You Can Learn A Lot from a Parsnip

Parsnips and social distancing. I went to the other market because I needed a walk. Had my mask on. I'm over at the discount veggies looking stuff over. I grab about a pound of crookneck squash and some parsnips. 

Woman with mask come up to me less than 20 inches and ask "What can you do with those?" I back up as I tell her she can use in soups and stews or as a roasted veggie. She picks up a bag and goes on her way.

Los Angeles Public Health Poster

Here is the thing. In normal times, there is only space for one or two people at the discount veggie spot. I honestly didn't think it hit her consciousness that she was too close.

I, however, are conscious of many things. I as a black woman cannot yell " get the fuck away from me" or, more likely "please maintain social distance from me' in any tone of voice without somebody pulling out their phone and calling 911.

Look how long and how many videos it took America to learn to wash their hands. 

I also know that many markets have narrow isles, packed with food, for now. A person would have to wait for someone to leave a section of fruit and veggies before entering it. That ain't happening. 

There are recordings in the store about please maintain social distancing. I kept hearing the recording, the other shoppers did not. 

Not at the meat case, where we all were stunned at the new prices of soon to vanish bacon, sausages, and pork products. Beef and chicken have hit the $10+ mark. 

Which now makes the imitation meat almost more affordable. I'm going to have to work on that concept for a bit.

The Up Sell and When Does It Stop?

There are times when I hesitate to go into a retail store. It isn't that it retail stores are bad. Most are run quite well. It isn't that there is bad service or that the floor staff is being extra observant of me being in the store. My frustration level rises when I approach the counter with my goods and I am asked do I have the store's loyalty card?

"No."

"Would I like one? "

"No thank you."

"It will only take a minute?"

I'm not mad at the clerk. I know the manager is listening for the pitch and the effort to get us dumb ass clucks to sign up. For what? A few cents off on items that are overpriced if I don't pledge fidelity?

I love bookstores. Yet I try as hard as hell to stay out of Barnes and Noble. I know they are hurting.  I feel bad for them. However, every dang time I'm at the counter I get asked to plunk down $25 for the loyalty card. I don't want the card and I don't want the Nook.

When I come to think of it, we as consumers get the up sell all day long. Do you want fries with that? Can I interest you in our product protection plan? Would you like to sign up for our frequent buyer newsletter where we can sell you more stuff?

I'm not anti-capitalism. I'm not even anti-making a sale if done with a smidgin of class.

I am against sales harassment in all forms. Which is why The Verge's Comcast Confessions post has me shaking my damn head in what passes for corporate though now days. Comcast has a monopoly in many markets. Customers cannot go to the competition because there isn't any.

Shaking the Dead Money Tree

There is a finite amount of money that can be generated in a certain market. So in the current idiocy  that passes for management you short sheet your users on customer and tech services. You make unhappy customers that much more unhappy by "sales retention."Then you fight like hell not to let anybody go.

I keep hoping that Google Internet will spread but it doesn't look like it will anytime soon. I'm hoping that an alternate form of connection will be invented that will bypass the former phone and cable companies. That will happen but not as soon as I need it which is right now.

In the meantime, we will have to be resolute in our power of the No.

It will not be easy. Comcast will double down on their staff to ride out this wave of bad publicity. To be fair it isn't just Comcast. Pick a major corporation that deals directly with the public and you can find pockets of sales harassment and up selling as a corporate birthright.

Stay the course and keep saying no, "I don't want it." "No, I don't need it." No to the super sizing, no to the extended warranty plan and "No I don't want your store card!"

Collectively we can induce change if we are willing to turn off the money spigot. 

Another View About HarperCollins e-Book License

I'm not sure we are gonna make it to 2012. This year is frisky enough as it is. Mercy! The latest thing to get me all twisty is the HarperCollins e-book flap. In a nutshell, HarperCollins wants to change the buying terms for e-books for libraries. Instead of one book, one reader one purchase they want to change to a license model.

For example, if a library has an e-book that they lend to library users they can only do that 26 times per book. After that time the library would have to pony up for another license for the next 26 readers.

So let's say the e-book in question is To Kill A Mockingbird. The first 26 people get to read the book. The library looks at the purchasing budget already slashed to hell by city and local governments. They don't have the money to get another license. To Kill A Mockingbird is no longer available at that library.

No sweat you say, what about e-book inter-library loan?

You don't think for a moment that the publisher is going to stand for any form of inter-library loan of an e-book, do you? I doubt if they would even consider inter-branch acceptable. Let's not forget about the license fee, the library would pay one way or the other.

The choice is to either not purchase the e-book or repeatedly pay for the right to distribute the e-book to library users.

Wait a minute you say. There is another choice, just plunk down $7.99 for a paperback copy. And you would be right. The library could do that, so long as there is a physical copy to be obtained.

