text:
Unwanted Advice at the Store
At the store, I was looking at a display of holiday-oriented cookies. A man walks up and says, "No, you shouldn't eat that. You will gain weight." I tried to laugh it off and said, "Oh, it is for the holidays." And he said, "It doesn't matter. You shouldn't"--and walked away.
What the what? Since when is that appropriate or tasteful to tell people what to eat? I'll be honest: I am not overweight, not even close ... I felt like mini-gingerbread men.. I bought the cookies despite his opinion. But I wondered why/how he would even think to tell a stranger what to purchase....
re: monavano
I have the advantage of being over six feet tall and not looking like the big teddy-bear I am. I find myself saying to people more and more often now, "Didn't your mother teach you you shouldn't talk to strangers."
I agree with monavano: creepy. If you're inclined to creative writing, you have an intriguing beginning to a novel, maybe a thriller?--inspired by real life.
One could think kindly and just pass it off as a person who had some issue that compelled him to speak . You know, something like having no social filters.
re: PotatoHouse
OTOH, that person could have been part of the "food police," and thinking that they are doing their duty, to change the tastes, purchases, of others. Some feel so obliged.
re: PotatoHouse
PotatoHouse, I am not Doctor, so I do not offer a diagnosis, nor is this the place for them. There are other conditions and personality traits, that can be responsible.
All I am suggesting is that perhaps having a kinder viewpoint other than "creepy" or weird.
re: PotatoHouse
I think that this is a product of inability to have a robust conversation via boards. To me, you both are coming from the same direction, just slightly different tracts...
re: khuzdul
khuzdul: Perhaps they both unknowingly suffer from Asperger's Board Syndrome? It's a common affliction on internet forums.
re: PotatoHouse
I think if you are going to diagnose people you've never met over the internet you should, at the very least, try to spell your diagnosis right.
re: Lamanda
Actually, he missed the diagnosis too. He seems to be thinking of Tourette's Disorder. Folks with Asperger's are more likely to be socially withdrawn. But who's counting?
My favorite unsolicited grocery store comment was made by a woman in London who picked up a roast from Safeway's butcher counter, looked at the price, and said, " 'e want four pound for this, do 'e? Well, 'e can stick it up 'is
'ole, 'e can." This was in 1976; allow for inflation.
re: PotatoHouse
Wow, Guess you totally missed the point. Have a wonderful day!
re: dmjordan
For various reasons and various medical issues, some people lack social "filters". So, they just, outright say what sometimes we think, but do not say out loud. Asperger's syndrome is just one. It is an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) that is characterized by significant difficulties in social interaction. But others apply as well. And there are just straight out self-appointed food/anything "police" who do exist.
My point was just to offer up, a reason that that indicated it may have not have been a "mean/stalker" issue, but someone who, for other reasons, felt compelled to express what the OP experienced.
Sure, the he may have be a whack-a-doddle, a food police ( I've interacted with those) or, perhaps someone with not so great social skills who was trying, what he thought was a compliment.
My response to PotatoHouse, was merely a comment, that reflected the whole of the posted replies to the OP. PotatoHouse chose to take it as a personal response. And so it goes. Again, I am not a Doctor, I am not making a diagnosis, I use spell check, know it is called Asperger disorder, as a past Bboyfriend has it, and I understand, it is not something that is mean-spirited, Rather it is just not a "filter" they have. Have I helped?
re: PotatoHouse
Or he was just being a jerk. Or he was trying to make a comment on your current thinness and the idea that you would lose that if you ate cookies. Or he is really averse to people eating sweets.
Sometimes people just act in socially-unacceptable ways. It does not mean they have some "syndrome" and can't help it.
re: Tripeler
"Socially inept," came to my mind too. However, we may never know the full details, unless they "catch the perv... " Sorry - could not resist.
re: taos
Thank you, Taos.
I have had quite enough of this environment where the injured party is admonished for not spending time scouring the web for possible PC explanations of the offender's conduct.
re: PotatoHouse
If you don't know what you are talking about, you might as well keep quiet. As a father of a boy with Autism (and many of his friends being Aspie), thats not how their social interaction skills work.
re: vegiefudie
I have to say you are right. As the wife of a man with Asperger's (neuro-psychological testing, not just a wife bitching) but greatly improving with working on skills, he'd never have said that directly to a stranger. He would have said something about her choices/volume to me, though without regard to the stranger hearing him.
re: rccola
It's a huge spectrum with great variety, and we have to learn these things over time. I might not say such a thing now because I've learned better, but in my younger years, it's entirely possible I could have.
These things, in hindsight, were like "well, Duh" moments - but the intention was never bad. It all just comes out wrong.
I also know a lot of Aspies who are more severe than me, and who might never learn from these mistakes. I also know Aspies who know not to say these things too - like my daughter. But is this because she was diagnosed very young and we helped her with social awareness? There are a lot of undiagnosed people out there who have no idea.
Either way, I appreciate those who are trying to point out that "assholery" might not have been the motive.
re: ursy_ten
And my husband is living proof that, no matter what the age, someone can improve. He's even learned to modulate his voice so, if he says something like that to me, the victim of his attention can't hear.
But leave open the concept that this guy may have been an asshole who has no desire to improve. Perhaps a new psychiatric diagnostic classification should be made: Asshole--recalcitrant. .
re: rccola
Of course :)
My main point is that nearly everyone's first reaction is always "asshole", and this is not always the case, and it's nice for people to be aware of that.
re: rccola
So you made him get tested rather than admitting you're a preachy wife? Of course I'm just kidding, it was just funny reading how you qualified your statement.
Over the last few years it seems like Asperger's became the popular reason for others differing behavior. While it's great for awareness, it's sad that many have a misunderstanding of what it really is, especially when trying to label others.
Thank you for sharing. Becoming more aware of things like this helps me to be less judgemental.
re: Custardly
some people are also so dry in their humor that they miss the mark. Whatever the case, this was about his need to say it, and it was your turn.
re: binky1
Guilty. Fortunately my smile more than makes up for it.
Could have been any of the above, but on the chance that he's just a giant fruit loop, put your head down and move on! Easier said than done, though. Glad he walked away first!
Such behavior is never appropriate; it is sociopathic behavior. Be perfectly still, and glare icily. Such people typically expect to fluster you, and don't like when their behavior is noticed for what it really is (as all bullies hate being called out, as it were). Passive avoidance is only advisable when the person might be physically dangerous.
re: Karl S
However, I encounter it too often in California, where many feel appointed to control everyone around them, and especially regarding food.
Not sure WHERE this incident happened, but I encounter similar, all too often in San Francisco, where many feel obligated to "correct" all of my choices.
I just ignore, and move on.
re: Bill Hunt
Really, this is particular to California? I know the best nuts are from California, but would you care to share some of your many experiences where people felt obligated to correct all of your choices?
re: linguafood
Not sure the exact geography, where it might be particular, but I have encountered it in CA, mostly in San Francisco, but not in other parts of the US. Maybe I just missed it?
I have had several, who commented from a near-by table, on my (or my wife's) choices of meals. As neither of us even acknowledged them, I felt rather put-out, that they should even indulge us in conversation, let alone comment on our choices.
re: Bill Hunt
Never heard anyone comment on my food choices in SF, and I'm a native. I'm lucky I guess.
re: cosmogrrl
I suppose that it is all about the where, the when, and then, the who is around you.
re: Bill Hunt
The thing about San Francisco is that you were probably interacting with tourists Bill Hunt.I am a native Californian born in San Rafael just a few miles north of San Francisco in Marin County and then raised in Sonoma county from age four. From age eight until fourteen I spent every summer in San Francisco with my older sister and her husband. My experience with San Franciscans (as a child and an adult) is that they rarely speak unless spoken to:) Plus the city is so full of rude overbearing tourists that you have to prepared for anything when you are in the city.
re: Lillipop
Their not all bad, I live near Huntington Sq. and see many everyday. Not a week goes by when I direct someone to wherever it is their going, or offer tips about places to eat, etc.
re: Lillipop
Well, I AM a "tourist," but dine there about 60 nights per year, due to our travels. Obviously, not a local, but a frequent diner. Actually, I have had more negative interactions in "neighborhood" restaurants, than those, that I would typify as "tourist."
re: linguafood
re: cosmogrrl
Here in Texas, we prefer to import our nuts from other countries--other states as a last resort ;)
re: linguafood
"I know the best nuts are from California." Hey, an unintentional pun!
re: Custardly
Not really.
re: linguafood
Then there is the nutty checker that has to comment on everything you purchased as they ring it up. Just let me pay so I can go.
re: Antilope
Are customer service standards really that low in your store? That's be a firing offense in Wegman's
re: WNYamateur
alas, we can't all live near a Wegmans.
re: WNYamateur
This was one particular checker years ago, but I always tried to avoid them. Sometimes you couldn't.
re: Bill Hunt
<However, I encounter it too often in California>
I was just having this conversation yesterday with a friend who was driving with me. We were behind a young man in an environmentally safe car who was going EXACTLY the speed limit in the passing (fast) lane. Anyone who knows LA freeways understands this is unadvisable. Everyone, including me, who passed him the on right, dodging traffic, got a big fat middle finger. The next stop for us was at Trader Joe's where I picked up a basket full of their tamales for my freezer. The checkout lady advised me they were loaded with calories (I know) and proceeded to tell us they weren't good for me and she stays away from them for that purpose. Our last stop was dinner. We both ordered our usual cabarnet, caesar salad, ribeye and creamed spinach. Neither one of us is even remotely overweight but our waiter (a young, good looking wannabe actor) informed us that if we continue to eat like this we'll be heffers in no time (not his words but eluded to it).
The world is filled with self-appointed guardians of the world and its inhabitants. In this city I've learn to laugh at it. If I took it all to heart I'd be 6 ft under in no time :).
re: latindancer
That's why I say keep dogma out of food and in religion where it can do less harm. Give me a bible thumper over the food guardians any day. The food guardians don't realize how noxious they are; the bible thumper knows and employs it as a shtick, and so you can actually mutually acknowledge reality with a bible thumper in a way you cannot with a food guardian.
re: Karl S
"That's why I say keep dogma out of food and in religion where it can do less harm."
