The gentle giant

I have little in the way of stuff, utilitarian and accoutrements in my new place until Robyn gets here next. Long story involving poor judgement and sociopat… oh well you get the picture. Sooo I found myself in need of provisions last night on my way home from the shop. Supplies for my store, laundry detergent that kind of stuff. So off to Fred Meyer (it was late remember, limited choices) with Gretel the terror/ier in tow. On my way to the checkout I decided to stroll down the frozen aisle for shits and giggles. Ever the student of pop culture and it’s wretched excesses I decided to stop at the… wait for it… Hot Pocket empire. Mind you they are not easy to miss, think of them as the Greenland of the frozen aisle globe. Not really a continent but taking up a substantial amount of space and relegating the piroshki and frozen paninis (uh yeah) to their little Luxembourg corner of the case. In a word the selection was huge. It has been years since my college days when I first discovered them and I read a recent article in Fast Company in which they discussed Ashton Kutcher’s Katalyst Media and their web based marketing campaign for the brand. I’ll save the illustrious descriptions of the multitudes of shapes, sizes and flavors in the current Hot Pocket universe for another day as it will require a great deal of research and inevitable consumption/gluttony followed by a week long fast and colonic. No, what I want to point out is the most startling piece of information on the colorful happy packaging.

One Hot Pocket has 25% rda of fat and 620 mg of Sodium, no surprise, we all know they are not a healthy choice for anything other than the occasional “treat”. No the real news is that Nestle has attempted to eliminate a small portion of my guilt by using a trick borrowed from the sugary cereal industry. “7 Essential Vitamins & Minerals” Oh and “Hot Pockets brand is a good source of calcium”

Uh, Thanks Nestle?

With the recent boom in organized food cart lots (one step away from Hooverville or shantytowns) here in Portland I’m starting to notice that many owners, nor customers are equipped for the long winter. It’s cold damp and wet months are well documented and oftentimes a canopy and propane heater are not sufficient when puddletown lives up to it’s name. Worse yet, the mixture of wet greasy asphalt, litter and cigarette buttes are far from appetizing. It’s high time for an indoor/warehouse food court. Food for thought