Some of you may remember my technique for buying
Jeno's Pizza Rolls. I'd hold the box horizontally
and gently rock it from side-to-side to measure
the amount of free space inside. The more free
space there is, the fewer pizza rolls.

I haven't eaten those in a long time, in fact,
they're no longer made. But I do eat lots of
Trader Joe's Chicken Shu Mai, and I use the same
technique on them.

A confounding factor is the frozen shu mai are
in a plastic bag inside the box, which restricts
their movement. (Jeno's Pizza Rolls had no bag
inside the box.) Nevertheless, the technique is
useful.

Today, I got a box that when I picked it up,
I could hardly sense any movement inside, so
right away I knew this one was a keeper, but
I've had boxes like that before which only
had 18 shu mai inside. Most boxes contain 17
or 18. A few have 19, and a very few have 20.
This one had 20! Only the second time I've
found a box with 20 shu mai inside! It must
be the harbinger of something good! I must be
living right, and the gods are smiling on me!

Mark Thorson wrote:
> Some of you may remember my technique for buying
> Jeno's Pizza Rolls. I'd hold the box horizontally
> and gently rock it from side-to-side to measure
> the amount of free space inside. The more free
> space there is, the fewer pizza rolls.
>
> I haven't eaten those in a long time, in fact,
> they're no longer made. But I do eat lots of
> Trader Joe's Chicken Shu Mai, and I use the same
> technique on them.
>
> A confounding factor is the frozen shu mai are
> in a plastic bag inside the box, which restricts
> their movement. (Jeno's Pizza Rolls had no bag
> inside the box.) Nevertheless, the technique is
> useful.
>
> Today, I got a box that when I picked it up,
> I could hardly sense any movement inside, so
> right away I knew this one was a keeper, but
> I've had boxes like that before which only
> had 18 shu mai inside. Most boxes contain 17
> or 18. A few have 19, and a very few have 20.
> This one had 20! Only the second time I've
> found a box with 20 shu mai inside! It must
> be the harbinger of something good! I must be
> living right, and the gods are smiling on me!

Why don't you just weigh the damn boxes (like ... in the produce or bulkl
foods section)? The number of pieces is irrelevant.

Did they give you 5 nickels in change on the way out?

-sw

Sqwertz wrote:
>
> Why don't you just weigh the damn boxes (like ... in the produce or bulkl
> foods section)? The number of pieces is irrelevant.

I'm not about to carry a stack of boxes from the frozen
section to somewhere else for weighing. Also, no TJ's
I've ever seen had a bulk section. The produce is sold
by the piece or in prewrapped packages.

My technique is quick and easy, and not obvious to the
casual observer.

> Did they give you 5 nickels in change on the way out?

They always give me change in the fewest number of coins.
The change is made by people, not automatic change machines.

In article >,
Sqwertz > wrote:

> Mark Thorson wrote:

> > Today, I got a box that when I picked it up,
> > I could hardly sense any movement inside, so
> > right away I knew this one was a keeper, but
> > I've had boxes like that before which only
> > had 18 shu mai inside. Most boxes contain 17
> > or 18. A few have 19, and a very few have 20.
> > This one had 20! Only the second time I've
> > found a box with 20 shu mai inside! It must
> > be the harbinger of something good! I must be
> > living right, and the gods are smiling on me!
>
> Why don't you just weigh the damn boxes (like ... in the produce or bulkl
> foods section)? The number of pieces is irrelevant.
>
> Did they give you 5 nickels in change on the way out?

I still remember when I was a kid and my sister got a nickel and I only
got a dime. I had a good and proper temper tantrum. My mother tried to
convince me that the dime was worth more, but I wasn't stupid! The
nickel was clearly *much* bigger.

I guess that made an impression on me?

