Dear Mother Nature:
Had I desired a blow job like the one you have provided for the past twenty-four hours I certainly would have asked for it. Near-freezing temperature in Atlanta at the beginning of April? You have turned into one, cold bitch! Has the failing economy gotten to you too? Have you started working for the Internal Revenue Service as well, your current temperament seems as if you have. Please settle down and return Spring-like weather to our fair city before I decide it’s time for me to pull up stakes and run away.
Regards,
Paulie
Someone Is Lifting A Boycott
This may be a repeat (hey, if they can do it on tv, why can’t I?)…
What can I say, because I don’t wish to be a hypocrite I must lift my long-standing boycott against Chick-fil-A. My boycott has been in place for years as I “fought with my wallet” against Chick-fil-A’s policy to close its stores on Sundays for religious reasons. Why the change? Because I find myself doing a lot of business with New York’s B&H Photo which is owned and operated by people of Jewish faith who close their operations in accordance to their faith. Sure, I could stop spending money with B&H, but truth be told, I don’t want to stop, so I’ll drop my Chick-fil-A boycott instead.
Oh, and take a guess where I ate dinner before the Roswell Photographic Society meeting last night?
ITP Flickr Pic
Get used to seeing kickboxing photos this week.
I am still processing shots from Saturday and working hard to create time to take new shots.
Roswell Photographic Society: Good, But Not Sure If It’s For Me
I like the concept of the Roswell Photographic Society, but I’m not really sure if it’s the club for me.
First is the obvious — they meet in Roswell! Even when the group moves to its new meeting space in mid-May the meetings will still be held in Roswell.
In addition to their geographic undesirability there is something else — I am one of the youngest members. This photo group reminds me of the computer user group meetings that I used to attend back in the 1980s. And don’t get me started about the lack of dating potential…
In the coming months I think I will start exploring new options like the Atlanta Photography Group. Hey, at they meet inside the perimeter.
It Feels Like Starting Over, Part 2
Tonight I will be making a huge effort to restart my iPhone application development learning. I’ve been derailed for a few weeks and like with learning a spoken language if you don’t use it, you lose it. I have no delusion of writing the Next Great iPhone Application, but since I really like programming I want to learn how to do this in order to be able to add it to my resume.
When It’s Not About Me, It’s All About You
Four more things I’d like to add today
- Last week ITP-Readers Lisa and Randy had their second child. I’m assuming that I’ve given them enough time to toot their own horn, so it’s safe to announce this.
- On Sunday I met an ITP-Reader at Publix! I was walking into the fruits and vegetable area and heard “Are you Paulie?” When I confirmed he said “Hi, I read your blog.” This was not the first time that this has happened to me but I am extremely flattered when someone actually recognizes me and goes out of their way to say hello.
- Yesterday was the seventh wedding anniversary of ITP-Reader Barb and never-to-read-this-space husband Allan. Has it really been seven years since I drank Delicato and failed miserably to hook up?
- Today is the wedding anniversary of ITP-Readers, and more importantly proprietors of the Moreland Day Spa, Steve and Debbie! Happy Anniversary kids.
Stats & Goals
Daily
Current Mood – fair
Current Music – listening to this week’s TWiT podcast
Website Of The Day – Wondering if you are getting you money’s worth from Netflix? Check out Feed Flix see how much each of you Netflix rentals is really costing you.
Mode Of Transportation To Work – my car
Exercise (b)Log – nothing
Monthly
Foot Mileage – 0 miles, Wheel Mileage – 0 miles
Consecutive Days Of Bed-Making (Longest Streak) – 7 (7)
Vegetarian Days – 0, Carnivorous Days – 6
Marta Rides – 0
April Goals
none, and this is not an April Fools joke
2009 Goals
– Reduce my weight to 190 pounds (today’s weight was 199.5 pounds)
– Completely read the book 1001 Paintings You Must See Before You Die
РEarn at least $150 through photography sales in order to cover the cost for the renewal of the Jalape̱o Beach SmugMug account I opened the other day.
