So now will we see the DOJ send out the FBI to arrest store owners for his bad policies? He keeps on saying how inflation is coming down. Here’s a comparison. first. Inflation hits 10% then comes down to 8 then 7 then 5%. Lower right?
You gain 10lbs. then 8 then 7 then 5. You brag that you brought your weight gain down to 5 lbs. But now you’re 30 lbs. heavier. So, what cost $100.00 now costs how much? Do the math.
Farmworkers pick strawberries on the Ramos Farm outside of Watsonville in May. Xavier Mascareñas Sacramento Bee file
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What did you think would happen? California farm workers make less with overtime law. A law took effect back in 2019 that put the farm workers on overtime pay. It passed in 2016. As it was phased it the idea was to have the farm workes make more money. But did it work?
A recent study showed that some of the workers were making from 100 to 200 dollars less a week. Why? Many farmworkers are not working overtime and their take-home pay has decreased as a result of employers reducing hours.
“We have an option to keep fighting for an agricultural economy in which workers are treated with dignity and have a real say,” said Antonio De Loera-Brust, communications director for UFW.
De Loera-Brust conceded the union has heard from workers who have had their hours cut, but emphasized that employers are the ones making the schedules. He also acknowledged that retailers continue to raise prices, which creates a “horrible race to the bottom” that hurts growers and workers.
"Tall, good-looking and handsome," Thornton Prince is considered the father of Nashville hot chicken. A spurned lover sought revenge by serving him chicken doused with powerful spices — but Prince loved it so much he went into business selling fried chicken bathed in cayenne pepper oil. (Courtesy Kim Prince/Prince Family)
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Meet the American who gave us Nashville hot chicken, Thornton Prince, man of many passions.
Blistering culinary trend boasts salacious origin story of jilted lovers, revenge, steamy oil and fried chicken
A blistering food trend across the United States today, Nashville hot chicken comes with a bawdy origin story as hot and spicy as the steamy oil used to bathe Prince’s poultry.
“He was a loving man and he wasn’t bad on the eyes either,” great-grandniece, family historian and Los Angeles hot chicken chef Kim Prince told Fox News Digital.
“Tall, good-looking and handsome,” Thornton Prince is considered the father of Nashville hot chicken. A spurned lover sought revenge by serving him chicken doused with powerful spices — but Prince loved it so much he went into business selling fried chicken bathed in cayenne pepper oil. (Courtesy Kim Prince/Prince Family)
Born outside Nashville three decades after the Civil War, Prince was gifted with knee-buckling good looks, penetrating eyes, a lean build, a winning smile and a charismatic personality, by all accounts.
Women loved him. And he loved them back.
He was married five times and dallied with many other ladies along the way, according to sources.
“He was a loving man and he wasn’t bad on the eyes either.” — Kim Prince
One of those spurned lovers, according to oft-told lore, sought revenge by spicing up Prince’s favorite fried chicken — secretly, of course — with an intolerable amount of cayenne pepper.
Prince got the last teary-eyed laugh. The pig farmer, jack of all trades and man of many passions loved the rocket-fueled fried chicken.
He began selling it out of his home, fried in lard in deep cast-iron pots, just before or during the Great Depression.
He and his brothers eventually opened a restaurant, the legendary BBQ Chicken Shack, around the time of World War II. (There are conflicting reports about the actual year.)
A Nashville hot chicken sandwich at Party Fowl. The Music City is also a poultry paradise, as Nashville hot chicken, a longstanding local tradition, has captured the attention of food lovers across the nation. (Kerry J. Byrne/Fox News Digital)
The scorned lady friend has been lost to history, known in hot-chicken coops of gossip today as “Girlfriend X.”
The story sounds too contrived and salacious to be true — as if born out of steamy southern-fried fiction, complete with mysterious vengeful lover.
Yet the story is the real deal, said Nashville native and historian Rachel Louise Martin, author of the 2021 book, “Hot, Hot Chicken: A Nashville Story.”
“The man really got himself around. He really was married all those times,” Martin told Fox News Digital.
Nashville hot chicken, and the signs and smells of it, are ubiquitous in the Tennessee city. (Kerry J. Byrne/Fox News Digital)
“He had multiple other girlfriends and there were several angry women in his past who might have tried to teach him a lesson.”
Thornton Prince, it turns out, may have cheated one of those women not once, but twice.
Grandson of a slave
Thornton James Prince was born near Franklin, Tennessee, on an unknown day in December 1892, according to records uncovered by historian Martin.
His parents, Thornton and Mary (Maury) Prince, were born in the years immediately after the Civil War. At least one grandparent, his maternal grandmother, Ann Currine, was an enslaved cook on the land in which her culinary legend grandson was born.
Nashville hot chicken traces its roots to Thornton Prince (far right, standing), seen here in a 1916 family photo. Prince was around 24 years old at the time. (Courtesy Kim Prince/Prince Family)
“He was tall, good-looking and handsome,” Prince’s grandniece, Andre Prince Jeffries, told Fox News Digital.
Known around Nashville as Miss Andre today, she took over the original BBQ Chicken Shack in 1980 and renamed it Prince’s Hot Chicken “to recognize the family.”
Prince’s Hot Chicken now has multiple locations and is revered as the true taste of original Nashville hot-chicken. It has become in recent years a destination for culinary tourists from around the world.
“There were several angry women in his past who might have tried to teach him a lesson.” — Rachel Louise Martin
Miss Andre is old enough to remember the Prince of poultry.
“He was pleasant to look at. I remember that even when he was an old man and I was child. He had beautiful white hair and he was jolly, just like Santa Claus. He was full of laughs,” said Miss Andre.
She’s become a Nashville legend and de facto ambassador of the Music City’s southern hospitality and hot chicken history.
Prince’s Hot Chicken of Nashvile is operated by Andre Prince Jeffries, the grandniece of Nashville hot chicken icon Thornton Prince. (Kerry J. Byrne/Fox News Digital)
Prince was born into a culture in which chicken played an essential role, stemming from an era when poultry was the only livestock slaves could own.