But time changes things. Mimeo paper use to be common. It isn't any more. There may be a time when a physical book is no longer published.

What if the publisher only had e-book copies of certain books? What if the library e-book is in low but steady demand? Does the library still buy the book at $26 a pop when you might loan only three copies a year for five years?

This is getting messy. Would a library invest in one poet e-book or an anthology? Would the library even buy poetry books, essays, philosophy books or political analysis of historical events?

Does the library stock historical cookbooks, wood crafting books or automotive manuals? Does a non-music contain practice books and musical scores? Will the decision be made to have only one physical or electronic copy of a book?

Do you really want to put commercial book publishers in a position of deciding the amount of times a library book can be read? Because that can become content control. That control could be taken away from librarians and libraries.

I'm asking folks to really think about the implications of that question.

Being 52 - A TechnoRant Before Black Friday

In the caves of the Salt Mine there were strategy meetings on getting the goods. Techniques were reviewed such as scarfing down dinner and then stand in line until the 4 a.m. opening. Miner #56 wanted first dibs on the 40" television.

Miner #39 was thinking about how many targets she could hit in a two hour window. The desk was lined with ads. She was marking her positions on her phone to graphically see if she could get to point A, B and C in time for the designated specials.

Salt Chizzler #320 questioned the need for sleep but was concerned about the biological impulses and line etiquette.

I tried to offer the voice of reason. "You could shop on-line. It will be in the store the next day. Do you really need to shop; I mean what about the meaning of the day? You know, giving thanks, talking and sharing memories, being with loved ones?"

I looked each in the eye when I said "Why the bum rush to Christmas?"

They looked at me like I just sat on a whoopee cushion.

I know when I am licked. I had more things to say so this is a short video on three techno rants about cheap netbooks, e-book readers and cameras.

This is my day 24 video for National Videoblogging Posting Month aka #Vlomo10 on Twitter

Is College Worth It? The Story Part One

I get inspired to dive into a topic by other people. I messing around a few education blogs and I gotta tell you, a few of academicians where having fits about this young man's rant/declaration.

His name is Dan Brown and in February of 2010 he let it rip:



I actually said these words to one of my college professors many years ago. I have mixed feelings about it now. I can see both sides. I lived both sides.

My mother wanted me to get a job. I am fairly certain of this because when she got pissed off at me or my siblings she reminded us that when we were old enough we were to get a job and then get the hell out.

Other relatives also reinforced the message that I should work hard, graduate and then get a job to help out my mother. It was what they believed to be true. I knew that my mother felt that 12 years of schooling was more than enough. It would have been tolerable if I had decided to go to a trade school; which in those days it would have required attendance at night school to learn how to be a secretary.

I wanted to go to college. I wanted an education.

Maybe my mother felt that it was a waste of time. Perhaps she was protecting me in not allowing me to dream past the practical. Perhaps my mother was protecting me from what she believed to be institutional blocks of class and race.

I don’t know. We never talked about it. My mother did not stop me from attending college. She also did not support or encourage my efforts. I was on my own in figuring out how to get into college and how to finance my education.

You see, I was paying attention to what my mother and relatives communicated. I saw how hard it was for her to raise a family on almost minimum wages. Being exhausted and underpaid does not inspire maternal June Clever warm and fuzzy behavior. It was hard. Some days it was too much to bear without anger or tears.

I worked part-time as a teen. I knew crappy jobs. I specialized in crappy jobs like the restaurant owner who did not believe in hot water. Part of my day was spent washing dishes in that joint. In winter.

I didn’t last long.

There were other jobs that cringe in memory. The people with “good jobs” who were miserable, cranky and about to go psycho at the least variation of their carefully constructed empire of cubicle power dictates.

Yet the mantra was graduate high school, get a good job.

I did not have illusions about going off to an educational Disneyland. I wanted to go someplace where people wanted to talk and think about the big questions.

I listened to the voice within. I went off to college. I struggled through disappointment. It seemed like a sped up version of high school. Teachers talking and I was stuck listening: some times to a fool. Occasionally there would be inspired exchanges but routinely I was bored.

It did not matter that I worked as I attended college. The rank troopers like Pepper and Skippy did teach me that there was an educational inequality in our respective public school education.

They taught me that the meritocracy they spoke of wrapped around their necks like a shield might have been their parents’ money and not necessarily any effort they specifically had put forth toward their education.

I did much better with the campus activities and groups. The school radio station, a community silk screen art center, or volunteering. My grade were ok. I just wasn’t good at being a student drone.

The days leading to my dropping out were filled with a counselor trying to tell me discretely tell me that not everybody is cut out for college, perhaps a trade school would be better. A instructor, who did not want female students in his class, did his best to purged out as many as he could.

