DAN NEIL: LUTHERAN-OBSESSED

Dan Neil, the Los Angeles Times’ Pulitzer Prize-winning automobile critic, gets off a nice dig at us Lutherans in today’s review of the Volvo C70 convertible:

To the point, then: There is something inexpressibly illicit about a convertible Volvo, a Nordic brand that has spent much of its history buttoned up to the chin, literally and figuratively (the sleek, be-finned Frua/Ghia-designed P1800 of the 1960s being the exception that proves the rule). Just consider the ideography of the company badge, the grille with the left-to-right slash across it, so much like the forbidding red circle-and-slash symbol. How Lutheran can you get?

This mark the second time in recent months Neil has skewered Lutherans in a car review. (See details here.) Bad form, Daniel. Surely you know that in North Carolina we’re known as “the wet Christians”? I mean, you have to know that.

THESE ARE MY SALAD DAYS

It’s been quite a while since I’ve heard of a good salad dressing scandal, but here’s one:

Two suburban businessmen who partnered to buy about 1.6 million bottles of salad dressing that were about to expire in 2003 were indicted on federal charges for allegedly relabeling the expiration dates and selling the dressing to unsuspecting wholesale distributors and discount retail stores, which then sold the products to consumers, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office.

Despicable. But here’s what makes me scratch my head:

All of the bottles were originally labeled with “sell by” dates ranging between January and June 2003, but those labels were covered with bogus extended expiration dates of either May 25, 2004, or July 25, 2004, the release said. Anyone with these bottles of salad dressing is urged to contact the FDA at 800-521-5782.

Or just clean your flippin’ refrigerator once in a while. Sheesh. Even in my bachelor days I didn’t have food that antiquated in my fridge. What difference does it make if your salad dressing expired two years ago or three years ago?

DEAR END-TIMERS

Okay, maybe you’re on to something.

(Thanx and a tip o’ the hat to Deadspin)