August 21, 2002

Flight from L.A. to Charlotte

Sat next to guy whose job used to be maintaining machines in a candy factory. Some machines were so old and you could tell at one time they were hooked up to steam engines. He would eat a pound of candy a day but didn't gain weight. He says hot candy just made is the best. Would pop a 150 degree mint in his mouth. If you move it around with your tongue it won't burn. What makes candy sticky? Water content. Hard candy is put in a vacuum to get the moisture out. When you put it in your mouth it gets water in it. The taffy puller is to put air in the taffy, otherwise it’s hard. He's seen 100 pound blocks of taffy hit someone in the head. Throw it in the giant taffy puller and it might sling back at you.

He thinks things are getting way too computerized. He bypassed the computer in his 86 Ford truck to make repairs when no mechanics could do it. He's got other stories too about falling off a small cliff and the subsequent surgeries.

When this plane lands and I look for my connecting flight, I see candy man head to the bar in search of others with which to - as my dad would say- shoot the shit. Maybe it doesn't mean much, but I'm glad for such people to exist.

My classmate, Neal, is a lawyer who specializes in Indian Tribal law. He told me that the Navajo tend to think it's rude to point with one's finger, so they point with their lips. Isn't that adorable?

Today's password:

Chunk_Light_Tuna

Shrinkie the Bear says:

Why do you feel the need to lord your physical superiority over others?

The funniest words ever spoken in the English language were uttered by Jamie of the Australian Broadcasting System at Pacific Television on Motor Avenue in 1995. He had purchased a cup of unnaturally pink ice cream at the AM/PM and said, "It looks like Miss Piggy shat in here."