Balance of Food

Percy film is a useful tool to learn more about the dangers of GMOs

Based on a true story. What an amazing, actually true story. Not just the saga of Percy Schmeiser, a Saskatchewan farmer on the wrong side of Monsanto, but the thousands of farmers forced to settle with the large conglomerate.

We have written a lot about glyphosate and its impact on corn and soybeans as well as the feed that goes into animals that we eat.

Percy, otherwise known as Percy vs. Goliath, tells that story in a straightforward presentation. Not building characters but acting out the actual story, within reason. A direction that will help explain significantly complex material through a feature film setup.

From the review: "The film doesn't waste time in the beginning with an elaborate open. We pretty much are there at the beginning with the start of the story. The film is a blow-by-blow essence of the actual story. We apparently aren't here for character development, except for when Percy buys a large tractor in the beginning of the film."

Percy is a troubled film due to the absolutely terrible dialogue. Our sibling blog, Canadian Crossing.com, has a full review.

Canadian film review: Percy

We wrote about a very troubled film called Food Evolution full of questionable editing and deception and lies. Here are the stories we wrote on the topic.

Buying truly natural food is the best way to avoid Monsanto GMOs

Film review: Food Evolution

Food Evolution tries to show us GMOs aren't all bad

There are prominent Americans in the cast of this Canadian film. Christopher Walken plays Saskatchewan farmer Percy Schmeiser. Christina Ricci and Zach Braff plays supporters of Schmeiser's case.

What's Tempting: GMO-free Cheerios

From the review: "Glyphosate, the primary ingredient in Roundup, is a disaster to the American and Canadian farming industry. You may know the phrase GMO; you will learn a lot more about it in the film."

BalanceofFood.com film coverage

We are great believers in buying local from nearby farmers that are not plugged into a world that is glyphosate. If you are new to this idea, watching Percy can help you, even with this level of dialogue.

Percy is available on demand in the United States and on Crave in Canada.

photo credit: Percy
video credit: YouTube/Mongrel Media

Girl Scouts cookies are a bargain with an amazing shopping experience

Grocery store shopping is terrible because you never know when they will be out of a product or the price is so high but you still might pay it for that product, if it were on the shelf.

Let's talk about a great food product that has been consistently great, hasn't gone up in price, with the coolest people selling you the product. I give you Girl Scouts cookies.

This is the time of year to buy Girl Scouts cookies. No grocery store needed. Ask on social media if someone local will sell you cookies. They will sell you cookies.

These girls know their product: the virtues of every cookie. There are old flavors and new flavors.

I pay $5/box now, during the pandemic, before the pandemic. I paid $5/box in 2023. I would have paid $6/box to get those same great cookies.

Here's a look at the 2023 Girl Scout Cookie lineup. 🤩 Flavors and names may vary depending on your area, so make sure to check https://t.co/CV3iyiXcti! 😉 pic.twitter.com/kGC4ytxNR0

— Girl Scouts (@girlscouts) January 20, 2023

I am of the opposite primary gender as these girls and the moms who are there to watch over the whole experience. I do sincerely love supporting young female entrepreneurs. I engage them in conversation about the cookies. They had mentioned Jenna Ortega. I said I think Jenna Ortega is great. I asked the mothers if they knew who Jenna Ortega was. They didn't recognize the name. I told them Ortega is Wednesday from the latest incarnation of Wednesday Addams on Netflix. Rare is the moment when I can be reasonably cool to young girls.

I personally love the interaction. I could be a grump, give my money, and take my cookies. I enjoy the experience of a brief conversation about the whole experience. They learn business skills, making change, and social interaction of people way older than they are. Have never been disappointed in the service I get from Girl Scouts selling cookies.

You might buy yours from a co-worker at the office, selling her daughters Girl Scouts cookies. You might not even know that experience of dealing directly with Girl Scouts. You are still supporting them.

(Yes, sometimes fathers and non-binary adults help sell cookies for their daughters. Good for them. Mostly, women do the selling even in offices.)

You deserve better than 'birthday cake' flavored anything

You could be a crotchety person obsessed over the fact that they still use palm oil in the cookies. I am that crotchety person in other scenarios so I can't criticize.

Maybe you are on some kind of Keto type diet and can't eat Girl Scouts cookies. You could buy them and then give them as gifts. They keep very well in the freezer.

The Girl Scouts who were selling cookies outside marijuana dispensaries: a great example of entrepreneurship. (They may not do this anymore and only applicable in areas where marijuana is legal.)

BalanceofFood.com advice coverage

BalanceofFood.com temptations coverage

You likely read a lot of "content" that is meant to be a commercial within a story. Please do not mistake this for "content." I personally like Thin Mints. I buy 2 boxes a year and put them in the freezer until Christmas. This is not an endorsement of the cookies.

The point of the exercise is a food where the price is consistent and service outstanding. This is rare in the food world, even rarer now. Your blood pressure may go up in going to a restaurant or a grocery store. Going to Girl Scouts will likely reduce your blood pressure.

Buying Girl Scouts cookies is a chance to have that rare customer service food-related experience.

Editor's note: I did take this picture with permission. I showed the photo to the adult women to make clear that no part of the girls were in the original photo.

photo credit: me
Twitter capture: @girlscouts