Food fight
Earthling2 and I go to the grocery store once every four to six weeks at a local co-op called Winco.
It's an employee owned operation, or so they claim, but they have the cheapest prices around.
We don't buy everything there. Our meats we buy at a local market chain called Chuck's Produce, mostly because they market a brand of beef from a regional farm called Painted Hills with grass fed chemical free and free range stock. But Chuck's doesn't sell pork or crustacean products.
Anyway, going every month or so gives us a gauge on price increases that one wouldn't notice by going on a more weekly basis. The increases are more stark. And I've discovered their MO for easing the shock.
Their sale prices are denoted with a green shelf sticker while regular prices are in yellow.
But I've noticed they use that green sticker to fool you into thinking it's on sale, but it is the regular price as it was the month before. And when it goes off sale, boom, the new higher price on a yellow sticker.
So the green sticker is a warning, this product is going up in price soon.
Aside from the gradual but phenomenal increases, I have to question why local, regional, or American made products are rising so much, as there are no tariffs on domestic products?
Even the ethnic food isle products are largely domestically made. Tortillas, hot sauces, canned beans and marinades are labeled as made here.
Some of the same products I bought twenty years ago have nearly doubled. I know because I have kept in a drawer of all my grocery receipts going back to 2004, when I first moved to Washington State (it's a fetish I guess}.
It smells of price fixing via incrementalism.
All this has done is encourage me to grow more and better foods in my garden and the farm. We just finished our last ear of frozen corn from last season a couple of weeks ago, and we still have green beans and marinades in the freezer.
My major meat eating son is so proud of his first little garden from last year, he is enlarging it by ten feet this year.
I would be interested in how our own little community here is faring with food prices in your neck of the woods.
And just for reference, unleaded regular at the local AM Pm station is $3.89 a gallon.
Thread is open. Good morning everyone.
Comments
Dems not keeping their powder dry for Trump
And that’s not all. Booker spoke for 25 hours for no reason and not to filibuster a bad bill or anything useful.
Plus he sat on the capitol steps with Jeffries and…I have no idea what that was supposed to accomplish.
This sure brings back memories of when Bush was abusing the presidency and constitution. Y’all remember when democrats took over congress and we expected them to finally do something to stop the carnage? Pelosi said that she was keeping her powder dry. Oh yeah she caught hell for that, but then along came Obama….
This is why I don’t get twisted with anger over Trump. I can’t change anything and democrats don’t want anything to change.
But thank gawd that Bernie and AOC are out there telling people what they already know. That will stop Trump….won’t it?
To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize.
- Kevin Alfred Strom
It's a kabuki theater
where pickpockets run rampant through the dazed and confused crowd.
A sternly worded letter huh? Farcical is not an adequate description.
But good morning to ya and thanks for stopping by.
Neither Russia nor China is our enemy.
Neither Iran nor Venezuela are threatening America.
Cuba is a dead horse, stop beating it.
Political theatrics made better by clowns
.
not sure how anyone can take this sh*t seriously
happy birthday Willie - 92 today!
Zionism is a social disease
Yeah,
the clowns are there for a distraction.
It's a shitshow alright.
Just read a comment on smoothies site that was apt, "there is not one clean Apple in a pool of shit, it get dirty and rotten the first time it gets thrown the shit-hole of US politics." Dr Hans Gebhard.
But a good morning to ya Capt.
Having trouble keeping laptop online, but just got a message from Xffinity saying they're on it.
Had to move to my dumbphone via Verizon.
I'm keepin' on keepin'on.
Neither Russia nor China is our enemy.
Neither Iran nor Venezuela are threatening America.
Cuba is a dead horse, stop beating it.
Orange state is having a freak out
because some people are being critical of democrats. Especially the black democrats. But also the wimpy ones like Schumer. Booker’s filibuster of nothing must be applauded or you’re a racist. Same with his and Jeffries sitting on the steps talking to people.
The gal who wrote this one writes 3-5 daily that are full of anger and lectures people about how much racism they commit daily.
But of course if you praise Bernie and AoC it’s just because they are white and you’re being racist.
I love how Bash said “let us know if he gets back to you.”
Trump doesn’t read daily reports or much else so it’s doubtful he will read Chuckles’ strongly worded letter.
To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize.
- Kevin Alfred Strom
Good morning, e1!
Congratulations to you and your son for your successful food production.
