turkey day and mickey d's truthiness and bagel smiles - Cheaper Than Therapy Cheaper Than Therapy

October 12 08

turkey day and mickey d’s truthiness and bagel smiles

It’s Thanksgiving in Canada, which feels weird. Thanksgiving for me, since i’m a total plant, is in November. and it involves a full day of eating and football. it’s on a Thursday and the entire day on Friday is spent shopping until i drop. or at least until the husband takes away the credit card. but in Canada, things are a little different. i’ll still be eating turkey and stuffing and mashed potatoes and peas and sweet potato pie and pumpkin pie. mmmm…pumpkin pie….

but it’s Monday. Monday! and it’s OCTOBER! and there’s no black Friday (boo!). it feels weird, but it’s food. so, who am i to complain? i love food. i love eating it. and cooking it. and baking it. and serving it. and learning about it.

yes, it’s true. you read that right. learning about it.

and luckily for me, i get to learn about food this week. (like the segue there?) McDonalds Canada and The McDonald’s Moms Quality CorrespondentsÂ have invited me to join their team. To be one of five mom correspondents. To take an unprecedented journey behind the scenesÂ at both the McDonald’s Canada headquarters in Toronto and their global headquarters in Oak Brook, Illinois. To be there as McDonald’s gives moms across Canada a behind-the-scenes and behind-the-counters look. To be there for the truthiness. to dispel rumors. to answer questions – my questions AND yours.

I’ll be honest. i don’t really eat at McDonald’s…unless you count the occasional coffee. (but, truth be told, as Miss Vodkarella and i have discussed, the iced coffee? the cream? the CREAM! it’s all cream! that was a big mistake! This, of course, is something i want to talk to them about…) but i still want to know. and i’m super impressed that McDonald’s wants us to know.

i’ve been talking to people about this and they are all excited to get their questions asked…and to actually get an answer. They want to know whether or not there is any lard still used in the french fries. They want to know that when they order Chicken McNuggets that they are actually getting, well, chicken. They want to know what happened to the pizza?

they want to know what their healthier options are, if there are any. They want to know about the eggs in egg McMuffins. are they real? They want to know how the apples stay so darn fresh and keep from turning brown.

they want to know.

and i want to know.

and i’m going to get answers.

so, let’s have it! your best question to ask the McDonald’s bigwigs! What do YOU want to know??!?!?!

besides how it is that my son is so darn cute?

Joshie is all bagel-smiles by you.

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Comments

I am totally experiencing the same thing – living in the states and celebrating Canadian Thanksgiving. Except we’re the only ones who are celebrating. 🙂 But it all feels just a bit…off.

About McDonalds, I would never consider it a healthy option. But we do eat there sometimes. I really fell like McDonalds in Canada has worked much harder to improve their menu selections and image to be more health-conscious. For some reason American McDonalds don’t offer things like muffins and when my kids get apple slices with their happy meals the apple are PEELED. In Canada they leave the peel on. It seems like a silly thing, but why would they peel them in the US? I find it really strange. I am interested to hear what you learn in your behind-the-scenes visit!

Shannons last blog post..So long, and thanks for all the turkey!
Comment by Shannon on October 12, 2008
Are you aware that the news you are watching is interlaced with Communist China’s propaganda,as
Communist China maps a realm of news with innocent lives?
Communist China is scheming a millennial terrorist activity by manipulating people’s behaviors
through electromagnetic waves to contain criticism and harm innocent human lives.

