SPAM: the economic measure of our times

markem · 11-14-2008, 09:43 PM

[the nytimes.com site requires a free login]

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/15/bu...hp&oref=slogin

AUSTIN, Minn. — The economy is in tatters and, for millions of people, the future is uncertain. But for some employees at the Hormel Foods Corporation plant here, times have never been better. They are working at a furious pace and piling up all the overtime they want.

. . .

Hormel declined to cooperate with this article, but several of its workers were interviewed here recently with the help of their union, the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union Local 9. Slumped in chairs at the union hall after making 149,950 cans of Spam on the day shift, several workers said they been through boom times before — but nothing like this.

Spam “seems to do well when hard times hit,” said Dan Bartel, business agent for the union local. “We’ll probably see Spam lines instead of soup lines.”

[my note: many cultures use SPAM as a mainstay, but the idea of SPAM as a predictor of recession/depression doesn't appear to be new]

Neuromancer · 11-14-2008, 10:34 PM

SPAM = Something posing as meat...

Starscream · 11-14-2008, 10:55 PM

I like Spam, Vienna Sausages, and Potted meat. Hormel gets two

from me. If only my wife and children would eat it, I'd save a ton of money on food.

Try cutting up some Vienna Sausages and mixing it w/ some macaroni and cheese. MMmmmmmmm...

SvilleKid · 11-14-2008, 11:35 PM

I like Spam, but can buy almost 3 cans of Treet for price of one can of Spam. Less fat and soduim content in Treet, and I'm guessing Treet is full of all the same "goodness" that can be found in a can of Spam!!! One can of Treet or Spam, 8 slices of bread, and you have 2, maybe three meals for a total cost under 3 dollars, depending on where you live.

Spam Trivia question (no cheating on the internet): By a wide margin, which state consumes the most Spam per capita??

Pat1075 · 11-14-2008, 11:53 PM

Hawaii?

icehog3 · 11-14-2008, 11:55 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anwy2MPT5RE

Starscream · 11-15-2008, 12:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SvilleKid

Spam Trivia question (no cheating on the internet): By a wide margin, which state consumes the most Spam per capita??

NY or Michigan.

Quote:

Originally Posted by icehog3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anwy2MPT5RE

Neuromancer · 11-15-2008, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SvilleKid

I like Spam, but can buy almost 3 cans of Treet for price of one can of Spam. Less fat and soduim content in Treet, and I'm guessing Treet is full of all the same "goodness" that can be found in a can of Spam!!!...

...Spam Trivia question (no cheating on the internet): By a wide margin, which state consumes the most Spam per capita??

Didn't cheat...I'm pretty sure it's Hawaii...iirc they go nuts for the stuff there...and as far as the difference between Spam and Treet, Spam is made from real pieces of ham...Treet is made from mechanically separated meat...go look up the difference on google and you'll see why Spam outsells Treet...

Quote:

Originally Posted by icehog3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anwy2MPT5RE

...a favorite...

Jason · 11-15-2008, 12:48 PM

always a recession on at my house

beware of Canadian knockoffs:

dannyboy · 11-15-2008, 12:53 PM

Yeah, Hawaii is definitley the most Spam per capita. People flip for the stuff over here, you can even get Spam and rice off the breakfast menu at McDonalds here.

dunng · 11-15-2008, 12:54 PM

Yummy, it's been years since I've had it...

http://www.spamrecipes.net/

replicant_argent · 11-15-2008, 01:05 PM

SPAM is good comfort food eats. Grilled spam tailgating? Hundreds of uses. Fried Spam and eggs for breakfast? Artery clogging goodness.

11-15-2008, 05:58 PM

The spam with tobasco in it,not to bad.

Texan in Mexico · 11-15-2008, 06:04 PM

Recession or not I like SPAM, my Dad does, my Grandfather did. I think it comes form the millitary for them and it reminds me of them.

As one of the other posters mentioned, comfort food.

chippewastud79 · 11-15-2008, 06:29 PM

Although I cannot say I am a SPAM connosieur by anymeans, I will admit that I do enjoy a warm Spamwhich. Try it like a BLT

Quote:

Originally Posted by SvilleKid

Spam Trivia question (no cheating on the internet): By a wide margin, which state consumes the most Spam per capita??

