EZEtoGRU

Fun story. Aldis in Germany is owned by the brother of the guy who owns Aldi's in America. For clarity Aldis in Germany owns trader Joe's. But Aldi's in America is owned by the brother of the guy who owns trader Joe's. 
Similar situation with Adidas and Puma. What is with German brothers?

I was stalked online on this very forum long ago by a provider that was going to out my precense and messages here. My original username here is @SoCal it's still there with a very old original join date! Switched to current username to continue participation until "stalker" went away and never went back to @SoCal!

I grew up shopping at Aldi (their first store was in Iowa and in 1977 they invaded Chicago. My parents were somewhere between flat-broke and moderate income) The stores have evolved over the years from selling very basic items to selling basics and not-so-basic items. I shop the Aldis in Phoenix a couple of times per month and love them.
They have three main advantages:
Price Specialty merchandise Ease of getting in and out. (They have small, but efficiently organized, stores) Almost all of their products are store-brand. I find the quality to be excellent. There have been a few items I didn't care for (shredded cheese, pickles, and bread) and they refunded my money without question. (They have a "twice-as-nice" guarantee - replacement and refund) They sell limited-time items called "Aldi Finds." I've really enjoyed their milk chocolate truffles, which I first bought last year and then couldn't find until this year. I stocked up.  Also, my dad bought of their "Crofton" (store brand) stainless steel saucepans back in 2009 and didn't take very good care of it. I snagged it when we cleaned out his house and cleaned it up. It heats faster and more evenly than my Calphalon stainless steel.
Yes. Their "Deutsche Kuche" brand has German-inspired and German-made products. I've liked every product I've tried. Some of the items are seasonal or are one-time "Aldi Finds," so if you find something you like it's a good idea to stock up.
No, I don't, for a few reasons:
They don't have a store close to where I live. The closest one is in Tempe, AZ. I shop there when I shop at the local Target and PetSmart and stock up on things I really like. Their selection of fresh produce and meat is variable. Sometimes, they have leaner cuts of meat and other times they don't. They do, however, have a great selection of conventional, "natural," and organic chicken. A lot of their merchandise is processed and packaged. I eat very little processed food. They don't sell everything I buy. A few standouts:
Their fresh salmon is outstanding. It's similar to the salmon Trader Joe's sells but is priced about $1/pound less than TJ's Park Street Deli classic hummus is the best pre-made hummus I've ever had. Appleton Farms Prosciutto is also very good. Not the best I've had, but in the top 5. They are also in the $4 - $5 range at the Phoenix-area stores. Specially Selected Cold Smoked Salmon is great. Again, not the absolute best, but in the top 5. For the price, it can't be beat Organic Cage-Free Eggs are a steal. During the height of the avian flu-induced egg shortage they didn't raise the prices sky-high. I want to say they were $4.99 a dozen, which is what TJ's and Whole Foods charge when there isn't a shortage. Their spices are well-priced. Yes:
Bread: haven't found any I liked. Frozen shrimp: It's not that I didn't like it, but they add more salt to their cooked shrimp than the one Costco sells. However, they are on-par with most store- and name-brands. Chicken Italian Sausage: Just didn't like it. Steak: Tried the filet and strip, thinking they were the same as the ones at TJ's. (package was similar) Was tough and gristly. They refunded my money and replaced the steaks. Replacement was just as bad. To me, it is worth the drive once in a while. If they were closer to me, I'd shop there more often. I can walk to a Safeway and a Fry's (Kroger) when the temperature is below 80, so Aldi is an excursion. I will say that their meat is variable. Sometimes they have great meat at a good price and others not so much. 
There's a Reddit forum (or "subreddit") about Aldi. It's worth checking out.
Aldi has been in the US since 1976 but expanded to SoCal in the last five or so years. Putting the quarter to get the cart is an Aldi thing that they've done since they opened. It is a deposit, not a fee. Unlike California Redemption Value, where you have to take the containers to a crappy recycling center that might or might not be open to get your money back, you receive the quarter back when you return the cart. It saves the employees from having to chase carts in the parking lot and ensures there are always available carts, which is not always the case at grocery stores. If you don't have a quarter, they will give you one. 
I've heard the same feedback about their meat and produce in Southern California. Last time I was in Palm Springs I stopped in and it was like a completely different chain than in Arizona. Probably poor management.
The dollar store comment is just unfounded. Their own brands are not the same junk as most of the dollar store brands. The bad produce in SoCal is an exception, but that's not a chain-wide phenomenon. If the reviewers who think Aldi is an expensive dollar store shared their feedback with Aldi management, there might be a change.

