Wednesday, November 04, 2015

GROCERY FUN: PLASTIC SACKS AND PURPLE KETCHUP

When I graduated from college in 1969 I felt pretty good.  I was still in my 20’s and I had served four years in the Air Force to get my military obligation out of the way (that’s right, “obligation” since we all had to serve in those times but that’s a story for another day).  I had a beautiful wife (still do!) who taught school plus a new job with Lever Brothers Company as a salesman selling household products to the grocery and drug trade.  I made $7,200 a year and had the free use of a ’68 Ford company car.  That was a good deal in those days of $1 six packs of Budweiser and Schlitz!

By 1976, I had left Lever to work for a grocery store supply distributor.  It was great; I received a commission on my sales and didn’t have to sell consumer products anymore.  

 In 1978 we introduced plastic grocery sacks with handles to the grocery trade.  They were called “Marketotes” and although they were plastic instead of paper, they eventually overtook paper in popularity and are considered the norm today in most retail establishments.  That isn’t to say they were readily accepted as a substitute for paper sacks.  A good example of that is an unfortunate presentation I made to an IGA supermarket manager in Mexico, Missouri on a 100 plus degree day in 1978.

The main part of my pitch was to demonstrate the strength of the sack.  To do that I had bought four six packs of a cheap Midwest beer called “Goetz.”  I would put the four six packs in a plastic sack and swing it around to show the strength of the plastic vs. paper.  Then I would punch holes in the sack with a ballpoint pen to further illustrate its strength.  Unfortunately, the beer had been in the hot car too long and when the pen touched one of the cans, it caused a pinhole which then sprayed hot cheap beer all over the store manager.  Needless to say the guy wasn’t happy as he frowned through the beer dripping off his glasses.  Fortunately, at a later date he did let me install them mentioning that another demonstration was not needed. 

In those days we had a saying: “Selling is fun.”  In most cases that is still true but as I look at some of the items that have been presented to grocery stores over the years it makes me wonder what some companies are thinking.  Phil Hawkes of the Arizona Food Industry Journal points to some real head scratchers in that publication’s October edition.  

YUM! PURPLE KETCHUP!
For example, somebody at Heinz once decided it might be a good idea to sell Heinz Ketchup in an EZ Squirt bottle.  That’s not a bad idea in itself but they decided that it would be neat to present ketchup in colors of green, blue, and purple. Now I ask you, how ridiculous was that?  Did they actually expect the most particular eaters in the world (kids) to eat colored ketchup?  Of course the product was a flop; everyone wants red ketchup.

Do you remember Wow potato chips?  For whatever reason the number one maker of snack foods, Frito-Lay, came out with a line of products containing “Olestra” which was a fat free substitute for making potato and tortilla chips.  It was later discovered that there were several unpleasant side effects caused by Olestra and the products with them were discontinued.

Phil points out that probably the most prominent member of the failed product Hall of Fame would have to be New Coke. He mentions that it was the “Edsel of the food industry.”  I agree and at the time it appeared on April 23, 1985 I was still a member of the food business.  My first thought was, why would they change a successful 99 year formula; especially since Coke was by far a number one selling brand?

Coke quickly returned the original coke recipe a couple of months later and called it Coca Cola Classic.  It was a lesson well learned proving that success isn’t something to be tampered with.

(You can also check me out on Twitter at JimMcAl97307903)

85 comments:

ArizonaDave said...

Excellent article Jim....oh what fun it would be to relive those 1960s....I was in the U. S. Air Force(Air Policeman) and was activated during the Cuban Missile Crisis...until the Russian ships turned around.

My first job in 1960 was a Retail Sales Analyst for Plough, Inc., and my chores included checking 40,000 Independent Retail Pharmacies on a daily basis to make sure they were stocking our products, i.e., St. Joseph Aspirin For Children, Coppertone, Solarcaine and many other OTC products.....great title but not much money, but really didn't need it in those days....No cell phones, No I Phones, No computers....just pay phones, party lines, and a 10" Black & White TV watching William Bendix in 'The Life of Riley' from 9-10 P.M. every night.

As you know, those were the days....

Joe Finnerty said...

The ploys used to increase market share sometimes backfire. Changing a products flavor, color, appearance or packing often backfires. Associating a product with a famous person can also be risky. So why do companies take the chance? I am guessing that the marketing VP is a better salesman than the Sales VP and wins the ear and support of the CEO to “go for it!”

Jim McAllister said...

Hi Dave,

Thanks for the quick reply to the blog. I didn't know you were an AP. I was in from '61-65, Supply Squadron and well remember the Cuban Missile crisis. At that time I was stationed at Whiteman AFB, Missouri (SAC). We had B-47's and they all took off for the east coast in preparation for Cuba if necessary. Luckily Khruschev backed down.

The kids of today would have a tough time doing what we did. The main thing being they don't have to serve. I think it was a big mistake to let them off the hook. I think we would see a lot different behavior from the young guys now if they did a hitch.

Bendix as Riley and Tom D'Andrea as Gillis were great. I bet if you stopped a hundred people on the street now, they wouldn't know who those guys were. I think we had the better lifestyles in spite of all the conveniences of today.

It's freezing cold here with showers today. It figures since the Charles Schwab cup starts tomorrow at Desert Mountain.

Glo, Old Dog said...

