Meanwhile, This Is Going On

 While a man-child tries to ignore, deny our votes, election and Democracy, this, too, is going on.

Robert Reich    @RBReich    Nov 21

Walmart made $129B in profit last year, but at least 14,500 of their employees receive SNAP benefits. 

McDonald's made $11B in profit, but at least 8,780 employees receive SNAP benefits. 

Execs are paying workers poverty wages to boost stock prices and line their pockets.

Ain't America great?

It's National Coffee Day Tomorrow!!

All the Places You Can Get Free Coffee on National Coffee Day

National Coffee Day 2017: 9 Freebie Deals

National Coffee Day 2017: Free Coffee at Dunkin Donuts, Krispy

6 Free & Cheap Coffee Offers on National Coffee Day 2017

2017 National Coffee Day Deals and Freebies

Where to get free java on National Coffee Day 

National Coffee Day 2017: 

Where to get free coffee on Sept. 29

National Coffee Day Deals, Discounts 2017, 

Free Coffee

National coffee day 2017: 12 freebies, 

deals from Dunkin, McDonald's

Happy National Coffee Day, everyone! Now get out there tomorrow and enjoy!

Seniors?

Found on Facebook today from someone named Steve Herman:

As I was waiting in line behind an older gentleman at Wendy's recently,I heard him ask for his senior discount. The girl at the register apologized and charged him less. When I asked the man what the discount was, he told me that seniors over age 55 ...get 10% off everything on the menu, every day. (But you need to ASK for your discount.)

Being of 'that' age myself, I figured I might as well ask for the discount too. 

This incident prompted me to do some research and I came across a list of restaurants, supermarkets, department stores, travel deals and other types of offers giving various discounts with different age requirements. I was actually surprised to see how many there are and howsome of them start at the young age of 50. This list may not only be useful for you, but for your friends and family too.

Dunkin Donuts gives free coffee to people over 55. If you're paying for a cup every day, you might want to start getting it for FREE.

YOU must ASK for your discount!

RESTAURANTS:
Applebee's: 15% off with Golden Apple Card (60+)
Arby's: 10% off ( 55 +)
Ben & Jerry's: 10% off (60+)
Bennigan's: discount varies by location (60+)
Bob's Big Boy: discount varies by location (60+)
Boston Market: 10% off (65+)
Burger King: 10% off (60+)
Chick-Fil-A: 10% off or free small drink or coffee ( 55+)
Chili's: 10% off ( 55+)
CiCi's Pizza: 10% off (60+)
Denny's: 10% off, 20% off for AARP members ( 55 +)
Dunkin' Donuts: 10% off or free coffee ( 55+)
Einstein's Bagels: 10% off baker's dozen of bagels (60+)
Fuddrucker's: 10% off any senior platter ( 55+)
Gatti's Pizza: 10% off (60+)
Golden Corral: 10% off (60+)
Hardee's: $0.33 beverages everyday (65+)
IHOP: 10% off ( 55+)
Jack in the Box: up to 20% off ( 55+)
KFC: free small drink with any meal ( 55+)
Krispy Kreme: 10% off ( 50+)
Long John Silver's: various discounts at locations ( 55+)
McDonald's: discounts on coffee everyday ( 55+)
Mrs. Fields: 10% off at participating locations (60+)
Shoney's: 10% off
Sonic: 10% off or free beverage (60+)
Steak 'n Shake: 10% off every Monday & Tuesday ( 50+)
Subway: 10% off (60+)
Sweet Tomatoes: 10% off (62+)
Taco Bell : 5% off; free beverages for seniors (65+)
TCBY: 10% off ( 55+)
Tea Room Cafe: 10% off ( 50+)
Village Inn: 10% off (60+)
Waffle House: 10% off every Monday (60+)
Wendy's: 10% off ( 55 +)
Whataburger: 10% off (62+)
White Castle: 10% off (62+) 