Yeah, the influence of the food police on politics over the bible thumpers' is shocking.
You're kidding, right?
re: linguafood
Nope. The food police are even more noxious in person. They actually spoil myriad daily social interactions. The religion police, less so by comparison. I venture more TG dinners will be spoiled by food nannies curdling people's social interactions than religion folks. You see, in good manners, people can always end a discussion about religion by reminding folks that religion, politics and sex discussions are unwelcome. However, in a feast about food, the food nannies feel emboldened rather than chastened. Dreadful.
re: Karl S
I guess I'm just *really, really* lucky with my circle of friends, then.
You're not talking about food police with regard to strictly adhering to recipe guidelines, right?
re: linguafood
Nope, about what is healthy/good versus what is unhealthy/evil. I've witnessed countless social interactions killed by this in ways I've NEVER seen religion discussions (partly because people who are not children feel more empowered in religion discussions so bullying can be stopped more readily; in areas of health/food, a lot of people lack confidence to stop health/food bullies in their tracks - worse still, many people actually internalize the bullying and then inflict it visibly upon themselves at the table with self-feedback ("oh, no, I really shouldn't; it's unhealthy/et cet.") that prompts the anti-social cycle).
Here's a good social rule of thumb: when dining, it is profoundly rude to comment (by word or noticeable reaction) on the health merits of food. It never occurred to the old etiquette manualists to include this in the old banned trinity of religion-politics-sex from polite conversation because they probably never thought people would be THAT clueless. But they are, Blanche.
re: Karl S
<However, in a feast about food, the food nannies feel emboldened rather than chastened>
I have a friend who invites 25 people to her home for holidays and refuses to serve sugar or carbs. The entire meal is sugarless and no carb. It all tastes like cardboard. Everyone leaves and goes out to dinner at a restaurant.
re: Karl S
Good analogies. I try to steer clear of both parties.
re: latindancer
Sounds like what I have experienced in San Francisco (we are there, La Jolla, San Diego, Napa and Sonoma, but seldom in Los Angeles). I have had folk at near-by tables say things, such as "You know, that is not good for you." "That fish is not sustainable and is on several do not eat lists." "Do you know what the duck goes through, so you can eat that?" Some days, it never ends. I have even had "street people" approach me, when entering a restaurant, to warn me that they do not serve fish, approved by the UN!
I did not realize that LA would be the same, and assumed that it was a "Northern thing," but see that it is not.
Where I come from (the Deep South), and now live (the "wild" West), folk would never intrude on a diner, with such comments. The only time that there is any conversation about dishes, is the "Wow, that looks lovely. What dish is that?" I am always glad to share that info.
re: Bill Hunt
Bill, we call those "crone attacks" in my family. Usually, it's women of a certain age, primarily on the west coast (Seattle, where my family lives, has them, too) who do this. As I am middle-aged myself, I am very careful to keep all of my comments to strangers friendly and uplifting. I do not want to be that crone!
re: Isolda
Hm-m-m, sounds like some of the comments, aimed at me. I smile, and then ignore them, as they prattle on. Some folk feel compelled to change all choices of others, whether it is food choices, or other.
In all cities, where I have spent much time, I am confronted by "others," in San Francisco, more than any other city. Some people are inclined to try and convince anyone, who will listen, that they are doing bad things, and should "change their ways." I do not change easily, so I just smile...
re: Bill Hunt
I will say that I think this mentality started at Whole Foods and spread to restaurants. I've been told that people give dirty looks if your cart has "unhealthy" things (the definition being different for different people). My husband and I did have a large man comment on how much sushi we were eating once. There's an amazing place in El Cerrito for sushi but we don't get there often so we always pig out. We just laughed it off.
That's outrageous. And I agree that you were lucky that he just walked away & didn't end up following you around.
The only time I've ever spoken to someone in the market is if I've accidentally overheard them & can chime in that I've tried the product they're thinking about & how it's worked for me. Or if someone is looking for something, & I know where they can find it. But I'd never EVER say anything rude like that to anyone. Geesh.
Some people feel obligated to change the world, but in their view of the world.
I would have ignored that person, and not thought about them.
re: Bill Hunt
I named a gingerbread-man cookie after the man... right before the cookie-man went for a swim in hot coffee.. then I ate him.
A literal rendition of: "Let the poison of your neighbor die within you."
re: GraceW
Think that I would have crumbled "him," and tossed "him" into the trash.
I am not a fan of "creepy people," whether it's in a supermarket, or elsewhere.
I talk to my wife about such people, and am glad that she is heavily armed. Too many "creeps" around.
Take care, and be safe,
re: Bill Hunt
Smart you and wife.
Snoopy etc short of creep I prefer to ignore.Sometimes it just doesn't work.
On election day a women my own age verbally accosted my in the check out line because I wasn't wearing the "I voted sticker".That fact I vote absentee Montana wasn't a good answer.It really set her off about what a scummy tax cheat etc I must be.The manager and security escorted her out,PROMPTLY.I get halfway to my car and here she is,trotting at me screaming with security on her tail.No problem,van,auto open door,MY GUN DOG,75# Chesapeake Bay Retriever,not a breed noted for warm and fuzzy and this one tolerates NO ONE,EVER yelling at MOM.As "off" as she was,she was on enough to choose uniform security over me and a bay dog.Bless the husband for my new old lady van with auto everything this past birthday.
And an if I am so lucky in the future with wit
We had my parents,still very active and healthy,but frail,born 1909 & 1910 with us 1997 to 2002 & 2003.In between work and heavy travel schedules there was THE trip to our large independently owned fancy supermarket once or twice a month with them.Both still very involved in food,ingredients,the cellar etc and as opinionated and particular as ever.Me,a cart filled with 24qts of heavy cream,12 bottles of devon cream,4-3# block of butter,ducks and liver etc on my way to collect parents in produce acquired a lurker.Just a glance told me,OH SHIT this lady is either the health or fur police.She got maybe three sentences into the evils of cream when my VERY FRENCH mother arrived,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,who brought her rant to a HALT with,this is ALL mine and "the refrigerator NEEDS these things,will perish horribly without them" and much more.Me 50+ actually felt more sorry for this 20 something fool than I did for my struggle to keep a straight face.When all of us were in the parking lot I laughed until I cried.
re: sunshine842
We were shopping for an annual bash,Bobby Burns birthday and the 28th anniversary for me and hubby.Me with a 110% Scottish father to go with the 110% French mother was then and now plenty smart enough to leave the menu,shopping etc alone.1998,the dad born 1909,still making puff pastry,ergo the imported butter blocks,the mom still making sauces,ICE CREAMS and pastry,ergo the barely pasteurized cream,LEAVING ME to take the heat for the cart while they were driving Henry the produce manager crazy and bickering about the merits of a curd featuring kiwi fruit. Yeah,nay,yeah,nah,sieve gauge?size?blanche time?what for acid?Yes kiwi makes an excellent curd,the acid settled on was 1/2 Meyer lemon 1/2 Champagne and so on.This was them,
healthy,active,involved,sharp to the end and life was lived.OR ELSE
Spouse and one of the owners were hanging out in the managers elevated place watching,listening and rolling on the floor laughing so hard the cashiers came to a halt.
My mother was a pistol,as was her mother with the tongue.
re: sunshine842
Thank You ,from all,certainly including the lurkers from above
re: GraceW
How poetic!
re: GraceW
"Cookie" met a just fate. Well played, Grace.
re: escondido123
Usually comments at the grocery are from the cashier and are insensitive a out what I am buying, generally about what they consider to be exotic vegetables. Makes me sad for the youth of the nation since inevitably it is the teenagers who have the gall to make comments like that.
re: escondido123
Hey, my wife just bought a "stalk" in AZ today. Actually, I did not know exactly how the little dudes grew. Looked sort of like one of our yucca plants, when it finally "blooms." I learned something new!
re: escondido123
Some years back, a nicely-dressed gentleman approached me in a Costco. I had just filled my basket with wines, ranging from a couple of 1er Cru Bdx., to a couple bottles of Penfolds Grange, down to some everyday Chards. He commented that he could see that I really enjoyed wines, and offered a suggestion. I held my breath, expecting the worst. He asked me to try a certain Bdx. Blend wine, but begged me to not look at the price. I first thought that he might be a distributor, but saw his cart, and he was just a shopper, like me. He pointed out one wine - but I looked at the price - $12.98. I hesitated. He caught my hesitation, and said, "I asked you to NOT look at the price." I asked about the wine, and he went into detail on it. Based on that, I bought 4 bottles. It was the Glen Carlou Grand Classique for SA. When I got home, I told my wife the story, and we opened a bottle with some grilled beef. It WAS good. So good, that the next day, I bought the two cases that that Costco had. I gifted several bottles, and everyone went to their Costco stores, and bought the wine, by the case. That recommendation, and chance conversation, were greatly appreciated. While not a 1er Cru Bdx (and not age-worthy, by my testing), it WAS a good wine, and a great "deal."
re: Bill Hunt
Bill, you make me chuckle. For me, the concern wouldn't be that the wine was too cheap, but rather too expensive. Ah, the different worlds we live in. Glad you were willing to take the "risk."
re: escondido123
In my particular case, with that incident, my choices were way, way above what the gentleman was recommending. I hesitated, when I saw the price, but am glad that he kept me focused - very good wine, and at a very low price-point. Had he not recommended it, I would never have bought it. Shows that price is not all, that some (like me) crack it up to be.
re: Harters
re: Harters
The horror........the horror.
re: Harters
re: Bacchus101
+6. Socially inept does not equal sociopath. He's not Jeffery Dahmer.
