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Eco-mall-onomics

So, I just caught this article in the New York Times about our country's relationship with malls, and it perked my interest because, well, Brandi and I both work in one. At the Apple Store, I get repeated comments when people walk in the door, the likes of "Wow, what recession?" and comments about the comparative emptiness of the rest of the mall. Now, it must be mentioned that Oakbrook Center is an outdoor mall and the current weather isn't exactly conducive to mall-browsing, and the Apple Store is one of the most destination oriented stores in the mall; people come to the mall just to go to the Apple Store. Because, as the article states, the only businesses in the mall they examined that are doing well are the ones with a comparatively inexpensive service to offer, and a year's worth of weekly personal training sessions for $99 is pretty much a steal, I don't feel like my job's in jeopardy right now.

Another interesting point the article made was the paradox of our current "economic crisis."  It was irresponsible consumer spending that helped to get us into this mess, yet somehow if we stimulate more consumer spending, we'll get out of it.  As happy as I was a year ago to get a check for $300 from the government, I don't think consumer spending should be our escape pod, but rather public confidence in our country as a whole.  

Let us compare for a moment, the two large sums of money recently proposed to help our country out of economic crisis.  The first, the $700 billion plan passed last year; where did the money go?  Into the banks' ledger books, to get them back in the black, into the pocketbooks of bank CEOs and investors, and a little bit back into the lending pool.  But even the money that went back to the people through loans and mortgages, what is that to those who received it?  More cash; cash which will be spent on crap that people don't need, inspiring a false sense of prosperity hurtling them into patterns of spending that can only result in more credit debt.  Bad move!

OK, now let's look at the new plan, The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.  It will cost about $820 billion between 2009 and 2019, but this time the money is going to fund job creation and retention, new clean energy sources, improving the health care industry, and building, renovating, and funding schools.  Some may say that this sounds a lot like socialism, and yes maybe it does.  However, the best part about the whole thing in my opinion, is the oversight and transparency inherent in the plan.  The website, recovery.gov will be tracking every bit of spending for the plan and every one of us can know about it.

So, my favorite thing of the week is our new president's weekly radio and video addresses being available as podcasts.  Check it out.  Things are looking up, my friends.

Bass fishing at churches.

So, I kinda started ignoring this blog in favor of my other blog, Eating up the EL (about food in Chicago).  Seeing as how I've been a boring suburban lump for the past few weeks, I haven't been even remotely near the EL, nor its surrounding restaurants, and thus have had nothing to post about there.  I feel like I have this problem often with blogs.  I never seem to get more than a month or two before they fizzle out.  Anyway, what I have been spending my time doing is playing the bass in various churches.  

The, uh, bass... not the bass.

Anyway, there are 3 I currently rotate between, 2 on alternating Sunday mornings and one in the evenings.  The third, which hasn't even technically started yet is probably the one I'll end up with on more of a permanent basis.  If you happen to be in the Chicago area on any upcoming sunday night, you should definitely come to First Pres of DuPage for the 5pm young adults service.  Or for even more fun, check out the Jenny Lane Coffee House. (yes, that is a pun on Penny Lane) 

So, I guess I like playing in church quite a bit.  I think I enjoy it so much because helping to make the music that encourages people to worship God really leads me to worship too.  There are songs that get so tired of singing as part of the congregation; then I play them as part of the band and it's all brand new again.

STREBLO

Somebody went under the dock,

and there they found a rock.

But it wasn't a rock,

It was a ROCK LOBSTER!

So for our first anniversary dinner, my wife and I ate lobster.  I have thus discovered that lobster is my favorite food in the whole world.  It's really tough to define a real favorite.  I usually settle for top 5s, but in the single entrée category, lobster is it.  It was truly delightful.

"Those who are about to die, we salute you."

The day after, we made Lobster rolls out of the leftover tail and lobster bisque out of the shells and the water the little guys were cooked in.  For that, I used my new birthday food processor from my in-laws.  Totally cool present!