Sorry, Jim - non-red ketchup doesn't do it for me. And, I only use Heinz or Hunts. I may stint on non-popular brands for other foods, but not on my ketchup! As an aside, my brother an sister-in-law visited me from SC in September for my birthday, and I made delish beef stew for their welcome dinner. My brother put ketchup all over it. I wanted to strangle him, the troglodyte.

With no disrespect to the pretty little flower, the vast majority of young men today are pansies who wouldn't last a day in boot camp. Give me a good, solid Marine over an investment banker any day.

Regarding school, I have recently come to a life decision. I graduated UConn with a B.A. cum laude in 1975. For 40 years, I have regretted that I didn't stick around and get my Master's. Well, even old broads like me can make dreams come true: I have decided to go for my M.A. in English via ASU starting next year. I am getti9ng things ready for the application process. I hope my brain can hold out for 33 credits ..

Jim McAllister said...

Hi Joe,

Thanks for the comment.

I agree on celebrity endorsements and have never understood the allure. However, I guess a lot of people actually will buy a product if a certain celebrity shills for it. I suppose they don't understand that the person is being paid to endorse something and is not necessarily in love with the item.

Then there are the ads that insult certain minority groups regardless of who the endorser is. I liked those Direct TV ads last year with Rob Lowe but apparently some handicapped groups had a problem with them so they got dumped.

Regardless of these and other instances the celebs will probably always be called upon to sell stuff. It's easy dough for them.

Jim McAllister said...

Hi Glo,

It's interesting how conditioning rules on items like food. The colored ketchup from Heinz had the same taste as regular red ketchup but who the hell is going to use purple ketchup even when it tastes the same as red? Old habits are hard to break plus we don't want to break them. It seems like a big company like Heinz would have known that. The same woith new Coke and old Coke. What are these people thinking?

Congrats on going back to school. I'm sure you will see a lot of differences in teaching methods from the days when people like us attended. I commend you for making the effort.

I agree on the guys of today. They have no concept of any kind of discipline whether in physical or mental makeup. All they care about is their iPhones and getting tattoos that eventually they will wish they didn't have.

Always good to hear from you.....

Glo said...

Jim, just an FYI: What truly annoys me about getting my Master's in English is that I am mandated to be proficient in a foreign language! Like, WHAT does knowing French or Spanish or Esperanto have to do with an ENGLISH DEGREE?? Anyway, just makes it harder, but them's the breaks. Still, major stupid.

Unknown said...

Wow, so you've been busy writing another fine blog. I do not remember details like when plastic bags came out. Sometimes I stop in mid conversation like the universe just changed dimensions. Not really, but that's the feeling. I would have quit on the spot with the hot beer thing. Friends want me to move pronto to Colorado. Serious drama is bad for the health. No money, no plan, but probably should go.

Jim McAllister said...

Glo,

Seems like it has always been that way with a foreign language. It was the same when I was in college in the late 60's. I took one year of Spanish and one of French to satisfy them. Their reasoning was that it made for a more rounded education. Translated that means "We can make an extra couple hundred buck off this guy if we screw him into thinking he needs a foreign language."

Welcome to the education business!

Jim McAllister said...

Rick,

Yes, that was a bit embarrassing to spray hot beer on that store manager in Mexico. He was not a guy with a great sense of humor but with plastic grocery bags growing more in popularity he finally bought them. That was in the late 70s, different world. Paper bags were costing the stores about a nickel and plastic was about 2 cents. Big difference.

I would stay out of Colorado. Too damn many liberals there these days and too cold in winter.

Unknown said...

Well, I own my home and maybe it's just me, but I don't think I have any business making decisions to move such distances right now. I might take a train out to Colorado just to visit. Thanks for the verification. I really can't count on the wisdom of some of the people in the Ozarks. Go figure.

Not many companies offer a company car anymore. That's a pretty nifty sales technique on those bags.

I have this friend and her brother has cancer. He's on Facebook, but he won't talk to me and I read what everyone says. They rightly blame the tobacco. If she and her brother would talk, I'd suggest the cannabis oil and it's smoked. Combine that with weed, no tobacco, and he should be fine. The government has been keeping the cure for cancer illegal for decades and the records show that they did it for money.

I have met people who suffered micro strokes like me. I've recovered faster.

Unknown said...

Lana wants me to go south for the winter. She doesn't believe I can survive the winter in a barn. If we get an ice storm, yeah I'm sunk.

Edgel Groves Sr. let us use his "Angels in Disguise" song for a video that seems to be relevant that people should help each other in America. One of my first films, "Angels in Disguise" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AOLQuwZUaw

I completely agree with Glo on the issue. I had no idea that she has a masters' in English. That's impressive. I never could pass even the simplest math course in college, but I used to write circles around my editors. I study the electric guitar and music now, especially since getting out of the ICU.

I have real kitchen envy

Jim McAllister said...

Jim:

My first job was in a trading post in Crownpoint, New Mexico. The trader hired me at age fifteen for .35 cents per hour to sweep, stock shelves, pump gas and also that summer we constructed a new building for the business so I learned how to lay tiles, dig holes in the ground with a bar and pick, and pump gasoline from the one El Paso pump. I worked another summer at the same wage (there was nothing else available there, everything else was U.S. Government on the Navajo Reservation). The third summer I got a raise to .55 cents per hour which not knowing any better was big money for me. I still did the stocking, floor cleaning, gas pumping, and general flunkie duties. On Mondays, the trader came back from Gallup with his truck full of merchandise as no vendors called on us other than Ponca City Wholesale which sold candy. I would have to unload the truck organize the inventory in the back room till time for stocking. I also washed and waxed his small fleet of cars. His main truck was a 54 Ford flatbed 2 ton with exhausts routed through the upright pipes on the front of the bed with no mufflers. Cool! I never got to drive his 58 T-Bird but I loved that car, 3 speed on the column with overdrive. Only one I have ever seen with manual transmission. It must have been a special order because by the time the owner died in the 1990’s he had bought over 50 vehicles from Gurley Motor Company in Gallup.

