Where is he buying ramen because I get three or maybe four cakes for a dollar
October 22, 2010 4:55 PM Subscribe
What a dollar gets you in America today. A slideshow of photography that shows exactly, per weight, the amount of food that one dollar ($1) will buy you. [SLNYT, Flash slideshow]
That was acrid. It would be interesting so see this done in 30 countries.
posted by casual observer at 5:11 PM on October 22, 2010
posted by casual observer at 5:11 PM on October 22, 2010
The lack of a scale item in the photos kinda ruins it. Also some (tomatillos) are shot such they they make it difficult to actually see the quantity.
posted by a robot made out of meat at 5:17 PM on October 22, 2010 [6 favorites]
posted by a robot made out of meat at 5:17 PM on October 22, 2010 [6 favorites]
Thanking God profusely that my parents have oodles of blueberry bushes that they never spray.
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 5:26 PM on October 22, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 5:26 PM on October 22, 2010 [1 favorite]
Three things I learned from this article:
1. I really don't want to know what pork floss is.
2. They must be buying their saffron from the source - that looks like a lot for a dollar's worth in the US.
3. Ramen can be strangely beautiful. Now I'ma go eat some - like a boss.
posted by i less than three nsima at 5:40 PM on October 22, 2010 [3 favorites]
1. I really don't want to know what pork floss is.
2. They must be buying their saffron from the source - that looks like a lot for a dollar's worth in the US.
3. Ramen can be strangely beautiful. Now I'ma go eat some - like a boss.
posted by i less than three nsima at 5:40 PM on October 22, 2010 [3 favorites]
Potted meat food product!? I KNEW I remembered seeing that somewhere!
Other ingredients include BEEF TRIPE, BEEF HEARTS, AND "PARTIALLY DE-FATTED COOKED PORK FATTY TISSUE" How does one de-fat fat? Bizarre. God knows what else is in here.
posted by Mister Fabulous at 5:47 PM on October 22, 2010
Other ingredients include BEEF TRIPE, BEEF HEARTS, AND "PARTIALLY DE-FATTED COOKED PORK FATTY TISSUE" How does one de-fat fat? Bizarre. God knows what else is in here.
posted by Mister Fabulous at 5:47 PM on October 22, 2010
Hey, I used to shop at that Whole Foods in Santa Fe, I'll bet.
posted by koeselitz at 5:52 PM on October 22, 2010
posted by koeselitz at 5:52 PM on October 22, 2010
The picture of saffron looks a little bit like a dead cockroach.
posted by contessa at 5:54 PM on October 22, 2010 [8 favorites]
posted by contessa at 5:54 PM on October 22, 2010 [8 favorites]
Potted meat food product smells exactly like dog farts, not only on the plate but in the entire room in which the can is opened, which must add a whole level of indignity to its consumption. My dad doesn't seem to think so -- if my mom isn't around to stop him, he'll pop open some food product and scoop it up with saltines.
posted by Countess Elena at 5:57 PM on October 22, 2010
posted by Countess Elena at 5:57 PM on October 22, 2010
Wow, that's a really sad looking cheese burger on slide 2 there.
posted by delmoi at 6:04 PM on October 22, 2010
posted by delmoi at 6:04 PM on October 22, 2010
that was a very strange selection of foods... so much so that the whole project is really meaningless.
posted by HuronBob at 6:04 PM on October 22, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by HuronBob at 6:04 PM on October 22, 2010 [2 favorites]
I grew up eating pork floss and it is incredibly delicious on toast with butter.
posted by sawdustbear at 6:12 PM on October 22, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by sawdustbear at 6:12 PM on October 22, 2010 [2 favorites]
I may be hungry: That "potted meat" looks disturbingly delicious.
posted by eugenen at 6:14 PM on October 22, 2010
posted by eugenen at 6:14 PM on October 22, 2010
contessa: "The picture of saffron looks a little bit like a dead cockroach"
I said the same thing when I saw it!
posted by gomichild at 6:17 PM on October 22, 2010
I said the same thing when I saw it!
posted by gomichild at 6:17 PM on October 22, 2010
I saw that first slide and thought "there's no WAY you can get that much blow for a buck."
posted by nushustu at 6:22 PM on October 22, 2010 [6 favorites]
posted by nushustu at 6:22 PM on October 22, 2010 [6 favorites]
Those things vary so much, though. In my neighborhood: $1 at Safeway will buy less than a pound of onions. At an ethnic produce market a mile away, it will buy three pounds of onions. Neither is organic and the quality varies at both stores.
posted by needs more cowbell at 6:26 PM on October 22, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by needs more cowbell at 6:26 PM on October 22, 2010 [1 favorite]
This was a little less informative than I expected, but still interesting.
