I drive a Dodge Stratus!
Posted on 05/02/2026 6:42:33 PM PDT by Red Badger
Prego Pasta Sauce announced they were teaming up with StoryCorps to create a device that would store pasta while also eavesdropping on, recording, and, according to some reports, uploading your family's dinner conversations to the Library of Congress.
It gets even crazier.
The devices sold out almost instantly! (Probably picked up by some guys in an unmarked van).
To be fair, though, Prego promised the devices won't upload your conversations without permission. And it seems pretty innocent.
The Prego x StoryCorps Connection Keeper is a simple, AI-free, screen-free device designed to help families create an audio scrapbook of the moments that matter most. It captures the everyday conversations you wish to preserve — your kids' voices, the 'how was your day' chats, the laughter and stories shared around the table — so you can revisit them for years to come. With just the press of a button, families can record meaningful moments in real time. The device is not connected to the internet and does not use Wi-Fi or AI, allowing you to capture memories without phones, screens, or distractions getting in the way.
But seriously, despite their best assurances, I've got enough to worry about with my AI-infested phone.
The last thing I need is to have to wonder whether there are spies in my pasta.
Everyone will write scripts before they sit down at dinner.
After each of my parents died, I was overjoyed to find tapes of each of them from accidental recordings (answering machine, cellphone). I don’t trust Prego/LoC, but the sound of my parents, voices gives me peace.
I make my own marinara/Pomodoro sauce from scratch, so I don’t think this will affect me very much. Thankfully.
One time my mom phoned my cell phone in her later years. Totally by accident, and I didn’t hear it ring, so she left a message. That’s still on my phone, 10 years later. I love playing it from time to time. Lord, I miss her. She was the best person! Incredible lady!
Back in my old neighborhood, I had an Italian potluck dinner party with about 10 neighbors and we were whooping it up - lots of wine and laughing. Dinner was amazing and at some point we heard people talking nearby so we all stopped our conversations. My Alexa device had recorded our conversations and was playing it back to us unprompted. I unplugged all of the devices and we continued the party. Now, I keep them unplugged unless I need a wake up call.
“Is your spaghetti sauce spying on you?”
After a cooking class I took with the Mrs. during a trip to Italy, I do too. And I’m wondering why I didn’t all along. I did have to turn my first batch of Arrabbiata into 2 batches (a little too generous on the chili peppers for the wife’s taste) , but it’s so easy to make sauce that is much better than anything you buy at the store.
Prego is terrible sauce. Make your own.
LOL I was thinking the same thing! If you’re buying Prego I have to think your conversations aren’t too interesting!
We don’t eat pasta..........
Oh, okay. Trustworthy for sure..... Just like AI is always right.
I’ve taken to cooking my pasta ahead of time, putting it in the fridge or freezer so that it reduces the carbs, then reheating it when we’re actually going to eat it. We try not to eat as much pasta as we used to, but it’s hard to completely let it go.
I’m also trying to use pasta imported from Italy lately. I have a feeling that they don’t have the same flour/ingredients as are in the pastas here in the US. I also think I should consider making my own pasta from scratch. I haven’t done that yet, but I think it might help.
Their slogan has never been more true.
BRAVE AI:
The differences between Italian and American pasta stem from ingredient quality, processing methods, cooking techniques, and cultural serving styles.
Ingredients and Processing
Flour:
Authentic Italian pasta is typically made from durum wheat semolina, which is high in protein, coarser, and more nutrient-rich than the refined all-purpose flour often used in mass-produced American pasta.
Drying:
Italian pasta undergoes a slow, low-temperature drying process (up to 72 hours) that preserves texture and flavor, whereas American pasta is often high-temperature dried quickly, which can stress the gluten and make it harder to digest.
Texture:
Italian pasta is often bronze-cut, giving it a rough surface that helps sauces cling better, while American pasta tends to have a smoother, shinier finish.
Cooking and Serving
Doneness:
In Italy, pasta is cooked al dente (firm to the bite), requiring more chewing and leading to slower digestion. American pasta is often overcooked until it is soft or mushy.
Portions and Course:
In Italy, pasta is a first course (primo) served in modest portions with light sauces (e.g., olive oil, fresh tomatoes). In the U.S., it is typically a main course with large portions, heavy creamy sauces, and excessive cheese.
Common Dishes:
Dishes like spaghetti and meatballs, fettuccine Alfredo (with heavy cream), and baked ziti are Italian-American inventions and are not traditional in Italy, where meat is usually served separately from pasta.
Health Implications
Glycemic Index:
Due to the higher quality durum wheat and slower digestion, Italian pasta generally has a lower glycemic index than American pasta made from refined flour.
Digestibility:
The slow-drying process and al dente cooking of Italian pasta make it easier to digest for many people, while the high-heat processing of some American brands may contribute to bloating or inflammation.
Well, that’s some crazy stuff right there...
But given the millions of stupid narcissists across the world that post their every random thought or action to Facebook, TikToc, ‘X’, etc. I guess I shouldn’t be too surprised.
If it was cheap enough, I might buy one just for parts to hack/reverse engineer, but I’d keep it in a soundproofed Faraday cage as long as it was operable.
Good to know. That’s kind of been my experience with imported pasta from Italy. One of my son’s friends has an authentic Italian restaurant. His family is from Italy and he traveled back and forth a lot, so has brought the culture to his American town. The food is amazing and it’s been fun watching and learning from them. Everything they serve is made from ingredients that are imported and uses the old world techniques.
Italian pasta grows on trees. I remember the commercial showing the harvest. It looked very festive.
People are narcissistic idiots. Never liked Prego, way too much sugar. Now I have another reason to keep avoiding it.
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