Oh I definitely live in a weird place, but from the rest of these comments it seems food trucks really are quite well regulated across the board. You keep talking about them being hard to find like they're coming up out of the mist to sell hepatitis burgers before driving back into the swamps. To do business in just about any town, you must have a business license for tax purposes. You can bet there's somebody at the town or county office who's got a list of licensed food trucks and gets frequent calls from law enforcement (and people like you) verifying a truck is up to code.
Where I am (I'm sure this is pretty normal, and kind of surprised I have to repeat myself here), the trucks must work from a "home base" licensed commercial kitchen at a real live street address. Just like *any* business must have a street address. This is where they store their food and do the majority of their prep-work. They won't cook their burgers there, but they'll do things like season meats, form patties, chop veggies, make cookies, etcetc. And, you'd be delighted to know, they pay property taxes for them, too.
Now, this statement here is a real gem:
Every customer I draw from a legit business is lost profit for him
...because it sounds exactly like "Every downloaded song or movie is a lost sale for the music industry." Would you say every cup of coffee bought from Starbucks is a lost sale from the local shop down the road? Would you say my restaurant is stealing customers that might otherwise go to your food truck across the street? This is competition in business and it's how the world works!
Who knows, maybe your town has a problem with pirate food trucks sneaking in and selling grease-ball tacos before running off to Canada to live fat on their profits, but I'd say that's more an issue with your town's enforcement than the food trucks. It's clear you have a bone to pick here, and I'm not going to convince you otherwise.
I'm with you on this one. When food trucks come by my office, we swarm it because it's better than the Del Taco within walking distance. If we worked downtown where there are real restaurants, we wouldn't be so excited for them. All that said, I've never had a meal from a food truck that I couldn't get cheaper (or better) at a comparable restaurant. We pay for the convenience. Nothing wrong with that.
Maybe you live in a weird place... maybe you just don't know how food trucks work. In my town (in wild west Nevada) food trucks fall under the same guidelines as restaurants. In fact, the majority of food preparation must be done in an inspected and licensed commercial kitchen - not in the truck itself. The trucks and kitchens are both inspected by the health department - and contrary to what seems to be popular slashdot belief, it is really quite easy to track down a food truck if it's known to be out of compliance. They're bit, and slow, and have logos and adverts printed on the side. They're registered as food service businesses just like a restaurant paying all the same taxes. On top of all that, they have additional regulations on where they can park. So sure, you can open a restaurant next door to an existing one, but you can't park your food truck in front of the bar next door to an existing restaurant (at least, not in my city).
I wouldn't go so far as to say they are a "far better method" than a regular restaurant, but they serve a niche and are far from the robber barons you guys are trying to portray them as.
Where do you live that food trucks might not be registered and inspected? They are licensed with the city they operate in just like any other food-service business.
Eh, I noticed they used zat when they didn't want to be lethal (capture somebody, not overly infuriate the natives, etc), and the p90 or mp5 the rest of the time (probably cheaper special effects...)
The point is that the laws were pushed in place through lobbyists and campaign finance to protect dealership networks. I'd love to hear the argument that forcing any auto manufacturer to sell through a middle man is inherently in the public good. You shouldn't have to change laws to be able to sell your perfectly legal product to the public, *especially* in a "conservative" state like Texas. Nobody's whining about rules, we're just pointing out that the "good ol' boys" club is still around and needs to be put down.
I don't believe that's the question at all. There isn't a single silver bullet that will solve our fat person problem. We have a whole host of factors to look at:
- Higher availability of food means people eat more
- Automation and machines means people exercise less
- Manufactured foods with high sugar and salt contents are processed differently by our bodies
- Higher-density foods give more calories for any given volume or mass
...and that's just what I can think of in the last five minutes. Ultimately, it all comes down to "we eat too much and we don't exercise enough" - there are dozens of reasons behind that statement. I'm a big fan of researching and getting good data to back up that reasoning, but it seems everybody wants the "one true answer" when it simply doesn't exist.
...nobody here was talking about farming techniques. Your original post (and what parent poster was replying to) was about processed/manufactured foods. Not that many people (outside a few select damn dirty hippies) have a big issue with conventionally grown vegetables vs organically grown vegetables. That's not where our fatty mcfatfats come from - if only we could get them to *eat* a god damn vegetable.