And 99% of what is called "harrassment" isn't. He committed no crime.
re: Leonardo
Sociopath =/= psychopath.
re: Harters
re: Harters
Strange, creepy, jerk, sociopathic, harrassment seem like much too strong reactions--I think the guy was just making a comment that I wouldn't have remembered by the time I got home.
re: escondido123
Perhaps a chuckle, but that's about it.
re: escondido123
Except for when he popped up from the back seat, as you turned out of the parking lot...
re: Bill Hunt
re: Jay F
The Carrot Genocide
"It was cold and the pinpricks of rain falling upon our faces were reminders of reality. We trudged through the mud, as the rain fell harder. Thunder sounded, lightening flashed. We walked over to where Bailey lays, face down on the ground..."
The carrots had already gotten to him.
Bailey was my brother, and a farmer as well. It was the year 2028, and the carrots had begun a war with the humans. They were a mutation through genetic engineering, and were never meant to breathe life and walk... or kill.
They started with the rabbits first, their animal screams and cries kept me up through the night. The sound of dying hares forever echo within my head. No one knew what was killing them all at the time. After all of the rabbits were eliminated from the area, they moved on to humans. The carrots realized they had been food, produce for humans for years. Now it was payback.
The first person they got was just a little girl, sent out to the garden by her mother to fetch some carrots for a cake. All of the childhood images I ever had of carrots was gone, the smiling rabbits with a carrot in their mouth around Easter time, the thoughts of springtime and sunshine in the gardens. It all became a horrific nightmare of bloody murder.
Now I stand here with my sister at the body of my dead brother in the garden. Her red hair blended into my rainstruck brunette as she leaned against me in tears. The water blackened everything a shade, but the mood made my eyes dark with calm fury.
"What are we going to do, Bex?" she asked me.
"The only thing left we can..." I loaded my shotgun and handed her a weed-eater.
"Never give a vegetable a brain."
re: grampart
even more ????
re: grampart
I'm guessing this is NOT from the Great Vegetable Rebellion episode of Lost in Space? Moisture! Moisture!
re: grampart
That deserves a major award!
Just fabulous, and well-written.
re: Jay F
>>Once a guy in the grocery store told me not to buy the baby carrots I had in my hand because they are dipped in lye.<<
"Baby carrots." What part of that, do you not get? "Carrot genocide." Not THAT abstract an issue, at least not to me. Maybe it is just MY sense of humour?
I envy you, your creativity, and writing skills. Better than most of the papers that I grade.
What annoys me is when I ask the meat guy if he has a certain cut and he answers by saying "what ate you going to use it in?"
I'm not looking for a consult from a meat packer. Damnit. Do you have it or not?
Grace, I know a lady who does that. I think it's just the empty nest syndrome in her. She really thinks everyone appreciates her advice, and that she's doing a public service.
There are plenty of food police out there who aren't crazy, they're just obsessive about everyone else's eating habits.
Mild street harassment. A man who felt entitled to tell you (a women) what you need to do to keep favorable in his eyes.
I file this under the "smile, you look better when you do" or like the one time I stock up on a few bottles of wine had two men keep following me saying they wanted to come home with me and asking where the party was. They were not frat boys either. It got so bad to the point where I set the basket down and left the store. I had only three #@$! bottles of wine in my basket dang it!!
Look I know that most guys are not going to understand but I deal with it all the time. I was on the plane and about to eat a fig newton, man next to me said "You know you shouldn't eat that if you want to stay that way" I'm 5'7" and size 4! I was too stun to say anything.
This is how you can tell when it's sexist. Would that man ever tell another man that?
I was glad to hear you were strong enough to brush his comment off and do what you planned to.
re: Crockett67
Actually I would assert that most guys do understand and are appalled, but they are not the ones that matter to resolve this particular issue. Sadly the fellows whom you do need to make understand probably will never understand. If they do, they leave the asshole population at a rate slow enough that new additions more than makeup for the loss.
re: khuzdul
I totally agree with you. 95% of the men I interact with no worries. In fact, down right gentlemen. It's the other 5% that I don't care for. The only problem is, you don't know which guy is which until they reveal themselves. *sigh*
re: Crockett67
Well, not over a Fig Newton, but I have had men tell me to not eat what I ordered, in a restaurant. I always just give them "the look," and have only once had to resort to "the voice of God," to get them to focus on THEIR meal, and not mine. That was in California, to help a previous poster understand. Elsewhere, around the globe, I have never had any other diner comment on my food, other than to comment on how great it looked, and possibly ask what dish I had ordered.
Some folk feel inclined to press their tastes, or social responsibilities on others. They should never do that.
re: Bill Hunt
*Hug* you are a very special man. :)
re: Bill Hunt
<<< makes mental note for next meal with hunt. no fig newtons. btw, what wine would you pair with that?
Once, when receiving unsolicited advice about child-rearing in the supermarket (my kiddo was sitting quietly in the seat in the cart, telling me in inside voice about a trip they'd made at day-care that day -- not screaming or even talking loudly) -- I tried ignoring, and she followed me down the aisle. I finally just stopped, turned, held out my hand in introduction, and said "I'm sorry -- you're Dr......?" "Oh, I'm not a doctor." "Oh, really? Because I was sure if you are so well-versed in child nutrition that you need to give unsolicited advice to complete strangers, you MUST be a pediatric specialist of some sort!" She looked like she'd been slapped, but turned and went back to her card"
With a far-too-nosy checkout clerk who was commenting on every other item I bought -- just a comment that I was here to buy my groceries, and she is here to ring them up and accept my payment. No additional services necessary.
But the guy with the cookies in the OP and the carrots-in-lye guy? Those are just weird, and I think I'd just ignore both of them. Weird in the "this person obviously doesn't think like most people, so I cannot assume that his continued behavior will be anything resembling normal, so it's probably best to remove myself from this uncomfortable situation."
re: sunshine842
People always talk to me in the grocery store. But some random male coming up to specifically tell you that you will gain weight if you eat cookies does seem rather like a scene from a Woody Allen flick. Like maybe the guy wanted to flirt but was so anxious and socially inept he started spewing forth nonsense:) We always joke about "drive-bys". It is when people do socially outrageous things in public that leaves other people's jaws dropping and turning red or running as fast as they can.
re: Lillipop
I was thinking more about a Larry David scene, than Woody Allen, but can see your point. Sort of the same weird situation, and not a good one, at that.
re: Bill Hunt
My goodness--had it been Larry David, then I maybe would have understood the situation because Larry is always absurd!
re: GraceW
As was your unfortunate interaction.
re: redfish62
TBI, Traumatic Brain Injury, could be an explanation. The filter is off.
I'm not appreciating the feminist man-bashing going on here. Were it a woman, I doubt there'd be any woman-bashing, or if it were, it would be deleted.
re: Leonardo
Please let me be completely clear -- if Cookie Man or Carrot Man were women, I'd still remove myself from the situation -- it's far enough out of the confines of what is defined as "normal behaviour" that it's unsettling and unpredictable.
My heart hurts for those dealing with the autism/Asperger's spectrum, cranial injuries and mental illness -- but if someone is functioning at a level high enough to mean that they go out into public unaccompanied, then they should be functioning at a level high enough to understand that insulting or frightening behavior doesn't have to be tolerated by others, either.
re: sunshine842
I completely agree.
re: sunshine842
Truly, far outside the confines of normal behavior? Boy, you must live in a very sheltered environment if that gets you insulted or frightened. Guess I just live in an entirely different world where off hand comments are no big deal.
re: escondido123
Boy, you must be lucky enough to have never been stalked through an entire mall by someone offering an offhand comment.
I didn't say anything about being frightened -- I said I would choose to remove myself from the situation -- thus removing any potential for being frightened or insulted...or threatened.
it only takes ones to change your perspective.
re: sunshine842
If someone is bothering me for any length of time, I would go to store/mall security and ask for assistance.
re: escondido123
I have had to do so.
re: escondido123
Exactly, escondido123. It's in the stores best interest to look out for their customers. They have security and will remove someone if they are harassing other customers.
re: pamf
but it is in my own best interest to remove myself from a situation that doesn't feel "right" -- hopefully before security has to be called.
And you'll pardon me if I really don't want to put my personal safety in the hands of the average mall security guard, although I didn't hesitate to have store personnel call mall security when it became apparent that this guy was dangerous.
re: sunshine842
OK, cool, you did call security. Exactly what I meant, if there is more than a passing concern, then ask for help.
I would rather have an "average mall security guard" walk me to my car, than go unaccompanied, if I felt someone was dangerous or threatening me.
re: sunshine842
<it only takes once to change your perspective.>
So true and in many cases that innate intuition we're born with comes in handy. Nobody is suggesting that every person who comes along, and says something off color, is potentially dangerous. I think, in your situation, where you were actually stalked, *flight* is certainly warranted. And quickly.
re: sunshine842
Sunshine, when I am "on the move," I often introduce myself as "The Cookie Man," or the "Carrot man," but it depends on the setting...
Nah, I get what you are talking about. I really only introduce myself, to the unsuspecting, as "The Montrachet Man... "
re: Leonardo
Not sure about the "lady-bashing," but I would assume that some folk would view a lady, as being more vulnerable.
Still, as a guy, I have encountered the same, but only in CA restaurants (or on the street at their door), and never in a grocery store.
re: Leonardo
Feminist man-bashing, are you effing kidding me?!
Men attempting to control women by commenting unfavorably on their weight or what they're eating is a norm among some sorts. I have had this happen to me at work--I believe I was a size 6 at the time. My coworker informed me I should lose weight. And I am not the kind of woman who invites unsolicited advice, so I'm sure others have experienced this more than I have. Actually, it last happened to me on Sunday. I went to a open air food fair with a group, and the man who put it together looked at my bag of leftovers and said to me, "That's a lot of food--what did you get?" (It was not a lot of food--it was a lot of oversize containers.) And then last week, a male coworker commented on what I was considering ordering at a restaurant, that it might be too much food. This is beyond common ... too bad you can't walk in my stilettos for a week, you'd know just what we're talking about.
