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White and blue collar blues at the grocery

michael — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 04:57:46 +0000

Speaking of grocery stores, I was at the Fry’s Food and Drug (a Kroger brand) on Grant and Swan in Tucson, Arizona tonight because they carry the killer Estrella tortillas.

It’s a predominately blue collar part of town, and Fry’s attracts the value shoppers among them. And it’s a long way from my charming affluent little Mount Baker neighborhood in Seattle (1,623 miles, to be precise). People look desperately depressed whenever I go.

But you know, the part that makes me sad when I go in is the same thing that makes me sad when I go to one of the high end markets like AJ’s, or Whole Foods, or even the PCC in Seattle. It may be prettier, people may be more professional, but it’s the same story as the Fry’s on Grant and Swan. They’re just working to make ends meet too.

People are just going there to buy groceries, and it’s not all that exciting, and I shouldn’t expect them to look happy, right? But the Buddhists will tell you that it’s these everyday moments that are life. And I wish I could prevent their sad work-a-day looks from getting to me, but I can’t say that. I’m afraid I look just like them.

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Hahaha, Yelp removed one of my reviews!

michael — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 03:53:46 +0000

I got an email from “Marvin” from Yelp today. He said that my review of a place called Sunflower Market (kind of a Whole Foods competitor) was flagged by the “community” and that it falls outside the guidelines because it “contains personal attacks.”

I’ll let you decide for yourself:

Good produce prices and relatively interesting beers, but what’s with all the depressed looking people?? The customers (and to some extent the employees) look like they’re carrying the entire burden of the war in Afghanistan, the war in Iraq, global warming, health care, SB1070, and their concern about genetically modified foods in their recycled totes shortly after George W. showed up in Tucson for vacation and peed in their steel-cut oats. . . .

I thought it was honest and kind of funny, and I disagree that it contains any attacks against anyone’s person. Still, I’m not offended, and I can see why Sunflower or one of their minions would want to have it reviewed.

I don’t blame Yelp at all, but if it was one of you Sunflower employees who flagged it, I would have been more impressed if you would have engaged me in a debate online! If it was one of their loyal customers, I say get a sense of humor!

Oh well, I think it’s funnier having been removed that sitting up there anyway.

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Build a Stronger America

michael — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 05:54:16 +0000

I’m a big fan of the Kauffman Foundation, and even thought I don’t enough about the “Build a Stronger America” movement they advocate, I think I support it anyway!

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Twitter Updates for 2010-04-06

michael — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Looking around for people to follow here in Arizona, using Echofon's location search. #
So I think we found a place we like in Tucson already, but I'm waiting to see if they are cool with Eisenhower #
Nice day, but that still doesn't account for the Qdoba line… If you ask me, anyway #
I can't believe they used to send people to Arizona for allergies. #
This is my last week in Central Phoenix, so I'm prepared to give up my Starbucks mayorship. (@ Starbucks – Park Central) #
I would rate the interestingess of my tweets at about 3.75 on a 10 point scale–married office worker living in Mesa #
Well that was exciting for me… Got to go to the trustee's office. All I saw was the desk and disembodied hands signing my doc… #
Driving through the reservation after work http://flic.kr/p/7Rg6WU #

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Twitter Updates for 2010-04-05

michael — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Happy Easter everyone. I think Easter is Phoenix's best holiday. We're going to the Farm for brunch. #
Easter at the Farm (@ The Farm at South Mountain) http://4sq.com/6hZ6rR #
Easter at the Farm. Gorgeous day! http://flic.kr/p/7QPFoL #

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Twitter Updates for 2010-04-04

michael — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 15:00:00 +0000

My scammer, Farrah, got back to me. She's a very polite scammer. #

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It’s not just tax season, it’s bankruptcy season too

michael — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 05:12:44 +0000

On this interview on American Public Media’s Marketplace, Mitchell Hartman gave an interview. He said:

“[Filings] were up by more than a third just between February and March. But there’s actually two reasons why that is not quite so surprising. First off, believe it or not, spring is apparently bankruptcy season. It’s because people get refund checks, it can cost you $2,000 to $3,000 to pay for a bankruptcy lawyer, so you have the money, you look at your bills and you decide now’s the time to file.”

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Twitter Updates for 2010-04-03

michael — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 15:00:00 +0000

My little Saab is so much fun to drive. #
I never heard back from my scammer, Farrah, this morning.
And I thought we had a good thing going too… #

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Twitter Updates for 2010-04-02

michael — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Geeking out by writing some code for the first time in months for Rule One Four http://bit.ly/dag1mF #
While looking for a place to rent, someone on Craiglist tried to lure me into a credit report scam. I'm pretending to play along… #

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Twitter Updates for 2010-03-31

michael — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Oh, yeah. I forgot about Twitter. #

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