Boycott

Restaurants I refuse to go ... (snip) ... and Skyline Chili (it's not *real* chili).

Just out of curiosity, do you mean not "real" according to the genre (Cincinnati-style) or not "real" in some other fashion? Please elaborate.

Cincinnati-style chili isn't even chili. That's my opinion. It's about the blandest crap I've ever tasted in all my life.

On edit: Yes, I realize Cincy-style chili isn't Tex-Mex. But I can only surmise that people who like Skyline have no taste buds. Yes, that's harsh, but that's where I stand.

Restaurants I refuse to go ... (snip) ... and Skyline Chili (it's not *real* chili).

Just out of curiosity, do you mean not "real" according to the genre (Cincinnati-style) or not "real" in some other fashion? Please elaborate.

Cincinnati-style chili isn't even chili. That's my opinion. It's about the blandest crap I've ever tasted in all my life.

On edit: Yes, I realize Cincy-style chili isn't Tex-Mex. But I can only surmise that people who like Skyline have no taste buds. Yes, that's harsh, but that's where I stand.

Sorry, that wasn't too nice. It's just that I've never been able to comprehend how anyone could like the stuff. It puzzles the ?&%! out of me.

At any rate, I don't mean to put anyone down. It's all just my opinion.

Domino's Pizza. I have issues with the founder's politics. Please don't turn this post into a political discussion, though -- we're here to talk about food.

Good point, Paige. I wouldn't eat Domino's anyway, because it's even more bland and flavorless than Papa John's. But even if it was bodaciously wonderful pizza, the founder's politics would still keep me far, far away.

Ok, fill me in, guys...short synopsis--please not opening a debate...just curious. I don't even know who the founder is!!

[Robin Garr]

Ok, fill me in, guys...short synopsis--please not opening a debate...just curious. I don't even know who the founder is!!

Ashley, Domino's founder Tom Monaghan is a strong financial supporter of fanatical right-wing Christian causes, particularly abortion, from a far-right Catholic perspective. In fairness, he is no longer associated with Domino's (except possibly as a stockholder - I don't know about that). He also started a new conservative Catholic law school, Ave Maria University, originally in Michigan (?), where he got into a fight with his own faculty who objected to his political interventions into teaching and tenure issues, and later decided to move the college to Florida, where he's building a grandiose college and a town around it. At one point he attracted controversy by announcing that the town would legislate morality for its citizens, ban adult books and movies, that kind of thing, but he's drawn back somewhat from that.

Here's one among many Web articles about him. This one is admittedly from an anti-Monaghan perspective, but I think it pretty much covers the ground.

I love chili!!!! ;however I must come to the defense of one of my favorite foods, the much maligned and misunderstood "Cincinatti Style Chili". If taken in the context of what the dish is, I don't see much to dislike. A 3 way is a treat. Spaghetti, Cheddar Cheese and a chili sauce with a unique flavor(cloves,allspice,cinnamon and sometimes chocolate in some recipes).

I know that it isn't really chili in the traditional sense but gosh darn it I love the stuff and can't sit by and let someone bad mouth a tasty treat. I'm sorry Mr. Magruder but I have to disagree with you on this one. Besides, I've had chili all over this great land, and have won a few awards for my recipe(come see me at the Phoenix Hill Chili Cookoff this fall). Nowhere else besides Louisville(and the Queen's City,of course) puts noodles in their chili. You say bland? I say hogwash! Skyline Rules!

Is he the man who once owned the Detroit Tigers? They are my former favorite team. Long story involving Boston, too.

Dan -- I agree with you .. I really enjoy Cincinnati style chili (best = Skyline). It is a different taste.

Another chili that would not be classified as Tex-Mex is Tony Packo's chili from Toledo. It is a Hungarian style chili and I love it. I used to work at Tony Packo's and we had several ways of serving it ... my favorite was the chili sundae, served in a sundae dish with sour cream on the inside of the dish, chilim then topped with shredded cheese and served with chips.


Thanks for standing up for something you like!

Rebecca

p.s. I like the Avatar image!

[Robin Garr]

Is he the man who once owned the Detroit Tigers?

I believe so, Barb. Were patrons required to stand up and pray before games?

Is he the man who once owned the Detroit Tigers?

I believe so, Barb. Were patrons required to stand up and pray before games?

I'm not a fan of the man, but I do appreciate his willingness to stand up for what he believes (even though it is not what I believe). I wouldn't use that 1991 editorial from the MIT student newspaper as a particularly fair-minded assessment of him

I do have grave problems with his support of Operation Rescue, a movement that has died out as far as I can tell. We stopped buying Dominos 20 years ago after he had some very public statements about the homeless that were really offensive to us (but I can't seem to track them down now).

