Saturday, March 27, 2010

Get a Free $1 Gift Check from KFC



<br />



KFC has a new promotion. Find the secret image - on the in-store poster or TV ad - and answer the question: "What image is hidden in the KFC Snacker advertising?" If you're among the first 1,000 people to tell us what is hidden each day for 10 days you will receive a coupon in the form of a $1 KFC gift check. (Hint: The correct item is paper and has a picture of George Washington on it!) Click here to go to kfc.com.



Find or Create Hiliarious Merchandise at CafePress





Reference: http://thriftyjinxy.blogspot.com/2008_04_24_archive.html

Friday, March 26, 2010

Subliminal advertising in News, Cartoons, Ads, Games, TV Shows

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1 of 3 Interpreting Media (NLP) Neuro-inguistic Programming&lt;br /&gt;
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Ever been watching a movie and suddenly get the munchies? Or sitting on your sofa watching TV and suddenly get the irresistible urge to buy a new car? If so, you may be the victim of a subliminal advertising conspiracy! Proponents include Wilson Bryan Key (author of &quot;Subliminal Seduction&quot;) and Vance Packard (author of &quot;The Hidden Persuaders&quot;), both of whom claimed that subliminal (subconscious) messages in advertising were rampant and damaging. Though the books caused a public outcry and led to FCC hearings, much of both books have since been discredited, and several key &quot;studies&quot; of the effects of subliminal advertising were revealed to have been faked. In the 1980s, concern over subliminal messages spread to bands such as Styx and Judas Priest, with the latter band even being sued in 1990 for allegedly causing a teen's suicide with subliminal messages (the case was dismissed). Subliminal mental processing does exist, and can be tested. But just because a person perceives something (a message or advertisement, for example) subconsciously means very little by itself. There is no inherent benefit of subliminal advertising over regular advertising, any more than there would be in seeing a flash of a commercial instead of the full twenty seconds. Getting a person to see something for a split-second is easy; filmmakers do it all the time (watch the last few frames in Hitchcock's classic &quot;Psycho&quot;). Getting a person to buy or do something based on that split-second is another matter entirely. (The conspiracy was parodied in the 1980s television show Max Headroom, in which viewers were exploding after seeing subliminal messages called &quot;blipverts.&quot;)&lt;br /&gt;
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&quot;Inside Edition&quot; Subliminal McDonalds Ad Busted&lt;br /&gt;
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Subliminal Hidden Message in KFC Snacker Commercial&lt;br /&gt;
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Disney Aladdin subliminal message&lt;br /&gt;
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Hiding In My Fox 5 News Logo&lt;br /&gt;
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Reference: http://saltoverpepper.blogspot.com/2008/11/subliminal-advertising-in-news-cartoons.html

Thursday, March 25, 2010

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Reference: http://crazedartist.blogspot.com/2008/06/expired-freebees-at-freebie-force.html

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

A dollar's worth: Wendy's Crispy Buffalo Chicken Sandwich



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I can't find a good photo of it (I really should just take pictures of everything I buy and/or eat), but Wendy's has a new spicy chicken sandwich on the Super Value Menu and I want to tell you about it.



The sandwich is about a dollar (it's so new, it's not even on the menu at our local place) and, as I've found with dollar chicken sandwiches, it's not giving you a lot of meat. Actually, that could be said of all value sandwiches, beef, chicken or otherwise.



I will say, however, that this is a satisfyingly spicy and decent chicken sandwich for the money. The spice is a bit different from what you get on their full-size spicy chicken -- this is supposed to be a Buffalo chicken spice whereas the other one is mainly just a pepper spice, it seems -- but it's still got some zing, which makes it preferable to the regular dollar-menu chicken sandwich offerings at Wendy's and elsewhere.



Here's the one unknown and the sector of the market I think Wendy's was aiming at when it made this: The KFC Snacker. For a dollar, KFC offers an Original Recipe or Buffalo-flavored mini chicken sandwich. Obviously, KFC knows how to do fried chicken, but from what I've seen, these sandwiches are little more than a chicken strip, some lettuce and mayo on a mini hoagie bun. So while I'm willing to bet their chicken is higher quality, I don't know how much of it you get compared to the Wendy's entry.