:-)

--
Dan Abel
Petaluma, California USA

Sqwertz wrote:
> Mark Thorson wrote:
>> Some of you may remember my technique for buying
>> Jeno's Pizza Rolls. I'd hold the box horizontally
>> and gently rock it from side-to-side to measure
>> the amount of free space inside. The more free
>> space there is, the fewer pizza rolls.
>>
>> I haven't eaten those in a long time, in fact,
>> they're no longer made. But I do eat lots of
>> Trader Joe's Chicken Shu Mai, and I use the same
>> technique on them.
>>
>> A confounding factor is the frozen shu mai are
>> in a plastic bag inside the box, which restricts
>> their movement. (Jeno's Pizza Rolls had no bag
>> inside the box.) Nevertheless, the technique is
>> useful.
>>
>> Today, I got a box that when I picked it up,
>> I could hardly sense any movement inside, so
>> right away I knew this one was a keeper, but
>> I've had boxes like that before which only
>> had 18 shu mai inside. Most boxes contain 17
>> or 18. A few have 19, and a very few have 20.
>> This one had 20! Only the second time I've
>> found a box with 20 shu mai inside! It must
>> be the harbinger of something good! I must be
>> living right, and the gods are smiling on me!
>
> Why don't you just weigh the damn boxes (like ... in the produce or
> bulkl foods section)? The number of pieces is irrelevant.
>
> Did they give you 5 nickels in change on the way out?
>
> -sw

Oh gee, now I have a vision of someone carting all the boxes (or
whatever) over to such a scale.

--
Jean B.

Jean wrote on Wed, 01 Apr 2009 08:17:21 -0400:

> Oh gee, now I have a vision of someone carting all the boxes
> (or whatever) over to such a scale.

George's original comment about people with time on their hands still
seems applicable. I wonder if Mark counts the number of pills dispensed
by a pharmacy? That might be a bit more important and I've had my doubts
sometimes when I have to renew a prescription earlier than I expect.
I've never bothered to check especially since I have one that should
have 270 pills.

--

James Silverton
Potomac, Maryland

Email, with obvious alterations: not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not

James Silverton wrote:

> George's original comment about people with time on their hands still
> seems applicable. I wonder if Mark counts the number of pills
> dispensed by a pharmacy? That might be a bit more important and I've
> had my doubts sometimes when I have to renew a prescription earlier
> than I expect. I've never bothered to check especially since I have
> one that should have 270 pills.

I was surprised to find myself out of antibiotics last time I filled
a prescription. Did the math and I was 6 pills short. They tell
you to take all your antibiotics and not stop early. I called and
they gave me more pills no questions asked. How easy would
it be to make a simple mistake with almost 300 pills?

nancy

Nancy wrote on Wed, 1 Apr 2009 08:43:31 -0400:

>> George's original comment about people with time on their
>> hands still seems applicable. I wonder if Mark counts the
>> number of pills dispensed by a pharmacy? That might be a bit more
>> important and I've had my doubts sometimes when I have
>> to renew a prescription earlier than I expect. I've never
>> bothered to check especially since I have one that should
>> have 270 pills.

> I was surprised to find myself out of antibiotics last time I filled a
> prescription. Did the math and I was 6 pills short. They tell you to
> take all your antibiotics and not stop early.
> I called and they gave me more pills no questions asked. How easy
> would it be to make a simple mistake with almost 300
> pills?

You know, I've never investigated how large numbers of pills are
counted. I suppose there must be some sort of machines and it's not
totally unlikely that they could get out of adjustment.
--

James Silverton
Potomac, Maryland

Email, with obvious alterations: not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not

Mark Thorson wrote:
> Some of you may remember my technique for buying
> Jeno's Pizza Rolls. I'd hold the box horizontally
> and gently rock it from side-to-side to measure
> the amount of free space inside. The more free
> space there is, the fewer pizza rolls.
>
> I haven't eaten those in a long time, in fact,
> they're no longer made. But I do eat lots of
> Trader Joe's Chicken Shu Mai, and I use the same
> technique on them.
>
> A confounding factor is the frozen shu mai are
> in a plastic bag inside the box, which restricts
> their movement. (Jeno's Pizza Rolls had no bag
> inside the box.) Nevertheless, the technique is
> useful.
>
> Today, I got a box that when I picked it up,
> I could hardly sense any movement inside, so
> right away I knew this one was a keeper, but
> I've had boxes like that before which only
> had 18 shu mai inside. Most boxes contain 17
> or 18. A few have 19, and a very few have 20.
> This one had 20! Only the second time I've
> found a box with 20 shu mai inside! It must
> be the harbinger of something good! I must be
> living right, and the gods are smiling on me!


