Thought of the Day

Is there anything more emasculating, more inhuman, degrading, humiliating or excruciating than walking around Target (no link wanted) pushing a big red cart and stuffing piles of shit in it? Just asking.

...to consume or not to consume...

ever since i read not buying it, by judith levine, about a nyc couple who stop buying stuff for a year, i think twice about what i buy-- do i really need this? i tried to write down all my spending every day, and i made rules for what i could buy a la judith. well, that experiment fizzled out quickly (one month). i just kept the guilt going and avoided my favorite boutiques. i seem to only buy the essentials now but i do obsessively buy books and comix as well as handmade cards.

recently i've been reading about kate bingaman-burt who takes obsession to a new level. her artist's statement:

I documented my purchases for 28 months. Every purchased item was photographed at the point of sale or soon after. Every receipt was archived and tagged. All of the documentation was uploaded to my website obsessiveconsumption.com. I created a brand out of the process to package and promote - an infinite loop of consumerism was born.

check out kate's new show at the jen bekman gallery --6 spring street, nyc. and bonus! this saturday kate will speak about her work & exhibition along with author michael perry.

see ya there so we can obsess together...

eco-chic or eco-trash??!!

a month ago, in my post bag the habit, i linked to a fun canvas bag alternative, i'm not a plastic bag. since then, i've seen a few around hoboken... but in today's NYT's urban eye email... check out how consumerized & ultra hip the bag became... $300 on ebay!

i'm trying to think positively since more folks are buying canvas bags, but is it only a hipster statement or will the buyers ditch plastic?

"They caused rioting in Asia and created a stir in London, and today, Anya Hindmarch’s “I’m Not a Plastic Bag” totes will go on sale at Whole Foods. The slogan-emblazoned canvas sacks are meant to replace those wasteful plastic grocery bags (100 billion of which are thrown away each year in the United States) and, Marian Burros says, make you fashionably eco-chic as well. The designer herself will be on hand to promote them; given that they’re going for as much as $300 on eBay, start queuing now.

Bags, $15 each; limit three per customer, at local Whole Foods (doors open at 8 a.m.). Anya Hindmarch is scheduled to be at the new Whole Foods at Houston Street and Bowery, Lower East Side, starting at 8 a.m."

Waiting for the i phone

My brother works in Portsmouth, NH at AT&T. He took this picture from his "normal" phone.
These people have been waiting since 9 pm last night for their i phone.

Do you think they know the surge isn't working?