Reference: http://andrewtaylorrecommends.blogspot.com/2007/06/dollars-worth-wendys-crispy-buffalo.html

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Nocturnal Emission



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The one bad thing about watching so much playoff hockey is that we have seen the same handful of commercials roughly 450 times each. If I see those mangy kids say, "Nice save, Mom!" after she gets an Enterprise Rent-A-Car I may punch one of my nuts off. The only time we get relief is if we DVR the game and skip over this bs or if we sit at the Tavern and watch the games without sound. Actually watching the games without sound doesn't help much when the annoying banter is already burned into your head and Bressler sits next to you and sings the jingle from the Dockers San Francisco commercial.



Since we can't escape it we might as well have an open and honest discussion about what good and bad as far as some selected ads on the NHL on Versus.





Good: The Dockers San Francisco commercial
I like it because of the song. It's a nice little ditty to play when traveling around with a guy who wears different pants and is basically living a white guy's fantasy life. He's going to his great job and flying a kite with a kid who sneaky looks like me, then he's on the rooftop with some ridiculous looking chick and the next day he playing golf at some course that overlooks the Golden Gate Bridge. I wonder why they didn't have him drinking coffee with his pals at the local Starbucks? Why not show him making some power gesture in a boardroom? That's what us white folk do, Dockers!

Random thought:

How far away is that guy putting from? He takes a 3/4 swing on the green like he's 140 yards out.





Bad: The KFC Snackers commercial

Oh this one kills me. Watch this commercial and keep your eye on the blond girl. She is so smug and happy that she is eating a $1 Snacker. I want to kick her in the shins for overacting. I actually don't really know why I hate this commercial but it bothers me to no end. Maybe it because I secretly want to live at this cool apt. complex and talk to my smooth black friend and attractive blond friend while they sit on the stairs and eat chicken and crack wise. Shouldn't this guy have a hip Asian friend with spiky hair and a track jacket hanging around? That is the way ad execs see mid 20 Americans. And don't tell me you need 2 hands to eat one of those. They're tiny!

Random thought:

Watch the way the blond shows off her xtra cheesy Snacker. She so fucking proud of that sandwich. Extra cheesy. I hope she gets bitten by a mummy.







Good: The Dodge commercial where they fold out a big slip n slide

Slip and slides = Awesome times. I hope my sister SNemmy chimes in the comments about our backyard where we grew up. To run on our slide we had to start on these patio tiles before we got to the grass. So weak. The next commercial for Dodge should be after they give us a minivan and let the 2Man travel all over North America for our show. We can see how much Budweiser we can keep in those sneaky under-the-seat coolers. Then we can show Stu Barnes doing donuts in Andy Van Hellemond's front yard.

Random thought:

I don't think they put down a mat underneath the tarp. You can't slide down the road on just the tarp! Even if you grab that huge inflatable gorilla you'll still burn your tits off.







The Bad: The Dodge commercial with the U.S. women's soccer team

Women's soccer? Why couldn't they make the commercial about the U.S. Men's World Junior team going up to Canada for a rematch? That would have pumped me up. Vamos La!

Random thought:

1) It burns me that when they are reviewing the last U.S. vs. Brazil game on the overhead dvd player some lady is in the back laughing and not paying attention. Get focused!

2) Every time I see the two minivans role through the streets of South America somewhere I keep thinking they are going to get ambushed by some rebels with rpgs like in Clear and Present Danger.







The Good: The Edge commercial with the ladies who skyrocket into my nose
Hot chicks dancing in foam? Girls with aloe guns? Get Some!

Random thought:

I haven't done a deep dive here because I can take my eyes away from the girls dancing with the foam backpacks or the cleavage on the main rocket girl. I'm retarded.



The Bad: The Honda lawnmower
Can't we do better than this? I'm kinda impressed by the way the mower cuts the grass twice and bags it for me but this shouldn't be on during a prime time hockey game. Put anything on instead. Show the commercial with the badass Marines or the sailors on the deck of an aircraft carrier.

Random thought:

Not to dwell on the Edge commercial but after watching the commercial again I think the jetpack ladies were all the same lady. You may have fooled me with Full House, Hollywood, but you won't get me again! I'm probably wrong.



BTW I had a dream last night that I was called up to play for the Calgary Flames because Ronnie Stern and Tim Hunter got into a fight in practice and their eyes were swollen shut. It was one of those recurring dreams where no matter how hard I try I cannot get onto the ice on time. Something always happens where I am delayed like I break a lace or can find a shin pad. I keep hearing the buzzers and crowd noises from inside the locker room but I can put my stuff on to get out there. If anyone has a minor in psyche please analyze this dream for me.



