Simply random stuff

[cbmmm3]

Gadzooks! That looks huge. Think of the massive underwear display they must have had! Ours was about 1/2 of a large (first enclosed) shopping mall in the KC area. Walden Books. Radio Shack. TJ Cinnamons. Orange Julius.

no S. S. Kresge ?

 

[mandrix]

Actually Monkey Wards anchored the first enclose mall in my hometown of Lakeland, I believe, although Sears was in a bigger one across the highway.
The very first strip mall in Lakeland was anchored by the 3rd Publix store on one end, and Touchton's Drugs on the other. Had the best damned hobby store I ever seen. I used to buy chemicals there for my little chemistry lab.

 

[Sonik Wiz]

no S. S. Kresge ?

Great memory jab! That mall had Woolworth and Kresge's was in a far different part of town called the Kansas City Plah-zuh, dahling. Both sold records, pets, and burgers.

 

[kvsawilson]

My Montgomery Wards lawn mower started on the first pull for it's 36th year in a row this spring! Bought in 88 and still running like a champ but it's bag wore out many years ago. But I moved this year and sold it for $25 since I'm not planning on any grass at the new place. Think I got my money's worth out of it.

 

[mandrix]

Great memory jab! That mall had Woolworth and Kresge's was in a far different part of town called the Kansas City Plah-zuh, dahling. Both sold records, pets, and burgers.

Yeah Woolworths was in our first strip mall in Lakeland. Loved the store, and the soda fountain. Had many a cherry cola there. First Christmas present I bought my Mom was there on yard mowing money.
But, the checkout lady talked my Mom out of buying the Beatles first LP for me. Actually said, and I still remember, something to the effect of "do you want your children listening to this?" What a bitch.

 

[Sonik Wiz]

Yeah Woolworths was in our first strip mall in Lakeland. Loved the store, and the soda fountain. Had many a cherry cola there. First Christmas present I bought my Mom was there on yard mowing money.
But, the checkout lady talked my Mom out of buying the Beatles first LP for me. Actually said, and I still remember, something to the effect of "do you want your children listening to this?" What a bitch.

And where is that check out lady today?

 

[GOS]

And where is that check out lady today?

Probably checked out.

 

[mandrix]

And where is that check out lady today?

I would think GOS is right. That was what, 1964? I didn't have any money at the time so picked it up and asked Mom to buy it until I could pay her back when I mowed someone's lawn again.
I mean I was a teenager, so it's not like I was some elementary school kid. Old busybody. lol.

 

[barfle]

The end of an era, here in the US. I know nearly all of us +50 year olds have a lot of pre-teen memories of shopping for school clothes at Kmart.

https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/19/business/last-kmart-closing-bridgehampton-new-york/index.html

Oh, hell, K-mart was a newcomer to me. I remember shopping at Kresge’s, which, I believe, was later converted to K-mart.

 

[Clint Eastwood]

Oh, hell, K-mart was a newcomer to me. I remember shopping at Kresge’s, which, I believe, was later converted to K-mart.

What about McCrory stores?

 

[barfle]

What about McCrory stores?

Or Sprouse-Reitz?

 

[GOS]

Oh, hell, K-mart was a newcomer to me. I remember shopping at Kresge’s, which, I believe, was later converted to K-mart.

Wow, really? Maybe it's more of a midwest thing. Nearly all folks in the farming communities back in the early 70's were mostly broke. My family was no different. K-Mart was THE place to shop. Clothes, school supplies, all that.

Of course, once the later 70's arrived, Malls became the rage and I suppose K-Mart was already feeling the pinch once that happened.

 

[mandrix]

Well I still miss the local Radio Shack. In later years when it was still open, it was more about TV's and vacuum cleaners. But they did maintain a little stock of electronic items.
About 30 miles away there was another Radio Shack that maintained a good stock of resistors, caps, wiring, connectors, solder and such. But they are of course gone as well.

 

[GOS]

Well I still miss the local Radio Shack. In later years when it was still open, it was more about TV's and vacuum cleaners. But they did maintain a little stock of electronic items.
About 30 miles away there was another Radio Shack that maintained a good stock of resistors, caps, wiring, connectors, solder and such. But they are of course gone as well.

As a teen, I LOVED Radio Shack. I mean, even in my little town back in the day...we had a pretty nice one. It was inside of an Ace Hardware store.

 

[barfle]

Wow, really? Maybe it's more of a midwest thing. Nearly all folks in the farming communities back in the early 70's were mostly broke. My family was no different. K-Mart was THE place to shop. Clothes, school supplies, all that.

Of course, once the later 70's arrived, Malls became the rage and I suppose K-Mart was already feeling the pinch once that happened.

Apparently, I’m much older than you. By the time the 70s rollled around, I was already on my own, out of the Army and mostly trying to get laid. The cool store for me at the time was Gemco.

 

[GOS]

Apparently, I’m much older than you. By the time the 70s rollled around, I was already on my own, out of the Army and mostly trying to get laid. The cool store for me at the time was Gemco.

LOL! Gemco huh? Never heard of that one. Yeah, I'm only 61.8 years old.

 

[barfle]

LOL! Gemco huh? Never heard of that one. Yeah, I'm only 61.8 years old.

I believe Gemco topped out at three stores, all in SoCal, where I lived at the time. FWIW, I turned 77 in Sept. Still in denial of the limitations of being a geezer.

 

[Petr Kropotkin]

This thread is not "random" enough anymore, it's become a reminiscence of past shopping experiences and locations. In an effort to get back on topic here is a photo of Gnome Chomsky:

 

[mandrix]

I randomly took this picture of my random buck knife.

 

[Mr. Afternoon]

This thread is not "random" enough anymore, it's become a reminiscence of past shopping experiences and locations. In an effort to get back on topic here is a photo of Gnome Chomsky:

View attachment 110415

You want random? I'll give you random. Let's talk about the children's show Sesame Street, specifically, Elmo's section titled "Elmo's World."

"Elmo's World" is such a pompous statement. It's not Elmo's World. It's just the world. And Elmo's in it. "Elmo's World" implies Elmo cannot perceive ownership in a rational way and therefore he is deranged. Don't believe me? Just look at the show.

The bright, unrealistic color palette and environment of Elmo's portion of the show seems to imply that Elmo is actually experiencing a form of psychosis leading to hallucinations. It may very well be Elmo's world, but that world exclusively exists within Elmo's mind.

Elmo's characterization of Noodle Man is also indicative of his arrogant nature, suggesting those that cannot do a task perfectly on the first try are useless and unfit for society, making a mockery of them by laughing at their grievances. Such arrogance and irrationality is further demonstrated when having uncontrollable outbursts of rage at a child for playing pretend with a rock.

Some say that Noodle Man is the embodiment of Elmo's internal fear of failure, enhanced by his psychosis. By detaching himself from his own personal failings, Elmo has finally achieved a state of happiness, but at what cost? One day, he will have to come to terms with his mistakes and the consequences of living in denial.

...We're going to ignore the fact Elmo is supposed to be 3 years old.