Grace, a line for you from my mother (who lifted it from a book) ... "When I want your opinion, I'll give it to you."
re: foiegras
Just a guess, on my part, but any man, commenting on a lady's weight, cannot be married. Enough said. That is like a death-sentence. Some topics are just NOT allowed. To do so, exhibits several things: the commentator has no class, no social skills, and is NOT married. A sentence tells a lot about a person.
re: Bill Hunt
Of the three, only one is married ;) I strongly suspected that he was on automatic pilot with me, that his wife is the usual recipient of his anxiety about ordering too much food. (I wonder if he is aware of to-go boxes ...) The one who told me I needed to lose weight, definitely was not.
I generally cook my meals and I tend to cook healthy food ... when I eat out 1-3 times a week, I get to order what I want, it being a free country and all.
But I did seem to notice a neon sign lighting up on all three foreheads ... "Whatever you do, don't pick me!!!"
re: foiegras
<<I get to order what I want, it being a free country and all.>>
Sounds like a grand plan - and I support you.
re: Bill Hunt
any man who comments on a woman's weight not only must be single as Hunt noted, but must have been hatched as he obviously had no mother either.
re: foiegras
Not to offend, but aside from the one saying you should lose weight, maybe your perspective of the reason for their comments was slanted, perhaps projecting your insecurities at them.
The guy looking at your bags then saying "that's a lot of food", did he mention your weight? Maybe he just thought it was a lot of food, and had no other meaning behind it.
The guy saying your order "might be too much food", sounds like he was thinking you wouldn't be able to all of it.
Though I don't know the full context, it doesn't sound like either was being critical of your weight.
re: foiegras
Oh, and as for "men trying to control women", when I use to ride a motorcycle I was constantly harped on by female coworkers to wear a helmet. At stoplights, women would lower their window to lecture me about not wearing a helmet. The times I wore a helmet and carried it into a store with me, they would approach to say how dangerous motorcycles are and that I shouldn't ride one. Then there was always the stories about a person they knew who was severely injured or died. Thanks, just what I wanted to hear.
If I cared to think it over, I could come up with many other scenarios for unsolicited comments from women.
So foiegras, and other woman upset about unsolicited comments from men, have you mothered a coworker/stranger lately?
re: Custardly
I did work with a woman who allowed her ex, permanently disabled in a motorcycle accident, to move back in with her, and now she cares for him.
Hopefully you won't project any insecurities onto this neutral piece of information.
re: foiegras
Wow, how awesome of her!
Haha, no projections here. I apologize for any offense, it truly wasn't my intention.
re: foiegras
re: redfish62
What makes me certain this guy is "different" is he used the word "weight" in a conversation with a woman, there are certain words you just can't use. Do not ever refer to size, I don't care if she weighs 95 pounds. Gaining weight, losing weight, anything even remotely related to weight, stay far far away from it.
re: redfish62
These sensitive women, leave the house much do they?
re: grampart
you owe me a new keyboard! LMAO!
re: grampart
ha! that was awesome :)
re: redfish62
Not just women, but anyone. Do.Not.Go.There.Ever.
re: redfish62
No! After 42+ years of marriage, I have learned that there ARE words, not to be used:
Dress size
Number of pairs of shoes
Number of ball gowns
Number of purses
And there are probably a few more, that are not coming to my mind right now. Guys - never use those terms!
re: Bill Hunt
well put. jeff foxworthy did a little video on this
re: KaimukiMan
Though from the Deep South, I have not caught much Jeff Foxworthy. Thank you for linking that video. I almost completely agree with him, and almost on everything. Luckily, with about # 4, my wife is FAR and away, the best cook, do it's a no-brainer, at least for me.
Now, similar could be said for people, who wish to coerce others into ordering dishes, that they deem appropriate. As Mr. Foxworthy might say - "Don't do it. Others do not care what YOU think, and might be heavily armed... "
re: redfish62
This guy was definitely out of line, but the sad thing about the "w" word is that many woman fail to treat men with the same consideration they expect from us regardless of the words/subject being spoken of.
re: why_itsme
That sounds good - until the delivery person tells you that the Beryer's Toasted Pecan will make you fat... No tip!
<snort> I did almost the opposite the other night... a really yummy looking package of cookies was placed first on the checkout by the person in line behind me. I commented on how delicious they looked... then commented that cookies like that are the reason I don't usually visit the cookie aisle. The cashier and I offered to taste test them before he took them home, to make sure they were safe for his consumption. The three of us had a good laugh. :)
re: jujuthomas
see, that's normal - and acceptable - to me. i only comment on someone else's items if they're buying something i really like, or if i've been wanting to try one of the things they're purchasing and i ask them about it.
cashiers and the customers next to me in line can never seem to keep their opinions to themselves about how "healthy" my purchases are, and it's just as irritating as it would be if i was buying all junk food and they told me how bad it was for me. just shut up and mind your own business.
re: goodhealthgourmet
re: Bill Hunt
Boy, Bill I think some in this crowd would have tackled you to the ground and called the pedophile squad.
re: escondido123
In some areas, to the West of me, I am sure that no one would have gotten the joke, and would have over reacted. At least I was in AZ, and not to the West.
re: goodhealthgourmet
yeah, commenting about how healthy - or not - the contents of your cart or your plate is unnecessary.
we had some oaf recently in a sushi restaurant who was A.mazed at the amount of sushi we ordered.... a total of 5 rolls, but the put it on 1 giant plate. he made his party stay in the restaurant until we were done to see us finish it all. Even came to our table and told us how amazing it was. 5 rolls, 2 people, 2.5 rolls each.. dude, really?
re: jujuthomas
but had he been at Olive Garden or Cracker Barrel, he wouldn't have flinched to see more food than that on each individual plate...that's weird.
re: sunshine842
Yes, there are many spots in the Deep South, where that sushi dinner would have been considered but one early course, of 8. If one does not take home at least 8 lbs. of food, the portions are considered too small, and the reviews are very negative.
One time at the market an elderly gentleman instructed me to become a vegan, and grabbed the bacon from my cart and put it back in the case. He told me that eating meat was unkind to animals. I just said thanks for the advice, and decided to purchase the bacon anyway. I respect that some people feel that way, but it's not his place to make those decisions for me.
re: fishyman45
as much as I try to avoid confrontation, when it's that blatant and that confrontational, I'm afraid I've had ripped it out of his hand, plunked it back in my cart, and asked who the hell appointed him my grocery fairy.
re: sunshine842
You are a lot nicer than me. I would have grabbed it back and said what the eff are you doing?
re: sunshine842
I agree completely. What I want, is what I want - no equivocation. What someone else wants, is up to them. I do not care, and do not wish to hear anyone critique any choices that I make, until it gets to the US Supreme Court.
Stay clear, and you will likely not be hurt, at least too badly. Get in my face, and you take your chances - "feeling lucky punk?"
re: fishyman45
Sounds like an "elderly gentleman" needed a big slap on the hand.
Even at MY advanced age, I would NEVER try to impose MY tastes, and food choices, on anyone. I mean, would I ever place a platter of foie gras into a stranger's cart? No way.
Some folk feel that age gives them extra power, over others' lives, or choices. I would never do that.
What I enjoy, is what I enjoy. What you enjoy, is what you enjoy, and the two are likely to never meet.
While I have gained some wisdom, in all of my years, they do NOT impact you, and never should they. All "older gentlemen" are not the same.
re: LeoLioness
I agree about personal choices. While I never smoke my cigars in closed, public places, and even seek out an outdoor spot, I do not appreciate others imposing their choices on me.
I do not look for any confrontation, and seek private places, but do not appreciate anyone telling me, how to live MY life.
So long as it IS private, and away from others, they tread on very, very thin ice. They are usually only warned once, and then things go bad, very quickly.
not sure of the nuances of his comment or other behavior, but its the kind of thing my Grandfather would have done. He had an opinion on most everything and rarely denied himself the enjoyment of sharing it. Grandma was only a little more subtle, often telling women (that she had never met before, didn't know, and would never see again) that they should get their hair bobbed as it wasn't attractive hanging in fingers.
Appropriate? Nope. Were my Grandparents in some way deranged? No more than most of us.
re: KaimukiMan
I love little old people in the store. I also taught both of my adult children ( male & female) to show kindness and respect for them. To this day my 28 year old son will practically knock people out of his way to get the door for an older person....or chat them up in the grocery store or reach that item off of the top shelf. So sweet:)
re: KaimukiMan
Sounds like my maternal grandmother (second marriage, so probably my "step grandmother."), when, on her deathbed, she told me that my beard did not suit my face. Moments later, she died, and had that thought on her mind. Now, and 40 years later, I still have that beard, but do not have that grandmother.
Answer (especially since you're apparently far from having a weight problem) - 'you say that like it's a bad thing'...
I have always looked younger than my years and have had my fair share of people everywhere giving me unsolicited advice. I had a similar incident in TJ's over Joes Ohs. I was in a kitchen store looking for some cookie cutter when a lady came out of nowhere and suggested poultry shears are an excellent gift for mom. It was to early for Christmas and a few months past mother's day so I was speechless. My ex husband who witnessed the interchange apologetically and gently told the lady they don't allow sharp objects where my mother is at. In the retelling of the story my friends thought he was mean, but I was relieved she didn't bother me any further.
re: free sample addict aka Tracy L
LOL -- I think that's hilarious!
re: free sample addict aka Tracy L
What's the problem with Joe's Os? We love them, and they're half the price of Cheerios.