I stopped at the grocery store on my way home tonight, and for $1 (each) I got 1 Honeycrisp apple, a box of whole wheat Barilla pasta (88c), 2 cubanelle peppers and 2lbs of bananas. Not bad. And a lot tastier than that unfortunate loaf of bread.
I wish they'd done it with more staples, instead of things like a candy necklace and smelt.
posted by inmediasres at 6:26 PM on October 22, 2010 [2 favorites]
I stopped at the grocery store on my way home tonight, and for $1 (each) I got 1 Honeycrisp apple, a box of whole wheat Barilla pasta (88c), 2 cubanelle peppers and 2lbs of bananas. Not bad. And a lot tastier than that unfortunate loaf of bread.
I wish they'd done it with more staples, instead of things like a candy necklace and smelt.
posted by inmediasres at 6:26 PM on October 22, 2010 [2 favorites]
LOLSAFFRON
posted by Beardman at 6:26 PM on October 22, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by Beardman at 6:26 PM on October 22, 2010 [2 favorites]
I thought you could only get the McDouble for $1 now, not the actual double cheeseburger at McD's.
And oh man, rousong (pork floss) is awesome. Had it all the time when I was a kid, either just by itself or maybe mixed in with zhou (rice porridge). Seriously, it's great. And I don't think it would be terribly weird to Western palates either, unlike say century eggs (songhuadan).
posted by kmz at 6:31 PM on October 22, 2010 [3 favorites]
And oh man, rousong (pork floss) is awesome. Had it all the time when I was a kid, either just by itself or maybe mixed in with zhou (rice porridge). Seriously, it's great. And I don't think it would be terribly weird to Western palates either, unlike say century eggs (songhuadan).
posted by kmz at 6:31 PM on October 22, 2010 [3 favorites]
Pork floss sounds pretty awesome, actually. Wonder if I can pick some up tomorrow.
(A double hamburger at Canuck McDonald's is $1.39. You have to be a fool to buy a Quarter Pounder/Royale with Cheese up here for 3 bucks and change.)
posted by maudlin at 7:04 PM on October 22, 2010
(A double hamburger at Canuck McDonald's is $1.39. You have to be a fool to buy a Quarter Pounder/Royale with Cheese up here for 3 bucks and change.)
posted by maudlin at 7:04 PM on October 22, 2010
This made me wonder what an animation over time along these lines would look like.
Take some commodity with long historical prices (going back to 1900's pork or something more granular like grain etc...) and show a frame per year/second what a buck would buy normalized for inflation.
Is it the same? Has it changed? Given that poverty is defined as the bottom 10% of the population - this might show how much better off that bottom 10% is now than in 1900.
Always nice to see photography with some thought put into it.
posted by astrobiophysican at 7:08 PM on October 22, 2010 [5 favorites]
Take some commodity with long historical prices (going back to 1900's pork or something more granular like grain etc...) and show a frame per year/second what a buck would buy normalized for inflation.
Is it the same? Has it changed? Given that poverty is defined as the bottom 10% of the population - this might show how much better off that bottom 10% is now than in 1900.
Always nice to see photography with some thought put into it.
posted by astrobiophysican at 7:08 PM on October 22, 2010 [5 favorites]
Shurfine, because it's sure fine.
He who dried smelt it dried dealt it.
OK, I'm done.
posted by dirigibleman at 7:11 PM on October 22, 2010 [3 favorites]
He who dried smelt it dried dealt it.
OK, I'm done.
posted by dirigibleman at 7:11 PM on October 22, 2010 [3 favorites]
This aptly explains why people will opt for a $1 McDonald's cheeseburger over a few handfuls of plain rice. I've been there, even if I know I can get a can of beans and some rice for nearly the same price. "But... it has CHEESE and I don't have to cook it!"
