January 11, 2016--Hi Ho Cheerios

We were working our way up and down the aisles in Publix to stock up for our stay in Delray.

Our shopping cart was overflowing with dairy products, vegetables, beverages, paper goods, and cleaning products.

"Let's get some cereal."

"Cereal? You actually want cereal?" I said to Rona who is cutting back on her intake of sugar. "Aren't they all loaded with sugar? I thought you're trying to eat healthier."

"I am, but every once in awhile I get a desire for Cheerios. And rather than deny myself and get all frustrated by not having some around and therefore winding up eating something that's even more garbagey, I prefer to satisfy myself with what I actually want. In this case Cheerios. In fact, they even have some nutritional value." She paused then acknowledged, "At least a little."

"I know what you mean. That's why I like to have some ice cream in the freezer. I try not to eat any but if occasionally I crave some, it's there and I get the carving over with."

"I find that this is the best way to eat, and if necessary diet--don't struggle unsuccessfully to avoid things you want even if they're not good for you because if you wind up with food frustrations you'll only eat lots of stuff that's actively bad for you. I say, eat a little less, but eat what you want."

"Agreed."

"Thus, my wanting to have some Cheerios around the house. Right over there--aisle number 5--Cereals." Rona swung the shopping cart sharply to the left, almost crashing into someone who had what looked like a two-foot tall box of corn flakes piled into her shopping cart.

As in all Florida supermarkets, the aisles are about 100 feet long and one side of number 5 was totally devoted to cereal.

"I haven't thought about or looked at cereals for decades," I said, amazed at the extent of the displays. "The last time I remember looking there was Kellogg's Corn Flakes, Puffed Wheat, Raisin Bran--my favorite--Rice Krispies, Shredded Wheat,  and good-old Wheaties."

"Breakfast of Champions."

"That  was pretty much it. But, of course, there were also your Cheerios. When I was a kid, they were the Lone Ranger radio show sponsor."

We passed by the Post cereals and Rona said, "Keep walking. We're only halfway there."

"I con't believe how many are so obviously full of sugar. Half the cereals feel little different than candy."

"That's why they're so popular and there are so many brands and varieties."

"Not of Cheerios, I'm sure," I said. "There's no way they'd mess with that iconic brand. What would the Cheerios Kid say?"

How wrong I turned out to be. These days there are more than a dozen varieties.

"This I really can't believe," I said, "Look at all the different kinds of your Cheerios."

"It's the 21st century," Rona reminded me. "Get used to it. You're living in a world of nostalgia."

"Sad, but true," I confessed.

And there, for 20 feet or more of shelf space, was a full array of Cheerios--

There was Honey Nut, Multi Grain, and Ancient Grains.

 "Ancient grains? What's that?" I asked.

"Flour made from classic grains of the past such as Kamut wheat and spelt."

"Spelt?"

"Just small amounts."

Also, Honey Nut Medley Crunch and Frosted.

"Frosted with what?"

"I'm afraid sugar."

Then Apple Cinnamon, Fruity, Banana Nut, Multi Grain Peanut Butter, and Dulce de Leche.

"For nursing women? You know from the La Leche League."

"You're being silly."

Next, Cinnamon Burst, Protein Cinnamon Almond, and Chocolate.

"Chocolate Cheerios? You should forgive me."

"What can I say?"

And finally, Multi Grain Dark Chocolate Crunch.

"It's not enough to have Chocolate Cheerios? Really?"

Ignoring me, Rona kept pushing the shopping cart.

Finally, we got to the classic Cheerios and she slipped a medium-size box into the cart.

Heading to the checkout line, I asked, "Speaking of nostalgia, do you remember Cheerios' original tag line?" Rona continued to avert her eyes. "The Big G Stands for Goodness."

"The Big G," Rona said, "was really for General Foods, which makes Cheerios."

I was glad she wasn't really angry with me and so I couldn't resist one last jab--"Nowadays the Big C stands for Chocolate."

April 18, 2014--Forced Arbitration

Now there is another reason not to "tell" Facebook that you "like" something.

I visit Facebook less and less frequently as more and more advertisements show up on my Facebook page. For example--I have a cousin, who shall remain nameless, who has serious reservations about capitalism. And I am speaking euphemistically. He is way beyond Progressive. But his Facebook postings (don't ask me why he is a member of Facebook--no one is without contradictions) is filling up with ads.

Next to his posting warning about the military-industrial complex and another relishing the fact that Comcast was voted the 2014 "worst company in America," popping up are ads for the iPhone 6 and Tim's Cascade Style Hot Jalapeño Seasoned Potato Chips.

So much for Facebook serving as a forum for progressive discourse or for my cousin's eating habits.

But there is more.

As reported in yesterday's New York Times, companies such as General Mills and Kellogg's are attempting to use consumers' "likes" as a way of disallowing potential plaintiffs from suing the company for damages. So, if a box of, say, Raisin Bran, contains broken glass, the person eating a bowl with as much glass as raisins by this sleight-of hand logic would be forced to participate in arbitration rather than being able to take their claim for damages to the courts.

This would pertain to anyone telling Facebook that they "like" Raisin Bran but also to anyone who downloaded a discount coupon or entered a company-organized sweepstakes or contest.

The claim is that if you participate in any of these things you are deriving a "benefit" and as such are holding Kellogg's, in this instance, legally harmless.

If this sounds outrageous--that by doing something as innocuous as using a discount coupon you are in effect assigning away your right to sue--it is derived from a number of under-the-radar Supreme Court decisions that are a part of a spate of SCOTUS rulings that hold corporations less accountable to the public.

According to Julia Duncan, director of federal programs at the American Association for Justice, a trade groups representing plaintiff trial lawyers, "It's essentially trying to protect the company from all accountability, even when it lies, or say, an employee deliberately adds broken glass to a product."

My advice--read the fine print, cancel your Facebook membership, and eat granola.