“Often called the preacher’s bird or the gospel fowl, echoing its sacred role among West Africans, slaves and their descendants laid the foundation for America’s love with the chicken that is now spreading around the world,” historian Andrew Lawler wrote in his 2014 book, “Why Did the Chicken Cross the World? The Epic Saga of the Bird That Powers Civilization.”
Girlfriend X provided the entrepreneurial Prince with an exciting new way to enjoy the common chicken dinner.
“Nashville hot chicken needs two things. Great Southern fried chicken and it needs to be dunked in hot melted spice,” Brian Morris, executive chef of Hattie B’s Hot Chicken, said in a promotional video for the 11-year-old Nashville chicken chain.
Hattie B’s Hot Chicken was founded in 2012. It quickly proved a popular tourist destination for fans of spicy poultry while helping popularize the Music City specialty around the nation. Hattie B’s now has six locations in and around Nashville and six more around the country. (Kerry J. Byrne/Fox News Digital)
He calls it a “whirlpool of love with a touch of heat.”
The basic formula is the same at every hot-chicken hotspot. But the spice mixture can vary dramatically from location to location — and to create different levels of heat.
“Nashville hot chicken needs two things. Great Southern fried chicken and it needs to be dunked in hot melted spice” — Chef Brian Morris, Hattie B’s
“The Prince recipe we hold closely to death,” said great-grandniece Kim Prince, who still speaks with her Tennessee accent despite living and working in Los Angeles, where she serves the family’s original recipe under the name Hotville Chicken.
“We’ve always wanted to tell the story,” she added, “in our own Prince family twang.”
Nashville hot chicken ‘ours and ours alone’
The story of Nashville hot chicken was, for at least a half century, told only in that Prince family Tennessee twang — and known only in the black Nashville neighborhoods served by the BBQ Chicken Shack as it moved from location to location.
Nashville hot chicken’s dramatic rise as a national phenomenon has unfolded suddenly here in the 21st century — perhaps not coincidentally with Nashville’s recent explosion as one of the fastest-growing cities in America.
Nashville hot chicken joints serve spicy chicken in every way imaginable, from traditional sauce-soaked fried chicken breasts to these deadly hot dry-rubbed wings from Bolton’s Spicy Chicken and Fish in East Nashville. (Kerry J. Byrne/Fox News Digital)
The city’s population has grown more than 20% over the past decade, just as hot chicken gained national and now international prestige.
Author Martin witnessed the rise of Nashville hot chicken in the blink of an education.
The Nashville native left the sleepy Music City for college in 2006 — having never heard of its namesake piquant poultry.
She returned after graduate school in 2013 to a booming city filled with newcomers from across the country seeking mild winters and affordable prices and where, Martin said, “everybody was talking about hot chicken.”
Local poultry pundits credit its national ascension to the first Nashville Hot Chicken Festival, held in 2006.
Nashville native Rachel Louise Martin is the author of the 2021 book, “Hot, Hot Chicken: A Nashville Story.” (Courtesy Rachel Louise Martin)
A wave of glitzy new hot chicken eateries soon opened in its wake, often well-funded with marketing budgets the Prince family never had.
Hattie B’s opened in 2012 and now boasts six locations in and around Nashville and six more around the country, including Las Vegas.
Party Fowl opened in 2014 and has six locations, mostly in Tennessee.
“Please wash your hands before rubbing your eyes or your babies.” — Warning at Bolton’s Spicy Chicken and Fish
Hot chicken is now served at breakfast, lunch and dinner across Nashville, and has found its way onto the menu at sports bars and high-end dining spots.
Party Fowl offers hot chicken Cuban sandwiches, hot chicken tacos and hot chicken queso, among many other choices.
Bolton’s Spicy Chicken and Fish in East Nashville is one of the oldest hot-chicken eateries in the city. It is famous for serving perhaps the hottest hot chicken in America. (Kerry J. Byrne/Fox News Digital)
Bolton’s Spicy Chicken and Fish, a no-frills cinder-block hut in East Nashville, opened in the 1980s.
It’s a beloved local landmark and one of the few eateries in town that served hot chicken before it was cool. Bolton’s offers what many believe is the hottest chicken in town — in any town.
“Please wash your hands before rubbing your eyes or your babies,” warns a sign above the order window.
Hot chicken now defines the Music City in ways even its traditional American tunes and songwriters have not.
“Nashville is also the home of country music. But nobody calls it Nashville country music,” former mayor Bill Purcell told Fox News Digital.
Los Angeles chef Kim Prince, great grandniece of Nashville hot chicken patriarch Thornton Prince, sells the family’s original-recipe hot chicken in Southern California as Hotville Chicken. (Courtesy Kim Prince)
“But they do call it Nashville hot chicken. It’s the only indigenous food in the city. The only food invented here and nowhere else.”
Nashville hot chicken, Purcell beamed, “Is ours and ours alone.”
Search for Girlfriend X
Thornton Prince died of cerebral thrombosis on Feb. 15, 1960. He was 67 years old.
He’s buried at Boyd Cemetery in Franklin, Tennessee, said Kim Prince, not far from where he was born and where his grandmother once lived in bondage.
Thornton Prince is considered the father of Nashville hot chicken. His legend has grown in recent years as Nashville hot chicken has emerged as a nationwide phenomenon. (Courtesy Kim Prince/Prince Family)
Nashville hot chicken is served coast to coast, adopted by entrepreneurs far removed from Tennessee.
Dave’s Hot Chicken, based in California, was founded in 2017. It’s opened nearly 100 hot chicken eateries from Hollywood to Times Square in the six years since.
“I don’t think there’s been any new category in the food business that’s created more excitement over the years than hot chicken.” — Dave’s Hot Chicken CEO Bill Phelps
The newest Dave’s Hot Chicken opens Friday (Oct. 20) in Massachusetts.
“I don’t think there’s been any new category in the food business that’s created more excitement over the years than hot chicken,” Dave’s Hot Chicken CEO Bill Phelps told Fox News Digital last year.
Hot chicken purists, including members of the Prince family, recognize that their poultry patriarch did not invent what’s now a nationwide phenomenon.
