Popcorn

Sometimes the strangest things make you really think. A case in point: buying popcorn.

A couple of days ago I was shopping at Wal Mart for some basic goods. Top of my shopping list was popping corn. I love the white fluffy stuff at night for a snack with a bit of butter and some sea salt.

I could not find a jar or bag of plain popcorn for my hot air popcorn popper!

As I wandered up and down the aisles I was shocked to realize that the only popcorn available was microwave popcorn. Microwave popcorn is OK, but lets face it there's no control over the amount of salt or chemicals. Obviously high salt, high priced prepackaged foods are more profitable for the large markets.

I started to think back on my experiences with homemade popcorn.

The first memories I have of popcorn are of my mom making popcorn in a covered cast aluminum pan with canola oil on the stove top. The popcorn was tough and was often burnt as the first kernels to pop stayed in the pan to burn. As a family we still thought this was a fun treat -- even though it tasted like crap.

From the big aluminum pan we graduated to Jiffy Pop. Yes that's right, the tin foil pan with the wire ring for a handle. I still remember many parties where we marveled at the expansion of the tin foil top until we burst it open to reveal steam and some much nicer popcorn than the stove top. Jiffy Pop seemed like such a luxurious product.

Imagine my Mom's excitement when we purchased the first hot air popcorn popper! The convenience of it all -- and nary a burnt kernel or old maid. My Mom promptly launched herself into making home made poppycock. Oh how we ate that up!

Not long afterward we got a microwave oven and of course there was several iterations of microwave popcorn makers. Big hopper contraptions that held water and were covered with a clear plastic lid burst onto the scene. I am pretty sure that these contraptions still litter every thrift store in the nation!

Paper bags with popcorn in them soon followed. We laughed at how easy it was to make popcorn -- but I still can't believe the amount of salt, oil and calories contained in each bag. Admittedly there are some decent low cal incarnations of the microwave popcorn to be found.

You might be wondering where I am going with this post. First of all I am shocked at how much people are able to overlook in the name of convenience. Microwave popcorn is fast and easy, but contains the salt that a single person requires for a week.

The main thing that struck me about this issue is that I have a slight understanding of how an older person must have felt when I asked them about their opinion on an issue.

I may someday have a discussion with a younger person about popcorn. I will likely tell them the various methods we used to prepare the snack. I'll let them know that the best option is the hot air popcorn popper. They will laugh and think I am an old fuddy duddy as they throw a bag of microwave popcorn in the microwave.

I am starting to see that there is a lot of waste in the way that we do things -- and even though it saves us time, it does come at a cost.

The iPhone.

About a week ago I decided to finally take the plunge and get myself an iPhone. I had several reservations when considering moving to iPhone.

First off, I could not justify the cost of a home phone line and a contracted cell phone. Secondly I had the perception that the smart phones were a way to make regular people feel self important. Third, I'm not sure I want to update my phone number with all of my personal and business contacts. Fourth, I have never been without a landline and last but not least, what if I loose the damned thing?

I sat down with the calculator and realized that dropping my land line and pay as you go cell (ie. $10.00 per month) would pay for a contracted cell phone. Obstacle one was far too easily overcome! Now to my fears of becoming a self important S.O.B.

Have you ever seen tellers and customers wait on people who talk on the phone and complete transactions with one free hand? Fuck, I hate these people! I'll never do this. Perhaps my reservation on this point was irrational? Some folks may think I'm self important just because I have a smart phone. I can have the iPhone and not hold others up, or use the damned thing while driving. Reservation number two down the toilet, now how to get all of my contacts updated?

Personal contacts were completed with a quick and dirty email for now. The business contacts are a bit tougher. Fortunately for me most of my banking and insurance is under one roof. Most of the other businesses that I have dealt with in the last few years have been provided the cell phone number. Those items that may be missed would have my snail mail address so will iron themselves out. Editing my life has never been a hard thing to do, but I would never believed that in my life I would not have a home telephone.

No home telephone!? I still remember the telephone number that we had at the farm. The farm phone was a party line where three bored neighbors routinely listened in on our conversations. This reservation is a psychological barrier that will take time for me to breach. I notice young people in my condo building who have a cell phone but have never and will never have a landline. Looking over the last line of text still shocks me! A hard wired land line telephone is no longer a necessity for surviving in the world as we know it! Computer technology that I have seen growing prevalent from my teenage years is poised to completely replace the telephone.

After having the iPhone for a mere week I can honestly say the smartphone is here to stay. I believe that these devices will change society as we know it. Funny how such a small thing could be such a powerful impetus for change.

I am using the phone for a lot of useful things. In the morning my iPhone serves as my alarm clock, I check facebook and my e-mail on the iPhone. Ran out of peanut butter? Add it to my grocery list (yep iPhone), text my buddies to line up a coffee meeting. Now off to the gym, you guessed it -- my tunes are on my iPhone now too!

How have I been living without this damned iPhone?

The burning question of the day.

I've had many conversations regarding colloquialisms lately. One of the most polarizing was the slang term for men's undies!

People from most parts of Canada feel the proper terms are Ginch and/or Gonch. Their position is backed up (so to speak) by the brand of underwear "Ginch Gonch".

People origionally from Saskatchewan use either Gitch and/or Gotch. There's really nothing to back this up other than long tradition.

The burning question: Which terms to use? Vote in the poll or comment with your geographic location!

Inaugural Blog

At long last, my first blog.

Was I holding off in the hopes of coming up with something prolific for my first blog? Did I just spend too much time trying to customize the layout which was then just thrown out anyway?

Whatever the reason, my blog has a start!!