Monkey Pox Global Health Emergency (5 Dead)

[Ooloo]

Originally Posted by robayon [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

swap one source of propaganda for another that has a different flavor? no, i don't think i will, and i don't watch msnbc or even have cable

you don't even know what my criticisms of ronnie are, way to assume while doing ad hominems, debate club fella

No, although I'm glad to hear you acknowledge they are propaganda.

I am curious what your criticisms of desantis are though, genuinely.

[Jibartik]

Ron desantas reminds me of a sausage.

[Reiwa]

Originally Posted by Jibartik [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Ron desantas reminds me of a sausage.

Looks more like a meatball to me.

[robayon]

Insert Ooloo quoted post here

I realize nobody reads all the posts but you should really stop assuming my criticisms are of the right alone. We Americans are drowning in propaganda. It's not just the news, it's cop shows, Avengers movies, Top Gun, flyovers at football games, and all of the honor the troops shit they jam down our throats. Just to name a few.

That being said, my primary gripes are 1.) he's a Republican 2.) he wears blue suits in Florida 3.) The anti-riot bill 4.) Don't say gay bill 5.) Vouchers 6.) Florida's dismal unemployment laws

[Kaveh]

My main gripe is Publix sucks

[Homesteaded]

High Speed Rail? This is America where space is vast. Not some European AoE pull. Dream on terrorist.

[robayon]

Originally Posted by Kaveh [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

My main gripe is Publix sucks

What! I mean I usually shop at Kroger because they are at least a union shop, though they're both evil... but Publix definitely has better bakery and usually better store brand shit. Maybe I have just become too much of an Alton Brown fanboy.

Originally Posted by Homesteaded [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

High Speed Rail? This is America where space is vast. Not some European AoE pull. Dream on terrorist.

Can't tell if you are referring to me or Kaveh as a terrorist, but that's a lovely example of why you're absolutely nothing like that guy in the Bible you say you admire or that guy in your avatar.

I am not an engineer and I am guessing you aren't, but I am pretty sure you can build railroads over vast distances.

You ever been outside of the USA, Homesteaded?

[Reiwa]

Originally Posted by robayon [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Maybe I have just become too much of an Alton Brown fanboy.

Too true

Fans of Alton Brown's show Good Eats might remember that in the early years of the show many of the "grocery store scenes" were filmed at Kroger stores in the northern Atlanta suburbs. Astute viewers might have noticed that for the past couple of years the "grocery store scenes" have been filmed in Whole Foods\Harry's Farmer's Market stores or in small "boutique" food shops.

Ever wonder what happened to Kroger?

They apparently accused Alton of shoplifting during a trip he made there researching the "yogurt episode". From a cached Google archive of his blog:

A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to the Powdered Milk

After pouring over yogurt research for hours on end this Sunday, I finally got an idea that I could invest in: a fast, easy and delicious method for making yogurt from scratch. Experiments would be required.

I threw my worthless hound in the truck and struck out for hardware - a few jars from the Container Store, a shiny new probe thermometer (Pyrex I might add - nice design) from BB&B and a secret weapon or two from Target. Then, I turned towards a quality mega-mart for software.

Upon entering the market and snagging a hand basket I spied a Krispy Kreme display (strategically placed) featuring a food I have a tough time resisting: donut holes - Krispy Kreme donut holes. Since I hadn't eaten all day, their siren song was strong. Before I knew it a box was in my basket. Somewhere between the canned goods and the bakery, discipline and good manners dissolved in a puddle of lust and I cracked the carton and gobbled not one but two of the luscious nuggets. I could have done the entire box but that would have made an ugly scene.

My hunger temporarily silenced, I returned to my research. The "natural" dairy case presented me with several half gallons of milk with varying fat contents and a couple of yogurts with culture counts high enough to use as starters. The last thing on my list was powdered milk so I cut up through soft drinks to get to the baking aisle. I only made it halfway up before spotting another guilty pleasure: Tab - the only soft drink I like (something about that saccharine aftertaste I guess). Since my hand basket runneth over I had to empty the contents and repack to make room for six pack.

