America’s Test Kitchen & Chinese Junk

Occasionally, I read the numerous emails sent out by “America’s Test Kitchen.”

And when I write “numerous,” I mean NUMEROUS. They’re practically bordering on SPAM.

And, they almost always want you to buy some cheap, Fabriqué en Chien Chine (tr. “Made in China,” but, it might as well be “Made in Dog”) junk. Hmm… Chinese junk. Seems there is an historical watercraft called — interestingly enough — a “Chinese junk.”

China, Miscellaneous Scenes: Junks near Ningpo
Creator: Fong, Ali
Subject: Hartung’s Photo Shop
Local number: SIA RU007263 [SIA2008-2923]
RU 7263 – Arthur de Carle Sowerby Papers, 1904-1954 and undated, Smithsonian Institution Archives
Place: Ningbo Zhuanqu (China)
Repository: Smithsonian Institution Archives

And ATK’s latest flop is… testing silicon spatulas.

Yes, you read that correctly – silicon spatulas. It must’ve been a VERY slow day week in the test kitchen.

While I once found them informative, they’ve been slipping. And one thing that gripes me about ATK is that many of their “recommendations” aren’t worth a hot hoot in Hades. As an example, consider a venerable, almost ubiquitous, household kitchen appliance… the blender.

Not too long ago, ATK, as they usually do, produced a video comparing various brands of the kitchen appliance. That one, of course, happened to be about blenders. Their hands-down, long-time winner was the Vitamix 5200, priced at $449… BUT! Made in Cleveland, Ohio, and FULLY guaranteed — everything about it (i.e., “a motor blender base and any containers purchased together”) will be repaired, or replaced AT NO EXTRA COST — for 7 years if ANY part fails “due to a defect in material or workmanship or as a result of normal wear and tear from ordinary household use.” FINALLY! FINEST QUALITY MADE IN AMERICA!

ATK’s “next best” choice model was the Breville brand Hemisphere Control model, priced around $200 – Made in China, and with only a limited, one year guarantee.

While the site and accompanying video(s) show excerpts from their “tests,” and the host gives an adequate description of the “tests” and their staff’s findings – the advantages and shortcomings of each of them – one thing they fall grievously short on is… 1.) CLEANING, and; 2.) LONG TERM DURABILITY TESTING.

Granted, ATK conjures up some “torture” tests that most cooks won’t come close to performing, such as plunging a searing hot skillet into an ice water bath, or banging the thing on a concrete block… just to see what would happen. In industry parlance, that’s called “destructive testing,” meaning that the piece, or thing, being tested is likely to be damaged, or destroyed in the process.

I happen to own a couple Breville brand products, one of them being the no-longer-manufactured Hemisphere model blender, and the other one being the still-manufactured Breville brand Barista Express model espresso machine with integrated grinder.

The TOTAL purchase price for BOTH items – shipping + tax included – was around $1000+/-.

Now, to give kudos to the Australian company, their design team

Hitler Drank Sanka?

Drink decaf only?

Turns out, you’re in not-so-good company!

The Nazi party made it their official drink of the state, and forbade caffeine under Hitler.

Seriously… they did.

Read on.

As a freedom-loving people and nation, we should seriously rethink our posture on regulations.

It’s not that regulations are bad, per se – I favor regulations because they make things operate more effectively and efficiently (deregulate sports games and watch them become free-for-alls, or deregulate traffic and watch wrecks occur) – but when it comes to personal decisions and human health, we should rethink the role of regulation in making things illegal, such as cannabis (its illegality is historically a function of virulent racism, and began in the USA), tobacco (regulated by government – it was BIG BUSINESS that continuously lied to the public to increase sales), alcohol (regulated by government – religious groups once demonized it, and some still do), and other recreational substances including those which by their illegality are prohibited from being researched, and which may hold significant benefit for humanity – including psilocybin, MDMA, and others.

CBD from cannabis is the VERY FIRST medication to come from a plant in its natural state, and is used to treat intractable seizure disorder.

“Just say ‘NO!'” didn’t get that done.

It is impractical, and we simply CANNOT be a “nanny” society.

Further, the “lure of forbidden fruit” still draws people. Go figure.

The “dietary supplement” industry is HUGE, and points to a strong desire the public has for, and in maintaining their health. And yet, most would be shocked to know that the industry eschews regulation. Further, modern efforts at regulation of that industry has been a very sticky wicket.

Why?

Aside from the claims of “purity” which they make, they DO NOT certify any potency level for the products they sell, and further, they have no interest in doing so. Food and groceries are better regulated than the “dietary supplement” industry. Presently, advertising claims for such products must only state that the product is not meant to treat, or cure any disease or condition, which the FDA calls unproven, or misleading claims.

