64 Comments
founding

Planet Money got me to try the new Hydrox. It is not meant to be "new and improved" it is meant to be the classic Hydrox for which there are fervent fans. Hydrox had been off the market for many years.

When I had one I thought it was less sweet than an Oreo, I could taste the cocoa more and it was slightly more crunchy. But in a blind taste test, I could not tell the difference -- and that is when I knew there were two different brands and I was trying to detect a difference. We did the "triangle test" -- two of one type and one of the other, where the odd one is randomly determined.

It is a funny story that is really a vehicle to explain how trademarks work.

https://www.npr.org/sections/money/2015/09/18/441546748/episode-652-the-hydrox-resurrection

Expand full comment

EZ mentioned that maybe Hydrox got better but sadly it's that Oreos got worse so now they are even, imo

Expand full comment
founding

I implemented manufacturing systems for several companies that made consumer brands. They all produced store label versions of their products as a way to maximize production efficiency and marginal profits. The only difference was the packaging. A cursory look at most retail shelves will show that there are many alternatives, at varying price points, for most products. The brands spend a lot of money on marketing to stand out, including paying for prime shelf space. Similarly, many 'craft', 'artisan', and specialty products are produced on mass market production lines, targeting a higher price point.

Expand full comment
Jun 6·edited Jun 6

My dad worked for a large multi-national food producer. They produced their own brand-name products as well as store-brand. They did use different recipes for the store-brand versions at that company, at least for the product lines his plant worked on. Same lines, same equipment, but slightly different recipes. If a company wanted to co-brand (say a large warehouse club), but wanted to use cheaper recipes/ingredients that didn't meet my dad's employer's standards, the employer would offer to produce the product but not co-branded because it didn't meet their standards. Higher quality (requiring higher customer price), they would do but if it wasn't to their standards it could only carry the store name, not the major company's name. As controller, my dad was responsible for pricing out the cost to produce the products

Expand full comment
founding

I am going with Bill Burr's take (which is not common for me; I never joined the trend of seeing comedians as journalists -- I'm looking at you Jon Stewart fans) on reactions to the Trump prosecution. Whether or not he should have been prosecuted on the hush money issue is a separate matter of which I do not know enough to have an opinion. But the celebratory reaction by liberals is not rational. The trial does not end his candidacy nor does it damage it. It only reinforces his narrative with his followers. On the other side, it makes no sense for those who believe that the 2020 election was stolen to celebrate Trump running again. If "they" stole the election in 2020 why do supporters think that it won't be stolen again in 2024?

Expand full comment

Many of his supporters are already saying that if Trump loses in 2024 the election will have been rigged. He's been saying that about every election since 2012, including 2016 when he lost the popular vote. By now it's just the accepted worldview in that cult of conspiracy theories and grievances - anything not going completely their way must have been rigged, unfair, or "a disgrace".

Regarding celebrating his conviction - it's because he's gotten cleanly away with so much blatant and brazen wrongdoing over many years that it's a nice change to score even this victory, however little effect it may have on the election, it restores a smidgen of faith in our justice system.

Expand full comment
Jun 4·edited Jun 4

Neil Steinberg had a great column on this yesterday titled “The Straw that Didn’t Break the Camel’s Back.”

Expand full comment

Some of us 'celebrating' the conviction with the idea that TFG FINALLY got a bit of justice for his decades of criminal activity! -- Starting with his realty activity in New York which was filled with illegal racist discrimination. And continuing with his 'university' and his 'liquor' and the many suppliers that got stiffed when they submitted bills for their products. E.g. the grand piano supplier who was driven to bankruptcy by TFG who refused to pay for the many grand pianos ordered and delivered.

We are grateful that a fair justice system prevailed over the thousands of lies told by TFG about the process.

Expand full comment

I loved & voted for the last Confederate flag.

Watching a WWII documentary last week, that was also the last Nazi flag.

But the scum that flies their other earlier flags refuse to understand that!

In regard to pit bulls, just go to the website of Chicago Animal Control & see what dogs they have to offer for adoption & the overwhelming majority are pit bull mixes, which shows that most people don't want these potentially violent & extremely dangerous dogs. They understand they can turn on you or other dogs!

Expand full comment

The 2nd most common dog at shelters is the Chihuahua or Chihuahua mix. These two breeds are subject to the most unregulated breeding which is the main reason so many of them wind up in shelters. In a market economy the lack of demand should make the number available go down but breeders keep on keeping on. I agree with Mr. Zorn''s analysis of the situation.in addition, the corgi was unharmed, but the visceral reaction that the dog should die, seems based entirely on the fact that the dead dog was a pit bull. Kristi Noem's's dog killed some chickens in farm country, but the German pointer got the benefit of the doubt. (Too many damn guns being wielded by people who shoot first and think second, but I digress)

Expand full comment

Noem killed her dog, so it never got the benefit of doubt!

