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Last Remaining Human Who Actually Wants To Subscribe To A Newspaper Can't
I just ended my local paper service here in Richmond, VA. I felt bad doing it since I've gotten a local paper and the NYT wherever I've lived outside NY since the early 90s. When it came down to it, though, the Times-Dispatch was cutting reporters, stripping sections, reducing trim size, and it just wasn't worth it any more. Everything in the paper was on NPR in the morning, and there's a copy in my office kitchen every morning.
When the customer retention rep called to ask why I'd cancelled, I expected a bit of a fight - or at least the offer of a free sub for a while. Something. But no. She gave me the verbal equivalent of a shrug and thanked me for the explanation.
It's like the print media isn't even trying to bring people back.
Target Must Pay $600,000 To Settle Lead Paint Charges
@AndroidHumanoid: My daughter and several of her friends have noticed that everything seems to come from China. They've begun to ask why, and it's been a point of both humor and teaching...
That said, I'd really like to see a list of the items in question. I know for a fact that some of our kiddie gardening implements came from Target in that period.
@Metricula: "Free range" means next to nothing. "Cage free" is more specific. Best are eggs from chickens that are pastured.
Read Omnivore's Dilemma if you want to know more.
How will this affect small, local egg producers? I'd hate to think I couldn't buy eggs at the farmers market any more.
Buy American? Sure, If You Can Afford It
@morlo: There are some good examples like L.L. Bean of companies that maintain a community mission. Unfortunately, even Bean has moved away from production of products, and even some of their traditionally made-in-Maine items.
There are other good examples like Polartec, Hathaway and others. Unfortunately, you're right that even they've had to change or close in the face of competition and rising costs.
Buy American? Sure, If You Can Afford It
True story... We used to manufacture things in this country. We used to have extensive domestic clothing and shoe production, not to mention building materials, car parts, widgets, food, and all sorts of wonderful things. That all changed in the last 20+ years. In that time, for instance, our clothing industry has dropped to 1% of its former size.
What this means is that we have not only lost a lot of regionally-made goods, but many, many people have lost their jobs and watched entire local economies destroyed as companies have gone from producing goods to working with "vendors." We could fill a book with the names of companies and towns to whom this has happened. The battle was lost when companies stopped seeing themselves as part of the larger community.
And for what? Shoes that cost $30 and last months rather than years. Clothes that are made to be disposable so we buy more sooner. The chance to stock shelves rather than make things.
Acting CFO Of Freddie Mac Found Dead This Morning
@VidaBlueBalls: That made my heart sink. My daughter is a year older and I can hardly imagine...
9 Legal Drugs With Extremely Disturbing Side Effects
Lyrica should be on here. Seriously.
I was on it for pain. When the 75mg dose stopped working, the doctor bumped me up to the next dosage. That's when I started forgetting words, having vertigo and blurry vision, losing the ability to speak clearly. On the bright side, the pain was gone and I was sleeping well, but nothing was going to keep me on it as the side effects built up.
Enterprise Rent-A-Car Is Unsurprisingly Useless And Full Of Lies
@econobiker: Fascinating. Learned something new today...
Comments from paco
What Are The Most Expensive Colleges In America?
Wow. Brandeis has really slipped. We were top 10 twenty years ago, and now to be 81. It feels so... reasonable.