I have been in the Aldi in Palm Springs a couple of time, but there is something about the odor of the store that I find unpleasant (it smells like rotting vegetables).

I absolutely love ALDI.  Yes, advantage is mostly the price, but one extra perk is that the checkout people always seem pleasant. 
I'm addicted to their Winking Owl wine - certainly not the best wine I've ever had, but at $2.99/bottle it's a steal; compares favorably with $15-$2 wines.
I've found their produce and their milk doesn't last as long as from other stores.  
I use it as my main grocery store but mostly for staples; they don't carry slightly esoteric items (bread flour, for example). 
They have knockoff Girl Scout cookies and their peanut butter patties are excellent.  They use a chocolate rather than a vanilla cookie inside.

i posted this in the other sites, i hope it helps for those newbies english speakers looking for hot brazilian guys in Sao Paulo, you can only go to Lacoa and you will have the best time. So, here is my step by step at the Sauna Espaco Lagoa:
Have you ever been to Thermas in BCN or Paragoyna in Zurich? Well, Espaco Lagoa Sauna is quite similar, complete with a bar for drinks and food .
You can use your cell phone; walk around with it The guys or garotos may have limited English skills, but you won't need to do much talking. I used Google Translate and some sign language when necessary. A guy willl ask for 150 to 200 Reales.
If you spot a garoto walking around fully clothed there chances are he isn't good for sex . I learned this the hard way when I encountered two hot guys, fully dressed. One didn't treated me well and the other one has a good hard on but he was a cold dish. While the hot ones will show what they have with no problem and some walkiing around with a big hard on, it can be a All you can eat feast of men,
It can be a bit overwhelming at times, but there  are way more delicious guys compared to other saunas i mentioned above. Only a few garotos are pushy, and I didn't entertain them. 
If you appreciate well-endowed guys you're in for a feast. Some garotos will surprise you with their humongous cocks . I went to Lacoa from 5 pm to late 9 pm, taking breaks because I could barely sit after some of the guys.
I typically offered 150 Reales, not to be cheap, but to gauge their reaction. Most likely, their reacted good or bad so it was a good filter,  The hotter ones might expect 200 Reales and if they treated you nicely when they went up to 200, go ahead and say yes.
Upon entering the Lagoa , they'll provide you with a locker key, two towels sealed in plastic bags (they're that good), and flip-flops. Head up one floor where you'll find a bar with tables, similar to Barcelona Thermas. After meeting with a guy, you'll go another floor up to another cashier who'll give you a private room. I can't recall the exact prices, but there's a basic option with a TV and a bed that can get quite warm. My favorite, costing 55 Reales, includes AC, TV with movies, and a private bathroom. Called suites
There's a third floor with more private rooms, starting from room number 13 and onwards. Additionally, there's a small bar, a small gym for the guys, and a TV room.
Just when you think you've had the best guy, a new garoto with an amazing body/cock will show up. I often wished I could split myself in two or more to savor all the succulent garotos. As in any sauna with gayforPay, the best garotos are in high demand, so if you find one, grab them. but they always will be busy and not hanging around for too long
While some gartotos may not meet your expectations, considering the price range of 150-200 Reales (roughly 30 to 40 American dollars), it's a great deal for a try and error. Sao Paulo boasts some of the hottest and nicest guys. i saw all types, mostly masculines, and by 6 /7 pm were a lot muscle guys, blonde black and in between 
Best of luck, and feel free to ask if you have any questions. I'm typing on my phone, so please forgive any typos. 😜
Tonight, I plan to visit one of the stripper bars, and I'll provide you all with a report on those places. I'm not a young guy, so the garotos at the sauna wore me out, if you catch my drift. 😆 I have to recuperate during the daytime. And if you're a expert/slutty bottom, like me, be prepared. Even the most experienced and voracious bottom will be exhausted by the end of the day. I wish I had some numbing cream to handle those real 9/10 inches. Of course, not all the guys are that well-endowed, but I'd say about half of them are.

