Slog - Comments on Microwave Popcorn: The Silent, Stinky Killer http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/microwave_popcorn_the_silent_stinky_kill I've taken my lumps on Slog for banning microwave popcorn here at Stranger World Headquarters--that shit is nasty and stinky and it kills people. On the same day that doctors announced that a consumer of microwave popcorn developed a serious and potentially fatal lung condition that only used to affect workers (who cares about workers!), the biggest manufacturer of microwave popcorn has announced that it will remove the killer ingredient from microwave popcorn--a "butter flavor agent" called diacetyl--from its products. Even if ConAgra does away with diacetyl before diacetyl does away with us all, the ban on microwave popcorn at... Copyright 2008 Wed, 05 Sep 2007 13:04:33 -0800 Thu, 06 Sep 2007 10:32:26 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Comment by Mr. Poe Oh, Dan. You and your 'banning'.

]]> Mr. Poe http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/microwave_popcorn_the_silent_stinky_kill#c796909 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/microwave_popcorn_the_silent_stinky_kill#c796909 Chow Wed, 05 Sep 2007 13:23:20 -0800 Comment by keshmeshi Why the fuck didn't they take it out before? Dipshits.

]]> keshmeshi http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/microwave_popcorn_the_silent_stinky_kill#c796925 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/microwave_popcorn_the_silent_stinky_kill#c796925 Chow Wed, 05 Sep 2007 13:33:14 -0800 Comment by michael strangeways you, go, Dan!

That shit DOES stink and it tastes nasty...

Microwave popcorn is for lazyass people too simple minded and inert to make popcorn the CORRECT, and much tastier way...

And I'd ban all stinky food for the office...for fucks' sake, people, take a REAL lunch hour if you wanna eat stinky food...not everyone in the office wants to smell your stinkyass Tuna Onion Garlic Helper Surprise.

]]> michael strangeways http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/microwave_popcorn_the_silent_stinky_kill#c796933 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/microwave_popcorn_the_silent_stinky_kill#c796933 Chow Wed, 05 Sep 2007 13:37:10 -0800 Comment by Hernandez So popcorn is banned at the Stranger too? That's awesome! (we have a ban on it at our office too.) It's become my favorite part of new employee introductions: "did you tell her about the microwave popcorn ban yet? I know, I know, it's a tad strange, but seriously, you really don't want to screw with that rule."

]]> Hernandez http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/microwave_popcorn_the_silent_stinky_kill#c796952 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/microwave_popcorn_the_silent_stinky_kill#c796952 Chow Wed, 05 Sep 2007 13:46:14 -0800 Comment by Popcorn Hater Silent my ass! That shit is as loud as it is stinky.

]]> Popcorn Hater http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/microwave_popcorn_the_silent_stinky_kill#c796957 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/microwave_popcorn_the_silent_stinky_kill#c796957 Chow Wed, 05 Sep 2007 13:49:31 -0800 Comment by Mahtli69 I, for one, absolutely love the smell of microwaved diacetyl.

]]> Mahtli69 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/microwave_popcorn_the_silent_stinky_kill#c796972 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/microwave_popcorn_the_silent_stinky_kill#c796972 Chow Wed, 05 Sep 2007 13:59:53 -0800 Comment by Ferin Just a slight reality check. The guy ate at least two bags a day for ten years, and had some thing for inhaling the steam as soon as the bag was opened. For the average person who makes it once in a week or so, we're probably not talking a about serious consequences.

]]> Ferin http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/microwave_popcorn_the_silent_stinky_kill#c796987 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/microwave_popcorn_the_silent_stinky_kill#c796987 Chow Wed, 05 Sep 2007 14:14:44 -0800 Comment by ndtovent Posted by michael strangeways | September 5, 2007 1:37 PM

Your comment brings back memories...lol

Anyone who thinks mw popcorn is bad: One of my former co-workers (who left the company a few years ago) used to bring in canned sardines about twice a week and heat them up in the microwave. Our whole office would smell like a fish canning factory. for about the next 2 hours. UGH! Yet it was never banned. We just used to gossip about this woman behind her back....
If I was the boss, I damn sure would've banned all fish from microwaving---if they wanted to eat it cold, or 'as was' from a fast food place, fine... MW popcorn is like wildflowers in bloom compared to that shit.

]]> ndtovent http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/microwave_popcorn_the_silent_stinky_kill#c796996 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/microwave_popcorn_the_silent_stinky_kill#c796996 Chow Wed, 05 Sep 2007 14:22:01 -0800 Comment by OHHAI I work at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance (the outpatient hospital at the Hutch facilities) and we can't do popcorn either because the smell makes chemo patients really sick. It is the only banned food. interesting.

