A word of caution

Better be careful in this scorching Californian summer.

Quick and easy peace of mind

No priest required. Mercantilism is that powerful nowadays.

Wednesday

Today then is ok, I suppose.

ooooh, ok.Tuesday, not Thursday. I understand the insistence on ‘Tues”…

The longest day

A week is passing so fast.

Voyage

Witnessing flight arrivals is a form of torture. My United card is screaming for more miles. I scream for new horizons

When?

6,8,10

Economic history is on the walls…and windows. 6, 8,10$. This is basically the price I am expecting to pay now. I once paid 120$ for a haircut, it was a nice salon, in NYC, with coffee and all the attention of the staff.

120$ = (10$ + 2$ tip) * 10 = almost 1 year and half of haircut blown away on that day.

Trophy

This fish was once happy in the water. [The Tides restaurant, in Bodega Bay, California]

Wealth comes from raw materials

updated 5:43 p.m. PT, Tues., May. 6, 2008

WASHINGTON – Further evidence that times are tough: It now costs more than a penny to make a penny. And the cost of a nickel is more than 7½ cents.

Surging prices for copper, zinc and nickel have some in Congress trying to bring back the steel-made pennies of World War II, and maybe using steel for nickels, as well.

Copper and nickel prices have tripled since 2003 and the price of zinc has quadrupled, said Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill., whose subcommittee oversees the U.S. Mint.

Sale in progress

Is the sale going better than expected? Interesting super-imposed messages: smaller rebate, choice restriction, all to the confusion of the potential customers.

Rice, rice… My empire for a bag of rice!

The cosy way of life where all is coming by 10 pounds bags or more is about to end. Too long has been the over abundance of goods that a simple ‘1 per customer’ tag signals the end of the world. For the masses trained and conditioned for a never ending availability of supply and credit, this is cardiac arrest. I am frankly quite disgusted about the media coverage of Sam’s club and Costco: ‘1 bag of rice per customer’ is not getting food out of your mouth! For a country used to comfort, this should be a clear signal that over consumption here leads to indeed depriving the poor country producers from….the very food they have to send abroad. Other people? what? abroad? Haven’t seen them on Discovery Channel…Wait! the special on Miley is starting… This is not a sustainable model anymore.

Serving suggestion:

• First step: leave your ego and selfishness on the side and look at your plate. How much are you going to waste today?

• Second step: eat less, your heart and waistline will thank you.

These 2 pictures have been taken today in a secret location in a suburb around San Francisco. Not in Costco. As you can see, the lines forming to get 20 pounds of rice are gigantic. I did NOT photoshop the people out to keep the dramatic situation as raw as possible…..like people fighting over the *few* bags left on the ground.