The Bad: Mike's Hard Lemonade

I don't know who drinks hard lemonade. I'm trying to picture the demographic and I'm drawing a blank. I know people who enjoy a Magner's or Bulmer's cider but I've never seen a Mike's Hard Lemonade in person. Anyways, this commercial tries to make hard lemonade seem tough because they pick on a guy who likes soy milk or something. Our buddy, B.T. Gilmer would call this one "toothless".

Random thought:

I can't wait until we do a 2Man "Cribs" episode at Simon Gagne's house and he has a case and half of of this shit in his fridge. It's gonna happen.



The Good: Some promo for an upcoming fight between a long-haired guy and Jens Pulver
Two guys punching each other and a shot of a bearded Pulver flipping a monster truck tire = Sure. I'm not sure if it will live up to it's billing as the best best featherweight fight in history because that honor goes to Mr. W vs. Brad McGann in the fountain in Washington Square Park.

Random thought:

I really like the mixed martial arts stuff. I can't watch the garbage ones like the shit on UPN where two out of shape idiots throw Reggie Miller haymakers and hug it out for 2 rounds but the UFC is cool. If I wanted to watch two fat guys get into a sloppy fight I would saddle up to Burns Bar in Stamford and put 5 bucks I the jukebox.



I know I am missing some big commercials here and I can't be the only one who is ruined by this garbage during hockey. Bress should have the recap of last night's game up in the morning so I'll save my thoughts for the comment section but I'll just say this:



My new hero is Mike Richards.



-Nemmy







Reference: http://the2manadvantage.blogspot.com/2008/05/nocturnal-emission_16.html

Monday, March 22, 2010

for those lacking vitamin D






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rainyday.jpg, originally uploaded by tinkerellen.


Take this on especially rainy days.







Reference: http://tinkerwiththis.blogspot.com/2005_09_01_archive.html

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Douglass Watson would have been 86 years old today -- Unbelievable!



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Actor Douglass Watson, who played Mac Cory on Another World, would have been 86 years old today if he were still alive. He died in 1989. Incredible to think of him as so old! I used to watch Another World after school and wrote about it here. A photo of Watson toasting the audience was the last scene of the final episode of the show in 1999. (You can view the final scene in my previous blog.) Here's a clip from Victoria Wyndham's 25th anniversary show that aired in 1997. An extended look back at several dramatic scenes between Mac (Watson) and Rachel (Wyndham) begins at the 1:53 mark. Wow... memories.













Reference: http://briancormier.blogspot.com/2007_02_18_archive.html

Friday, March 19, 2010

Get a Free $1 Gift Check from KFC



<br />



KFC has a new promotion. Find the secret image - on the in-store poster or TV ad - and answer the question: "What image is hidden in the KFC Snacker advertising?" If you're among the first 1,000 people to tell us what is hidden each day for 10 days you will receive a coupon in the form of a $1 KFC gift check. (Hint: The correct item is paper and has a picture of George Washington on it!) Click here to go to kfc.com.



Find or Create Hiliarious Merchandise at CafePress





Reference: http://thriftyjinxy.blogspot.com/2008/04/get-free-1-gift-check-from-kfc.html

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Review: Houston's - Cheeseburger



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My Favorite Chain Burger







Houston's Cheeseburger is probably a top ten burger for me. It is a bit on the pricey side though and doesn't deliver a good bang for you buck at $14 dollars though I suppose the hurt is slightly lessened by your choice of a side: coucous, coleslaw, shoestring french fries, or seasonal veggies.


The Houston's Cheeseburger is your traditional burger done well. It features a toasted, egg-washed sesame bun, a thick (1/2 pound), juicy, charred patty of coarse-ground chuck, a slice of cheddar cheese, fresh, crisp, shredded lettuce, sliced tomatoes, pickles, and diced onions, and mustard. Everything is well-balanced (if you couldn't tell by now, I'm a big fan of well-balanced). There's a variety of textures from the squishiness of the bun to the crunchy drizzle of lettuce to the choppy bits of the juicy patty. If you want something more exotic from your burger, this isn't it. But, if you want an honest to good, hand-crafted hamburger, Houston's Cheeseburger is a fine choice as long as you can foot the bill.