Also, where in the hell does he still get ramen for 7 for $1?
posted by loquacious at 7:21 PM on October 22, 2010 [1 favorite]
Also, where in the hell does he still get ramen for 7 for $1?
posted by loquacious at 7:21 PM on October 22, 2010 [1 favorite]
Oh, hello. Now I read the title of the post.
posted by loquacious at 7:22 PM on October 22, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by loquacious at 7:22 PM on October 22, 2010 [1 favorite]
That's not saffron. THAT is a dead cockroach. I ain't paying no dollar for no cockroach, even if it is pre-killed.
posted by Neofelis at 7:28 PM on October 22, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by Neofelis at 7:28 PM on October 22, 2010 [1 favorite]
loquacious, some of the cheaper ramens can easily be seven for a buck. I'm thinking of Maruchan and Top Ramen, which are never more than like twenty-five cents each.
posted by brina at 7:48 PM on October 22, 2010
posted by brina at 7:48 PM on October 22, 2010
Pork floss + hot buttered grits = nomnomnomnom
posted by deadmessenger at 8:01 PM on October 22, 2010
posted by deadmessenger at 8:01 PM on October 22, 2010
Ever since the dawn of time, mankind has looked up at the skies in wonder and asked the age-old question: "How much dried smelt can I get for a dollar?".
posted by dr_dank at 8:02 PM on October 22, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by dr_dank at 8:02 PM on October 22, 2010 [2 favorites]
Fuggettabouttit, he needs to come to NYC. That guy should go to Jack's 99 Cent Store or 99 Cent Dreams. Anything from a dozen eggs, yogurt, milk, fresh bread, cheese, a dozen hot dogs, frozen dinners, cans of soup, tunafish, coffee, tea, 15 to 25 cents for a packet of Ramen.
Big Apple Meat Market on Ninth Avenue and 41st has fabulous, hot off the grill chicken thighs for a buck each. There is a tasty slice of pizza outside the front door for 99cents. At Stile's Market, next door, a buck can buy a meal's worth of veggies or fruit. Any of the local Bangladeshi fruit/veggie vendors in NYC sell produce by the dollar. Today a buck gets you 4 bananas or 3 peaches or an avocado.
posted by nickyskye at 8:19 PM on October 22, 2010 [5 favorites]
Big Apple Meat Market on Ninth Avenue and 41st has fabulous, hot off the grill chicken thighs for a buck each. There is a tasty slice of pizza outside the front door for 99cents. At Stile's Market, next door, a buck can buy a meal's worth of veggies or fruit. Any of the local Bangladeshi fruit/veggie vendors in NYC sell produce by the dollar. Today a buck gets you 4 bananas or 3 peaches or an avocado.
posted by nickyskye at 8:19 PM on October 22, 2010 [5 favorites]
Clearly, Saffie was the name of the cockroach.
posted by Jilder at 8:22 PM on October 22, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by Jilder at 8:22 PM on October 22, 2010 [2 favorites]
Thanking God profusely that my parents have oodles of blueberry bushes that they never spray.
I can see the sign now: ORGANIC BLUEBERRIES - 10 for $1.
I predict traffic jams.
posted by contessa at 8:25 PM on October 22, 2010 [2 favorites]
I can see the sign now: ORGANIC BLUEBERRIES - 10 for $1.
I predict traffic jams.
posted by contessa at 8:25 PM on October 22, 2010 [2 favorites]
The project allowed him to ask questions about the things North Americans eat in a fast-food culture. Is this food? Just because we can put something in our mouths, does that make it food? At what point do we decide that something isn’t food?
Baloney.
posted by TryTheTilapia at 8:44 PM on October 22, 2010
Baloney.
posted by TryTheTilapia at 8:44 PM on October 22, 2010
That's definitely an ingredient list challenge. I can see a dried smelt and tomatillo stir fry over steamed basmati. Or maybe a dried smelt and shrimp ramen soup with a garnish of tomatillo slices and blueberries, spiked with grapefruit juice. Or a kind of miang salad made with chunks of grapefruit, some of that BK side salad, and the pork floss . No idea what I'd do with the "product".
But still. This is making me so hungry.
posted by Ahab at 9:35 PM on October 22, 2010
But still. This is making me so hungry.
posted by Ahab at 9:35 PM on October 22, 2010
I want to see this but in videos of people performing a dollar's worth of a service and then stopping.
posted by pracowity at 10:02 PM on October 22, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by pracowity at 10:02 PM on October 22, 2010 [2 favorites]
I want to see this but in videos of people performing a dollar's worth of a service and then stopping.
The plumber might be willing to drive by your house for a dollar, if you asked nice.
posted by Forktine at 10:10 PM on October 22, 2010
Oh Yeah. Pork product on tea biscuits with a blueberry, grapefruit and saffron sauce.
I have no more idea what a tea biscuit is than I do pork product.
posted by Ahab at 10:13 PM on October 22, 2010
I have no more idea what a tea biscuit is than I do pork product.
posted by Ahab at 10:13 PM on October 22, 2010
“I put some of the nastier items outside for the birds, dogs and coyotes.”
