Tag Archives: chinese food

Imponderable #107: Nebraska

6 Sep

September 6, 2013

Remember the game Mousetrap? You had to build a bizarre contraption in which a mouse eats some cheese, a fulcrum tilts, a flag swings up, a rope pulls something or other, pulleys and levers get involved, and 57 steps later a net falls on a mouse. That’s based on the inventions of Rube Goldberg:

Rubenvent

That’s what the accident in the next story reminds me of.

baggo

Food goes in the bag, bag breaks, can falls out, breaks toe, skin gets gashed, infection sets in, woman dies.

I don’t think the bags were defective, I just think they are so cheap that they can barely contain a pillow. I’ve seen some horribly cheap and thin plastic bags lately. I’m surprised the bag made it out to the parking lot.

I do blame the cashier. None of them know how to bag. They either stuff all your items, including two desk chairs and a fender, in one bag, or go the other way and put no more than two items in a bag, leaving the average family to walk out carrying anywhere from 67 to 108 nearly empty bags.

Usually, and this happens all the time, I rebag my purchases right there at the register. More often I use the bag it yourself counter. However, I don’t like that option. Part of the money I am spending goes to pay the cashiers, whose job it is to bag my items. If I am doing the cashier’s job I want a rebate.

On the other hand, I am guaranteed that my eggs will not be packed under a load of cement.

As far as this lawsuit, he will not get funeral or burial expenses in any court, so cross those out. He also won’t get pain and suffering, that is usually saved for physical pain. Then cut in half whatever the judgment might be because I feel the woman is half responsible. How could she not lift that bag and think it wouldn’t make it to her car? Any of us who lifts a full shopping bag can tell if it is overloaded. She should have done something.

Two giant cans of La Choy and huge bag of rice. I wonder what she making for dinner? (For the next two weeks.)

TQII

 

Flash Gordon: The Lost Adventure

2 Jul

July 2, 20113

01_raymond_flashgordon_heritagecover_1972

CHAPTER FOUR

The Story So Far:

Marooned on the planet Mongo, heroic human Flash Gordon has become the leader of the freedom-loving resistance forces. Along with the brilliant Professor Zarkov and the lovely Dale Arden, Flash has united the warring peoples of Mongo and forced evil despot Ming the Merciless into retreat.

Meanwhile, Prince Barin has brought Flash some troubling news…

———————-

“Barin!” Flash exclaimed. “Do you know what this says?”

Prince Barin shuffled his feet uncomfortably. “Why yes Flash. It says that Ming is reassembling his forces. I fear his threat may not yet have been vanquished.”

Flash looked to his trusted friend. “Barin, have your people been able to find any trace, any clue of his whereabouts? “ Flash leaned eagerly across the council table. Barin consulted with an aide.

“It seems that some of Prince Vultan’s hawk-men have heard rumors that Ming has established a new palace in the northern section of Arboria.”

“Arboria!” Flash leapt to his feet. “I have to go and see for myself!”

“But Flash, you’d have to cross mighty swamps filled with savage lizard-men!” Barin put a hand of caution on his friend’s shoulder. “And Ming may still be protected by the ferocious lion-folk.”

“I’ll have to take that chance. If Ming is allowed to establish a new palace, who knows what evil he may unleash on Mongo!”

“Then go my ally, go with my prayers.”

———————-

Word of Flash’s mission to Ming’s Palace spread throughout the Court of Mongo. Dale Arden rushed to Flash’s side, but she could not persuade him to stay. Doctor Zarkov tried to reason with Flash, but the blonde hero would not be swayed.

“I must go. Another Palace of Ming would signal the end of freedom on Mongo. The alliance is still new and fragile; Ming could break it all to pieces. I must find Ming’s Palace!”

———————-

Within hours Flash had left the safety of the Capital City and was cautiously making his way towards Ming’s Palace. In the swamps of the lizard-men he proceeded slowly, and only during the day, for the lizard-men prowled at night. During the night, Flash sought safety in the high trees, but he was often challenged and forced to destroy the snake-like creatures that dwelled there.

Days later, Flash emerged from the swamps and under cover of darkness avoided the lion-men patrols and entered Northern Arboria. Darkening his hair, Flash donned a disguise and blended in with the local population, listening for clues to the location of Ming’s Palace. After days of listening at doorways and peering through windows, Flash Gordon finally discovered the location of his goal: Ming’s Palace.

Wasting no time, Flash rushed there and, in awe, stood before his destination.

                       mings place

Clearly, someone had screwed up.

Flash had the beef and broccoli combination plate with wonton soup before hoping a cab back to Prince Barin’s kingdom.