http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/15/business/15spam.html

November 15, 2008

Spam Turns Serious and Hormel Turns Out More

By ANDREW MARTIN

"AUSTIN, Minn. - The economy is in tatters and, for millions of people, the
future is uncertain. But for some employees at the Hormel Foods Corporation
plant here, times have never been better. They are working at a furious pace
and piling up all the overtime they want.

The workers make Spam, perhaps the emblematic hard-times food in the
American pantry.

Through war and recession, Americans have turned to the glistening canned
product from Hormel as a way to save money while still putting something
that resembles meat on the table. Now, in a sign of the times, it is
happening again, and Hormel is cranking out as much Spam as its workers can
produce.

In a factory that abuts Interstate 90, two shifts of workers have been
making Spam seven days a week since July, and they have been told that the
relentless work schedule will continue indefinitely.

Spam, a gelatinous 12-ounce rectangle of spiced ham and pork, may be among
the world's most maligned foods, dismissed as inedible by food elites and
skewered by comedians who have offered smart-alecky theories on its name
(one G-rated example: Something Posing As Meat).

But these days, consumers are rediscovering relatively cheap foods, Spam
among them. A 12-ounce can of Spam, marketed as "Crazy Tasty," costs about
$2.40. "People are realizing it's not that bad a product," said Dan Johnson,
55, who operates a 70-foot-high Spam oven.

Hormel declined to cooperate with this article, but several of its workers
were interviewed here recently with the help of their union, the United Food
and Commercial Workers International Union Local 9. Slumped in chairs at the
union hall after making 149,950 cans of Spam on the day shift, several
workers said they been through boom times before - but nothing like this.

Spam "seems to do well when hard times hit," said Dan Bartel, business agent
for the union local. "We'll probably see Spam lines instead of soup lines."

Even as consumers are cutting back on all sorts of goods, Spam is among a
select group of thrifty grocery items that are selling steadily.

Pancake mixes and instant potatoes are booming. So are vitamins, fruit and
vegetable preservatives and beer, according to data from October compiled by
Information Resources, a market research firm.

"We've seen a double-digit increase in the sale of rice and beans," said
Teena Massingill, spokeswoman for the Safeway grocery chain, in an e-mail
message. "They're real belly fillers."

Kraft Foods said recently that some of its value-oriented products like
macaroni and cheese, Jell-O and Kool-Aid were experiencing robust growth.
And sales are still growing, if not booming, for Velveeta, a Kraft product
that bears the same passing resemblance to cheese as Spam bears to ham.

Spam holds a special place in America's culinary history, both as a source
of humor and of cheap protein during hard times.

Invented during the Great Depression by Jay Hormel, the son of the company's
founder, Spam is a combination of ham, pork, sugar, salt, water, potato
starch and a "hint" of sodium nitrate "to help Spam keep its gorgeous pink
color," according to Hormel's Web site for the product.

Because it is vacuum-sealed in a can and does not require refrigeration,
Spam can last for years. Hormel says "it's like meat with a pause button."

During World War II, Spam became a staple for Allied troops overseas. They
introduced it to local residents, and it remains popular in many parts of
the world where the troops were stationed.

Spam developed a camp following in the 1970s, mainly because of Monty
Python, the English comedy troupe. In a 1970 skit, a couple tried to order
breakfast at a cafe featuring Spam in nearly every entree, like "Spam, Eggs,
Sausage and Spam." The diners were eventually drowned out by a group of
Vikings singing, "Spam, lovely Spam, wonderful Spam."

(Familiar with the skit, Internet pioneers labeled junk e-mail "spam"
because it overwhelmed other dialogue, according to one theory.)

Here in Austin, local officials have tried to capitalize on Spam's kitschy
cultural status, even if a decidedly unpleasant odor hangs over the town (a
slaughterhouse next to the Hormel plant butchers 19,000 hogs a day). Austin
advertises itself as "Spamtown," and it boasts 13 restaurants with Spam on
the menu.