Reference: http://brandeating.blogspot.com/2009_11_01_archive.html

Sunday, March 14, 2010

Racist KFC Advertisements



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KFC pulled an Australian television advertisement earlier this month after it was branded racist in the United States. The ad showed a white Australian cricket fan subduing boisterous black West Indian fans by sharing his fried chicken.








KFC described the ad as a "lighthearted commercial" that had been "well understood by Australian cricket fans." The company stressed that the ad was not intended for American audiences.



That's for sure. In the United States, KFC ads usually pair black men with white women.



Consider the latest American KFC ad, which is for Fiery Wings.








The ad begins with a black man taking a bite out of a KFC wing and hallucinating.





During his hallucination, the black man envisions a number of "fiery" things, including red peppers, an explosives detonator, a fire breather, and ... wait for it ... white women with luscious lips.







At the end of the ad, the black man is joined by another white woman. "Colonel, you're on fire," the black man says, and the white woman nods approvingly.





A few years ago, KFC ran a competition in which the company asked viewers to spot the subliminal message planted in an ad for their $.99 Snacker sandwich.








In the ad, a young black guy and a young white girl sat on a stairwell eating Snackers. The black guy had bought the Snacker with a dollar bill he had stolen from a white guy. Throughout the ad, the black guy and the white girl both mock the white guy whose dollar was taken.



Officially, the subliminal message was that a dollar bill had been spliced into a picture of the Snacker.





A second, more subversive message was that the black man had stolen more than the dollar bill from the white man.






Reference: http://araceagainsttime.blogspot.com/2010/01/racist-kfc-advertisements.html

Saturday, March 13, 2010

My own Interpretation



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Today I am going to try and analyze a subliminal message in an ad by myself. There is this website that shows you a few ads and then asks you to try and analyze it yourself. So today, I am going to try and do that. Below you will find the link to the ad that I am going to analyze.



http://www.goatstar.org/CanadaDrySex.jpg



Now although in that picture of the ad the word, "sex" is blatantly spelled out in the ice cubes, I think that there is more going on in the picture besides just the word, "sex." What I think is that the creator of this ad took into careful consideration the placement of every object in the ad. What confused me at first about the ad was the knife. Now, I know that it is there because it cut the lime, but that almost seems out of place to me. I think the knife is there for a more subliminal reason. After looking at the ad, I think that the knife and the word, "sex" in the ice cubes are meant to mean something when put together. Maybe when you use Canada Dry Tonic Water as a mixer you will have violent sex? I don't really know. All I know is that when you really look at the ad, the knife seems out of place. I also noticed that there is a puddle of water by the knife that could symbolize blood. That puddle of water was also placed there very carefully as to convey a violent message.



So now that I have given my opinion on the ad, let's look at what Bill Chapman, the teacher who created this website, has to say about the ad.



Well Chapman sort of follows along the same lines as me, in that he believes that the ad is meant to convey a violent message. Although he takes his one step further. He says that the knife laying there threatens castration if targeted at men. He goes further to say that this ad if targeted at women, targets the women who get beat up by drunk men. He says that the knife is there to get back at the drunk men.



So overall, Chapman and I realized the same ideas of violence in the ad. Chapman, however, went a bit further to explain himself as to what sort of violence. To me, his interpretation seems a bit far stretched with the whole castration conclusion. I feel like there really is no evidence to support the castration theory. But, overall, the ideas that the ad contained violence were ever present in both of our theories.



Well, this concludes my last blog post. I had a great time learning about subliminal messages in ads, and surprisingly in Disney movies. I had no idea so many companies used subliminal messages in their advertising. Overall, I feel this topic has inspired me to keep a look out for such ads in the media.





Reference: http://subliminaladvertising-caitlin.blogspot.com/2008_11_01_archive.html

Friday, March 12, 2010

KFC in Taiwan... moderately awesome






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As per some sort of unspoken rule, no fast food chain in Taiwan can have a menu without adding some sort of weird twist item. McDonald's ups the ante by featuring a 4 layer Big Mac, a double layered spicy McChicken, as well as a green tea flavored McFlurry. Burger King wasn't as adventurous, but even so... they added a honey mustard chicken burger. Pizza Hut? All they did was stuff hot dogs in their crust (review to come btw). Now, 7-11... that's a whole 'nother level of amazing. Finally, let's not leave out Mos Burger in the discussion of specialty fast food. Where else in the world can you get an octopus burger where there are actually visible chunks of tentacles in the patty? In any case, I don't normally go to KFC, but it was raining, and I was kind of forced into it (which I don't really regret btw). It was there... that I realized how KFC could change something plain into something sort of amazing.