I took longer than most of my class but I dropped out of formal education and created my own. I eventually found the right schools that actually meant what they said about education and dropped back into the fold, on my terms.

BlogHer Recycling and Other Resources

This post appeared in its entirety in a slightly different form on BlogHer as The Price May Not Be Right - Is College Worth It? I am a Contributing Editor at BlogHer.

Basically, I'm recycling some of my prior content and finding new stuff.

• Fellow CE Leslie Madson Brooks wrote an open letter to parents and future students that ask everyone involved to truly understand the reason for attending college.
• NPR’s radio program The Take A Way interviews Anya Kamenetz author of DIY U: Edupunks, Edupreneurs, and the Coming Transformation of Higher Education
• For a faith based perspective on the road to college there is Mommy Life’s post is college for everyone?
• Barbara at Roaming Writers asks Is College Necessary?
• Karen Burns at Working Girl write a post on Is College Worth It?

The World Change A Little Bit But I'm Not Buying An iPad

I don't have much time. I was not supposed to see this video because it would make me crazy. I don't want an iPad. I don't need an iPad. And yet like a fool I watched it before going to work.

I think the iPad is a limited function device for me. I know it is. But the applications; God help me the applications are getting better all of the time. There are a whole bunch of them that will change how video is going to be produced and editing.

Publishing will change as well. This is a commercial from Wired magazine that I viewed on eBookNewser/MediaBistro. I'm not endorsing Wired or the application - I'm looking at the concepts presented.



Anyway, the real potential that I glimmered watching the commercial was the ability to tell multi-level stories. You can go down the rabbit hole and come up in an entirely new place.

Brain cells are popping about the new fiction forms that will be created.

Let me riff on a non-fiction use; lets say that you wrote a book about the movie Casablanca.

• The entire book would be available hyperlinked to the other content.
• You could embed the movie and historic interviews with the cast.
• You could also have information about World War II and the events of the time.
• You could have text and photos of what Paris was like under occupation.
• You could show the script, show the models of the plane used in the final shot.
• Ditto on the costumes.
• Ditto on the lighting decisions and the techniques used.

Ah man, you could frigging re-design the concept of a documentary! I'm still not buying an iPad. It has got to grow up a little more. And I can't imagine that others vendors are just going to sit on the sidelines and get trounced and not respond.

Y'all keep telling me that free competition is good for the country. What are you waiting for?

Incomming - Response to the Dodge Super Bowl Ad

First came the Levi's Dockers Male Reclamation advertisement. Now Dodge want to shore up masculine identity.

You've sacrificed a lot, but surely there is a limit to your chivalry. Drive the car you want to drive.

These are the good old days because there is now the ability to respond. Check it out:



They say pick your battles and not fight every war. I say pay attention to the words that lead to war. Then look to the war profiteers.

Make love, not war. Reduce unnecessary consumption. Don't believe the hype.

Walking and the F-Cell Hydrogen Car

The sun is coming down but it is still a good day. I walked around town and took a few photos. I really miss walking around and seeing stuff. It is and therapeutic for me. I was walking around Pasadena and across the street from the Pasadena Museum of Art there was this car:


Naturally I stop and check it out. I like the size and the fact that you can park it anywhere, which in the L.A. area is no small thing. I don't know much about cars and even less about hydrogen fuel except what I was exposed to in science fiction movies.

I was snapping some shots when the owner came out of the gym around the corner from the museum. He was very nice and we started talking about the car. The owner said that he gets about 120 miles before he has to refuel. That's is ok for small condensed areas but not for bumping all over Los Angeles. This is a prototype car and it might be another six years before they are ready for the market place.

He gave me a flyer and we said our goodbyes. If you want to know more about the car and hydrogen fuel you can go to the F-Cell web page where you can download a .pdf and read up on the vehicle.

Now not to pick a scab or anything but if I were them I'd move this research to the head of the line. Yes, I know gas is cheap right now but I know it isn't going to stay this artificially low forever.

Mainly cuz we don't have a lot more dinosaur juice left in the ground. Ok, I know petroleum doesn't come from from dinosaurs. Wait, I don't know if that is true or not. I don't know anything about petroleum except for very limited examples in my home.

My point is keep the alternatives and the prototypes coming. Give me transportation options designed for my area and for the world as a whole. Yeah. That is what I wanted to say. Innovation, keep it coming.

Hey, somebody in the neighborhood has lit up their BBQ grill. Naw, car first and hydrogen BBQ grill later.

Stimulating Yourself to Financial Literacy and Education

There are multiple reasons for this financial mess.  There are many of us that did nothing wrong and yet are suffering at the hands of the greedy and the unconscionable. I have been asking “How are we going to solve this problem?” I’m asking liberals and libertarians. I’m trying to read conservative blogs for answers but I quickly learned that there is a lot of anger in that part of the blogosphere.  We are faced with the equivalent of cleaning King Augeas' stables.  We have nasty work ahead of us. It can be done.

