Kathleen Charters and Lawrence Charters
Explorations large and small
Commercial language is interesting. For example, “store” as a term is short for storehouse, a place where you stored things. We now think of “store” as a place where you buy things, though there are commercial enterprises that specifically allow Continue reading Convenient tires
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
Ikea sells furniture. Ikea has a restaurant, and it sells salmon fillets. The fillets contain fish. Consider yourself warned.
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
No idea why. Probably don’t want to know, either.
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!
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
This rather large sign asks for humane treatment of roaches and rodents, selling technology that allegedly annoys the vermin. Yes, “las cucarachas” means “cockroaches” and “roedores” means “rodents.” Hate to say this, but most humans just want them gone, and Continue reading Humane treatment of vermin
Much has been written about how writers plumb the very depths of their souls in an attempt to construct a narrative. But far less attention has been devoted to the narrative arc of plumbing. You might say, “But plumbing is Continue reading Narrative arc of plumbing