Fuze--Deceptive Marketing

From the start I want to say that my overall impression of Fuze, the drink line which is now owned  by Coca Cola isn't THAT bad. There are some good things to report. I occasionally drink them, under certain circumstances. But I just thought you may like to know a few facts.

While we were at the Lake last weekend we went to buy a few refreshing beverages to go with a pear, cheese and bread lunch we planned to picnic on in our car, overlooking picturesque Lake of the Ozarks in Camdenton, Missouri.

My daughter grabbed a sugared drink and I noticed the pomegranate and Acai Berry drink from Fuze. Really no different than expected consumer behavior, I assumed the product had pomegranate and Acai Berry as ingredients. After all, it is named THAT!

I know quite a bit about the superfoods category. I've been to Peru and know more than a casual researcher would understand about the Acai Berry story. It is found at the top of very high palm trees in the Amazon and really does seem to possess some incredible health benefits. Pomegranate too is another superfood and both are known to be loaded with antioxidants and free radicals.

Long story short folks, there aint any pomegranate or acai berry in the Fuze drink. I called the company when I couldn't tell which ingredient in the label contained either product. They are only there in spirit. Artificial flavoring. Zero, nada, no percentage, zippo, negatory, pomegranate and acai berry have left the building!

I wondered too about the 10 calorie claim per serving and quickly learned that it was achieved with minimal apple juice but mostly sweetened with sucrolose (marketed as Splenda) and in more quantity acesulfame potasium. Both are questionable as safe, in spite of what food manufacturers want you to believe. As I understand it, both are not allowed to be used as ingredients in foods or drinks in Europe because the consumers there feel enough testing hasn't been done and there is enough evidence to wonder if they aren't down right dangerous.

I use those products in moderation but mostly avoid them.

The taste of the drink is fine. It does make you feel as if it is a healthy drink, though that is probably just the effect of marketing. These drinks by Fuze have several categories, such as Slenderize and sports drinks. They're priced at about $1.50 per drink, which as this category of drink goes, they're pretty toward the bottom of the price structure, which can be pushing $3 by some competitors.

Tip:  What I do when I want my fix for this kind of thing is I buy the little packets of sugarfree drink mixes. I like the ones from Ocean Spray, although they're probably no healthier than the rest and they also contain aspartame and acesulfame potasium. I mix the packet with an EXTRA glass of water to dilute the sweetener and then I add one cup of apple juice. I do all this for two main reasons. It gives me my sweet fix and it is inexpensive while still offering me some real juice in my drink. By doing what I described, I'm able to prepare the drink for about 10 cents a serving and am refreshed after a long run or a hot day.

If you haven't seen the research about aspartame, acesulfame potasium or sucrolose, I recommend you let your fingers do some googling.

Cheers,

Justice--Blind or Just Not WANT to see the truth?

I'll try to keep this review short. It is a story of frustration.

I'm a business owner and a property owner in downtown Springfield, MO. On Halloween this year an unnamed bandit fractured my front door. There was a witness and the police apprehended the suspect who admitted to breaking my glass.

I was called immediately and asked if I wanted to press charges. Of course I did. I knew this was going to be quite an expense.

I waited weeks to receive some notice after my initial call to the prosecutor the following week after the incident. "No you shouldn't have to try to recuperate your costs," I was told by the assistant at the Country prosecutor's office, "We have a victim's restitution program. Wait to hear from us before doing anything like filing a small claim."

"GREAT!," I thought. Finally something makes sense about the law and being a landlord. I've had lots of experience as a property owner as I used to own apartment complexes and other rentals. My overall experience dealing with the courts and criminal activity by my renters hasn't been pleasant. The courts often seem to treat the landlord poorly and the renter with a strange lenience.

As I said, weeks had gone by and I decided I needed to learn what was happening. As it turns out the policeman had estimated the cost of repairs of my door at $400 and so the case would go to municipal court and not County. The city municipal court does not have a victim's restitution program so I was advised to seek whatever damages on my own, either through small claims court or hire an attorney and pursue it as a civil matter.

"But wait," I informed them, "the damages came to over $500 and I have all the receipts."

"Oh, I see," said the administrative person at the municipal court prosecutor's office.

It took another week to follow up with all the different phone numbers including several people in investigations at the police force, several administrative people at both county and city prosecutor's offices. Finally from Sgt. Smith who heads up investigations at the Springfield Police force I was told that the administrative people at the courts don't know what they're talking about and he went on to explain to me what a frustration it is for him because he often gets angry calls from people who were misinformed by the courts.

It requires that the damages exceed $750 to be a felony when it comes to property damage. $500 is the cut-off for theft and burglary. So NO, it will stay at the municipal court.

"So as a victim then," I asked, does it seem fair that the criminal can go breaking out glass doors and not be responsible to pay back for damages?

Sgt. Smith went on to calmly explain that I should just go see the prosecutor and explain that I'd like to seek restitution for PROBATION and the criminal would more than likely have to reimburse me for my deductible before being released from probation.

