The Walmart War

There's been an ongoing war over the proposed construction of a "Super Walmart" here in little 'ol Redlands. Those opposed point to Walmart's lousy employee pay and anti competitive pricing, and the proponents shout the glories of Walmart's low prices.

Here's my take.

I've always hated Walmart. The company has a particular blandness only a company founded and managed from Arkansas could create. Yes, its prices are cheap, because the products are cheap. Remember when Walmart touted its products as American made? Not any more. Years ago, Walmart destroyed many a middle American town by undercutting locally owned businesses who couldn't compete on price. So how goes it now?

What will a Super Walmart mean for Redlands? Other than a very large vacant box where the current store is located, not much. Here's why.

If Wallyworld disappeared from the planet in some sort of retail rapture, where would people turn for the things they used to buy there?

Foodstuffs -- big grocery chains like Albertsons and Vons

Electronics -- big electronic chain stores like Best Buy

Auto Parts and Repair -- big auto parts stores like Pep Boys and Auto Zone

Sporting Goods -- big sporting goods chains like Big 5 and Sport Chalet

Clothing -- big clothing chains, Target, Kmart, and Penney's

Health and Beauty -- big pharmacy chains, like CVS and Walgreens

Garden -- big box home improvement stores like Lowes and Home Depot

So... the common denominator here is the word "big"... Walmart competes in this market with other big chains, because there is no small business Walmart wants or needs to compete with any more. They're all long dead and gone.

Yes, we have our boutique stores serving select segments of the overall market in most (but not all) of these categories. But the real dollars these days go to the big nationwide shops. And of the list, only a few of them (grocery stores) pay a living wage, thanks by and large to unionization.

The war is over. Walmart and all the other big boxes have won. Independent business was wiped out years ago. The end.

Going To The Hospital...

Today I visited the mother of an old friend at Redlands Community Hospital. (She's doing fine.)

I was struck, though, about how visiting a hospital is good for us. It reminds us that life is a fragile thing; that we should cherish our good health. I walked out of there with a fresh appreciation of the cool fall weather, the distant mountain vistas, and the music on the radio.

Even if we're in not-s0-good shape, not being in the hospital should give us joy, for that means we are free to be out and about, and not trapped in a bed surrounded by machines and charts and bedpans.

Don't shirk your duty visiting the infirm; it's good for you.

Raiders of the Lost Film Trailer

Dear Steven and George:

I'm shocked, shocked to see that Raiders of the Lost Ark was, in fact, a remake of an earlier Charlton Heston film. Despite your heretofore successful efforts to suppress its existence, a diligent film historian has rescued one of the last remaining copies of the film's trailer that you hadn't had destroyed. See for yourself -- here's the link:

YouTube - Raiders of the Lost Ark (1951) Trailer

I think you owe the movie going public an apology....

oh, and by the way, this is all a lie. But it's damn good editing on somebody's part.

Things I'll Never Need In Ireland.

Sun screen.

Shorts.

A mister system.

High fructose corn syrup. (Everything is real sugar, there.)

Air conditioning.

A 4 speed, dual quad, posi-traction 409.

Ebonics-to-English translation book.

Another Good Reason To Not Watch TV

This year's Emmy awards show was supposed to have showcased the best television has to offer. Maybe it did, but I turned it off after the first hour because it certainly wasn't offering up anything I wanted to watch.

I don't want to know who was responsible for writing garbage like this, but their names ought to be passed around Hollywood as people who have no comedic sense whatsoever. I've never seen so many jokes fall flat in the name of "edgy" humor.

Get a clue, guys. There's better jokes in a three year old copy of Reader's Digest. I'm sure you all think Jay Leno is out of style -- but at least he can make people laugh. Neil Patrick Harris may be funny on his sitcom, but he's the poster boy for award show hosts who are so full of themselves. And, as Wifey pointed out, he's no Hugh Jackman when it comes to song and dance, either.

I guess it's back to the Discovery Channel for me...