I'm surprised that this guy is willing to admit in a very public way that he sticks his garbage outside to attract wild animals.
posted by ssg at 10:18 PM on October 22, 2010
I'm surprised that this guy is willing to admit in a very public way that he sticks his garbage outside to attract wild animals.
posted by ssg at 10:18 PM on October 22, 2010
I have no more idea what a tea biscuit is than I do pork product.
2 c flour
3 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
2 tbsp melted butter
3/4 c milk or 2/3 c water
Mix that stuff together until it's doughy. Pat it out on a floured surface, and fold it up a few times, then roll it out 3/4" thick. Cut into circles with an old tin can with both ends cut off, or a drinking glass, or a cookie cutter if you're feeling fancy. Bake @ 475 F for ten to fifteen minutes. Serve with butter. Goes especially well with stew or anything gravyish.
You're welcome.
posted by Sys Rq at 11:17 PM on October 22, 2010 [1 favorite]
2 c flour
3 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
2 tbsp melted butter
3/4 c milk or 2/3 c water
Mix that stuff together until it's doughy. Pat it out on a floured surface, and fold it up a few times, then roll it out 3/4" thick. Cut into circles with an old tin can with both ends cut off, or a drinking glass, or a cookie cutter if you're feeling fancy. Bake @ 475 F for ten to fifteen minutes. Serve with butter. Goes especially well with stew or anything gravyish.
You're welcome.
posted by Sys Rq at 11:17 PM on October 22, 2010 [1 favorite]
i apparently ate a lot of pork floss along with taylor ham growing up and had no idea it had like a name and was thing. huh.
Its really gkod in filing out sandwiches and soups.
posted by The Whelk at 11:30 PM on October 22, 2010
Its really gkod in filing out sandwiches and soups.
posted by The Whelk at 11:30 PM on October 22, 2010
The plumber might be willing to drive by your house for a dollar, if you asked nice.
I was thinking more along the lines of videoing a typical task and dividing the time up into dollar intervals based on how much they earn per hour. You'd get a few hamburgers flipped by a hamburger flipper, maybe a bolt tightened by the plumber, and (depending on the country) a really long video of someone working in a field.
posted by pracowity at 3:29 AM on October 23, 2010 [1 favorite]
I was thinking more along the lines of videoing a typical task and dividing the time up into dollar intervals based on how much they earn per hour. You'd get a few hamburgers flipped by a hamburger flipper, maybe a bolt tightened by the plumber, and (depending on the country) a really long video of someone working in a field.
posted by pracowity at 3:29 AM on October 23, 2010 [1 favorite]
That's not saffron. THAT is a dead cockroach.
My money was on it being a snip of the photographers pubic hair.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 4:54 AM on October 23, 2010
My money was on it being a snip of the photographers pubic hair.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 4:54 AM on October 23, 2010
I love the photo of the salad with the puddle of ranch dressing. Something about it makes me chuckle.
posted by Fleebnork at 7:27 AM on October 23, 2010
posted by Fleebnork at 7:27 AM on October 23, 2010
The plumber might be willing to drive by your house for a dollar, if you asked nice.
posted by Forktine at 10:10 PM on October 22 [+] [!]
The plumbers I know wouldn't even reply to your voice-mail or text message for a dollar.
posted by PareidoliaticBoy at 8:14 AM on October 23, 2010
posted by Forktine at 10:10 PM on October 22 [+] [!]
The plumbers I know wouldn't even reply to your voice-mail or text message for a dollar.
posted by PareidoliaticBoy at 8:14 AM on October 23, 2010
Sometimes you can get ramen on sale, 10 for a dollar. A lot of poor people stock up on their monthly rations of white flour, hydrogenated fat and salt this way. Not being snarky: being sad.
On a brighter note: pork floss, pork floss, pork floss, pork floss, pork floss, pork floss, pork floss.
posted by kozad at 9:40 AM on October 23, 2010
On a brighter note: pork floss, pork floss, pork floss, pork floss, pork floss, pork floss, pork floss.
posted by kozad at 9:40 AM on October 23, 2010
If you get pork floss stuck between your teeth, what do you use to get it out?
posted by Faint of Butt at 12:45 PM on October 23, 2010
posted by Faint of Butt at 12:45 PM on October 23, 2010
If you get pork floss stuck between your teeth, what do you use to get it out?