Nashville hot chicken icons Andre Prince Jeffries and former Mayor Bill Purcell. Jeffries is the owner of Prince’s Hot Chicken, the originator of the piquant poultry, and Purcells helped popularize the local specialty with the founding of the Nashville Hot Chicken Festival. (Courtesy Bill Purcell)
That honor belongs to mysterious Girlfriend X.
Historian Martin identifies five women in “Hot, Hot Chicken: A Nashville Story” linked to romances with Prince, one of whom she believes is the true but unwitting inventor of an all-American taste treasure.
Caroline Bridges, Gertrude Claybrook, Mattie Crutcher, Mattie Hicks and Jennie May Patton, each long deceased, are the likely double-crossed lovers who would have been tempted to seek revenge via hot chicken on the insatiable Prince.
Nashville hot chicken sandwich from Party Fowl in Nashville’; hot chicken patriarch Thornton Prince. (Kerry J. Byrne/Fox News Digital/Kim Prince/Prince Family)
Purcell, the hot chicken enthusiast and former mayor, believes the final chapter in the Nashville hot chicken story is still to be written.
“The woman who first cooked the chicken, Girlfriend X, is lost to history,” Purcell said. “But she did indeed invent this thing.”
Sacramento's favorite. Anderson, US - October 24, 2016: Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen Fast Food Restaurant. Popeyes is known for its Cajun Style Fried Chicken III
There are plenty of famous companies that we know as being classically American. These brands have offered some of the best services and products that the world has ever seen and put the USA on the map. But the world is full of surprises – and it turns out these all-American businesses aren’t so American anymore. Keep scrolling to see which of your go-to favorites are now owned and run somewhere else.
Vaseline
Everyone loves Vaseline, right? This petroleum jelly has so many uses, from curbing your cracked lips to greasing the hinges on your doors. And while many people have been proud to call this company all-American, it seems as though times have changed over the years. Sure, it was founded by American Robert Augustus Chesebrough in 1859, but the company is no longer in American hands at all. Instead, it belongs to the British.
The company was bought by British multinational consumer goods company Unilever for a whopping $3.1 billion. Because of this, the headquarters for Vaseline can now be found in London, England.
Gerber
As Americans, we love a company with a backstory. And Gerber certainly had a story to tell. This company was founded by Daniel Frank Gerber in 1927 when he saw how his wife prepared baby food for their daughter. At the time, he owned a company that sold canned fruit and vegetables – but he saw an opportunity in the baby food market. After that, Gerber’s baby food took off and became an American institution.
The company has been sold a few times over the years, but Gerber is now owned by Nestle. They were so eager to get into the baby food business that they bought the company for $5.5 billion back in 2007.
Tiffany & Co.
You probably don’t need us to tell you that Tiffany & Co. has a strong American history. This company was formed in 1837 when Charles Lewis Tiffany and J.b Young decided to open a “stationery and fancy goods” store in New York. But when Young left the business in 1853, Tiffany decided to pivot and focus primarily on jewelry. Since then, it’s become a classic American fine (and expensive) jewelry store.
Although the company stayed in American hands for almost 200 years, French-owned LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton decided to buy the company in 2020. It was originally agreed that they would pay $16.2 billion, but when the deal eventually closed a year later, it was sold for $15.8 billion.
GrubHub
Nowadays, there’s no need to leave your house to eat delicious food. Companies such as Uber Eats and GrubHub have got that covered! But while you’d be forgiven for thinking that GrubHub is still American-owned, considering it’s still a relatively new company, you might be surprised to know that it was actually sold to foreign hands. This all happened when the company went public in 2014 and saw multiple offers on the table.
In 2020, GrubHub was bought by Dutch multinational online food ordering and delivery company, Just Eat Takeaway.com. Amazingly, this company was formed during the mergers of two London-based and Amsterdam-based takeaway companies.
Sunglass Hut
No American mall or airport would be complete without a Sunglass Hut, right? And while this company can also be found across the globe, the origins of this classic American company can be traced back to Miami, Florida. That’s because this store was first opened in 1986 by Sanford Ziff, an optometrist who decided to open a one-stop store for sunglasses. Five years later, there were 100 Sunglass Hut stores in the U.S. – and Ziff decided to sell up.
The company has been sold a few times since then, but the all-American brand is currently in the hands of the Italian eyewear conglomerate Luxottica Group. They bought Sunglass Hut for $653 million back in 2001.
The Cleveland Cavaliers
When it comes to American basketball teams, the Cleveland Cavaliers are one of the most well-known teams in the U.S. This team has seen players like LeBron James, Mark Price, and Brad Daugherty. So, you’d assume that this American team would be owned by Americans, right? Well, not quite. Although the team is now owned by all-American people – including the famous singer Usher – this wasn’t always the case.
In 2009, the Chinese investor Jianhua Huang bought a 15% stake in the team. Apparently, LeBron James had become hugely famous in China, and Jianhua wanted a piece of the LeBron James pie.
Trader Joe’s
The one thing Americans love about Trader Joe’s convenience store is, well, the convenience! You can guarantee that Trader Joe’s has everything you could possibly need, and we’ve been able to enjoy the products found in these stores since its inception in 1967. We have Joe Coulumbe to thank for bringing this store to life, and his first store in Monrovia, California, paved the way for the subsequent stores across the country. However, the company ceased being American in 1979.
Although Trader Joe’s can be found across America, it’s now owned by the Aldi Nord group – a German multinational family-owned company, which has the Albrecht family at the helm.
Chrysler
There’s a reason why you see so many Chryslers in the United States. This car company was founded in 1925 in America, which is why today it’s considered to be one of the most classic American cars out there. However, financial troubles have meant that Chrysler has had to stray from its American roots over the years. In fact, it’s been sold countless times over the years to many foreign companies.
In 1998, it was bought out by Daimler-Benz of Germany. But since then, it’s changed hands, and it’s now a part of Stellantis N.V., which is a multinational automotive manufacturing corporation that is headquartered in Amsterdam.
Citgo
Like other all-American companies, Citgo was created by an American businessperson. Henry L. Doherty formed the company back in 1910, but back then, it was called Cities Service Co. Since then, it’s not only changed its name, but it’s also changed ownership countless times. However, since 1986 it has been owned by Petróleos de Venezuela, which is a Venezuelan state-owned oil and natural gas company. They didn’t buy it all at once, though.
