This is not a diary of political importance. It has no relevance to any state or national races and nothing to do with foreign policy. But it might have some relevance to how we feel about the General State of Stuff - at least it did for me, enough that I feel it's worth sharing.
An hour ago, my girlfriend and I completed our Saturday grocery shopping at one of the Trader Joe's stores in San Francisco. Although TJ's is relatively unknown in other parts of the country, here in the Bay Area, it's an institution whose funky organic-cooperative roots are still evident despite its commercial success -- grocery shelves still carry hand-made signs, you bag your own stuff, and Hawaiian-shirted staffers ring brass bells to send messages.
So we get home and start unpacking the groceries: meat, fresh veggies, yogurt, Zinfandel, pita bread, etc. Pulling out a package of turkey breast, my partner scowls and asks for today's date. "Today would be the 26th." "Well, the packaging here says `Freeze or eat by Aug. 24."
Read More