Uncle John's Bathroom Reader Golden Plunger Awards Read Online Free

processed cheese and a counterpart to Kraft’s nonspreadable processed cheese, Velveeta.
    Cheez Whiz wasn’t Traisman’s only contribution to America’s popular dining habits. After he left Kraft, Traisman bought into the McDonald’s franchise, eventually owning four stores. His food science expertise came into play when McDonald’s founder Ray Kroc needed a way to keep all the potatoes used for French fries fresh, so he could have a consistent brand at all his stores. Traisman was up to the challenge. He came up with a flash-cooking process: one minute or so at 300°F to get rid of the potatoes’ moisture and then freeze them. The uniform frozen French fry was born.

THE ORIGIN OF ANOTHER CHEESEY PRODUCT
    Kraft first marketed Velveeta in 1927. Its main ingredient is whey, a liquid by-product of cheese making (it’s the liquid left over when milk hardens to cheese). Cheese manufacturers used to just throw it away, but now it’s made into Velveeta, which is officially labeled by the Food and Drug Administration as a “pasteurized processed cheese product.” That means it’s a cheeselike thing that tastes like cheese but is actually made up of less than 50 percent cheese. Kraft says Velveeta gets its unique flavor from the whey left over from making cheddar, colby, and Swiss cheeses. It gets its unique spongy texture from an added stabilizing agent called carrageenin —a derivative of Irish moss.

THE STAND AND DELIVER AWARD
    Richard Pryor
    This legendary performer changed the world of stand-up forever
and raised the bar for what comedy could be.
     
    REMEMBERED When asked about their most profound influences, countless comedic greats—from Sam Kinison to Dave Chappelle—have answered without hesitation: Richard Pryor.
    “Richard Pryor is to comedy what Gretzky is to hockey, what Ali is to boxing. He is the Beatles of comedy.”
    —Paul Rodriguez
     
“To fully appreciate the power of Richard Pryor as a stand-up comedian, you had to follow him at the Comedy Store. I did once, and I’m lucky to be alive.”
    —David Letterman
     
“Richard Pryor is an alchemist who can turn the darkest pain into the deepest comedy. [He] doesn’t go for the jugular—he goes straight for the aorta.”
    —Robin Williams
     
    Pryor introduced a new style of comedy that gave people of all races permission to laugh at themselves and at each other. Though often controversial, vulgar, and brash, his performances empowered other comedians and actors to look inside, to find truth in their art, and to embrace what comes naturally—being honest and being themselves.

A ROCKY ROAD TO STARDOM
    Richard Franklin Lennox Thomas Pryor III was born in Peoria,

    Illinois, on December 1, 1940. After his mother deserted him when he was 10, Pryor was raised by his grandmother, Madam Marie Carter, in her brothel. His early childhood was a test of emotional endurance, characterized by sexual assault, poverty, and a desperate determination to rise above it all. Expelled from school at age 14, Pryor earned a living by working various odd jobs before joining the army in 1958. Two years later, he was discharged for assaulting another G.I.

THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT
    Through it all, Pryor found refuge in the one thing that consistently brought him happiness: performing. Starting with a role in a local production of Rumpelstiltskin at age 12, Pryor showcased his comedic gift at every opportunity. But it wasn’t until 1963 that his career as a stand-up comedian really started to take shape.
    Initially, he was influenced heavily by Bill Cosby, whose performances revolved around clean, funny, family-oriented stories. Pryor performed his Cosby-esque comedy routine to receptive audiences in New York City and quickly made a name for himself. Ed Sullivan, Johnny Carson, and Merv Griffin all invited him to appear on their shows.
    Despite his success, Pryor found his family-style comedy to be predictable, repetitive, and unauthentic. He reached his breaking point