Roundup
(1) More evidence for what everyone ought to know by now, which is that Hamas doesn’t just want a Palestinian state. It wants Israel destroyed, and it wants the entire world to become Muslim.
(2) Biden blames Trump for not vaccinating the public. There are so many things wrong with this charge that I hardly know where to begin, but in fact the vaccine wasn’t available until after the 2020 election (in December), and the Trump administration drew up a vaccination plan which Biden followed. And of course, vaccination was not the hoped-for magic bullet anyway.
(3) The gang rape of a 13-year-old in Italy by “Egyptian migrants” is feared to be an opportunity for the “far right” to pounce.
(4) The ridiculously destructive “2-state solution” should be completely off the table at this point:
But compelling as it is as a debating strategy, or a form of self-therapy, the two-state solution is, sadly, no solution at all. Rather, it is a big step down the road to another Lebanon. It would doom the Zionist project, not save it, while producing much greater misery and more bloodshed for Israelis and Palestinians alike. By now most of us in Israel understand this dreadful math.
That’s from someone who used to support the 2-state solution.
(5) “Shrinkflation.”
While you were Super Bowl shopping, did you notice smaller-than-usual products where the price stays the same?
Folks are calling it Shrinkflation and it means companies are giving you less for every dollar you spend.
I’m calling on the big consumer brands to put a stop to it. pic.twitter.com/wL1NsEh78F
— President Biden (@POTUS) February 11, 2024
First of all, that’s been happening for decades. Second of all, there’s a reason it’s happening, and that reason isn’t that corporations are just plain mean.
re 2 & 5: How effective constant, patently ridiculous gaslighting like that actually is? Just outright declaring things that are so demonstrably untrue, big bold lies that can be shown to be lies with the baresest minimum level of research seems like such an insane strategy to me. They must believe that a majority of voters are utterly irretrievably stupid imbeciles of colossal proportions. Maybe they’re right? I don’t know anymore, we live in such insane times.
Islam is a conquering ideology, not a religion. It has no place in America, but we keep on keeping on, more Muslims daily. At its height, the Mediterranean was an Islamic sea; the Southern Spanish province, now Andalusia, was al-Andalus. The Pyrenees obstructed the Islamic march into Europe. Had that geological barrier not existed, it is likely that all of Western Europe would have been Islamic well before 1492, the Elizabethan era, Shakespeare, and English common law, among so many others would never have existed.
The Gaza conundrum is insoluble by humane means. If you have a nest of rats in your home, you must kill them all, the infants and the old ones too. All of them.
(5) So it’s either smaller contents size for about the same price or the same contents size for a greater price.
Would you rather have that formerly 14 ounce bag of chips now be 12 ounce but the price the same or would you still want the 14 ounce bag but it is now a $1 more?
It’s the same thing.
I would really like to see this polled because I think most people would choose the ‘shrinkflation’ option for most items.
Joey B’s head’s shrinkflation is a little different: the packaging is the same size, but the contents inside have nearly disappeared.
Nonapod-
You are correct: “a majority of voters are utterly irretrievably stupid imbeciles of colossal proportions.” I would just insert “Democratic” before “voters”.
My 55 year-old black housekeeper, endowed with good native intelligence, says,”I’m black so I have to vote Democratic”.
C’mon. Everyone can see that big corporations have gotten greedier since Biden took office.
#5 has already been artfully fisk’ed here for its economic ignorance, but what alarms me more about it is the blatant, “Emperor has no clothes”-edness of it.
The Biden team bowed out of the sort-of traditional pre-Superbowl interview. The interview itself is not a hugely important thing, but the “why” invites questions. It’s typically about 3 minutes long, can be pre-recorded and so scheduled almost any time, the interviewer would be favorable to Biden and it’s a great opportunity to appear Presidential in front of a huge, captive, American audience.
There is almost no reason to turn it down. The only reason anyone can perceive is the Biden team thought he would not come across favorably. Why? Again, the interviewer would go easy on him, so the only answer that makes sense is Biden is too unpredictable to appear Presidential, speaking off the cuff, for the 10 minutes, or so, the interview would require prior to editing.
