The taste of the universe, and other coolness

[scarlettina]

I have to thank dianora2 for her delightful post tonight, which was filled with linky goodness and much pop culture squeeage. If you don't feel like clicking over there, here are a couple of the bits she shared most pleasing to me:

Milky Way galaxy 'tastes of raspberries': Raspberries and rum, apparently. See? If the religious right wanted to prove there's a God, they'd totally tell everyone that the universe tastes sweet and will make you a little tipsy. That's my kinda God right there. ::grin::

Can I ever love The X Files again?: A fan ponders whether or not the disastrous series finale and the most recent movie have forever poisoned the waters. I know exactly how he feels. Every now and then I pop an early-series X Files DVD into the player and feel that warm, lovely paranoia that Chris Carter created so well. It hurts to think about what came later.

The season finale of "Chuck" tonight made me happy as a clam. I recognized what was going on in the final sequence so that when Chuck uttered his last lines, I scared the cat with my outburst of laughter. I hope the series is renewed for next season. It's just terrific.

In other news, it appears that Seattle is about to be invaded by penguins. I have already written for an application and notified a number of artists of my acquaintance. Yes, I wish to be a penguin...or at least create a penguin to represent me.

On the subject of my little revolution of one, I wrote to the Fremont Universe blog, to Joel Connelly, and have mentioned it to several folks. A number of people have linked to the idea, mentioning it in their LJs. I also mentioned it on Facebook. With few exceptions, people seem to dig the idea. The question is: How to get businesses to buy into the idea. It has already been suggested that local business won't be willing to cut into its already razor-thin profit margin. Honestly, I'm not all that concerned about the short term. Local businesses who remember that my money--what little I have--is still legal tender even if I have less than usual will continue to get my enthusiastic business at full price when I return to work. Those who don't are likely to see less of me.

Spent the afternoon with brumbjorn and selinker enjoying the Pacific Science Center's exhibit on GPS technology and geocaching (using Entertainment Book coupons to help keep it affordable). It actually mimics the experience of geocaching very well and is a great deal of fun. It's a little text-heavy for this sort of interactive thing, but it's still entertaining. We spent some truly quality time in the butterfly house. (As brumbjorn said, if you go in there in a bad mood, there's no way you can leave without feeling better.) I smashed some coins (and am ready for trading!). We had lunch at T.S. McHugh's and then headed out.

Lots of walking, talking and catching up. I must sleep now, for I am beat.

Comments

[mevennen.livejournal.com]

Isn't local business already cutting its profit margin by offering discounts to paid personnel?

The local eating holes here have been offering a variety of discounts to everyone, which seem to be working in some cases, but not others (the others being the ones that no one wants to eat in anyway even under normal circumstances). We don't do discounts, nor are we dropping prices (in retail, that's a quick way to go under, but that's retail and it's different), though we do other offers.

[scarlettina.livejournal.com]

My point is that the folks at Getty, Google and Adobe are some of the best-paid people in the city and they're the ones getting discounts--people who don't really need them, or at least don't need them as badly. Those of us on unemployment, trying to find work, are paying regular prices or not shopping/dining at all. Every time I walk past that sign, which basically says, "We'll reward you for having a job!" I'm just irritated. It's like saying that because I don't have a job I'm not worth their attention.

[sinthrex.livejournal.com]

You may see it as a personal affront, but it makes more business sense to offer the well-paid employee a discount.

They may be tempted to go in by the discount, they will likely spend more freely because they feel like they are getting a deal and they are more likely to come in groups.

Giving an unemployed person a discount is an investment that may never pay off and the unemployed person will watch what they spend very carefully when they do come in.

A given GOOG/ADBE employee may never come back due to the discount, but _someone_ out of the group is likely to, and they are likely to drag some new people along with them out of proximity and ease if nothing else.

[scarlettina.livejournal.com]

That may all be true. It still induces a wince every time I walk by, and I know a number of unemployed people who feel the same way. It's not just me.

[sinthrex.livejournal.com]

I never said it was just you, nor have I argued against what you're trying to do, though it isn't something that _I_ would do.

[sallysimpleton.livejournal.com]

I think that an unemployed person would appreciate it more. Maybe they wouldn't have normally gone to a certain business but now will give 'em a chance. It would buy loyalty, which is one of the hardest things a business can do. This is underscored by a belief (based on my anecdotal evidence of the many friends hurt by this downturn): the unemployed person is merely going through a rough patch now, has been employed in the past (as evidenced with UI stub), will be employed again, and that person will remember this small thing.

I think that if they can cut a deal for the employed, they can cut a deal for one of the 9% in WA who's getting UI checks which implies effort to regain employment. It's not like offering a discount to everyone who walks in the door and drops a company name -- you have to show a badge if you're working for one of those 3. Extending to UI folks sounds totally reasonable to me.

Margins on grocery stores or some cheap establishments might be tight. I overheard the lady at Quizno's talking about how difficult it was to maintain a similar discount to the same crowd where it's a frequent expectation among restaurants in Fremont to give these discounts. I wouldn't think of expecting the taco truck to offer it either. But, I don't believe thin margins are the case for some of the sushi and Thai shops around Fremont. :) I have 7 years of intense research on the Fremont lunch scene but I suppose it could be different in other neighborhoods.

[sinthrex.livejournal.com]

I disagree.

[sallysimpleton.livejournal.com]

Sounds good!

[sinthrex.livejournal.com]

It seemed easiest.

[sallysimpleton.livejournal.com]

oops. wrong reply within reply window.

Scarlettina, let me know if you want any help on this one.

[chantry.livejournal.com]

If you loved X-Files, and don't already know about it, give Shadow Unit (http://www.shadowunit.net) a try - it's like X-Files written by the likes of Emma Bull, Will Shetterly, Elizabeth Bear, and other names that aren't leaping to my mind.

If you're interested in geocaching, and aren't already involved, talk to botgrrrl and I sometime. We have been geocachers since 2002, though we were inactive for several years. We're getting back into it this year, and we have a spare GPS. And, due to my knee and our general lack of physical fitness, we tend to stick with caches that involve easier terrain.

[dianora2.livejournal.com]

Glad to oblige. :) I'm on pins and needles about Chuck. Whimper. If this was the last episode, at least they went out with a bang.

[scarlettina.livejournal.com]

They surely did. I hope we get to see more, though.

[robespierrette.livejournal.com]

I like your idea.

Also: I heard you on KUOW - I wound up having one of those "driveway moments" where I sat and listened to the rest of the segment before going into the house! :)

[scarlettina.livejournal.com]

::chuckle:: I wondered if anyone heard me. That's what happens when one is unemployed and longing for human contact. :-)

[oldmangrumpus.livejournal.com]

When were you on KUOW? Is this the elongated collector thing? Or did you actually take my advice about something?

[scarlettina.livejournal.com]

Yesterday morning. They were doing a show on creating personal space in your home. I called to talk about the difference that painting my walls has made.

[ckd]

Ooh, that PSC exhibit sounds neat, and I think my (Boston) Museum of Science membership gets me in free. Now to arrange a trip to Seattle....

[scarlettina.livejournal.com]

My understanding is that the exhibit travels. It may yet be headed to Boston...but if not, I always have a futon for guests. :-)

[mabfan.livejournal.com]

Penguins! We want penguins in Boston!

[scarlettina.livejournal.com]

Penguins are actually on their way to Boston. Watch your mailbox. (The P.O. Box is still good, yes?)

Yes, I'm serious.

[mabfan.livejournal.com]

The P.O. Box is most excellent for penguins.

[gnomi.livejournal.com]

Yay for public penguin art! Have fun with your penguin creating!