The company first acquired 50% of Citgo back in 1986, but when business started to boom during the late 1980s, they decided to put some more money into the classic American business. Now, they own all of it.
Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group, Sony Music, and Warner Music Group. These guys are considered to be the three big dogs in the music world, and so it should come as no surprise to learn that some of the biggest artists in the music industry are signed to Universal Music Group. This means that it’s worth a huge amount of money, but it seems as though this pie has been split over the years. That’s because it’s now a public company.
Under Dutch law, Universal Music Group is a Dutch-American group, but the shareholders are from around the world. Chinese company Tencent owns 20% of the company, while British investment trust Pershing Square Holdings has also purchased 10%.
Holiday Inn
If you’re looking for a budget hotel during your travel across the United States – or even across the globe – you can always count on Holiday Inn. This company has been in our lives since 1952, when there was just a single Holiday Inn motel situation in between Nashville and Memphis. The next year, the company expanded to build even more locations, and now it’s considered an all-American institution. But it’s not American any longer.
Although Holiday Inn was previously owned by founder Kemmons Wilson and his business partner Wallace E. Johnson, the Holiday Inn company was bought by the Intercontinental Hotels Group in the 1980s. And they’re English!
Hellmann’s
Hellmann’s will forever be associated with mayonnaise, right? And while the company was founded by the one and only Richard Hellmann, it’s important to note that he didn’t invent the condiment himself. Instead, he found the perfect way to market and sell jars of this stuff in his New York delicatessen, and it’s now become one of the most popular condiments across the world. But did you know that Hellmann’s is no longer American owned?
During a deal that incorporated a few different brands, Hellmann’s was actually bought by British multinational consumer goods company Unilever. This company also owns companies such as Dove and Ben & Jerry’s.
Greyhound Lines
If you’re someone who loves cross-country travel, there’s a high chance that you’ve sat on one of these things more times than you could count. Greyhound buses are perfect for traveling around the U.S., and there’s no doubt about the fact that these buses are classic American. In fact, these bus lines serve an incredible 2,400 destinations across North America – which is pretty impressive. But just because the buses serve America doesn’t mean the company is American.
Due to financial struggles during the early 2000s, Greyhound Lines have gone through some changes. And in 2007, British bus company FirstGroup Plc decided to buy Laidlaw International Inc., which just so happened to own Greyhound Lines. So, it’s a British company now.
7-ELeven
There’s nothing quite like heading to a 7-Eleven in the middle of the night when you crave a Mountain Dew or just really want a bag of Cheetos. This all-American company can be found all across the country, but there’s no doubt about the fact that this company has succeeded in its expansion. It’s now found in 19 countries across the globe – and it’s come a long way since its founder Jefferson Green started selling ice in 1927. But did you know that 7-Eleven isn’t American anymore?
Although 7-Eleven started off with its headquarters in Dallas, Texas, times have changed, and the company was bought out in 1987. Now, it’s actually a Japanese company and is owned by Seven & I Holdings.
Hilton Hotels
Today, the Hilton Hotels chain is just as famous as it once was. And while it’s no longer associated with the same Hilton family that has dominated the world of popular culture, its name is still legendary. There are hotels across the globe, which is why many people were so proud to call it a classic American company. However, that’s no longer the case. Instead, a portion of the hotel empire is Chinese.
In 2016, 25% of the company was sold to the Chinese investment company HNA Group, which made them the majority shareholder. With that in mind, you could say that it’s no longer an all-American company.
Ben & Jerry’s
When it comes to ice cream, there’s no doubt about the fact that Ben & Jerry’s reigns supreme. This all-American ice cream brand is a staple in classic American movies and television shows, and you can find these products anywhere in America. And while Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield created their company in America in 1978, they never expected to see their business grow from strength to strength. And they never expected it to sell for so much.
In 2000, Ben & Jerry’s switched from being an American company to an English company when Unilever bought the ice cream giant for a whopping $326 million. But despite this, the company’s HQ is in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
Dirt Devil
Hands up if you’ve ever owned a Dirt Devil. We wouldn’t be surprised if you have, as this brand of vacuum cleaner is super popular in the United States and has been since the company was founded by Philip Geier in Ohio in 1905. And while its roots in Cleveland suggest to many that this is an all-American company, it might surprise you to learn that Dirt Devil hasn’t been an American company since 2003.
Although the Dirt Devil headquarters are still in the U.S. (in North Carolina, to be exact), this company is now owned by Chinese company Techtronic Industries. Interestingly, this company also owns Vax and Hoover.
Budweiser
Does it get any more American than a cold Bud on a hot summer’s day? We think not. Budweiser can be traced back to St. Louis in the mid-1800s, which makes this beer an impressive part of classic American history. And while the beer is super popular in the United States, there’s no doubt about the fact that it’s also become hugely popular across the pond. But did you know it’s now a Belgian company?
Belgium has long been associated with beer, so it came as no surprise to some when Belgian multinational drink and brewing company AB InBev decided to buy Budweiser in 2008. Apparently, the company sold for a huge $52 billion.
Tesla
When you think of Tesla, you immediately think of Elon Musk, right? And while many people associate this automotive company with America thanks to its headquarters in Palo Alto, there’s no doubt about the fact that this company is international. In fact, Elon Musk himself is South African with Canadian citizenship. So, it’s not equally the classic American company we all thought it was. However, it does have some American ties.
Although Musk is the majority shareholder of Tesla, the second-largest holder of Tesla is Vanguard Group – which is an American company. Because of this, it’s fair to say that Tesla is multi-national.
General Electric
Although you might not know the history of General Electric, you’ve probably heard of the name. You might have even bought some appliances from them! But what’s impressive about this popular all-American company is the fact that this company is over 130 years old, as it was founded in 1882. And since then, it’s become a titan of the electronics industry. But while a lot of the appliances bought here will have “Made in America” stamps on them, this company is no longer American.
Although the appliances may be made in America, all of the decisions about General Electric are made by the Chinese company Haier. They bought General Electric back in 2016 for an incredible $5.4 billion.