By the time the next summer came and I returned from school my parents had moved and that ended that adventure.

Jim Johnson

Jim McAllister said...

Jim,

Very interesting! No one can ever accuse you of having extra privilege over other kids. You had a TOUGH job for low pay. There is a lot of value in that as you certainly learned the value of a dollar and how to watch your spending to agree with your income. No one could ever accuse you of being spoiled.

I used to think I was paid low as in high school in Cincinnati in the 50's I made a buck an hour working at a local deli doing deliveries, sweeping up, and putting away returnable bottles. In 1957 I got a '54 Ford Mainline 6 cylinder business coupe that I think used more oil than gas.

The fiun days of youth, huh?

Good to hear from you; thanks for the comment.

Jim McAllister said...

Rick,

My family doesn't want to know the stuff that I do, so I'll share it with you.
There's a press conference on Friday, November 13th in Crocker Missouri re: medical marijuana and Dell Mack. Nick Raines has done most of the work protecting a music artist who chooses weed over death.

Jim McAllister said...

Hey, I was wrong about that Marijuana Policy Project thing. It's something else. Nick Raines is right though.

Hey, I don't even have the right blog! Right? You write well.

Jim McAllister said...

Rick,

Glo is one sharp lady both academically and in life.

Mike Slater said...

Jim, since you used to work with grocery stores maybe you can answer a few questions I have. One is why do they suddenly stop selling some products. And why after I shop at a store and learn were everything is at they decide to move everything?

Jim McAllister said...

Mike,

It's all about sales and profits in the grocery business. The average store makes about 1% gross profit so they try anything to raise that.

Products come and go based on their sales. If a buyer sees something dropping in sales, it may be discontinued in favor of something new or better which will show more sales and hopefully gross profit. That's why salesmen are always in stores guarding their shelf space and trying to extend it and keep it at eye level as much as possible. If something you like disappears, it's probably because the headquarters buyer decided sales were too slow.

As far as resets, they are done occasionally to weed out discontinued items and to make the customer see other products that may result in additional sales. Those are called "impulse items" which means the customer went into the store with no intention of buying them but bought them anyway when they saw their availability.

It's a lot of psychological stuff but it usually works in order to raise profits and sales which is the stores' mission.

Jim McAllister said...

Rick,

Glo is one sharp lady both academically and in life.

Nice video and a good example of people helping people. Seeing what they are doing gives one the feeling that there are still some good people still in the world who have more interest in others than in making a buck off everything.

Thanks for sending.

Unknown said...

Another employer told me that he's getting out of Missouri because he smokes weed for his cancer and it's illegal here. He's taking the company with him. Everyone's moving to Colorado.

I found a place to live in Ouray, Colorado and in a vintage hotel from the old mining days. It's above a restaurant with a music venue.

I don't know anyone in Scottsdale that I could rent a room with. I have headphones for my guitars and e-drums. I'm still going to do video, but have to use a portable green screen that I can get on Amazon. I spoke with a business in Colorado and no one's going to hire me as a writer at my age. Not with micro strokes.

Jim McAllister said...

Rick,

I'll believe it when I see you in Colorado. You're a Missouri guy; I don't see you leaving Dell Mack and all your buddies behind for Colorado. You have your studio and your music friends there; that's a lot to give up.

Keep me in touch on that video.

Unknown said...

I'm a Missouri man, huh? Oh yeah, thanks Jimmy. You're so sweet. I love you too.

Jimmy, on November 13, that police chief will be chewing nails when Nick Raines is doing his press conference. I don't know what's wrong with me. The Army said it is automatic.



Unknown said...

Jen got herself a 30-30/20guage rifle. Double barreled gun by Savage. She's all ready for deer season now. I'm getting her a new washer and dryer from Rent-a-Center and her female roommate got caught stealing from her. Our friend, a 24-year Army vet sat down the woman and said, "You've been voted off the island and you have to leave."

Jimmy, you should be helping the music industry with your sales innovations. Gee whiz, if Dell Mack had me as his publicist and you as the sales team, we'd all be rich. This is Dannie O'Reilly's CD, "The Wolf is Loose," with the song, "The Brand I Smoke," and it should be selling in this time of pot mania, but it's not. Realistically, the music should be sold to various popular bands to turn into hits. Dannie can't tour. https://soundcloud.com/sho-me-mo-music-records/the-brand-i-smoke

Heck, they'd give you a 25 percent fee just for selling their music for soundtracks and bands

Jim McAllister said...

Rick,

I mean "Missouri man" as a compliment. I lived there for 4 years in the USAF and knew a lot of small town folks in the area of my base. Good people.

Jim McAllister said...

Dannie is pretty good. I like his guitar work. If you have any more by him, send them over.

Unknown said...

I know what you meant, Jimmy. I address negative thoughts as stroke symptoms, so no worries. That guy from Colorado never did send any additional photos of the hotel room, so apparently God says it's a no.