– Save $500 for the sole purpose of donating to charitable organizations of my choice
– Attend at least one professional photography workshop
The Unmeasurable
– Continue backing up all data, including the off-site storage
– Become a proficient programmer in Objective-C (iPhone development) and Ruby on Rails (Black Sheep web page concept)
– Do not create a solution for something which is not a problem
Cheers,
Paulie [eatl/ga]
Did you really boycott Chick-Fil-A purely because of their religious affiliations?
I guess I don’t understand boycotting something or someone solely because of their beliefs. Now, if they tried to inflict their opinions on you (ie, you gotta Praise! Jesus! in order to buy a chicken sandwich), I’d get it. But, huh. Do you have something specifically against Christianity? Because, yeah, I know I would not frequent a place owned by, say, Satan worshipers or animal torturers or something else I completely disagreed with.
Note, I added another section to the end of today’s blog entry.
I need to slightly correct Paulie – if I ever read this blog at home, and if Allan just happened to be home at the same time, he might, I say might, read a little over my shoulder. Otherwise, you are right, Allan has no time for this blogging thing. He trusts me to relay all pertinent info. All he has time for is his Ipod updates, I-Tunes, and maybe a little solitaire.
And yes, it has been 7 years since probably any of us have drank Delicato. I only wish that place was still open to the public, I’d consider throwing another weekend party there.
But they are inflicting their religious opinions on me by not opening their stores on Sundays, much in the same way that the Religious Constituency (and oddly the Liquor Store Constituency) does not allow me to purchase alcohol on Sundays.
I have nothing specifically against Christianity, although I can’t condone some of the methods they used to get people to Believe back in “the day.”
Because I have nothing specifically against Christianity, nor do I wish to be labeled a hypocrite, I felt it important to lift my boycott of Chick-fil-A and announce this to the world.
fwiw- The chicken sandwich was just okay, and the waffle-cut fries were to die for.
Yeah, it’s a pity that place where you had your wedding changed hands. It was a fantastic place even if Lisa stepped on me as I slept on their floor that Friday night.
>> But they are inflicting their religious opinions on me by not opening their stores on Sundays,
That makes absolutely no sense. None. Nada.. Zip.
Did you see this iphone development class/seminar/podcast?
http://www.theiphoneblog.com/2009/04/05/itunes-stanford-releases-iphone-application-programming/
There are a lot of places that aren’t open on Sundays….do you boycott all establishments closed on Sundays?
I think it’s great they don’t care about the money they might be able to make if they stayed open on Sundays.
And that’s all I’m going to say about that! 🙂
Happy Anniversary to all who are having anniversaries.
Congrats to Randy and Lisa on the birth of their second child.
Hope Martha is doing okay today….thinking about you.
If I liked pickles, and didn’t think that that one or two pickles (& the juice) ruins a chicken sandwich, I would eat at chick-fil-a more often jsut because they are closed on Sunday. I like to know, if I ever had to work fast food to make ends meet, there is a place that I know I could work and be guaranteed a weekend day off. I do love their chicken nuggets (no pickles involved).
Why doesn’t it make sense? S. Truett Cathy is a devout Christian and closes his stores on the Christian day of rest.
“Our decision to close on Sunday was our way of honoring God and directing our attention to things more important than our business. If it took seven days to make a living with a restaurant, then we needed to be in some other line of work. Through the years, I have never wavered from that position.”
—S. Truett Cathy
Until recently when I realized my hypocrisy by shopping at B&H even though they close for Hebrew beliefs I would have boycotted other establishments if I thought that their Corporate Policy was made based on religious beliefs. Note that I am not trying to get anyone to stay open seven days if they do not wish to, and do not feel that there should be legislation to force them to do so. I eat at many restaurants that close on Mondays in order to give their employees a day off and to recover from a weekend of heavy customer traffic. I was voting with the only ballot I possess — my wallet. And I will continue to vote with my wallet, the only difference now is that I can spend money at Chick-fil-A if I so desire. (also note that my decision to not spend money at Chick-fil-A has not seemed to hurt their bottom line. 😉 )
I wish I had a better way to fight those who make it illegal to purchase alcohol in grocery stores and not until 12:30p at restaurants on Sundays.
In other news:
Andrew: Yep, saw that podcast and have subscribed. I will be watching the first installment tonight. Thanks!