Popeyes
Hands up if you love Popeyes. We’re going to assume that you all have your hands up, as this fast food chain is considered to be a fan favorite among Americans. The first Popeyes store opened up in New Orleans in 1972, and since then, it’s become a classic American institution – and now there are thousands of locations across the country. And while the majority of Popeyes locations are in the U.S., it’s no longer an American company.
In fact, Popeyes is owned by the Canadian company Restaurant Brands International. The Toronto-based company bought the fast food chain back in 2017 for an incredible $1.8 billion and has kept it ever since.
Purina
Although there are so many pet food companies on the market, there’s no doubt about the fact that Purina is an American institution. This company (which was originally called Purina Mills) was founded in 1894 by William H. Danforth, who decided to bring animal feed to the big market. Since then, the once all-American company has been sold countless times – but its biggest sale came in 2001 when it was sold to Nestle for $10.3 billion.
Of course, the Swiss-owned company is known predominantly for its cereals, but it’s fair to say that it’s now also made its mark in the pet food world. And while Purina may be popular in America, it’s no longer American.
Firestone
Can you believe that Firestone has been around since 1900? This tire and rubber company was created by Harvey Firestone, and it’s amazing to learn that his first location in Akron, Ohio transformed into a countrywide business. But while it seems as though this business was proud of its all-American roots, they decided to go in a different direction and sell in 1988 to become what we know as Bridgestone Firestone.
During this deal, Firestone was acquired by the Bridgestone Tire Company Ltd, which is a Japanese company. It was sold for an incredible $2.6 billion, which means that it’s now a Japanese company.
Snapchat
In 2011, the world was introduced to a brand-new social media app. And you probably don’t need us to tell you that Snapchat quickly took off and took the app world by storm. We have Evan Spiegel and Bobby Murphy to thank for bringing this app into our lives, and as they’re both American businessmen – and as Snapchat was originally headquartered in Los Angeles – it would be easy to assume that it’s an American company. But it’s no longer.
In 2017, the Chinese investment company Tencent decided to buy 145.8 million shares in Snapchat, which was reportedly worth around $1.7 billion. So, Snapchat is both American and Chinese now.
Riot Games Inc.
If you’re someone who loves video games, there’s a high chance that you’ll already be familiar with Riot Games. We have this company to thank for bringing games like League of Legends and Valorant into our world, and there’s no doubt about the fact that fans across the globe have fallen in love with their creations. And while Americans Brandon Beck and Marc Merrill founded the company, they no longer own it.
In 2011, a 93% stake in the company was sold to Chinese company Tencent Holdings. But a few years later, in 2015, they decided to buy out the last slice of the pie to take on full ownership.
John Hancock Life Insurance
Let’s be honest; John Hancock Life Insurance couldn’t be more American if it tried. After all, the company was named after one of America’s Founding Fathers! The company was formed back in 1862 and was originally approved by John A. Andrew, governor of Massachusetts. But it seems as though this all-American company has changed its ways over the years. Now, it’s no longer American and primarily owned by a Canadian corporation.
Yes, when John Hancock Life Insurance was listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 2000, many buyers came out of the woodwork. But it was Manulife Financial Corporation’s $1 billion offer for an all-stock takeover that ultimately won this battle.
Lucky Strike
Whether you call them Lucky Strikes or whether you’re more of a “Luckies” kind of person, there’s no doubt about the fact that this cigarette brand is pretty famous. Thanks to its red and white box, these things are noticeable everywhere, and it’s amazing to think that this brand has been around since it got its start in 1871 in Virginia. And while they are known as being quintessentially American, they’re no longer American.
Although the company was bought by the American Tobacco Company in the early 1900s, there was a slight chance of events in the late 1990s. That’s because the British American Tobacco PLC bought the American Tobacco Company in 1994, which meant that Lucky Strike went with it.
Forbes Magazine
From the “30 Under 30” list to the wealthiest billionaire lists, Forbes is most people’s go-to when it comes to understanding the rankings of companies and celebrities in terms of their finances and their popularity. And it’s hard to believe that this magazine first entered the public domain in 1917, but we have financial columnist B.C Forbes to thank for that! And while Forbes’ grandson is now the editor-in-chief of the magazine, it’s no longer American-owned.
In 2014, Forbes was bought for $400 million by Hong Kong-based company Whale Media Investments. However, things changed a little in 2023 when American entrepreneur Austin Russell bought 82% of the company.
IBM (PC Division)
When it comes to the world of technology, there are some key players in the game. And IBM is one of them. This company was founded in 1911 and quickly found its feet as one of the forerunners when it came to technology – including in the computer world. However, IBM will be the first to tell you that the company has so many different facets, which is why it sold its PC division in 2004.
In order to focus more of its attention on its other endeavors, IBM sold its PC division to Lenovo for $1.75 billion back in 2004. If you didn’t already know, Lenovo is a Chinese company.
Brookstone
There are so many retail stores around the U.S., but a lot of Americans have fond memories of buying their toys, electronics, and lifestyle items from these stores. It was the epitome of classic Americana, and this was largely due to its history. After all, the first Brookstone store opened in Peterborough, New Hampshire, and then they expanded from there. However, financial struggles in 2014 meant that things had to change.
When the company was forced to file for bankruptcy, two Chinese companies called Sanpower and Sailing Capital decided to save the retail stores from extinction. Sadly, they’re now facing even more financial trouble.
Hoover US
If you’re from Ohio, you might already know your state’s association with the Hoover Company! After all, this electronics company was founded by William Henry Hoover in 1908, and it quickly became one of the biggest manufacturers of vacuums in the United States. Because of this, it’s long been regarded as an all-American company. However, it’s no longer an American company at all since it was sold back in 2007.
Although the headquarters of this company can still be found in North Carolina, the day-to-day running of Hoover US takes place in Hong Kong, where it’s owned by the Chinese company Techntronic Industries.
Frigidaire
If you’re looking for a classic American company that sells kitchen appliances and accessories, then Frigidaire has got your back, right? Everyone in the U.S. should be familiar with this brand, which has been around since 1918, when it was founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Amazingly, this company got off the ground when the founder of General Motors decided to help out the company’s founders, Nathaniel B. Wales and Alfred Mellowes, with the financials.