His refusal became a rather national story. So, his team did this heavily editing thing on “shrinkflation” AND an absurd tik-tok video (also heavily edited) of one of his staff asking him inane questions off screen while he attempted to repeat inane, scripted answers. Not only was the tik-tok video an obvious sham, his own administration had previously restricted tik-tok from all federal government devices!
These videos are disturbing to me. They truly have a North Korea/ChiCom vibe to them. It’s like a really poor fortune cookie translation of a propaganda poster: “Dear Leader enjoy many pleasures of American past time with much joke and humor as all Americans snack to the throwing of pig skin and fabulous pop star!”
They put out these completely choreographed and fake entertainments rather than having the President sit down for a 3 minute(!), softball interview. The fact that Joe Biden himself doesn’t see how humiliating this is adds to my concern. What intelligent, self-respecting leader would allow himself to be manipulated in such embarrassing ways? Not one with all his faculties. And what administrators would imagine this would be convincing? Or assuring? Or effective?
Really frightening stuff.
Cicero and Nonapod are correct. Some of this propaganda works with some people. I have heard some idiotic takes from people I know blaming Trump and “big business” for higher prices, but people in the know, truly paying attention see this for the desperate sham it is.
Things seem to be spiraling faster and faster in this administration. It has a Solidarnosc or Cousaccue or Peron or Gadaffi feel to it. Not that I expect an attack on the President (God forbid) or this regime to suddenly collapse. But the narrative is collapsing. Quickly. Nature and power* abhor vacuums.
*And wives unwrapping Valentine’s gifts.
The ridiculously destructive “2-state solution” should be completely off the table at this point
Bloggers and commenters can talk that way. Heads of government, including the US government can’t.
well not jaruselski he was not that far gone, but that line about Oakland by Gertrude Stein, applies to biden, there was nothing much ever there, I think the George Bailey line about Mr Potter, a stock villain, ‘a warped miserable old man’
the collapse is the purpose, and Hillary would have made the face a little less run down, of course the likes of KJP represents the Commisar Sanders influence, there is an odd mirroring of the late stages of the Yeltsin regime with courtiers, instead of the daughter you have the wastrel son, Skip Kirby I guess is slightly less ridiculous a character, like he took a segue from Mr Roberts or Pirates of the Penzance, but still ridiculous, as we play plinking games in iraq and yemen, serious analysts like lee smith or tony badran or michael doran aren’t given a hearing,
CBS has fired Catherine Herridge, the only part worth savaging of the tiffany network in a melee worth of Balaclava, oh the EU has banned Kosher preparation, at least in Belgium, as they have become properly medieval
I think there is a plurality of idiocy and mendacity, but they wouldn’t have to cheat if there was properly a majority, I am cursed with memory so I remember the critiques of the Dominion vote counting system that seemed valid until October 2020 there was also a then respected commission by Baker and Catter don’t laugh that looked askance at the mail balloting system
No. 3 – Lets see if the Italian Mafia gets involved.
Of course there is shrinkage in packaging, as has been noted it has been going on for a long time.
CBS has fired Catherine Herridge – At one time she was one the reasons to watch FOX. I could not go to CBS because would not know when she came on. She is the best.
The bigger the government, the Faster the rich get richer than the poor, who are also slowly getting richer, but much much more slowly.
Since there’s plenty of bread AND cake and chips and Big Macs, instead of the expected/feared hyperinflation of consumer products, we get inflation of financial assets, including houses but especially stock shares. Because of govt debt/ money printing.
Shrinkflation is also happening in Slovakia, enraging my wife when a recipe calls for 400 grams of dark chocolate, but the 4 bars are now only 90 grams each. So another trip to the store.
Hard to notice that almost no politicians nor the public are claiming healthcare as one of the biggest problems. I’ve seen black humor memes about Canada offering more euthanasia to solve their health cost problems.