Jerry's Other Place sells a Spamburger for $6.29. Johnny's "Spamarama" menu
includes eggs Benedict with Spam for $7.35. At Steve's Pizza, a medium Spam
and pineapple pizza costs $11.58.

"There are all kinds of people who have an emotional connection to Spam,"
said Gil Gutknecht Jr., the former Minnesota congressman, who was in the
gift shop at the Spam Museum buying a Spam tie, sweatshirt and earrings. Mr.
Gutknecht recalled that he once served as a judge in a Spam recipe contest.

"The best thing was Spam brownies," he said, with more or less a straight
face.

No independent data provider compiles sales figures that include all the
outlets where Spam is sold, including foreign stores, so it is not clear
exactly how much sales are up. Hormel's chief executive, Jeffrey M.
Ettinger, said in September that they were growing by double digits.

The company would not discuss more recent sales of the product or permit a
tour of the Spam factory, citing rules that Hormel said prevented it from
speaking ahead of a forthcoming earnings report.

However, Hormel executives appear to be banking on the theory that Spam fits
nicely into recession budgets. Workers on the Spam line in Austin - more
than 40 of them work two shifts -see no signs that their work schedule will
let up.

"We are scheduled to work every day except Thanksgiving and Christmas," said
Darwin Sellers, 56, a Spam "formulator" who adds salt, sugar and nitrates to
batches of Spam. "Mr. Ettinger is negotiating with the man upstairs to get
us to work eight days a week."

Mr. Sellers said he had not seen much of his family in recent months, but
the grueling schedule had been good for his checkbook. He bought a new
television and planned to replace a 20-year-old refrigerator.

Unlike his colleagues though, he has no plans to stock up on Spam. "It's not
something I've ever developed a taste for," he said.

A rising segment of the public, it seems, does have a taste for Spam, which
is available in several varieties, including Spam Low Sodium, Spam with
Cheese and Spam Hot & Spicy.

James Bate, a 48-year-old sausage maker, was buying it at Wal-Mart in
Cleveland recently. Not only was it cheap, but he said it brought back fond
memories of his grandfather's making him Spam sandwiches.

"You can mix it with tomatoes and onions and make a good meal out of it," he
said. "A little bit of this stuff goes a long way."

Christopher Maag contributed reporting from Cleveland.

</>

On 2008-11-15, Gregory Morrow > wrote:
>
> Spam, a gelatinous 12-ounce rectangle of spiced ham and pork, may be among
> the world's most maligned foods.....

I eschewed Spam for years, having grown sick of eating it in my youth. But,
Spam is not to be denied. I'm back in the fold and keep a can or two on
hand at all times. My favorite use for spam is a breakfast burrito.

For a breakfast burrito, simply dice a can of spam and a few potatoes
(preferably pre-baked or nuked) and fry 'em up in hot skillet till golden
brown and semi-crispy. Add some beaten eggs for a spud/spam scramble and
shovel into heated flour tortillas and roll. Add favorite hot sauce or
salsa and gorge. Yum! Cheap Good Eats.

nb

notbob > wrote:

> I eschewed Spam for years, having grown sick of eating it in my youth. But,
> Spam is not to be denied. I'm back in the fold and keep a can or two on
> hand at all times. My favorite use for spam is a breakfast burrito.

I had some in my desk at work for lunch rations. After cooking some
int he microwave one day, I'm not allowed to cook SPAM in the office
again. The stuff really reeks when you cook it. You have to wonder
about something claiming to be a ham-like substance with a stench
like that.

-sw

notbob wrote:
>
> On 2008-11-15, Gregory Morrow > wrote:
> >
> > Spam, a gelatinous 12-ounce rectangle of spiced ham and pork, may be among
> > the world's most maligned foods.....
>
> I eschewed Spam for years, having grown sick of eating it in my youth. But,
> Spam is not to be denied. I'm back in the fold and keep a can or two on
> hand at all times. My favorite use for spam is a breakfast burrito.