I had someone comment recently about something I was buying -- yogurt the fat free flavored kind. I was at the check out and had just put it on the belt. The woman behind me saw my yogurt choice - I think it was Yoplait -- and then she asked me what it was sweetened with. She proceeded to ask me about the ingredients and then told me that it wasn't healthy (this compared to the kind she was buying.) My teenage daughter was shocked that someone would comment on someone else's purchase. I told her I was buying it because it was on sale. Then I turned away.
re: Disneyfreak
This sounds like something that happens all too frequently in a Whole Foods, but WF doesn't sell Yoplait. They do, however, sell sugary-as-hell cereals in politically correct biodegradable bags (and I'm sure each sugar cane is lovingly nurtured from birth and even baptized and named) so I haven't quite figured out where they draw the line. Gelatine in yogurt, maybe? Who knows? I'll keep eating my knock-off Lucky Charms and you enjoy that evil yogurt.
re: Isolda
Put some Lucky Charms in the yogurt and you have a complete meal. Completely evil that is.
re: Disneyfreak
I'd have said, gee, looking at you I assumed you wanted it for naturopathic yeast vaginitis cure.
Sorry. I'll go stand in the corner now. =(
re: rccola
Snort and chortle . . . I'm saving that in my memory bank should some random shopper comment on my yogurt choice :)
Please leave the corner and join the class.
re: rccola
Too funny! I wish I would have come up with a comeback like that, but it probably would have embarrassed my daughter.
re: Disneyfreak
Isn't that in your job description as a Mom? ;)
The cashier at the convenience store said to me a week or two ago, as I was purchasing diet soda, "Diet soda causes cancer, you shouldn't drink it." I said "Lots of things cause cancer." I'm aware that diet soda isn't the best thing for you, but I wasn't about to say "Oh, really? It's a good thing you told me! I'm not going to buy it anymore." I'm sure plenty of people buy diet soda there each day. Is he telling all people this??
re: Solstice444
Because we all know that cashiers @stores hold Ph.D's in nutrition...oncology...cancer research right? Just have to feel a bit sorry for blatantly ignorant people@times and be the polite person we were taught to be by our parents:) I do not even"take the bait" if someone makes a dopey comment I usually just giggle stupidly and then "act out"@ the ATM taking up their time pretending to not know how to use it in a passive agressive manner:)Ha teach them!
re: Lillipop
I think I'd have a chat with the manager about that checkout clerk. Isn't the store's business selling things, all sorts of things, including diet soda?
re: pine time
Good point!
re: PotatoPuff
Have you tried warm milk or perhaps a hot toddy? That should help ;)
re: Bill Hunt
Yes, I only drink red wine . . . good for the heart (but the folks at the diner look at me funny while I eat my breakfast).
re: Bill Hunt
Yesterday while in OR wine country, I had a breakfast Gruner Veltliner at 10am. Didn't stop tasting mostly pinot noir/blanc/gris until 2:30.
re: Leonardo
The concept of a "breakfast Chardonnay," just rolls off my tongue, and does not, in anyway, preclude other varietals. As GV's are usually VERY food-friendly, that sounds like a good one.
re: Bill Hunt
Was hooked on a really good breakfast wine a few summers ago -- a
New Zealand SB that tasted like superior grapefruit juice.
re: pikawicca
While I have obviously not tried every NZ SB, I do not see that, but it's probably my palate, as I am not a big grapefruit fan for breakfast.
Probably just me.
re: Bill Hunt
when living in Korea I had one housemate who thoroughly enjoyed chardonnay with his kimchee and eggs at breakfast. I'd been wondering where the wine was going and walked into the kitchen one morning to find him polishing off a bottle that we had with dinner the night before. he was momentarily distressed to find that it was an 'adult beverage', but didn't let that stand in his way. He told me his grandmother drank rice wine every morning and lived to be 94. Who was I to argue.
note: the rice wine was home fermented in an old kim-chee pot - about 3 gallon size - and bubbled and burped away in a corner of the tool shed. it was the shame of the family because during the japanese occupation and up until the end of the Korean War rice was in short supply and it was illegal to use it to make rice wine. Apparently grandma brooked no "unwanted advice" about her wine, legal or not.
Reading this thread to GF, and she told me her experience from back in the days of the saccharine scare. She was admonished by a neighbor for putting saccharine in her tea: "That stuff gives you cancer". GF replied: "Good -- then it'll kill that big white lab rat I swallowed yesterday."
re: Steve Green
Awesome. AWESOME!
re: Steve Green
she swallowed the mouse to catch the spider that wriggled and jiggled and tickled inside her....
I'm not sure I agree with the folks who are reading deeply into it. That dude, if I may say, is an a-hole. On a good day, I might do the token "Heh"-plus half-smile then turn away. On any other day, I'd outright ignore the jerk. One of my biggest pet peeves is anyone commenting on another's selection of food.
This was a grown man? My son recently got into trouble at school for calling a girl "Fatty," but he is just 8 and his verbal filters are still developing.
I just don't engage the crazy. Either a slight smile or a blank stare. Works well for anyone (strangers in the store, families at holidays, etc.) giving unsolicited advice. I do make exceptions though for the young, elderly, etc. I personally can't wait until I have reached the age where I can get away with saying outrageous/offensive/inappropriate things to random people in public.
re: viperlush
Raising a single eyebrow is good too. It never hurts to have a look or two up your sleeve that's guaranteed to freeze a miscreant in his tracks ;)
re: foiegras
and The Mom Look. The one that came over the rim of her glasses, just before she spat out your first name, middle name, and last name; when you knew your goose was cooked.
re: viperlush
One of the funniest moments I had while in a nursing home, was a resident who was having a really bad day. One of the CNAs came up to ask her cheerfully how she was, and she replied: "Go to He**!" I just wanted to cheer and yell "You go, girl!". It almost made the abysmal food there worth it for the day!
re: Cheese Boy
I'm not seeing that line of logic AT ALL. He repeated his admonishment and took off -- not the words nor the actions of a guy looking to make points.
re: Cheese Boy
Bull. He simply bought into the idea that men have the right to tell women what to do while simultaneously saying that gaining weight will cause the OP to lose attractiveness. A caring, decent man would never do that.
Imagine if women stood near the checkout line and commented on every dropped-waist beer gut that went by.
re: rccola
What woman has time for that ;)
re: rccola
re: rccola
rccola, you nailed it.
There is a certain type of man that feels entitled towards women and our bodies. Most don't, but those who do are real, and revolting.
re: rohirette
In no way is that flirting. None whatsoever.
re: Karl S
Except for those wannabe players who lead in with a put down to try to convince the female that they're an alpha male. But since he sounds too old for that he must really be an alpha!
So I'm watching "Demolition Man", which is set in 2042. There's a restaurant scene where Stallone's character asks for someone to pass him the salt. Bullock's character responds, "Salt is not good for you, hence it is illegal."
Considering NYC soda laws, our future will likely suffer the same fate, maybe then people will stop offering unsolicted advice.
re: Custardly
Reminds me of the movie Sleeper where the Woody Allen character wakes up after hibernation. The doctors are talking about him and his Happy Carrot Health Food store. One doctor says: "That was before they knew hot fudge and whipped cream were healthy."
If that stranger admonished me I would be furious.
I would have SMASHED the cookies in his FACE!!!
However, with the Holidays coming up...
I hope such a thing doesn't happen again this year.
I love Bill Hunt's story about receiving good unsolicited advice. That type of advice wouldn't bother me in the least.
I remember the first time this happened occurred last year. I was at work riding the elevator back to my floor after a snack break. A man took a look at my bagel and informed me I shouldn't put so much cream cheese on it, because cream cheese is fatty. I remember saying, "I don't care," before walking off the elevator.
In the supermarket checkout line a couple of days ago, the woman behind me picked up my bottle of unfiltered apple juice and said in a very friendly tone, "What's this?"
When I replied, "Apple juice," she went into a rant about how "that stuff is so bad for you; it's just made from red apples" (??).
My hair trigger response, "I'm not interested."
Her: "But it's poison. It's just sugar and water. I'm a dietitian at X Hospital and I'm trying to help you."
Me, again: "Sorry, I'm not interested."
That finally shut her up.
Funny thing was, I also had two large chocolate bars on the conveyor belt, which she made no comment on. Perhaps she considers those health food.
re: almond tree
wonder if the hospital where she works has any idea that she's wandering around proselytizing on her time off.
re: sunshine842
Now days, Carrie Nation would go into the dessert aisle and start swinging her hatchet. ;-)
re: Antilope
Lol -- except in this case, she'd swing her hatchet in the fruit juice aisle.
Kill that evil apple juice before it kills you!
re: sunshine842
re: almond tree
Ooh. O.o
re: almond tree
Maybe she was busy trolling supermarkets when they took the picture. : - )
re: janmcbaker
Undercover Food Police? ;-)
re: janmcbaker
Maybe she got fired for using the hospital's name while harassing people
re: almond tree
That was a situation where the absolutely silent but glacially icy glare - the kind that nuns used to perfect - is appropriate.


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Where the Cadillac V-Series moniker focuses on high performance, the Platinum Series tag being introduced in LA this week places the emphasis on luxury. Now, we believe that this emphasis should be the brand standard anyway, and not just a trim package, but if this represents a step towards bringing Cadillac to the next level, where we hope it's headed, then so be it.
Available for the XLR, STS and DTS, the Platinum Series trim level sets the cars apart by bestowing them with specific paint colors, badging, and interior appointments. The XLR, for example, sports an exclusive and attractive Liquid Amethyst paint color and healthy doses of chrome added to its grille, bespoke wheels and other trim bits. Climb into the Cashmere leather seats and you'll notice the "Platinum" badging on the doorsill, more wood trim, and hand-stitched leather covering the upper dash and door panels. Unfortunately, based on GM's press release, it appears to stop short of the full-blown "Cut and Sew" interior available on the SRX, but we'll wait until our guys in LA get up close and personal to make that call.
Keep reading after the jump for the rundown on the STS and DTS Platinum Series, plus more photos and the official release from GM.
[Source: GM]
Following the convertible's lead, the STS and DTS sedans also get similar treatments. That means specific paint and wheels, added chrome, "platinum" badging on the bodywork and in the doorsills, and hand-crafted interior elements that aren't available on the standard vehicles. In the case of the DTS Platinum Series, we're not so crazy about that cream-colored scheme, though. It's a bit too Boca Raton-retiree for us, as you'll see below.