Am I the only one thinking that maybe he’s so bad that the Superbowl piece is actually AI generated ? First thing that came to mind, especially given the refusal to do the pre-recorded pregame interview.
Sorry to hear about Catherine Herridge being laid off. She’s a journalist I respect.
is it ‘real or memorex’ an artifact from the past,
yes the lessons from 1920 and 1929, tell you that Israel cannot be partnered with so the Bedu that identify as Palestine, Spencer is an IslamoGnosist a deep scholar into the words of the Koran, of course that is forbidden knowledge as much as that foolish marketing campaign for gnostics that the Superbowl ran this Sunday, Jesus is not a social worker a motivational speaker, he is the son of man or he is nothing,
seeing as this crime happened in Catania, but it could just as well be Rochdale or Cologne or any of a number of places, suffering al Hijra invasion by mass immigration, what can one expect,
1) The path down which Islamist’s intend to take the world ends in “The Three Conjectures” https://www.amazon.com/Three-Conjectures-Richard-Fernandez-ebook/dp/B006SOCAO6
2) “FDA and CDC Could Soon Employ ‘Indigenous Knowledge,’ Documents Show”
https://freebeacon.com/biden-administration/fda-and-cdc-could-soon-employ-indigenous-knowledge-documents-show/
3) “Sweden’s migrant rape crisis: European liberals never ask uncomfortable questions about immigration”
https://unherd.com/2021/04/swedens-migrant-rape-crisis/
4) “the two-state solution is, sadly, no solution at all. Rather, it is a big step down the road to another Lebanon. It would doom the Zionist project…”
Dooming the Jewish homeland is the point. Labeling it a “Zionist project” is intended to delegitimize Israel by implying that Zionism is inherently and virulently racist and thus genocidal.
Cicero, introduce your housekeeper to Candace Owens, Ben Carson, Tim Scott, Byron Daniels, the Hodge Twins–open her world.
“My 55 year-old black housekeeper, endowed with good native intelligence, says,”I’m black so I have to vote Democratic”.” Cicero
I recommend the socratic dialogue; “Why do you feel that you have to vote Democrat?”
‘Have you ever heard someone who votes republican express the desire “to put y’all back in chains?”
“share with me one good thing that Biden and the Democrats have given you that’s new?”
If none of that makes her think, then in the political sphere, she doesn’t possess a lot of common sense.
“If my son is not a liberal when he is twenty, I will disown him; if he is not a conservative when he is forty, I will disown him then.” John Adams
https://twitter.com/SpeakerJohnson/status/1757561249183735969
Add to Lee’s list for Cicero: Zuby, as well as George (on YT, for “Firebrand Media”). I think he’s in the Denver area.
Tom Grey on Canada’s health care euthanasia. Kind of like the salutary effects for the US having Commie Cuba’s State failure and poverty (not to add Haiti, competing with Venezuela for poorest in the Western Hemisphere) on our door step: undeniable examples to avoid, and proved by experience.
https://legalinsurrection.com/2024/02/south-africa-appeals-un-run-world-court-to-block-israels-military-operation-against-hamas-terrorists-in-rafah/
https://twitter.com/shellenberger/status/1757487041955475864?t=m8Qx_vJjwaCPpgTPX-rxyQ&s=19
Micheal Shellenburger’s (w/Matt Taibbi) breaking story on CIA spy program on 26 Trump associates abroad in early 2016.
Talk to you all in 47 or so days – I’m giving up commenting for Lent. Still going to read but going to work on my ability to let things go.
For those who observe Lent, I hope it’ll be a time of deep appreciation of God’s overwhelming grace, and that we’ll all meet again on the Easter side!
I wish you a beneficial Lent, Jamie. It’s one of my favorite traditions on the church calendar. Fasting, atonement, repentance and sacrifice are as important to human flourishing as feasting, celebrating, music and dance.