1. The anomaly in community traffic of cars and motorcycles and drag racing,and reckless honking by
cars and motorcycles is exceeding an unprecedented level.
2. Communist China has the technology to scan the human brain waves through military satellite and
to discern and decipher their thoughts,scheming to instill individual interference focusing on
each individual in need using the satellite electromagnetic waves.
3. Deploying electromagnetic waves is poised to project onto the human brain with certain
sounds for the perception of grossly traumatizing or startling pain,or deploying the broadcast
of noise via electromagnetic waves in sleeping humans with edited clips of films or through
voice or image signals onto our brains or besiege our sensory functions with fabricated
audible and sensory illusions.
4. It manipulates one’s moods,such as smiling,nervousness,disgust,panic,anger,sorrow,
desires,appetite,and so forth.
5. It interferes the human brain’s thinking capability,memory or linguistic capability,to name a
few,causing spasms of muscles and fingers in the left and right hands,stinging aches
throughout the body,coughing,yawning,trembling,involuntary blinking of the eye,runny
nose and so forth.
6. Electromagnetic waves are deployed to hinder the motoring functions of the body and neck,
disrupt the heartbeat or respiration,manipulate dizziness,deprive one’s sleep,spasm,saliva
gland,dental neural pain,etc.
7. Watch out that Communist China is infiltrating the news media by deploying electromagnetic
waves to besiege the broadcast media,map out viral disillusion or erroneous perception,and
investigate threats of brainwashing in viral spreading.
8. It further moved to deploy various symptoms in what one sees of media icons,gesture terms,
adding a skewed interpretation to one’s cognitive awareness,misleading an individual to
hallucinate or suffer,such as the North Korean’s rigid smile,which is a tactic Communist
China often deploys to counter the people.
9. By observing the resolution accuracy of Communist China’s sound and image (scenario)
interference projected onto the human’s brain,this can only be achieved with a certain level
of frequencies at the source of interference,hence there is no doubt that it has to be the
electromagnetic wave. Yet questions remain as to what range of frequencies the source of
interference deploys,or what kind of electromagnetic waves insulation chamber would suffice
to provide an insulation yield? Communist China might deploy specific metal alloys as small scale
molecular antennas, which are attached to the human brain in large number,creating
electromagnetic waves when the human brain is in function,where the current created by
Communist China’s electromagnetic interference would poise to amplify in a staggering
number of multiplication,which Communist China can detect at all times to discern and
muscles would excel the generation of electrode,which in turn create a corresponding
electromagnetic wave within.
10. Some of Communist China’s intimidation experiences in 2002:6.9 “Hey,are you tired of living?”
6.14 “We had concocted the bombing incident at the U.S. embassy in Pakistan”
“Jiang Zhemin ordered us to kill you,but without creating scenes”6.16 “The Pakistani
civilian troops confessed that they had schemed the bombing of the U.S. embassy in
Pakistan,which we had manipulated them to confess,so what are you going to do about it?”
6.19 “Hey,why don’t you just go ahead and commit suicide””We are going to scheme
murder using the public bus”6.20 “Commit suicide by burning charcoal,get it?”6.25 “Jiang
Zhemin just does not like you,go hit your head against the wall”.
11. I reckon that there are victims abound out in the street,no less alarming than wars,and those
not in the know or did not understand that Communist China’s simple electromagnetic design
could easily turn people against each other,create moving incidents,little lese to say mislead
the youth to broach down the wrong path,suicidal prompting,design and fabrication of a host
of society news (which Communication China refers to as movie making),as Communist China has had a
decade long of the technology,and has long abused its technological advantages to scheme up design
of abusing human lives by arranging fabricated news to poison and infiltrate the free
world,manipulate and misguide the contents of the media,and deploy brainwashing and malicious
spread of viruses,done with insinuation and riddles.The fact that Communist China’s slaughtering
the innocent had been the result of a high level of calculation,and a high level of rationalization,
where the threats are in existence,and cannot be ignored of their detrimental severity.
12. Communist China often coerce people to watch news compiled by the reporter Lu Yuling of the cable
news in order for them to be saved,but few are aware that Communist China had merely deploy the
reporter to entrap many people. I do envision that those that turn to committing crime as framed
by Communist China,the extra sufferings by the ordinary people,and the deaths of many innocent
lives will not go unnoticed as hindered by a condoning attitude.
13. Nazi Hu Jintao, Jiang Zemin, Chinese Liberation Army, security police and armed police have committed suppression and massacre on their own civilians. Hu, Jiang and the other atrocious butchers owe these innocent civilians! More horrible and serious is that they are using mysterious killing technologies to cause harms to human brains around the world, making advantage of numerous international politicians and journalists to help them commit atrocities and beautify their actions, aiming to overturn and suppress those innocent people and cover up their terrorist acts and win fame by cheating the world. Securing in the knowledge that they have strong backing, these arrogant and shameless butchers have committed tortures and mass killing cruelly to those innocent ones around the world. Unfortunately, neither these politicians and nor journalists knowing what is what would dare to express their conscience.
14. The inhumane acts and atrocities committed by Nazi China are far more vicious than that of Nanjing massacre in China during WWII committed by Japanese army, as Chinese government is using mysterious technologies to commit massacres to masses of bare-handed civilians around the world as well as launch violence and terrorist activities to suppress these completely unarmed peopleâ€™s freedom of speech. These demons, like Hu, Jinag and Chinese Liberation Army, despise the chastity, dignity and precious life of those innocent ones and suppress the emotions of their beloved. Meanwhile, relying on the condition that most of people in the world will not be able to witness their vicious acts of violence and behaviors they have committed unscrupulously and shamelessly, these Chinese Liberation Army enjoys using cruel ways to torture, massacre and trample on these innocent people, physically and mentally, in one free world. The arrogant Hu, Jiang and those jackals nurtured under such ferocious power treat themselves as the symbol of benevolence and hero, as they fail to learn their gutless and vicious acts to trample on those innocent people. If these demons, butchers and dregs of human, such as Hu, Jiang and Chinese Liberation Army who have become frenzied and conscienceless appeared in the site of Nanjing massacre in WWII, they definitely would be the leading roles to act atrocities!
15. We donâ€™t want to see masses of innocent people to fall victim to the hell on earth built by red China where they will be susceptible to tortures and massacres for thousands of years.
16. Despite being even unable to fend for themselves in face of the high-tech detriments and attacks from China, we can not tolerate the fact that these politicians and journalists will become the accomplices to help China commit its terrorist acts and suppression on these innocent people in the current era or an unknown future.
17. In view of the notorious, vicious and sinister Hu, Jiang, Chinese Liberation Army with blood-stained hands, we just cast doubt over whether these greats of knowing what is what who have negotiated with these demons will show their conscience to save these innocent civilians or will act just for the sake of their profits, or are under the control of China. In this current drowned world, how will these innocent lives be treated in face of the atrocious acts committed by these diabolical figures, or when these innocent people will witness the practice of democracy in China? Will these phenomena turn out to be the joint efforts and endeavors achieved by China and those powerful figures in the world? Are we really dedicated to overturning such adversity? Our goal is to eliminate the vicious power one day with our strenuous efforts, and we absolutely will achieve it!