I think you have way too much time on your hands...

George wrote on Tue, 31 Mar 2009 16:37:58 -0400:

> Mark Thorson wrote:
>> Some of you may remember my technique for buying
>> Jeno's Pizza Rolls. I'd hold the box horizontally
>> and gently rock it from side-to-side to measure
>> the amount of free space inside. The more free
>> space there is, the fewer pizza rolls.
>>
>> I haven't eaten those in a long time, in fact,
>> they're no longer made. But I do eat lots of
>> Trader Joe's Chicken Shu Mai, and I use the same
>> technique on them.
>>

I don't know about TJ's Shu Mai but their frozen Wonton's are sold by
weight (12oz) so I don't know what's the point in counting.

--

James Silverton
Potomac, Maryland

Email, with obvious alterations: not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not

James Silverton wrote:
>
> I don't know about TJ's Shu Mai but their frozen Wonton's are sold by
> weight (12oz) so I don't know what's the point in counting.

Apparently, there's a large variation. I get the ones
which have extra, and goats can eat the other ones
for all I care.

On Mar 31, 2:56*pm, Mark Thorson > wrote:
> James Silverton wrote:
>
> > I don't know about TJ's Shu Mai but their frozen Wonton's are sold by
> > weight (12oz) so I don't know what's the point in counting.
>
> Apparently, there's a large variation. *I get the ones
> which have extra, and goats can eat the other ones
> for all I care.

Extra, schmextra....sold by weight...doesn't matter whether you gt 5
or 20...you're still getting the same weight.

Chemo the Clown wrote:
>
> On Mar 31, 2:56 pm, Mark Thorson > wrote:
> > James Silverton wrote:
> >
> > > I don't know about TJ's Shu Mai but their frozen Wonton's are sold by
> > > weight (12oz) so I don't know what's the point in counting.
> >
> > Apparently, there's a large variation. I get the ones
> > which have extra, and goats can eat the other ones
> > for all I care.
>
> Extra, schmextra....sold by weight...doesn't matter whether you gt 5
> or 20...you're still getting the same weight.

No, that's self-evidently not true. There's lots
more empty space in the boxes with fewer pieces.
The pieces are all about the same size. Any small
size variation could not account for a difference
of three pieces between a sparse box and a fat one.

You might have total faith in the food packaging
industry, but that's only because you are operating
from no evidence. Next time you see a six-pack of
Coca-Cola in bottles, look at the fill levels of the
bottles. Here's one of the richest food companies
in the world, and they can't get the same fill level
in all six bottles. Some are low and some are high,
and yet they are probably controlling the fill
level within 5%, which is a lot tighter than the
control used in packaging Trader Joe's shu mai.
(Easier to do with a liquid product than a solid
that comes in constant-size lumps.)

But if you wish to continue living non-smart, don't
let me stop you. For everyone like me, there have
to be at least a couple like you to balance out
our luxurious life-style. We want you to believe
life is fair and that you are _not_ getting the
short end of the stick. By all means, keep believing
that. Our entire system relies on you and your kind
continuing to have faith in the system.

Mark Thorson wrote:
> James Silverton wrote:
>> I don't know about TJ's Shu Mai but their frozen Wonton's are sold by
>> weight (12oz) so I don't know what's the point in counting.
>
> Apparently, there's a large variation. I get the ones
> which have extra, and goats can eat the other ones
> for all I care.

Do you ever weight the packages after you get home?

--
Jean B.

"Jean B." wrote:
>
> Mark Thorson wrote:
> > James Silverton wrote:
> >> I don't know about TJ's Shu Mai but their frozen Wonton's are sold by
> >> weight (12oz) so I don't know what's the point in counting.
> >
> > Apparently, there's a large variation. I get the ones
> > which have extra, and goats can eat the other ones
> > for all I care.
>
> Do you ever weight the packages after you get home?