"Wow, what a relief," I thought. Grateful again for a chance to be reimbursed I called the same lady I've been dealing with at municipal court who explained to me that once Sgt. Smith knew that damages exceeded $500 that the case would probably be transferred to County and the victim's restitution program would be available for me.

WRONG. At municipal court they explained that I couldn't see the prosecutor and they seldom seek restitution. My only option was to fax over the receipts and those receipts will be presented to the judge and at the judge's discretion, they may be entered and used as a factor in the judges sentence.

The administrator at the court also explained that the police force doesn't know what they're talking about. Interesting that the police force said the same about the prosecutor's office. In the meantime, I'm likely to not be reimbursed and have spent hours just to learn the procedure.

Will justice be served? At this point I feel as if I've done something wrong. Each time I talk with people in charge of dealing with my case I get the impression that I'm a nuisance and it is people like me who make their job unpleasant.

To a certain extent, at each crossroads, I felt victim to a prank like this:

Harry and David Pears

I've heard it from sooooo many people that Harry and David pears are yackity yack so delicious. I've had them myself when someone has been suckered in to the marketing and sent them to us as Christmas presents. And I will say, to receive them as Christmas presents, they're lovely and I'm always very appreciative of the givers generosity. But the fact is--they're pears. Bought right and sliced at the right time you can enjoy a nearly perfect pear from your local supplier of pears--usually.

We went to the Lake of the Ozarks for our annual Christmas shopping trip. We love to sit at the fire pit at the Lodge of the Four Seasons and just relax and read, go to dinner and do some shopping. We usually go to Harry and David's Outlet store for a little "silly" extravagance like some Moose Munch or chocolate covered cherries. I must admit, even those purchases are not advisable, but as I said, for a rare treat (as in spoiling ourselves by paying mostly for the marketing of a product and not actually for an advisable purchase), a few extra dollars spent sometimes seems worth it while you sit by a fire and savor a chocolate or a truffle.

This year my daughter had decided she wanted a Harry and David pear instead of sweets. I didn't resist but simply said no problem. I guessed the pear would be $5 and told wife and daughter that.

"No way," said the wise shopper who manages our household expenses. Maybe $5 for two."

"Keep dreaming," I assured her.

When we got to Harry and David there was only one single pear ($4.95). And lots of boxes of the "Award Winning" Riviera or Scam Delicious or whatever they're called. I've poured over their marketing materials before and read the full description of their pears and methods and stories of why and what for and who screwed who to make a pear so plump and pregnant and blah blah blah. The boxes ranged between $26.95 to $34.95. The lower end hadn't been selected as the prize winners and may have some blemishes. The $34.95 were the juiciest most pregnant and had been sired by the Great Kahoona Himself, Mr. Harrier David Thanthou.

I knew my only choice was to purchase a box of pears or your honorable reviewer would suffer the consequences for the next half of his aging life, so the $26.95 pears it was. That is about $3.50 a pear or $7 for a pair.

Please don't bother to write about the reason you think Harry and David pears deserve their reputation. Emerson (I explained to the lady who was giving the free samples of the yogurt covered pretzels about my Emerson story but had to finally add Ralph Waldo because his last name alone didn't ring any bells) would save a pear on his writing desk, because he knew that there was a right time to slice one. I know that too and have sliced many a beautiful ripe pear from Safeway or Dillon's or farmer's market (best choice) and always can't say enough about the fruit. I love the drip, the creamy texture, the syrupy flavor, the nearly absence of waste (ever notice how there is so much less core to a pear than an apple?).

Yes, Harry's pears are good (usually, though I've just read dozens of reviews of negative experiences). But folks, they aint five dollars good. Ours were mediocre and now I'm stuck with six other ones to go with the pears we have already in our fruit bowl from before our trip (which I'm ready to taste test next to Tom, Dick's or Harry's with confidence that our .50 pears will be as good if sliced at the right time.

The free apples in the hotel were much superior but Lord Bless me if I had suggested we have the free apples with the hard Romano cheese we bought and crusty bread.

David's Hairy marketing is as good as it comes. Their pears--not so much.

No Money Blues

This asks you for a bunch of faith for the first 3 minutes. Even after that, only if you go along with the gag, you might not want to hang past 5 minutes, but I hung in there for the full 8. To do that means you sit like a good theater goer and read all the pretty type after the film. At 7:32 I figured, well I've given them my full attention till now. What is anohter 20 seconds, but GODdddddd it was torturous most of the way thru.

No money blues

www.youtube.com

ILB

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Winston Dubby Riley December 3 at 12:47pm

but as a short film it has some very nice elements. i have to say overall, treating it as a product, it's worth its place in the tubisphere (if this is a new word, i'm on record of calling it that first).