So I thought about it. What are some of the factors that contributed to this crisis? One of the factors is the lack of financial literacy. Because of the lack of literacy we use credit cards, pay day loans or cash advances as our personal money; it is not, we are borrowing money. This ignorance is generational. Many of our parents and grandparent had no financial education. This is not impossible to fix.

Time to clean out the muck and start planting new seed of prosperity. These are just a few suggestions. There is no one way learn this so I’m focusing on personal financial bloggers who are providing literacy and educational assistance.

BlogHer Resources:

Now if you haven’t already done so you should read our in-house folk like Jennifer Openshaw, Paula Gregorowicz, and the category on Money and Finance. There is informational gold in their posts so if you have been slacking now is the time to hit the archives.

Attitude Adjustments and Emotional Support

Suze Orman gets a lot of heat because she talks about the need for women to be mentally, spiritually and emotionally ready for prosperity. Now for some of you that is “woo-woo” talk. I get where she is coming from. You can wail about your lack of money.  You can pray or affirm to the heavens “I want more money.”

Until you believe and internalize that you deserve more and that you have a right to a better standard of living it ain’t gonna happen.  Belief without action is just as pointless. This is a two-fer folks, you have to do both.  I am a big fan of JD at Get Rich Slowly, he has a post on How to Build Confidence and Destroy Fear:

Without self-confidence, we have a tendency to make poor decisions. We make choices based on fear instead of what is best for us. If you lack confidence, you might fill your life with self-destructive behavior. You’re might work at a job you hate. You may allow yourself to get deep in debt. You may find yourself moving from one bad relationship to another. Without confidence, you don’t allow yourself to pursue your dreams.

Girls Just Wanna Have Funds is a meet-up of women who get together with a financial advisor to help each other get out of debt. NBC did a report about the Washington, DC group. According to the website:

Girls Just Wanna Have Funds is dedicated to the woman that wants to take charge of her personal finances. We value budgeting, investing, frugality and remain mindful of our spending habits. Move over and make way for women who are in control of their financial destinies and not afraid to say it. We’re armed with a positive net worth and not afraid to flaunt it while breaking financial ceilings one stiletto at a time!

Nicole at Career Girls knows that young adults and in particular divas in training are getting nervous. In her post on Resilience in Times of Economic and Career Crisis she responds to a friend who is feeling the pressure:

So why is resilience so important? Resilient people bounce back and don’t quit or give up easily. Their ability to keep going will eventually lead them to success. Resilient people can thrive and progress in difficult circumstances, and tend to get ahead when less adaptable people won’t.

Big Whoop – How Do I Begin with No Money?

You might want to do more research on that attitude part. You see you might have money in front of your eyes and not be able to see it. If you have kids that drink soda for water either that has to stop or you are redeeming cans and bottles. Changing your perception of what you have is a part of wealth building.

I know what you want. Easy answers. There aren’t any. But there are seekers and pathfinders you can pay attention and learn from.

The late Carla Emery called it back in 2004 when people were going crazy over adjustable rate mortgages. Carla gave a detailed explanation on What Frugality Means.  Emily at Remodeling This Life has a nice post on rethinking simplicity living. A Modern Gal has thoughts on what does redefining frugality really means to her:

When thinking of it from the resource standpoint, I have to admit, although I need to be mindful of spending and be prudent with cash, my biggest resource constraint is time.  Thus, it doesn’t make sense for me to spend hours and hours on something that might yield only a small amount of savings.  Sustainability also means the ability to continuously carry out good habits day after day

On the other end of the spectrum is Living Almost Large, she doesn’t want anything to do with frugal living. She does want to save money and plan for retirement but she also wants to spend money and enjoy life. Well, to each their own.

By her own admission Living Almost Large is in her 20’s and if you read the post she isn’t gonna win any love with the crafting community. I also think she has a narrow view of what frugality is; there is a range of people from those that peel toilet paper to those folks that plan for purchases and recycle when possible. Ryan at Uncommon Cents presents a good case for When Spending is Frugal.

Applied Financial Ed – Women Working Their Way Out of Debt

These are the folks that know how to stretch a dollar around the corner and around the block. Barbara Stanny has a good article on How to Respect Money. It is also a speed course on what you have to do to get out of debt.

Financial independence does not come from what you earn. It comes from what you do with what you have. No matter how sizable your salary, the money will slip through your fingers if you bypass this step.

Ms. Micah at Finance for A Freelance Life is using the month of February 2009 as Where Is My Money Going Month? Ashley at Wide Open Wallet has Five Tips To Help You Save.  Ashley has another post about helping to support schools via shopping at stores like Target, that give 1% back to the schools on purchases. I' don’t have kids but what if I did that and designated it to a school in need across town? What if we all did that?