This is my example for this price increase of every item on any shelf:
Let's say a 2 by 4 from Canada, with tariffs, caused the lumber yard to increase the price from $10 to $15. The same lumber in East Texas is $10. But--- Texas lumber yards use this opportunity to raise their prices because, why the hell not? There are no regulations to prevent them from opportunistic price gouging.
I expect the tariff scheme will be a disaster for the working class. I am lucky to have land that is sufficiently fertile for small scale food production. I have had luck with peach and pear trees in the past, and currently have pecan trees. The biggest problem is the price of water. We can catch some, but in a typical growing season, the faucet gets turned on daily. At that juncture, there is quality food produced that exceeds the cost of grocery store items. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.
Thanks for the OT, friend.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
I'm fortunate to have a well
at the farm and a creek running through it. Plus the Cowlitz River is only 400 ft. away.
The water prices in town are not to bad @ $18 a month, which goes up to $100 in summer (August) watering season.
Nut trees are next, just don't know what will thrive here.
Thanks for the post.
Neither Russia nor China is our enemy.
Neither Iran nor Venezuela are threatening America.
Cuba is a dead horse, stop beating it.
Heh. Good morning e1, thanks for the OT.
Gas prices, at CostCo, locally run $4.25 to $4.35 depending which suburb. Scanning this page: https://aruljohn.com/gas/ca discloses that it is only $3.99 in Santee which is out in East San Diego (that's 18 miles from the nearest beach). I'm in "damned if you do and damned if you don't territory". My pick-up takes mid-range gas, which CostCo does not sell. But, their premium is about the same price as everybody else's mid-range, so I just run premium in it. My city mileage isn't high enough for me to drive any serious distance in search of the best deal, especially if you factor in my time. If I drive 20 minutes to save $5 on a tank of gas, I'm working for $15 per hour. I don't work, I know, but my hourly rate is definitely well above that, and that's ignoring the aggravation too.
Well, wrote that a while ago then got distracted, so I'd better post it while in here in the office.
be well and have a good one
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
no way will I leave the driveway for less than $30/hr
these wealthy f*cks need sh*t done
I have the skills and tools and they somehow
think minimum wage is the going rate?
businesses now charge $150/hr for any
semi-skilled service calls. It's crazy.
Zionism is a social disease
I don't shop at Costco
so don't know the gas prices.
But the local Chevron/Shell/76 stations are up around $4.25. Some stations market non ethanol premium for $6-7 bucks, to fuel the hot rod crowd and Harleys.
Washington just upped the registration fees for Tesla EVs but left mine at current level, around $250 a year.
For now, they added.
I make up for it by driving across the river to sales taxless Oregon to make most of my purchases. It costs me less than 25 cents in electric there and back and I have most all major retailers right there.
I have that advantage because I live only a mile from the river.
Thanks for the post.
Neither Russia nor China is our enemy.
Neither Iran nor Venezuela are threatening America.
Cuba is a dead horse, stop beating it.
The US news has become so unreliable.
.... The UnOfficial Liars are tripping over the lies of the Official Liars.
.
Amazon Haul:
Amazon created The Haul Store in response to other budget platforms like Shein and Temu, which are known for their affordable prices but often leave us uncertain about product quality.
Amazon created a space where shoppers can enjoy incredible deals without the guesswork.
The Haul Store is only available on mobile through the Amazon app.
(I've shopped all three. In my opinion, TEMU is the clear winner for consumers. Of course, the b.s. US Tariffs may change all that. A blanket consumer-class tax may be placed on all US consumer purchases, wherever on earth they take place.)
Well well well again
.
Tennessee Man Has Been Stranded in Guatemala Since 2022 Over Tattoo
Sure the things that Trump is doing are heinous, but they were just as heinous when previous presidents did them. Trump is denying due process, but so did Obama and Bush and probably many, many other presidents.
This is worth reading.
https://www.blackagendareport.com/bush-obama-and-biden-gave-trump-tools-...
To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize.
- Kevin Alfred Strom
Deplorable. But what are we really looking at?
We are looking at the US People's centuries-long unwillingness to take responsibility for the criminality of their government. Naturally, this is born of the People's unwillingness to correct the inadequacies and injustice and corruption in their own Constitution, across time.
Why should Americans expect anything better than what they have? Do they deserve better because they are incurious and gullible? Even when courageous publications like BAR, consistently reveal the truth about US hegemony, the truth is ignored.