It's got some sort of weird taste in it I can't abide.
I don't know how to describe it -- maybe sort of a tang.

On Nov 15, 7:04�pm, notbob > wrote:
> On 2008-11-15, Gregory Morrow > wrote:
>
>
>
> > Spam, a gelatinous 12-ounce rectangle of spiced ham and pork, may be among
> > the world's most maligned foods.....
>
> I eschewed Spam for years, having grown sick of eating it in my youth. �But,
> Spam is not to be denied. �I'm back in the fold and keep a can or two on
> hand at all times. �My favorite use for spam is a breakfast burrito. �
>
> For a breakfast burrito, simply dice a can of spam and a few potatoes
> (preferably pre-baked or nuked) and fry 'em up in hot skillet till golden
> brown and semi-crispy. �Add some beaten eggs for a spud/spam scramble and
> shovel into heated flour tortillas and roll. �Add favorite hot sauce or
> salsa and gorge. �Yum! �Cheap Good Eats.>

I buy Spam by the case, on average I eat a can a week, have been for
as long as I can remember.

Spam is the National meat of Hawaii.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spam_(food)

Sheldon wrote:
>
> I buy Spam by the case, on average I eat a can a week, have been for
> as long as I can remember.

Same discriminating palate for meat that you have
for wine.

What's dessert? Moon pies? Tastykakes?

"notbob" > wrote in message
...
> On 2008-11-15, Gregory Morrow > wrote:
>>
>> Spam, a gelatinous 12-ounce rectangle of spiced ham and pork, may be
>> among
>> the world's most maligned foods.....
>
> I eschewed Spam for years, having grown sick of eating it in my youth.
> But,
> Spam is not to be denied. I'm back in the fold and keep a can or two on
> hand at all times. My favorite use for spam is a breakfast burrito.
>
> For a breakfast burrito, simply dice a can of spam and a few potatoes
> (preferably pre-baked or nuked) and fry 'em up in hot skillet till golden
> brown and semi-crispy. Add some beaten eggs for a spud/spam scramble and
> shovel into heated flour tortillas and roll. Add favorite hot sauce or
> salsa and gorge. Yum! Cheap Good Eats

Notbob, notbob, notbob. I LOVED the stuff when I was a kid. Mom'd get all
fancy by "glazing" it :-) I do have a can in my cupboard, but everytime I
think about using it, I look at the label.
I'll eat it some day ... or maybe give it to the dogs as a treat. Hey,
tomorrow's Sunday, and Sunday is treat day in my house! Rosie, Reggie and
Daphne are gonna get some Spam!

TammyM, whose dogs don't need to lose weight so can afford all those fat
grams and pig snouts and stuff

On 2008-11-16, Sheldon > wrote:

> I buy Spam by the case.....

I bought a case one time. Donated it to our yearly food drive. Better than
cans of Spaghetti-Os.

nb

On Sat, 15 Nov 2008 17:12:43 -0800, Mark Thorson >
wrote:

>It's got some sort of weird taste in it I can't abide.
>I don't know how to describe it -- maybe sort of a tang.

Apparently some people like it (I have two in my own family).
Personally, I can't stand that stuff.


--
I never worry about diets. The only carrots that
interest me are the number of carats in a diamond.

Mae West

On Sat, 15 Nov 2008 17:24:42 -0800, Mark Thorson >
wrote:

>Same discriminating palate for meat that you have
>for wine.

Christian Brothers used to make a wine good enough to serve at upscale
restaurants in the Union Square area of SF. Years later, they're
probably making the same quality of wine, but the boutique wineries
have stolen their thunder. If you can pull your head out of the sand,
give Carlo Rossi a try. It's not bad at all! It's an excellent
everyday table wine, as is Gallo and Livingston. Caveat to the rest
of the country: I've tried those brands "inland" and they were *not*
up to my expectations. So, I've come to the conclusion that CA wines
either don't travel well or are not shipped under optimal wine
shipping conditions. It's no wonder the rest of the country prefers
hard alcohol. I stay away from wine if I'm not on a coast (or in
Chicago) too.

sf
fondly remembering the days of CK jug wines


--
I never worry about diets. The only carrots that
interest me are the number of carats in a diamond.