How can you go wrong in a store where, if you rearrange the letters in its name, you get laid?

I live in small town/rural Michigan.  The two small towns close by each have a family-owned grocery store where we do most of our shopping.  I also get to a Costco in the Detroit area 1-2 times per month for bulk items.  Well, there is now an Aldi being built in a town about 25 minutes from the house.  For those of you that shop at Aldi, I am curious about the following:
*  What is the main advantage of Aldi versus other grocery stores?  Is it mostly the prices?
*  Does Aldi carry items you don't see at other stores?
*  Does Aldi carry any store-brand items?  Is the quality good?  
*  Any Germany-sourced items that are really good?
*  Do you use Aldi as your main grocery store?
*  Any items you highly recommend from Aldi?  Any items you strongly suggest we not get at Aldi?
 
I really know very little about Aldi.  Since there is one opening up fairly close by, I would consider doing some shopping there if the price/quality value proposition is compelling.
Thanks!

This has been a very pleasant summer weatherwise in Eastern Canada , namely Ontario and Quebec, which account for over half of the Canadian population. Other than a couple of days when the smoke was bad from fires up in the remote parts of the two provinces, the temperatures have been mostly in the 70s and low 80sF.
There have been isolated rain events and the odd tornado in some of the larger cities or nearby but no deaths or serious injuries. These extreme events are becoming more frequent in the last decade.
British Columbia is the exception when it comes to wildfires, in the sense of more people being affected directly. I take it Vancouver and Victoria have had more smokey days and larger population centres in the interior are being burned out. Okanagan is BC's wine and fruit growing countryside and larger numbers of people live closer to nature. They are being displaced by the thousands. Reminds me of California except BC was never like that years ago  except in the remote north.
Unlike for Charlie, our electricity bills are higher in the winter. Also heating on top of that since most of us heat with gas. Except Quebec which uses electricity. But then their electricity is cheap with all the hydro they have. For seven months or more my utilities expenses are relatively low, including water and sewage.

Yes it has been a very tough couple of summers for Canada with wild fires and the huge numbers of people evacuated from their homes and communities for extended periods of time. And the number of people who have lost their home has been really tough. 

Sadly, Canada is really on fire this year.  Every province and territory has been affected, and I read that the total area burned so far is close to the size of Illinois (150,000 square kilometers).

I can totally relate to your friend.  There was a time when I would consult with one of my old friends before boarding (Jack Daniels, Jim Beam, I.W. Harper, Old Grand-Dad).  Things were pretty good when I boarded the plane, but, as soon as I heard the whine of the engines, my friend was gone.

The heat has not really been an issue this summer in the part of Michigan where I live (about 80 minutes north of Detroit).  Pretty normal summer days here with daily highs between 75-85.  A few days almost reaching 90 but never over 90.  What has been a problem here this summer is the smoke from Canadian forest fires.  We've had lots of hazy/smoky days although it has been clearer the last 8-10 days. 
I visited Ft Lauderdale for two days back in late July and frankly the temps/humidity were nightmarish...even for Florida.  I lived in Miami basically for all the 1990's and never experienced heat like that.  I could not fathom living in Florida during the summer anymore.   It felt like the blood in my body was going to boil.   

The heat has not really been an issue this summer in the part of Michigan where I live (about 80 minutes north of Detroit).  Pretty normal summer days here with daily highs between 75-85.  A few days almost reaching 90 but never over 90.  What has been a problem here this summer is the smoke from Canadian forest fires.  We've had lots of hazy/smoky days although it has been clearer the last 8-10 days. 
I visited Ft Lauderdale for two days back in late July and frankly the temps/humidity were nightmarish...even for Florida.  I lived in Miami basically for all the 1990's and never experienced heat like that.  I could not fathom living in Florida during the summer anymore.   It felt like the blood in my body was going to boil.   

