes the food highly addictive. (“I bet you can’t eat just one!”) With people eating all of this junk food that has a chemical added to make it more addictive, then people will want to go buy more. So, no wonder Americans are so fat. MSG hides behind as many as 25 different names (such as natural flavor, artificial flavor, Accent, Agi-no-moto, natural meat tenderizer, hydrolyzed vegetable protein, flavor). It has also been linked to diabetes, migraines and headaches, autism, ADHD, Alzheimer’s, and in my husband’s case, petit-mal seizures (now called “simple partial seizure”). But who can stop this? The FDA puts no limits on how much MSG can be put into food. But why would there NOT be a limit on MSG if it has such adverse effects on people? Because of what runs this country: money. And lots of it. Snack foods and restaurants don’t want to give it up because it makes people eat more, and that costs MONEY. Big media doesn’t want to do anything about it, because where does the majority of it’s advertising come from? The same people who need MSG. They don’t care about how Americans are getting fat and sick from MSG when they’re making millions, possibly billions of dollars. If you asked them, they know it’s horrible for you, but money makes the world go round. It’s now becoming more and more common to find stores and restaurants that advertise no-MSG. (I’ve found a lot on the north side.) Indian restaurants are naturally MSG-free. So are Kosher delis (such as Shapiro’s). Chinese restaurants are hit or miss. Japanese restaurants (my favorite) probably use MSG, but you’d have to ask dish by dish. Natural foods stores (Trader Joe’s, Wild Oats and the like) generally have more MSG-free foods. But beware, even if you ask the waiter at your favorite restaurant about the MSG use, a lot of people either don’t know what it is, or they swear they don’t use it when they do (remember when I said that it goes by 25 different names?) I feel that if more people ask about MSG, then maybe restaurants will get the message and stop using it (in a perfect world).

: MSG, monosodium glutamate, health food stores, no-MSG, MSG-free, Trader Joe’s, Wild Oats