RETAIL & APPAREL :
Banana Republic: 30% off ( 50 +)
Bealls: 20% off first Tuesday of each month ( 50 +)
Belk's: 15% off first Tuesday of every month ( 55 +)
Big Lots: 30% off
Bon-Ton Department Stores: 15% off on senior discount days ( 55 +)
C.J. Banks: 10% off every Wednesday (50+)
Clarks : 10% off (62+)
Dress Barn: 20% off ( 55+)
Goodwill: 10% off one day a week (date varies by location)
Hallmark: 10% off one day a week (date varies by location)
Kmart: 40% off (Wednesdays only) ( 50+)
Kohl's: 15% off (60+)Modell's Sporting Goods: 30% off
Rite Aid: 10% off on Tuesdays & 10% off prescriptions
Ross Stores: 10% off every Tuesday ( 55+)
The Salvation Army Thrift Stores: up to 50% off ( 55+)
Stein Mart: 20% off red dot/clearance items first Monday of every month ( 55 +)

GROCERY :
Albertson's: 10% off first Wednesday of each month ( 55 +)
American Discount Stores: 10% off every Monday ( 50 +)
Compare Foods Supermarket: 10% off every Wednesday (60+)
DeCicco Family Markets: 5% off every Wednesday (60+)
Food Lion: 60% off every Monday (60+)
Fry's Supermarket: free Fry's VIP Club Membership & 10% off every Monday ( 55 +)
Great Valu Food Store: 5% off every Tuesday (60+)
Gristedes Supermarket: 10% off every Tuesday (60+)
Harris Teeter: 5% off every Tuesday (60+)
Hy-Vee: 5% off one day a week (date varies by location)
Kroger: 10% off (date varies by location)
Morton Williams Supermarket: 5% off every Tuesday (60+)
The Plant Shed: 10% off every Tuesday ( 50 +)
Publix: 15% off every Wednesday ( 55 +)
Rogers Marketplace: 5% off every Thursday (60+)
Uncle Guiseppe's Marketplace: 15% off (62+)

TRAVEL :
Airlines:
Alaska Airlines: 50% off (65+)
American Airlines: various discounts for 50% off non-peak periods (Tuesdays - Thursdays) (62+)and up (call before booking for discount)
Continental Airlines: no initiation fee for Continental Presidents Club & special fares for select destinations
Southwest Airlines: various discounts for ages 65 and up (call before booking for discount)
United Airlines: various discounts for ages 65 and up (call before booking for discount)
U.S. Airways: various discounts for ages 65 and up (call before booking for discount)
Rail:
Amtrak: 15% off (62+)
Bus:
Greyhound: 15% off (62+)
Trailways Transportation System: various discounts for ages 50+

Car Rental:
Alamo Car Rental: up to 25% off for AARP members
Avis: up to 25% off for AARP members
Budget Rental Cars: 40% off; up to 50% off for AARP members ( 50+)
Dollar Rent-A-Car: 10% off ( 50+) Enterprise Rent-A-Car: 5% off for AARP members Hertz: up to 25% off for AARP members
National Rent-A-Car: up to 30% off for AARP members

Overnight Accommodations:
Holiday Inn: 20-40% off depending on location (62+)
Best Western: 40% off (55+)
Cambria Suites: 20%-30% off (60+)
Waldorf Astoria - NYC $5,000 off nightly rate for Presidential Suite (55 +)
Clarion Motels: 20%-30% off (60+)
Comfort Inn: 20%-30% off (60+)
Comfort Suites: 20%-30% off (60+)
Econo Lodge: 40% off (60+)
Hampton Inns & Suites: 40% off when booked 72 hours in advance
Hyatt Hotels: 25%-50% off (62+)
InterContinental Hotels Group: various discounts at all hotels (65+)
Mainstay Suites: 10% off with Mature Traveler's Discount (50+); 20%-30% off (60+)
Marriott Hotels: 25% off (62+)
Motel 6: Stay Free Sunday nights (60+)
Myrtle Beach Resort: 30% off ( 55 +)
Quality Inn: 40%-50% off (60+)
Rodeway Inn: 20%-30% off (60+)
Sleep Inn: 40% off (60+)

ACTIVITIES & ENTERTAINMENT ;:
AMC Theaters: up to 30% off ( 55 +)
Bally Total Fitness: $100 off memberships (62+)
Busch Gardens Tampa, FL: $13 off one-day tickets ( 50 +)
Carmike Cinemas: 35% off (65+)
Cinemark/Century Theaters: up to 35% off
Massage Envy - NYC 20% off all "Happy Endings" (62 +)
U.S. National Parks: $10 lifetime pass; 50% off additional services including camping (62+)
Regal Cinemas: 50% off Ripley's Believe it or Not: @ off one-day ticket ( 55 +)
SeaWorld, Orlando , FL : $3 off one-day tickets ( 50 +)

CELL PHONE DISCOUNTS :

AT&T: Special Senior Nation 200 Plan $19.99/month (65+)
Jitterbug: $10/month cell phone service ( 50 +)
Verizon Wireless: Verizon Nationwide 65 Plus Plan $29.99/month (65+).