]]> OHHAI http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/microwave_popcorn_the_silent_stinky_kill#c797007 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/microwave_popcorn_the_silent_stinky_kill#c797007 Chow Wed, 05 Sep 2007 14:36:00 -0800 Comment by lilblackcat My only wish is they would stop stocking the vending machine with the Micro Pop if we are not allowed to eat it.
And @8 Yes, I second the fish ban. We don't have Micro Pop at The Stranger, but we sure have had micro-fish a few too many times. Nothing smells worse than nuked, day old, fish.

]]> lilblackcat http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/microwave_popcorn_the_silent_stinky_kill#c797008 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/microwave_popcorn_the_silent_stinky_kill#c797008 Chow Wed, 05 Sep 2007 14:36:12 -0800 Comment by Suz Yes it STINKS... It stinks with popcorny GOODNESS!

Love live microwave popcorn!

]]> Suz http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/microwave_popcorn_the_silent_stinky_kill#c797009 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/microwave_popcorn_the_silent_stinky_kill#c797009 Chow Wed, 05 Sep 2007 14:37:48 -0800 Comment by Julie @8... that makes me laugh... My dad used to bring in sardines all the time to work (he didn't microwave them though, that's pretty gross). I used to encourage his smelly fish addiction (and probably the wrath of his co-workers) by buying him whatever type of smoked/canned/disgusting fish the countries I traveled to specialized in...

]]> Julie http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/microwave_popcorn_the_silent_stinky_kill#c797032 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/microwave_popcorn_the_silent_stinky_kill#c797032 Chow Wed, 05 Sep 2007 15:18:58 -0800 Comment by OddlyEnough My daughter loves that buttered microwave popcorn. I want to cry every time she asks me to buy it for her and every time she cooks it. It stinks to high heaven, makes the whole house smell like shit for hours, and gunks up the microwave something fierce to boot! I fuckin' hate the stuff. Now that some researcher has come to the conclusion that it's toxic, I have finally been released from the curse. Sure, she'll probably go quoting Joe Jackson at me ("There's no cure, there's no answer...") but at last I have an out.

Thank you, medical science!

]]> OddlyEnough http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/microwave_popcorn_the_silent_stinky_kill#c797036 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/microwave_popcorn_the_silent_stinky_kill#c797036 Chow Wed, 05 Sep 2007 15:24:18 -0800 Comment by supersmeller I can't eat the stuff. It smells like flatulence. Am I the only one who feels this way?

]]> supersmeller http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/microwave_popcorn_the_silent_stinky_kill#c797046 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/microwave_popcorn_the_silent_stinky_kill#c797046 Chow Wed, 05 Sep 2007 15:45:43 -0800 Comment by Fnarf Microwave popcorn is the worst stuff in the entire world.

Seriously: who eats that shit? It tastes like POISON.

I am the chief complainant at my workplace responsible for getting it banned (fish is banned from the microwave too). I love popcorn though. The other day I was eating some out of a bag from the store, and someone said "hey, I thought you didn't like popcorn?" No, fool, I don't like your MICROWAVE POISON popcorn. Not the same at all.

The difference between real popcorn and microwave popcorn is as great as the difference between Wagyu beef and rotting human flesh.

]]> Fnarf http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/microwave_popcorn_the_silent_stinky_kill#c797053 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/microwave_popcorn_the_silent_stinky_kill#c797053 Chow Wed, 05 Sep 2007 15:53:33 -0800 Comment by gracynyc I hate popcorn. It tastes like chewing on vaguely flavored styrofoam. I hate the smell of popcorn. I abruptly ended an hour-long meeting after ten minutes yesterday when my team members started shoving handfuls of the foul stuff into their gaping maws (spilling half down their fronts and often into their cleavage). "You people are suffocating me with the stench of this disgusting food. Follow up with e-mail."

]]> gracynyc http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/microwave_popcorn_the_silent_stinky_kill#c797061 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/microwave_popcorn_the_silent_stinky_kill#c797061 Chow Wed, 05 Sep 2007 16:11:26 -0800 Comment by Dan Savage Just say no, Oddly Enough -- to your daughter, re: microwave popcorn.

]]> Dan Savage http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/microwave_popcorn_the_silent_stinky_kill#c797145 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/microwave_popcorn_the_silent_stinky_kill#c797145 Chow Wed, 05 Sep 2007 17:52:19 -0800 Comment by Mahtli69 @16 - Dropping popcorn into their cleavage?!? Where do you work? Are they hiring?

]]> Mahtli69 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/microwave_popcorn_the_silent_stinky_kill#c797212 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/microwave_popcorn_the_silent_stinky_kill#c797212 Chow Wed, 05 Sep 2007 20:53:44 -0800 Comment by Big_K My company banned it after someone overcooked the bag and threw it into the trash, thus setting the garbage on fire.

