OPINION
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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2007
EDITORIAL BOARD
PAGE 7A
Museum honors Big Mac's 40th birthday
Sandwich doesn't represent industry so much as consumer excess
America is a land of many traditions and standards. For instance, did you know that under each flag pole on each United States military base there can be found a gun, a bullet and a box of matches?
These items are a symbol for the defense of freedom that represent the oath of the armed forces to fight to the last bullet and then burn the flag.
Across the nation can be found museums commemorating battles, feats of American ingenuity, and natural wonders of this great land, all of them serving as a reminder of the past to those of us living in the present and working for a future. Museums are intended to educate, inspire, provide a link to history
and to the discoveries of yore.
So, it was with a low-hung head and a sigh that we read of the opening of a certain museum in Huntingdon, Penn. dedicated to two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles and onions on a sesame seed bun.
Yes, the Big Mac is turning 40 this year and with this birthday celebration comes the establishment of an institution whose sole purpose is to educate its patrons about a hamburger sandwich.
Jim Delligatti, 89, the McDonald's franchise owner who invented the fast-food, artery-clogging monstrosity in 1967, is the man responsible for the opening of the Big Mac Museum and Restaurant full of memorabilia, celebratory exhibits and "the world's largest Big Mac statue."
MSNBC called the Big Mac "a veritable pop culture phenomenon."
Really? Are people actually wasting money on this?
We're no great philosophers, but there's something particularly idiotic and farcical about celebrating a fast food item. Do people really care when it was invented? Do they really give a damn where and when somebody first said, "Super Size Me!" Is this really a milestone in American culture of which we all should be proud?
If so, it's a cultural low point
We're a nation of idiots who commemorate monstrous commercialized hunks of charred flesh with plastic sculptures. We set golden calves (cooked ones at that) up on pedestals next to goofy red-haired clowns and expect people to have reverence for us as a nation.
Well, we suppose that it is a symbol of how a simple idea can turn into a multi-million-dollar-a-year business. We congratulate McDonald's on its achievements as a corporation. They've shown us that no matter how successful and powerful a conglomerate is, they're still a bunch of people who never pass up an opportunity to display how insipid they really are.
BURRITO-MADE EPIPHANIES
Thank you, and have a nice day.
DRAWING BOARD
WELL KIDS, IT ALL STARTED WHEN THEY CANCELLED "PETE & PETE." THOSE RIOTS WERE WHAT TOOK MY ARM. THEN "DOUG" WAS THE NEXT TO GO AND ALL HELL BROKE LOOSE...
Don't hide your quirks Everyone has embarrassing habits, so embrace them
ROSS STEWART
I don't want my roommate walking in on me watching "Murder She Wrote." There, I said it.
MAX RINKEL
Most males worry about their roomies interrupting other activities halfway through—activities like masturbation, the shaving of the "bathing suit areas" or sex. These things don't worry me, for I have a lock on my door.
I, however, do not have a TV in my room, so to get my dirty cable-driven fix I have to go to our living room, where I can't hide my shame.
This summer marked the beginning of my MSW, or "Murder She Wrote" dependency. I lived at home in Wichita with my family. I would come home from a day of school (I was a full time student this summer and by no means recommend it), sit down with my mother and watch an hour of Jessica Fletcher solving mysteries without the need of a walker, which I found astounding. Fletcher is the main character of "Murder She Wrote"—in every episode she'd use her skills as a mystery writer to help the police solve a murder. Fletcher carries homicides around with her like a handbag; if I saw her on a cross-country flight I'd lock myself in the lavatory until we landed.
So, after two to three months of coming home to "Murder She Wrote," I became a habitual viewer—I have a MSW problem. Now when I'm bored at my apartment, I can't help but switch the TV over to (I'm shuddling as I type this) the
Hallmark channel and watch some "Murder She Wrote" or, when in a bind, "Matlock."
I think having a problem with cocaine and drinking is easier to admit then a MSW problem, Lindsay Lohan has nothing on me.
We've all got our own dirty secrets, like my MSW problem. But upon transferring here I've been noticing groups of students on campus who seem to think they're God's gift to earth. I don't wish to rain on their parade, but I suppose I will, because someone has to and I've got nothing to lose (other than my reader base).
Everyone has something they do that is as equally, if not more, embarrassing than my MSW problem. That being said, it can be concluded that no one is better than anyone else. We all have something we don't want other people to use as doing. It could be something serious like vomiting up your dinner because you think you're overweight or something more comical like having to once a week sit down and eat an entire can of whipped cream while listening to Raffi. We all have our little quirks and problems, but these by no means make any of us less than the rest. If someone swears they have nothing to hide, which in turn supposedly makes them better than the common reader and myself, I suggest they live in a glass house.