Kristin at Turbo-Mom has a blog called Guide To Saving Money Without Wasting Time. All are welcome and you can partake of the goodies such as how to wrangle coupons, how to work Baby stores  to save money and the only legitimate place to actually get a free credit report.

Single Ma at Fabulous Financials was in debt and she shows her readers her process for the key to paying off debt. You can also check out her net worth status, it proves you can go to zero to your heart’s desire. Crystal at Brunette on a Budget is a financial writer/blogger. She mixes financial education with merchant credit card gouging and how to look good in high waist pencil skirts. Um, I’m thinking that for those of us who don’t have major bumps in the back.

I’ve got more but I’m running out of space. My point is do something, if nothing more than pass one of these folks along to a friend in need. Each one, teach one out of the darkness.

Gena Haskett is a Contributing Editor at BlogHer and this post originated under the Academic, Research and Education category.

Borders On Being Silly - I Can Read & Count

It has been a long time since I walked into a book store. I love books. I have an addiction to computer magazines, the UK ones but I'll read a US computer magazine in a pinch. I hadn't been in a bookstore in three months. Probably explains why I have more money in my account.

I just happened to walk in today. Got my computer mags that I buy with the CD of free software. Mass quantities of Linux distributions to explore. (When? I'm time challenged as it is?)

Anyway, I walked by this table with a big honking banner that said buy 1 book and get the other for 1/2 price. I look up at the banner and look down on a bunch of neatly stacked books. Julie Cameron's new writing book and a book about clean eating.

I study the other contenders and head for the counter. Young lady rings me up. $65 and some change. The addition in my head is banging the gong. "Excuse me, but aren't these books a part of the promotion?" She said "no, they don't have a sticker on them."

I point to the seven foot banner hanging from the ceiling. " But the banner said that you buy one and get the other for half." She sighs and ask for register back-up.

I can read her face and tell her to please remove the books from my purchase. The young lady ask a co-worker who confirms if they don't have a sticker they are full price.

This is known as the old okie-doke. Customer has books in hand. There is a slight bond or relationship between me and the book. If you are well off you might say ok, ring them up.

I, on the other hand, am a very frugal shopper. My love runs hot and cold.

Every book in my home is invited. With the except of a book by Gore Vidal where I did pay full price cuz he cracks me up, I buy on sale. I would have bought one of the books if I was told the honest price. It is on the back of the book. I know cuz I flipped it over to figure out the discounted amount of two books.

I am telling you true. None of the books on either side of that table had any sticker on them. The table ahead with no banner had a few books with stickers but I only saw them as I was leaving the store.

I do not like being manipulated. I really don't like being told that what I see is not the truth. Yeah, I know times are rough, a merchant got to do what they got to do but running the old flim flam is what is closing Circuit City's stores right now.

How do I get store managers to understand that if I can't trust you to indicate clearly which books are on sale and those that are not then why should I come in your store? Blaming a mythical customer for placing a non-sales book on the table is bull. All of the books were stacked, untouched. There was no stray book.

I do shop Amazon, Powell's and Sounds True. I don't have to put up with limited coupons on receipts that I never can use. Or e-mail promotions I can't see because I've blocked the images in my e-mail program.

I know every used bookstore in a five mile radius so really I don't need the hassle of looking for a red sticker or a green sticker or walking through an obstacle course to get to checkout.

"Please remove the books." I asked. Well she didn't know how to do that so she canceled the purchase and rang me up all over again. I was cool. It wasn't her fault.

It was business. The way business is currently being performed. Newspapers heading south, retailers shutting their doors, like the one across the street and the one in back of your store? Take a hint why don't you? It is not too late.

Well, good luck to you. I'm done. Maybe in six months I will have forgotten. Probably not. I'm kinda steamed and I have a long memory about these things. If you are still operating and a friend wants to go in sure, I'll follow. That is if I can't talk him out of it first.

High Fructose Corn Syrup Ads and Evaluating Information

The Corn Refiners Association currently has two TV commercials abut the consumption of High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS).  In this commercial we view a backyard party where two moms get to talking.

You can also view the ads at SweetSurprise.com set that was created to support the ad campaign.

Let me say to the food producers and refiners of American that I am quiet capable of expressing why I chose not to eat certain food products. I tend to use full sentences like “I don’t like the taste.”, “I don’t trust how it is made” or “When I eat that particular food I get a headache.”

The commercials are insulting and really underestimate the growing national concerns about the quality and safety of food products. That is how I feel. However I also need to find the facts to back up my feelings and perceptions.

So what I want to attempt to convey is a simplified way to research and learn about a product I only know from a consumer standpoint.