The STS Platinum Series gets the grid-pattern grille that's popping up on other Caddys, which is an immediate improvement. It should also be noted that while the STS does get to play dress-up in its Platinum Series threads, it's still got the '07 interior -- an element that is improved here yet doesn't hold a candle to the cabin design of the new Chinese-market SLS. That, we're hoping, will appear at another show this year in an updated 2008 STS.
All that said, we're enthused that GM continues to look for ways to improve on Cadillac's interiors, which are light-years better than what they were a few years ago. Flagship brands deserve top-notch cabins as standard equipment, though, and while Cadillac is showing aptitude in this regard, we just hope that there's even better stuff (i.e. full "Cut & Sew" for all models) on the way for '08. And rest assured, there's reason to be enthusiastic. Note that the SRX gets singled out in the press release text. That's the benchmark Cadillac appears to be using. Good.
Click Images to enlarge
STS Platinum
XLR Platinum
DTS Platinum
LOS ANGELES – An elegant tradition of hand-crafted luxury is being redefined for a new generation, as Cadillac today introduces the Platinum Series for the XLR roadster and STS and DTS sedans. The Platinum Series is a limited-edition collection of vehicles including additional elegant design touches, and continues Cadillac's reinvention of its interior styling and appointments.
Cadillac's landmark V-series extended the brand's credentials into the elite-level performance arena. Now the Platinum Series aims to do the same in the luxury direction. The vehicles were inspired by the very popular Escalade ESV Platinum that was offered between the 2004 and 2006 model years and introduced many new luxury features to the luxury SUV marketplace.
"The Platinum Series is a natural addition to the Cadillac brand, extending the luxury appeal of our products," said Cadillac General Manager Jim Taylor. "Platinum also joins the new 2007 SRX and our V-Series cars as examples of Cadillac's return to hand-crafted interiors, an important addition to the ongoing renaissance of the brand."
Cadillac's limited-edition Platinum models feature ultra-premium details such as a generous use of chrome, authentic wood and luxurious upholstery, as well as Cadillac's precision hand-crafted interiors, executed by craftsmen who cut, wrap and sew cabin components individually.
Here's a look at Cadillac's 2007 Platinum portfolio:
XLR Platinum
The XLR roadster has taken a starring role in Cadillac's new emphasis on dramatic styling and serious performance. Now the XLR Platinum maximizes the elegance of Cadillac's entry into the elite club of luxury roadsters.
XLR Platinum features exclusive 15-spoke, 18-inch wheels, with a brighter chrome finish for the grille and an exclusive Liquid Amethyst exterior color and exclusive Platinum badge.
Inside, the XLR Platinum features appointments such as authentic olive ash burl wood and a Cashmere interior color. The instrument panel "upper," and door trim feature hand cut, sewn and wrapped leather. Other cabin appointments include olive ash burl wood inserts on the steering wheel and luxurious Alcantara suede headliner, visors and pillars, and additional Platinum badging on the sill plate.
The Cadillac XLR Platinum will be available in the first quarter of 2007.
STS Platinum
The STS Platinum sedan extends the luxurious look and feel of the STS with elements such as 18-inch chrome-finish wheels; a brighter chrome-finish grille; a Glacier Gold exterior finish; bright chrome inserts on the exterior door handles and Platinum badging.
On the inside, STS Platinum features hand-cut, sewn and wrapped instrument panel, door trim and center console areas. The seats are fully leather, a semi-aniline variety called Tuscany . Luxury touches include chrome accents on the instrument panel and doors, a leather-wrapped and heated steering wheel, olive ash burl wood accents with a saddle-stained shade, premium floor mats and a Platinum badge of the door sill. STS Platinum comes in either a Cocoa over Cashmere or an Ebony interior color scheme.
The Cadillac STS Platinum will be available in the first quarter of 2007, in either the V-6 or Northstar V-8-powered versions of the car.
DTS Platinum
The Cadillac DTS Platinum goes to dramatic new lengths with 18-inch wheels, bright chrome grille and chrome inserts on the exterior door handles, as well as a Platinum badge, all of which highlight the Ebony exterior finish.
A unique Light Linen over Cocoa interior is distinguished by olive ash burl wood with decorative inlay; semi-aniline-dyed Tuscany leather upholstery and hand-cut-and-sewn leather on the instrument panel, console and door trim.
A handcrafted, leather-wrapped heated steering wheel with authentic olive ash burl wood and chrome appointments; suede headliner and visors; and an illuminated Platinum badge on the door sill plate complete the package.
The Cadillac DTS Platinum will be available in August of 2007.
Cadillac (www.cadillac.com) is a division of General Motors (NYSE: GM). GM, the world's largest automaker, has been the global industry sales leader since 1931. Founded in 1908, GM has manufacturing operations in 33 countries . In 2005, GM sold 9.17 million cars and trucks globally, under the following brand names: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, GM Daewoo, Holden, HUMMER, Opel, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn and Vauxhall. More information on GM can be found at www.gm.com


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NEW YORK (AP) - Cease beat stablemate Congressional Page by 1 3/4 lengths Thursday in the $72,520 allowance feature at Belmont Park.
Congressional Page returned $4 and $2.60, and Talk Therapy paid $2.50 to show.
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|Ghosts & Haunts In Missouri Senath Spooklight Stories
|I was born and raised in Kennett, Mo I heard stories from my dad who also grew up in area as his well as his 12 brothers about a 'light' you drove down this gravel road and parked under a large old tree and turned your lights off. The story went if you sit there very quiet you would see a light coming down road it would then go from side to side of road like zig zagging and then would stop on side of road and take off very fast toward your car if you turned your lights on it would go away and could sit there and do it again and again locals called it swamp gas my dad had been there and seen with my mom and he told his brother who went with his girl friend and another couple the watched it but didn't turn head lights on and it 'the light' got on the hood of there car and it wouldn't start they were in the floor boards till daylight and car started up then he would tell you how to get there but would not go ever again. I went there once we thought we saw something got scared and left I was probably 15-16 years old but it had creepy feeling. The old tree hit top of car dad said I young women was hung there and that was her feet hitting roof anyways just what I can remember from 40 years ago listening to dads stories,
The Senath Light was ruined by a new farmer who bought farmland on both sides of the light road. He cleared out the fencerows on both sides of the road. The light hasn't been seen since.
I live in Senath. We have spent many nights at the light. Sometimes in three or more automobiles and cameras on hand. There have been occasions where the car wouldn't start . We have seen this light many many times. It appears white usually at first and gets closer and closer blinking on and off as it appears to be crossing back and forth across the road. At times it changes colors and begins to get quite large in size. We have seen balls of fog floating on the road on a clear night. No one has ever been hurt at this area and it is very interesting to sit and watch. We never have let it get to the car though. Just in case.
D T Senath Mo
I live in Arbyrd. I have always lived in this area. Back in the early 90's, in my high school years, we spent alot of time out at "the light". I have heard the stories from folks that were actually involved. My father graduated from Senath in '69. He lived up the gravel road about 2 miles. He tells stories of the light chasing cars and landing on vehicles making the vehicles unable to start. The television show That's Incredible done a show out there in the early 80's I think. Just thought you might be able to gather some more information from that show. I have seen the light and when you move closer to it, it would disappear. We never could get close enough to really make out what it was. Some stories are that the light is swamp gases, and others are from when they were putting in that old railroad bed that was a central location for storing coal. I don't know the connection there, but I just heard that story.
I don't know of anyone having a video or picture of it. I do know that "That's Incredible" done some video shootings and some testing out there years ago.
I have personally seen "the light" several times. It has been different colors, and different sizes. We used to have parties out there and we would have a bon fire about a mile down the road. I remember one night there were approximately 40 people and we all saw it. What was peculiar is that the direction we were looking, there aren't any street lights or anything like that. It will move also. I remember on a different instance, we were trying to get closer to it and we would keep driving down the road and we were probably 100 ft away and it changed sides of the road and then we were passed it. I don't think we passed it, I really think it passed us. I am a skeptic myself, and I have actually seen it. I haven't put it off to ghosts or an paranormal experience, but I can testify that there is a light down that road, it moves, it changes size and color. The television show wrote it off to swamp gases, I think.There is one interesting story about a train conductor that was beheaded out there by an old mail pike. I think that's what they called them. The story I got was that the conductor was reaching for a shovel that was mounted on the outside of the train and lost his head by hitting one of those things that pick up the mail. I haven't done much research on this to see if there is any truth to it. The light goes back and forth across the road and they say that it is the light of a lantern that belonged to the conductor and he's looking for his head. I don't know of any videos or photographs, but if you would like, I can ask the elderly folks about there accounts of "the light" and we might could make a documentary of this. I know that down on the end of the road there were two homes and one of the houses was tore down about three years ago.
I am actually a "Farrenburg" and lived right beside the light all my life. I remember my Dad getting so mad about all the folks and especially the young kids coming out to see the light that he actually decided to install a vapor light to try to control the traffic - to no avail I might add. I too have seen the light - many times. On one special occasion, a friend of mine and I were sitting in her car on the railroad tracks ( they are gone now by the way). We saw the white light about the size of a softball way down the east side of the track. As we watched the light it kept growing closer and closer, so we pulled off the tracks and then pulled back on and the light was then on the west side of the tracks and coming toward us again. At that point we both decided to head home. When I go to Farrenburg these days/nights, there is not much activity anymore. There actually is a private road where the railroad tracks used to be and no mention of the light. Gone with time or the tracks - who knows. I know that there were many University folks that studied this light - but not sure if they ever came up with what it actually was. It is hard to believe that fox fire or anything scientific could actually move up and down the track so. I will never forget a special birthday (16Th) in Farrenburg. I had some kids over and we decided to take a trek down the tracks at night. My uncle got the bright idea to get his white horse and a white sheet and hide down in the ditch a ways down the tracks. As we walked about 15 min. down the tracks, he let out a bloodcurdling scream and out he came on his white horse and white sheet. Needless to say we all but killed ourselves trying to run down the tracks to my home. I was so embarrassed - but it makes a great story now!