MISCELLANEOUS:
Great Clips: $8 off hair cuts (60+)
Supercuts: $8 off haircuts (60+)

Now, go out there and claim your discounts - - and remember -- YOU must ASK for discount ---- no ask, no discount.

Everyone knows someone over 50 please pass this on

It's one or the other, folks

Which will it be?

It just makes sense.

It's also the decent thing to do.

And human.

And humane.

And "Christian."

Is this that complicated?

Whatever happened to being moral in business?

McDonald's has sunk to a new very low

I learned this today:

Yes, There Is A McDonald's Menu Item Called The 'McGangBang'

Gastronomically and nutritionally, both, that's bad, even horrible, but THAT name, too?

Seriously?

McDonald's could be a much better corporate citizen--quickly and easily

 

A friend of mine goes to McDonald's each and every morning for breakfast and I've joined him at times (for the oatmeal, hold the brown sugar, thanks very much) so I've been reminded lately who they are and what they do. It had been some time--years, really--since I'd been in.

And a few things occurred to me.

The first is that how much each of them, separately, and then all of them, together end up putting into the waste dumps in the country and world daily and yearly.

Then, a great, easy, intelligent solution to it all also occurred to me.

All the McDonald's across the country need to institute plastic and paper recycling programs and as soon as possible.

If you think about it, everything they generate, from their meals, is either plastic or paper, right off those trays.

If they were to recycle all that, can you imagine the millions of pounds of both they could recycle each year?

It would be fantastic.

And the great thing about it is that it would be simple and easy for them to do.  Think about this. They have all those waste receptacles, already in their restaurants (using the word very loosely, no disrespect meant).  If they were simply and inexpensively labeled "Plastic" on one and "Paper" on the one next to it, the patrons could--again, quickly and easily--dispose of each in the respective container. Then, the employee whose job it is to keep up with the dining room could pull out those bags from the containers, collect them and have them placed in the restaurant for pickup.

So simple.  No additional cost, either, with the exception of the small signs needed.

Then, for McDonald's, what a public relations boon for them. Total win.  They could advertise that the people could come get the same food they always did and now, with this, it could also be a far greener experience.

Will it happen?

I doubt it.  I hope it but doubt it seriously.

It's got to start somewhere. 

This would be a great time and place.

Really, does this make sense?

I've wondered this myself many times.

Why does a salad, for pity's sake--a small salad--cost more than a hamburger?

Of course, we know the answer.

The answer is that this is "free-market Capitalism" so companies charge whatever they wish on whatever they choose.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not advocating or suggesting we should have laws making this illegal, far from it.

What I'm saying is that businesses and business people should have morals and practice them in their businesses.

It's not going to happen, not in America but there you are.

Way to go, McDonald's.

Just know, we're not "Lovin' it."

Link: Americans unaware of most obesity risks

The New York Times addresses the "Young, Black Male in America"

The Times has a series of 9 articles, by different citizens of the community, addressing different, relevant issues affecting young black males in America. Here's just one quote, from Neill Franklin, Executive Director of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition and former narcotics cop and commander of training during his 34-year career with the Maryland State Police and the Baltimore Police Department: "Our prohibition policies, and the 'us vs. the man' mentality they have caused in our communities, have badly damaged how young black men are perceived -- and not just by white people. As an African-American narcotics cop in Baltimore, even I fell victim to fear and apprehension when I encountered a group of black teenagers on the street. Making drugs like marijuana illegal has made them incredibly lucrative, and it's not hard to see why many teenagers choose to enlist in the dope game and play for the chance at moving up the chain and raking in tax-free money rather than donning a McDonald's uniform." It's an excellent series and seems very applicable all across America, let along to the Kansas City area. Link to original articles: http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2012/03/12/young-black-and-male-in-america/?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_20120313

McDonald's restaurants in the US vs. France

This, ladies and gentlemen, is reported to be a picture of "chicken McNuggets" here in the US, before they're cooked:

