The Daily News

LFCA Latest Issue: Friday, September 25, 2009.

Latest Post on BlogHer: Parenting after Infertility.

My Status: Fed Josh's almonds to the squirrels. They needed them very badly.

Saturday, September 20, 2008

Circle Time: The Show and Tell Weekly Thread

Welcome back to Show and Tell. Everyone is welcome to join, even if you have never posted before and just found out about Show and Tell for the first time today. In fact, we hope you do go back to your blog and post your own Show and Tell item and then return with the link to your post. Details on how to participate are located at the bottom of this post.

Let's begin.

Prior to the Cheeburgerization of the suburbs, the first place I got to use a fixin's bar (beyond stealing pickles and eating them off of a damp paper napkin) was at Cosmic Ray's Starlight Cafe* in Tomorrowland at Disney World.

Veggie burgers are now in every hamburger restaurant, but fake meat was an anomaly back then and it made me feel so incredibly American to get to eat a hamburger just like every other person in that restaurant (except for the ones eating the galactic turkey legs--they have not made a vegetarian equivalent of that yet). Fake meat has leveled the playing field--I know it makes some vegetarians as squeamish as real dead cow, but I love having every recipe in the world open to me again. BLTs? We make them with vegetarian bacon. Ragu Bolognese? Boca Burger's sausage patties. There is soyrizo and chicken nuggets and even strips of fake beef that can be added to a stirfry.

The point is that eating meat is an all-American activity similar to building our white picket fences or baking apple pie. While other countries enjoy their meat, we have a beef-eating culture. I think it will be a cold day in Hell before we have a vegetarian in the White House (tofu loaf at the next state dinner!). After all, English brings you the old adage: never trust a vegetarian. But fake meat? It blurs the line. You don't know who is a red-blooded American and who is a ersatz citizen, crunching their way through a burger made of soy instead of meat.

I had the same Missy-no-mates feeling about not owning an iPod every time an Apple commercial came on television. In addition to eating meat, Americans own. We are a capitalistic, consumerist culture and we need to buy electronics. Josh tried to get me one a few times, but I never saw the point. And then suddenly I saw the point and I wanted an iPhone very badly. I wanted music with me (yes, I only listen to three or four CDs period, but I needed that music with me at all times) and videos and Internet access when I'm driving up I-95.

But I couldn't justify buying an iPhone. But an iPod Touch--an ersatz iPhone that looks like an iPhone and feels like an iPhone but costs a lot less than an iPhone (without an ongoing phone bill to pay in addition to the product?). Well, that was an investment this little vegetarian could wrap her mind around.

I love owning.

Having an iPod Touch makes me feel as all-American as the football players in the pizza joint and the cheerleaders gossiping about them in the bathroom. It makes me feel like I should jump up on a chair and belt out the anthem or, at the very least, "It's a Grand Old Flag."

I am a huge fan of blending. And I have never blended more with my fellow Americans than with my new iPod Touch. Oh, and all the features--they completely rock. We have been passing it around in our house, filling up the chip with Brothers and Sisters episodes (thank you, Lindsay!) and YouTube bookmarks.


And while I may have sounded sarcastic in this post, I really am a huge fan of all things American even if I don't partake in the beef eating (which, perhaps, has fallen culturally by the wayside due to all those studies about the effects of red meat).

*According to this website, Cosmic Ray's Starlight Cafe is the world's second busiest fast food restaurant with the winner being a McDonald's in Moscow.

What are you showing today?

