comments on the recent post storm

[Guest guest]

Wow you guys got all chatty this week! I spend my entire day staring at

a computer screen at work, so sometimes I'm too burned out to answer

evenings. I'll try and catch up a bit.

 

Vegan work issues

 

Just yesterday my boss came into my office to discuss where might be a

good place for our holiday lunch that I could eat. It's really

challenging finding a place a vegan can enjoy that also has meat.

Especially when he wasn't too excited about Asian. Personally, I've

resigned myself to merely getting by at these sorts of lunches. But I

do really appreciate that he wants me to have a fabulous lunch too.

 

On the other hand, I work for a conservative media source. Luckily I

don't have to deal with the very worst offenders that we carry, but the

host I do work with is bad enough. The lies leading up to the election

were nearly unbearable. I'm torn because there's a good possibility

that I can get a job with another division within the next 6 months and

not have to deal with this anymore. Even so, I'm actively looking for

another job. Something that's not damaging my soul.

 

Freegans

 

I'm sure not above dumpster diving. It's shocking how many Americans

consider nearly everything to be disposable. In the Atlanta area, they

just love to tear down old buildings and put up McMansions etc whenever

they get the chance. The new construction is not built to last. Then

you have furniture stores like Rooms to Go for people who buy all new

furniture every few years. Right now I'm sitting on an office chair my

bf's company was going to throw out. I bought my desk at a thrift store

in San Jose around 1990 for $15. I rescued the table next to my couch

from next to the dumpster at my apartment complex a few years ago. A

fun event in San Francisco was put out day. The city advertised a

certain day in your neighborhood when you could put anything out on the

street and they'd haul it away for you. It was great funny picking

through that stuff.

 

Upselling and retail

 

This is pretty common. From " would you like fries with that " to " today

only, I can give you this special price. " My first job was at Baskin

Robbins. We had just changed our scoop sizes. What used to be a scoop

was now a Jr. scoop. The new regular was bigger and more expensive. We

were encouraged to say " would you like to make that a double. " And of

course, not bother to explain the new size and prize. I ignored that.

But you can imagine how pissed people were when then ended up with more

ice cream and spending more $ then they were expecting. Same with extra

toppings, etc. Offer them but don't tell people they cost more.

 

The great fuel debate

 

As someone said, there's no easy answer for this one. I think everyone

here is probably doing what they can. I doubt anyone on this list

drives a Hummer. I suspect we all recycle. It's convincing everyone

else. I don't see that happening without some governmental regulations

at least in the US. Not likely to happen any time soon around these

parts.

 

Okay, enough rambling from me...

 

Laura