I realize that many of them instinctively keep their heads down to protect themselves from the truth. But who would want to live in such a place? Unless they are too dumb to know they are directly responsible for deadly US global chaos and crimes against humanity — that the People of the US have, in fact paid for — and they will be on the receiving end of the next dark age that will soon envelope the West.
In my humble opinion, of course.
Thanks for the lnk
to BAR. Have read them before, good reads. Will dive in later today.
Neither Russia nor China is our enemy.
Neither Iran nor Venezuela are threatening America.
Cuba is a dead horse, stop beating it.
There was a lot war talk in a Senate hearing yesterday
I listened live for just under an hour of this. It was all I needed to hear. The INDOPACCOM commander was there, and the USFK commander, I heard their testimony before the Senate Armed Forces committee. War with China over Taiwan, Chinese South China Sea aggression blah, blah, blah, and deterrence against North Korea. Obviously, they want more ships, more weapons, etc.
The only point that was well taken was that withdrawal of US forces from South Korea might not be a good idea, as there would be a strong inclination for them to get nuclear weapons. This is one of the very few times I disagree with Jeffrey Sachs take on US withdrawal. That would be bad. The same applies to Japan. Reduce forces in Japan? Okay. Total withdrawal? Somewhat precipitous. Then there could be some outbreak of nuclear war in say ten minutes, that doesn't give much time for second thoughts.
It was repeated that North Korea was hardening its "border" near the DMZ. There was no discussion of how this came about due to Yoon's military intention to dismantle the 9.19 agreement with North Korea negotiated in 2018 (which the US opposed) whose whole raison d'etre was to reduce tensions along the dmz insofar as possible, remove some watch towers, some heavy weapons in the JSA, create buffer zones from the DMZ and maritime NLLs to reduce military movements near the DMZ, improve communications between militaries, etc. Not even mentioned what a policy blunder this was, and what was the US policy reaction? zzzzzzzzzz
The general said our allies are important to augment a resource strapped US Armed Forces against China. The desire evidently is to spread the area of the conflict with China, such that it would in effect require dispersal of their military efforts. All of this was put forward by the military commanders, I'm not aware of any testimony say by the SecDef or Deputy SecDef for Asia or their State Dept analogs. The INDOPACCOM said S.Korea was committed to the US-Japan wide area strategy in the Western Pacific. This is a gross overreading of their commitment. I don't think they have any interest in overstepping China's red line with respect to Taiwan, nor the Philippines' bogus claims to the South China Sea.
The vocabulary used to discuss these matters, the assumptions made, the claim to more tax revenues for more weapons systems, are all think tank, DC in group, echo chamber stuff, buzz words, key phrases. (There's a club, and we ain't in it). Disputing any of the assumptions or claims made; claims that military resolution is possible, were really not clearly articulated. It was emphasized however, when US ability to oppose China militarily effectively in its backyard was challenged by one of the minority committee members, one of the majority members got the INDOPACCOM to confirm that the US nuclear first strike strategy was available. China is the bully, aggressor, etc. China does not have a first strike nuclear doctrine. They do make more ships, aircraft and missiles than we are currently producing. We don't have "enough." It was also pointed out there was a US shortage of lift aircraft, tankers, naval logistic ships, etc. Thank dog for that nuclear first strike option, right?
There is the indivisible commitment to Taiwan theory. If Ukraine is abandoned, our Asian allies become doubtful of US commitment. If the US lessens its troops or bases in South Korea, Japan, the Philippines, etc., Taiwan will doubt our commitment to their defense. Also the US is committed to defend the Philippine Armed Forces if they are militarily confronted by China over St. Thomas shoals in the South China Sea. This is similar to former president Biden's stated commitment to defend Japan against China if the Senkakus rocks in the East China Sea become a site of military confrontation with China. So we're gonna go to war over some sand bar or rocks?
More food for thought here:
Hong Jun-pyo and Ahn Chu-soo dropped from PPP nomination for president campaign. Kim Moon-soo and Han Dong-hun will have a run off for the presidential nomination.
Thanks for the OT Earthling1!
語必忠信 行必正直
Please don't stop monitoring.
You are the only sane American voice I know with realistic analysis based on physical evidence and verifiable historic truth.
Plus many more examples throughout your report that I could point out. Either people can already see them. Or they will not be able to see them.
I don't know where else I would find an unconflicted truthful view of the big picture — or a critical view of the mistaken assumptions and conflicts of interest held by so many of the podcast favorites promoted here. (When they say the right words.)