First, thank you everyone for your well wishes and thoughs, the day turned out to be a little harder than I thought it would be for me. Sorry I didn’t post yesterday, I ended up piling puppies on the bed and falling asleep for a few hours.
Barb, I agree pickles on that sandwich ruined it for me. I had one when I first moved here, at the Emory food court, grossed me out, plus I rarely eat fast food. Makes no difference to me one way or the other when they are open….now Nick’s is closed on Sundays, I don’t care why, I would never, ever boycott them, I would rather die than never have another gyro from them….
I think a business owner has every right to decide when they will be open, for any reason. However, the state shouldn’t be telling me that I can’t buy something on Sunday (or any other day).
First, it was great seeing you in Publix Sunday Paulie!
Second, I agree with Martha –
“I think a business owner has every right to decide when they will be open, for any reason. However, the state shouldn’t be telling me that I can’t buy something on Sunday (or any other day).”
Third, I’ve boycotted companies for reasons that a lot of people would have thought silly. I don’t care. I’m like you Paulie, it’s my money, I’ll boycott ’em if I want. Also, I’ll stop boycotting if I want.
I’ve boycotted bottles of wine that came from wineries that supported the Republican Party. Go figure…
I just had lunch with Allan, he said to keep up the chick-fil-a boycott, and to boycott the photo shop. It might save you a bunch of money. (and then, because he hasn’t picked on you in a while, you could use that savings to fix up the house). By the way, it’s been a few weeks since we’ve had Tasty China, it is about time to schedule another lunh or dinner.
It doesn’t make sense because Cathy is not forcing his beliefs on you by saying you can’t come eat in his establishment on days it’s not open. That’s his right, as would be yours to close your business on any day, at any time you want, for any reason.
Shoot, that’s like saying any place that’s not open 24 hours a day is forcing their beliefs on you that one should not eat/shop/play during their closed times because they’re not accessible. Or those who don’t serve breakfast all day are forcing their beliefs on you that pancakes and omelets are only proper at certain hours.
Here’s a scenario for you. I know some great BBQ joints in Toccoa and Athens that are only open Thursday-Saturday. Would you not eat there simply because they are not open Sunday-Wednesday, thereby denying you that right to be there when you want? Would your answer differ depending on THE REASON why they’re not open those days?
by the way…I’m not saying YOU don’t make sense. I was responding to the comment of you saying Cathy’s inflicting his beliefs on you. 🙂 I’m sure you got that, but wanted to be clear I wasn’t slamming on you personally!!
1. I feel that a business owner has the right to believe in what he or she wishes, and to run his or her business accordingly. As long as they conduct their business legally and in accordance to the Law, more power to them.
2. I believe that I have the right to follow my beliefs even if that means avoiding establishments because of their beliefs, including but not limited to, closing on Religious Holidays or automatically placing pickle slices on their sandwiches.
The funniest thing about this whole controversy that has occurred today is that I avoid “fast food” with because I believe it is a leading factor in this country’s obesity! We are a nation of lard-asses who won’t even get out of their cars to fetch a 2000 Calorie burger, large french fries, and Coke meal.
Oh I get that and agree with you. I’m just trying to figure out how you think it’s them forcing their beliefs on you.
But now we’re just going in circles and missing the point. So I’ll shut up! 🙂
In Cathy’s case it was the fact that he is so forthcoming that the store closings are tied to his religious beliefs.
Okay, the dead horse is now completely beaten. Oh wait, dead horse is Burger King not Chick-fil-A.
The proprietors of Just Enough Farm Day Spa and Dude Ranch appreciate all the well wishes on their anniversary. And we will say nothing about Chik-fil-a.
-FP
I like pickles on my chicken sandwich. I see that makes me odd in the ITP reader universe. Dang.
Funny Truett Cathy fact: He raises beef cattle on his home farm. Irony.
Thanks for the Anniversary wishes. We thought spring was coming to the Day Spa and started thinking about bike rides and cookouts and dominoes and then today made me want to hibernate!! Rumor is that spring will be back by the weekend so we’ll start looking at some dates.
I look forward to a day of fun an frivolity at the Day Spa. 🙂