Jen gave me a Honey-Do list. Hot water heater, the rifle for deer season, new washer and dryer. I'm staying because no one else is going to take care of Jen, but me. She can date all she wants, but she's too nice and people take advantage of her. She helps everyone who asks and I gotta go.

No worries, Jimmy.

Jim McAllister said...

Jerilyn Bullock
12:25 PM (39 minutes ago)

to Denniskjdb, me
Thank you Jim. We always enjoy reading your great articles.

Hope all is well with you and Barb.

Jerilyn and Dennis

Jim McAllister said...

Thanks,Jerilyn.

I appreciate the nice words.

Jim

Unknown said...

Nick Raines is president of the Marijuana Restoration and Protection Act and I think it is the best idea yet. He is the perfect man to lead the fight to set back the clocks. There are 64 known medical compounds FOUND in marijuana so far and there are over 400 and it is suspected that they all work on the human nervous system to prevent and cure cancer, seizures, everything.

Jimmy, if you knew what was really going on, you'd be driving the moving van.

Unknown said...

I think I just pulled a rabbit out of my hat.

I seriously need to play the electric guitar and just relax. My brain is buzzing this week and I've contacted both campaigns. Hillary Clinton's people are really very angry at Republican Kevin Hillman. The county knows I stir the poo and I am Dell's publicist. What did they think I'd do? Dell is helpless. I'm a writer.

Jeb Bush is a little tougher to connect with, but Ms. Clinton's people are very angry.

SN Rules.

Jim McAllister said...

Rick,

Ohio just voted down marijuana by a wide margin. I have no problem with it when it is used for medical purposes.

Unknown said...

You missed the other Ohio shoe, Jimmy. The REASON Ohio voted down marijuana was because there would only be TEN growers. Both sides killed it. The very next day, the Ohio legislature announced they would create a sensible medical marijuana bill so everyone can grow their own medication if they want.

Missouri is a completely different thing.

Hillary Clinton may not do anything, but Jeb Bush needs the numbers that medical marijuana would give him. Chicago mob runs Pulaski County and Nick "Turbo" Raines is the son of KC's Carl Spero and he wants to give medical marijuana back to the people to grow for themselves in Missouri and take it out of the control of organized crime. Hey, Nick is a lot better person than Bodo.

Jim McAllister said...

I don't even know Nick but ANYBODY is better than Bozo. LOL

Unknown said...

I'm uploading a very well balanced public relations video for Dell Mack and medical marijuana. I quoted SN from Rolling Stone. You will see it tomorrow and I have been working on it all day long and it looks rather lovely, I think. I only referenced her once. Her sales should increase because of it.

Now Jimmy, I'm pushing my luck by even doing this in Crocker, Mo. Jimmy, it is legal to call someone out in the street and gun them down in the State of Missouri but no one's shot at me for years. When I helped to bring in a Humane Society, I got death threats.

Bad storms coming in Jimmy. And Jen has another feral horse when a pair of homeless horses came up on the hill. The neighbor took one and Jen took one.

SteveBuzzardo said...


Jim, I remember that WOW crap. I was living in CA at the time, the store I shopped at had a special section for all that Olestra stuff. I never even bothered to try it.
I hated the plastic bags when they first came out. I always used paper when they gave you a choice. Now they are banning plastic bags in some cities in CA, like Los Angeles and San Francisco. Dumbass libs.

That's funny about the beer.
yeah, I hate when they move stuff around, after you learn where everything is in the store.

Steve

Unknown said...

Here Jimmy.

It's tastefully done. Some people say it is the best work I've done yet!

Missouri has charged an elderly songwriter with felony possession of marijuana and he's got leukemia.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cZiGY__dKs

Jim McAllister said...

Rick,

Here is a comment from Middy that should interest you:

Just reading your blog and I got to tell ya that Rick is right on that Ohio vote.. it was an attempt to corner the market and have the government grant ten people in that state a monopoly, it will be revisited and probably passed next time; by the way I doubt Fox News has mentioned the real reason that governorship race went to the Republican tea party type Bevin surprising everyone last week, but here is the reason no one in the Republican Party wants to talk about..

..keep in mind this was posted a week before the election that gave a mandate to Bevin- they were rubbing their hands with glee thinking this would be the final stake through Bevin's heart, but they were wrong- and the polls were too.

http://www.wlwt.com/news/debate-kentucky-gov-candidates-bevin-conway-differ-sharply/36044854

The people of Kentucky are as sick of the war on drugs as anyone else ought to be and rewarded someone standing up against it as a major campaign plank..

The party of stupid would do well to run on a similar Constitutionally supportable issue instead of allowing the Dems to paint them with the brush they have been painting them for years as prohibitionists hell bent on defying the Constitution.
Both parties make money on the issue and it's been a reliable source for the past fifty years in campaign bribes neither want to give it up, it's a cash cow for election contributions.

It's way past time to quit continuing this failed witch hunt on drugs with a strategy that 63+ percent of the Americans are sick of- and frankly we don't have enough money to continue even it it wasn't making things worse instead of better.
..but they won't and the Republicans will suffer for it because they are the party of stupid and have no more interest in the preservation of the Constitution than the Democrats do- it didn't work in the twenties and it can't work any better today, not withstanding how much more tax money is wasted.

Chicago with it's war on guns is experiencing no success, what makes anyone think prohibition of contraband I used to find in prison can work on anything but minors?

