[eavesdropper]

“Ms. Zelman says her research suggests defaulters do spend much of the money on consumer services and goods. “People are taking what they would have been spending on a mortgage and spending it somewhere else,” she says……
“I don’t think that’s the kind of consumer recovery we want, if the only reason they’re spending a bit more is that they’re not paying their other bills,” said Joseph Carson, director of global economic research at AllianceBernstein in New York.”

I agree with the guy, but I’m also wondering where were these economic research people during the “healthy economy” of the early to mid-aughts? I had friends and acquaintances all around me during that time constantly telling me, “The economy is doing great!!” I would then ask them how an economy could be healthy when everything that was being bought was either on some sort of unsecured consumer credit agreement or financed with the equity in people’s homes. I would point out that our “thriving economy” was not based on stuff that our nation’s people were manufacturing but was actually based on financial services: making loans and servicing them. Without exception, every one of responded, “The stock market is up, and housing prices are going through the roof.” It *never* occurred to them that the situation could change, nor could they accept that as a possibility when they were apprised of it. Who could blame them? The financial “experts” in the media weren’t telling them that.

[eavesdropper]

“Ms. Zelman says her research suggests defaulters do spend much of the money on consumer services and goods. “People are taking what they would have been spending on a mortgage and spending it somewhere else,” she says……
“I don’t think that’s the kind of consumer recovery we want, if the only reason they’re spending a bit more is that they’re not paying their other bills,” said Joseph Carson, director of global economic research at AllianceBernstein in New York.”

I agree with the guy, but I’m also wondering where were these economic research people during the “healthy economy” of the early to mid-aughts? I had friends and acquaintances all around me during that time constantly telling me, “The economy is doing great!!” I would then ask them how an economy could be healthy when everything that was being bought was either on some sort of unsecured consumer credit agreement or financed with the equity in people’s homes. I would point out that our “thriving economy” was not based on stuff that our nation’s people were manufacturing but was actually based on financial services: making loans and servicing them. Without exception, every one of responded, “The stock market is up, and housing prices are going through the roof.” It *never* occurred to them that the situation could change, nor could they accept that as a possibility when they were apprised of it. Who could blame them? The financial “experts” in the media weren’t telling them that.

[eavesdropper]

My experience (here in the East) has been a positive one. I think the joining of the two retailers has been beneficial for both. I think that Sears started to work on actually delivering on what their advertising and slogans have been promising (which, in fact, was based on their reputation of about 40 years ago, a reputation on which they’ve been coasting since the late 70s). They seemed to have a watershed moment about five years, almost as thought they had hit rock-bottom. Which, in essence, they had.

As for Kmart, I prefer shopping there much more than I do Walmart. I don’t know about CA, but Walmart stuffs their stores to the bursting point with merchandise, the result being that the stores are always a mess and you can have a hard time finding what you need. In addition, cleanliness doesn’t appear to be a priority in the Walmarts here. With Kmart, it can be hit or miss in terms of store presentation. Some seem to be better kept than others, but overall I find it a more pleasant shopping experience than Walmart (I say this with great reservation as I find ANY shopping experience to be on par with root canal therapy. I’m not sure what’s wrong with me – I think I lack the requisite female shopping hormone, or something).

Kmart’s selection isn’t always the best, but their prices on what they do carry are good. Also, I can occasionally find the odd clothing item or home decor that I actually like and will use. This has never happened at Walmart. A couple years back I got a fabulous leather jacket at Kmart: black, classic styling, butter-soft glove leather. I got (and still get) more compliments on that jacket from people who can be very selective (read snotty) about the retailers they patronize. Of course I go and spoil it by telling them that I paid $79 – full price! – for it at Kmart (I can’t help myself – the looks on their faces are priceless!)

So for the time being, I will continue to buy at Kmart – if only to keep Walmart from becoming the “company store” to the U.S.

[eavesdropper]

My experience (here in the East) has been a positive one. I think the joining of the two retailers has been beneficial for both. I think that Sears started to work on actually delivering on what their advertising and slogans have been promising (which, in fact, was based on their reputation of about 40 years ago, a reputation on which they’ve been coasting since the late 70s). They seemed to have a watershed moment about five years, almost as thought they had hit rock-bottom. Which, in essence, they had.

