cheesecake to feed the world

previously i've written about the little brown people with whom i share the late-night train ride back to my neighborhood. mostly men, all redolent with the smell of cooking and cleaning.

lately, i've been amazed by the number of them all carrying cheesecake factory doggie bags. i think there are 3 of these sloporiums within a rational subway commute, and i know they are huge operations requiring giant staffs. last night, in a car with about 50 passengers, about 10 guys had these bags. night before, a similar ratio. i figure about 90% of the riders were coming home from restaurant jobs.

much is made about how many hours and different jobs these guys work, often without legal documents. millions of dollars flow from the states to families left behind in central and south america. (the benefit of the exchange rate, however, is beginning to dwindle as the dollar sucks more and more air.)

i'd love a numbers-cruncher to figure how much cheesecake and salads the size of my head are helping keep brazil afloat.