The Vent and Rant Thread

[binaryhermit]

I suspect there's a certain amount of bigotry involved there in a lot of cases.

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by binaryhermit

I suspect there's a certain amount of bigotry involved there in a lot of cases.

I dunno about that

I've also noticed that the people who don't use the 'speciality shops' tend to use supermarket d-i-y checkouts even when there's a empty checkout with an operator. Whereas those that do use the 'speciality shops' tend to do the opposite.

My theory is that the Anglos don't like having to interact with people they don't know, like only 'following' people on SocMed sites or watching/reading MSM that reinforce your opinions and ideas.

Anyway I'm thankful to live in a location where I have some functioning old-style shopping strips nearby.

[Tarana]

Originally Posted by BetterRed

I dunno about that

I've also noticed that the people who don't use the 'speciality shops' tend to use supermarket d-i-y checkouts even when there's a empty checkout with an operator. Whereas those that do use the 'speciality shops' tend to do the opposite.

My theory is that the Anglos don't like having to interact with people they don't know, like only 'following' people on SocMed sites or watching/reading MSM that reinforce your opinions and ideas.

Anyway I'm thankful to live in a location where I have some functioning old-style shopping strips nearby.

There is a lot of habit ingrained in people that you aren't taking into account. Most folks my age and younger, grew up in a time when many specialty markets had already closed. My meat shop closed in 1981, for instance, and it was the last one in Minneapolis for well over a decade*. Even cake shops and bakeries, not part of a grocery store, closed. Today I shop several shops, but I have the luxury of time.

As to watching/reading stuff that reinfoces your opinions and ideals, people all over the world do this all the time. It's the smart ones (fewer than 20% of the population) that take to consider other viewpoints and sites that do not reinforce their beliefs.

*a very small meatshop opened in 1983, but way out in the suburbs.

[Rumpelteazer]

On Thursday measures were put in place to help battle Covid-19. People were asked to practice social distancing, gatherings of more than 100 people were forbidden (causing museums, theaters and other entertainment and cultural venues to close). Primary and secondary schools were allowed to stay open, but higher education was asked to close and try to continue offering education online. There was a lot of outcry about schools staying open since.

On Friday it was extremely quiet in the store and in the city center in general. Saturday morning it was also really quiet and I thought that if we had 30 customers we would be lucky. But in the afternoon it got fairly busy and we had just over 60 customers (normal for a Saturday on March is between 80 and 100 customers). Some were clearly stocking up on light bulbs.

Today the government held talks with the educational sector and this afternoon it was announced that all school were to close until April 6. Also all cafés, restaurants, coffee shops, sex/swingers clubs and sport facilities were also to stay closed from 6pm today until April 6. A lot of people weren't stocking up on toilet paper tonight, but were in line in front of the coffee shops (can't order marijuana or edibles online).

Tomorrow at 7pm the prime minister is going to speak to the nation. To be honest it wouldn't surprise me if even more strict measures were announced and all shops except for supermarkets and pharmacies have to close. Which would also includes our store. My father doesn't like that idea, but I'd rather have the government take strict measures soon than muddle on for a while and then close everything.

I don't expect it to be very busy in the store if we're allowed to stay open I've already done some calculations and if I get paid for one day's work a week I have enough to pay my monthly bills and have a little bit left over for anything essential I need.

Tomorrow morning I'm running a couple of errands for myself and in the afternoon my father and I are going to the supermarket and see what they have. Normally my mother orders groceries online and has them delivered but our supermarket has stopped doing that for the time being because they were booked full. If we can't get certain things I'm not too worried. There are three supermarkets walking distance from our house so I can always pick up items we need. At least we have enough toilet paper. We like the one sold by the Lidl, since we don't go there often we tend to stock up on it when we do go. We went a couple of weeks ago and have enough for at least three or four months.

The only thing we need for the cats is their liquid stick treats, my mother uses that to mix Luna medicines in. Maru only likes one flavour from one brand. We still have some, but my mother is going to order more tonight.

I'm now going to do what I've done the last couple of nights; diamond paint whilst listening to podcasts. Unplug from all the news, which is causing a lot of anxiety for me at the moment.

[Hemmi]

Good luck. I did my normal Sunday grocery run and the didn't have even one loaf of bread left! And this store has a large bread section.

[Rumpelteazer]

Originally Posted by Hemmi

Good luck. I did my normal Sunday grocery run and the didn't have even one loaf of bread left! And this store has a large bread section.