Jim McAllister said...

Steve,

Companies seem to think they have to mess with products by constantly trying to "improve" them. Olestra is a good example of messing with something that should have been left alone. The same with Heinz ketchup. It was a number one selling brand but they had to try to change it. One look at the picture of that purple crap and everyone had to know it would fail. Go figure, huh?

Plastic bags were a tough sell at first but the stores kept them because they were half the cost of paper. It was a great selling point even if I did squirt that cheap beer on that guy. That's a moment I won't forget. Especially since it was even a pisswater beer.

Jim McAllister said...

Rick,

Dell's situation seems like a reasonable one to let him have marijuana. I thought there where some instantses where they can allow it for situations like his.

Unknown said...

Jimmy, I called Governor Jay Nixon and their office seems to know me. They switched me to Health and Human Services and they said, whatever I want, they'll do. I said talk to Jay Nixon and decide if you want to legalize medical marijuana or just give Dell and me a waiver to break the law. Health and Human Services holds the patent on marijuana. Yeah, they admitted it. It's real.

Nick Raines is on his way out here. I'm liable to be in the news tomorrow. I have GOT to play the guitar and get my head back to just relaxing before I have another stroke.

Mike Slater said...

Jim, I always preferred the paper bags over plastic but I can rarely find them anymore. The only thing I find useful for the plastic bags is when it comes time to pick all the fruit off my citrus trees. I take some to the food bank and give away most of it.

Unknown said...

Jimmy, I was told today that there are going to be protests in Crocker Missouri tomorrow. The media, the governor, the Army, they're all scared, because of the nonsense in Columbia, Mo.

The governor asked me what Nick Raines and I want. Reversal of cannabis prohibition. The Republicans vow to show no compassion and they are blaming it on Obama.

And I found this on the Internet, Jimmy.

"Dell Mack, an American songwriter, singer and guitarist born July 15, 1937 in a cabin on Route 66, near St. Robert Missouri, first recorded Willie Dixon’s “You Can’t Judge A Book By The Cover” with the Golden Gate Quartet in 1958. Bo Diddley’s popular version was not recorded until 1962." https://pulaskicountyusa.wordpress.com/2013/10/30/8-more-things-that-you-might-not-know-about-pulaski-county-missouri/

Dell knew Willie Dixon. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hOTPt6I144

Jim McAllister said...

Mike,

As is usually the case in business, stores are looking for the cheapest way to get the job done. When I started peddling plastic in the late 70's they were so much lower in cost that stores were willing to give them a try in spite of the initial difficulties with them. Once we had them installed the cost savings of about 50% per bag were such a benefit to the bottom line that they kept them and eventually adjusted to the change. When I say "they" kept them, I am referring to the store owners only because the employees in most cases hated them. They didn't care that it meant a 50% savings to the store in supply cost. They were set in their ways and didn't want to change.

Today, it is rare to see paper sacks in grocery stores. I'm forever thankful since it meant a lot of nice commission sales for me in those days. I used some of it to buy Barb a new Pontiac to replace our 1970 Chevy Nova 6 banger stick shift!

Jim McAllister said...

Rick,

I love Dell's version of that song. Bo made a ton off it while Dell probably made zero. Sometimes it's timing, sometimes it's luck when a song becomes a big hit. Too bad Del couldn't have cashed in on that one. He still is a talented guy.

Now the nonsense at Columbia is spreading to other schools. These goddam kids never had it so good; they are trying to mess it up for everyone. It was that way when I was at Central Missouri in Warrensburg in the late 60's. I was a vet going to school and had to watch those immature idiots bitch and moan about things they knew nothing about. They are too impressionable. They are too damn stupid to have common sense. They don't know shit and think they know everything. It's going to backfire on them.

Unknown said...

Hey Jimmy. A bunch of white folks had a controversial press conference in a small Missouri town and nothing happen. No riots.

Unknown said...

Bunch of potheads had a press conference and it was all nice and mellow.

Unknown said...

Okay, I stood filming next to Fox News. http://fox2now.com/2015/11/13/missouri-marijuana-group-rallies-around-sick-vet-facing-drug-charges/

I'm supposed to be a nice publicist, but everyone told me that I did well.

Then when I got home, my old trailer caught fire and the occupants don't have a home now. But there was no electric, no wood stove, so not a big deal. The FD is a little suspicious. Used to be my home.

Okay Jimmy. Now back to guitar practice.

Unknown said...

Hi Jimmy. It's getting colder here in the Ozarks.

Jen looks after me, Jimmy and everyone's worried about me and my old house just mysteriously burning down. Jen looks after me and I look after her. Maybe Jen and you can talk some day. I'd like to see how the martini's are made, but I don't call the shots.

Unknown said...

I got in trouble for saying, Potheads. Apparently that's not in vogue anymore.

Sorry cool people. Now they're going to stone me.

Unknown said...

I forgot to tell you Jimmy. The Fox News reporter said off camera that he's a cancer survivor. http://fox2now.com/2015/11/13/missouri-marijuana-group-rallies-around-sick-vet-facing-drug-charges/

Unknown said...

I was talking to Health and Human Services and we agreed that it would be tremendously helpful for the federal government to legalize and regulate marijuana with a list of ingredients, weights, and purpose of specific strains of cannabis.

Marijuana is evidence that there is a civil war within the government itself.