Frigidaire was originally sold in 1979, but it has since been sold to an international company. Yes, Sweden’s Electrolux company bought it back in 1986, which means that it’s now technically Swedish.
Ironman
If you’ve ever competed in the Ironman competition, you’ll know that it’s no joke. This competition is a test of your endurance and your stamina and is one of the most intense triathlons around the world. But did you know that Ironman was actually formed as part of the Hawaii Triathlon Corporation? And while the Ironman competition is still associated with Hawaii today, an exchange of contracts in 2015 meant that the company behind this event was no longer American.
Ironman was bought by Chinese company Dalian Wanda Group, who bought the company in 2015 for an incredible $650 million. Since then, though, it has been exchanged back to American hands.
Alka-Seltzer
There’s a high chance that you have a pack (or two) of Alka-Seltzer in your medicine cabinet right now. After all, these antacids are incredibly popular and can be found in any pharmacy across the United States – and did you know that they’ve been around since 1931? This medicine was released under the Dr. Miles Medicine Company, but the company is no longer under American ownership. Instead, it’s German.
Yes, Alka-Seltzer was bought in 1978 by Bayer for an impressive amount of money. It’s reported that they bought all 5.4 million shares of the company for a hefty price of $216 million.
Sotheby’s
Sotheby’s is known as one of the most impressive fine art brokerages in the world, and its auctions are famous for selling some of the most famous and most expensive items in existence. But did you know that this company originated in London? However, many people assumed that it was an American company, as it truly rose to fame after it moved to New York City in 1963. But now it’s no longer American or British.
In 2019, the majority share of this company was sold to French-Israeli businessman Patrick Drahi. So, its history can be traced around the globe rather than just to the United States.
Spotify
When it comes to music streaming, Spotify has the market cornered. Billions of people across the globe use Spotify on a daily basis – but many people assume that Spotify is an American company. However, that’s not the case at all. The streaming service was founded by Swedish entrepreneurs Daniel Ek and Martin Lorentzon, but it just so happens that its headquarters can be found in the Big Apple, New York.
To make matters even more confusing, Spotify is actually listed on the New York Stock Exchange through their Spotify Technology S.A. company, which is listed as a Luxembourg City-domiciled holding company.
Here we go again. Photo illustration of Joe Biden holding ice cream | via Imagine Art
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Ice Cream Truck Owners Revolt Against Democrats’ Ridiculous Crack Down.
Ice cream truck owners aren’t happy with Democrats in New York City who propose a new policy that would force truck owners to ditch their fuel-powered generators and use “climate-friendly alternatives.”
The eco-friendly proposal has been slammed as “ridiculous.” Truck owners warn it will have a devastating impact on their companies.
Appearing on Fox News, Ice Cream Emergency owner Ed Lachterman said, “You can’t even have solar in a home if you have trees that are too tall. How are you going to drive around the city and have a solar-powered truck in the concrete jungle?” Lachterman asked. (POLL: Is Joe Biden Fit to be President? Results Are In…)
“It’s just ridiculous. You’re going to have product costs going through the roof trying to convert something is crazy, and if you go battery, I’ll need something twice as long to hold the batteries to run it,” he added.
“We’d probably have to raise our prices,” Lachterman’s wife Carol said.
“This guy is trying to put a law based on his agenda without thinking of anything, without thinking of the consequences, and that’s not what you’re in office to do,” Lachterman said.
“You’re there to help your constituents and to say, ‘Oh, well, we’re going to just start banning things,’ all they’re going to do is put people out of work, make the economy worse and just really destroy everything that we’re trying to build up.”
“Brooklyn Councilman Lincoln Restler introduced the proposal last week that would force ice cream trucks to ditch their fuel-powered generators for more climate-friendly alternatives over the course of the next three years,” the report said. (Trending: Disney Just Pulled A Bud Light…)
“Ice cream truck operators would be forced to rely on solar-powered or electric-powered machines, which could cost companies thousands, according to the New York Post,” the report added.
The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has created new rules that would require pizzerias with coal and wooden-fire ovens installed prior to 2016 to cut carbon emissions by 75%.
“They’re trying to go after your gasoline water heaters, your gas stoves… The sad thing is it’s an attack on the hospitality industry, which is one of the biggest employers in New York City,” Lachterman said. “New York is not going to have to worry about businesses because everyone’s going to move out. You can’t operate under these conditions.”
We are now being told that producing food is bad for the planet. To “save” the planet, globalists insist, farms must be shut down across the globe.
A family with starving children, Wikimedia Commons.
Under the guise of reducing “methane emissions,” thirteen nations have signed a pledge to engineer global famine by gutting agricultural production and shutting down farms. Announced earlier this year by the Global Methane Hub — a cabal of crisis engineers who exploit public panic to destroy the world food supply — those thirteen nations are:
Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Chile, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Germany, Panama, Peru, Spain, the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, and Uruguay.
Imagine no meat production from Australia, Brazil and the USA. This is the goal of the globalists. And they admit it’s all part of the climate fraud which has been thoroughly exposed as a quack science hoax, by the way. As Luis Planas, Spain’s Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food says, “I am glad to see the shared commitment by the international community to mitigate methane emissions from agriculture as a means to achieve the goals we signed for in the Paris Agreement on climate.”
“Food systems are responsible for 60% of methane emissions,” warns Marcelo Mena, CEO of the Global Methane Hub. She is saying that farming is destroying the planet. Hence, their demand to shut down farms. Without farms, you have no food. And without food, you get exactly what Kamala Harris called for over the weekend: “Reduced population.”
The depopulation agenda is no longer even a secret. They are bragging about it.
And here’s their logic: FOOD = GLOBAL WARMING. So they are attacking food and shutting it down.
Starving child in Africa.