Mae West

On Sat, 15 Nov 2008 17:58:58 -0800, "TammyM" >
wrote:

>I'll eat it some day ... or maybe give it to the dogs as a treat. Hey,
>tomorrow's Sunday, and Sunday is treat day in my house! Rosie, Reggie and
>Daphne are gonna get some Spam!

You needed to buy a fresh can anyway. LOL


--
I never worry about diets. The only carrots that
interest me are the number of carats in a diamond.

Mae West

"TammyM" wrote:
> "notbob" > wrote in message
>
> ...
>
>
>
>
>
> > On 2008-11-15, Gregory Morrow > wrote:
>
> >> Spam, a gelatinous 12-ounce rectangle of spiced ham and pork, may be
> >> among
> >> the world's most maligned foods.....
>
> > I eschewed Spam for years, having grown sick of eating it in my youth.
> > But,
> > Spam is not to be denied. �I'm back in the fold and keep a can or two on
> > hand at all times. �My favorite use for spam is a breakfast burrito.
>
> > For a breakfast burrito, simply dice a can of spam and a few potatoes
> > (preferably pre-baked or nuked) and fry 'em up in hot skillet till golden
> > brown and semi-crispy. �Add some beaten eggs for a spud/spam scramble and
> > shovel into heated flour tortillas and roll. �Add favorite hot sauce or
> > salsa and gorge. �Yum! �Cheap Good Eats
>
> Notbob, notbob, notbob. �I LOVED the stuff when I was a kid. �Mom'd get all
> fancy by "glazing" it :-) �I do have a can in my cupboard, but everytime I
> think about using it, I look at the label.
> I'll eat it some day ... or maybe give it to the dogs as a treat. �Hey,
> tomorrow's Sunday, and Sunday is treat day in my house! �Rosie, Reggie and
> Daphne are gonna get some Spam!
>
> TammyM, whose dogs don't need to lose weight so can afford all those fat
> grams and pig snouts and stuff.

Spam is more nutritious than many foods folks regularly consume;
balogna, tube steak, salami of all kinds, wursts of all kinds... and
lots more, and those are just meats, don't even look at all the baked
snack foods, and crappy dried cereals obeastie kiddies stuff down
their maws, and what about the mega tons of garbage folks consume at
fast food joints (how are greasy salty fries better than spam, and
don't forget the coke, all supersized). Spam with eggs is more
healthful than bacon/sausage and eggs. What's so healthful about the
typical flap jack house breakie, a stack of artificial ingredients
cakes super saturated with butter and half a beaker of heavy syrup.

Sheldon > wrote:

> I buy Spam by the case, on average I eat a can a week, have been for
> as long as I can remember.

More of that "taste in ass" disease you're so fond of.

-sw

Sheldon > wrote:

> Spam is more nutritious than many foods folks regularly consume;
> balogna, tube steak, salami of all kinds, wursts of all kinds... and
> lots more, and those are just meats, don't even look at all the baked
> snack foods, and crappy dried cereals obeastie kiddies stuff down
> their maws, and what about the mega tons of garbage folks consume at
> fast food joints (how are greasy salty fries better than spam, and
> don't forget the coke, all supersized). Spam with eggs is more
> healthful than bacon/sausage and eggs. What's so healthful about the
> typical flap jack house breakie, a stack of artificial ingredients
> cakes super saturated with butter and half a beaker of heavy syrup.

Did you have to go a vocational school to learn how to
bullshit like that?

-sw

"notbob" ha scritto nel messaggio > On 2008-11-15, Gregory Morrow
> wrote:
>>
>> Spam, a gelatinous 12-ounce rectangle of spiced ham and pork, may be
>> among
>> the world's most maligned foods.....
>
> I eschewed Spam for years, having grown sick of eating it in my youth.
> But,
> Spam is not to be denied. > nb

It's just too salty for me! You can hardly taste anything else for the
salt. My mother used to make "ham" salad with it and it was just edible,
but plain? Uh.UH.