Then the plastic bag companies can make all sorts of different sizes of little containers for the weed medical patients buy. They can make Cannabis Ketchup. Won't that be yummy?

Jim McAllister said...

Rick,

Nothing wrong with "potheads." They are what they are.

Jim McAllister said...

Cannibis ketchup? NOW you're talkin'!

MJ is a tough subject. It is a great help to many people with various illnesses but is highly abused too. I wish someone would come up with a universally agreement on the stuff.

Unknown said...

You're no help at all, Jimmy. You're encouraging cannabis based foods. Soon there will be a Cannabis turkey for the vegetarians.

Is there room at your holiday dinner table for me? When they convict Dell Mack, he will have to pay fees for being drug tested. And that's if he lives until the court date. I am sickened how people are neglected in the Bible Belt.

Cannabis stuffing. I'll pass.

Mike Slater said...

Jim, doesn't it make you warm and fuzzy all over to know that Obama has said we have ISIS contained? I guess ISIS didn't get the memo. Obama doesn't have a clue how to fight terrorism, ifn fact he won't even call them Islamic terrorists. Then you have that other idiot Hillary saying we just need to understand them. I understand them, they're terrorist that need to be killed.

God help us if Hillary is elected because it will be just more of the same.

Jim McAllister said...

Mike,

I think Obama is finally digging a hole he won't get out of. In addition to his total screw ups with ISIS, his big goal for his last year is to take our guns. What an idiot he is.

He now has some serious opposition with the Syrian refugees. The states are rebelling as is Congress.

I've never seen this country so screwed up.

Unknown said...

Jimmy, I'll bet BO hates these words, "... told ya," regarding the Syrian refugees

Someone told me yesterday that Pope Francis is advising BO.

Hey, here's the entire press conference, Jimmy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSXCjSHwhb4

Mike Slater said...

Jim, Obama is just a girlie man who has no fight in him. He's without a doubt the worst president in my lifetime. Can't wait till he leaves.

Unknown said...

Al Vance's assistant reported on Facebook that Alvin Vance Smith, Rockabilly Hall of Fame winner is in his final stage of cancer in hospice. I thought about moving him into the trailer, before it burned. Al really wanted to record some new music before he died, but there was no budget to go get him.

"Every Woman I know is crazy about an Automobile," by Al Vance https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJ25BabVTUk

Please express your wishes to "Al Vance" on Facebook and an assistant in Hospice will read it to him. Al Vance's only music CD in concert is on sale at Amazon with (Jen) J.J. Pritchett on the cover. http://www.amazon.com/Al-Vance-Live-Concert/dp/B00OYJE5U4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1447884925&sr=8-1&keywords=Al+Vance%2C+Live+in+Concert

Dell Mack wanted Al's music published and so I did it. The CD isn't real good, but it's live. Reel to Reel on digital. Talking to Al was like talking to SN. Amazing.

Al Vance took up the guitar at 13 and nearly opened for the Beatles for their first tour with the Bill Black Combo at 16. It was a story that Al wanted told. He was devastated. All of his high school friends were proud of him. And then, at the last minute, he was replaced! Al wrote that song and the other on the flip side in about 15 minutes in the back of a limo. Al Vance knows more about the electric guitar than possibly any man alive. It has been an honor to be his friend, but I should have gone to go get him. He and Dell could have played together again.

Clint Eastwood once sat in with them on drums with Dannie O'Reilly, Al Vance and Dell Mack. Dannie had heart surgery a while back ... again. Dell has leukemia. I'd sure like to move where I can go to work in music and just do a little video editing. Just help out a bunch of us old stoners smoking for medical reasons now. Wherever I go, I'm told that Jen has to go. My assistant. She is excited ... sometimes. It's been a gas knowing Al Vance, Dell Mack, Dannie O'Reilly ... of them.

I can't write for newspapers and magazines anymore, but I will help the music artists. I feel at home with them sometimes. It's a gas making them famous.

Unknown said...

Jimmy, I was trying to explain to Jen my theories about ISIS and finally she turned and said, "Rick, I don't have a clue what you're talking about!" Jen is the every person and that's why I love that woman's opinions.

I think I just got invited to discuss my ideas with the U.S. Army War College. Anyway, it's 9 p.m. and past my bed time.

Unknown said...

Gosh Jimmy, there's a pair like CJ and Middy used to go at it. One a famous musician and the other a Vietnam veteran. I know both of them well. They just like to argue.

Delbert McKinnon's name is just everywhere. That's Dell Mack's real name. Heck, it's gone around the globe. The Republicans sure did screw up on this one. Going after an old man with leukemia and all he wants is to use his weed and no radiation. Nothing.

Jen and another girl are fixin' to head down your way, Jimmy. I'm an old man. Not someone worth traveling with. This is one of my 90-year-old days. I took a lot of naps today.

Unknown said...

Jimmy, Al Vance passed.

"My Dear Uncle Alvin Passed away today with his Sisters Martha and Jackie holding his hand.....Please Pray for Peace and Comfort for Us all....Amen!!!"

I only talked to him a few times, but he thought I was just the neatest writer for helping him and Dell Mack.

To all his fans, I am so very sorry. I am honored to have worked on publishing his CD with his one and only live concert from his friend, Dell Mack's company.

Jim McAllister said...

Mike,

I was born during FDR and have lived through Truman, Ike, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, Clinton, both Bushes. Some of them I liked, some I didn't but I have never 100% totally disliked or even hated any president until Obama. He is the worst scourge to ever run this country and it is a total embarrassment that such an unqualified loser could ever be elected. It just shows how dumb voters can be that he could even be elected at all much less two times.

