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I bought a bag is crisps from the shop today and found myself very annoyed at the way the food industry try to dupe consumers into thinking a product is better than it actually is.
First if all it’s a bag of crisps. Always has been and always will be. They think that calling them potato chips somehow makes them more appealing. Well it might work for the snobs (and perhaps Americans) but it doesn’t fool me.
Then there’s the hand cooked bit. You imagine lots of little guys in a line with their frying baskets carefully tipping in potato slices and then lowering their basket into a deep fat fryer. I doubt it somehow. A more likely scenario is that a HAND presses a button that lowers a huge basket into an equally huge fryer. Hand cooked indeed.
Now as to the new flavours such as cider vinegar and sea salt, well that’s just a pile of bollocks. Look carefully at the labeling and you’ll see the word flavouring. Basically they’ve come up with an e number that smells like seaweed. Probably an accident or a previous batch that went wrong.
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Adjectives or alternative nouns have always played a bit part in successful marketing campaigns. E.g., strawberries are ....well, strawberries. But put the magic word 'Kent' in front of them and you can sell them for more. Same if you substitute the term 'second hand' for 'vintage' and suddenly a load of old mothball stinking tat, which is headed for the dustbin or a charity shop becomes desirable attire coveted by celebrities and other 'alternative' dressers who want something unique to wear. It's not just marketing either: one man's terrorist, likely to create fear and distrust and aversion, is another's freedom fighter, designed to elicit, understanding, sympathy and support.
19/12/14 Grumpy xx
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Had a meal in our local supermarket cafe today and I could not help but notice the number of "gadget zombies" present.
What the hell is wrong with people who have to play with their smartphone every few minutes?
I liken it to............. mental-finger-fidget-braindead-chewing gum.
Most apparent were a group of four teenagers opposite me who, as soon as they sat down, all four got out their smartphones and started to play with them, this went on for at least one hour at which point, having eaten, I got up and left.
The same can be seen everywhere, all age groups, on the street, buses, trains, etc.
Is it no longer possible for someone to just sit, without playing with their phone?
What the hell is wrong with people today?
Before you say "another old fart" I possess a number of gadgets myself, netbook, laptop, tablet, mainframe, Ubuntu Linux, Kahli Linux, WinXp Win7 and Android, so I am well up with todays technology.
Boblet..............I also remember "dwell angle" good point..... pun intended
09/12/14 Stalag14
What the hell is wrong with people who have to play with their smartphone every few minutes?
I liken it to............. mental-finger-fidget-braindead-chewing gum.
Most apparent were a group of four teenagers opposite me who, as soon as they sat down, all four got out their smartphones and started to play with them, this went on for at least one hour at which point, having eaten, I got up and left.
The same can be seen everywhere, all age groups, on the street, buses, trains, etc.
Is it no longer possible for someone to just sit, without playing with their phone?
What the hell is wrong with people today?
Before you say "another old fart" I possess a number of gadgets myself, netbook, laptop, tablet, mainframe, Ubuntu Linux, Kahli Linux, WinXp Win7 and Android, so I am well up with todays technology.
Boblet..............I also remember "dwell angle" good point..... pun intended
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The lovely Suzie bought a coffee making machine on Saturday. She does not drink coffee nor do I, other than odd occasions. However that is what she wanted for her birthday & who am I to argue. Got it home & discovered a part was missing. It was the last one that Currys had in stock so they gave us our money back. Susie being a determined sole chipped away at the problem for the next few hours & finally talked me into going back to purchase another one, that was in stock. Yes you have guessed it it was also much dearer than the original one in the tempting black Friday offer. We tried a cup this morning. It was rather milky, she had used two milk capsules & no coffee capsule. She added a spoonful of camp. Maybe tomorrow I will have something to report, with ref to coffee machines.
07/12/14 boblet
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http://weeklygripe.co.uk/recent-comments/
Just to repeat Kennys link that will take you to all the latest comments, on one page, with date posted etc.
Just like in the good old days
07/12/14 Stalag14
Just to repeat Kennys link that will take you to all the latest comments, on one page, with date posted etc.