Chen,Shun-Chuan 2002.10.13* Republic of China (Taiwan)
Comment by Chen,Shun-Chuan on October 12, 2008
Ask them if the Big N Tasty burger is really brains, or if they have any plans for offering a Brains N Tasty burger in the future.

Zombie Daddys last blog post..Lessons in Living, Dead.
Comment by Zombie Daddy on October 12, 2008
Well, I was going to ask what the second commenter asked but she totally stole my thunder.
Comment by slynnro on October 12, 2008
Ask them what happened to the McDLT? I mean, it was brilliance! The burger and toppings were separate until you deemed them together. Awesome.

Seriously, I don’t think about McDonald’s that much. There are none nearby for me and it’s not a choice we make very often. I appreciate that they offer healthier options now, but the media has painted such a poor light on their ingredients and marketing that it’s left me with a sour taste (ha ha) regarding the company. That doesn’t mean I’m not open to hearing what really goes on.

What do they think and how do they plan to address the bad press in recent years?
Comment by Chantal on October 12, 2008
OK, since slynnro said what I was going to say, I do have another question. We hear all about the McDonald’s Monopoly game and then never hear who wins. Does anybody ever win the Monopoly game? And how many thousands of Filet O’Fish do we have to eat to win the car? And is the Hamburglar single? And if not, is he in an open relationship?

Margarets last blog post..How To Win a Pissing Contest
Comment by Margaret on October 12, 2008
The apples? My guess is they dip them or spritz them or treat them with some type of weak acid solution, like citric acid, or lemon juice or similar. The acid reacts with the phenols(?) in the apples in such a way as to retard or eliminate browning. That’s a trick you can use next time you peel a bunch of apples at home: spritz the slices with a little lemon juice, or put them in a bowl of cold water with some lemon juice in it.