Naked reality is the only filter that should be applied.
Ditto!
Thanks very much for staying on top of this. It is going to become extremely important to know what is going on over there from a well-read source, very soon now.
Twice bitten, permanently shy.
Any MBA will tell you
that when a competitor raises their prices, that's free profit for you to reap. The sooner you raise yours, the more of that you get to keep. So the instant that Company A raises their prices because that container of just-in-time googaws from China just went up 150%, you raise your prices to match right away. The extra money from your having 2 months supply in inventory (that you bought at the old price) is all yours to keep.
Gas stations are the worst, of course. The oil and gas industry has been playing these games since time immemorial. Let's say that there's a hurricane in the Gulf that causes oil/gas production to be shut-in for a week or so. The price at the pump magically goes up *that day*, even though none of the refined product from crude pumped that day would be able to make it through the refining process and out of the pipeline for months...
I've always been so amused at gasoline prices. If you've ever spent time at a pipeline terminal, you realize quickly that all of the gasoline generally comes out of one single pipeline. And all the semi-trucks with their Sunoco or Gulf or Valero or whatever logos back up to the same pipeline terminal and fill up from the same spigot- and then perhaps add whatever additive package their brand thinks makes a difference, at the last minute before pumping into the storage tanks at the local station on the corner. And the price varies by insane amounts, based entirely upon what the traffic will bear. With regular 85-octane unleaded these days, it is literally all the same product- unless you happen to live near a refinery that sells through their own stations locally.
Back when we had the ranch, we had a 12-inch 1200psi pipeline for refined petroleum product running across the property, up to the terminal in Commerce City. It ran unleaded regular 60% of the time, and diesel 40% of the time. They separate the products by running a series of pigs up the pipeline to separate the batches- but that first several thousand gallons of product after each changeover is always a mix. At least around here, the gas-diesel mix is dyed red, and sold off to the local farmers without the road-maintenance taxes added to the price. So if you ever wondered why the ag-only diesel you get for your tractor smelled a little like gasoline a lot of the time, in addition to the being red- now you know.
Twice bitten, permanently shy.
The economic attack on American middle
.... and lower classes, by US businesses and corporations — could not be clearer.
Recent US Federal Policies and executive actions have made all of this possible and legal.
This is the nation we live in.
I so remember
the Chevron gimmick F310 added to it's gas. Never seemed to make any diff from the other brands. Just a higher price.
" A sucker born every minute" P. T. Barnum?
Thanks for the post.
Neither Russia nor China is our enemy.
Neither Iran nor Venezuela are threatening America.
Cuba is a dead horse, stop beating it.
If the US needs more ships
China can bang out as many as needed, as they are a shipbuilding behemoth, both military and commercial ships.
China is now building Icebreakers for the Artic Marine Highway too.
We just have to ask real nicely.
LOL
America stepping on it's own penis. Dickheads.
Thanks for the update on the coming election debacle.
Neither Russia nor China is our enemy.
Neither Iran nor Venezuela are threatening America.
Cuba is a dead horse, stop beating it.
When did we start referring to China's location
...the IndoPacific?
It's the little things that poison American minds. It's important to remain alert.
Cue the Gulf of America
And the State of Canada is an insult that just got Carney elected.
If I were Russia I would offer to buy enough of Canada's Northern territories to gain an Artic presence and load up a formidable invasion force adjacent to Alaska to scare the shit out of the lower 48.
With their fleet of icebreakers the Russians already own the Arctic.
Tanks for all your posts today, Pluto.
Neither Russia nor China is our enemy.
Neither Iran nor Venezuela are threatening America.
Cuba is a dead horse, stop beating it.
Thanks for the Winco tips.
I'm planning to shop there for the first time.
This article is from a right wing site,
and it is about the dust up when Amazon announced it would be listing tariff prices on it's sale items. Trump abd the gang went nuts, saying it was hostile, political, and Amazon has shady ties to China, blah blah...Bezos quickly said it was not gonna happen and such a plan was never discussed.
While the the hate Trump/protect Trump article is boring, the issue that jumps off the page is that suppressing actual tariff percentages and the resulting price increases that are Trump's fault will be keeping consumers ignorant. Since when are taxes and price gouging kept secret? Why do it now?
https://www.westernjournal.com/amazon-says-proposed-website-tweak-not-go...
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981