As for Kmart, I prefer shopping there much more than I do Walmart. I don’t know about CA, but Walmart stuffs their stores to the bursting point with merchandise, the result being that the stores are always a mess and you can have a hard time finding what you need. In addition, cleanliness doesn’t appear to be a priority in the Walmarts here. With Kmart, it can be hit or miss in terms of store presentation. Some seem to be better kept than others, but overall I find it a more pleasant shopping experience than Walmart (I say this with great reservation as I find ANY shopping experience to be on par with root canal therapy. I’m not sure what’s wrong with me – I think I lack the requisite female shopping hormone, or something).

Kmart’s selection isn’t always the best, but their prices on what they do carry are good. Also, I can occasionally find the odd clothing item or home decor that I actually like and will use. This has never happened at Walmart. A couple years back I got a fabulous leather jacket at Kmart: black, classic styling, butter-soft glove leather. I got (and still get) more compliments on that jacket from people who can be very selective (read snotty) about the retailers they patronize. Of course I go and spoil it by telling them that I paid $79 – full price! – for it at Kmart (I can’t help myself – the looks on their faces are priceless!)

So for the time being, I will continue to buy at Kmart – if only to keep Walmart from becoming the “company store” to the U.S.

[eavesdropper]

My experience (here in the East) has been a positive one. I think the joining of the two retailers has been beneficial for both. I think that Sears started to work on actually delivering on what their advertising and slogans have been promising (which, in fact, was based on their reputation of about 40 years ago, a reputation on which they’ve been coasting since the late 70s). They seemed to have a watershed moment about five years, almost as thought they had hit rock-bottom. Which, in essence, they had.

As for Kmart, I prefer shopping there much more than I do Walmart. I don’t know about CA, but Walmart stuffs their stores to the bursting point with merchandise, the result being that the stores are always a mess and you can have a hard time finding what you need. In addition, cleanliness doesn’t appear to be a priority in the Walmarts here. With Kmart, it can be hit or miss in terms of store presentation. Some seem to be better kept than others, but overall I find it a more pleasant shopping experience than Walmart (I say this with great reservation as I find ANY shopping experience to be on par with root canal therapy. I’m not sure what’s wrong with me – I think I lack the requisite female shopping hormone, or something).

Kmart’s selection isn’t always the best, but their prices on what they do carry are good. Also, I can occasionally find the odd clothing item or home decor that I actually like and will use. This has never happened at Walmart. A couple years back I got a fabulous leather jacket at Kmart: black, classic styling, butter-soft glove leather. I got (and still get) more compliments on that jacket from people who can be very selective (read snotty) about the retailers they patronize. Of course I go and spoil it by telling them that I paid $79 – full price! – for it at Kmart (I can’t help myself – the looks on their faces are priceless!)

So for the time being, I will continue to buy at Kmart – if only to keep Walmart from becoming the “company store” to the U.S.

[eavesdropper]

My experience (here in the East) has been a positive one. I think the joining of the two retailers has been beneficial for both. I think that Sears started to work on actually delivering on what their advertising and slogans have been promising (which, in fact, was based on their reputation of about 40 years ago, a reputation on which they’ve been coasting since the late 70s). They seemed to have a watershed moment about five years, almost as thought they had hit rock-bottom. Which, in essence, they had.

As for Kmart, I prefer shopping there much more than I do Walmart. I don’t know about CA, but Walmart stuffs their stores to the bursting point with merchandise, the result being that the stores are always a mess and you can have a hard time finding what you need. In addition, cleanliness doesn’t appear to be a priority in the Walmarts here. With Kmart, it can be hit or miss in terms of store presentation. Some seem to be better kept than others, but overall I find it a more pleasant shopping experience than Walmart (I say this with great reservation as I find ANY shopping experience to be on par with root canal therapy. I’m not sure what’s wrong with me – I think I lack the requisite female shopping hormone, or something).

Kmart’s selection isn’t always the best, but their prices on what they do carry are good. Also, I can occasionally find the odd clothing item or home decor that I actually like and will use. This has never happened at Walmart. A couple years back I got a fabulous leather jacket at Kmart: black, classic styling, butter-soft glove leather. I got (and still get) more compliments on that jacket from people who can be very selective (read snotty) about the retailers they patronize. Of course I go and spoil it by telling them that I paid $79 – full price! – for it at Kmart (I can’t help myself – the looks on their faces are priceless!)

So for the time being, I will continue to buy at Kmart – if only to keep Walmart from becoming the “company store” to the U.S.