I know that KFC in America has those small snacker sandwiches. They're, well... okay? They tend to be unsatisfying though, and nothing really new. Chicken strip inside of a small dinner roll drenched in BBQ sauce has been done already. What you see above is the Taiwanese variant of the snacker. If you're familiar with Japanese style donuts, that is... airy dough made with the addition of rice flour... which is then fried, then you probably have an idea of what this entails. Plain chicken strip (or hot dog) is stuffed inside a 'bun' made of Japanese donut bread. Then instead of sauce, they use Kewpie mayo. That's pretty much it. Instead of dismissing the idea right away, consider the fact that this is a fried chicken cutlet (or processed stick of meat) stuck inside more fried bread. That's a lot of frying... awesome. They cost 39 NT a piece ($1.10 or so), which was their sale price... down from 45 NT, so they are essentially equivalent to the snackers in the US. They taste as you would expect. Somewhat oily, but incredibly satisfying. The one negative though? They're tiny as hell, roughly the size of an iPhone. That said, I never went back to have it a second time, not because I didn't like it, just because there were so many better things to eat at similar cost. Still, I thought something like this deserved its own post... so yeah.





Yes that picture above is my hand, and no I do possess the hands of a carny (neither oversized nor petite). This is purely for size comparison lol.







Reference: http://myinnerfatty.blogspot.com/2009/09/kfc-in-taiwan-moderately-awesome.html

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Guest Review: KFC Guitar Hero World Tour Box



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The following review was submitted by William Reinier, a good friend of mine and new correspondent to Rick's Food Critique. William, pictured at left, writes from Stillwater, Okla. where he attends Oklahoma State University.



As a big guy, I know a thing or two about food, and after sitting on the couch watching television I saw a commercial for the new Guitar Hero World Tour Box at KFC. And for just $6.99 this seemed like too good of a deal to pass up.




The only logical thing to do was to get in my minivan and drive to my local KFC, as it was near lunchtime and the box seemed like a good idea. There was only one thing that I forgot to realize: While this seemed like a great deal, it was still food from KFC.




It began harmlessly enough. A very cordial man greeted me as I walked in and I could tell that the boredom was overcoming him -- the only other people in the restaurant were an old couple (we're talking AARP-old) and the other employees.




"I'll have the Guitar Hero Box, please."




This is what ensued:




"Would you like BBQ or Original Recipe strips?"




"Would you like a BBQ or Original Recipe Snacker?"




"Would you like a drumstick or a thigh? Original or extra crispy?"




"What two sides would you like?"




"What would you like to drink?"




"Is this for here or to-go?"




"Do you need any sauce?
"



When I finally got my food, I felt mentally exhausted. But I was ready to dig in.




I sat down and looked in my box, eager to begin. I took out the baked beans (one of my sides) and was very pleasantly surprised by the results. In the South, the ability to prepare baked beans is a commodity, and KFC did not disappoint. I picked up one of my strips and began to eat the bulk of the meal.




As I continued through my potato wedges and the KFC Snacker, I could feel myself starting to wear down. There is a special sauce that goes on the sandwich which is only made worse by old lettuce. It should be no surprise that food never looks as good as the television makes it look, so I wasn't very let down there.




The real disappointment came with the chicken leg. There were a few tip-offs that it was going to be bad. First of all, the server gave me two legs in an obvious attempt to get rid of them, because there was, in my mind, no telling how old they were. At first bite, I thought it was especially juicy, until I realized that it was especially greasy. I was forced to blot my half-eaten chicken with a napkin much like one would blot a pizza. I didn't know how I was going to get through this one, let alone the second. Luckily, I was able to muster enough will to get through.




Finally, it was time for the biscuit. This is easily the most underrated part of any KFC meal, and was maybe the best. I attempted to put some of the prepackaged butter on it when I noticed that it was not butter, but in fact a "Buttery Spread," as labeled on the packet, so I ate it dry. Fortunately, the meal also came with a 32 oz. drink with a game piece to win Guitar Hero prizes.




The food was decent, but KFC continues to dumb down chicken and take away what makes it so good. The only way to do chicken right would be to find a way to cook it fresh. It would also decrease the amount that is thrown out at night or recycled to the next day.