I am trying something new this year, committing to doing something daily rather than abstaining from something. I’m a bit nervous, but hope I will succeed. My concern is that it is a commitment to doing something I don’t feel I understand, or know how to do well. Here goes nothin’…
miguel cervantes,
I hadn’t heard of the EU kosher/halal ban until reading your comment. I just read a bit about it on the Internet. What a travesty! Hopefully it will not spread beyond those Belgian regions, but if European animal rights activists are anything like PETA they will get even more aggressive having won this battle.
RE (1) “More Evidence” of Neo’s, I quote the Israeli writer here because it is so clear, so powerful, so just:
“We now know exactly what our would-be neighbors have in mind for us. We see that a majority of Palestinians support Hamas and are well pleased by its massacres. Most of us therefore believe that turning Judea and Samaria into another Hamastan to satisfy those who see the massacre as an inspiration and its perpetrators as role models would be suicidal. Who in their right mind would inflict the ensuing bloodshed on their partners, children, friends, and parents? If one is determined to feel overwhelming sympathy for one of the many stateless peoples of the world, why not start with the Kurds, or the Catalans, or the Basques, or the Rohingya, or the Baluchis, or any of one of dozens of subnational groups—none of whom seem likely to attain their longed-for goals of statehood anytime soon. After all, it took nearly 2,000 years for the Jews to succeed in refounding their state. If the Palestinians are determined to kill us on the road to replacing us, then presumably they can wait, too.”
@Cicero : “My 55 year-old black housekeeper, endowed with good native intelligence, says,”I’m black so I have to vote Democratic”.
Why not find a couple of good ‘Walk Away’ videos with black subjects, and put their videos up on the television while your housekeeper is working? I would bet that sooner or later, she’ll pause what she’s doing, to listen.
Geoffrey Britain (7:09 pm) and Aggie (9:14 pm), regarding Cicero’s (4:42 pm) point,
“My 55 year-old black housekeeper, endowed with good native intelligence, says, ‘I’m black so I have to vote Democratic’.”
I (for one) do not even/ever bother trying to bend the mind of such people. I have better ways to waste my time. These people’s minds stopped working long ago, at least with respect to party identification, identity, and the like. Trying to challenge their most deeply clung-to convictions regarding party identification and identity is a fool’s errand, and I’m now finally experienced enough to know not to play the fool any more.
I once fancied that a little intelligent engagement might be worthwhile for both parties involved, but after a few choice experiences (concerning which dear reader might readily imagine/conjecture), I have better ways to waste my time.
But I said that already.
Like this one:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUK-36rp8uQ
Or this one:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KC0Y_GmfKQ
!. “If Hamas is going to bring the entire 510 million square kilometers of Planet Earth are going to come under the domination of Islam, Hamas is essentially declaring war against the entire planet with the exception of Sharia states.”
For most of us who have been paying attention to Islam since 9/11, this comes as no surprise. The Muslim Brotherhood, of which Hamas is just one offshoot, has had this goal since its founding in 1928.
There are Muslims who don’t subscribe to this goal, but they’re considered to be apostates – worse than infidels by their fundamentalist co-religionists. It’s hard to believe any human can be totally invested in the goal of world domination by force, but that’s their intent. t’s a fact that we must never, ever forget.
yes those who are insufficiently devout, what they call a state of dhaliya before mohammeds revelation they call mushrikuns or polytheists, yes much like the Taliban comes from the Deobandism of Mawdudi of Pakistan in Algeria there was Rida, a few others that come to mind,
dhaliya is a state of false consciousness, like the so called woke say is the nature of people, those who oppose Salafisms in the many forms cannot do so in good faith, it is a type of heresy
Formidable article by Gadi Taub.
But he should have realized all this by 2001—or 2008 max.
The “Pay for Slay” social/education/philanthropy “program” was just another, um, “hint”…
To be sure, THE RIGHT OF RETURN WAS NEVER OFF THE TABLE…
…and it never will be…unless, of course, Israel’s Partners in Peace ultimately succeed in destroying THE ZIONIST ENTITY….