Brains? Eh, I think they were going to launch the McScrapple breakfast muffin first!

IrishGumbos last blog post..Bless Me, Father, For I…Wait, I’m Not Catholic
Comment by IrishGumbo on October 12, 2008
Ask them why the hell my food never looks like the stuff on the menu board by the time I get it, and why it’s never, ever hot. Also, ask them why the damn employees take up all the customer parking spots rather than the spots designated for them in the back. Also, if you can, find out what it is they lace the Southwest salad with that literally shreds me each time I eat one.

Feel free to omit the curse words from your queries if you see fit.

differentkindofgirls last blog post..she never mentions the word addiction in certain company
Comment by differentkindofgirl on October 12, 2008
Joshie IS so cute. Good to see him EATING!

Haley-Os last blog post..The PYKFH, the Beautiful Friends, and the Etc.
Comment by Haley-O on October 12, 2008
Perfect!!!
I have been unable to get a straight answer in 3.5yrs.
I NEED to know if the french fries contain gluten or casein.
Could’ya find out for Cuy??
Thanks 😉
And for me – Why the frig they stopped making the Big Extra????

Christines last blog post..
Comment by Christine on October 12, 2008
Ask them if there’s anything they can add to the Chicken McNuggets that would protect our minds from being infiltrated by China’s microwaves. (That would be a follow up for Chen Sun Yang a Tang’s question.)

And ask them where they get their meat from (I’m guessing Mexico).

And ask them why there’s always one McNugget that you get the boot… you know, the chicken who forgot to take its rubber boots off before being turned into a nugget?

And ask why they quit serving happy meals in happy meal containers. My kids are finally old enough so I can legitimately buy them, and now they come in BAGS?!? WTH?

And ask why they don’t ASK people if they want napkins and silverware before they stuff every bag full of them. Not everyone who takes food TO GO is eating in their car/camper.

Yep, that’s it. 🙂

lorens last blog post..Thursday Night Live???
Comment by loren on October 12, 2008
That Shun guy commented on me earlier too. I’m not sure how his comment is related to McDonald’s, but I guess you could get a few questions out of it. Can you ask Mickey D’s why the McRib sandwich is a special offer only? My husband is upset about this. Also, could you find out, once and for all, their breakfast service hours during the week vs weekend? My clock is always off.

jenboglasss last blog post..The Five Spot
Comment by jenboglass on October 12, 2008
I want to know why they can NEVER get my order right when I go through the drive-thru. It’s to piss me off, isn’t it?

And how did your son get so cute? I’m guessing your husband.

Matthews last blog post..Added Incentive
Comment by Matthew on October 13, 2008
Happy Thanksgiving!

I eat at Raunchie Ron’s occasionally. Not too often cuz it’s crap.

Teena in Torontos last blog post..Happy Thanksgiving!
Comment by Teena in Toronto on October 13, 2008
I would like to know who’s big idea it was to get rid of the Big Extra! Clearly it was the greatest burger of all time? And seriously my husband talks about the Pizza all of the time. They should really bring that back!

Loving Dangers last blog post..Some Thoughts
Comment by Loving Danger on October 13, 2008
I took the kids to McDs this weekend and ate ONE of their chicken nuggets.

What exactly was the white hard piece I bite in and pulled out. Hard. White. About the size of a marker point.

Ewww. Please tell me what it was.

OHmommys last blog post..Shamelessly Burning Calories in High Heels.
Comment by OHmommy on October 13, 2008
I just want to say that I have no pity for you and your lack of Black Friday when you have Boxing Day! Why can’t we all have both??
Comment by AJ on October 13, 2008
2 Questions from me…

1. What exactly is in a McNugget?
2. How would they explain the fries in super size me not deteriorating in a jar for several weeks? Why dont the fries decompose normally?
Comment by Hockeyman on October 13, 2008
OHMommy – That’s the BOOT!

lorens last blog post..I spin me right round, baby
Comment by loren on October 13, 2008
When on your trip to Oak Brook, you must go to Oak Brook Mall! You will thank me.
Comment by Tara L on October 13, 2008
I want to know if McDonalds is in cahoots with Communist China and is using electromagnetic rays to scan our brains.