Sadly, I will probably go back and get another Guitar Hero Box.




Using Rick's patented system, I'm going to give it three and a half sporks out of five, based mainly on quantity rather than quality.
































































Reference: http://ricksfoodcritique.blogspot.com/2008/11/guest-review-kfc-guitar-hero-world-tour.html

Monday, March 8, 2010

Local Flavor: Ludo and Krissy Lefebvre Talk Urasawa, Sprinkles and...KFC?



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Ludo &amp; Krissy - photo credit: Jo Stougaard







Welcome to "Local Flavor," a new bi-weekly column on Rainy Days and Sundays. Every column will feature a local chef, sommelier or tastemaker talking about his/her local favorite eats. This week: Chef Ludovic Lefebvre and his business partner and wife, Kristine, who are currently working on the next incarnation of their roving restaurant LudoBites (coming to Royal/T Café in Culver City for 13 days in December), sit down and share their favorites (and not-so-favorites) from the SoCal food scene.



1) Favorite neighborhood joint?



Ludo: Kaya Sushi in El Segundo. When we lived in Venice we used to go to the location in Marina del Rey all the time. I love Asian food and they have a great mix of Japanese and Korean.



Krissy: I agree with Ludo on Kaya, it is definitely a favorite. I LOVE the Japchae noodles. Although it is a bit further away (closer to my old neighborhood), Typhoon is still my ultimate favorite neighborhood joint.



2) Favorite high-end restaurant?



Ludo: I have not been to a high-end restaurant since I returned from Las Vegas. I had many great high end meals in Vegas, but now back in LA I mostly focus on exploring new different cuisines. I am always looking for new inspiration. If I had to pick a high-end restaurant it would be Urasawa, and I loved my meals at Hatfield's.



Krissy: Unlike Ludo, I have a really hard time going to high end restaurants. Ludo is simply happy to have someone else cook for him, but I can't help myself and compare every meal to his cooking. I am so spoiled. I have eaten probably 100+ meals at L'Orangerie and Bastide. How do I ever enjoy anything else? My favorite high-end restaurant is definitely my own kitchen when Ludo is cooking. Nothing tops it.



3) Favorite watering hole?



Ludo: We really don't just go out to drink. If we are going to meet friends for a drink and want to stay in Manhattan Beach, it would probably be at
Shade, although it is not what I would consider a "watering hole." In France there is always a great pub on the corner, but it is difficult in LA because you have to drive everywhere.



Krissy: Shade is a watering hole for cougars. I do enjoy the entertainment, although you feel the claws the minute you walk in the door.



4) Most overrated food trend?



Ludo: Cupcakes. I don't understand this trend. I did not even know what a cupcake was until Sprinkles came to town; we don't have these in France. I think the idea of a cupcake is great, a small little sweet, but I have not been impressed by any of the cupcake companies and surely not enough to stand in line for hours. They all seem dry. The one time I have been impressed by a "cupcake" type treat was at Kiss My Bundt. Their cakes are so moist and delicious; I would take them over a cupcake any day.



Krissy: Hmmm, bacon??? Did I really say that? I love bacon but it is all about bacon. :)



5) Most underrated restaurant?



Kristine: Neither of us had an answer for this one - sorry.



6) Most embarrassing food indulgence?



Ludo: I am never embarrassed about eating.



Krissy: Where do I start? I am not embarrassed about what I eat, but there are definitely some significant swings in my diet. When Ludo is home it's all about "fresh" and "homemade." The minute he goes out of town I fall back to my comfort zone: frozen pizza, PF Changs and by far my favorite indulgence - salami, whipped cream cheese, wheat thins and apple slices, followed by sea salt caramel - YUMMMMM!



7) Favorite hangover meal?



Ludo: Greasy burger, fries and Coca-Cola.



Krissy: Pretty much same as Ludo, but I usually add in a homemade vanilla malted milk shake.



8) Most memorable meal you've had at an LA restaurant?



Ludo: Urasawa. Every dish was so fresh and creative and the ingredients were the top top. I was wondering how many courses there would be and did not realize that I had to surrender to Urasawa. I could have eaten for days just to experience each creation but I finally gave up after about 3 hours.



Krissy: This one is easy. The first time I ever at L'Orangerie. It all started with an amuse bouche. Good thing I did not know that every table got this little treat from chef. I thought it was all for me and it allowed me to create the perfect romance in my head, despite the fact I was on a date. Love is funny thing.