On Sat, 15 Nov 2008 17:24:42 -0800, Mark Thorson wrote:

> Sheldon wrote:
>>
>> I buy Spam by the case, on average I eat a can a week, have been for
>> as long as I can remember.
>
> Same discriminating palate for meat that you have
> for wine.
>
> What's dessert? Moon pies? Tastykakes?

don't forget the crystal palace vodka:

RATING & REVIEW
Jerald (0)
07/17/2008
Distilled Vodka. Thats all it says.... jeeze this will make the hair on
your chest fall off!

ShellyKatz (0)
12/22/2006
Sux. Rating of 0 but it made me add a 1 star

WHATIGEE (0)
05/13/2006
TASTE -- LIKE TAINTED WATER
BUT WHEN UR BROKE AND YOU WANT TO GET DRUNK QUICK THIS WILL DO

Tommytomtomtom (0)
03/26/2006
Best vodka ever!!!!!! High quality. Cheap price!!! Good as Fizzuck!!!

tonyblum (0)
11/22/2004
Quality wise - terrible. If you are a poor college student who is already
going to be destroyed when you drink it - great.

<http://www.rateitall.com/i-218609-crystal-palace-vodka.aspx>

your pal,
blake

On Sat, 15 Nov 2008 21:38:45 -0600, Sqwertz wrote:

> Sheldon > wrote:
>
>> Spam is more nutritious than many foods folks regularly consume;
>> balogna, tube steak, salami of all kinds, wursts of all kinds... and
>> lots more, and those are just meats, don't even look at all the baked
>> snack foods, and crappy dried cereals obeastie kiddies stuff down
>> their maws, and what about the mega tons of garbage folks consume at
>> fast food joints (how are greasy salty fries better than spam, and
>> don't forget the coke, all supersized). Spam with eggs is more
>> healthful than bacon/sausage and eggs. What's so healthful about the
>> typical flap jack house breakie, a stack of artificial ingredients
>> cakes super saturated with butter and half a beaker of heavy syrup.
>
> Did you have to go a vocational school to learn how to
> bullshit like that?
>
> -sw

i think he's just naturally talented.

your pal,
blake

Giusi wrote:
>
> "notbob" ha scritto nel messaggio > On 2008-11-15, Gregory Morrow
> > wrote:
> >>
> >> Spam, a gelatinous 12-ounce rectangle of spiced ham and pork, may be
> >> among
> >> the world's most maligned foods.....
> >
> > I eschewed Spam for years, having grown sick of eating it in my youth.
> > But,
> > Spam is not to be denied. > nb
>
> It's just too salty for me! You can hardly taste anything else for the
> salt. My mother used to make "ham" salad with it and it was just edible,
> but plain? Uh.UH.

There is nothing wrong with it really, little different than a canned
ham. As for the salt, yes it's salty, but when paired with starchy items
like potatoes or pasta, or with eggs, the salt balances out.

"Giusi Baccal� wrote:
> "notbob" writes:
> >Gregory Morrow wrote:
> >
> >> Spam, a gelatinous 12-ounce rectangle of spiced ham and pork, may be
> >> among
> >> the world's most maligned foods.....
>
> > I eschewed Spam for years, having grown sick of eating it in my youth.
> > But,
> > Spam is not to be denied. > nb
>
> It's just too salty for me! �You can hardly taste anything else for the
> salt. �

Spam is no more salty (or fatty) than the typical guinea sausage
products... no other ethnicity uses more salt as a food preservative
than the guineas... salt is a natural bacteriostat... that's why
guineas don't bathe, that's why they stink like fetid cheese brine.
Before anyone would have sex with you you'd have to soak your crotch
like baccal�!

Ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha. . . .

