Replies

1. 
   joeh | Jun 13, 2004 08:39pm | #1

   It isn't treated with borate, bugs will eat it.

   Sorry, Joe H

2. 
   jonblakemore | Jun 13, 2004 08:43pm | #2

   I'm thinking business opportunity for really dumb carnival attendees.

    

   Jon Blakemore

1. 
   mitch | Jun 13, 2004 09:12pm | #3

   no ####, sherlock.

   m

2. 
   mitch | Jun 13, 2004 09:20pm | #4

   i also couldn't help noticing how much it resembles dryer lint.  at $6 (that's right, six freakin bucks for big wad of spun sugar- which, btw, runs something like $2/5lb bag in the grocery store?) i seriously doubt it'd be cost effective either, but maybe some rich pervert like michael jackson can use it to insulate his gingerbread house to bait in more unsuspecting kids...

   m

   ps- how does joe know that it's NOT treated with borates?  has he ever looked at the ingredient list on a box of cereal?  i doubt borates are much worse than some of that crap.

1. 
   Sphere | Jun 14, 2004 12:07am | #5

   Actually, if it is encased in airtite plastic, and cannot get even the slightest bit damp...the same as FG. 

   Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks

   Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations. 

2. 
   oldfred | Jun 14, 2004 12:59am | #7

   I thought cotton candy was PG.   But after you mentioned Jackson, I'd say past R to X

3. 
   frontiercc | Jun 14, 2004 03:28pm | #11

   Mitch- Just FYI--

   I used to sell cotton candy as a sideline gig at fairs, carnivals, etc.  I charged $2.50 a bag.  but here's the clincher.  My materials (sugar, cardboard cone, poly bag) cost the astronomical sum of $0.02 per.  Don't even calculate that markup.  If all the cotton candy didn't make you sick, that will.  (Btw- it requires specially processed sugar to get the long fibers Generic supermarket sugar won't work so well)

4. 
   maverick | Jun 14, 2004 03:53pm | #13

   I heard Michael Jackson was running for president. His campaign slogan is "Leave no childs behind"

1. 
   mitch | Jun 14, 2004 04:04pm | #14

   that is why i LOVE THIS PLACE!  i just knew somebody would have some direct experience with cotton candy.  two cents, huh?  my own guesstimating at the circus was around $.20 max (including the bag- no cardboard tube anymore- and the critical wet wipe packet) .   i had no idea what their fixed operating costs and labor ran, but i figured the materials could not be very much at bulk wholesale.

   what else can you tell us about it?  it tastes like it's not pure sugar, maybe some vanilla or corn syrup, plus some food coloring?  it's always fascinated me although i only eat it about every twenty years.  i was disappointed to see it all pre-packaged at the circus- the best part about it is watching it being made!

   m

1. 
   mitch | Jun 14, 2004 04:13pm | #15

   while we're on sick humor...

   dw and i actually saw the one ring, 'hometown' version of ringling brothers, barnum & bailey circus here in asheville.  this production has made the news twice in recent weeks- first for the tragic falling death of one of their star aerialists during a performance, and then for the arrest of 'spanky the clown' on kiddie porn charges.  so we're driving to the show and i say to my wife, "ya know, in a perfect world, the f***ing clown would have fell to his death and the young gal would still be here..."

   m

   do clowns taste funny to cannibals?

3. 
   SteveInCleveland | Jun 14, 2004 12:30am | #6

   How about wrapping fiberglass aorund some cardboard tubes and selling it at the circus?

4. 
   rez | Jun 14, 2004 01:26am | #8

   As long as it takes to heat TatorTots I think potatoes would be a better choice for green insulation.
5. 
   andybuildz | Jun 14, 2004 02:47pm | #9

   try popcorn

   The secret of Zen in two words is, "Not always so"!

   http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM

1. 
   mitch | Jun 14, 2004 03:17pm | #10

   overheard at the concessionaire's meeting before the show: "ok folks, we gotta big problem.  the cotton candy machine is busted.  so here's what we're gonna do- i need two guys to take a couple hundred bucks out of the till and go find the nearest home depot...."

   m

2. 
   mitch | Jun 14, 2004 03:29pm | #12

   maybe ten or fifteen years ago some idiot in the trendy household tips biz- martha stewart, heloise?- started promoting the idea of using popcorn as packing material for shipping.  ups, the post office, et.al., went nuts!  they had to explain to the public that the last thing they needed was thousands of boxes in their system that would essentially be big blocks of rat and roach bait.

   m

1. 
   CapnMac | Jun 14, 2004 05:17pm | #16

   started promoting the idea of using popcorn as packing material for shipping.

   Which was not helped by a State of California reg on not using expanded foam "peanuts" for packaging (bubble-wrap using polyethelene plastic in much larger quantities was ok . . . )

   Did read of a bright bulb, hearing that the plastic peanuts were forbidden, used regular, in-shell, goobers instead . . . Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)