Cheese floss.
posted by contessa at 3:01 PM on October 23, 2010
Cheese floss.
posted by contessa at 3:01 PM on October 23, 2010
Faint of Butt: "If you get pork floss stuck between your teeth, what do you use to get it out"
Rinse with red eye gravy.
posted by Splunge at 3:32 PM on October 23, 2010
Rinse with red eye gravy.
posted by Splunge at 3:32 PM on October 23, 2010
I am absolutely flabbergasted at how cheap your food in the US is compared to Canada, even though the dollar is near par. Some of those items would be triple or quadruple or more to buy here.
No wonder I have trouble making ends meet.
posted by swimming naked when the tide goes out at 5:05 PM on October 23, 2010
No wonder I have trouble making ends meet.
posted by swimming naked when the tide goes out at 5:05 PM on October 23, 2010
Any food product which actually has the words "food product" in the name is not to be trusted.
Also, that's some sorry-ass grapefruit, even if you do get four. On the other hand, the candy necklaces from China look delicious.
What in the fuckity fuck is pork floss? Wait ... do I want to know? Before you answer, think back to what life was like before you had this knowledge ...
posted by krinklyfig at 11:23 PM on October 23, 2010
Also, that's some sorry-ass grapefruit, even if you do get four. On the other hand, the candy necklaces from China look delicious.
What in the fuckity fuck is pork floss? Wait ... do I want to know? Before you answer, think back to what life was like before you had this knowledge ...
posted by krinklyfig at 11:23 PM on October 23, 2010
Also, where in the hell does he still get ramen for 7 for $1?
I believe any club food store has cases of them for a farthing each, ha'penny, something like that. Well, not sure if they take antiquated British currency at Costco, but still, cheap ramen. Not very good ramen.
Wait ... saffron? I bought saffron a couple years ago at the local organic store. I bought like a millionth of a gram, which was roughly $2500. Apparently it comes from Arrakis.
Of course, I exaggerate (a little) on the price, and you barely need just a few stigmas to flavor a full dish, but I'm honestly surprised you could get that much for $1.
posted by krinklyfig at 11:40 PM on October 23, 2010
I believe any club food store has cases of them for a farthing each, ha'penny, something like that. Well, not sure if they take antiquated British currency at Costco, but still, cheap ramen. Not very good ramen.
Wait ... saffron? I bought saffron a couple years ago at the local organic store. I bought like a millionth of a gram, which was roughly $2500. Apparently it comes from Arrakis.
Of course, I exaggerate (a little) on the price, and you barely need just a few stigmas to flavor a full dish, but I'm honestly surprised you could get that much for $1.
posted by krinklyfig at 11:40 PM on October 23, 2010
My money was on it being a snip of the photographers pubic hair.
19 years from now, someone is going to call you and ask you to apologize for that comment.
posted by Pater Aletheias at 3:10 AM on October 24, 2010 [1 favorite]
19 years from now, someone is going to call you and ask you to apologize for that comment.
posted by Pater Aletheias at 3:10 AM on October 24, 2010 [1 favorite]
“I put some of the nastier items outside for the birds, dogs and coyotes.”
I'm surprised that this guy is willing to admit in a very public way that he sticks his garbage outside to attract wild animals.
You don't understand, those are the names of three gangs in his neighborhood.
posted by Twang at 4:53 AM on October 24, 2010
I'm surprised that this guy is willing to admit in a very public way that he sticks his garbage outside to attract wild animals.
You don't understand, those are the names of three gangs in his neighborhood.
posted by Twang at 4:53 AM on October 24, 2010
I can see the sign now: ORGANIC BLUEBERRIES - 10 for $1.
Yeah, something is off there. Blueberries can certainly be expensive, but I'm pretty I get more than 10/$1 at the market (though the season is now sadly over).
I wanted to see pine nuts. I haven't bought any in a while, but they're usually $22/lb or something ridiculous. I think 10 pine nuts/dollar might not be off by too much.
posted by mrgrimm at 7:18 AM on October 25, 2010
Yeah, something is off there. Blueberries can certainly be expensive, but I'm pretty I get more than 10/$1 at the market (though the season is now sadly over).
I wanted to see pine nuts. I haven't bought any in a while, but they're usually $22/lb or something ridiculous. I think 10 pine nuts/dollar might not be off by too much.
posted by mrgrimm at 7:18 AM on October 25, 2010
Pork Floss--the other white meat floss
posted by stormpooper at 7:54 AM on October 25, 2010
posted by stormpooper at 7:54 AM on October 25, 2010
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posted by Demogorgon at 4:58 PM on October 22, 2010