Plant based diets and economics

A couple of years ago, there were some new players in the plant based category. They had VC funding and had products who more closely resemble meat in texture and flavor.

The other players in the "vegetarian" category up their game to do similar products and go further.

Some of these players got involved with the fast food companies. Tests are run, and success is there, though not overwhelming so. A few fast food places drop items, some add more.

It was unclear how this might play out. Would this amount to anything?

And then McDonald's tries out a product … it looks like a failure. Until McDonalds discusses their product at an investor forum.

In short: The cost of doing business is high. Rising wages. Demand for quality ingredients. Other factors. They had to discard the dollar menu because the economics dictated it.

And then there's the cost of  meat and getting it to stores. The financial part of it suggests it's not a good long-term strategy. Meat is expensive and getting more so. The supply chain costs are going way up. And it's extremely perishable being fresh (or quick frozen). And there's the cost from an environmental standpoint. More land is needed. Destroying more of the environment.

McDonald's realizes that this isn't sustainable and they have to move to something other than traditional meat.

They'll be expanding their offerings to include more plant-based options. Then the cost shift will happen, where meat based products will cost more than plant based. And it will evolve to make items that you might not be able to tell the difference between…

Burger King also started talking about making their products more accessible, so they might use machines just for plant-based rather than sharing.

So the success of plant based will be driven by economics.

And ultimately we all may win. And have better products available. Sure the plant based ingredients are processed. And may not be "health foods" but it is progress toward a better future and sustainability.

Judicial activism

A few years ago, the GOP decried the notion of "judicial activism."

It just wouldn't be right to legislate from the bench!

A couple of stolen Supreme Court seats, and another a couple that went to unqualified individuals, later…  and the this court is now deciding on what's right and essentially legislating where Congress has faltered.

The reasoning behind the repeal of Roe v Wade is flawed and nonsensical. Make no mistake this is judicial activism.

It's amazing, though, that the response from the GOP is crickets. Well, maybe it’s crickets on the outrage, but the response is more like cheering. 

And now they'll go after a host of other items. The assault on us and our rights will be led by this small group of idiots.

Congress could codify (and arguably already should have codified) some of these things into law. But they're too busy fighting about nonsense (as always).

The USFL

I watched a little from a couple of games…and yeah there are a few clever innovations. But the football itself is just bad. I mean worse than lower tier college football.

But as they say "it's still football," so I was still watching a little.

And then came the ad featuring the douche bag pillow salesman. Why does anyone allow him airtime? He's a traitor.

And that's when I decided that the football isn't good enough to simply ignore him and his asinine self.

So thanks usfl for trying. But I'm out.

Even Dumber Convoy Commits Felony Blocking Entran…

Stupid is, as stupid does

https://jalopnik.com/new-somehow-even-dumber-convoy-commits-felony-by-block-1848805316


Short. Sweet. To the point. That's the beauty Dave's iPhone.

NFL warned to improve treatment of women by six AGs: 'Pink jerseys are not a replacement'

(A) there's this story … and notice the AG from Florida didn't sign on to this. Of course he didn't.

And (B) there was another story about how the dolphins were trying to swing a deal to get Tom Brady to come to Miami…but then the dolphins got sued by Brian Flores, and there went that idea. Funny how these two stories are connected…

https://onherturf.nbcsports.com/2022/04/07/nfl-treatment-of-women-attorneys-general-six-states/

NFL: Roger Goodell blew moment to expose Daniel S…

This is what is wrong with sports…

https://sports.yahoo.com/the-nf-ls-daniel-snyder-wont-stop-ballooning-to-the-chagrin-of-roger-goodell-and-the-league-195247772.html


Short. Sweet. To the point. That's the beauty Dave's iPhone.

Never forget, it’s always about the money. College edition.

A few years ago, the FBI brought forth evidence that several coaches in the college sports landscape were acting inappropriately…re-directing scholarships, paying players, recruiting high schoolers with lucrative offers.

Last I heard, the cases stalled, so there's not much happening in the legal sense.

One of the coaches implicated was Bill Self, the Kansas coach. At the time he was labeled a cheater. The NCAA pushed hard for him to be dismissed from his job.

But Kansas saw him as a great hero. He was winning games and making money for the school. They wouldn't budge.

In fact, Kansas "doubled down" and signed him to a lifetime contract. Thumbing their nose at the ncaa and the fbi.

And here is Kansas basketball playing for a national championship. With a cheating coach.

No punishment. And I have little doubt he's still doing whatever it was he was doing.

It's so absurd.

Money rules all.