Cows and chickens to be replaced by crickets and insect larvae
Enjoy the crunchy fake meat patties and Cricket McNuggets. Soon, you’ll be eating bugs because meat will be wildly unaffordable due to the governments shutting down farms and ranches. As journalist Leo Hohmann explains:
We can presume from this language that among the practices being considered are replacing a major portion of the beef and dairy cattle, pork and chicken stocks that populations rely on for protein with insect larvae, meal worms, crickets, etc. The U.N., World Economic Forum and other NGOs have been promoting meatless diets and the consumption of insect protein for years, and billionaires have invested in massive insect factories being built in the state of Illinois, in Canada and in the Netherlands, where meal worms, crickets and other bugs will be processed as additives to be inserted into the food supply, often without clear labels that will inform people of exactly what they are eating.
Hohmann also refers to the Deagel forecast which projects an almost 70 percent reduction of the U.S. population by 2025, saying:
There is no more efficient way to depopulate than through war, famine and plagues. Isn’t it interesting that all three of these time-tested methods of murder are in play right now?
In a related story, Michael Snyder from The Economic Collapse Blog writes:
Global food supplies just keep getting even tighter, and global hunger has risen to extremely alarming levels… According to the United Nations, nearly 30 percent of the global population does not have constant access to food right now, and there are approximately 900 million people that are facing “severe food insecurity”…
Chinese children starving.
Gee, add to that the next global PLANdemic, and you can see (if you take off your leftist blinders) where this is headed. And the BIDEN REGIME is particpating in it!–TPR
Leftists Furious at In-N-Out After Company Reveals New Policy, Demand Boycott. Music to my ears.
Conservatives have engaged in a very successful boycott of Bud Light over the company’s blatant political agenda, but now it looks like the left has found its own boycott target after famed fast food giant In-N-Out Burger has made them mad.
The fast food giant has garnered the ire of the left by telling employees that the coronavirus crisis is over and there is no longer a reason to wear masks in the workplace.
Frankly, why shouldn’t the burger behemoth? There are no reputable studies that show masking prevents the transmission of viruses. Masks just don’t work.
Leftist Dr. Lucky Tran was incensed enough to start a massive Twitter thread in which he wailed about the burger company and urged his leftist followers to attack them with tweets and messages on the company’s websites.
One week ago, a court in California ruled that employers cannot be sued for spreading COVID to their workers due to lack of protections.
This week, In-N-Out banned their employees from wearing masks.
The comfort food-style restaurant chain Cracker Barrel, known for its overwhelming amount of ornamental knick-knacks and vintage signs plastered on the walls, is in some social media trouble today. Folks on the internet are claiming Cracker Barrel is racist.
What’s the meaning behind Cracker Barrel?
According to Southern Living, “cracker-barrel” was coined in 1916 because of barrels containing soda crackers — a popular item for sale at country stores. Customers at said country stores would hang around the barrels as a kind of ritual (kind of like the trope of employees gossiping near the water cooler). The first Cracker Barrel location opened in 1969 in Lebanon, Tenn., and it derived its name from the cracker-barrel community experience back in the day.
According to Dictionary.com, “cracker-barrel” means “of or suggesting the simple rustic informality and directness thought to be characteristic of life in and around the country store.”
But some Twitter users have also pointed out that the term “cracker” might have another, more racist connotation. According to NPR, the term “cracker” was used in the mid-18th century to refer to poor white people in states like Maryland, Virginia, and Georgia.
“It is suspected that it was a shortened version of ‘whip-cracker,’ since the manual labor they did involved driving livestock with a whip,” historian Jelani Cobb told the outlet.
But in the late 1800s, writers from the northern USA region referred to some southerners as “crackers.”
Oh, Please!
“[Those writers] decided that they were called that because of the cracking of the whip when they drove slaves,” historian Dana Ste. Claire told the outlet, though he noted those the term would be applied to weren’t typically wealthy enough to own slaves.
Users on Twitter also claimed that a “cracker barrel” was the barrel used to hold whips, though there is currently no historical evidence to back up that claim. [See the above screenshot from a Twitter post.]
Back in 2015, someone named Ryan Koch, who lived in Iowa, started a petition to change its name because he believed Cracker Barrel to be “racist” toward white folks. Per the Change.org petition, Koch wrote, “I say all European Americans start protesting C****er Barrel. It uses an offensive slur, and it is deeply offensive and mocks our long and proud heritage.” He later clarified the post was “satire.” Ummmmm, OK.
In a tweet, one user claimed you can even see a whip in the logo, going from the first R in “barrel” to the K in “cracker.”
While it’s currently unclear whether or not there is any historical evidence to that claim, the company has since removed the connecting line from the R to the K in the logo.
Cracker Barrel’s PR team reportedly told Pop Icon that the logo was meant to “invoke nostalgia,” and was inspired by “an older gentleman who sat on the front porch during the summer.”
Has Cracker Barrel ever been racist?
So, while it seems like the name of Cracker Barrel isn’t inherently racist, it sounds like a lot of Black customers have experienced racism at the restaurant locations, which is horrifying.
In 2004, there was a filing and settlement of a racial discrimination lawsuit against Cracker Barrel after finding evidence of racist behavior and discrimination in at least 50 locations across the U.S. According to CBS News, 21 people filed a $100 million federal lawsuit against the chain. At the time, a spokesperson for Cracker Barrel stated, “ Our mission is pleasing people, and that means all people. We do not tolerate discrimination of any kind.”However, evidence suggests that Cracker Barrel definitely knew what was happening and wasn’t doing anything about it. Attorney David Sanford stated, “It can’t be the case that Cracker Barrel doesn’t know about it. We have enough evidence right now to suggest that Cracker Barrel, to the very highest level, is responsible.”
According to CBS News, the lawsuit includes statements from Black customers who stated they were forced to wait while white customers were seated right away. One specific person said that she arrived at Cracker Barrel at 9:48 p.m. and was told that she couldn’t be served because the restaurant was about to close. However, she then saw four white men were allowed in. “We had hungry children, and he still refused to serve us,” the person said.
“There are perhaps thousands more African-Americans who have been denied service, treated rudely by servers and hosts, and subjected to racial slurs at Cracker Barrel restaurants,” attorney Grant Morris said.
Hopefully, the chain learned from their (sic) mistakes and has implemented a zero-tolerance policy among their (sic) staff. Nobody deserves to go to a restaurant and be discriminated against — period.