The nutritional value of a TV dinner, box of mac n cheese, or McDouble in no way compares to the nutritional value of a variety of fruits and vegetables - organically grown or otherwise. They are typically extremely high in salts and sugars with a high caloric density. Is it possible to make manufactured food that is good for you? I suppose it's possible, but the demographic that goes after manufactured food for every meal isn't going to be comparing nutritional information on the boxes.
Only pompous windbags ever thought wagons *weren't* cool!
I can't argue buying used over new. They both have their pros and cons. If you can afford new and want new? Buy new! I bought my truck new and don't regret it, but I can't see myself getting another car brand new. There are just too many older cars that I really like...
Y'know, I saw a Nissan Leaf in Goldfield, Nevada. The Leaf has a range of 75 miles. To get to Goldfield, you'd need to come from Tonopah (30 miles north) or Beatty (67 miles south). To get to Beatty or Tonopah, you have a bit over 100 miles to the next town.
...an expensive car isn't always about "the statement." There are plenty of people who buy those cars for themselves, not to show off to others. Granted, they're outnumber 5:1 by the folks who can't be seen in anything cheaper than an Audi...
I already responded to you earlier, and largely agree - though I do take issue with that "not care about it, because you can replace it" bit. I can easily replace the laptop I paid cash for, but I'd still be quite upset if I cracked it's screen. That'd mean spending money I'd slated for other stuff and doesn't make it "easy" to replace.
I think your last sentence is really a marker of being able to afford a car at a particular price - if you lose your job, will your car payment make you broke in short order?
And there's the whole other class of people who would buy the 2001 Jetta TDI and call you a sucker for spending 30k on a new car when you can buy used for 15k...
...I'm not one of those people though - grats on the car! My dad got one (in wagon form) many moons ago (2001? 2004? something older...) and gets better mileage than I can get from my motorbike.
Slashdot Mirror
Where I am (I'm sure this is pretty normal, and kind of surprised I have to repeat myself here), the trucks must work from a "home base" licensed commercial kitchen at a real live street address. Just like *any* business must have a street address. This is where they store their food and do the majority of their prep-work. They won't cook their burgers there, but they'll do things like season meats, form patties, chop veggies, make cookies, etcetc. And, you'd be delighted to know, they pay property taxes for them, too.
Now, this statement here is a real gem:
Every customer I draw from a legit business is lost profit for him
...because it sounds exactly like "Every downloaded song or movie is a lost sale for the music industry." Would you say every cup of coffee bought from Starbucks is a lost sale from the local shop down the road? Would you say my restaurant is stealing customers that might otherwise go to your food truck across the street? This is competition in business and it's how the world works!
Who knows, maybe your town has a problem with pirate food trucks sneaking in and selling grease-ball tacos before running off to Canada to live fat on their profits, but I'd say that's more an issue with your town's enforcement than the food trucks. It's clear you have a bone to pick here, and I'm not going to convince you otherwise.
I'm with you on this one. When food trucks come by my office, we swarm it because it's better than the Del Taco within walking distance. If we worked downtown where there are real restaurants, we wouldn't be so excited for them. All that said, I've never had a meal from a food truck that I couldn't get cheaper (or better) at a comparable restaurant. We pay for the convenience. Nothing wrong with that.
Maybe you live in a weird place... maybe you just don't know how food trucks work. In my town (in wild west Nevada) food trucks fall under the same guidelines as restaurants. In fact, the majority of food preparation must be done in an inspected and licensed commercial kitchen - not in the truck itself. The trucks and kitchens are both inspected by the health department - and contrary to what seems to be popular slashdot belief, it is really quite easy to track down a food truck if it's known to be out of compliance. They're bit, and slow, and have logos and adverts printed on the side. They're registered as food service businesses just like a restaurant paying all the same taxes. On top of all that, they have additional regulations on where they can park. So sure, you can open a restaurant next door to an existing one, but you can't park your food truck in front of the bar next door to an existing restaurant (at least, not in my city).
I wouldn't go so far as to say they are a "far better method" than a regular restaurant, but they serve a niche and are far from the robber barons you guys are trying to portray them as.