]]> Big_K http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/microwave_popcorn_the_silent_stinky_kill#c797221 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/microwave_popcorn_the_silent_stinky_kill#c797221 Chow Wed, 05 Sep 2007 21:18:44 -0800 Comment by Lee Gibson Microwave Popcorn is teh suck.

http://www.whirleypop.com/ bitches!

]]> Lee Gibson http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/microwave_popcorn_the_silent_stinky_kill#c797242 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/microwave_popcorn_the_silent_stinky_kill#c797242 Chow Wed, 05 Sep 2007 22:57:46 -0800 Comment by gracynyc @18: did that sound sexy? not my intention. dropping micro-waved, crappy popcorn all over the floor and half the time into their mom-cleave was just sloppy. not hot. do not want. in answer to your question: large pharma company. ugh.

]]> gracynyc http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/microwave_popcorn_the_silent_stinky_kill#c797243 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/microwave_popcorn_the_silent_stinky_kill#c797243 Chow Wed, 05 Sep 2007 23:09:21 -0800 Comment by Kerlyssa Could have used this article when I was babysitting. Every afternoon, movie and popcorn. Disgusting.

]]> Kerlyssa http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/microwave_popcorn_the_silent_stinky_kill#c797263 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/microwave_popcorn_the_silent_stinky_kill#c797263 Chow Thu, 06 Sep 2007 00:40:36 -0800 Comment by Gloria Huh. I drop popcorn (accidentally) into my cleavage all the time. I thought I was the only clumsy one. It's not sexy when it's really fresh and hot and burns your boob skin. Ow.

I have to say, I expected more than one person to note this man ate a bag (or more) every day for YEARS. What? What? So fucking gross.

]]> Gloria http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/microwave_popcorn_the_silent_stinky_kill#c797293 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/microwave_popcorn_the_silent_stinky_kill#c797293 Chow Thu, 06 Sep 2007 04:48:20 -0800 Comment by Kaija Dirty little secret...get a big bag of regular old popcorn. Pour a little into a smallish brown paper bag (maybe a reuse for the one that your forty-ouncer came in?), just enough to cover the bottom of the upright bag. Fold the top down a few times, enough to keep the popcorn in, but let some steam out. Microwave for about 3 minutes, or until the popping noise slows down from "21-gun salute" levels (this may vary with the power of your microwave). If you must have the buttery crap (which is what smells so bad when it burns), put some butter-flavored sprinkles on AFTER the microwave step, toss, and serve. The whole bag of regular old popcorn and few brown bags will probably get you about 25 servings.

Seriously, it's not hard to make "microwave popcorn" without paying $3 for what cost about $0.30 and setting off the smoke alarms AND your colleagues' ire.

]]> Kaija http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/microwave_popcorn_the_silent_stinky_kill#c797299 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/microwave_popcorn_the_silent_stinky_kill#c797299 Chow Thu, 06 Sep 2007 04:58:29 -0800 Comment by Dan Here's what I don't really get: Microwave popcorn smells like crap, tastes like crap, and isn't even substantially easier to prepare than popcorn the 'old fashioned' way. Stove + pot + oil + kernels + salt + shaking = popcorn! How hard is that? Are we really so lazy that we prefer pushing a button to get a far inferior result to a mind-numbing collection of a whopping 3 ingredients and a grueling 60 seconds over the stove? It's just sad.

]]> Dan http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/microwave_popcorn_the_silent_stinky_kill#c797337 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/microwave_popcorn_the_silent_stinky_kill#c797337 Chow Thu, 06 Sep 2007 07:11:57 -0800 Comment by Sha One lunch paper bag.
a stapler
1/4 cup of popcorn
tbsp of oil
salt

Mix popcorn, oil and salt in bowl. Dump in bag. Fold over top twice. Staple with TWO staples (only two more is bad). Lie bag on side and shake the kernels on the side evenly. Set microwave for 2 to 3 minutes (depending on your microwave).

Healthier. And less smelly.

]]> Sha http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/microwave_popcorn_the_silent_stinky_kill#c797394 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/microwave_popcorn_the_silent_stinky_kill#c797394 Chow Thu, 06 Sep 2007 09:20:22 -0800 Comment by Barbara This entire country has forgotten how to cook. If you have a heavy pan, you don't even have to shake it while the popcorn pops. You just have the temperature right, and listen to when it stops popping and dump it into a pan.

]]> Barbara http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/microwave_popcorn_the_silent_stinky_kill#c797465 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/microwave_popcorn_the_silent_stinky_kill#c797465 Chow Thu, 06 Sep 2007 10:32:26 -0800