Related, from Tikvah Fund Organization…
https://tikvahfund.org/
https://tikvahfund.org/about-2/
“Join Tikvah for a Special Briefing with Our Chairman
Elliott Abrams on:
The Two-State Delusion & Israel at War
Wednesday, February 21, at 7 PM ET
Live on Zoom
“Paradoxically, just four months after Hamas used its base in Gaza to launch an unprecedented massacre in Israel’s south, calls for a “two-state solution”—that magical incantation of Western diplomacy—have reached a fever-pitch. Indeed, pressure is growing to skip the niceties of negotiations and recognize Palestinian statehood now.
“Why is the Biden Administration pushing this dangerous idea? What does the effort to revive the two-state solution tell us about the state of the U.S.-Israel relationship? How are Israel and America thinking about the escalation on Israel’s northern border and the risk of more violence in Judea and Samaria? And how does all of this relate to the Iranian threat, and President Biden’s failed strategy to contain the Islamic Republic and its proxies?
“To answer these questions and more, Tikvah is hosting a strategic briefing with our chairman Elliott Abrams, in discussion with Mosaic editor and Warren R. Stern Senior Fellow of Jewish Civilization Jonathan Silver, live on Zoom.
“Join us at 7 PM ET on February 21 as they discuss Abrams’s recent essay, “The Two-State Delusion,” as well as the U.S.-Israel strategic relationship, how the internal politics in both countries are affecting the situation on the ground, and the progress of Israel’s multi-front fight….”
To be sure, the latest INSANE push for a Palestinian state—insane, at least, IF one is a true ally of the Jewish State and has its true interests at heart—might serve “Biden”‘s desperate need for JUST ANOTHER SPLENDID DISTRACTION from the main issue: That the current administration, like its spiritual antecedent between 2009 and 2016, is a criminal organization dedicated to the dismantlement (make that “TRANSFORMATION”) of “the last best hope of earth”…
https://nypost.com/2024/02/13/news/read-tony-bobulinskis-blistering-impeachment-testimony-the-biden-family-business-was-joe-biden-period/
(Ergo, not “Paradoxically”, as the blurb for “the briefing”, above, insists…)
Hmmm…are Hezbullah and Hamas (and of course, Iran) going to get the escalation they’ve been looking for…?
“One killed, 8 injured as rocket barrage from Lebanon hits Safed;
“Some projectiles fired from Lebanon hit army base in northern city; no immediate claim of responsibility in presumed Hezbollah attack”—
https://www.timesofisrael.com/one-killed-8-injured-as-rocket-barrage-from-lebanon-hits-safed/
+ Definitely Related (heh!):
“France proposes Lebanon-Israel ceasefire;
“Proposed agreement would see Hezbollah pull back from the border area, UNIFIL help restart talks between Israel and Lebanon.”—
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/385112
“French proposal would move Hezbollah 6 miles from border”—
https://www.jns.org/french-proposal-would-move-hezbollah-6-miles-from-border/
+ Bonus
“Iran simulates missile attack on Israeli air base;
“Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has simulated an attack on an Israeli air base during an exercise using medium-range missiles, Iranian media reported”—
https://www.indaily.com.au/news/world/2024/02/14/iran-simulates-missile-attack-on-israeli-air-base
Remind me when was the last time anyone looked to the Irish for moral or strategic inspiration….(Music? Now that’s a whole ‘nuther thing…)
“Irish PM on the attack: Israel has become blinded by rage”—
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/385172
File under: Blarney stoned….
And so it goes….
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/385194
Rufus, way back yesterday at 600pm:
Have y’all seen the the new video of Biden sitting with a black family and bringing them chicken(!). Not a racist stereotype at all! The enitre video is cringe beyond belief for its scripted, poorly produced, and as Rufus points out, parallels to Kim jong un’s propos.
https://twitter.com/EndWokeness/status/1757249627353502034?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1757249627353502034%7Ctwgr%5E67e319b7d44005ad0637b27ccdaa0ca5bae35ebb%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bizpacreview.com%2F2024%2F02%2F13%2Fif-desperation-was-a-video-joe-bidens-latest-pr-gimmick-so-cringeworthy-its-stunning-1436678%2F
There can be a 2-state solution in Gaza and the West Bank.
