Riot Cola

Kim tries to save a dime and purchases Riot Classic Diet Cola last week at Fresh and Easy.

What a mistake! I "let the fizz out" as the label suggests and let me tell you something, it was not a riot! There was nothing riot-like in the whole experience. Not only was I underwhelmed with the flavor of Riot Classic Diet Cola, but I debated marching back into the store and demanding my 49 cents back. Think of all of the things I could purchase for $0.49:

1. A postage stamp (just one First-class stamp)

2. A weekday newspaper, but definitely not a weekend edition.

3. 2 gumballs from those machines (if you can round your $0.49 up to $0.50, there are many possibilities in the vending machine department)

4. One local call at a payphone (California Payphone Directory) - this site even lists the phone numbers of payphones in California - other than a drug deal, I can see very little use for this information.

5. A cheap condom from a bathroom vending machine (usually those are in the men's bathrooms, although I think they should be available in both the male and female restrooms).

6. Promotional Click Pens (each)

7. One hour of work from a prison inmate. Seriously, paid under $0.50 cents/hr! My problem is not that they are working in prison, but that somebody is making a lot of cash off this system. I haven't heard anything lately referring to prisoners "paying their own way" or supporting themselves and their families from prison. I have heard that prisoners are a cheap labor force which satisfies many government contracts ... Food for thought.
8.  Feel free to contribute your thoughts and ideas - especially if you had an epiphany about what 50 cents can buy!