Hello, I live in Northeast Arkansas. I love to read about haunted spots that are local. When I get a good one, my best friend and I check it out. Naturally, we had to see the Arbyrd light. We went a few weeks ago with my husband and didn't see anything. We decided to try it again this past weekend (7/21/06) when my friend got off work (very late at night). We followed the directions (took 412 to the east until we hit HWY N, turned right then turned right onto 602 and turned left on the little dirt road before LULU church and cemetary) We went over "Crybaby bridge" (At the time, it had a pentagram painted in red on it and it wasn't even a mile down the dirt road) then about 10 feet after we crossed the bridge, we turned around and faced the way we came in. We put the car in park and turned it off then turned the lights off 3 times. The 3rd time, the car that was in park began to move back. My friend freaked out and I turned and when I looked behind us, I saw a bright yellowish white light. Now I know for a FACT that this light wasn't there before because we had just driven that way 10 minutes earlier and it was a completely dark road. I freaked at that point and we started to drive. I looked back again and the light was gone. At that point we were ready to go, so we headed back to the highway. Once we got there we thought everything was fine. We began to turn back on the highway and my friend noticed in the field up in the air was a yellow light. It disappeared before I could see it and not even 20 seconds later, She said "There it is again!". I looked and it was the same light I had seen on the old road, but it moved about 10 or 15 feet to the right in the field where she had pointed out the light she saw. The light didn't shine longer than 10 seconds before it disappeared again. Needless to say, We left in a hurry. The light is hard to describe but it does look like a lantern. It's really weird though, because it didn't dim or anything before it went out, it just "switched" off. It definately scared us away. S
If you have experienced paranormal activity at any of these haunted sites, please e-mail us with your photos or stories to add to the database.
|Spooklight Map
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|Ghosts & Haunts In Missouri


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Try to Google 10 most oil rich states. Sorry link was wrong.
Have a great July 4th and take a moment to think about what it took to get here
A BIG CONGRATS on reaching that 1M mark and your first new red car! Really awesome! Others ahead of you have retired, so there is lots of room at the 2M milestone! Can you believe that GBs are still active going on 13 years and heading for the 5M milestone, but most GBs retire before they get to 4M! Keep going, don't stop now, like so many that retired once they reached their first red car! Keep leading the way for others to follow in GasBuddyland! Thanks for your dedication! Have a nice week! Ron
I agree with my GB amoshins.....Good - I'm not a fan of tax exemptions
Thanks for posting on my topic, I agree Nice RIDE.... 2014 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28.R Race Car Revealed....WAY TO GO Consecutive Days: 73, Your NEWEST GB...AL
Whishing you a healthy and wealthy New Year
Merry Christmas & happy New Year. Awesome Avatar.
Merry Christmas to you and yours. Warren :)
Amoshins, yes, it is. The environment is the key.
Thanks for your comment on "Best Engines". Please tap "vote to homepage" button on recent news page. Cheers.


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Saturday, October 22, 2011
Tea Sandwich Saturday #43 - Dill & Crab Salad
One of the great things I've learned during this year of tea sandwich experimentation is that it's perfectly OK to look up recipes on the internet or in magazines and then add and subtract ingredients at will. Once I noticed that the basic ingredients in many seafood salads are imitation crabmeat and mayonnaise, I realized that endless variations can be made. I liked the sound of dill, so that's what I focused on in this recipe.
Dill and Crab Salad
8 ounces imitation crabmeat
1/2 teaspoon dried dill
1/4 teaspoon dried minced garlic
1-1/2 tablespoons chopped fresh onion
Dash of white pepper
1/4 cup mayonnaise
Salt to taste
Place all ingredients in bowl of food processor and process until mixture reaches desired consistency. Tastes great served on sourdough bread! Yields 1 cup.
7 comments:
- Denise :) said...
Oh Angela, this sounds yummy! I love seafood and this is another keeper recipe. Thanks! :)
- October 22, 2011 at 10:38 AM
- Linda J. said...
Sounds delicious, and would be very pretty on a tea plate.
- October 22, 2011 at 10:45 AM
- parTea lady said...
Your dill & crab salad looks delicious. Thanks for the recipe.
- October 22, 2011 at 1:41 PM
- Marilyn said...
Yummm! I love dill in tea sandwiches and often use it in my cucumber sandwiches.
- October 22, 2011 at 11:22 PM
- Rettabug said...
Hi Angela!
I saw you on the sidebar over at Judith's Lavender Cottage & your recipe intrigued me. It really sounds delicious & I am in the process of drying all my summer dill crop, so I could easily whip this up.
I LOVE the pink depression glass plate you've used in the photo! I have some from my mother & have done a few tablescapes with them. I'm going to poke around your pretty blog to see if I can find more of yours on display.
Nice to meet you!
- October 23, 2011 at 6:10 PM
- Ginger said...
Yum! I make something similar with the addition of chopped cooked shrimp.
- October 23, 2011 at 8:58 PM
Hi Angela, oh I like this recipe -
sounds delicious! Love your photos too, Joanie
- October 23, 2011 at 9:57 PM


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Quote of the Day
December 16, 2013
"Music started with nature. Music is nature. Birds make music. Oceans make music. Wind makes music. Any natural sound is music. And that's where it started….You see, we're just making a replica of nature, which is the sounds we hear outside." – Michael
Tags:Michael Jackson


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November 27, 2014
August 25, 2009
Tuesday night's Virginia Lottery jackpot is up to $252 million.
A lotto ticket buyer CBS19 met up with says he's not exactly sure what he'll do if he holds the winning ticket, but he's thinking about some options.
"I'll probably go to Alaska," says Lottoticket buyer, Sebastian Hindman. "Kind of hang out there for a while with the grizzly bears and what not. I haven't really made too many plans. People just keep telling me about the jackpot, and I figure it can't hurt to spend a couple dollars on a ticket."
We'll have the winning lottery numbers Tuesday night on our web channel and on 19 News Nightcast on CBS and ABC.
Click Here to access the online Public Inspection File
Viewers with disabilities can get assistance accessing this station's FCC Public Inspection File by contacting the station with the information listed below. Questions or concerns relating to the accessibility of the FCC's online public file system should be directed to the FCC at 888-225-5322, 888-835-5322 (TTY), or email@example.com.


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Welcome to the Guernsey Youth Theatre website. As a group our aim is to promote, foster and facilitate Drama and Theatre Arts for young people.
Over the years we have tried to respond to the enthusiasms of the moment and a glance at our past productions section will give an idea of the variety and depth of the projects we have undertaken.
2014 - 2015 Friday Night Workshop term dates now available. Click here to download.


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Jordan Hulls has experienced the lows and highs of college basketball in his four years at Indiana.
The 6-foot senior guard joined the Hoosiers after they went 6-25 in coach Tom Crean's first season.
In Hulls' first two seasons, Indiana was digging its way out of NCAA sanctions and the Hoosiers went 22-41 and won seven Big Ten games.
In the last two seasons, the Hoosiers have gone 56-18 and have reached the Sweet 16 in the NCAA tournament. IU also spent 10 weeks as the No. 1 team in The Associated Press Top 25 poll this year, won its first outright Big Ten regular-season title since 1993 and is a top seed in the NCAA tournament for the third time in program history.
Indiana (29-6) also have a chance to win 30 games for the fifth time in school history if it defeats No. 4 seed Syracuse (28-9) on Thursday in the East Regional semifinals in Washington, D.C.
It's definitely a lot different than it used to be, Hulls said.
We've come a long way, the guys that have been here for a while, from having losing seasons to having winning seasons.
Hulls' contributions to Indiana's winning ways was on display when he wasn't on the court in Sunday's 58-52 win over No. 9 seed Temple in the third round of the NCAA tournament at University of Dayton Arena.
After colliding with an Owls player with 12:25 left in the first half, Hulls went to the bench with a right shoulder injury. He briefly returned but had to go back to the locker room with 6:58 left in the half. With Hulls out and Cody Zeller on the bench with two fouls, the Hoosiers struggled for the rest of the half and trailed 29-26 at halftime.
Hulls returned for the second half wearing a shoulder harness and a bandage on his right shoulder. He hit a three-pointer with 8:49 to play to cut Temple's lead to 41-40, dived over the Owls' T.J. DiLeo to force a jump ball and hit a jumper to reduce IU's deficit to 52-50 with 2:55 to play.
Hulls said his shoulder felt fine in the second half.
They rely heavily on Jordan, IU associate head coach Tim Buckley. They have great respect for him. They know how hard he works, and what he means to this basketball team.
Hulls, a Bloomington South product who joined Indiana at the same time as Christian Watford, Maurice Creek and Derek Elston, has been a big part of restoring the Hoosiers' winning tradition.
They've established a legacy, there's no question about that, Crean said of the four seniors. For (Hulls) to have had the career that he's had and having at Indiana, for him to do the things that he's done, for him to continue to grow and get better, for him to continue to be the teammate that he has, when he's had issues this year, it's because he's pressed too hard, because he wants it too much because almost sometimes he's trying too hard, that's because he wants to win so bad, and that's because he wants his teammates to be successful.
Hulls is fourth on the team in scoring, averaging 9.9 points, and is second on the team in assists, with three per game. He is shooting 45.5 percent from the field and 46 percent on three-pointers.
He also became the program's leader in games played at 134 with Sunday's win over Temple. He passed Randy Wittman's and Jeff Newton's record of 133.
Growing up in Bloomington and being able to play for my hometown university has been pretty special for me, Hulls said. but I'm more focused on getting the win and what we can do in order to do that.