Definitely Hawaii. Spam Sushi

Neuromancer · 11-15-2008, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dunng

Yummy, it's been years since I've had it...

http://www.spamrecipes.net/

Back when I still ate meat I would occasionally buy a can of Spam but haven't had it for years also...and when I was young and in military school my mother used to send it to me in care packages and we'd heat it up on the hotplate we had hidden in our room if we didn't like what the mess hall served that night...hmmmm...it's just ham....hmmm...maybe a little cheat from my vegetarian diet...damn you guys are making me hungry for Spam...

Starscream · 11-15-2008, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neuromancer

it's just ham....hmmm...maybe a little cheat from my vegetarian diet...damn you guys are making me hungry for Spam...

Are you sure you would be cheating on your veggie diet? Spam is real meat?

SvilleKid · 11-15-2008, 11:34 PM

All guessing Hawaii are correct. I wasn't aware of their love for Spam until I caught the episode of Bizarre Foods in Hawaii. They take it to a whole different level there!!

One thing I love about my gmail account. When you open the spam folder, there's always a link to a different Spam recipe above the spam mail. Gotta love it!

If Pat1075 will PM me his addy, I'll drop you a little something in the mail for being first with the answer. But you must do the "pinkie" swear that you didn't google it!

Plus you can't be in a hurry for the package. If I get addy in time, I'll get a package out before I leave home for a week. Otherwise, it'll be another week before I can do a mailing!

SeanGAR · 11-16-2008, 12:04 AM

I'd rather eat cat food. If you want something cheap, beans and rice are a heck of a lot cheaper and healthier than spam.

SSatVT · 11-16-2008, 12:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SvilleKid

I like Spam, but can buy almost 3 cans of Treet for price of one can of Spam. Less fat and soduim content in Treet, and I'm guessing Treet is full of all the same "goodness" that can be found in a can of Spam!!! One can of Treet or Spam, 8 slices of bread, and you have 2, maybe three meals for a total cost under 3 dollars, depending on where you live.

Spam Trivia question (no cheating on the internet): By a wide margin, which state consumes the most Spam per capita??

According to TastyIsland.com Spam is the best that is out there. My google search of Treet came up with:
http://tastyisland.wordpress.com/200...subi-showdown/

As for me. I can't say that I am a big fan of the stuff, but it has been a while. I might have to try it again.

11-14-2008, 09:43 PM	#1
markem Bunion Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Mark Location: Second Star on the Right Posts: 22,646 Trading: (47)	SPAM: the economic measure of our times [the nytimes.com site requires a free login] http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/15/bu...hp&oref=slogin AUSTIN, Minn. — The economy is in tatters and, for millions of people, the future is uncertain. But for some employees at the Hormel Foods Corporation plant here, times have never been better. They are working at a furious pace and piling up all the overtime they want. . . . Hormel declined to cooperate with this article, but several of its workers were interviewed here recently with the help of their union, the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union Local 9. Slumped in chairs at the union hall after making 149,950 cans of Spam on the day shift, several workers said they been through boom times before — but nothing like this. Spam “seems to do well when hard times hit,” said Dan Bartel, business agent for the union local. “We’ll probably see Spam lines instead of soup lines.” [my note: many cultures use SPAM as a mainstay, but the idea of SPAM as a predictor of recession/depression doesn't appear to be new] __________________ I refuse to belong to any organization that would have me as a member. ~ Groucho Marx

11-14-2008, 10:34 PM	#2
Neuromancer Will work for Boli GM's Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Marc Location: Lost in translation...near Newnan, GA Posts: 1,417 Trading: (23)	Re: SPAM: the economic measure of our times SPAM = Something posing as meat... __________________ "...pipe smoking is properly an intellectual exercise." ~ Christopher Morley, 1916

11-14-2008, 10:55 PM	#3
Starscream Knowhutimean, Vern? Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Andy Location: In a little town somewhere in the USA Posts: 10,237 Trading: (4)	Re: SPAM: the economic measure of our times I like Spam, Vienna Sausages, and Potted meat. Hormel gets two from me. If only my wife and children would eat it, I'd save a ton of money on food. Try cutting up some Vienna Sausages and mixing it w/ some macaroni and cheese. MMmmmmmmm... __________________ Insert quote here.

