Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price

*Attention:  If this is your first time here just know I cover many topics, and they usually aren't this serious, so please check around.  Also, this is a place of peace, any rude or mean comments will be deleted.

I recently watched the documentary Wal-Mart:  The High Cost of Low Price.  The documentary was an eye-opener.  I've never been a fan of Wal-Mart.  I knew of their large number of products Made in China, I knew of their corporate takeovers leaving many Mom & Pop stores out of business, but what I did not know was of out-and-out abuse of the system.  Did you know that Wal-Mart costs taxpayers over $1.5 billion to support their employees?  Yeah, that was $1.5 BILLION.  Did you know that hundreds of thousands of Wal-Mart employees are forced to have their children on Medicaid and other various taxpayer funded assistance programs?  I did not and it trickles down to everything.  Luckily, I try and avoid Wal-Mart at all costs, but I've made a decision that I will be avoiding them indefinitely.  I often go to a local grocery store called Corner Market and I also shop at Target.  Now I realize that Target is also a big player, but sometimes you just have to go somewhere for certain items since we've been left with less choices from these giant heartless corporations.

Often I'm annoyed with the higher prices of food in smaller stores, but I now realize that paying for quality and customer service is worth it when multi-billion dollar corporations who proclaim to be "Giving Back to the Community" are really robbing people of taxpayer money and embarrassing their employees.  These are hardworking people who should not have to rely on government assistance when they have a job with a company who grosses billions upon billions of dollars each year.   

Now back to Target.  I know they don't have the best of conditions either, but according to a recent blog entry I read, Wal-Mart is the obvious choice for boycott.  Why?  It's bigger and if boycotted it would obviously deliver a bigger blow all around.  Also, if the larger of the two feels a punch it might spark the lesser of the two to evaluate their position in our economy and communities as a whole.  This entry went on to say that Costco is the best of the three (still not angels) and if one of them is at your disposal (which there's not for me) then try them out.

The way I look at it is we have to deal with what we've turned into.  We like convenience and we like low prices, but we've been blinded too long and need to see that some things need to change.  Guess who has the power to do that?  We do.  I'm not starting a revolution.  I'm not encouraging anyone to follow suit, I'm simply sharing facts I did not know myself.  I know I'm not an expert.  I know I'm not an economist.  I also know I'm young and an artist (what do we know about money), but I think we're on the verge of a resurgence or we could be.  People don't realize that the very thing they're reading this on gives them more power than anyone in the history of our existence has ever had and with that power we can regain control of the lives we live.  We can make the world better and we can do it all in non-violent ways.  I support life and not being controlled by people who could careless about their planet and their fellow man.  These men and women should exit stage left with their head down in shame.

Sorry, I'm off my soapbox and if this is your first time on my blog, I assure you, I'm not usually on it.

Thanks and please discuss.  Ciao!        

Side Note:  A lot of smaller businesses have been popping up in my town (Hattiesburg, MS) and for that I'm thankful and happy for those businesses!  I think that's a little proof of what I'm saying here.

WATER BOBBLE, FANTASTIC!

Good afternoon everyone!  I hope you've had a fantastic day!  Today I'd like to tell you about the Water Bobble.  First, a story...

So, one day I'm talking to my good friend (and co-worker) Andrew on Facebook, and Andrew proceeds to tell me "Hey, I almost bought you a present today.  But, I didn't."  See, you'd have to know my friend and the fact that he's basically my brother, we play pranks on each other and say silly things, but deep down we love each other.  Anyway, I was like "Wow, thanks jerk.  What was it?" to which Andrew replied, "I don't want to tell you in case I change my mind."  Yeah...

Well fast forward to today and Andrew comes into work, gets situated and plops a Water Bobble in front of my computer and says "Here's your present!"  What a swell guy!  I had since figured out that the Bobble was what he was going to get me and I WANTED ONE!!

Now, what is a Water Bobble you ask?  Well, it's a water bottle that filters the water as you drink!  So basically you can get water from any faucet (even gas stations) and your Bobble will turn that yucky tap water into clean filtered water.  How freakin' amazing is that!? 

Here's some previews of the Bobble, and I highly encourage you to check out their website, it's very nice!

 This one is like mine!  The best part is they spent two years developing the idea and the design.  Gotta love companies with good ideas AND good design aesthetics!

The Bobble comes in an array of colors!  AND when you replace the filter (every 2 months or so) you can change the color.

How the Bobble Works

You can get Bobble from Target, American Apparel, Barnes & Noble, and tons of other places, see Stores.  Oh and another funny thing is I was in Target yesterday with my mom and I told her about that story of him telling me he got me a present, but then not buying it.  How funny!

I love my Bobble and thanks Andrew, you're a real pal!

ONE WORD...

PILATES!  No, seriously!  I've always been a pretty naturally fit person, but I really want to get into shape this Spring.  I want to feel the best I've ever felt and I want to really start conditioning myself to be that way now so when it gets harder later in life I don't have to worry about it because I'll already be in the swing of things.  Naturally, this meant finding something I like.  Running, eh, hurts my knees and I plan on doing a little, maybe twice a week when I'm not doing Pilates.  Biking, I love, but I don't always feel like dragging my bike out and going.  Gyms, forget it, I hate working out in front of other people.  So, what is a girl to do!?

Well while I was walking around in Target I wandered into the exercise section and I started looking at the Pilates stuff because earlier that morning I did a bit of Yoga which I enjoy.  I looked at the resistance bands and started reading about them.  I decided to try out the medium one made by Gaiam.  It's only $12.99 at Target and it comes with a DVD.  Let's just say, I'm sold!

I've used it twice this week and after the first workout (which is only 35 minutes long, perfect for my A.D.D butt) and I feel fabulous (stretched and with that burn that makes you know it's working) already.  With the band you use natural body resistance and it works!  I then started researching Pilates and every review I could find talked about how it works.  Seriously, it's amazing!

Can't wait to see the results and to have a great summer bod!  <----Cheesy, but c'mon, funny!

Try it out!