120 Comments
User's avatar
Meg Oolders's avatar

I just made your 99 likes into 100.

What do I win?

Is it $20 cash? If so, I'll add it to my weird collection of paper money stashed in an undisclosed location for when I need to pay for a field trip or fundraiser for my kids.

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Bill Southern's avatar

Hmm. . .solve the journalism crisis, or the fake taco crisis - that is a true conundrum.

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KdD's avatar

$20, I put it in my wallet and use it sometime in the future on something random.

$20 billion? I buy lots around the country, install electric, water, and sewer. Then I list them on some free boondocking websites so RVers can have free overnight camping. There are a few people that I’d give $10k to have fun.

I only care about Lemon Custard. It’s the only flavor that I’ll always buy.

It’s unamerican to hate on states. Even Utah has good things about it.

I like local shrimp tacosor local beef ones. There are a few around the country that I’ve found. Por Que No in Portland, Or Happy Day in Covington Ga. And El Amigo Mexican Food in Vernonia Or

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Michael Estrin's avatar

I love your plan for the $20 billion. First, because it's very generous. Second, because boondocking is great word. Also, Utah is beautiful.

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CB Mason | YA Dystopian+Sci-Fi's avatar

I like your investigative reporting style! 1) I'd like to say a $20 gas gift card to give to the next person "needing gas money" but probably just give it to my kid (who also needs gas money); 2) Buy EVs for everyone in my city/state/country (how many could be purchase with that amount of money?); 3) TIllamook Mudslide! (If you haven't had it, you must go get some. Right now. Go on... I'll wait)

See, it's worth saving, right??? 4) Seems particularly American, unfortunately. Kinda like dissing the rival high school or the kid that always beat you in the spelling bee (right, @adamrockwell ???); 5) Had some particularly D-lish tacos last week from Ricky's Taco Truck. Of course, it could have been the 3 glasses of wine or the local bands partying in the closed down street festival, but the tacos were my favorite (I tried all six kinds).

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Michael Estrin's avatar

TIllamook Mudslide!? Just googled it. Wow! I need to try this.

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CB Mason | YA Dystopian+Sci-Fi's avatar

Yes. Yes, you do… Although, maybe I shouldn’t have let the cat out of the bag? What if there is a run on Tillamook Mudslide now? What if they can’t keep up with the increased demand? I better go stock up!

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Michael Estrin's avatar

I promise to keep this between you and me.

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KdD's avatar

You can go to the Tillamook Creamery in Tillamook, Oregon. They put huge scoops on a cone for a ridiculous low price. Or in a cup. ($5, so maybe not so low anymore)

https://assets.ctfassets.net/j8tkpy1gjhi5/5QthJw0fyJH2vxWxAhBrq5/e08fa289cae0ed300fabdc5625c93acb/Tillamook-Creamery-IceCream-Menu-041524.pdf

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Jackie Daly's avatar

Save the mint choc chip ice cream!

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Michael Estrin's avatar

Good choice!

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Rachel Rachel's avatar

1) Put it in my wallet and not behave differently.

2) Buy land and give more than $19 billion away.

3) mint chip

4) yes

5) El Milagro

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Michael Estrin's avatar

Mint chip is sooooo underrated.

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Anne Kadet's avatar

The best ice cream is whatever flavor has the most candy. But I really just want candy.

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Betsy Brazy's avatar

1. I'd put that $20 in my pocket. Maybe I'd spend it at the Oaxaca taco truck in Oakland that gives a $20 taco dinner so big that it's enough for 2 dinners, though you'll have to provide your own 2nd horchata.

2. With $20B ... most of it goes to charities, although maybe I'd buy a controlling amount of PG&E (our gas/electric utility) to reduce rates, do real wildfire abatement, end corporate bonuses, and get rid of natural gas.

3. Jamocha Almond Fudge. or Mint Chip or Black sesame seed ... actually, I choose vanilla because you add any flavor to it and voila! 31derful ice cream.

4. It's un-American if you're running for federal office.

5. See #1

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Michael Estrin's avatar

I think your plan for the $20 is very solid. I'm concerned about your plan for the $20 billion, though. We don't have PG&E, but I've been following the news about them, and it seems like there's a chance the state of California will take them over at some point. What I'm saying is, as a California taxpayer, you could already be a winner! So save your $20 billion and instead of buying a utility, buy a railroad, or get a monopoly and put up some hotels.

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Emily's avatar

1. We are soul mates with this answer: Ice cream or tacos or both. I live in Austin and before it is too late (prices for everything are crazy now), I could prob manage to buy both with $20.

2. I would move back to California near the ocean, prob Pacific Grove/Monterey area. Whatever's leftover, I would give you to take out FB.