We'll just have to wait and see. My mother always has a supply of bread in the freezer, enough for a week or so. Normally I go to the bakery on Tuesday, I think we might call them tomorrow and see if we can order, so they set it apart for me to pick up.

I'm not too worried (yet) about food, hopefully people will stop stockpiling soon. We live in the city center, there are six fairly sized supermarkets within walking distance. With cafés and restaurants closed there will be a lot less people around to go to those supermarkets. Also, some supermarkets are now starting to limit the amount people can buy of certain products, that should also help.


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[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by Tarana

There is a lot of habit ingrained in people that you aren't taking into account. Most folks my age and younger, grew up in a time when many specialty markets had already closed. My meat shop closed in 1981, for instance, and it was the last one in Minneapolis for well over a decade*. Even cake shops and bakeries, not part of a grocery store, closed. Today I shop several shops, but I have the luxury of time.

As to watching/reading stuff that reinfoces your opinions and ideals, people all over the world do this all the time. It's the smart ones (fewer than 20% of the population) that take to consider other viewpoints and sites that do not reinforce their beliefs.

*a very small meatshop opened in 1983, but way out in the suburbs.

We're probably of a similar age, I'm now closer to 80 than I am to 70.

Where I live in Sydney is a bit like Queens in NYC. Lots of migrants, some recent, others from shortly after WW2 and everything between, and it still has a way to go on gentrification - but they're working on that.

Out in the suburbs there are US style shopping plazas/malls, and there is one not far from here - it's on Broadway :lol: My movie buddy likes going there, because its easy to park her car, then after the movie she can't remember where she parked the bloody thing Oh. she is Crystal from Vanuatu, less than half my age - just a friend, but a good friend - she saved my life a few months ago.

BR

[CRussel]

Originally Posted by Hemmi

Good luck. I did my normal Sunday grocery run and the didn't have even one loaf of bread left! And this store has a large bread section.

So, buy a bag of flour and make bread. If everyone's stuck at home anyway, it's so much better than the stuff in the store. (Oh, and unless you like unleavened bread, grab a bottle of yeast until your sourdough starter gets going.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by CRussel

So, buy a bag of flour and make bread. If everyone's stuck at home anyway, it's so much better than the stuff in the store. (Oh, and unless you like unleavened bread, grab a bottle of yeast until your sourdough starter gets going.

In the supermarkets near me, the shelves have been cleared of bread flour too. I'm sure the silliness will be over soon, and things will reappear on the supermarket shelves.

[Uncle Robin]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

In the supermarkets near me, the shelves have been cleared of bread flour too.

My wife commented on exactly this after a quick trip to our local supermarket today. Her first words on return were "I couldn't even find flour"

[Rumpelteazer]

It seems my mother was able to order online at the supermarket again. So my father and I don't have to go there. We still have to run a couple of errands, including a wholesaler which also sells cleaning supplies. And see if we can get some extra disinfectant stuff for the store.

First I'm going to the pharmacy to refill my prescription. A bit earlier than I normally would, but better safe than sorry.

[BetterRed]

Must be too many people reading the Daily Torygraph, they had one of their It's Tuesday, so Lets Blame it on Brussels opinion diatribes the other day about the lack of flour and powdered milk on supermarket shelves.

The two major supermarkets here have come up with a great scheme to help the elderly and disabled.

Able bodied young people will prevented from entering their stores in the hour between 7 and 8 in the morning, because that's when us old people and those with disabilities are required to do our shopping!

I kid you not. It's not clear if we will be prevented from entering the stores in the 14 hours between 8 in the morning and 10 at night.

I sort of get their logic, but…

BR

[Hemmi]

I don't have time to make bread, I still have to go to work. If I can't find any today, we'll have to do without

[HLS]

My stores all almost out of cold and pain meds. TP totally gone but went to Walgreens and they actually were well stocked in the cold meds I needed. My sinuses are messed up causing tooth ache. Got Nasacort, Xyzal ( best allergy meds I tried so far), musinex, and got some cold meds for just in case. all $73 freaking dollars. Had some coupons that brought it to 60$ Seems to be working for the tooth is not aching and im less tired

[trichobezoar]

Originally Posted by cc_in_oh

I have some extra - I put it on eBay - 25 cents per square or 3 for $1. Free shipping for orders over $100.

CC in Oh, I don't have to buy your toilet paper. I have enough TP for four months! Neener, neener!