Skip to main content

Posts

Showing posts from May, 2021

CoViD-19: The light at the end of the tunnel

 On Friday the 14th of May, 2021, the State Of Michigan issued the following statement: Dear Friend, For more than a year, we’ve been following the best data and science to slow the spread of COVID-19 and save lives.  The vast majority of us have trusted the scientists and experts to keep us safe during the pandemic, and it has worked. With millions of Michiganders fully vaccinated, we can now safely and confidently take the next step to get back to normal. Today I announced the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is updating the Gatherings and Mask Order to align with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s latest guidance on face coverings. On Thursday, the CDC released updated guidance recommending “fully vaccinated people no longer need to wear a mask or physically distance in any setting, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidanc

Burger King's Impossible Whopper

 I'll open by saying that if you're expecting a gourmet burger, you're probably not looking at Burger King.  There are 1,000 other places (precisely one thousand, I counted myself) to get a higher-quality burger.  But, when you require food that is fast, cheap, and easy (you are what you eat, am I right?!?!?! ) there are a myriad of options for drive-through, franchised, processed, scientifically-engineered-to-taste-good food.  Miss me with your "fast food is trash" snobbery; this review isn't for you.  See the pizza and burger reviews for quality food. There's something about the plant-based Impossible patty that enhances all the flavors around it - the smokey char of Burger King's "flame broiled" fame sticks around more than the normal beef Whopper.  The toppings don't blend with the patty flavor either, so you can distinctly pick up the flavors of the tomatoes, onions, lettuce, pickles, and mayonnaise.  Only the bun seemed to fade in

What's the deal with Lifesavers?

Up until 2003, Lifesavers Candy was made here in Holland.  It closed down as the company moved production to Canada: https://www.deseret.com/2002/4/11/19648526/life-savers-plant-is-dying https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-mar-20-mn-33676-story.html https://www.michigandaily.com/uncategorized/life-savers-moves-us-operations-canada/ As of 2013, Haworth took over the property to use as a factory outlet store, which is reflected in Google's current results as of this writing: https://www.hollandsentinel.com/article/20131210/NEWS/131219986 But, I'd like to explore their unique shape...and specifically, the reasoning behind the unique shape.  Per Wikipedia , and an Australian novelty newspaper , the shape was a marketing tool:  The inventor, Clarence Crane, wanted a hard candy that could hold up to summer heat, and would be shaped in such a way as to set it apart from competitors.  Crane saw a machine that made round-shaped pills for use in pharmaceuticals, and another that