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Reduced Fat Onion Shortcake
Prepared by Patty Berry, Eastern Illinois University Student
1 sweet Spanish onion
1 T olive oil
8 ½ oz. corn muffin mix
1 egg, beaten
1/3 cup skim milk
1 can cream style corn
2 drops red pepper sauce
1 cup plain nonfat yogurt
¼ tsp. salt
¼ tsp. dill weed
½ c. grated reduced fat cheddar cheese
½ c. grated nonfat cheddar cheese
Peel onion – slice, saute slowly in olive oil. Combine muffin mix, egg, corn, milk, and red pepper sauce. Pour into greased 8 inch square pan. Add yogurt, salt, dill weed, and ½ cup cheese to onions. Spread over batter; sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake at 425°F for 30 minutes. Cut into squares, serve warm.
Nutrition Information:
Using olive oil instead of butter, which the original recipe called for, will save 9 grams of fat. Using nonfat plain yogurt instead of sour cream, which was in the original recipe, will save 40 grams of fat. Lastly, using the ½ and ½ cheese mixture will cut fat by 24 grams.


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When the heroes of a story are told a myth, legend, or fairy tale, you can almost guarantee that the story is true (although not necessarily literally—sometimes the truth is filtered through generations of retelling and/or a primitive culture's viewpoint) and the heroes will have to deal with it at some point. This is used so often, in fact, that it's actually more notable when the heroes are told a story and it doesn't turn out to be some flavor of true—except for those cases where it comments thematically on the character's Character Development. This is largely a result of The Law of Conservation of Detail, which demands that taking time out from the main story to tell some other story must only be done when that side story is important to the main plot.note The purpose in labeling something important as a myth rather than just explaining it outright is to build excitement, so that when the legend is later shown to be true, it brings a sense of wonder or discovery. It can also serve to foreshadow future events, while giving the author an excuse for giving only partial or deceptive information. Compare to Prophecies Are Always Right, where it's a prediction that's virtually guaranteed to be right rather than a story from the past. These two tropes often live side by side, with the ancient legend packaged with an included prophecy. Contrast Shrouded in Myth, where the heroes initially believe a legend that turns out to have been extremely exaggerated (if not outright false), and Legend Fades to Myth, where the reader is shown an inaccurate, mythical version of events they saw first-hand in a previous work, generally for humor or Dramatic Irony. Note that this trope is about the characters within a story being told a myth, which turns out to be based on actual events within the story's universe. This is not about an author using real-world myths in a story (though the myth the heroes are being told may well be borrowed from a real-world source).
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You know the economy is bad when thieves decide stealing money from an ATM isn't good enough and instead choose to steal the entire machine.
NPR reports that the number of ATMs stolen has increased significantly during the recession. "Four years ago, there were roughly 120 such thefts in the entire country. Two years ago, Texas alone exceeded that number," they write. California cities like Oakland and San Diego have seen multiple ATMs stolen in a month's time, and other states are suffering similarly. One man in Sioux Falls, South Dakota was charged with stealing six ATMs.
So how exactly do you go about stealing an ATM? "The methods ATM thieves use are not subtle," NPR reports. "They may physically batter a bank island with a stolen truck, or drive through a convenience store window, then lasso the ATM with a chain and yank it away. Often they will have stolen a second vehicle or forklift with which to cart the machine away. The getaway car often turns up later, burned." Or you could just walk into a hospital, grab a machine and wait calmly for the elevator, as two thieves did in Philadelphia.
On the bright side, if a robber is lugging an ATM, they probably won't have much energy to steal your wallet. But if you are a small business owner, we suggest you keep the ATM as far away from the front door as possible.


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Maybe I'm amazed
Jul 1st, 2011 at 9:01 pm by susie
Sir Paul and Wings:
Jul 1st, 2011 at 9:01 pm by susie
Sir Paul and Wings:
Jul 1st, 2011 at 8:33 pm by susie
Blood Sweat & Tears:
Jul 1st, 2011 at 6:23 pm by susie
Jul 1st, 2011 at 2:39 pm by susie
Jamie Dimon, chief executive of JPMorgan Chase, is considered a strong dark-horse candidate. Dimon has said he is not interested in public office but many on Wall Street believe he would accept the job if asked by Obama. But the White House will have to decide whether Dimon, who leads the most successful bank in the U.S., is too closely aligned with Wall Street.
Jul 1st, 2011 at 2:34 pm by susie
Do you hear a noise like power saws cutting away at your Social Security benefits? That's the sound of the politicians working on the "Chain Gang."
They're promoting the "chained CPI," Washington's latest gimmick for tricking voters and cutting their hard-earned benefits to protect the wealthy. That may sound like inflammatory rhetoric, but the numbers don't allow for any other conclusion. People retiring today could lose more than $18,000 in benefits over their lifetimes – and people who are already retired will feel the pain too.
What's wrong with this idea?
1) It's an underhanded way to cut Social Security benefits (its true intent).
2) It's unnecessary.
3) It's unfair to women, the poor, minorities, and the very elderly.
4) It reflects a un-American political culture of pessimism and lost faith in the future.
Any politician who signs onto a "chained CPI" approach to Social Security will feel the wrath of the voters – and deserves to.
Although they're using hocus-pocus to make the idea sound complicated, it isn't. The government calculates the cost of living in order to do things like determine next year's Social Security benefits. The "chained CPI" approach would alter that calculation by including changes in the way people spend their money when prices go up.
As a government agency explains, "Pork and beef are two separate CPI item categories. If the price of pork increases while the price of beef does not, consumers might shift away from pork to beef." So if people can no longer afford pork, they're spending less. Under a chained-CPI approach cost of living adjustments (COLAs) would then go down.
See where this is going? If not, stick around.
Go read the rest. And then read Dave Dayen.
Jul 1st, 2011 at 12:07 pm by susie
This is the same insane policy that was pushed last week by former progressive Andy Stern. Jared Bernstein explains why it's so stupid.
Jul 1st, 2011 at 10:38 am by susie
This one's in Cancer. You know the drill.
This is a really positive decision that will help black communities, who have far too many people in prison because of the racially-biased sentencing disparity between crack and powdered cocaine:
WASHINGTON – As many as 12,000 people in federal prison for crack-related crimes can get their sentences reduced as a result of a new law that brought the penalties for the drug more closely in line with those for powdered cocaine, a government commission decided Thursday.
The decision by the U.S. Sentencing Commission applies to approximately 1 in 17 inmates in the federal system.
Congress last year substantially lowered the sentences for crack-related crimes such as possession and trafficking, changing a 1980s law that was criticized as racially discriminatory because it came down extra hard on a drug common in poor, black neighborhoods.
The question before the commission Thursday was whether people already locked up under the old law should benefit retroactively from the changes. The six-member commission unanimously decided in their favor.
"I believe that the commission has no choice but to make this right," said Ketanji Brown Jackson, a vice chairwoman of the commission. "I say justice demands this result."
The NAACP was among the groups praising the commission's action. About 85 percent of the inmates expected to benefit from the decision are black.
The commission's action is final unless Congress decides by the end of October to intervene, and that is considered unlikely.
Prisoners will have to petition a judge for a sentence reduction, and requests will be decided on a case-by-case basis, with the court taking into consideration the defendant's behavior in prison and danger to society. Prosecutors will be allowed to weigh in. The earliest anyone could get out is November.
Jul 1st, 2011 at 10:00 am by susie
You know, it's nice that Bill Clinton was all teary-eyed about the effect his policies had on Haiti, but the fact is, the country is still colonized by corporations and I don't see him doing a damned thing to stop it:
Hinche, Haiti – Last week, thousands of farmers and supporters of Haitian peasant agriculture marched for hours under the hot Caribbean sun to call for more government support for locally grown seeds and agriculture.
The demonstration was organized by the Peasant Movement of Papay and other farmer associations, human rights and women's groups, and the Haitian Platform for Alternative Development (PAPDA), the Haitian online agency AlterPresse reported from the march. The official theme of the peaceful demonstration was "Land Grabbing is Endangering Agricultural Sovereignty."
Singing slogans like "Long Live Haitian Agriculture!" and "Long live local seeds!" the crowd – wearing straw hats and red T-shirts – wound its way on foot, donkeys, and bikes through this dusty provincial capital. The demonstration ended at a square named for farmer Charlemagne Péralte, who lead the "Caco" peasant revolt against the U.S. army occupation from 1916 until 1919, when U.S. Marines assassinated him.
One year ago, thousands of farmers covered the same march route to protest the import of a "gift" of seeds from Monsanto. The farmers burned some of the seeds, calling them a "death plan" for peasant agriculture.
Last spring, in violation of Haitian law, the Minister of Agriculture gave the agribusiness giant Monsanto permission to "donate" 505 tons of seeds to Haiti. The first shipment of 60 tons, reportedly of maize and vegetable seeds, arrived in May 2010. Some of the seeds were coated with a chemical (Thiram)[1] so toxic that the EPA forbids its sale to home gardeners in the U.S.. Monsanto announced its $4 million gift was "to support the reconstruction effort" in Haiti.
Jul 1st, 2011 at 9:53 am by susie
When we're medicating mentally ill people to make them competent enough to stand trial and hold them accountable for the things they did while they were mentally ill, doesn't that mean our society is mentally ill?


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I am a happy person, enjoy being active. Exercise regularly (walking/jogging, yoga, kickboxing & weights). I am a timid at first bu...
dixiegypsi is a 56yr-old single woman in Gainesville, Florida
I am an educated, sensitive, and caring woman who seeks a soul-mate with whom I can share life's joys and sorrows. It is less important...
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You should know one important thing about me, I am a very laid back person with a good attitude of my own style. I'm very fond of the G...
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Check back soon to find out more about me.
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ez711 is a 68yr-old single man in Oviedo, Florida


text:
Photo by Lee KleinPastrami at Ben'sDavid Sax has been called "The M.F.K. Fisher of pickled meats" (A.J. Jacobs), and his just-published book, Save The Deli: In Search of Perfect Pastrami, Crusty Rye, and the Heart of Jewish Delicatessen (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) was referred to as "a voluptuous ... More >>
So long, Miami -- Lee Klein goes north to Broward
That huggable, edible little product of cabbage
Holiday Gift Guide 2001