McDonalds and the Death of Civilization

[jowcol]

There's been some discussion on other threads about McDonalds, consumer culture,  and the lack of appreciation of great art.  Just got back from a trip from Germany, and I have more evidence, but first, a rather disturbing photo that I took in Thailand at a shopping Mall in Bangkok, where Ronald is offering the traditional Thai greeting gesture called the "wai", where he vaguely looks like he is praying. It's supposed to be a submissive gesture (the lower ranking person is to wai first) but I don't trust him.




Anyway, the old town district in Salzburg Austria, which included the birthplace of Mozart, has gotten overrun with big business over the last couple decades, and many have commented on the fact that there is a McDonald's just down the blog from Wolfgang's birthplace.



The first impression is that the Mozart Conspiracy may indeed be true, but instead of being manufactured by the Jesuits or the Illuminati, it may be the fact that he was created by the McDonalds Corporation.   

In order to meet the zoning laws of this district, it is necessary to have a wrought-iron rail and sign that shows the type of business.  At least this McDonalds has something the others don't.



Finally, and perhaps the most disturbing of all, was the first sight that greeted me as I got of the train at Dachau on my way to visit the concentration camp there...  You guessed it...

[Daverz]

You're just making me hungry.

[Conor71]

There's been some discussion on other threads about McDonalds, consumer culture,  and the lack of appreciation of great art.  Just got back from a trip from Germany, and I have more evidence, but first, a rather disturbing photo that I took in Thailand at a shopping Mall in Bangkok, where Ronald is offering the traditional Thai greeting gesture called the "wai", where he vaguely looks like he is praying. It's supposed to be a submissive gesture (the lower ranking person is to wai first) but I don't trust him.

Haha sawadee krup Ronald! 

[(poco) Sforzando]

Just for the fun of it, I made a sort of tradition on my trips to Europe to stop in for one lunch at a McDonald's. The irony was especially funny after coming from a 4-hour tour of Versailles. I didn't get the impression that the large lunch crowd was composed primarily of tourists.

[The new erato]

"The Height Gap - Why Europeans are getting taller and taller, and Americans aren't."

http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2004/04/05/040405fa_fact


The short of it; you are getting shorter because you eat crap.

[Sergeant Rock]

At least when they take up residence in the historic parts of German cities, they are somewhat discreet (forced to be, of course)--like the McD on the Hauptmarkt in Trier.






Sarge

[(poco) Sforzando]

"The Height Gap - Why Europeans are getting taller and taller, and Americans aren't."

http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2004/04/05/040405fa_fact


The short of it; you are getting shorter because you eat crap.

But we are getting fatter, so there.

[karlhenning]

There's always that track on Uncle Meat: "The Legend of the Golden Arches"

[(poco) Sforzando]

At least when they take up residence in the historic parts of German cities, they are somewhat discrete (forced to be, of course)--like the McD on the Hauptmarkt in Trier.

As I say, I heard plenty of fluent native French speakers when I went into the one near the train station in Versailles.

[Scarpia]

At least when they take up residence in the historic parts of German cities, they are somewhat discrete (forced to be, of course)--like the McD on the Hauptmarkt in Trier.

I was surprised to see a MacDonalds in what seemed to be the prime location in Heidelberg's historic district, just facing the grandest looking Church.  On the other hand, the other major church (just off the Hauptstrasse) had some sort of sex shop just across the way. 

When I was there, I never went into the MacDonalds, but I did visit the Starbucks each evening, just for the satisfaction of knowing that it was my pronunciation of "blueberry muffin" that was correct.   

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

As I say, I heard plenty of fluent native French speakers when I went into the one near the train station in Versailles.

Funny, I went into that very same McDonald's after a visit to Versailles last summer. And my experience was exactly the same.

Here in Moscow, the McD's near my office is always full. The Russian branch is managed by McDonald's Canada, and is generally considered to be of higher quality than the US version.

[Mirror Image]

Here in Moscow, the McD's near my office is always full. The Russian branch is managed by McDonald's Canada, and is generally considered to be of higher quality than the US version.

Higher quality? It's McDonald's! They're not serving fillet mignon. It's a fast food joint specifically designed to get people in and out the door as fast as humanly possible.

[DavidW]

Higher quality? It's McDonald's! They're not serving fillet mignon. It's a fast food joint specifically designed to get people in and out the door as fast as humanly possible.

I would move to Canada though if their idea of fast food was fillet mignon!

[Grazioso]

The first picture is just creepy. That namaste gesture in India, at least, can carry religious overtones.

[Mirror Image]

I would move to Canada though if their idea of fast food was fillet mignon!

Not me, too damn cold up there.

[karlhenning]

Buffalo is Canada's Cuba.

[Mirror Image]

Buffalo is Canada's Cuba.

Yes, that it is. I prefer a warmer climate. One where I can walk outside in the winter and not have body parts freeze within a few minutes.

[(poco) Sforzando]

Higher quality? It's McDonald's! They're not serving fillet mignon. It's a fast food joint specifically designed to get people in and out the door as fast as humanly possible.

Julia Child praised McDonald's fries.

Of course, she never tried them at my local branch.

[DavidW]

McDonald's fries are salty and greasy.  I like Braums, they taste fresh and either lightly fried or baked and you don't even have to wipe your hands off (or wash them) after eating.

[Coopmv]

"The Height Gap - Why Europeans are getting taller and taller, and Americans aren't."

http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2004/04/05/040405fa_fact


The short of it; you are getting shorter because you eat crap.

They mainly gain sideway, i.e. getting fatter and fatter ...