Monthly Archives: June 2008

SPEED—THE FIRST MCDONALD’S.

Posted on June 24, 2008 by Philip

SPEED—THE FIRST MCDONALD’S. Quite a while ago, I read Ray Kroc’s account of the opening day of his first McDonald’s (on North Avenue in Des Plaines, Illinois—I remember when the sign went up boasting that they had gone over one … Continue reading →

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WHY DON’T AMERICANS BAG GROCERIES? (COMMENT).

Posted on June 23, 2008 by Philip

WHY DON’T AMERICANS BAG GROCERIES? (COMMENT). Dick Weisfelder commented here that in Sweden customers bag their own groceries, and Lee Bryant commented that stores in California are experimenting with requiring customers to bag their own groceries. An economist might wonder … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics | 1 Comment

SECRETS OF COMPETITIVE EATING.

Posted on June 22, 2008 by Philip

SECRETS OF COMPETITIVE EATING. I posted here about champion eaters who weigh less than 150 pounds and about a study which indicates that size is a disadvantage because “adipose tissue around the stomach is a competitive disadvantage because it prevents … Continue reading →

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THE SMELL OF RAIN.

Posted on June 21, 2008 by Philip

THE SMELL OF RAIN. Tom Skilling, the weatherman for the Chicago Tribune, answers a reader’s question: what causes the smell of rain? Moisture can cause plants to release odors; Pine forests release a substance used in perfumes. Warmth, high humidity, … Continue reading →

Posted in Science | 1 Comment

AMERICAN FANS.

Posted on June 20, 2008 by Philip

AMERICAN FANS. I will be thinking of the Japanese fans when I watch the Cubs/ White Sox series beginning tonight. I posted last year that I think of the fans as White Sox fans sitting beside Cub fans. These are … Continue reading →

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JAPANESE FANS.

Posted on June 20, 2008 by Philip

JAPANESE FANS. One of my correspondents reported recently on attending a Japanese baseball game between the Hiroshima Carp and the Yomiuri Giants. There was standing room only so there was a choice between the Carp section left field and the … Continue reading →

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ANSWER TO TRIVIA QUESTION.

Posted on June 20, 2008 by Philip

ANSWER TO TRIVIA QUESTION. I have always liked trivia questions that require some guessing. In this case, the player is probably a good defensive player at an important defensive position, but one who was not a good enough hitter to … Continue reading →

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“FUNDAMENTAL PARTICLES ARRANGED BASEBALLWISE.”

Posted on June 19, 2008 by Philip

FUNDAMENTAL PARTICLES ARRANGED BASEBALLWISE. In the division of labor in our marriage, Mary Jane does all the philosophy, and especially, all the metaphysics. The Times Literary Supplement for June 6 has a review by Terry Horgan of ORDINARY OBJECTS by … Continue reading →

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PRODUCTIVITY IMPROVEMENTS IN EATING.

Posted on June 18, 2008 by Philip

PRODUCTIVITY IMPROVEMENTS IN EATING. I once read a claim by an anthropologist that the invention of cooking may have been the greatest labor saving invention of all time. He said that man’s teeth are not well designed for chewing raw … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics | 3 Comments

GROCERY STORES BACK IN THE DAY (COMMENT).

Posted on June 18, 2008 by Philip

GROCERY STORES BACK IN THE DAY (COMMENT). Long before Walmart and Costco, stores were shifting tasks to customers. Kids, when I was young, my mother would take us on a two-block walk to the grocery store. My mother would tell … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics | 3 Comments