spokesNspin

In his book, The Affluent Society, Galbraith argues that most of our wants beyond the basics of food and shelter are created by the marketing department.

I am trying to be a more responsible and less consumption driven. But there are a few things I still would like. And true to Galbraith’s assertion I didn’t even know I wanted these things until somebody in a marketing department told me I did.  But it could be a virtue.  Over at Ecovelo they are arguing that I should buy a new bike in order to help the economy.  It is a civic duty.

I am currently trying to down size and simplify my life. In less than a year I will probably be moving to something smaller. I currently have five bicycles. Here is my current plan for the bikes.

Get rid of the two mountain bikes. Take my current commuter bike and convert it to a fixie. Then I want to get this bike for my every day get around machine:

It’s the Homer Hilsen by Rivendell.

They are spendy but they make very nice lugged steel frame bikes.  With this plan you see that I am actually down sizing by one bicycle.

I also think this calendar is really cool.

So if anyone is interested that is my Christmas list.  Don’t worry about the calendar I can probably get that myself.  Go ahead and put the bike under my Christmas tree.

It might be simpler to just give me a Rivendell gift certificate for the bike.  I wouldn’t want  to burden you with working on all the details regarding size and accessories.

This is one of those consumer issues that just really chafes my hide!

Do these boxes ever open the way the instructions indicate they should?

They never do for me.

As you can see this box has been torn all the way around.   I freely admit I did it. They normally just smash in. 

If they actually happen to work per the instructions, which hardly ever happens,  then just how in the  sam hell do you get a finger or anything in there to pull it out?

Come on people there really has to be a better way.