It isn’t so much a concern for what individuals buy, but rather the effects of purchases in aggregate. It’s an interesting indicator about society. From what I can tell, the author is not saying “We shouldn’t buy trucks” or “we should outlaw trucks” or anything else that justifies thinking that said purchase is viewed…

You forgot ugly as sin, which is a strong requirement for kids’ first car. Gotta humble them fast!

I agree. If what mattered most was an vehicle that efficiently moved us from place to place, SMART cars and Honda Elements would be the best selling cars in the world.

That’s not an uncommon tactic. I had a Pontiac dealer try to tell me that in 99, when I was looking at a Firebird. Ended up getting a Camaro Z28 from across the street because they had a manual.

If only Gizmodo’s top recommended laptop didn’t have a webcam beneath the screen to minimize the bezel...
Damn you, my brain, and your loyalty to the cult of Gizmodo. 

Some people buy for bullshit nebulous concepts like “heritage”. I can’t fathom any other reason someone buys a Harley.

I mean, really? I know TheInventory is for the D-listers of GizmodoMedia, but Charles Pulliam-Moore did an article on Scarlet Witch’s costumes. Ya’ll should know better. She first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #4, Dark Phoenix was #101.

I mean, really? I know TheInventory is for the D-listers of GizmodoMedia, but Charles Pulliam-Moore did an article…

So you used a 73/27 blend... why not use a 90/10 blend then to minimize the grease?

You know, a free country used to mean that a man could set out in life on the vocation of his choosing, rather than being stuck with his lot in life from birth. Now, I guess it's used as justification for rampant consumerism. Just a thought. 

Someone’s never cleaned a toilet in Europe...

it’s a toilet bowl cleaner with an angled neck that was/is popular in Europe. The “duck” name comes from the angled neck of the bottle.

I hate that. I’ve even done the math on “recommended tips” for places that foreigners visit frequently (live in a tourist trap) and found the math to be off.”15%” was 18, “17%” was 22 and 20% was 27.

Honestly, in situations like that you need to speak with the management.  That’s absurd. 

Wow. I’ve been a waiter. #1 is wierd but case #2 is astonishing. I would have asked to see the manager and if not available, I would have walked.

HA! After her wandering off, I would have given her 15 minutes then gotten up to find the manager.
You’re fine. 10% is generous there.

yeah, but I also prefer that they don’t ask immediately after the food has been put down. Honestly, I feel that it is more common for a runner to put the food down and the waitstaff to come up and ask before anyone has had a chance to taste it.
Pros: Gives waitstaff a chance to fix something before it sits too long,…

Nope. That’s a knife to the throat of the Republican party. He’s saying “If I go down Pence does too, so Pelosi gets the White House - your move.” It’s exactly as thuggish as I’d expect a NY real-estate developer to be.

Except the CCP has AI to monitor and rate social credit, and the PRC after 30 years of state-sponsored industry and trade is continuing a growing international influencer and exporting its authoritarian control instead (see 5G Huawei infrastructure plans).
They aren’t the Soviets. They are a lot more savvy. They let…

Commercially packaged cold brew is to cold brew what Brisk is to tea. :-(

What is so different now?

Well, the prospect of being a footman or a lady’s maid was a good thing - a life of employment for a life of servitude from sun-up to beyond sun-down - so 14-16 hours, seven days a week, of existing solely to meet someone else’s whims.

As I sit clacking away at my keyboard in an…

Lots of comedians, including Pete Holmes, have made a similar joke
“Isn't it extraordinary how many Cleopatras must have lived for this many people to have been her in their past lives?”