If you are looking for ways to donate your time or money to Black Lives Matter and other antiracist organizations, we have created a list of resources to get you started. [bolded in original]
Well, that last paragraph lets you know where this clueless white woman who posted this on DISTRACTIFY stands on the political spectrum.
It would seem she is so far gone that she doesn’t proofread her articles before submitting them. A number of commas are missing and misusing their for its. I left those in with the notation hat they are in the original.
Chapman is located 30 miles from LA. A private Liberal Arts school.
The egg section at a grocery in Redondo Beach. The average retail price for a dozen large eggs jumped to $7.37 in California this week, up from $4.83 at the beginning of December and $2.35 at this time last year.
(Jay Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
Views: 35
Pampering Chickens cost Californians over $7.00 a dozen. So what’s next? Air conditioning in the summer and heat in the winter? I was upset when a dozen of eggs cost $2.89 last week. But compared to California that’s dirt cheap.
The average retail price for a dozen large eggs jumped to $7.37 in California this week, up from $4.83 at the beginning of December and just $2.35 at this time last year, data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture show. This is being blamed on the bird flu.
Beside price gouging, I think cage free is another reason. In Ohio I saw that the cage free eggs are $3.99 average. This time last year eggs were $2.35 in California. Ohio $.098. You tell me why we see the big difference.
This photo provided by Foxglove Communications shows Al Copeland Jr. with his cookbook "Secrets of a Tastemaker: Al Copeland, The Cookbook." (Sam Hanna/Foxglove Communications via AP)
Views: 22
I found this in my local newspaper and right away I thought of Popeye’s number one customer and fan. I lovingly admire him for his ability to put down that fried chicken.
FILE – Popeyes founder Al Copeland holds a piece of his fried chicken outside one of his 34 fast food outlets in New Orleans on June 20, 1979. A new book, “Secrets of a Tastemaker: Al Copeland, The Cookbook,” released last month, helped mark the 50th anniversary of Popeyes Famous Fried Chicken. (AP Photo, File)FILE – A chicken sandwich is displayed at a Popeyes fast food restaurant in Kyle, Texas, on Aug. 22, 2019. A new book, “Secrets of a Tastemaker: Al Copeland, The Cookbook,” released last month, helped mark the 50th anniversary of Popeyes Famous Fried Chicken. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)
Louisiana is known for delivering food with big, bold flavor. The same can be said for the founder of the Popeyes fried chicken empire, who put spicy chicken, red beans and dirty rice on the national map and whose story is outlined in a new book, “Secrets of a Tastemaker: Al Copeland, The Cookbook.”
Copeland’s son Al Copeland Jr. said he and authors Chris Rose and Kit Wohl tried to capture the “real life and times of Al Copeland” in the book released last month.
Popeyes founder Al Copeland in New Orleans in 1979. (AP Photo, File)
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This photo provided by Foxglove Communications shows Al Copeland Jr. with his cookbook “Secrets of a Tastemaker: Al Copeland, The Cookbook.” (Sam Hanna/Foxglove Communications via AP)
Popeyes founder Al Copeland in New Orleans in 1979. (AP Photo, File)
The elder Copeland, who died in 2008, made his mark in business with his restaurants, but was also known for philanthropic endeavors — including “Secret Santa” missions to thousands of children in metro New Orleans and the extravagant Christmas light display at his home. For a time, he even had a successful offshore powerboat racing career.
“Some people thought he was flashy and flamboyant, and he was,” his son said in an interview with The Associated Press. “But what they didn’t know was that everything that was his was yours — whether that was a Lamborghini or just welcoming you into his home. He was very much a man who enjoyed seeing people happy.”
Copeland built — and eventually lost — the Popeyes fried chicken empire. His first restaurant opened 50 years ago, in 1972, in the New Orleans suburb of Arabi. The “Love That Chicken” jingle, still used in commercials today, debuted in 1980.
The book recounts Copeland’s boldness in cooking, and includes recipes — though not those associated with Popeyes, his son said. Readers can get a glimpse, he said, into the kind of food Al Copeland used in Copeland’s, the casual dining restaurant chain venture he started in 1983.
The book includes dishes served at the Copeland family table, including corn and crab bisque, crawfish bread, ricochet catfish, crawfish eggplant au gratin, and pork tenderloin CP3, named for then-New Orleans Hornets star guard Chris Paul.
“What runs throughout the book … is the story of the American dream,” Copeland Jr. said. “This book is about a guy who didn’t have much of anything, not much of an education and he was living in a world that wouldn’t give him much of a shot.”
By 1989, there were 700 Popeyes franchises in the United States and abroad, and Copeland leveraged those assets to buy the Church’s Fried Chicken chain. That move gave him control over 2,000 chicken restaurants. But the success was short-lived: A little more than two years later, the merged company had amassed more than $400 million in debt and, in 1991, Copeland filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for Al Copeland Enterprises.
In May 1992, the bankruptcy court awarded Copeland’s creditors total control of his chicken empire under a new name, America’s Favorite Chicken Company. Copeland did retain ownership of the Popeyes recipes and the manufacturing company that made the seasonings, according to the book.
“Although he was not operating Popeyes, the company could not operate — not even exist — without him,” the book reads. “That ruling reinforced Al’s longtime belief that he should always have a back door, an alternative plan for change.”
In 2017, Restaurant Brands International Inc. acquired Popeyes.
“He has done almost more than any other chef to get the city’s most authentic flavors to people everywhere,” she said. “I think of him as an ambassador for New Orleans … because wherever there’s a Popeyes, then you have the chance to get a piece of New Orleans.”
The September book launch helped mark the 50th anniversary of Popeyes. Copeland Jr. said the fried chicken franchise was founded when he was 9 years old so he’s had a “chance to experience the whole ride from the poorer times to the exciting times.”
“This project is bringing back a lifetime of memories and it’s a way for my father’s legacy to live on,” he said.
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However, evidence suggests that Cracker Barrel definitely knew what was happening and wasn’t doing anything about it. Attorney David Sanford stated, “It can’t be the case that Cracker Barrel doesn’t know about it. We have enough evidence right now to suggest that Cracker Barrel, to the very highest level, is responsible.”
