Made Better Most of the Time

Better Made potato chips are made in Detroit, Michigan. They are beloved by people from Michigan because they are made in Michigan. Better Made products can be seen in some of the tourist-attraction television ads touting "Pure Michigan," that's how proud Michigan is of them.

Hey -- they are the recipients of the Rachael Ray Best Salt and Vinegar Chip Award. What else do you need to know? Their website also mentions other awards, including "Detroit Free Press Best Potato Chip 2002-2007."

So, it's 2010 -- what has happened since? I'll tell you what. Quality control went down the toilet, that's what. Even though they are cheap in Michigan (because they're so often on sale) and even though the plain chips are thin and crispy just like I like 'em and have the best potato flavor of any chip I ever had, we stopped buying the brand because every bag seemed to contain way too many inedible pieces of potato yuck.

Well, last time we were in the grocery store, I was appalled by the price of Frito-Lay products, so I grabbed a bag of Better Made chips.

I had some with my sandwich today. Is there anything better than a thin, crispy, perfectly salted, potato-y tasting chip with braunschweiger on rye? Huh? I ask you.

But I digress. I had some of those chips at lunch today, and I'm here to tell you, Better Made are the best chips I've ever had. Yes, I've had Mike-Sells. Yes, I've had Charles Chips. These are better.

There is only one thing I like more than Better Made potato chips: Better Made potato sticks. But I think I'll leave that for another day.

Not to be outdone by Rachael, I hereby bestow upon Better Made Potato Chips of Detroit, Michigan, the Jan Knez Zowee! Award.

Land of Lincoln

I'm from Illinois.

I’ve lived in Michigan since 1980. When I travel (literally or virtually) and someone asks me where I'm from, I say Michigan because that's where I live now. But I'm from Illinois.

I never intended to stay in Michigan. I've never really liked it here. Among the things I dislike most are the complete lack of specialty liquor stores, the primitive driver license issuing system, the Eastern time zone, the auto industry, and the habit of local television stations to broadcast sports featuring Lions and Tigers instead of Bears and Cubs.

You would think that after 30 years there would be something about Michigan I find redeeming. Nope. Well, all right -- Michigan does have a cool big bridge and lots of Indian casinos, but that doesn't inspire sweet feelings in me. When I cross the state line back into Michigan after a trip, I tend to notice it. When crossing the state line into Illinois, I still get all warm and fuzzy inside.

So why did I stay in Michigan all these years? Because that's where the love of my life is, who, incidentally, is not from Michigan either. And we both stayed here for our jobs.

On January 31, 2014, I will have lived in Michigan longer than I lived in Illinois.

That is going to mess me up.