First world problems

Soofa Bench is a solar-powered park bench. It has space for three people, and can recharge two USB phones at once. It is "made of sustainably harvested materials and built in the United States." Photo by Lykara Ryder.

Third world problems usually center around a lack of food, clothing, water, or shelter, or possibly all of them. Compounding these lacks, you often have severe pollution and poverty. First world problems, however, are more nuanced. For example, this sign Continue reading First world problems

Pirate Party: success at last!

Pirates are thriving, and it may be a good thing. On December 2, Iceland’s President mandated that Pirate Party Member of Parliament Birgitta Jónsdóttir form a government. In the October 2016 general election, the Pirate Party came in third, but the two Continue reading Pirate Party: success at last!

Contains fish

Ikea sells furniture. Ikea has a restaurant, and it sells salmon fillets. The fillets contain fish. Consider yourself warned.

Adventures in shopping II

Commerce is a human-created ecology, mutating over time to fit niches. Even absurd niches. Possibly because I don’t like mayonnaise, I see no reason for tiny 1.8 ounce glass jars of mayonnaise, though the Dijon mustard tempted me. Janis Ian has Continue reading Adventures in shopping II

Out of order: coming soon!

This is allegedly a check-in kiosk, allowing you to get a personal, human touch from a machine and not one of those impersonal people. Unfortunately, it would not let you check in. Several things are of interest: While laser printers Continue reading Out of order: coming soon!

Adventures in shopping

Any trip to a shopping mall will be full of delights, even if you are not shopping. The delights, for me, are usually in the form of absurdities. For example, where else can you rent a hippo? In a later Continue reading Adventures in shopping

Visit to NSA

The National Security Agency (NSA) has a large campus on Fort Meade, Maryland, protected by fences, barbed wire, police dogs, guards, and maybe a dragon or two. It is not visitor friendly. But right outside of the campus is the Continue reading Visit to NSA

Sia as clothing model

Nordstrom’s, ever at the forefront of high-end marketing, appears to have enlisted Sia as a clothing model. To make this even more surreal, the store music system started playing “Chandelier” while this photo was shot. Update Nordstrom’s continues to make Continue reading Sia as clothing model