Wednesday, May 23, 2007

Taste Test

I'm certain McDonalds, Subway, and Starbucks don't mind how their brands transcend their respective markets. But I find it a bit weird that each offers a product with a unique set of flavors and textures. McDonalds tastes like McDonalds, Subway like Subway, and Starbucks like Starbucks.

I'm not saying we should shun uniqueness, brand success, or variety, but the ubiquity of these three companies have skewed consumers' expectations of food. When I want a real hamburger, I don't go to McDonalds. The same goes for real sandwiches and McDonalds and real coffee and Starbucks.

Splinter, rafter

Politics tickles my funny bone when it's not tickling my angry bone.

Our newly blued House of Representatives, channeling public (or, rather, publicized) frustration as gasoline prices might soon surpass their inflation-adjusted highs of the early 1980s, narrowly passed a bill that would somehow protect us all from price gouging in the energy market. I find this whole exercise a waste of time.

I'm shocked - SHOCKED - the House didn't turn its attention to the taxes federal, state, county, and city governments add to every gallon of gasoline sold. I imagine it's easier and quicker to fold to the pro-government lobby than to the pro-oil and pro-auto lobbies.