It can happen after the IDF proclaims that their war goal is Unconditional Surrender by Hamas and its allies, exactly as the Allies did at the Casablanca Conference in 1943, reiterated at Potsdam in 1945.
The prelude to Unconditional Surrender was awful, with mass destruction of civilian and military assets in Japan and Germany, by fire bombing of cities and the use of atomic bombs. It was at once a terrible outcome and the best possible outcome. It was, and is, the only way.
The Israelis are faced with a similar dilemma now. Their choice is to be either unpopular, or dead.
Am I the only one here in the comments who think halal is cruel?
https://www.politico.eu/article/top-human-rights-court-back-belgium-religious-slaughter-ban-halal-kosher/
Well, Jews who comment here would disagree with this ruling, as it would outlaw not only halal but kosher meat.
there was never a reason for Rabin to give even a yard of territory to Arafat and his so called authority, he was tired of war, well how many skirmishes has Israel fought since, I count 5 major ones, and hundreds of brushfires,
can one fault the israelis first under kadima and bibi for exchanging prisoners, maybe the second time around
I Callahan,
How do you propose carnivorous animals like humans get the meat they eat? Is the manner in which tigers kill wildebeest cruel? How about dolphin eating live fish?
I’m not being sarcastic. Humane treatment of animals is laudable and wanton cruelty to animals should be shunned. But on a planet with predators and prey at some point the prey is going to get killed and eaten. Is a bow hunter felling an Elk more humane than halal practices? Less humane? Does the Elk care whether an arrow hits its carotid or a knife blade?
I like that many human societies are putting more care into how animals are treated while they are alive; free range, etc., but when it comes to the last few seconds of the animal’s life the implement its executioner uses is probably a minor concern.
I Callahan; Kate; Rufus T. Firefly:
On kosher slaughtering:
That’s what I’ve always thought about kosher slaughter, Neo. It is no more painful than other methods, and probably less. This EU squeamishness accompanies EU pressure to outlaw meat-eating entirely.
I don’t know if halal slaughter is similarly quick. I doubt the rules are as strict, as the concern is for the Islamic prayer to be said rather than to ensure quick and almost painless death for the animal.
I will buy kosher meat products but will not buy halal if I can avoid it. In Egypt, I couldn’t avoid it. Here, I just don’t go to the local halal groceries.
5) I was watching the Super Bowl with a group of new friends and I thought the Biden video was quite jaw-dropping. No point in commenting beyond Rufus’ 6:00 pm comment. “A Chi-com/North Korea feel to it,” no kidding.
From Bananas (1971). A proclamation from the great leader Esposito:
From this day on, the official language of San Marcos will be Swedish. Silence! In addition to that, all citizens will be required to change their underwear every half-hour. Underwear will be worn on the outside so we can check. Furthermore, all children under 16 years old are now… 16 years old!
Rufus – I never took it that way, but to be honest, that’s a straw man argument. Humans are smarter, and with today’s skills, knowledge and technology, there is no actual REASON for an animal to die in prolonged pain. Because animals cause each other more pain is not an excuse, in any way, for humans to do the same.
As for religions – yes, they have their customs and traditions, and I can’t argue against that, other than to say God gave me a brain that allows me to think about these things and deduce my own opinions.
I read Neo’s comment above: Is Halal the same as Kosher when it comes to methods? Or different? The above doesn’t say either way, and I can’t find anything substantial that talks about the slaughter methods.
I Callahan,
My understanding is halal is similar, slicing the carotid.
Regarding what additional reasons the requisite god may have had for laying out the religious centered methods; I think it’s likely all three emphasize draining the animal’s blood as quickly after death as possible for good reason. Also, avoiding adrenaline and other fluids from flooding organs and tissues is preferred due to their negative impacts on the taste, so a quick death where the animal doesn’t sense it coming is desired. This is part of why Temple Grandin’s methods were adopted in slaughterhouses; the animals remained much calmer up to the point of slaughter.