Just like in the good old days
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Stalag,
Well, I think we are all out here but all are finding the new lay out not so easy to use so everyone is posting on the crisp gripe, which has become the general purpose page. I have no problem with logging in with my email address, but I thought the site would just look like it did before and would have a "recent commments" front page.
I know nothing about software, so I expect it takes quite a lot of work to make changes to a site like this. Himself is holding down a full time job as well as running this site, so I suppose he is pressed for time.
GOW
Hi. Hope you are able to drink some decent coffee soon without staring wide eyed into the dark all night! Insomnia is a horrible thing.
Regarding creating a new gripe, I could not find where to do it either. I had a few thoughts in mind for one.
I am someone who likes a bit of peace and hates uneccessary noise like piped music everywhere, but I have no sympathy with people who move right next door to a music venue and then complain about it, putting people out of work.
It's like those who move to the country and the complain that the pig farm next door pongs. What did they expect?
07/12/14 Petra
Well, I think we are all out here but all are finding the new lay out not so easy to use so everyone is posting on the crisp gripe, which has become the general purpose page. I have no problem with logging in with my email address, but I thought the site would just look like it did before and would have a "recent commments" front page.
I know nothing about software, so I expect it takes quite a lot of work to make changes to a site like this. Himself is holding down a full time job as well as running this site, so I suppose he is pressed for time.
GOW
Hi. Hope you are able to drink some decent coffee soon without staring wide eyed into the dark all night! Insomnia is a horrible thing.
Regarding creating a new gripe, I could not find where to do it either. I had a few thoughts in mind for one.
I am someone who likes a bit of peace and hates uneccessary noise like piped music everywhere, but I have no sympathy with people who move right next door to a music venue and then complain about it, putting people out of work.
It's like those who move to the country and the complain that the pig farm next door pongs. What did they expect?
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"NEWS OF THE DAY"
Good idea PETRA.
Look forward to it being implemented, should attract more traffic, bit sparse at the moment.
Is anyone out there?
07/12/14 Stalag14
Good idea PETRA.
Look forward to it being implemented, should attract more traffic, bit sparse at the moment.
Is anyone out there?
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GOW..... the problem of NIMBY's complaining about music venues etc. is not restricted to that kind of thing. I used to work at an engineering company which had a similar problem. The factory was built in the 1920's and some housing was built nearby, by the owner, to house employees. Over the years the properties changed hands etc. until they finally found their way onto the open market. In 1998 some new owners bought the properties and then embarked on a campaign about noise from the factory. They managed to get such restrictions in place that the company could no longer function and it closed. 327 people lost their jobs! This was just to satisfy the requirements of 3 families! It was an absolute outrage that the courts offered the company no consideration in this process despite having been there for almost 80 years longer than the home owners.
The nice bit about the story though is that the site has been left derelict and looks an eyesore now. The families are now campaigning for it to be demolished but as it is still solid in it's construction there are no legal grounds to demolish it. They now have to look at this carbuncle on a daily basis as the company's owner has refused to do anything. You can't really blame him for it.
05/12/14 samson
The nice bit about the story though is that the site has been left derelict and looks an eyesore now. The families are now campaigning for it to be demolished but as it is still solid in it's construction there are no legal grounds to demolish it. They now have to look at this carbuncle on a daily basis as the company's owner has refused to do anything. You can't really blame him for it.
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I am struggling to understand this site.
04/12/14 boblet
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When we were kids our parents bought us kids one big pack of crisps a week between three of us - it sure did us no harm. We didn't have issues. We learned to respect our elders. If we screwed up we got our butts whipped if we did wrong, but we didn't fear our parents. We knew what our boundaries were and what would happen if we crossed them - we weren't abused, we were disciplined by our elders, but we sure respected them. Kids these days they don't got no respect. They don't got no boundaries set, see? Man, If I back-talked my old man, I got taken to the wood-shed. I had ta sit on a pillow for a week. Go figure.
03/12/14 Friday brunch
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Hello Petra, welcome! I don't like tea either; wish I could drink Klingon coffee like I used to. Unfortunately since reaching a certain age I have had to give up caffeine or I can't sleep. Might be getting through that now so I might be able to try some real coffee again soon.