Questions and Identifying Sources

I start with my questions. My questions might be different from yours; you might know more about HFCS than I do. These are questions that I have from viewing the commercials.

• Is it a natural product? Is eating HFCS harmful?
• Why are they doing this now? HFCS has been on the market since the 1970s.
• How do I eat HFCS products in moderation?

When you start to look for information you want to get as close as you can to the primary source as possible. In this case the primary source happens to be the creator of the commercials.

(Note to Science folks, I know this means something different in your terminology but I’m going for a concept and I’m on the Library/Information Studies side of the fence.)

Now certainly I’m going to review the Sweet Surprise web site. At the FAQ page there is a list of statements made to support their belief that HFCS is a natural product, comparing the refinement to sugar and honey. There is also HFCS Facts.which is more of a trade organization and the actual Corn Refiners Association that gives the actual process in making HFCS:

High fructose corn sweeteners begin with enzymes which isomerize dextrose to produce a 42 percent fructose syrup. By passing 42-HFCS through a column which retains fructose, refiners draw off 90 percent HFCS and blend it with 42-HFCS to make a third syrup, 55-HFCS. Further processing produces crystalline fructose.

Yeah, that sounds like it was just plucked off the tree. I also learn that Americans are consuming at least 42 pounds of HFCS per year according to the Corn Refiners Association Web site.

Secondary Sources

Next I want to find secondary sources that take the information provided and evaluates, support or refute the claims and statements. At this point I’m looking for nutritionists, dietitians, scientists and similar authoritative sources.

• Katherine Zeratsky R.D. from the Mayo Clinic
• Medically Speaking from the University of Maryland Medical Center mp3 audio interview with Mary Beth Soldus
• Karen Collin on Sugar, corn syrup, or calories?
• Radhia Gleis Certified Clinical Nutritionist video called Conspiracy for Fat American and High Fructose Corn Syrup
• American Medical Association – The Health Effects of High Fructose Syrup 

Everybody Into The Pool

In this final stage I’m looking for folks that have a stake about the topic. I’m a little more open so I want to find those people that have health issues such as diabetics, food allergies, or those folks that are required or choice to be on a low carbohydrate diet. Also I want to hear from others that have something to say about the topic.

So I am reading an article from Lazslo Pentek, a Beekeeper  who has an opinion about HFCS.  Ed Brayton over at Scienceblogs on Government Subsidized Obesity, Debra at The Ethicurean on this specific ad campaign, The Organic Consumers Association article on Corn, Used and Abused.

I’m checking in with food bloggers like The Slow Cook who has thoughts about the FDA switch of allowing HFCS to be called natural when it initially said it was not.  Wannabegreen did a count of the number of  HFCS items in the cupboard. Karina’s Kitchen  writes about Sugar Blues and alternatives to Sugar. Marion Nestle on-going posts on high fructose corn syrup.

I could keep going but my fingers are cramping up.  

My point in doing this was to demonstrate that you can get the information that you need to make an informed decision about a topic. A positive from this silly campaign is the recognition that consumers have the power to let food producers know what they will and will not accept. Information, good. Misinformation, bad.

Is High Fructose Corn Syrup bad? From what I have read there isn’t enough legitimate research done to confirm or disprove. I do know that we are being involuntarily fed way too much sugar in products that we don’t expect to be loaded with sugar. But there is not one single reason for Americans packing on the pounds. However there is enought responsibility that both consumers and food producers need to step up and accept.

That is a rant for another time.

This post originally appeared on BlogHer.

Dear Ralphs, Kroger or The Prince of Supermarket Land

I have a Ralphs card. I have had a Ralphs card for years, back when it was actually Ralphs. I didn't want to have a card. It was a matter of paying more for groceries if I didn't use the card. I gave my name and phone number and became a "Club Member."

Note that I didn't say I gave my address. I did not want to give it away and this was long before the Internet and the current wave of Identity Theft. I'm one of those people that does not believe in sharing every freaking detail about my life.

Now did I miss out on coupons, third party junk mail and other assorted goodies. You betcha. It was my choice to do so. Flash forward. I'm in the store today. There is a new card in town.

I am told that that I can use my old card only until July 31st. 2008. So after paying for my groceries; well you know how much I paid cuz the card rats me out on each and every purchase. You know I am frugal except when I am not.

You know I'll pick up marked down meat in a hot minute, lean toward reduced to clear food and I will buy the high tone stuff when and if I want it and not before. You know how often I shop, when I shop and you can tell suppliers that I tend to by X but have tried Z.

Fair enough, choices and trade-offs. Now I'm at the sign-up table. I'm deciding if I want the pink label card or the yellow or green. I'm going with yellow on account I have a dark lined bag. I fill it out. Name, phone and email. I hand it back to the young man.

I'm told that I have to put my address.

I say no, I don't.

