Flicks candies, listed in this space years ago as one of the few San Franciscan things I unconditionally liked (back before my anti-elitist Frisco-bashing was superceded by Bill O’Reilly’s anti-gay Frisco-bashing) have been bought by an indie manufacturer and are back in production. Locally, they’re at Cost Plus World Market.

…at the exhibit of gingerbread houses at the City Center building downtown. This year’s display is a highly appropriate benefit for the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation.

No longer will McDonald’s offer Disney movie character toys. The company’s theme parks will turn off all burger grills and French-fry cookers. Even Incredibles Pop-Tarts will go away (merch collectors: that’s your cue to start hoarding).

In other words, a big, fiscally troubled American company’s decreed that three of its biggest divisions (theme parks, feature films, and character licensing) will choose to forego some proven revenue generators for the sake of polishing the company’s brand image. Sounds like a noble gesture, or at least a sharp PR ploy.

But going to an amusement park without cheese fries, cotton candy, or vomitous amounts of imitation lemonade? That sounds as much fun, kid-wise, as a WASL-training sleepover camp.

…has issued a book all about the “food traditions of the Northwest.” Apparently not included: Almond Roca, Idaho Spud bars, Tim’s Cascade Chips, Oberto beef jerkey, or the Dick’s Deluxe.

• Bill Clinton’s attached his name to a drive to get soda pop out of grade and middle schools. Remember: When being a Pepper is outlawed, only outlaws will be Peppers.
• We must say goodbye to financial reporter and early PBS star Louis Rukeyser. His pallbearers, I’m sure, will be “the elves who compile our technical market index.”
• The guy in charge of Ohio’s either incompetent or corrupt election system is now that state’s official GOP gubernatorial nominee. As if you’d expect him not to win somehow.
• Lay’s potato chips—now with “good” cholesterol.
• Sign of the Apocalypse #532: Mickey Mouse goes CGI.

“Marijuana is now Washington state’s No. 8 leading agricultural product. In other news, Cheetos and Ho-Hos remain the state’s leading imports.”

Actually, no. Frito-Lay has a plant just off the Columbia in Vancouver USA, and Hostess is still ensconced in Seattle on Dexter (or “Dextrose”) Avenue.

• The rediscovery of old film classics thanks to DVD.
• We’re still a two-daily-paper town, at least for now.
• Hi-def TV.
• The strong early sales for my e-book about hi-def TV.
• The so-called Blogosphere, in recent years one of the last uncompromised bastions of democratic debate.
• New awareness of body/mind diversity.
• My father’s long years of slow, pathetic decline finally ended this January.
• I’ve gotten one-third of the way out of my massive personal debt, and should be all clear by year’s end.
• I have a regular print outlet for my work, and am in negotiations about a day job.
• I’ve known some fabulous babes in my day, many with exciting and dynamic careers.
• The many fine products of North America’s convenience foods industry.
• Those who are still willing to fight back against the right-wing sleaze machine.
• Local microbrews.
• Seeing several friends survive debilitating conditions and come back with humor and dignity intact.
• Being back in my favorite neighborhood.
• Being high n’ dry.
• Having a loving, caring, loyal readership. Thank you.

I always like to wrap my lips around something fishy.

No, not from his own creation, but from the ol’ natural causes at the well-preservatived age of 92. It turns out Bill Mitchell was responsible for most of the General Foods miracle products of the ’50s-’80s, from Cool Whip to Jell-O 1-2-3! Here’s the Atlantic‘s remembrance.

…(on an M&M’s M-Azing chocolate bar): “Enjoyment Tip: Do not use if inner foil is broken or torn.” Of course, if you eat it with the foil still on, it tastes far different but doubles the nutritional value….

…to know the Athens Olympics have their tight security measures firmly in place, ready to strike back in an instant against fans carrying Pepsi products into the Coke-sponsored events.

(on a package of Overload peanut butter cups, one of them topped with “rainbow candy” coated chocolate pieces): “Mars, Incorporated has no affiliation with the producer or distributor of this product and has no participation in the production of this product.”

THE FINE PRINT #2 (from the introductory disclaimer to the e-book The Top 100 Lovemaking Techniques of All Time): “Some of the techniques described in this book call for you or your partner to have cough drops, mints, ice cubes and other objects in your mouth. Be very careful not to swallow these objects while performing these techniques. If you think there is even the slightest possibility that you could accidentally swallow one these of these objects, STOP PERFORMING THE TECHNIQUE IMMEDIATELY. There are plenty of other ones that you can do instead.”

(on the back of the wrapper for a Brown & Haley Carbs-In-Line “Chocolatey Indulgence with Mint” candy bar): “Excessive consumption may have a laxative effect. Individual sensitivity may vary.”

…there’s a drive within Britain’s Parlaiment to ban junk food ads aimed at kids. MPs were particularly miffed by Cadbury’s “Get Active” promotion, in which schools could get free playground equipment if students donated enough candy wrappers. Fortunately for advocates of free speech (and of some of the only decent food-like products that nation produces), a ban now seems unlikely.

I say: When Tony the Tiger is outlawed, only outlaws will be grrrr-eat!

…“sick foods,” but I make up for it with well drinks.