Regarding addiction, NO ONE wakes up one day and says to themselves, ‘gee… I think I want to become an addict today.’ NO ONE. Rather, addiction most comes as a by-product of an individuals inability to cope, or effectively deal with the circumstances in their life.

Further, making things illegal (such as alcohol, cannabis, etc.) has only served to INCREASE criminality, and death. In the case of cannabis, it has created global narcotrafficking enterprises – criminal cabals on a scale heretofore unimagined, which brought with them death and destruction by bullets, more than by the substances they peddled.

Heroin was once legally sold in America, and we had few instances of addiction.

Cannabis was once legal in America, and racists wanted a scapegoat, so Mexicans it was.

Even though their object of worship made it, and drank it, religious extremists took their holy writ out of context and demonized wine.

In almost every instance, in one way, or another, extremism was responsible for the bad chapters in our history.

“Just say ‘NO!'” has never worked, nor will it ever.

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Why the Nazi Party Loved Decaf Coffee

by Matthew Sedacca, November 15, 2017

The modern version of your morning coffee first appeared in the 15th century, and it replaced caffeine fixes that ranged from weak, coffee-bean tea to coffee beans mixed with animal fat. For centuries, though, people who wanted to avoid caffeine jitters turned to bitter, coffee-like tangs from substitutes such as chicory. It wasn’t until 1905, in Bremen, Germany, that Ludwig Roselius, a former coffee-roaster apprentice, discovered a method for producing a tasteful, caffeine-free version of the real stuff.

Roselius’s legacy lives on in the form of waiters who carry coffee in one hand and decaf in the other. His invention occupies an odd place in the culinary landscape—rarely loved, sometimes endured, and often despised by coffee purists. But in its early years, decaf found a particularly appreciative and supportive audience: the Third Reich. As the Nazi Party assumed power, its leaders recommended decaf as a way to avoid caffeine, a poison in their eyes. More than a health campaign, decaf was part of a state policy intended to preserve a healthy Aryan population.

Ludwig Roselius

Like many inventions, the history of decaf coffee is

Lyons Coffee Roasters @LyonsCoffeeAL in Florence, Alabama announces reopening! Oh Happy Day!

I am overjoyed to learn of this OUTSTANDINGLY EXCELLENT news!

Happy Day!

You’ve read the headline, so you “know” something of the “bottom line.”

A few weeks back, I had written a thoughtful Op-Ed about the matter entitled “Why the LGBT community should support Shirey Ice Cream in Florence, Alabama,” and encouraged peaceful reconciliation.

In part I wrote…

“An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth” does nothing more than increase eyeless, toothless people. It multiplies injury, and eventually claims everyone.

“On the other hand, in stark contrast, love covers a multitude of sins.

“Love your enemies. Pray for those who persecute you. Do good to those who hate you. Let the light of your good deeds shine so brightly so that many others can see it, who will then give praise to your Heavenly Father because of them.

“Those ideas are truly revolutionary values.”

I do not know whether or not

Avion Espresso Tequila… it’s not just for margaritas anymore!

Pundits at the Wall Street Journal share a quick taste.

Here’s one line you’ll rarely – if ever – hear about tequila:

“Pour this over some

Burn the bacon slowly

Following is a repost of an earlier entry of mine hosted at another location.

Burn the bacon slooooowly…

Posted: January 5, 2009 1:52 am

This morning as I awakened, I had set the alarm for 0630 in the thoughts that I might attend the 0800 worship service.

I did not.

I was awake until around 0100 watching a DVD series of MI-5 episodes. It’s a BBC production, and a fine television series at that! As I watch their productions, I am coming to think that they are superior in their story telling to many of these made-in-Hollywood Americans.

Anyway, as I listened for the deep gurgling sounds of the coffee maker starting up – I had also set it for 0630 (or so I thought) – I did not hear it, and thought

USDA: Eggs have Less Cholesterol, More Vitamin D than We Thought

Seems the USDA has “egg on their face.” Maybe it should be in their bellies instead?

First, eggs were bad.

Now, they’re good.

Then coffee was evil.

Now, it’s not.

Next was chocolate.

Too bad… seems now, it’s A-OK!

And for goodness sake! Do NOT under ANY circumstances drink wine, liquor or beer!

But now, it’s okay to have a few drinks.

And heaven help us all… the beef! Where’s the beef!?! You’re surely gonna’ DIE!

Well… maybe not as quickly as we once thought. Beef’s okay.

My friends, beware “Schizophrenic Science”! Particularly dietary-related science!

Remember the “Twinkie Diet“!

You probably haven’t read this…

There’s not much here, truth be told.

So, don’t be offended.

Half kilo of coffee

Ever notice how most coffee sold in the USA is 12 ounce size? This is marketed and sold in Germany.

Hey! Who ate my cheese?!?

Breakfast of Champions with the King

God’s Gift to Your Morning