Expand full comment

I think she means the dog got the benefit of the doubt from a horrified public

Expand full comment

So many people breed pitties that there are way too many. Most are sweet, smiley dogs who adore their families once adopted. Some are trained to fight/attack. This can be unlearned - most of Michael Vick's dogs became loving family pets after being taken away from that monster. That said, I wouldn't get a pittie myself as they are too strong for me to control and I have small pets (cats and rabbits) that probably wouldn't fare well with even the most friendly pittie - between the dog being big and my buns especially being terrified. For the right, responsible owner pitties can be lovely.

Expand full comment

Just spent some time in Scandinavia and have a couple of impressions: (1) Seemingly far fewer dogs in Copenhagen and Stockholm than we have in Chicago; (2) based on my personal observations ("me-search", in other words) there were FAR fewer Pit Bull/Pull Bull mixes.

IMO, I think that during the 1990s-2000s, pit bulls became very popular in certain areas of the US (which also happened to be areas where spaying/neutering was not practiced as fastidiously as in others), resulting in a far higher % of Pits/Pit Mixes in the general (and therefore, dog shelter) dog populations.

I've known some "teddy bear" Pits/Pit Mixes, but I also know a person whose sister was mauled/killed by a pair of pit bull mixes in the Chicago area in 2003 when she was out for a run.

Expand full comment

Agent Orange has announced that he is a political prisoner. How about taking him at his word and offer to swap him with the very innocent man and actual political prisoner, Evan Gershkovich? I am sure Trump's pal Putin would welcome the exchange. It would also raise the moral dignity of both countries.

Expand full comment

One thing I loved about Paul Sullivan's Caitlin column is that it provided context beyond race and gender. And Clark herself has refused to push those buttons. Carter's "little attack" was bad p.r., but I don't remember everyone getting so up in arms when Charles Oakley played "physical" basketball. Bulls fans loved him for it.

Expand full comment

Agree with you Don. That was a cheap shot on Caitlin but I detected a bit of a flop by her. No resulting injury or mark.

Compare that to John Salley, Isiah Thomas, Rick Mahon, Dennis Rodman and Bill Laimbeer…yes the Detroit Basketball Thugs (thug thugs not hip hop thugs).

Can you imagine them playing the Fever in a promotional game? Those folks HURT people and then celebrated on and off the court.

When you put it in perspective, the Caitlin incident was bad sportsmanship, the Pistons practiced criminal assault on the court.

Expand full comment

At what point is Trump responsible for his own acts? Read the news some time. Yes, the American justice system is slow. How many Chicago stories are there about Cook County cases taking years to get heard? But for me, here is the key point. If Trump were still merely a television celebrity fighting Vince McMahon in the ring, conservatives would be laughing themselves sick while yelling "Lick him up". Why is it different because he was in the White House? Political? Who tried to lock up either of the Bush's or Reagan? Could it be because Trump did something wrong? The difference between Trump and Nixon is that in Nixon's day, there were Republicans of moral conviction that went to the White House and told Nixon it was time to go because they would vote to convict. How times change!

Expand full comment

Once again my typing and proofreading is substandard. Lock him up is what I meant to say. But I get the giggles thinking that maybe "Lick him up" was appropriate for Stormy Daniels.

Expand full comment

I’m more confused than ever by the nap with a friend thing. The confusion centers around the “ with my consent”. What? Is napping with someone without their consent something that could or ever has happened ever? It’s a bi-zarre way to describe this. Even if it meant something else it’s such a strange way to describe things. “I had a friend who come over and we would take a nap together” would say everything that needs to be said.

Expand full comment

I find the Trump conviction a Social Studies teacher's dream come true. Twelve citizens of various backgrounds, gender, class and more spent time studying the minutiae of the trial as it was happening, asked for several witness testimonies to be given to them to study again, and returned a verdict of all 12 jurors. For many reasons having nothing to do with his guilt, Trump will never serve a day in prison on these charges. But when he goes home at night, he is alone, and he has no choice but to realize that he is a loser - something that he can hardly comprehend. For this trial, that is enough for me.

Expand full comment

Good post Janet, but I think a fine with probation and gag order in place is the best outcome.

Trump is trying to use this sentence as a martyr, probation would not present the victim image he desires but would keep him yammering about being a victim.

The gag order would hang over his head and drive him nuts. The fine, likely small, would show how ineffective money damages are with Trump.

In short, it would keep him off his game and continue his one subject rant; not an effective strategy to get elected.

Expand full comment

I find it amusing that the term "slept with this or that person" now has a literal meaning.