Want to bring something to Show and Tell?
  • If you would like to join circle time and show something to the class, simply post each Sunday (or earlier in the weekend or on Monday if you can't do Sunday), hopefully including a picture if possible, and telling us about your item. It can be anything--a photo from a trip, a picture of the dress you bought this week, a random image from an old yearbook showing a person you miss. It doesn't need to contain a picture if you can't get a picture--you can simply tell a story about a single item.
  • Label your post "Show and Tell" each week and then come back here and add the permalink in the comments section below (make sure you don't just comment that you participated: add a link to your blog in your comment so people can click over). I post a new Show and Tell post every Saturday night or Sunday. I usually move people up into the body of the post every few hours.
  • Oh, and then the point is that you click through all of your classmates and see what they are showing this week.
  • If you want it...
    I've now placed a Show and Tell archive on the sidebar that will be updated each week in case you miss it. And click here for the icon code if you wish to have it for your blog. It links to the archives.

37 comments:

Lori Lavender Luz said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Lori Lavender Luz said...

Good thing the manufacturer is named after a fruit rather than a meat, huh?

The Pork iTouch doesn't have the same ring, does it?

You are cooler than I.

http://weebleswobblog.blogspot.com/2008/09/show-tell-fall-mandala.html

Io said...

My freezer is full of fake meat. It's delicious!
You are such an American with your "burgers" and your iTouch. Maybe I should have spent today building a white picket fence.

http://damnthatstork.blogspot.com/2008/09/show-and-tell-dead-sexy-io.html

Cara said...

Count me in...early but here!

http://buildingheavenlybridges.blogspot.com/2008/09/show-and-tell_19.html

Jamie said...

I just had to dab a little bit of drool out of the corner of my mouth. Your iTouch is wicked awesome!

Here I am today:

http://thetherapistisinbyjamie.blogspot.com/2008/09/my-show-tell-today-was-given-to-me-as.html

AwkwardMoments said...

Oh Count me in

http://fertilizeme.blogspot.com/2008/09/show-and-tell-4.html

I have to say - I am a bit in awe of the Itouch!

Jess said...

I feel you on the music and all taht jazz. LOVE IT. And the kids? I know they're just babies but we have childrens music on it and we use it all.the.time. for them to keep them quiet.

It even sometimes works.

Mrs Woggie said...

Mc Donalds is Moscow is insane!!! It is really big!! But from all accounts still tastes like Mc Donalds in Canada (so my Canadian friends told me) I had to take their word for it since, I'm an Australian and assume that our "Aussie Beef" tastes a little different! I'm very very jealous of the I-pod touch, my ipod is ancient!

Delenn said...

Glad you like your new Pod!

Here's my show & tell:

http://polantworld.blogspot.com/2008/09/show-tell-10.html

Busted said...

My husband just got the IPOD touch and loves it! I've never been into gadgets really but it is cool

Here's my show and tell:

Animal Abuse

Malky B. said...

I'm glad your enjoying the iTouch and feeling all American to boot! Here's mine this week:

http://www.benedictfamily.org/show-and-tell-092008/

HereWeGoAJen said...

Matt and I eat at Cosmic Ray's almost every time we go to Magic Kingdom. We always pick that one because there is always air conditioned seating.

AnotherDreamer said...

Here's mine

http://anunwantedpath.blogspot.com/2008/09/show-and-tell_20.html

Kristin said...

Hehehehe...guess I'm not quite as cool as you since I only have a Philips mp3 player...LOL.


Count me in again this week...
My Show and Tell

luna said...

you've seen mine for the week, but I'm not willing to share with the class, too shy...

glad you're loving your i-touch!

some of my fave sandwiches are veggie!

'Murgdan' said...

This (all beef) cheeseburger lover (just ate one last night) has something to share. Although my post is more of a 'tell' than a 'show'. It's my 6 year wedding anniversary today, and I'm telling the story of how I met my husband. (not your run of the mill story)

http://murgdan.blogspot.com/2008/09/happy-anniversary.html

Topcat said...

Mel, when you come to Australia on your book tour, you shall come and stay with me and I will cook you my world-famous tofu burgers.

My show and tell -

http://topcatworld.blogspot.com/2008/09/thanks-for-lolly-bag-michael.html

chicklet said...

I'm totally jealous of your itouch. Totally.

Kristin (kekis) said...