Five minutes later I finally gave up on the powdered milk and headed for the checkout. As soon as I settled up I was approached by what I thought to be a loyal GE fan wanting to chat about skirt steak or maybe the merits of tapioca as a thickener. Believe it or not, talking to people in markets is the best part of my job.

But, before I could say "kosher salt" the rather large gentleman flashed a badge and "escorted" me to the managers office, where he made me feel even more at home by cuffing my hands behind my back. He then confronted me with my crime.

The donut holes.

I'd left the donut holes on the shelf in the soft drink aisle.

I'd opened the box, eaten two of the holes and abandoned the rest.

Busted - like Benjamin Bunny.

I apologized profusely for my absent mindedness and stupidity. I tried to explain that I had been deep in thought, trying to work out a food experiment that was a bit over my head.

The officer told me not to patronize him and asked me if I could make $500 bond. I told him that I wouldn't be able to get hold of that kind of cash until morning which seemed to amuse him a bit. As they ran a background check the store manager took the opportunity [to] lecture me on the evils of stealing. When I assured him that despite their deliciousness I had no intention of attempting to lift a two dollar box of donut holes, he just shook his head and said "It's not like we don't put out plenty of samples". With that he headed off into the store, perhaps to keep an eye on that toddler on aisle 3.

As my captor and another, newly arrived officer conferred over my record (a couple of traffic tickets - no arrests) and my possible fate, I thought back to all the days I'd spent shooting scenes for Good Eats scenes in stores belonging to this chain. I thought about dropping names - I knew who the manager's boss was and his boss too, but I didn't. The way I figured it, it shouldn't have mattered. This could have happened to anyone - my mom for instance. I wondered if my daughter had been with me if they would have called family services.

Forty five minutes later they decided to let me go. I really think it was the fact that I'd left my dog in the car that loosened them up. If they'd hauled me downtown there would have been a howling basset/beagle mix in the parking lot and that couldn't be good for business.

Of course they took my picture for store records and made me sign a form saying that I understood that I had been given a criminal trespass warning and that if I ever set foot in that particular mega-mart again I would be arrested "on the spot". I assured the officer and the manager that they didn't have to worry about that one bit. I was then uncuffed and escorted downstairs where I was allowed to pay for my doughnut holes.

In the end I know what happened was my own fault. After all, it was me who picked up the donut hole box. I knowingly opened said box and purposely ate two of them. I then "conveniently" left them on a shelf in the soft drink aisle. I also know that shoplifting is a serious issue to American retailers.

But what if:

What if a store employee had simply said, "Sir, you forgot your doughnut holes" and handed me the box before I had moved past the register and into custody? I would have been a thankful, happy customer. I have to think that this approach would have required a lot less of the store's manpower. They could have kept a loyal customer rather than losing one.

So what did I learn? I learned to not assume that I live in a world where a person can make a simple mistake without getting his picture taken in cuffs for "the record". I learned that I don't like handcuffs. I learned that I'll have to find another grocery chain to shoot Good Eats in. And I learned that one should never, ever open a package of anything in a grocery store.

The donut holes were great though.

[robayon]

Oh, Alton, you zany goober. That is a very fun story. Thank you for sharing, Reiwa. I have seen probably half of the episodes of Good Eats out of the Altonverse, and some of his reality show schlock... I just like that he explains his methods thoroughly and goes into the history of food. I am a big dork about food history. When I roast peppers over open flame I use the method he showed me! I always hoped one day I'd run into him somewhere and have an incredibly awkward bro moment.

[Kaveh]

Originally Posted by robayon [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

What! I mean I usually shop at Kroger because they are at least a union shop, though they're both evil... but Publix definitely has better bakery and usually better store brand shit. Maybe I have just become too much of an Alton Brown fanboy.

Can't tell if you are referring to me or Kaveh as a terrorist, but that's a lovely example of why you're absolutely nothing like that guy in the Bible you say you admire or that guy in your avatar.

I am not an engineer and I am guessing you aren't, but I am pretty sure you can build railroads over vast distances.

You ever been outside of the USA, Homesteaded?

Publix sucks compared to HEB, Texas’ major grocery