Cans for Comments
New addition to my blogroll Renee Stephen has a grand idea for Christmas – Cans for Comments.
Here’s how it works, you leave a comment, I’ll buy a can and donate it to the Food Bank.
There is some argument over at Renee’s as to the merits of creamed corn as a can donation. I happen to think creamed corn is a wonderful non-food which would brighten the day of the recipient. Apparently I am alone in this view…Not the first time.
(Oh, and ignore the Harper snark at the top of Renee’s post…she was an NDP candidate and has to keep the cred.)
December 10th, 2008 at 4:47 am
So does the quality of comment matter? Does a really good comment get a can of Chunky Soup but a so-so comment get a can of creamed corn? (And, yeah, this comment is probably not necessary – I’m just doing my part). Great idea though and if you let me know what can you bought I will do the same on my end!
John
December 10th, 2008 at 5:38 am
(Also, consider this another can =)
December 10th, 2008 at 6:07 am
Can @ you….
December 10th, 2008 at 6:46 am
My first thought is that this is an excellent opportunity to bankrupt Renee. My second thought is of how my mother was happy to receive food bank hampers as she could take the money she normally spent on minimal groceries and purchase cigs and pot with it instead.
I choose not to reward bad behavior this X-mas. Want to do all those starving kids a favour? Put them in homes with responsible caregivers.
December 10th, 2008 at 9:17 am
I LIKE creamed corn.
December 10th, 2008 at 9:18 am
Andrew, I said exactly the same thing over at Renee’s,
December 10th, 2008 at 10:13 am
I like Creamed Corn – in a souffle my dear old mom used to make.
Beats the Klik and Klam (Spic and Spam) we received during hard times.
Johann
December 10th, 2008 at 1:09 pm
I intend to use a complex algorithm to figure out quality of comment and then fit the curve to a ratio of canned corn vs. quality organic soups that are dispersed.
December 10th, 2008 at 4:12 pm
You mean I get to state my fondness for creamed corn and help my fellow man, all this easily? Excellent.
But so is Spam, and it comes in a can, too! Now Spam & creamed corn together...oh, yummy. Y’don’t even need bread for a sammich like that.
December 10th, 2008 at 6:51 pm
In my family a Christmas dinner without creamed corn is sacrilege.
December 10th, 2008 at 7:01 pm
What’s not to like about creamed corn? It’s crunchy and it’s creamy. Perfect mouthfeel. In a pinch it can be used make a great souffle, a hearty corn chowder or luscious version of cornbread. It’s a fabulous ingredient.
Now I wouldn’t thank you for just about any other canned vegetable, tomatoes, chickpeas and kidney or black beans excepted.:-)
December 10th, 2008 at 7:32 pm
Merry Christmas to you Jay! (ps. social conservatism rocks!)
December 11th, 2008 at 6:00 am
@Sean: Ok, instead of donating a can to charity, adopt a foster child instead. I await photos.
December 11th, 2008 at 6:19 am
I like creamed corn. Served hot with creamy scalloped potatoes and a slice of chilled Hereford canned corn beef. Comfort food!
December 11th, 2008 at 6:40 am
Don’t mind the haters. Creamed corn rocks. Hardcore.
December 11th, 2008 at 6:55 am
I, for one, welcome our creamy canned corn overlords.
December 11th, 2008 at 7:02 am
Hi Jay
just want to add to the can drive.
ps. love hearing you on the al and mike show
rgraham4444
December 11th, 2008 at 7:03 am
Hi Jay
just want to add to the can drive.
ps. love hearing you on the al and mike show
rgraham4444
oops, sorry for the double post
(im trying for two cans)
December 11th, 2008 at 9:29 am
How about “Canned fried Lying Jackel”?
That should be worth 100 donations :)
Note he and “Lucy” are off and running with the Annual Xmas Lawsuits. They must be strong Union Lawfare members?
December 11th, 2008 at 10:22 am
I’d definately be thrilled to recieve creamed corn as an xmas gift!
Better if you mix it with an uncreamed can as well though….
December 11th, 2008 at 11:51 am
Lip smacking good, Real Canuck.
What I never understood was what the hell good does it do to give a needy family a decent meal once a year? Whether it includes organic soup or creamed corn, one good meal out of the 1095 most of us have each year sure ain’t gonna do sweet tweet to solve anyone’s “poverty” or malnutrition issues.
December 11th, 2008 at 11:58 am
Louise, you raise a good point. Oddly, I don’t see giving a family a good meal in utilitarian terms. I don’t think it has long term implications for that family one way or another; rather it is a chance to, one off, share. And I think the idea of sharing has huge implications. Most importantly, the idea of “private sharing”, unmediated by the state, taxes or social workers can create huge benefits.
December 11th, 2008 at 7:27 pm
Louise: Don’t worry, I’ll make sure the expiry dates stretch into late next year… But yes, you’re right. We should do this monthly!
Jay: Sure, it’s a great idea, as far as it goes. Except that fate is fickle and the economy is similarly flirty, so it’s less than secure all on its own. Also, many upper-middle-class people are a) cheap or b) believe that charity “enables” the poor… themselves never having had to live on a diet of nothing but coffee and Mr. Noodles while working part time to put themselves through their local community college’s secretarial program (a true story!) ... let alone try and do it with kids in tow…
December 12th, 2008 at 1:00 am
Be my guest, darlin’. I’ve got better things to do with my time and money than throw it after lost causes.
December 12th, 2008 at 1:14 am
Renee, been there and done that. I actually have the weird steet cred of having been that poor with kids.
There is no sense of enablment; rather there is a sense of relief. A moment where feeding your kids is easy. Then it is back to the crap.
Louise, I agree in the abstract; but I also know how wonderful a Christmas turkey is. The sharing is not at all about the long run. It is about right now. And when you are poor right now matters. There are lots of reasons to get past charity and we might just get that.
But 20 cans or so in the food bank will make a small dent. And that is critical. Every year. Even if it bankrupts Renee.
December 12th, 2008 at 5:43 am
See, as a left-winger, when I try explaining that to folks like Sean and Louise, they don’t believe me. :)
December 12th, 2008 at 5:19 pm
Yup. Makes liberal elitist types feel good about themselves. That’s a worthy cause, if there ever was one.