So check this out. I read a newspaper article not too long ago that talked about the food shortage we are supposed to be having. I didn’t read the entire article but was quite amused by the headline and a few of the opening comments. Apparently because of this food shortage, people are going to have to downgrade their food purchases. And this article was actually suggesting that people who eat steak downgrade to beans.

Now at first I didn’t see anything wrong with this idea. But then I started thinking about it. The writer is suggesting that those who eat steak stop eating steak and start eating beans. Because of the food shortage. Steak…Beans…Steak…Beans…Steak…Beans…I don’t think so.

As far as I can tell, steak is not a food you buy just because you’re hungry. If you purchase steak, you want steak. We’re not talking about trading your fresh deli turkey for a can of tuna. Or deciding between name bran cereal and generic cereal. I’ve never heard anyone go into a restaurant and say, “I’m not that hungry. I don’t care what I eat. Just bring me whatever steak is lying around.”

My dad loves steak. And there is no way in hell you’re gonna convince him that he should stop eating it and eat beans instead. Not chicken, or fish, or even meatloaf. Beans. (“Hey dad, you know there’s a food shortage. Instead of having a steak with that baked potato tonight, why not have black beans and baked potato.” My dad is over 70 but he’d definitely think I was the one losing my mind. J)

I don’t know. Maybe its just me. I mean I care about the possibility of there being a food shortage. Seriously, raise your hand if you want to run out of food. But if you’re going to try to help, at least give me some advice that’s actually useful. Tell me how to save on my grocery bill. Which store’s milk is the cheapest. Which store has a sale on bread this week. Which store is giving away a free dinosaur with every purchase. (I just went to a storytime with my son and they read this book titled, When Dinosaurs Came With Everything. It was sooo cute! Check it out if you can.) Otherwise, I don’t want to hear it.

I think I read or heard somewhere that newpapers have to compete now with the internet, bloggers like me, news websites, etc. Unlike 50 years ago when everyone got and read the daily newspaper, apparently, no one being born today will be getting basic information that way. The competition must be real stiff. But if this article were any indication as to how newspapers were doing, (and let’s hope its not) I’d say they were failing miserably. Then again, how do I know? I don’t read the newspaper either. J

Anyway, tell me what you think. ‘Til next time…