Online Shoppers Blog - Become's Pocket Change

Another two weeks has gone by, and you know what that means:

• We're two weeks closer to the inevitable fizzling-out of our Sun and subsequent death of all life on our planet,
• It's time for another Carnival of Shopping, and
• Generalísimo Francisco Franco is still dead.

Batting leadoff, Gift Giving Made Easy has some solid gift ideas for people who like to cook. Shockingly, my staples (Stagg's Ranchero Beef Chili and a microwave; Aidell's frozen turkey burgers and a Foreman Grill) are not on the list.

Mad Kane is skeptical about Wal-Mart's plan to provide in-store health care and expresses it in the manner favored by most medical industry pundits: limerick.

My prison pal Wenchypoo has a fantastic name for a very good idea: reverse shopping. Don't buy things. Get rid of them. I had a moment the other day as I was contemplating the possibility of a move to a small apartment across the country: "But what would I do with all my stuff?" That's really not the first thought that should occur to you, is it?

In a similar vein, makingourway points out that we "inflate the value of personal possessions to offset the negative effects of debt on [our] net worth." and offers up a dispassionate approach for evaluating what you own. This guy really seems to have his financial act together, and is totally right about the value of all your stuff. That damn thing cost $250, you're darn tootin' I like it. That's why you end up with drawers full of Ghost in the Machine commemorative plates or whatever: they represent money that you don't have, so you'd better hold on tight.

A poll at omiru found that a slim majority of people who have opinions on these kinds of things consider striped tops to be either "out" or "on the way out." Presumably Sherry or Jill would actually have something to say about this; the extent of my contribution is that 100% of me finds neck tattoos "horrifying" and "obnoxious."

How Not to be Dreadful (love the name and, let's be honest, could probably use the advice) has a podcast, of all things, on pushy, hover-y salespeople and other shopping, er, dreadfulness. I've worked retail--it's a fine line they have to tread between won't-go-away and taping-merchandise-to-themselves-as-camo, but somewhere between used-car lots and Fry's Electronics, there's a happy medium.

And now loyal readers, I ride into the sunset on my trusty steed. On which I'm making $400 monthly payments, not to mention steed fuel, steed insurance, and general steed upkeep.

Aram