Where do you live that food trucks might not be registered and inspected? They are licensed with the city they operate in just like any other food-service business.
Vhy don't zey just waporize them?
There's always room for another setting on a prop dial!
Eh, I noticed they used zat when they didn't want to be lethal (capture somebody, not overly infuriate the natives, etc), and the p90 or mp5 the rest of the time (probably cheaper special effects...)
This is why Russ1642 is my new /. hero!
"Good morning, TV. Show me the Internet, please!"
Got that tin foil hat on nice and tight I see.
The point is that the laws were pushed in place through lobbyists and campaign finance to protect dealership networks. I'd love to hear the argument that forcing any auto manufacturer to sell through a middle man is inherently in the public good. You shouldn't have to change laws to be able to sell your perfectly legal product to the public, *especially* in a "conservative" state like Texas. Nobody's whining about rules, we're just pointing out that the "good ol' boys" club is still around and needs to be put down.
...or Big Car Dealership, y'know, like it says everywhere.
so... Obama killed Yahoo! ?
So uhm... you mad, bro?
The question is, WHICH processes are to blame?
I don't believe that's the question at all. There isn't a single silver bullet that will solve our fat person problem. We have a whole host of factors to look at:
...and that's just what I can think of in the last five minutes. Ultimately, it all comes down to "we eat too much and we don't exercise enough" - there are dozens of reasons behind that statement. I'm a big fan of researching and getting good data to back up that reasoning, but it seems everybody wants the "one true answer" when it simply doesn't exist.
- Higher availability of food means people eat more - Automation and machines means people exercise less - Manufactured foods with high sugar and salt contents are processed differently by our bodies - Higher-density foods give more calories for any given volume or mass
...nobody here was talking about farming techniques. Your original post (and what parent poster was replying to) was about processed/manufactured foods. Not that many people (outside a few select damn dirty hippies) have a big issue with conventionally grown vegetables vs organically grown vegetables. That's not where our fatty mcfatfats come from - if only we could get them to *eat* a god damn vegetable.
The nutritional value of a TV dinner, box of mac n cheese, or McDouble in no way compares to the nutritional value of a variety of fruits and vegetables - organically grown or otherwise. They are typically extremely high in salts and sugars with a high caloric density. Is it possible to make manufactured food that is good for you? I suppose it's possible, but the demographic that goes after manufactured food for every meal isn't going to be comparing nutritional information on the boxes.
...needs more bacon and cheese.
We should all send flowers to his house!
I'm simply refuting AC's assertion that at $16k, you're in an inherently unsafe car. I have no doubt the Model S is a very safe car.
Only pompous windbags ever thought wagons *weren't* cool!
I can't argue buying used over new. They both have their pros and cons. If you can afford new and want new? Buy new! I bought my truck new and don't regret it, but I can't see myself getting another car brand new. There are just too many older cars that I really like...
Y'know, I saw a Nissan Leaf in Goldfield, Nevada. The Leaf has a range of 75 miles. To get to Goldfield, you'd need to come from Tonopah (30 miles north) or Beatty (67 miles south). To get to Beatty or Tonopah, you have a bit over 100 miles to the next town.
So, HOW DID IT GET THERE!?
Long Live the Frunk!
And obviously, you'd be way safer in a $62,000 sports coupe?
...an expensive car isn't always about "the statement." There are plenty of people who buy those cars for themselves, not to show off to others. Granted, they're outnumber 5:1 by the folks who can't be seen in anything cheaper than an Audi...
I already responded to you earlier, and largely agree - though I do take issue with that "not care about it, because you can replace it" bit. I can easily replace the laptop I paid cash for, but I'd still be quite upset if I cracked it's screen. That'd mean spending money I'd slated for other stuff and doesn't make it "easy" to replace.
I think your last sentence is really a marker of being able to afford a car at a particular price - if you lose your job, will your car payment make you broke in short order?
And there's the whole other class of people who would buy the 2001 Jetta TDI and call you a sucker for spending 30k on a new car when you can buy used for 15k...
...I'm not one of those people though - grats on the car! My dad got one (in wagon form) many moons ago (2001? 2004? something older...) and gets better mileage than I can get from my motorbike.