9) Favorite dive eatery/roach coach/etc?



Ludo: El Tarasco. Great after-surf food and is a close second for favorite hangover food.



Krissy: Does not fall into a "dive" but it is definitely KFC. I LOVE the extra crispy snackers.



10) Anything you won't eat?



Ludo: Nope. It is my job to try everything. I prefer not to, but sometimes I even give in to bad food.



Krissy: Salad. I know it sounds crazy, but it just grosses me out.



Stay tuned for more "Local Flavor," coming to you every two weeks. Interested in being featured? Email me at clare@clareiswriting.com





Reference: http://rainydaysandsundays-c.blogspot.com/2009/11/local-flavor-ludo-and-krissy-lefebvre.html

Saturday, March 6, 2010

KFC Subliminal Messages



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I'm all about messages hidden by regular people. That's why I'm attracted to things like geocaching. But subliminal messages on tv? That just freaks me out. Especially because I'm well versed in conspiracy theories and watch UFO shows on a regular basis.



I thought I was crazy last night when I was watching tv. The new KFC Snacker ad came on and I swore up and down I saw a hidden picture. I was in the bedroom where we don't have a DVR, so at the time I couldn't take another look. The commercial was on again this morning, so we slowed it down and watched closely. Sure enough, there's a dollar hidden in the lettuce...creepy! Can you spot it?



P.S. KFC has been accused of this before.




Reference: http://guerillawordfare.blogspot.com/2008/05/kfc-subliminal-messages.html

Thursday, March 4, 2010

Kentucky Fried Chicken Snacker Giveaway



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Click here for a chance to win one of 1,000 KFC Snackers given away daily until May 3rd! (hint to save you a little time: paper money)





Reference: http://itsmorethanenough.blogspot.com/2008/04/kentucky-fried-chicken-snacker-giveaway.html

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Best one buck meals for the money



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Best one buck meals for the money.

Common wisdom suggests that it's cheaper to cook your own meals at home than it is to eat in a restaurant. But as the economy's slump continues, fast-food restaurants have been trumpeting the financial merits of their value menus, many of which offer filling food for a dollar or less.



With these companies' ability to buy food in mass quantities at much greater discounts than what you can get from even a discount grocer, can you really compete? Let's take a look the top five fast food values out there today.

Breaking It Down



To come up with per-serving prices for ingredients in these fast food items, we used their average or estimated retail costs. These will vary depending on where you live and where you shop. The cost of individual condiments was excluded for simplicity's sake.



No. 5 KFC: The "Snacker" Is Just That



KFC launched its 10-item value menu in February, but unlike some of the other chains on this list, only three of its value offerings fall under the $1 mark. The best value of the bunch is probably the Ultimate Cheese KFC Snacker, a 3-ounce breaded chicken strip covered in cheese sauce and lettuce on a dinner-roll sized bun.



At 115 grams, it's a considerable lightweight compared to the other value menu items on this list, which weigh in anywhere from 128 grams (Taco Bell) to 151 grams (McDonald's).



Per-Sandwich Cost at KFC: 99 cents

Per Sandwich Cost at Home:

-Chicken(prepared at home at $3/pound): 56 cents

-Dinner Roll: 15 cents

-Cheese Sauce: 4 cents

-Total: 75 cents + condiments and cooking time



Bottom Line: You can make this at home for less, but only if you can crack the Colonel's secret recipe.



No. 4 Burger King: Where's the Cheese?



There are more than a dozen value menu items at Burger King. The Whopper Junior, a standard burger with 2.2 ounces of beef, is the most substantial item, but unlike the other burgers on this list it does not include cheese. According to BeefRetail.org, the average price of regular ground beef as of March 2009 was $2.44.



Per-Burger Cost at Burger King: 99 cents (depending on where you live)

Per-Burger Cost at Home:

-Meat: 33 cents

-Bun: 25 cents

-Total: 58 cents + condiments and cooking time



Bottom Line: If you make your own version of a Junior Whopper, you can add a slice of cheese and a little extra meat and still get more food for $1.

More from Yahoo! Finance:



� As Prices Rise, Some See $2 Gas



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� More Travelers Redeeming Miles for Merchandise

Visit the Family &amp; Home Center





No. 3 Taco Bell: Why Pay More?