Unknown said...

Jim, now imagine that you are at my home and I lighting the first pipe. Jimmy shrugs, he just hates the guy. Doesn't know why. Just hates him. Just everything about him. We discuss politics for a while and I fill the pipe again. It is a perplexing problem. I puff and think. Jimmy patiently awaits my advice. As if I were a British gentleman, I pack the pipe a third time and then arrive at the answer. Make marijuana prohibition go away without the President's help, fix the economy and not a Democrat ever gets elected again. That's the British three pipe rule for problem solving. It works. If it was good enough for Sherlock Holmes, it's good enough for a real person.

Jim McAllister said...

Rick,

My condolences to you and Uncle Alvin's family.

Jim McAllister said...

Rick,

You quote: "Make marijuana prohibition go away without the President's help, fix the economy and not a Democrat ever gets elected again. That's the British three pipe rule for problem solving. It works. If it was good enough for Sherlock Holmes, it's good enough for a real person."

Sounds good to me. Anything that says "Screw Obama" sounds good. He is a disgrace to this country specifically and the human race in general.

Mike Slater said...

Jim. those dumb voters you speak of are the same ones that will vote for Hillary. Rush calls them low information voters. I call the dumb ass liberals. If you listen to Hillary she thinks Australia's gun laws are great. Australia's gun laws are they take your guns away. I don't want a president that thinks like that. Bernie Sanders wants to make every thing free and of course his idea to pay for it is just tax the rich.

Obama, Clinton and Sanders are all socialists in my opinion and their idea is to destroy this country. This election next year may be our last chance to save the country.

Jim McAllister said...

Mike,

I agree with you all the way. It just amazes me how far this country has fallen that clowns like Obama can be elected and and re-elected while other idiots like Sanders and Hillary actually have a chance.

As you mentioned, they are giveaway artists which will always pull votes from a certain element of the population who believes the rich have too much. They never take into account how hard those people may have worked to gain their wealth because idiots can't comprehend anything that involves an effort. They don't think they should have to work at all. That's not the way it should be.

I'm also on Twitter and it is almost 100% against Obama and the rest of those losers. If it isn't the failure of Obamacare it is guns or his lack of interest in protecting our borders. Trump is increasing his popularity daily and although I wonder about him sometimes he would sure be better that the others.

Obama wants badly to take our guns during his last year. I wish he would personally go to Chicago and try to collect their guns. It would save time on getting rid of him because he wouldn't last a day there.

Thanks for the comment. Cross your fingers for next November.

Unknown said...

The Senate passed a bill to allow military veterans access to medical marijuana and the Republican controlled House wouldn't even look at it. Big mistake. Huge!

I know Republican business owners and they are ALL secretly looking forward to the end of marijuana prohibition, but not one of the spineless capitalists will go on the record to talk about their plans. Missouri used to be No. 3 in the country for hemp. See, that's why the Republicans are going to blow the election again. No guts.

I'm thinking about Oregon now too. Since SN blacklisted me from success in the entertainment business and I'm unemployable to do anything else. Had SN said anything on my behalf, I might be working now for a film company learning to be a video editor. I decided to try to move to Oregon. They have more free stuff for disabled vets like me and I'm a capitalist at heart. It will be a nice raise.

Unknown said...

Happy Thanksgiving, Jimmy. Everyone's leaving for the holiday. Jen and others are going to Arizona by way of Colorado. Jen is popular, you see. Jimmy, popularity is how the world works. That's why the nation is the way it is.

Unknown said...

Hey Jimmy! Arizona ranks 41 for intelligence, according to the Washington Post. No Jimmy, they're NOT talking about you specifically. And there's a really nifty theory for that too! There are just more brilliant people in the United States and not in Mexico, but as the Latinos stay in America, their kids are sometimes born with Asperger's Syndrome as well. So you see, the brilliance is environmental.

So I propose applying for a government grant of a few million dollars, get a hot chick without a clue and move her into a little house in Scottsdale without changing any of her habits. Then periodically test her intelligence to see if there are any changes due to the different air, water and other environmental causes. I know we could get the money, because DC isn't even on the list!

Mike Slater said...

Jim, Obama and Hillary both want to take our guns away while having armed Secret Service agents protecting them every day. Seems like a double standard.

They both want our country to be like England, Canada and Australia which confiscated peoples guns. Those countries don't have a 2nd amendment like we do. There are over 1 million gun owners in this country and over 3 million guns.

As to Trump I know some have doubts about him but I like his style. We need someone as president that won't back down and grovel like Obama. Hillary is not the answer.

Jim McAllister said...

Mike,

I heard Obama is making gun control his project for his last year. Ha-ha to that. He is full of shit as always, ain't gonna happen, too many guns here and too many people who hate his chicken shit guts.

I like Trump too but sometimes i wonder about his tirades and how much they may be turning people off. It's going to be an interesting year; just pray that voters don't fall for Hillary's line of bull.

Unknown said...

I found a friend in Colorado and she's volunteered to help me get settled in when I move out there. I haven't heard a peep from Jen since she's gone to Arizona via Colorado. Thelma and Louise should be in Tucson by tonight.