The young man says that in order to get the rebate check at the end of the quarter I have to put my address.

I say no, I don't. I just wanted to use the card in order to shop at the store. Then he says I can't have the card and takes back the application. I tell him to give me my application back, If I'm not participating there is no need for him to have my info.

He gives it back. I am livid. Here is why. I'm not hating on the concept of shopper or loyalty cards. It is voluntary on both sides. I don't have to use the card to shop in the store. I know that. I can choose to pay higher prices and remain anonymous.

I can also choose not to step foot in any Ralphs ever again. I don't have to shop at Ralphs. I got Von's, Trader Joe's, Jon's, a bunch of ethnic markets, Costco, and dare I say it, the beloved 99 Cents Only Store.

So if I have that many shopping options why am I going to debate with someone who doesn't know the answer to the questions "Why do I have to give my address if I do not want to receive mail from Ralphs or anyone?"

Privacy trumps cheapness. Now when I get this mad I want answers so when I get home I hop on Ralphs web site and get the phone number for Card Customer Service HQ. 13 minutes later I speak with someone in corporate office. I ask her the question. She was very nice but said the same thing as the young man in the store.

"So to be clear, I cannot use my old Ralphs card starting in August, is that correct?" She said that I could but that I only would be getting the club member savings.

"That is not what they are telling folks in the store, they are confiscating the old cards and you have to fill out the application for new ones."

CCSHQ said "No, that is not correct. You can still use the old card but all the prior deals like the Wine Club, the Senior Card and the Pet Card will be null in void. They won't exist." She could see where there is a misunderstanding because the folks at the store want me to get my $5.00 check after spending $500 in a quarterly period. If they can't send me my rebate check what is the point of me having a new card?

But no, I didn't have to have a new card or give up the old one.

I got an idea for you. How about you lowering prices across the board and dump the cards? That would save both of us a lot of time and headaches? Oh, yeah. That tracking thing.

Here is my burn point. If you have my information in the first place why not just transfer me electronically to the new card and mail me the new card? Oh, yeah. You can't cuz you don't have my address. Strike that.

If you want to give me a new card let me pick it up at the store w/o giving you my address. If you want to give me a new shiny slicked up card that is fine, but why don't you make the change on your end?

I have my doubts if anyone knows the real deals here. If what the CCSHQ said is true then when I go to https://www.ralphsrewards.com I have to enter my address in order to add my information. I'm kinda hip to fields marked in black as mandatory information.

Look Ralphs/Kroger, I'm sick and tired of being electronically sliced, diced, resold and re-purposed. Because whatever discount you give me in the store is more than compensated for in terms of valuable data of shopper preferences, staffing needs and ancillary data that you collect, share and sell. It is compensated for when you have a legal action.

Let me use my old card and there will be no further trouble from me. But if some whipper snapper tries to take my old card they can have it.

I won't be needing it anymore. Think I'm kidding? Remember the California Supermarket Strike?

Nokia (Cell Phone) Filmmaking Contest

If you have a cell phone that can shoot video you will want in on this. Watch the video below or boogie on over to David Howell's blog to get the straight skivvy.



David is a filmmaker and vlogger and a cool dude to have a burger with on Hollywood Blvd. So if you have a cell phone that shoots video (doesn't have to be a Nokia phone) and you are over 15 years of age you can participate.

In brief here is what you need to do: (from David's blog)

Contest Rules:

Videos must be 1 of 4 following themes,

1: Film an act of kindness.
2: Film the best part of today.
3: Film the next thing that makes you smile.
4: Film the next person to inspire you.

Videos must be no longer than 2 minutes in length.
Your video must be shot on a mobile device.
All videos must be uploaded to share.ovi.com/pangeaday.

All videos will be judged based on content, creativity and originality.

So as far as I'm concerned so long as you are not driving while mobile vlogging you ought to do this. Okay, that is my rule but I'm not running the contest. Use the force and make with the story!

The Truth is Glass - L.A. Convention Center

This is a video round up of my experience. I saw many things.

I have to say that I am glad that I went but it was the most un-erotic place I've ever been. Not to say that there wasn't items of interest but I think an opportunity has been missed.

This is the 11MB Windows Version

This is the 30MB QuickTime Video

The event was billed for couples, meaning women folk could attend and not get grossed out. I'd say the ratio was about 60% men and 40% women.

There were Booth Rabbits as well as Booth Bunnys. Just not enough Booth Rabbits. And there was DVD all over the joint selling for $2. I looked in the boxes. Sigh. How many times can you witness women practicing their oral exercises?

Yeah, I know fellas, I know. Never enough.

I'm still kicking myself for not getting that Sci-Fi CGI video for $10. But to be honest, I was looking at it more for analyzing the CGI techniques rather than the content.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

I'm a reader so maybe it is me but there wasn't even DVD stuff I'd take a chance on for $2.