There is a fascinating article on NPR's food blog about "Why McDonald's In France Doesn't Feel Like Fast Food" and it doesn't speak well--at all--for Americans: One "...reason McDonald's works so well here is that the food is locally sourced and very high quality. As we all know, France is the land of haute cuisine. But it's also the land of good cuisine. The French appreciate quality in any category, even fast food. Restaurateurs in France know they'll go bust if they offer substandard products." So it has to do with American's low expectations, for one, along with our political system of letting corporations effectively buy the legislation they want, of our government. It denudes the effectiveness of things like our Food and Drug Administration. Instead of protecting the people, it protects the corporations. This, below, is a picture of a plate of food from a French McDonald's restaurant:

More: "‎French cattle are all grass fed, which many argue makes them tastier. Growth hormones are illegal here and each animal has a passport showing where it was born, raised, and slaughtered, according to McDonald's France. That's called traceability, and we don't yet have such a national system in place." Finally, "As for chicken nugget lovers, French chickens, unlike some of their American counterparts, are not rinsed in chlorine to disinfect them. The regular use of chlorine in the U.S. chicken industry is why poulet americain has long been interdit in the European Union." As Americans, we just aren't very bright, it seems. We need to demand more from our representatives, our government and our corporations. We are in charge and we need to let them know that. I repeat, WE MUST GET "CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS" OUT OF OUR ELECTION SYSTEM AND SO, OUT OF OUR GOVERNMENT. Link to original post: http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2012/01/24/145698222/why-mcdonalds-in-france-doesnt-feel-like-fast-food?ps=cprs

More great work from our own "Harvest Public Media"

I wrote here, some time ago, about what was, at that time, our new "Harvest Public Media" people from the area and region. From their description page, they describe themselves this way: "Harvest Public Media is one of seven Local Journalism Centers nationwide created with the support of a two-year grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The initiative is intended to strengthen collaboration among six Midwest public broadcasting stations." They are throughout the Midwest and one of the participating stations is our own KCUR 89.3 FM as well as the Kansas Public Radio (KPR) group. Today, they gave a report on NPR on McDonald's "McRib" sandwich and its local, Nebraska origin: From Nebraska Lab To McDonald's Tray: The McRib's Strange Journey. Whether you eat the things or not, I think you'll find the brief story interesting, at least. They cover more, different, excellent stories about food in all its aspects than virtually any other source. Just more great stuff from Harvest Public Media. Thanks, y'all! Links: http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2011/11/04/142018151/from-nebraska-lab-to-mcdonalds-tray-the-mcribs-strange-journey?ps=cprs; http://harvestpublicmedia.org/; http://www.kcur.org; http://

How to defeat China

Make them fat as us:

• Dairy Queen to Open 100 New Outlets in China in 2011 

• McDonald's No Match for KFC in China as Colonel Rules Fast Food

Someone told him there was a "worm hole" inside

This just out:

High-speed chase ends inside McDonald's

A 45-minute chase that went through areas of both sides of the state line ended Tuesday morning when the driver got out of the car and ran into a Kansas City McDonald’s.

Link:  

http://www.nbcactionnews.com/dpp/news/crime/driver-leads-police-on-chase-through-kansas-city

Perfect Synergy and Symmetry

Remember when it used to be that the wealthy people had their country clubs and everyone wanted to belong and go there and exclude all the other "little people"? And it lasted forever. There have always been groups created to exclude other people and/or groups. It's always been that way.

Well, it occurred to me today, after driving to work the same way every work day, that just the opposite "perfect place" has been created for the lower social and economic levels of our society.

Surely you've noticed the perfect marriage when McDonald's restaurants have started locating in--yes, in--and around Wal-Mart stores?

Isn't that magnificent? You couldn't get better zoning if you legislated it. Really, that's magnificent. What better place to put these 2 organizations and their customers than side by side? Or, better yet, as I said, one INSIDE the other. Man, that's perfect.

One has horrible food that's absolutely bad for you, almost completely, while the other virtually abuses its employees. Talk about perfect. One exploits its employees to make money while the 2nd takes that same money and gives them fatty, unhealthy foods to "reward" them for that same hard work.

Even their logos are similar and work together.

I think Wal-Mart should buy McDonald's, personally, and marry the two even closer. It just doesn't get any better than that.

So now the underclass has a place to go to both shop and eat. Perfect. Like I said, it's the complete "Country Club" for the lower class. All they need now is a swimming pool.

I'm sure it's only a matter of time.