All you high and mighty students on campus, I know you've got something on par to my MSW problem, so why don't you come down a few pegs there on the old stuck-up ladder? It's rather liberating to admit that you do have some flaws.
I've got to go though, "Murder She Wr—," I mean "The Daily Show" is on.
Stewart is a Wichita junior in journalism.
FREE FOR ALL: 864-0500 OR KANSAN.COM/FACEBOOK
Free for All callers have 20 seconds to speak about any topic they wish. Kansan editors reserve the right to omit comments. Slanderous and obscene statements will not be printed. Phone numbers of all incoming calls are recorded.
Please don't put sidewalk chalk on the benches, because it gets all over my bum. Thank you.
I'm a freshman, sitting in my room studying, while a bunch of upperclassmen run up and down the hall screaming, and I'm the childish one?
To whoever knocked my mirror off my car in the parking lot today: your mom smells like chicken.
The comment before this one sucked.
I would just like to say "thank you" to the guy who ran into the car door with his bike. It made my day. Walk it off, big guy.
To the guy in my Acting I class who chooses to wear white pants after Labor Day: Wear white boxers. Then I don't mind looking at your butt.
I hate you, organic chemistry! I hate you! No, I didn't mean that. No, but really, I hate you.
Free for All, why I do have so many boys in my life, but no men?
This girl just asked me if I was from Africa. Just because I'm black and have beautifully braided hair does not mean I'm from Africa.
I would really like to know why
I don't get a free Steak'n Shake
burger after a football game.
I was just wondering, are guys not supposed to wear white after Labor Day, either?
Me and my friends just smoked up two flies.
You know what really grinds my gears? Criss Angel.
This is a drunk dial to the Free for All! It's夕天 night! Woo!
I seriously just saw them roll four cases of beer in the Student Athlete Center. Do the athletes get more perks than I thought?
Sears sells steel-tipped darts.
To all you idiots who throw your tickets on the ground: it still goes against your record, you'll still have holds against you, you'll still have to pay. Don't be an idiot.
That sound is the Campanile and it goes off at very specific times so you know when class ends or is about to begin. One good thing about growing up in Lawrence: I don't ask stupid questions.
Happy birthday, Melissa! Love, your marching trumpets.
(Editor's Note: That's the steam whistle, not the Campanile's bell.)
Doesn't the whistle come from the Campanile?
I've discovered that the higher the "messy bun" on the head, the lower the intelligence level.
Free for All; why must you print 5 consecutive comments from the same person? It's annoying, please stop. Thanks.
Why is it that half of the people who park in front of Hash, don't even live there?
I'm in Western Civ and we just spent 10 minutes on what a chair is. Why did Socrates make chairs so difficult?
So not only are they taking forever to do all the windows in the building...but now they're waking me up to do it...and this couldn't be done over the summer, why?!
To all the pretty girls I see on campus —don't be afraid to look at me just because I'm handsome! It makes me feel very unattractive.
I was attacked by the sprinkler in front of Watson Library today.
Sure they don't have to pay for cigs, but they'll pay thousands in medical bills later.
Smokers are inconsiderate morons. My allergies get even worse because of their "little habit." Oh well, at least I get to laugh when they get lung cancer.
Those complaining about second-hand smoke should be grateful that they don't have to pay for cigs themselves!
Stop parking lot stalking me! Yeah I was walking to my car, but I wasn't leaving I was just dropping books off and getting money for a pop. And that's right, pop, not soda or Coke.
These girls wearing shorts and back-less tops are driving me crazy. Legs are my weakness.
You know it's time to go go the store when your dinner just consisted of a piece of toast with Ranch dressing and parmesan cheese. Yummy.
Free for All, you and the Sudoku save me from falling asleep in Geology 101.
I sprained my effing ankle today while I was walking home from class. DAMN POTHOLES!
If you don't purchase the third season of "The Office" today, you might as well die.
Free for All: How mad do you think my mom would be if I decided to become a stripper?
If you were a parrot, I'd keep you on my right shoulder.
Free for All, will you be my boyfriend?
(Editor's Note: Not a boy.)
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Erick R. Schmidt, Eric Jorgensen, Darla Slipe, Keisley Hayes, Bryan Dykman, Brandon T. Minister, Angelique McNaughton and Benjamin R. Smith