In This Issue:

A Philosophical Idiom

GM and Vanilla

Fudge Report – Penuche is back!

A new Front

July Schedule

MONTHLY FLAVOR REPORT

A PHILOSOPHICAL IDIOM

“Is the glass half full or half empty?” You’ve heard this statement before, as it’s probably the most famous philosophical question, ever. While it is the epitome of optimism versus pessimism, many philosophers have attempted to make the question much more than a simple comparison, looking at expectations, judgments, cynicism, and even making it a trick question (maybe the glass is too big?). But before I get all esoteric on you, perhaps some real-life examples from the world of ice cream are in order…

Is the ice cream tub half empty or half full?

Some customers will see a tub that is almost empty and immediately declare that it must be a popular flavor (since it’s almost gone). Others will see only a couple of scoops left and know immediately that it’s an unpopular flavor (else why would there just be those couple of scoops left?). The reverse sometimes happens when a brand new, untouched tub is in the freezer (who knows how long it’s been sitting there? A few minutes? A month?). The facts are that all of our ice creams are made fresh in the store, and whatever is there in the tub (full, half, or almost gone) is probably no more than a day or a week from being just a collection of ingredients, waiting to come together in a glorious combination of flavor!

Is the ice cream store half empty or half full?

Some folks see a line and conclude the place must be popular. Some shudder to think about standing in line to be served. And some remember Yogi Berra who once said of a popular eatery, “No one goes there anymore – it’s too crowded.” In some other stores the place looks packed because they have no room for a line, or the line moves at a snail’s pace. This being summer, we get lines in the store. We’ve made extra room in the store for those summer lines, and while sometimes the line can look daunting, we have always prided ourselves in having a crackerjack staff able to serve you fast and efficiently. If there’s a snag, it’s usually because someone can’t decide on a flavor (we have so many good ones to choose from).

So, is your ice cream dish half empty, or half full? We hope that it becomes full…and then, very empty!

GM and VANILLA

General Motors has certainly been in the news of late, but here’s one story you might have missed. It’s the story of a persnickety Pontiac, and Vanilla ice cream. A Pontiac owner complained to the dealership that his car refused to start after he went to the local parlor to get vanilla ice cream. It never happened with any other flavor, just vanilla. The complaint seemed crazy, but the dealership sent a mechanic out anyway just to see what was wrong.

On his next visit to the parlor, the customer bought vanilla ice cream, and sure enough, the when he went to restart the car – it refused to turn over. The next night the customer and the mechanic went for chocolate ice cream, and there were no problems with the restart. Over the next several nights the pattern was the same – vanilla ice cream and starting issues, any other flavor and all was fine. Refusing to accept that the car was allergic to vanilla ice cream, the mechanic continued to study the pattern, and finally found the solution.

Whenever the customer bought vanilla, it took less time for his to get his ice cream and return to the car than when he purchased any other flavor. Because vanilla was the most popular flavor, it was always kept nearer to the entrance, while the others were farther away. It took longer for these flavors to be scooped, in turn taking the customer longer to return to the car. This brief period was enough to let the engine cool down; but with vanilla, the time it took to get the ice cream and return was not long enough, and caused a problem with the engine’s vapor lock. The mechanic adjusted the vapor lock, and the customer was satisfied (and free to buy whatever flavor he wanted).

If only fixing GM itself was so easy…

FUDGE REPORT

Penuche! We haven’t made this for a few years, but it’s back in two variations – plain, and Penuche Walnut. If you’ve never had this unique brown-sugar fudge, you owe it to yourself to try a taste (it’s very sweet). It’s here in July for a limited time, so hurry in. Also, July means our famous cheesecake fudge flavors are here – Chocolate Cheesecake and Caramel Pecan Cheesecake.

A NEW FRONT

Our new look (outside) is complete – the awnings were installed on the last day of June, and we have a new sign! The entrance looks a bit different than before, but since we have no film in our digital camera, we can’t show it off. However, if YOU do the job, we’d be so appreciative that if we use your photo on our website’s main page, we’ll send you a coupon for a free cone, or sundae, or whatever (whatever in ice cream, that is, up to a point; actually, up to a pint). Send your digital masterpiece to homemade@zingersicecream.com. And thanks!

JULY SCHEDULE

Here’s the schedule for July:

· Every day, 1p-10p. That was simple.

There is one variation for the schedule – Saturday, the Fourth of July – our traditional Independence Day hours are from Noon-9pm (after the parade and before the fireworks).

MONTHLY FLAVOR REPORT

This month Coffee Bean takes over for Coffee, and many old favorites return. Here’s the list:

THE STANDARDS (back row): Butter Pecan, Chocolate Almond, Chocolate Peanut Butter, Coffee, Just Plain Chocolate, Licorice, Marionberry, Mint Chocolate Chip, New York Cheesecake, Oreo Cookie, Strawberry, and Very Vanilla.

THIS MONTH’S SPECIAL FLAVORS: Black Walnut, Blue Moon, Butter Brickle, Chocolate Covered Banana, Lemon Custard, Malted Milk Ball, Oregon Black Cherry, Oregon Hazelnut, and Peach.

Leaving this month: Dulce de Leche, Orange-Pineapple, and Toasted Marshmallow.

Coming this month: Caramel Apple, Caramel Cashew, Double Butterscotch Chip, Melon Madness, and Root Beer Float.

MAIL CONTACT

If you have questions about this newsletter or about Zinger’s Homemade Ice Cream, contact us via e-mail: newsletter@zingersicecream.com