• and there is nothing funny about having no money. trust me

  7 minutes ago · 
• 

  Winston Dubby Riley oh, sorry, the most important observation. the music is the point, which is tucked away in there, ready to be missed altogether because of the character we are led to disapprove of

Nowhere Boy--My Take

After watching Nowhere Boy, the film about a teenage John Lennon, I felt the rush of two prevalent emotions. The first one is a surprising thought. "He was a good boy!"


I've STUDIED Lennon like a constellation that has never been out of my view...a science project that I ran full force into instead of away from. John Lennon's importance in modern culture has always seemed significant to me, a guiding force which McCartney can't claim "in solo" really because it was Lennon who provided the place for Paul. I have never been able to sit still without immersing myself in the psychology and sociology of our cherished rock star. I didn't expect to be surprised.


Pouring over Rolling Stone interviews, traveling to the Television and Radio Museum in New York City to spend two days watching and listening to rare TV and radio interviews, reading full biographies and devouring everything by Lennon himself including his books, his art, his cartoons, and his songs, I was crushed when I heard the news he was shot. We wouldn't get to meet after all.


Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought he could have been a good boy when he was 15, 16 and 17. Of course he was a troubled lad and a brute. I wasn't surprised by the portrayal of a young Lennon's anger. To see him as a gang leader, or as the roguish class clown, even as a stylish dresser in vest and tie, none of that came as a surprise. But a good boy? And I mean GOOD by the true definition of the term. A person capable of caring for other people, in spite of his outward rebelliousness. That was a surprise.


Granted, the screenplay by Matt Greenhalgh was based on the memoirs of Julie Baird, John Lennon's sister, who we barely see on the fringes at his mother's flat in Liverpool. So these stories are biased and filled with a scent of sweetness which could be exagerated. The accurateness of the film is somewhat debated in fact. But as an acute observer of John's life and details, I feel confident that mostly, the story is authentic.


The other sensation I have as I walk away from the Moxie is how lucky we are in Springfield to have access to such a theater. The Moxie is the only theater in Springfield for "small," artsy, foreign or alternative films, and with all the comforts of big theaters, including comfortable padded seats and traditional theater popcorn and candy. Plus the Moxie has beer, wine, gourmet sodas and delicious baked snacks such as gewey chocolate brownies and butterscotch coconut cookies.


This isn't a blow by blow of the movie. Just a few nuggets for the reader.


As a feature film, this is the directorial debut for the (female) Sam Taylor-Wood. She has produced art with Nowhere Boy in that the film entices. It is wonderful that we are informed by the story but it is even better that the film makes us ache. No doubt, many of we Beatles lovers ventured to the theater as we would have to an historical documentary, but Taylor-Wood layered her canvas with nuance and texture.


Like anyone who has bothered to learn more about Lennon than just listening to his songs, I was already well familiar with Lennon's Aunt Mimi and how he was deprived of knowing his mother Julia before he was in his teens. But the dreamlike quality of emotion, the mystique of sensuality, these sensations could only come from personal experience, and Taylor-Wood provided that. Peaking into the reality of Lennon's boyhood, for instance how Julia pulls the "man-boy" closer to him while they're laying down listening to music and we watch him wonder where to put his hand--you almost feel as if you're intruding at an awkward moment.


Aaron Johnson plays Lennon and you ak yourself "could Lennon have been so charismatic?" Johnson is a superstar in the making. He grabs you and takes you with him. You get the feeling you'd gladly go pickyback riding with the boy, his attraction is that powerful.


Obviously, the director thought so too because at 42 years old, she left her husband and married then 19 year old Johnson, with a detour, sometime between the start of filming and when they were married, to make a child. I imagine that relationship between older woman and younger man helped design the architecture of the dramatization of Julia and John. I think it helped smudge the edges enough to provide that surreal mood. Here's actress Anne-Marie Duff, who played Julia, Lennon's care free mom who comes roaring back in to his life when he was 15. She nails the part of a wreckless female who could have just as easily been a hippie at Woodstock leaving a small child to fend for itself while she looked for the next group to party with. She talks about some of that nuance:




Kristin Scott Thomas plays Lennon's Aunt Mimi and she deserves much acclaim for the stiff, chain smoking guardian she portrays. Between Johnson's strength of tragic hero and Thomas's acting, the film stands as a tribute to actors' ability to keep an audience in the grip of the story. Here's Thomas in an interview about the film:




With Nowhere Boy you won't be served delicious Beatles music and page after page of nostalgic photography. You are there when John first meets Paul (played by Thomas Brodie Sangster, best known for his roles as a small boy in Love Actually, Nanny McPhee, and The Last Legion) and a little later when he is impressed by the guitar skills of George Harrison, and when they first play as the Quarrymen and when they get the telegram that they're off to Germany for the start of their famous careers. You delight to be involved in all of that. But you get to enjoy those moments, unlike how you've learned all the "dry" material which has informed you about a young Lennon up to now.


I enjoyed the film, as you may be able to tell. If you get a chance to see it in Springfield, it shows through December 2 at the Moxie.



The Moxie is at 431 S. Jefferson, #108, Springfield, MO 65806  •  417.429.0800