That's a statement that applies to the whole country, Hec.

Yeah, but they're based in Arkansas, and they grew first in the South. They may have a national presence now but they're Southern grown. Anyway, I'm not blamey about Southerners, I just think that as culturally entrenched as Wal-Mart is in the South, coupled with the shift from Southern Dems to Republicans there's a disconnect.

I was watching A Different World a few days ago (I seem to have gotten on an A Different World kick lately, and TVOne is very helpfully showing two episodes a night), and there was a scene where they were in a sociology class talking about homelessness, and one of the characters said that homeless people are lazy -- McDonald's is always hiring, and anybody who works there can eat there for free. Fast forward twenty years, and we've still got plenty of people talking about how poor people are lazy, with the fact that they eat at McDonald's held up as an example of their laziness.

I'm not seeing that. I haven't seen the show, but I did watch his TED presentation which included some clips from the show. There are probably some faults in his approach, but I see a genuine interest in improving health and nutrition.

There's a link to the first episode, plus some analysis of the show, here [link]

WalMart isn't evil, it's just got a very good business model. It secured its market by meeting the market. Now, we can argue the social impact of that to death, but in some places, it's been a godsend. I just don't think it's better than the alternative in my hood. But then, it's out played the alternative, unfortunately.

I just ... conflicting philosophies.

A new Aldi opened up near me. (The early rumor was a TJ's. I was sorely disappointed.) I finally got around to checking it out and yeah, things are cheap, but it's all crap processed junk food. 1/3 of the store was candy and chips.

Liese, just wanted to let you know that the Box o' Polish arrived safe and sound. Thank you!

Suzi and Stephanie, shout if you're available to go through the pretties this weekend. If not, we'll figure out something.

There's a link to the first episode, plus some analysis of the show, here [link].

Eh, reality TV seems to require some shock value. I'm less concerned about a TV show than this which addresses the issues more appropriately.

Liese, just wanted to let you know that the Box o' Polish arrived safe and sound. Thank you!

WHEEEEEEE

The book by Ellen Ruppel Shell called "Cheap: The High Cost of Discount Culture" is a really good look into it, sarameg.

I second that recommendation.

When I worked at a summer program for kids, the rule that the staff all agreed to enforce was that each kid must have at least one vegetable and no more than one dessert at lunch and dinner. But this was at a college cafeteria, so if they got one vegetable and tried it and didn't like it, they could go up and get something different. At a public school cafeteria, a kid who tries something new and doesn't like it has no other options, so that's wasted food, wasted money, and a hungry kid. (By far the most common vegetable choices at the summer program were carrot and celery sticks with a ton of ranch dressing. And after a few days, we had to clarify that the "one dessert" rule meant actually ONE dessert and not "as much dessert as you can fit on one dessert plate.")

The kids at the summer program were also fascinated by the soda machines, and they'd try to mix the different sodas together to get different colors, or layers of color. At first the rule was "You make it, you drink it," but then we realized that this was leading to a ton of over-caffeinated kids, so we mostly ignored it unless someone was doing something ridiculous, like taking four cups of soda.