3. Cookie Dough (Loved the McConnell's shout out. Undergrad from UCSB -- that is some good ice cream!)

4. I intensely want this country to survive Trumpism & Muskism (and the world needs it to) but I admit to a strong dislike of the Banana Republic of TX. I think I'm pretty patriotic but maybe everyone thinks this about themselves?

5. Torchy's

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Michael Estrin's avatar

I'm so glad someone else knows the joys of McConnell's. Whenever I'm in SB, I go there. Thankfully, there's a location in the San Fernando Valley about 20 minutes from my house. I used to live around the corner from that location, but that was dangerous.

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Eric Marcoullier's avatar

1) $20 would get placed in my nightstand and eventually pulled out during the "oh shit, it's Friday" fire drill because out lovely housecleaner only accepts cash.

2) With $20 billion, I could finally build a 100-foot-tall Gundam version of myself, the development of which, like the space shuttle program in the 70s, would result in bountiful gifts to humanity. Trickle-down science!

3) Dulce de Leche, to go with my tacos!

4) I feel like it's the best of America to look to our past and try to do better in the future. And I feel like we can do better than many, many states in our imperfect union.

5) I'm putting it out there... I eat Taco Bell tacos. Chalupa Supremes are my jam. Also, you could put Taco Bell Fire Sauce on styrofoam and it would be delicious!

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Michael Estrin's avatar

I support your Taco Bell choice! Their tacos always hit. Del Taco, on the other hand, well, that's a problem.

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Eric Marcoullier's avatar

I was about to say “any place that serves tacos and French fries is problematic” but I learned about the “California burrito”, which has fries instead of rice.

What do we do with this information?!?

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Michael Estrin's avatar

We order the California burrito... if we think we can handle it.

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Andrew Smith's avatar

Good encapsulation of the Notes community, but I think you may have omitted one category: the rather benign and unambiguously positive type of person who predominantly posts pics of their adorable, tiny, lil' angel-demon of a dog.

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Michael Estrin's avatar

That person is a damn hero!

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Andrew Smith's avatar

I feel like we haven't talked about Mortimer in a while. Has he noticed any taco crises or whatever the canine version of that is? How about those belly rubs?

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Jeff K's avatar

1 - Buying food is a pretty good use of a magic $20. I once found a $20 in the street outside of Cafe Du Mode. That was enough for me to break even after gambling earlier in the evening. Coffee and beignets to end the night.

2 - I'd buy Star Wars from Disney and make the movies/TV shows I want. Finally, a buddy comedy with the two Scout Troopers from the first season of Mando.

4 - I think irrationally hating people for no other reason than they live across an imaginary line from you is about as American as you can get.

5 - I live in Texas, we are ground zero for tacos. A place just called Trompo down the street from me is my go-to. They actually were a best new restaurant in Bon Appetite a few years ago.

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Michael Estrin's avatar

Finding $20 outside of Cafe Du Monde is like finding $100 anywhere else.

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RJ's avatar

When I was a not-quite-starving student, I found a $20 bill on the sidewalk. Knowing what that $ might mean to somebody, I took it to the police lost-and-found. When it wasn't claimed, I retrieved it and used it guilt-free.

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Larisa Rimerman's avatar

Never found any money, never tried taco but envy your taco worker for $20 per our. When I came to this country, I made $3.33 per hour. I would gladly spent 20 bucks on ice- cream; I love ice-cream and your normal journalism also.

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KdD's avatar

My first job, 90 cents an hour.

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Michael Estrin's avatar

You should try a taco. They’re great.

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Sheila Moeschen's avatar

I AM A GOLDEN GOD!!!! I’m banking on this taco power trip to get through Monday…at least! ✌🏼🌮

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Michael Estrin's avatar

It’ll get you to Tuesday. Taco Tuesday!

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Sheila Moeschen's avatar

You have my vote for getting TacoGate under control! Hizzah!!! (parade floats, marching bands, but instead of tee-shirt canons, TACO canons! You think big, you be big my friend!)

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Michael Estrin's avatar

Taco Canons!

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Sheila Moeschen's avatar

You make this a reality and they would put your face on the goddamn $50! (suck it, Grant! We know you’re an acai bowl guy…boo!)

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Dennard Dayle's avatar

I hear there's a dust-up at the Washington Post over taco coverage.

1. Blow it on social calls. See 5.

2. I should say something funny, but I'd really just start a media company.

3. I will destroy all other ice cream by hand to save Cookies & Cream.

4. That checks out. Though "American" doesn't line up with "sane" often enough to be a great heuristic.

5. An overpriced date spot by Brooklyn Bridge Park. It lets me fake good taste, which is nice.

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Michael Estrin's avatar

Is the date spot Grimaldi's?

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Dennard Dayle's avatar

...All too often.

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