Corporate America is Ruining My Life

In less than a week, two stories from the business pages have elicited the following reaction from me:

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

First, the announced proposed acquisition of Wild Oats, the kinder, gentler, granola-ier, cheaper health/organic foods supermarket by the evil, statusy, so-expensive-it-is-practically-a-diet-plan-in-and-of-itself-to-try-shopping-in-there-on-a-budget and so-bloody-high-minded-that-they-don't-carry-anything-that-resembles-a-normal-kitchen-staple 'supermarket' Whole Foods. I admit that this announcement, heard in the car, not only engendered the above reaction, but also the following:

Fucking! Evil! Blue Sun! Crap, crap, crap, nooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!! Evil damit fuck. Noooooooooo!!!

All this screaming was accompanied by pounding on the steering wheel and dashboard and was immediately followed by a call to KW, who, of all my friends, will understand my pain regarding this news. (She did, in fact, understand and share my pain).

Then, today, M-bee informed me that Forth & Towne, the Gap concept store designed for women over 30 (of which I am one) who would like to look cute, but age appropriate, on a budget and might, just might, want to wear a color that is not a neutral (I'm talking to you, Banana Republic) is being ditched by Gap corporate. I imagine there will be a delayed reaction to this - at the moment I'm still in shock. However, I also imagine that there will be a strongly worded letter drafted before the day is out expressing my dismay at their disgusting decision. I'm given to understand that Ding has already whipped out her pen, gods bless her.

Dear Senator Clinton,

Yes, I felt compelled to send the below to the Clinton campaign, although I feel a bit superficial because am annoyed by actual policy? No. Word choice. Inproper verbiage. But, whatever, her Obama baiting has ticked me off.

Senator Clinton,

I'm deeply disappointed in your decision to not only mischaracterize Mr. Geffen as having an official role in the campaign of Senator Obama, but then to continue to do so. Repeatedly. After having the mischaracterization pointed out to your spokesman. Repeatedly.

I’m sorry to say that all I can think of when your campaign does so is the infamous parsing of the meaning of the word ‘is.’ I will not be voting for someone who cannot use words accurately - even if the 'is' fiasco had never occurred, I’ve had enough Orwellian language in the past 6 years to last me a lifetime.

I will not exaggerate the level of my support prior to this incident, which was declining due in large part to what I perceive to be pandering to the religious right. But this really does seem to be the straw that has broken this particular camel’s back. You have certainly lost my support.

Whatever gets you through the day

Just a quick moment to share my new favorite quote - from the Qantas stewardess who was fired after having sex with Ralph Fiennes whom she met (and boffed) during a flight she was working:

She says she doesn't feel cheapened by the supposed Fiennes fly-by, asserting, "I am sure he cared about me," before adding, "Then again, he is a very good actor."

Every time I read that, for no good reason, it gets funnier and funnier. As opposed to the whole article which is rather depressing - it is like looking into this woman's horrible internalized point/counterpoint of:

POINT - I own and embrace my sexuality!
v.
COUNTERPOINT - A. Sex is dirty. B. I'm a good girl, I am. C. Therefore if I engaged in a sexual act, it was either (i) Not Just Sex or (ii) It Was Not At All My Fault Or Responsibility.

Depressing because Counterpoint is winning. By a landslide. Point is practically a strawman. Frankly, Point may be something I inserted into the dialog as mere wishful thinking.

RIP Anna Nicole

Although I didn't (and don't) think of myself as a fan, I'm genuinely saddened by today's news that Anna Nicole Smith has died. I feel like she just wanted to reach a point where life was easy, but never quite did, poor thing.

Road Trip!

The next (and, sob, last) Harry Potter book is to be released July 21 - plans for the 3rd (and, sob, last) Run for the Border (the Canadian border) are being made even as I write. Woo (sob) woo!