Is Des Moines Really This Boring?

[CamEdwards]

Is there just nothing happening in Des Moines these days that this story becomes newsworthy?

http://www.belleville.com/mld/belleville/news/weird_news/14503321.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp


Wendy Dershem may think twice before leaving that egg roll on her plate at her next Chinese buffet. The Des Moines woman, her boyfriend and her two children were kicked out of a restaurant last week after management accused her of leaving too much food on her plate.

"They told us we are not welcome there anymore," said Dershem, a repeat customer at the Dragon House buffet. "We waste too much food. But the buffet is all you can eat. And you know kids. They won't always eat everything and they want something else."

Dershem said she paid her $5.95 fee on Saturday but was abruptly told to leave after eating one plate of food.

Employees said they had been watching her family on previous trips to the restaurant and were fed up with her habits.

"They just take one bite and throw it away," said cashier Lin Huyen. "They take four egg rolls and crab ragoon, take one bite of egg roll and throw the whole plate. That is wasting food."

Dershem said she was shocked by the scolding and complained to management when she paid her check. "It was embarrassing. ... If it's a one-stop buffet, post it," she said.

Dragon House manager Kent Cao said his restaurant offers all you can eat buffet, not all you can waste. Dershem's family took food, didn't finish it and then piled on the same food again, he said.

"Shes done that too many times," Cao said. "We would welcome her back if she has respect and knows what she wants."

Bob Oberbillig, an adjunct professor at the Drake Legal Clinic, says the patron would have no legal case against exclusion from a business unless there are other factors such as racial discrimination or mental health issues.

"An establishment can exclude people if they smoke or waste food," he said. "It's still a private business."

[John Galt]

You should watch the local news out here. Over half of it is weather and the human interest stories really just involve interviewing whoever walks by the camera that day and finding out their story. I wouldn't be surprised if there is a followup article for the chinese buffet controversy.

[CamEdwards]

I just figured out what my version of hell would be: having to host a local talk show in Des Moines.

[John Galt]

I just figured out what my version of hell would be: having to host a local talk show in Des Moines.

I never really listen to talk radio, but there is one show in Iowa City that's pretty famous (at least around here it is). An older woman basically has guests over at her house and it is broadcast. That's it. I think most everyone out here is so nice and polite that local talk radio lacks a certain spark. There are some political shows on the college station, but they are just random liberal rants without any actual discussion. I'm not sure if things are better or worse for talk radio in Des Moines.

[kcchief19]

Short answer: Yes.

Long answer: Am I the only one who doesn't see a problem with this? It's "all you can eat" -- if you're not eating it and you're throwing it away, you're taking something you didn't pay for.

[JeeberD]

Damn, I was about to head to the Indian buffet but now I think I may hit the Chinese one instead...

[KevinNU7]

all you can eat.

The lady is a bitch! Obviously it isn't just her kids "changing their minds"

[KevinNU7]

Dola, and now I want chinese badly

[CamEdwards]

Short answer: Yes.

Long answer: Am I the only one who doesn't see a problem with this? It's "all you can eat" -- if you're not eating it and you're throwing it away, you're taking something you didn't pay for.

No, I don't see the problem either.

[Franklinnoble]

Technically, it's all you *can* eat... not all you *do* eat...

[JonInMiddleGA]

I just figured out what my version of hell would be: having to host a local talk show in Des Moines.

I've done worse (think maybe 1/10th the size of Des Moines). Pretty quickly you're forced into taking national issues, either localizing them or simply giving the locals a chance to comment on bigger picture items.

[Ryche]

Well, the other news is the hog market, so that story was an improvement.

[ISiddiqui]

I don't see a problem with this either. I mean sometimes you take too much, but when it gets that MUCH of a problem, then you should get out of there. If they take a plate of stuff, eat a few bites and then throw the rest of it out, they probably are wasting a LOT of food as they are most likely getting a lot of plates filled up and take a bit or two from each one.

[Wolfpack]

I just figured out what my version of hell would be: having to host a local talk show in Des Moines.

Oddly enough, Des Moines is where Reagan started out....

[CamEdwards]

I've done worse (think maybe 1/10th the size of Des Moines). Pretty quickly you're forced into taking national issues, either localizing them or simply giving the locals a chance to comment on bigger picture items.

yikes. of course, it ended up with you in your big ass house, so maybe it's worth it. :p

[Mustang]

Sounds like the owner was pretty patient given that they have done this before and it isn't like they were trying something and then not eating it. They were trying something, leaving it there and then going back to get more of the same.

And Des Moines isn't the only one with a slow news day.. this was a discussion topic during an afternoon radio show here in Milwaukee. That and the discussion of right/wrong in firing a teacher where it was found they were in an adult movie.. 10 years ago.