Cheeseburgers and technology . . . just a couple of my favorite topics!

I'm in this week, but it's long so grab some popcorn! http://fertileramblings.blogspot.com/2008/09/show-tell-cameo.html

LJ said...

I was paid in bagels and M&Ms and friendship. I think it was a good trade.

Shelby said...

I am such an i-(fill in the blank, touch, pod, phone, whatever) junkie. I have to admit that I even had an apple sticker on my car at one time.

I am a *total nerd*.

Front and center, teach:

http://dochaschronicles.blogspot.com/

(formerly, What I Did for Love, now, 'The Great Big If')

Beautiful Mess said...

Dammit, now I want one! I didn't know I needed one so badly, until NOW! *sucking up to Husband*

Kristine said...

OK, here we go. For todays show and tell I'm telling all about my favorite new cleaning toys. How freaking exciting is that? Oy...

http://mommyneedstherapy.blogspot.com/2008/09/show-and-tell-of-psa-variety.html

MrsSpock said...

I want your phone...

http://mrsspock.blogspot.com/2008/09/show-and-tell-holy-house-batman.html

Anonymous said...

Aaah,I'm jealous, I also want your phone.
Here's my Show & Tell
http://sharonvw.wordpress.com/2008/09/21/show-tell-spa-heaven/

Sam said...

am a bit late today, but here my SaT!

http://samburgess.blogspot.com/2008/09/oyez-oyez-oyez.html

Michelle said...

I so want to get an iTouch!

Baby Smiling In Back Seat said...

Today at the market, DH insisted on buying vegetarian Italian sausage. I didn't eat Italian sausage when I did eat meat (almost 20 years ago), so I'm dubious about trying it now. It's not like I miss sausage. I am a big fan of some of the other fake meats, though, not because I yearn for the taste of meat but because they're yummy and nutritious. As for the meats that I do miss, vegetarian technology is incapable of reproducing them.

http://babysmiling.wordpress.com/2008/09/21/two-fer/

Pam said...

V has been asking me lately if I want an iTouch.

First time up for Show & Tell:

http://baby-wanted-apply-within.blogspot.com/2008/09/show-and-tell.html

annacyclopedia said...

I'm in. After a long hiatus. Showing and telling tales from the farm that is my yard.

Manny is lobbying hard to get his work to buy him an iPhone. But he says it would be a curse because then I'd want one, too - just cause of how cool they are. Glad you're enjoying the iTouch. The name alone is sexy enough to make me want one.

http://annacyclopediaisworkingonit.wordpress.com/2008/09/21/show-tell-harvest/

Anonymous said...

Enjoy the iPod Touch, I have an iPhone for work and it is literally my ball and chain.

Here from ICLW (and attempting to do Iron Commentator again).

And as far as show and tell.. maybe next week.

Rebecca said...

I have an iPod Classic but would really love an iPhone and will probably be getting one in November when I switch providers. My mom has the iTouch and she loves it, I'm sure you will too.

Here's my show and tell this week at The Binky Diaries:

http://thebinkydiaries.blogspot.com/2008/09/show-and-tell_21.html

Anonymous said...

I don't know, now that I have one, I don't know that I could go back to not having an iPhone.

battynurse said...

Ok so I have to admit that I don't really understand the whole meat flavored fake meat. Although I suppose if I was vegetarian maybe I would. I'm glad it's something that does work for all the vegetarians out there. I don't really know what the i-touch is but would love to have an ipod. A green one. Instead I have a much cheaper no name version.

Dora said...

You can blog from an iPod Touch! How totally cool is that!

I want one so I can blog and read blogs in the RE's waiting room!

Wishing 4 One said...

Ok Lolli, I am late sorry, but here's my Show and Tell.

http://wishing4one.blogspot.com/2008/09/show-and-tell-better-late-than-never.html

Bea said...

Congrats on the purchase! Sounds like a well-considered one, in the end.

Bea