Popping into the old stomping grounds Loblaws at Dupont and Christie, I noticed what a change since its early "we're the new Yuppie Loblaws on the block" days. It seems business has fallen off, and demand has altered. Much less interesting produce in the produce section, etc. It looks like it's now the "Loblaws for regular people." Not that there's anything wrong with that. But if you wanted orange peppers, or those yellow zucchini squash type deals, you're out of luck. And it's a pretty big store, so it's not a space issue.

In an unrelated development, at this location they finally they stopped making you put a quarter in to get a shopping cart. Could it be that people fixing to steal a cart might actually pay a quarter? That the rest of us were quite annoyed by the quarter thing? That getting the quarter back was zero incentive to return the cart carefully to the cart depots in the parking lot?

An in a potentially unrelated development, the news on the street is that the Loblaws chain is doing poorly and that management is being shaken up. Professional managers, out, and family scion, into a more central role. No clear CEO role defined - instead, a multi-headed monster. Much criticism from analysts.

Something's ailing the company, that's obvious. Perhaps it's as simple as being squeezed from several directions. At the upper end, its higher-end stores are squeezing its other stores which are then forced to downsize. And the real yuppies are going to Whole Foods, ordering in more often, or (as I do sometimes!) subscribing to meal delivery services! And at the other end, ordinary average stores have improved. The direct competition, Dominion and Sobey's, now stock just as many quality private label products and have improved their produce.

And finally, Shopper's Drug Mart (who analysts claim are under threat because the grocery superstores sell cosmetics and drugs, but the problem could just as well be in the opposite direction, with Shopper's threatening grocery stores especially for smaller buys) has a growing number of superstores with grocery items, organic products, and everything but fresh produce and meat.

Sometimes your biggest enemy isn't yourself. It's those other guys who have caught up. Did I mention Costco sells food, too?

That's what the SEO industry seems to have caught a dose of.

Some of this stuff is blatant.
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You almost think it might help a no-hoper blog like this to get involved in one of these silly farms.

Not that it makes sense for anyone sensible to use that as a real world tactic for a real business. Unfortunately it seems, many still do!

Danny Ledonne, creator of Super Columbine Massacre, claims to be "saddened by the recent shooting at Dawson College." Is he really?

Q. If Bob had a name, what would it be?

A. Bob

Q. And would you call it to his face, if you were faced with him in all his glory

A. You bet! "Hi Bob!"

Q. What would you ask if you had just one question?

A. What's Suzanne Pleshette really like? Or possibly, did you do Mary Frann?

Q. If Bob had a face, what would it look like

A. Just an ordinary, average, balding psychologist-slash-innkeeper

When I run across random threads like this, I get depressed. What's with that one guy saying the things that make him think of Canada are blackflys [sic], Laurentide beer, Export A's....? So we're still Bob and Doug?

Then I read on a bit and the thread was redeemed by this charmer:

what makes me think of canada---

pepper spray
pedophiles
mad cow disease
genocide followed by amnesia
corruption
politicians calmly describing racist war crimes as a measured response
and ---

Mr Dressup!

--

Other than the Mr. Dressup comment, the items above are purely the opinion of some other guy. To me... Canadian is Carlos Delgado and Bengie Molina, (at least as long as they stay here).

For me:

Fuddle-duddle
Tony Gabriel catching easy TD's in a 25-yard endzone
Michaelle Jean
My wife sawing a board in the backyard
The New Shortreed cottage - fingers crossed for Mom & Dad
My cousin Ian starting at U of T (Sir Dan's residence yet!) 21, yes 21 years after me!
The Ex (CNE), no matter how shitty it is and even though airshow planes fly over my house
Martin Short
Neil Young
"Pearsonian nostalgia" or "nostalgic Pearsonianism" or whatever that is
NOT Conrad Black
Tofino, before it got overrun by tourists (oh whoops, I was one once)
Greektown
Chinatown
Polynesiantown
....you get the idea-town
RIM, Banting & Best, and a few other scientific achievements we're proud of
Drinking Freshie as a kid
Playing hockey on outdoor rinks until no feeling in feet, as a kid
Curving your crappy plastic street hockey blade using heat, then going top shelf

Yes, all that good stuff.