[JonInMiddleGA]

yikes. of course, it ended up with you in your big ass house, so maybe it's worth it. :p

True ... but that wasn't even close to happening until I got out of radio ;)

[Huckleberry]

I for one do have a problem with what the restaurant did. They basically admitted that they've had their eye on this lady but on the day in question they allowed her to do it again and then insisted she pay. They should have stopped her at the door and refused to serve her up front.

[Mustang]

They should have stopped her at the door and refused to serve her up front.

You're just asking for a lot more potential trouble I think in refusing to serve someone. It's almost better to just let them do their thing and then proceed from there.

[SFL Cat]

The whole friggin' state of Iowa shuts down at dusk.

[Draft Dodger]

no more eggroll. you;ve been here four hours.

[John Galt]

The whole friggin' state of Iowa shuts down at dusk.

You would not say that if you had ever been to Iowa City. It is a loud college town and the 2 AM exodus from the bars is a regular ritual that provides entertainment to observers and something for the local cops to do.

[SFL Cat]

All I know is that my wife and I were driving through Iowa (on the INTERSTATE) on our way to Minnesota for a wedding. It was 9:30 P.M. and I COULDN'T find a friggin' gas station that was open until we were just outside of Des Moines. I was running on vapor at the time.

[CamEdwards]

If I go visit the Field of Dreams can I stay at your house, JG?

[John Galt]

Since we are moving back to NYC :( , you would have to get here quick. I've only been once since it is about 2 hours away from here, but it is a fun thing to see in person.

[sovereignstar]

CARTRIGHHHHHHHHHHT

[kcchief19]

Initialisms I learned for Iowa from people who lived there:

Idiots Out Wandering Around

I Owe the World an Apology

[digamma]

Since we are moving back to NYC :( , you would have to get here quick. I've only been once since it is about 2 hours away from here, but it is a fun thing to see in person.

Back to firm life?

[WSUCougar]

Where it really gets ugly is if you ask for extra sausage gravy down at the Eat Rite Diner.

[CamEdwards]

Since we are moving back to NYC :( , you would have to get here quick. I've only been once since it is about 2 hours away from here, but it is a fun thing to see in person.

Whaaaaaat?? I'm assuming from the sad face that you're not exactly thrilled about this?

Of course, I think I'm going to be in NYC in June/July for a few days. If you're there then I hope you'll let me crash on your couch... I mean, buy you a beer. :D I can't offer much in return, except maybe getting to meet Howard Stern (which something tells me wouldn't really thrill you).

[bulletsponge]

well its been stated earlier today, but it still fits:

Step 1: Insult customer

Step 2: ?????????

Step 3: Big profit

[bulletsponge]

btw if this is the biggest story in town it aint bad, better than a murder or rape right?

[M GO BLUE!!!]

I just figured out what my version of hell would be: having to host a local talk show in Des Moines.
I have always used Des Moines as the reason for wanting to get out of radio. As in "The last thing I want to do is to be 60 years old and happy to get a gig in Des Moines because the station I was at changed format."

I don't think that you or I will ever have to worry about that though. With the way syndication is going there will soon be 15 people on the radio that will be syndicated or voice tracked across the entire country...

But if you do end up there... Just talk a lot about corn!

[finkenst]

fwiw, the chinese buffets have a 10% penalty if you waste food.

[Karlifornia]

My eyes always tend to be bigger than my stomach, so I would probably receive the heave-ho from this joint as well. Well, actually, I think I could eat mongolian beef and steamed rice until my heart stopped.

[Desnudo]

Is there just nothing happening in Des Moines these days that this story becomes newsworthy?

The first thing that pops into my mind when I hear Des Moines is "boring," so probably, yeah.

[Aardvark]

You should watch the local news out here. Over half of it is weather and the human interest stories really just involve interviewing whoever walks by the camera that day and finding out their story. I wouldn't be surprised if there is a followup article for the chinese buffet controversy.

Only place I've been where NPR has a farm report. Very stat-minded, comparing this season with the last, and so forth.

[John Galt]

Back to firm life?

Sadly yes. At least for the near future anyway.

[John Galt]

Whaaaaaat?? I'm assuming from the sad face that you're not exactly thrilled about this?

Of course, I think I'm going to be in NYC in June/July for a few days. If you're there then I hope you'll let me crash on your couch... I mean, buy you a beer. :D I can't offer much in return, except maybe getting to meet Howard Stern (which something tells me wouldn't really thrill you).

No, I'm not too thrilled. I like Iowa and I don't really like big law firm life. But various personal factors require me to move back there.

I won't be in NYC in June or July. After I finish my job here (in July), I'm hoping to take a little time off and travel. For that time I'll be homeless with my stuff in storage. I will probably be back in NYC in September or so.

As for Howard Stern, surprisingly I am somewhat of a fan. I find some of his stuff pretty funny and I choose to ignore a lot of the really offensive junk.

So, if you around NYC after September, let me know.

[John Galt]

Only place I've been where NPR has a farm report. Very stat-minded, comparing this season with the last, and so forth.

The nightly news usually has the farm report and current cow and other commodity prices.