I decided to follow Don's advice and keep the property in Missouri. I'll find someone from the Humane Society who needs a home and wants to care for stray dogs and cats. I'm told there are many musicians to hang out with in Colorado. And the state is being very nice and cooperative so far.

You are right about the firearm double standard, Jimmy. Are you sure that you don't want me in Arizona, because I can read people like a book in person. A shrink once said that I need to explore my true potential. Think that's true, Jimmy?

Happy Thanksgiving.

Mike Slater said...

Jim, it seems like every time Trump says something his poll numbers rise. Obama and Hillary can talk about gun control all they want but every time the do gun sales and concealed carry permit soar. Obama is the best thing that ever happened for gun and ammo sales.

Hope you and Barb have a nice thanksgiving. My son usually has it at his house but he's deer hunting up on the Kaibab and won't be back so it will be at my house. My wife will do all the cooking and of course she had to invite her relatives which reminds me to get more beer so I can tolerate them. I had no idea when I married her that she had billions of relatives all living here.

Jim McAllister said...

Looks like you have a lot of irons in the fire, Rick. Colorado sounds like a nice change. Mountains, streams, snow, revitalization.

Jim McAllister said...

Mike,

Yeah, it's great about Trump. He is our kind of guy; he tells the Dems and ISIS to stuff it. He seems fearless and isn't afraid to say the things we want to hear. I don't think the Republicans want him though which doesn't show much support. If he goes Independent, the vote will split and Hillary will be in. I would hate to see that happen.

Cruz is good too and would probably have the Rep support. It's hard to guess right now but I do know that Trump will do it his way or no way.

Obama is the biggest loser of all time. Read the Twitter comments; they really nail him, me included. He is a disgrace to the office with his immigration and releasing those Guantanamo guys. He also worries way too much about climate change. Nothing but a sorry ass little sissy. The earth will be fine without his assistance.

Have a good Thanksgiving and thanks for reading the blog.

Unknown said...

"Colorado sounds like a nice change. Mountains, streams, snow, revitalization," specific cannabis for ailments, a home with an actual kitchen, a larger music scene and concerts nearby. There are more people like me in Colorado and I'll appear normal.

I know successful Republicans who smoke weed while they tell me how we need to have laws in this country. The marijuana laws are merely a form a population control. I see the cannabis legalization movement as a kind of passive revolution in and of itself.

Hope everyone's Thanksgiving was good. Hope y'all got Black Friday specials. I nuked some food that I'd been saving for the holiday.

Unknown said...

Did I write to you today, Jimmy? I can't remember. I got up promptly at dawn and some days I can deal with the nausea, but not this morning. Then I went back to bed. Probably the wrong thing to do. The neighbors woke me up at 8 to make sure I was alive. Long day. Today, a nonprofit group and a respected businessman both asked me to stay in Missouri and fight, because I help a lot of people, they said.

I don't trust Trump. I know that he's saying the same things that he said in the 80's and no one listened to him. Now his advice seems relevant. But notice how he made fun of a handicapped person and the pattern of behavior in the news is medical marijuana, which suggests it's going to pass. Plus both parties need to get rid of him.

Bear in mind that a bill to remove the prohibition of marijuana sits in the judicial committee and it will go to the House next ... if it doesn't die in committee. Marijuana stocks have doubled dozens of times in the few years they've been out. Sometimes they were pulled. I think they are legal again. So if that bill passes, POTUS signs it, marijuana prohibition ends, there's going to be a green rush and it will pay to bury ISIS ten times over.

Unknown said...

Me and another MK Ultra guy are talking today. He doesn't know where his money comes from. No job and he gets cell phone contracts, anything. He is talking about getting a house in Colorado. This kid's been in Time magazine during the Clinton Administration and President Bill apologized for MK Ultra.

During this administration, secrets are pouring out! Marijuana is being legalized. New gun owners. To me, it looks like a series of counterintelligence mind games, such was my training. I don't remember much, but the instincts are still there.

Facebook and Twitter are even mind control devices in training as a socialist; ask your neighbor for help. Nations are falling. Putin's suddenly the good guy and our President is compared to dictators. And kids like my friend were probably one of the experiments that the government learned from the Nazi's in mind control and population management. I read today that about half of the psychology experiments that define the government's knowledge of people CAN NOT be reproduced, meaning the ideas of what is addiction and psychological treatment were faked for an agenda. And now it's appearing more and more that BO might in fact favor Islam in one form or fashion. And I wonder if any of the candidates can be trusted.

Unknown said...

Merry Christmas to you and Barb, Jimmy. Looks like gun confiscations for Americans. Told them to legalize weed. They never listen. Not wise. They need violence to happen, Jimmy. It justifies what BO does next.

Jim McAllister said...

Rick,

No Black Friday specials for me. There is no way I would fight those fools in the stores. We had the usual fights in the stores here over various items like cheap TVs and other crap.

I've never understood the allure of going to a store at midnight to save a few bucks. Not worth the hassle.

Jim McAllister said...

Rick,

Trump is a pain in the ass at times but I want a Republican to win; anything to get assholes like Obama out of there. He is the embarrassment of the century for this country. Here we are in the midst of terrorists trying to wreck this country and the dipshit is over in Paris more concerned about whether the ocean will rise an inch over the next million years.

I never thought I would see the day when a guy like him could get elected but with the mentality of this country today towards getting free stuff he was an easy sell.

Jim McAllister said...

Merry Christmas to you too, Rick. I sent out my latest blog today. Let me know if you didn't receive it.