24th Apr 2004
McD’s Flag at Half Mast
UPDATE:
Here’s a photo of the half-mast, as requested from Erika. What follows is the original post (to clarify, there are two different photos in discussion here, the normal one, in the left-hand menu, and this one, showing the flag at half mast).
I’m sorry no one has mentioned yet the new photo I’ve added a week or so ago as a thumbnail in the left margin of this site, just under my portrait, of the American and McDonald’s flags proudly waving one atop the other. It’s what I see out my window all day long as I blog away. (Click it for a large version.)
Anyway, tonight I notice that the U.S. flag is flying at half mast. I thought about it for a second, and realized they’re mourning Jim Cantalupo, CEO of McDonald’s, who died of a heart attack this week. Must have been like that all week, I just didn’t notice before. Ironically, he was the guy who introduced salads, all-white-meat chicken McNuggets and other moves towards a more healthful menu.
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I thought you lived in a basement apartment. Anyway, you must have either gained some powerful self control having all those fast food joints right outside your window. Either that, or the daily view of those places has so turned your stomach that you are sickened by the thought of fast food.
Other than that….nice view…and convenient with the subway right there.
It’s a basement insofar as you enter the building and take the elevator down to B, but the building is built on a hill, so from our apartment, it’s really like we’re on the 2nd floor, as we’re a flight up above the McD’s parkinglot.
As for temptation, it’s not been a big issue. In the almost three years we’ve been in this apartment, I’ve eaten at McD’s maybe 4 times, and almost all salads. I did go through a KFC phase for a while, but I’ve gotten that mostly out of my system. Subway is also across the street in another direction, but so far I haven’t eaten there (opened about a year ago). Thankfully, the nearest White Castle is a half mile or more away, otherwise I might have more of a problem with that. As it is, I’ve made late-night pilgrimages more often than I’ve been the the McD’s. Can’t tell you why. The TV ads just work on me more effectively (”What you crave”).
uh, rick, that doesn’t look half mast to me — more like eighth mast maybe?
what a fricken name — cantalope?
as far as the view goes, the train and the projects are a heck of a lot cooler things to look at than the fast food nation on w. 125th street. you and adi are lucky people to have a view that unobstructed…..
xoxo
e
also, i wonder at your omission of taco hell…. what is your feeling on that fine establishment?
Erika,
The photo was taken before the CEO died, so it doesn’t depict the flag at half mast. Just take my word for it, it is at half mast now. Still, again today. And they aren’t flying the McDonald’s flag at all, out of some odd kind of respect, I suppose.
Taco Hell is the same establishment as KFC — go figure — so it didn’t merit separate mention. When I do go there, it’s always for the chicken, never for the Taco Bell stuff.
aaah…. i’d love to see a picture of the half mast thing. sort of nice to see that mcdonald’s has a human side (at least somewhat).
i’ll take your word for it, rick! word!
just the thought of taco hell —- ewwwwww.
nice picture. maybe you could also do a night shot as well. i bet it’s purty all lit up.
xoxo
e
Hey all,
Just a quick word… Half mast means one flag width down from the top of the mast so technically it was at half mast in the first photo.
Sorry to have to point it out,
Arch
ahh… I just noticed the second picture is the one at the top while the first is the one on the left…. So it seems you fine people already knew the half mast thing…
Sorry,
Arch
ahh… I just noticed the second picture is the one at the top while the first is the one on the left…. So it seems you fine people already knew the half mast thing…
Sorry,
Arch
ahh… I just noticed the second picture is the one at the top while the first is the one on the left…. So it seems you fine people already knew the half mast thing…
Sorry,
Arch