There were companies that didn't belong at the event. Teeth whitening? Realtors? Erectile Dysfunction vendors? What guy is going to walk up to an ED table at a Poontang show and say the magic words, "Can you help me?"

Ok, the caterer to Malibu Moms #4 was way cool, he should definitely come back next year. His stuff tasted very good.

There were products designed for the female persuasion but I had to walk from here to Padumpadump to find them.

Special shout out to local female friendly vendors such as Freddy and Eddy, Babeland (whose booth I couldn't find but I've been to the store) and The Pleasure Chest. These are good places to buy products and to check out the latest gadgets. They also have workshops and seminars.

But I don't think they have a silicone guy doll yet.

Who Wasn't There?

I'd think you'd want to invite condom makers like Trojan. Nope. No samples, no product information, cuz there was no Trojan or any other condom company.

I fully expected some of the safe sex organizations to be there but there were none in attendance. I covered that hall, let me tell you and there should have been a booth on safe sex practices. I know there are issues with the industry but this was an opportunity for outreach.

Lemme see, the de-sexing of the sexual. Between the warning signs (you could not touch, you could not flash skin and they would take your camera if you got caught snapping someone that did), the LAPD presence (they didn't look happy to be there and showed it) and the ever vigilant eyes of security that made sure nobody touched nothing corporeal it was as if you were looking at stuff through an invisible plexiglass door.

With the exception of the Art Show it was desaturated of energy. I don't know if that is a good thing or not. The repression continues...

Will I go next year? I don't think so. I'm too short to see over tall people's heads so I couldn't see the Zumanity performance or any of the stage shows.

As the show progressed it got more and more crowded. The more tall men packed the hall the less I was able to see. Maybe if they make changes to accommodate more single women and have more products that are easy to find.

Awareness - Yorkie Is Not for Girls Photo

I was at the 99 Cents Only Store in Pasadena. I'm next in line for checkout, feeling good that I'm only spending $5 or so when I look over and see this candy bar.

I flip it over and there is a sticker on it saying it is a product of England. I take it home and make my way to the UK version of Nestle's web site.

I read about Yorkie. The original concept was to market this as a man's chocolate bar, due to its size and volume. The tag line in the ad was "men don't have much to claim for themselves anymore" and the candy is "too big for a woman to handle."

Puleeze - I ate the original Chunky as a kid. That, my friend, was a hunk of chocolate. I can't speak for the modern version but back in the day there were actual raisins and peanuts surrounded by chocolate worthy of clamping down on full force. With real sugar too! I take off the U.S. nutrition label.

Oh my. Now I'm a bird. I hear the murmurs drifting in from talk radio; something like “Damn it is just a joke, can't you women lighten up?”

To be fair, the company has altered the advertising - or that what is implied on the web page. It is now being marketed as a way to satisfy hunger. Man size hunger, I'm figuring. A hunger that does not involve women. Not that is different from the usual marketing towards men folk.

What I want to know is what don't men have left to claim for themselves any more? The remote? I got my own, I don't need yours. Sports? Have at it fellas, I'm truly not interested unless there is a good story. I don't have cable and even if I did I will not be watching ESPN and dang sure not Fox Sports Network.

Hummers? either the automobile or the other kind? Which last I heard (unless you are in the 10% club) you still need a woman. Or some kind of suction device.

I put this out to the group mind because surely Nestle UK is not implying that equal access to employment, education, recreation and participation in society is something that was taken away from men. I could be wrong but let's keep an open mind.

Market Research.com - If you are interested in male specific branding (ouch!) for $295 you can buy a 14 page report on how the brand was revamped, tongue in check advertising (probably how far can you go without ticking the birds off) and gender branding in food and drinks.

Yorkie's Nestle's Web page:
http://www.nestle.co.uk/OurBrands/AboutOurBrands/ConfectioneryAndCakes/Yorkie.htm

All Night Long - Sniffing Out the Goodies

Real shoppers use the same skills on-line as off-line.

For those of you that need to scope out the deals Sales Circulars give you a master list of an item, for instance a camcorder. You can view a list of stores offering the product, if a rebate is available and how much product cost. For all 50 states and not just tech products. Sweet – http://www.sales-circulars.com

A good place to view actual items for sale is Overstock.com. They have a wide range of household, entertainment and computer items that change constantly. The products are new and refurbished items at 30% to 70% off retail price. If you time it right, you might get shipping for $2.95 or free. http://www.overstock.com

If you got that geek urge and need a technical fix but your wallet is light Computer Geeks is right up you alley. Barebones, new and refurbished equipment for your buying pleasure. It helps to have some computer experience but it is pretty straightforward as to what you are buying, the cost and what else you will need to make it work – http://www.geeks.com