In article >,
"Giusi" > wrote:

> "notbob" ha scritto nel messaggio > On 2008-11-15, Gregory Morrow
> > wrote:
> >>
> >> Spam, a gelatinous 12-ounce rectangle of spiced ham and pork, may be
> >> among
> >> the world's most maligned foods.....
> >
> > I eschewed Spam for years, having grown sick of eating it in my youth.
> > But,
> > Spam is not to be denied. > nb
>
> It's just too salty for me! You can hardly taste anything else for the
> salt. My mother used to make "ham" salad with it and it was just edible,
> but plain? Uh.UH.

I agree. All you can taste is the salt.
I won't eat that stuff at all any more. Dad likes the turkey variety.
--
Peace! Om

"Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can't help them, at least don't hurt them." -- Dalai Lama

In article > ,
"Gregory Morrow" > wrote:

> http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/15/business/15spam.html
>
> November 15, 2008
>
> Spam Turns Serious and Hormel Turns Out More
> </>

LOL! I just posted the link and one to the Strib a few minutes ago,
before looking at the group.
--
-Barb, Mother Superior, HOSSSPoJ
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/kilikini
(Send her a note!)

In article >,
notbob > wrote:

> shovel into heated flour tortillas and roll. Add favorite hot sauce or
> salsa and gorge. Yum! Cheap Good Eats.
>
> nb

Is it really that cheap? That you find it good. . . .well, there's
that thing about your mileage and all. '-)
--
-Barb, Mother Superior, HOSSSPoJ
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/kilikini
(Send her a note!)

sf wrote:

> On Sat, 15 Nov 2008 17:12:43 -0800, Mark Thorson >
> wrote:
>
> >It's got some sort of weird taste in it I can't abide.
> >I don't know how to describe it -- maybe sort of a tang.
>
> Apparently some people like it (I have two in my own family).
> Personally, I can't stand that stuff.


If you want a really disgusting canned meat product, try Armour Treet, the
texture is that of meat - flavoured Jello and it has a wierd smell...

That said, I like an ocassional Spam sammich, it's "comfort food"...


--
Best
Greg

blake murphy wrote:


> On Sat, 15 Nov 2008 17:24:42 -0800, Mark Thorson wrote:
>
> > Sheldon wrote:
> >>
> >> I buy Spam by the case, on average I eat a can a week, have been for
> >> as long as I can remember.
> >
> > Same discriminating palate for meat that you have
> > for wine.
> >
> > What's dessert? Moon pies? Tastykakes?
>
> don't forget the crystal palace vodka:


I'd never drink it straight but it's just *fine* for mixing,
blake...otherwise you are wasting yer money.


> RATING & REVIEW
> Jerald (0)
> 07/17/2008
> Distilled Vodka. Thats all it says.... jeeze this will make the hair on
> your chest fall off!
>
> ShellyKatz (0)
> 12/22/2006
> Sux. Rating of 0 but it made me add a 1 star
>
> WHATIGEE (0)
> 05/13/2006
> TASTE -- LIKE TAINTED WATER
> BUT WHEN UR BROKE AND YOU WANT TO GET DRUNK QUICK THIS WILL DO
>
> Tommytomtomtom (0)
> 03/26/2006
> Best vodka ever!!!!!! High quality. Cheap price!!! Good as Fizzuck!!!
>
> tonyblum (0)
> 11/22/2004
> Quality wise - terrible. If you are a poor college student who is already
> going to be destroyed when you drink it - great.
>
> <http://www.rateitall.com/i-218609-crystal-palace-vodka.aspx>
>


Yawn, these "reviewers" sound like the peanut gallery on _Romper Room_...


--
Best
Greg

On Sun, 16 Nov 2008 15:10:52 -0600, "Gregory Morrow"
> wrote:

>
>
>sf wrote:
>
>> On Sat, 15 Nov 2008 17:12:43 -0800, Mark Thorson >
>> wrote:
>>
>> >It's got some sort of weird taste in it I can't abide.
>> >I don't know how to describe it -- maybe sort of a tang.
>>
>> Apparently some people like it (I have two in my own family).
>> Personally, I can't stand that stuff.
>
>
>If you want a really disgusting canned meat product, try Armour Treet, the
>texture is that of meat - flavoured Jello and it has a wierd smell...
>
Thanks, but no thanks. Meat flavored jello is over the top.