My sense is that his story is more complicated than that editorial would lead you to believe. Try: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Monaghan

He's a man with a billion-dollar fortune who has simplified his life and is spending his wealth on things he thinks matters. At least at that level, it is interesting.

On edit: Yes, I realize Cincy-style chili isn't Tex-Mex. But I can only surmise that people who like Skyline have no taste buds. Yes, that's harsh, but that's where I stand. Sorry, that wasn't too nice. It's just that I've never been able to comprehend how anyone could like the stuff. It puzzles the ?&%! out of me. At any rate, I don't mean to put anyone down. It's all just my opinion.

I, too, must disagree with Steve on this one even if he's been right most of the time so far and I enjoy his Louisville web site. New Albany's progressive political bloc (all eight of us) is fond of reminding people: "You're entitled to your own opinion -- but not to your own facts."

Such vicious attacks on my beloved Cincy-style chili remind me of the many people who've visited my establishment over the years and insisted that beer styles other than the solitary one they've always consumed are not beers at all, but abominations. These people have a right not to "like" a beer, but it is simply illogical to insist that the object of their dislike is not beer.

In deference to the vegetarian missus, I make a fine meat-free Cincinnati chili at home with beans and German smoked beer and wheat pasta. It isn't "authentic" to the style. It's still chili, though.

[Robin Garr]

I wouldn't use that 1991 editorial from the MIT student newspaper as a particularly fair-minded assessment of him

Do note, however, that I included a disclaimer with that link, which despite its antiquity was one of the Google listings that comes out near the top when you search "Dominos Monaghan".

I do have grave problems with his support of Operation Rescue, a movement that has died out as far as I can tell. We stopped buying Dominos 20 years ago after he had some very public statements about the homeless that were really offensive to us (but I can't seem to track them down now).

He does represent an offbeat variation of the wacky fringe: A loud <I>Catholic</I> fundamentalist in a world where most religious radicals tend to be evangelical Protestant or extremist Muslim.

My sense is that his story is more complicated than that editorial would lead you to believe. Try: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Monaghan

He's a man with a billion-dollar fortune who has simplified his life and is spending his wealth on things he thinks matters. At least at that level, it is interesting.

I'm sure that's so, although I find Wikipedia least useful when it comes to politically divisive figures and topics. The wiki process works well for factual matter, but it's a little less effective to try to synthesize opposing views on issues that fire up emotions.

I'll dig around this morning and try to find a more nuanced and balanced analysis. <i>National Catholic Reporter</i>, a somehwat liberal but fair publication, had a good profile not long ago that dug into those very issues ... if it's online, I'll dig up a link.

He does represent an offbeat variation of the wacky fringe: A loud <I>Catholic</I> fundamentalist in a world where most religious radicals tend to be evangelical Protestant or extremist Muslim.

I would caution heavily on any further discussion of this topic. Granted, it's your board, and you can take it where you want, but once these things become freely open subjects...

Several of the boards I visit, and have visited for years, even ban discussion of religious and political issues as they have a tendency to blow up and distract from the intended function of the board. Note that I'm not suggesting that here, I'm just suggesting discussion be steered away from it, especially in the context of describing people and beliefs in such was as "wacky fringe." It just never leads to positive outcomes in my experience.

[Robin Garr]

even ban discussion

I've been moderating online communities since the early 1980s, Aaron, and based on that experience, I don't DO bans based on content. I think we'll be okay. I appreciate the spirit of your comments, though. Thanks.

Just to clarify: the term "religious fanatic" doesn't mean much to me. A lot of folks I admire could be described as religious fanatics: Amos, Jesus, Augustine, St. Francis, Martin Luther, William Wilberforce, Mother Theresa. None of them lived "balanced" lives or were bourgois liberals.

Then again, there are a lot of folks who scare me.

The question for me is not fanaticism, but the direction, the shape of that fanaticism. What were often left with is Yeats' observation: "The best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity."

even ban discussion

I've been moderating online communities since the early 1980s, Aaron, and based on that experience, I don't DO bans based on content. I think we'll be okay. I appreciate the spirit of your comments, though. Thanks.

As I said...

Note that I'm not suggesting that here...

Nor WOULD I suggest it here. It's far too small of a community to have to implement such restrictive rules. Bans at other boards are only mentioned as an indication of the serious nature to which these conversations can become disruptive.