This is so much more awesome. Way to tap into the spirit of the season, guys.
Sunday, December 20, 2009
This is how we'll save newspapers.
I've seen the newspapers offer free pasta, free tea, and free cookies with each copy sold. But this?
This is so much more awesome. Way to tap into the spirit of the season, guys.
This is so much more awesome. Way to tap into the spirit of the season, guys.
Friday, December 11, 2009
You know what's better than waiting in line at the post office (or bank)?
Waiting in line at the bank (or post office).
Fortunately, the Scots managed to combine the two: the post office doubles as a bank. I've seen people in line purchase a book of stamps, mail a package, deposit a week's worth of employee receipts, and withdraw £200. You can imagine how insane it is, and how annoyingly slow it can be.
This alone did not warrant a blog post. Nor did the fact that my local post office/bank reduce 50% of its line space to also become a convenience store. (I'm still serious. I walk in, pass a man at a newly installed counter selling chips and candy bars, only to stand next to a cooler of Coke and Irn Bru.)
What's now supremely weird is that the post office may have been purchased by Argos, as the post office/bank/convenience store now boasts advertisements how purchases from the Argos website may be picked up at your local post office/bank/convenience store, often within 24 hours.
Insane.
I should post some more bizarre photos soon.
Waiting in line at the bank (or post office).
Fortunately, the Scots managed to combine the two: the post office doubles as a bank. I've seen people in line purchase a book of stamps, mail a package, deposit a week's worth of employee receipts, and withdraw £200. You can imagine how insane it is, and how annoyingly slow it can be.
This alone did not warrant a blog post. Nor did the fact that my local post office/bank reduce 50% of its line space to also become a convenience store. (I'm still serious. I walk in, pass a man at a newly installed counter selling chips and candy bars, only to stand next to a cooler of Coke and Irn Bru.)
What's now supremely weird is that the post office may have been purchased by Argos, as the post office/bank/convenience store now boasts advertisements how purchases from the Argos website may be picked up at your local post office/bank/convenience store, often within 24 hours.
Insane.
I should post some more bizarre photos soon.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
And in the same vein...
Things you don't see in Glasgow: Color-safe bleach. Seriously. Thus far, it's been impossible to find. Is it so much to ask for a cleaning agent that can also be used to get stains out of laundry? The answer is, "Apparently so."
Things you see in Glasgow: This.
Like myself, they admit to not being from around these parts, hailing instead from a colder clime. Beyond that, I got nothin'. Other people came up to snap pictures and they began posing again.
Unique.
Things you see in Glasgow: This.
Like myself, they admit to not being from around these parts, hailing instead from a colder clime. Beyond that, I got nothin'. Other people came up to snap pictures and they began posing again.
Unique.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Deceased conquerers are for kids!
Again, I don't know what I can add to SKELETON ROMAN, SKELETON CONQUISTADOR, AND SKELETON REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER LOLLIPOPS.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Foreign Service
There aren't many Americans in Glasgow. Or, perhaps, I simply haven't found the American enclave, the secret town of hot wings, real football, and people who drive on the correct side of the road.
What this means, beyond the fact that I'm now the one with the cute accent, is that I get a lot of questions, about both Presidents Bush (the recent) and Obama (the only, thus far). I have people asking me what I think of the eight years under Bush and the last year under Obama. And I'm cool with that; when someone's curious and they meet an American, why not take the chance to question him, see what he's like, size him up against preconceived notions? I hope I dispel some of the stereotypes. (Although, today, I was questioned by the shopkeeper where I was ordering a bacon cheeseburger and fries. Ha.)
More interesting is that I have a lot to listen to. As if I'm some conduit to the public zeitgeist, people enjoy sharing their opinions of the United States with me. The shopkeeper today, for example, an Iranian with a solid Glaswegian accent, exhausted his questions in a minute or so and spent the next 10 minutes telling me his views of America. He went on about what he likes about President Obama, what he disliked about President Bush, and what he fears from the increasing polarization of political and religious zealots. He went from Farsi phrases to discussing the web of power in America that stretches across the world, influenced by so many elements.
The important bit, though, was his smile. He seemed happy that he found an American and, moreso, one who was open to listening to him. Honestly, I agree with a lot of what the shopkeeper said, though I don't think that mattered to him much. The thrill of having my ear seemed to be enough.
And his burger wasn't bad, even if it was British bacon.
What this means, beyond the fact that I'm now the one with the cute accent, is that I get a lot of questions, about both Presidents Bush (the recent) and Obama (the only, thus far). I have people asking me what I think of the eight years under Bush and the last year under Obama. And I'm cool with that; when someone's curious and they meet an American, why not take the chance to question him, see what he's like, size him up against preconceived notions? I hope I dispel some of the stereotypes. (Although, today, I was questioned by the shopkeeper where I was ordering a bacon cheeseburger and fries. Ha.)
More interesting is that I have a lot to listen to. As if I'm some conduit to the public zeitgeist, people enjoy sharing their opinions of the United States with me. The shopkeeper today, for example, an Iranian with a solid Glaswegian accent, exhausted his questions in a minute or so and spent the next 10 minutes telling me his views of America. He went on about what he likes about President Obama, what he disliked about President Bush, and what he fears from the increasing polarization of political and religious zealots. He went from Farsi phrases to discussing the web of power in America that stretches across the world, influenced by so many elements.
The important bit, though, was his smile. He seemed happy that he found an American and, moreso, one who was open to listening to him. Honestly, I agree with a lot of what the shopkeeper said, though I don't think that mattered to him much. The thrill of having my ear seemed to be enough.
And his burger wasn't bad, even if it was British bacon.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Alive!
Contrary to popular opinion, I am not dead. I simply haven't updated. But I have things to update about! I just need to sit down, edit photos, and explain why Tizer is a strong contender for Worst Soda Ever.
And I'm including Cranberry 7 Up and those God-awful Halloween edition Jones sodas in the competition.
And I'm including Cranberry 7 Up and those God-awful Halloween edition Jones sodas in the competition.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)