Where’s DNW when we need him? I am not an expert on this stuff, but common sense tells me, like Chesterton’s fence, we ought to think twice before abandoning religious meat preparation practices formed over thousands of years of trial and error.
}}} First of all, that’s been happening for decades.
It’s been happening in certain products (I first noticed it in 1978, while working at a Frito Lay plant). However: Many products were sold, at one point, in fixed-size containers — Ice Cream. Orange Juice. Other things.
The array of things in variable sized containers has gone up considerably. Many name brand ice creams and OJs in particular, are no longer sold in “half gallons” or “gallons”. They’re just sold in similar-sized containers. >:-(
}}} and that reason isn’t that corporations are just plain mean.
No, but it is a blatant example of deception and dishonesty.
I don’t expect corporations to be totally honest, but deceptive and dishonest, well, this is not something to condone, nor to ignore. You may do as you wish, but I have no intention of accepting it.
I refuse to buy Breyers or Edy’s ice cream, as they both started that sh** with ice cream. They are both now waaaay below a half gallon… I laud Blue Belle, for staying honest @ a half-gallon (they show every sign of being a seriously decent company, for this and other reasons)
ALL of the major OJ producers can suck a ****. Every damned last one of them. I’ve stopped buying name-brand OJ, even when on sale.
Milk, for the moment, is still sold by the gallon and half gallon, but many of the “variant milks”… e.g., “Oat Milk”, “Soy Milk”, etc., are not a half gallon, though many still use the classic “half gallon carton” type containers… so they LOOK like they are still a half-gallon. This is a clearly intentional deceptive practice
I’m still waiting for them to start selling eggs in containers of 10. :-/
The problem here, is the nature of the modern corporation, which has zero long term recognition for the value of the name of the corporation and what it means to the public. This is the “sausage game”:
It is an unfortunate problem with the fact that there is no one at any modern corporation whose responsibility is to the long-term value of the company.
OBloody:
I’m not sure why you consider it deceptive and dishonest. Companies label the contents by weight or volume, so the consumer is being told what’s in it. I wouldn’t expect them to totally change the shape of the container and put a big sign on it: “by the way, this is smaller than the old container.” It’s not that hard to tell.
On Bannon’s Warroom, Ralph Reed is in Israel, as a political Catholic, backing the Jews and Israel as a state, doing the heavy lifting that The Blinken-crats (is, the corrupt State Department) would never do.
Reed relates that only 2% of Israeli’s support the mythical two state solution (poll in support, I believe). Thus, Israel is unified behind Realpolitik. And realism — unlike our Left.
The war drums beating to the North of Israel, signalling that a broader Iranian supported conflict is coming soon, are being completely ignore by our American Propaganda Media.
Neo’s recent comment on OBloody re downsized packaging.
Yes, I agree with you. But it’s worth understanding how the inflation corrupts ordered Liberty. A psychological point from marketing, branding, and civic life.
Brand loyalty thrives on trust (see the Bud Light saga). Change disrupts trust and the expectations flowing from it. (Which is why the US economic culture uniquely sees a profusion of chain stores (cf, burger and pizza chain store restaurants. In-n-Out Burger is the latest sensation in the Hamburger Wars.)
Brand loyalty is built on the reliability and continuity of a product (See NEW Coke saga). Shrinkflation undermines perceptions of reliability and stability.
This “economic” impact has spillover effects affecting the larger society as bad (inflated) money drives out the good.
Periods of prolonged inflation thus corrode civil society, especially ours which has high trust levels as a foundation. And therefore aspects of inflation are as destabilising as unchecked illegal mass immigration. (Although you may color me curious to see serious metrics proving it so!)
From the excerpt in OBH’s comment:
“Of course, five or six increments down the road, you’ll end up with a product that bears little or no resemblance to what you started with, but you’ll get away with it, for a while, at least.”
Didn’t we have a long discussion some time ago about the decline in the taste and texture of muffins? Why yes, we did!
https://www.thenewneo.com/2019/12/27/sneaky-changes-thomas-english-muffins/
And why is it always sawdust??