My sons want to know why they took away the indoor playground at the McDonalds in West Mobile.

Heather, Queen of Shake Shakes last blog post..This is how we do crazy around here. Alternate Title: How many times can I ask what the hell?
Comment by Heather, Queen of Shake Shake on October 13, 2008
Slynnro – HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

I want to know why they pulled the selection of salads (ie The Bacon Ranch, et al), at least in BC.

I had no problem getting decent salads there when we were across the border.

Angellas last blog post..Two
Comment by Angella on October 13, 2008
Why the hambruger wrapper says 100% pure beef with a copyright symbol on it when all it means is that is the clever name of the people who make the wrapper and not McDonald’s describing the contents of the patty.

And why do they not call the double quarter the half pounder?
Comment by Steph on October 13, 2008
I want to know how those nuggets are treated before they become food? also Ali are using electro-magnetic waves to make me ask this question. hahaha
Comment by LAVENDULA on October 13, 2008
How much sugar goes into their sweet tea? It’s really sweet, but I’m addicted to it!

Lindy Wests last blog post..Gavin’s First Motorcycle Event
Comment by Lindy West on October 13, 2008
Why isnt the McRib year round? And WTF is a McDonalds PIZZA?? Oooh also, why is there NOT a kids breakfast meal?? They should totally have one.

Misss last blog post..Please! Donâ€™t act like you didnâ€™t knowâ€¦
Comment by Miss on October 13, 2008
Is the secret sauce REALLY Ronald’s “secret sauce”?

Seriously though, the McDLT and the pizza are two items I miss personally.

SciFi Dads last blog post..Fuck.
Comment by SciFi Dad on October 13, 2008
What happened to the McLean Deluxe and are they going to use any whole wheat or whole grain products any time soon?
Comment by Charna on October 13, 2008
Why don’t they offer their new coffees in decaf? I love lattes from Starbucks (but with the price, they are a treat not an everyday occurance). McDs only has regular fancy coffees, no decafs (at least here in MN where we are not being exposed to electromagnetic communist activity).
What happened to those yummy warmed up apple danishes?
Comment by Amy on October 13, 2008
Thanksgiving in October is weird. Weird and wrong, I say. Oh wait, pie? I love pie. I’d eat pie in October. Ok, never mind my first statement. I take it back.

Ask McDonalds for me, if they pump french fry smell into the air, so you can smell it from a six mile radius.
Comment by Issa on October 13, 2008
How come there fries are so bloody addictive? I mean as long as they are hot and fresh. McD’s needs to implement at freshness rule…like fries will not sit longer than 5 mins. or we start a new batch.

Kalles last blog post..Voting Day
Comment by Kalle on October 14, 2008
Cute pic btw!

About Mickey d’s…Love all the questions so far, would love to see them answered. While I’d love to see more healthy options on the menu, what kid in their right mind would choose them (or allow mom to choose them) when there are fries and chicken nuggets there? I’d like to see a whole new restaurant like “McHealthy’s” with the same atmosphere, kids meals in neat boxes with toys, clean high chairs, fast service, fun decor, with ONLY healthy options on the menu. Now that’s where I’d wanna take my kids, and eat too.

Kathys last blog post..How not to cook a turkey
Comment by Kathy on October 14, 2008
I spent almost seven years of my life slinging grease at McDonald’s, so there’s really not much I want to know. I know a lot about McD’s, inside and out, and it is a pretty decent place to eat (at least, the locations I worked at were). I wouldn’t consider McD’s a healthy option – I didn’t when I worked there and I don’t now – but I have no problems with getting the kids happy meals or scarfing down a McChicken.

Several times when I worked there we had a special burger called the Hockey Hero burger. We called it the Triple Bypass because it was three patties, mayo, special sauce…*shudder*. Whenever we worked drive thru we’d always call it The Hockey Hair burger and you know…nobody ever noticed.
Comment by mamatulip on October 15, 2008
I’m a transplant, too! So weird to have Thanksgiving in October!

Courtneys last blog post..My Husband, The Animal Rights Activist
Comment by Courtney on October 15, 2008