11-14-2008, 11:35 PM	#4
SvilleKid Yes I am a Pirate Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 33°46′08″N 86°28′16″W / 33.76895°N 86.471037°W Posts: 2,776 Trading: (52)	Re: SPAM: the economic measure of our times I like Spam, but can buy almost 3 cans of Treet for price of one can of Spam. Less fat and soduim content in Treet, and I'm guessing Treet is full of all the same "goodness" that can be found in a can of Spam!!! One can of Treet or Spam, 8 slices of bread, and you have 2, maybe three meals for a total cost under 3 dollars, depending on where you live. Spam Trivia question (no cheating on the internet): By a wide margin, which state consumes the most Spam per capita?? __________________ Ceilin' fan it stirs the air, Cigar smoke does swirl. The fragrance on the pillow case, and he thinks about the girl. Thanks, JB, 1975.

11-14-2008, 11:53 PM	#5
Pat1075 Feeling at Home Join Date: Nov 2008 First Name: Patrick Location: Lakewood, OH Posts: 755 Trading: (11)	Re: SPAM: the economic measure of our times Hawaii?

11-14-2008, 11:55 PM	#6
icehog3 Admiral Douchebag Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Tom Location: Clermont, Kentucky Posts: 71,772 Trading: (60)	Re: SPAM: the economic measure of our times http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anwy2MPT5RE __________________ Thanks Dave, Julian, James, Kelly, Peter, Gerry, Dave, Mo, Frank, Týr and Mr. Mark!

11-15-2008, 12:48 PM	#9
Jason the thing under the thing Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: ok Posts: 290 Trading: (4)	Re: SPAM: the economic measure of our times always a recession on at my house beware of Canadian knockoffs:

11-15-2008, 12:53 PM	#10
dannyboy Still Watching My Back Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Daniel Location: Maui, HI Posts: 202 Trading: (31)	Re: SPAM: the economic measure of our times Yeah, Hawaii is definitley the most Spam per capita. People flip for the stuff over here, you can even get Spam and rice off the breakfast menu at McDonalds here.

11-15-2008, 12:54 PM	#11
dunng MassHole Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Greg Location: MassHole Posts: 4,719 Trading: (59)	Re: SPAM: the economic measure of our times Yummy, it's been years since I've had it... http://www.spamrecipes.net/ __________________ MassHole Banter

11-15-2008, 01:05 PM	#12
replicant_argent Gravy Boat Winnah. Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Pete Location: my attorney has advised against giving this information to insane people Posts: 5,326 Trading: (22)	Re: SPAM: the economic measure of our times SPAM is good comfort food eats. Grilled spam tailgating? Hundreds of uses. Fried Spam and eggs for breakfast? Artery clogging goodness. __________________ www.stogietorch.com Some days call for a stiff Pomade.

11-15-2008, 05:58 PM	#13
punch54 Guest Posts: n/a	Re: SPAM: the economic measure of our times The spam with tobasco in it,not to bad.

11-15-2008, 06:04 PM	#14
Texan in Mexico Feeling at Home Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Travis Location: Puerto Morelos, Mexico Posts: 958 Trading: (0)	Re: SPAM: the economic measure of our times Recession or not I like SPAM, my Dad does, my Grandfather did. I think it comes form the millitary for them and it reminds me of them. As one of the other posters mentioned, comfort food.

11-15-2008, 11:34 PM	#18
SvilleKid Yes I am a Pirate Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 33°46′08″N 86°28′16″W / 33.76895°N 86.471037°W Posts: 2,776 Trading: (52)	Re: SPAM: the economic measure of our times All guessing Hawaii are correct. I wasn't aware of their love for Spam until I caught the episode of Bizarre Foods in Hawaii. They take it to a whole different level there!! One thing I love about my gmail account. When you open the spam folder, there's always a link to a different Spam recipe above the spam mail. Gotta love it! If Pat1075 will PM me his addy, I'll drop you a little something in the mail for being first with the answer. But you must do the "pinkie" swear that you didn't google it! Plus you can't be in a hurry for the package. If I get addy in time, I'll get a package out before I leave home for a week. Otherwise, it'll be another week before I can do a mailing! __________________ Ceilin' fan it stirs the air, Cigar smoke does swirl. The fragrance on the pillow case, and he thinks about the girl. Thanks, JB, 1975.

11-16-2008, 12:04 AM	#19
SeanGAR Crotchety Geezer Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Radford VA Posts: 911 Trading: (3)	Re: SPAM: the economic measure of our times I'd rather eat cat food. If you want something cheap, beans and rice are a heck of a lot cheaper and healthier than spam. __________________ How can you have any pudding if you don't eat your meat?