I can't see how to start a new gripe or see all the old ones (the search is a bit restricting) so will put this here for want of a better place!
To all Gripers!
There are e-petitions to stop people moving in near a music or motor racing venue and then complaining about the noise to get the venues shut down. For some strange reason the judges who they come up against don't have the sense to say "You knew it was there when you bought the house so tough".
Instead these nimbys succeed in getting venues shut down; the petitions are asking for such people to be forced to sign a waiver to remove their right to complain.
Sign them if you want!
http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/72458 (Motorsport)
http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/70689 (Music)
02/12/14 grumpyoldwoman
I can't see how to start a new gripe or see all the old ones (the search is a bit restricting) so will put this here for want of a better place!
To all Gripers!
There are e-petitions to stop people moving in near a music or motor racing venue and then complaining about the noise to get the venues shut down. For some strange reason the judges who they come up against don't have the sense to say "You knew it was there when you bought the house so tough".
Instead these nimbys succeed in getting venues shut down; the petitions are asking for such people to be forced to sign a waiver to remove their right to complain.
Sign them if you want!
http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/72458 (Motorsport)
http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/70689 (Music)
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I like the look of the new site but I agree that the navigation is not so great. I have confidence that it will be sorted soon though.
02/12/14 samson
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Here's a temporary fix. I'll get this AND the navigation sorted out soon!
http://weeklygripe.co.uk/recent-comments/
And I haven't forgotten...
01/12/14 Kenny
http://weeklygripe.co.uk/recent-comments/
And I haven't forgotten...
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Hi Kenny, Boblet, GOW and other posters
Well, this is a bit different. I’m happy to log in but do miss the comments page with all the recent comments on all topics. I think the logging in will eventually, when Kenny fine tunes it and people get used to it, improve the site. Not finding it so user friendly at the moment though.
Apart from not being able to stand tea - Klingon coffee is my non alcoholic drink of choice - and rarely getting to bed before midnight, I have to say I identify with Stalag’s definition of a boring old fart.
Kenny - any more thoughts on the idea we discussed ages back for a gripe on “the news of the day� Often people want to comment on a news item that won’t really fit any existing gripe but which does not really need a thread of its own as the interest often soon dies down.
01/12/14 Petra
Well, this is a bit different. I’m happy to log in but do miss the comments page with all the recent comments on all topics. I think the logging in will eventually, when Kenny fine tunes it and people get used to it, improve the site. Not finding it so user friendly at the moment though.
Apart from not being able to stand tea - Klingon coffee is my non alcoholic drink of choice - and rarely getting to bed before midnight, I have to say I identify with Stalag’s definition of a boring old fart.
Kenny - any more thoughts on the idea we discussed ages back for a gripe on “the news of the day� Often people want to comment on a news item that won’t really fit any existing gripe but which does not really need a thread of its own as the interest often soon dies down.
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Hi boblet, nice to see you back, and Stalag too.
I had the Weekly Gripe bookmarked and kept checking every few days to see if anything was happening. Then one day, there was the new site!
Hopefully some of the others will find us in the same way.
01/12/14 grumpyoldwoman
I had the Weekly Gripe bookmarked and kept checking every few days to see if anything was happening. Then one day, there was the new site!
Hopefully some of the others will find us in the same way.
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Petra
Vintage is a good one, isn't it?
Does anyone actually sell anything they call "second hand" any more? That chain of shops that sells second hand Play Station games and DVDs, calls them all “pre-ownedâ€
At least they don’t go as far as they do in America by calling things “previously enjoyedâ€, which sounds a bit like the local lady of negotiable affections.
***
Nothing can be plain any more. They can’t charge you £1.40 for a bag of cheese and onion crisps, so it has to be West Country Wurzle Valley Cheddar from cows pastured on the lush water meadows of the Somerset levels, matured in Auld ‘Arry beer casks in the back garage of the Mouldy Ferret pub car park with caramelised, gourmet cipollini onions, sprinkled with invisible Christmas stardust.