Taco Bell's 'Why Pay More?' Value Menu has some of the lowest prices around, with 10 products priced at 79, 89 and 99 cents. This Mexican-inspired food goes for prices that you might see in, well, Mexico. The hot item on this menu is reportedly the Cheesy Double Beef Burrito, an eight-ounce giant with about 2.5 ounces of seasoned ground beef, cheese sauce, seasoned rice and red sauce.



Per-Burrito Cost at Taco Bell: 99 cents

Per Burrito Cost at Home:

-Meat: 38 cents

-Tortilla: 25 cents

-Cheese Sauce (prepared, 1/2 ounce): ~15 cents

-Rice (at a price of 4 cents per ounce and assuming two ounces): 8 cents

-Total: 86 cents + condiments and cooking time



Bottom Line: If you make a similar item at home, you might be cutting it close in terms of coming out ahead of this fast-food item, as tortillas can easily cost as much as 40 cents each, depending on where you shop. If you make your own tortillas, you could make a similar burrito for as little as 60 cents.



No.2 McDonald's: Budgets Are Lovin' It



The iconic Mcdonald's dollar menu has been around since 2002, and although it offers only a handful of items, they seem like a steal. A dollar-menu staple, something you could actually call "lunch", is the McDouble: two hamburger patties, one slice of cheese, condiments and a bun.



Per-Burger Cost at McDonalds: $1

Per-Burger Cost at Home:

-Meat: 49 cents

-Cheese: 20 cents

-Bun: 25 cents

-Total: 94 cents + condiments and the time it takes to cook it



Bottom Line: Assuming the cost of the condiments adds a few more cents, you can see that the McDouble is a tantalizingly good value.





No.1 Wendy's: It's Value



Wendy's doesn't have a signature sandwich but it does capitalize on its signature square burger patties. But does this chain offer a product that's "wayyyy better than fast food" in terms of value?



In a word: yes. Look at Wendy's Double Stack burger, one of the key items on its sizable Super Value Menu. It is advertised as a 99-cent item and consists of two 1.78 ounce hamburger patties, a cheese slice and condiments.



Per-Burger Cost at Wendy's: 99 cents

Per-Burger Cost at Home:

-Meat: 54 cents

-Bun: 25 cents

-Cheese: 20 cents

-Total: 99 cents +condiments and cooking time



Bottom Line: As it turns out, Wendy's really isn't cutting corners with its signature square burgers. If you can find a Wendy's location that's selling this item for 99 cents (some have bumped the price up to $1.49), you'll be sinking your teeth into the most beef you can get for less than a dollar.



Can I Take Your Order?



So, while in most cases you can't get better deal at the drive-through window than in the grocery aisle, if you stick to value menu items, the savings gleaned by flipping your own burgers are very small, particularly for top fast food restaurants like Wendy's and McDonalds.



It all depends on what you value most. If your top priorities are convenience and price, fast food chains may be the most budget-friendly way to fill your stomach. If you're worried about food quality - or your waistline - these cheap, filling fast food deals may not be your best bet.

ADVERTISEMENT





Reference: http://pricesnow.blogspot.com/2009/08/best-one-buck-meals-for-money.html

Monday, March 1, 2010

Public Service Announcement - Video



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What's more dangerous than text messaging while applying eyeliner on the 405 freeway during rush hour? You will have to check out The 99 Cent Chef's new video to find out. It features Kentucky Fried Chicken's deliciously distracting 99 cent Snacker sandwich, part of KFC's value menu offerings. A favorite of The Chef's, this drive-thru deep-fried delicacy has the classic batter coating KFC is justly famous for. The Chef stays away from the frou-frou toppings, including spicy Buffalo or barbeque sauce; they only serve to make the crusty batter soggy.



A tender white meat fillet topped with a black pepper/mayo spread and shredded lettuce, and nestled in a sesame seed dinner roll-sized bun, KFC's Snacker is a tasty budget classic worth a quick freeway-exit snack stop. However, like McDonalds' lawsuit- inducing hot coffee, KFC's Snacker provides the Chef with a video cautionary tale*. The following should be mandatory viewing for all DMV auto license applicants and high school student drivers! So buckle-up and take a cruise with The 99 Cent Chef.




Public Service Announcement Video






Play it here.
The video runs 1 minute
.



*No fenders were dented, or bodily harm was done, in the making of this video.

Go
here to embed or view video at youtube.











Reference: http://the99centchef.blogspot.com/2008/09/public-service-announcement-video.html