>That said, I like an ocassional Spam sammich, it's "comfort food"...



--
I never worry about diets. The only carrots that
interest me are the number of carats in a diamond.

Mae West

Sheldon wrote:

"Giusi Baccal? wrote:
> "notbob" writes:
> >Gregory Morrow wrote:
> >
> >> Spam, a gelatinous 12-ounce rectangle of spiced ham and pork, may be
> >> among
> >> the world's most maligned foods.....
>
> > I eschewed Spam for years, having grown sick of eating it in my youth.
> > But,
> > Spam is not to be denied. > nb
>
> It's just too salty for me! ?You can hardly taste anything else for the
> salt. ?

Spam is no more salty (or fatty) than the typical guinea sausage
products... no other ethnicity uses more salt as a food preservative
than the guineas... salt is a natural bacteriostat... that's why
guineas don't bathe, that's why they stink like fetid cheese brine.
Before anyone would have sex with you you'd have to soak your crotch
like baccal?!

Ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha. . . .
-------------------------

GM replies:

Lol...I have to laff, it's *so* true...


--
Best
Greg

" I find Greg Morrow lowbrow, witless, and obnoxious. For him to claim that
we are some
kind of comedy team turns my stomach."
- "cybercat" to me on rec.food.cooking

Melba's Jammin' wrote:

> In article > ,
> "Gregory Morrow" > wrote:
>
> > http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/15/business/15spam.html
> >
> > November 15, 2008
> >
> > Spam Turns Serious and Hormel Turns Out More
> > </>
>
> LOL! I just posted the link and one to the Strib a few minutes ago,
> before looking at the group.


It's one of those "times are tough" food articles, Barb, along the lines of
the articles that tell us consumers to make a grocery budget, buy victuals
on sale, make stuff from scratch, eschew expensive processed junk foods, and
use coupons, etc...IOW simply use some common sense. Most of us have always
done that...

In today's paper there's an article about a young couple budgeting. Their
idea of "cutting back" includes having the dog walker in only *three* times
per week, dropping their house cleaning service, making *some* meals at home
instead of eating out nightly, and not dropping $250.00 per week for their
weekly bar tab...all real hardships, I'm practically sure.

"Kids these days", I'm tellin' ya...some are gonna be in for a *real* hard
"landing".

;-|

--
Best
Greg

On Sun, 16 Nov 2008 15:17:44 -0600, Gregory Morrow wrote:

> Sheldon wrote:
>
> "Giusi Baccal? wrote:
>> "notbob" writes:
>> >Gregory Morrow wrote:
>>>
>>>> Spam, a gelatinous 12-ounce rectangle of spiced ham and pork, may be
>>>> among
>>>> the world's most maligned foods.....
>>
>>> I eschewed Spam for years, having grown sick of eating it in my youth.
>>> But,
>>> Spam is not to be denied. > nb
>>
>> It's just too salty for me! ?You can hardly taste anything else for the
>> salt. ?
>
> Spam is no more salty (or fatty) than the typical guinea sausage
> products... no other ethnicity uses more salt as a food preservative
> than the guineas... salt is a natural bacteriostat... that's why
> guineas don't bathe, that's why they stink like fetid cheese brine.
> Before anyone would have sex with you you'd have to soak your crotch
> like baccal?!
>
> Ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha. . . .
> -------------------------
>
> GM replies:
>
> Lol...I have to laff, it's *so* true...

yeah, morrow and sheldon are *experts* on pussy.

blake

This is way too funny. I just bought a couple of cans last week because
I had a nostalgia attack for a grilled spam and cheese sandwich.
Somehow, modern spam doesn't taste as good as it did when I was kid...
And for what it worth, My Dad was a WWII vet who just loved the stuff...