No, but I suppose I could start doing that
if people wouldn't be annoyed by frequent
updates. Or if only the right people were
annoyed. Yes, that would work, too. :-)

George wrote:
>
> Mark Thorson wrote:
> > Some of you may remember my technique for buying
> > Jeno's Pizza Rolls. I'd hold the box horizontally
> > and gently rock it from side-to-side to measure
> > the amount of free space inside. The more free
> > space there is, the fewer pizza rolls.
> >
> > I haven't eaten those in a long time, in fact,
> > they're no longer made. But I do eat lots of
> > Trader Joe's Chicken Shu Mai, and I use the same
> > technique on them.
> >
> > A confounding factor is the frozen shu mai are
> > in a plastic bag inside the box, which restricts
> > their movement. (Jeno's Pizza Rolls had no bag
> > inside the box.) Nevertheless, the technique is
> > useful.
> >
> > Today, I got a box that when I picked it up,
> > I could hardly sense any movement inside, so
> > right away I knew this one was a keeper, but
> > I've had boxes like that before which only
> > had 18 shu mai inside. Most boxes contain 17
> > or 18. A few have 19, and a very few have 20.
> > This one had 20! Only the second time I've
> > found a box with 20 shu mai inside! It must
> > be the harbinger of something good! I must be
> > living right, and the gods are smiling on me!
>
> I think you have way too much time on your hands...

Nonsense. It took maybe 15 seconds to test three
boxes. The winner was the first box I picked up,
but I checked two others just to confirm that it
really was packed tighter than a typical box.

Living smart does not require significantly more
time than living stupid. And I get large returns
for that little amount of time.

On Tue, 31 Mar 2009 16:37:58 -0400, George > wrote:

>I think you have way too much time on your hands...

LOL! I have never thought about counting the pieces before.


--
I love cooking with wine.
Sometimes I even put it in the food.

In article >,
Mark Thorson > wrote:

> This one had 20! Only the second time I've
> found a box with 20 shu mai inside! It must
> be the harbinger of something good! I must be
> living right, and the gods are smiling on me!

Or they must've had smaller chicken bits and needed to make weight. :-0)
--
-Barb, Mother Superior, HOSSSPoJ
http://web.me.com/barbschaller - updated 3-30-2009
"What you say about someone else says more
about you than it does about the other person."

On Tue, 31 Mar 2009 13:17:24 -0800, Mark Thorson >
wrote:

<snip>
>
>Today, I got a box that when I picked it up,
>I could hardly sense any movement inside, so
>right away I knew this one was a keeper, but
>I've had boxes like that before which only
>had 18 shu mai inside. Most boxes contain 17
>or 18. A few have 19, and a very few have 20.
>This one had 20! Only the second time I've
>found a box with 20 shu mai inside! It must
>be the harbinger of something good! I must be
>living right, and the gods are smiling on me!

Have you weighed the boxes? Are the boxes with more pieces heavier
than the ones with fewer?




--
I love cooking with wine.
Sometimes I even put it in the food.

Mark Thorson wrote:
> Some of you may remember my technique for buying
> Jeno's Pizza Rolls. I'd hold the box horizontally
> and gently rock it from side-to-side to measure
> the amount of free space inside. The more free
> space there is, the fewer pizza rolls.
>
> I haven't eaten those in a long time, in fact,
> they're no longer made. But I do eat lots of
> Trader Joe's Chicken Shu Mai, and I use the same
> technique on them.
>
> A confounding factor is the frozen shu mai are
> in a plastic bag inside the box, which restricts
> their movement. (Jeno's Pizza Rolls had no bag
> inside the box.) Nevertheless, the technique is
> useful.
>
> Today, I got a box that when I picked it up,
> I could hardly sense any movement inside, so
> right away I knew this one was a keeper, but
> I've had boxes like that before which only
> had 18 shu mai inside. Most boxes contain 17
> or 18. A few have 19, and a very few have 20.
> This one had 20! Only the second time I've
> found a box with 20 shu mai inside! It must
> be the harbinger of something good! I must be
> living right, and the gods are smiling on me!

Hmmm. One needs a little scale, I think. <g>

--
Jean B.