Expand full comment

When Dennis Rodman was with the Detroit Pistons, he was one of the "Bad Boys"- overly physical and unconcerned with his image. When he joined the Chicago Bulls, he became "colorful" and "unique " to Chicago fans. Let's be honest here. The Chicago Sky are becoming extremely unlikeable. But it's rude to say so because it's taken too long for women's basketball to get the attention many think they deserve. So some may excuse shortcomings like dirty play and not talking to the media. I am not one of them. Furthermore, I suspect not only jealousy but a tinge of racism in what happened to Caitlin Clark. Rather than celebrating the attention and perks that Clark has helped bring, the other women seem to want to knock her down. Okay, if that's what they want, we can watch the WNBA head in the same direction as women's roller derby. Maybe Clark is not the superstar she was in college. That's what happens to most pro players. The other women should enjoy the attention while it lasts. Permanence is not guaranteed.

Expand full comment
founding
Jun 4·edited Jun 4

"A tinge of racism" - You think? The established WNBA players are showing they don't like the white, straight, somewhat attractive great hope who is bringing all this attention to the league. This is the reason that the WNBA has not caught on after 27 years of existence. They don't know how to be likeable to the average fan. Caitlin Clark has a heavy lift to overcome all the obstacles ahead of her if she can turn this league into a success.

Expand full comment

Agreed, the other players should be thrilled at the attention Clark is bringing the WNBA. Increased ticket sales and larger TV audiences turn into heftier TV contracts that will lift everybody's paychecks. All the guys in the NBA whose names none of us will ever recognize but still make $10M a year should be paying a percentage to Dr. J, Magic, Bird, and Jordan for creating a platform for them to make such salaries.... I like watching Clark because she makes me go WOW! -- moments where I'm sitting quietly in front of my TV and all of a sudden an explosion of noise erupts from my mouth and popcorn is flying. A step-back three near the logo? Are you insane? Then, nothing but net. Holy cow! The WNBA has nice ball movement that leads to nice plays, which I enjoy watching. But Clark brings the WOW! And that makes me tune in and watch.

Expand full comment

I just want to say that it's not just the Tribune with the weird pricing... During a recent "let's cut stuff out of my budget" moment, I called the NYTimes to cancel my $25 a month subscription (with games and cooking and sports). By the end of it, I had a $2/month subscription for everything and got credit for my most recent $25 payment, so, I'm already paid in full for more than a year.

Expand full comment

I have found the NY Times quite amenable to suggestions of a cheaper subscription price. And the New Yorker as well. I wait until I get a postcard or an email with price of $X. I call and get a better one.

Expand full comment

Whoa -- what a great price, Trish! I'm going to remember that. The food/recipes/cooking (which I love) doubled in price from last year to this. And I assure you, it's a lot more than $2 a month.

Expand full comment

I don’t think I like Martha Stewart as a white collar sentencing example. Annoying as she is, a lot of people including me thought her sentence was seriously excessive.

Expand full comment

The entire prosecution of her was disgraceful, as almost everyone else accused of the same stock price stuff, just had to pay a fine.

Expand full comment

Longtime fans of The Who, like me, immediately raise an eyebrow at any comments about napping with someone else. See, “A Quick One (While He’s Away)”: Ivor the Engine Driver. Stay for the transcendent weird brilliance of a mini rock opera.

Expand full comment
Jun 4·edited Jun 4

Yes, off topic, but “A Quick One” is the greatest mini rock opera of all time, in part because it rocks out, and in part because it is so devoid of the pretense that would mark the lyrical content of pretty much all the mini rock operas (or “suites”) to follow.

Note: the studio version of this song is kind of limp, so please only listen to live versions. The performance from The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus from 1968 is the best. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=RJv2-_--EY4

My nomination for Tune of the Week.

Expand full comment

Great point about the live version! That’s the definitive one.

Expand full comment

In college my friend group (male and female) regularly napped together. Not unusual to find 3-4 of us snuggled on one extra-long-twin bed taking a nap in the middle of the day. Nothing sexual about any of it, just a nap with friends. Those were the best naps. Now I have to be content with snuggling a cat while sleeping.

Expand full comment

If Caitlin Clark was knocked around during a rebound scrum or was hit hard while shooting, that's basketball. The way she was hit here while standing alone and waiting for an inbounds pass was egregious. Thats not basketball, it was a planned (in the moment) hit. On replay you can see Carter look at her and take aim. Then the BS in the presser and social media makes it worse. I'm a big sports fan, but you can have the Sky. Carter, Reese and the coach should realize that a rising tide lifts all boats, and Ms. Clark is helping them all.

Expand full comment

Oh great, now I have "what do you do with a drunken sailor" running in my brain on a loop.

Expand full comment

Okay, how about “Who let the Dogs out!” to reflect some of the posts today and replace one “ear worm” with another.

Expand full comment