None of the stats and above arguments will help @sync with his irrational fear of flying. I can vouch for this first hand as a fearful flyer with a job that required me to travel until my mid-thirties. More than my job the flying part was a challenge. I read all kinds of books, learned stats, understood the technology behind how modern jets fly and navigate, how turbulence impacts a jet etc. Nothing helped.  Inside a plane my fear was so obvious that sometimes the flight attendants would offer me a glass if water. 
Then my doc prescribed xanax and it changed my life. It completely killed the fear. Now severe turbulence feels like a roller coaster ride and i look forward to my travels (except the deteriorated overall flying experience) .
 

I'm going to have to agree with this one. 
Service on US carriers is now shit, no matter where you're sitting on the plane.

I'm ready for cool fall weather. I love to sleep with my window open and get the nice breeze at night. This heat, humidity, and especially wildfire smoke has been sickening this summer.

Honestly!  All the Sturm und Drang about disasters, plagues and house arrest leaves me weary.  🥱
First thing tomorrow, I'm planning to cancel all my insurance - car, house and medical - and let the chips fall where they may.  I haven't been blown to Bermuda yet and I'm betting I never will be. 💨  Three years of wearing a face mask and all I have to show for it is clear lungs and a rubber rash behind my ears.  😷  And why I worry about getting t-boned by a driverless Waymo is beyond me.  🚕  Just as you say, it's all bullshit, pure and simple.  💩
Once I'm finished tearing up my policies, I think I'll fill in my driveway with some nice bamboo and eucalyptus.  It's not like I go around tossing lighted matches and, if the fire trucks can't get through, I'm sure I can piss away any flames before they really get going. 🔥 🔥 🔥
All that's left after that is to get rid of my stash of snacks and booze.  Unfortunately, everyone I know these days is a teetotalling vegan so I may have to bite the bullet and finish them off myself.  There's bound to be some health benefit from grain alcohol, processed cheese food, artificial flavor and preservatives.  If not, at least the weather's nice and I won't have to spend my day indoors hunkered over the commode. 🤮
What a relief it will be to finally stop worrying about overblown disasters that will probably never happen!  I feel better already!  

I agree with those above regarding the tattoo.  A tattoo of "Kill'em All" is a powerful indicator that the wearer has a radical and possibly harmful misperception of reality.

I wouldn’t hire a guy with kill ‘em all tattooed on his forehead, or anywhere else. I wouldn’t even be curious about that guy’s dick size. Once I saw that photo, it was enough for me to move on. I definitely get the allure, and I’d never yuck someone else’s yum, and no one deserves what happened to the OP.  I was just saying you and I evaluate ads differently if you see kill ‘em all tattooed on someone’s forehead and don’t see a red flag. 

Did you see that tattoo across his forehead? 

Based on forecast models, my greatest concern is for desert California communities such as Borrego Springs, Indio, Palm Springs, Joshua Tree, etc.   Coastal California may be OK.  As others have said, the main concern is rain and flooding.   Be safe folks!!

Based on forecast models, my greatest concern is for desert California communities such as Borrego Springs, Indio, Palm Springs, Joshua Tree, etc.   Coastal California may be OK.  As others have said, the main concern is rain and flooding.   Be safe folks!!

The skies are dark, I hear occasional thunder and have seen some lightning. When I take my dog out, he hunkers down and refuses to move in any direction. I have taken inside anything movable, have shut off our underground irrigation system, and as soon as I have finished reading everything on this site, I will head to the supermarket to stock up on supplies (I have my priorities, you know.)

Our primary care doctor does a complete physical, including a series of blood and urine tests, hearing and strength tests, etc., every year. When my spouse happened to mention an unusual physical symptom he had recently experienced, the doctor suspected that he had had a mini-stroke, and immediately ordered other tests. Sure enough, it turned out that he had a partially blocked carotid artery, and within a few days a vascular surgeon operated on to clean it out. If it hadn't been for the routine physical,  it wouldn't have been caught, because my spouse didn't consider the symptom important enough for a separate visit to the doctor.
Of course, it's worth pointing out that we have had the same gay doctor for many years, and my spouse has a medical history that includes triple-bypass heart surgery.