"Snag Peak"
Round 7

By Popular Demand - the goal is to pick something that fits the category and will be the "most popular" answer. You score points based on the number of entries that match yours. For example, if the category is "Cats" and the responses were 7 for Persian, 3 for Calico and 1 for Siamese, everyone who said Persian would get 7 points, Calico 3 and the lone Siamese would score 1 point. The cumulative total over 10 rounds will determine the overall winner. Anyone may enter at any point, starting with an equivalent point total of the lowest cumulative score from the previous round. If a person misses a round, they'll receive the minimum score from the round added to their cumulative total. And, if you want to submit some commentary with your answers, feel free to.

NOTE: I always acknowledge an Email submission. If you've sent something in and don't hear back from me after a couple of days, send again or check with Tom. I let him know if I expect to be away from the computer for any extended period of time.

Seventh Round - 1990's Grocery Store

1) Best Chain Store: Safeway 4, Wal-Mart 3, Albertson's 2, Shop Rite 1
2) New Specialty Produce Item: Tortilla 1, Kiwi 1, Yukon Gold Potato 1, Durian 1, Packaged Salad 1, Tangelo 1, Arugula 1, Papaya 1, Ready Cook Meals 1, Bottled Water 1
3) Favorite Cut of Meat: T-bone 3, Sirloin 2, Tenderloin/Filet 2, Steak 1, Ground Beef 1, Spare Ribs 1
4) Common Non-food Dept: Medicine/Drugs/Pharmacy 3, Cleaning Supplies 2, Clothing 2, Books/Mags 1, Toiletries 1, Cosmetics 1
5) Brand of Canned Good: Del Monte 3, Green Giant 2, Heinz 2, Campbell's 1, Spam 1, Western Family 1

Individual Scores:

Categories Best Chain StoreNew Specialty Produce Item Favorite Cut of Meat Common Non-food Dept Brand of Canned Good
01) Fred DavisSafeway Yukon Gold Potato Steak Books/Mags Del Monte=109+10=119
02) Doug KentShop RitePackage Salad,Tenderloin, Cosmetics Green Giant=111+ 07=118
Kevin WilsonAlbertson's Arugula T-bone Cleaning Supplies Del Monte=107+11=118
David PartridgeWal-Mart Bottled Water Filet Mignon Pharmacy Del Monte=106+12=118
05)Jim ReaderWal-Mart, Ready Cook Meal Spare Ribs, Clothing Heinz=107+ 09=116
06) Tom's MomSafeway, Kiwi Ground Beef Cleaning Supplies Campbell's=105+ 09=114
07) Tim & Sarah SnyderSafeway Tangelo T-bone Medicine Green Giant=100+12=112
08) Brendan WhyteAlbertson's Durian T-bone Toiletries Heinz=102+ 09=111
09) Tom Howell Safeway, Papaya Top Sirloin Drugs Western Family= 95+11=106
10) Mark StretchWal-Mart Tortilla Sirloin Clothing Spam=88+ 09=97
11) Ward Narhi [[no entry received]] =62+07=69
12) Mark Nelson [[no entry received]] =59+07=66

Top Score Possible: 14 Top Score Achieved 12 by David Partridge and the Snyders!

1) Best Chain Store: Around here, HEB is the top of the food chain (pun intended). However, it is a regional brand and wouldn't be on most folks minds. The other two big supermarkets are Albertson's (though they've taken quite a beating over the past five years) and Randall's (part of the Safeway empire, if I recall correctly). Wal-Mart I don't think was much of a player in the '90s, but now it is taking a big bite - one of the reasons Albertson's is on the wane.
2) New Specialty Produce Item: I didn't expect much in the way of common answers, especially if one ws thinking of what is available today. But, in the '90s, specialty products started to make some inroads next to the common American staples. Of the entries (and please note I did ask for "produce" not "product") Kiwi, Yukon Gold potatoes and Papayas were good choices. Portabella mushrooms or Romaine lettuce (or just about any lettuce besides Iceberg!) also come to mind.
3) Favorite Cut of Meat: I expected sirloin to come out on top, but T-bone was another tasty choice. Tenderloins were (as I recall) a bit rarer to find.
4) Common Non-food Department: I fully thought I'd see a run on the Pharmacy or Drug department.. A definite staple of just about any grocery store bigger than a corner mom & pop (and even they'd have aspirin, bandages and ointments. Books & magazines was something I didn't think of, but a good choice along with cosmetics and toiletries.
5) Brand of Canned Good: I was surprised Campbell's wasn't the top pick, considering the amount of advertising that company has put out compared to any other canned food. Del Monte is a staple of the vegetable aisle (and fruits, I suspect). In the '90s, I'd think of Green Giant as frozen foods, not canned so much.

Player Comments on the Round -

1) Best Chain Store: [Brendan] I really have no idea on this one.... [Tom] can I go wash my mouth out now? [WAY] certainly, but you chose the popular choice. [Dave] I really hate to say this because I think they totally suck, but for points in the game, I'm guessing it will get the most so here, ack .. ugh .. urh .. Walmarts ... goes. [WAY] Not the top one, but I'm surprised that it received so many votes. Today, yes, it is a major player. But, in the '90s, it was just breaking into the market. Supermarket chains were still top places to get your groceries.
2) New Specialty Produce Item: [Brendan] a new specialty item in the produce department? I have no idea what is 'new' in the US. [WAY] 'fraid I've never heard of durian, certainly not in the '90s. I did look it up, for anyone who wonders what it is. (from FOOD LOVER'S COMPANION) "This larger-than-life fruit of the Malaysian tree can weight up to 10 pounds, has a brownish-green, semihard shell covered with thick spikes, and is slightly larger than a football....the durian has a nauseating smell....creamy, slightly sweet flesh, however, has an exquisitely rich, custardy texture." Hmmm..... [Dave] Wow, no idea what is going to come out of this.
3) Favorite Cut of Meat: [Brendan] let's go simple and straight [WAY] and choose the number one pick!
5) Brand of Canned Good; [Brendan] the mean bean boys. [Dave] I never buy any canned goods so I have no idea what's popular. Del Monte is one of the few names I can recall.

Eighth Round - 1930's Farm

1) Main Cash Crop
2) Common Animal
3) Common Piece of Machinery
4) Biggest Threat to the Farm
5) Common Structure (not Barn)

Deadline: May 20, 2006 at high noon CDT.

And, due to popular demand, Email your next entries to Andy York


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