[eavesdropper]

My experience (here in the East) has been a positive one. I think the joining of the two retailers has been beneficial for both. I think that Sears started to work on actually delivering on what their advertising and slogans have been promising (which, in fact, was based on their reputation of about 40 years ago, a reputation on which they’ve been coasting since the late 70s). They seemed to have a watershed moment about five years, almost as thought they had hit rock-bottom. Which, in essence, they had.

As for Kmart, I prefer shopping there much more than I do Walmart. I don’t know about CA, but Walmart stuffs their stores to the bursting point with merchandise, the result being that the stores are always a mess and you can have a hard time finding what you need. In addition, cleanliness doesn’t appear to be a priority in the Walmarts here. With Kmart, it can be hit or miss in terms of store presentation. Some seem to be better kept than others, but overall I find it a more pleasant shopping experience than Walmart (I say this with great reservation as I find ANY shopping experience to be on par with root canal therapy. I’m not sure what’s wrong with me – I think I lack the requisite female shopping hormone, or something).

Kmart’s selection isn’t always the best, but their prices on what they do carry are good. Also, I can occasionally find the odd clothing item or home decor that I actually like and will use. This has never happened at Walmart. A couple years back I got a fabulous leather jacket at Kmart: black, classic styling, butter-soft glove leather. I got (and still get) more compliments on that jacket from people who can be very selective (read snotty) about the retailers they patronize. Of course I go and spoil it by telling them that I paid $79 – full price! – for it at Kmart (I can’t help myself – the looks on their faces are priceless!)

So for the time being, I will continue to buy at Kmart – if only to keep Walmart from becoming the “company store” to the U.S.

[eavesdropper]

[quote=bearishgurl]I also loved playing with clackers (they developed hand-eye coordination) and still have an orange pair. They were later “recalled” because people were getting concussions with them (user and bystanders).

http://vintagegoodness.blogspot.com/2010/04/vintage-70s-clackers-toy-garage-sale.html

. . . First, I was digging through a filing cabinet earlier today and came across these:

[img_assist|nid=14164|title=Clackers|desc=|link=node|align=left|width=318|height=320]

Never opened, still in their original packaging Win Industries Clackers from 1971! I found them a while back and listed them on eBay, but the listing got pulled because they are a recalled toy – apparently kids were banging themselves up pretty good with them back in the day!

[/quote]

Sooooo much better than TruckNutz.

BG, didn’t you say that you were a military spouse for many years? Do you mean to tell me that you managed to hold onto a set of clackers through all those moves?

Actually I had forgotten all about these things (I was never affluent enough for a pair of my own Clackers. Those and white go-go boots. Fvcked me up for life.) Hmmm, a lot of the craziness I’m seeing in members of my generation these days can probably be traced to these things (Clacker-induced TBI).

[eavesdropper]

[quote=bearishgurl]I also loved playing with clackers (they developed hand-eye coordination) and still have an orange pair. They were later “recalled” because people were getting concussions with them (user and bystanders).

http://vintagegoodness.blogspot.com/2010/04/vintage-70s-clackers-toy-garage-sale.html

. . . First, I was digging through a filing cabinet earlier today and came across these:

[img_assist|nid=14164|title=Clackers|desc=|link=node|align=left|width=318|height=320]

Never opened, still in their original packaging Win Industries Clackers from 1971! I found them a while back and listed them on eBay, but the listing got pulled because they are a recalled toy – apparently kids were banging themselves up pretty good with them back in the day!

[/quote]

Sooooo much better than TruckNutz.

BG, didn’t you say that you were a military spouse for many years? Do you mean to tell me that you managed to hold onto a set of clackers through all those moves?

Actually I had forgotten all about these things (I was never affluent enough for a pair of my own Clackers. Those and white go-go boots. Fvcked me up for life.) Hmmm, a lot of the craziness I’m seeing in members of my generation these days can probably be traced to these things (Clacker-induced TBI).

[eavesdropper]

[quote=bearishgurl]I also loved playing with clackers (they developed hand-eye coordination) and still have an orange pair. They were later “recalled” because people were getting concussions with them (user and bystanders).

http://vintagegoodness.blogspot.com/2010/04/vintage-70s-clackers-toy-garage-sale.html

. . . First, I was digging through a filing cabinet earlier today and came across these:

[img_assist|nid=14164|title=Clackers|desc=|link=node|align=left|width=318|height=320]

Never opened, still in their original packaging Win Industries Clackers from 1971! I found them a while back and listed them on eBay, but the listing got pulled because they are a recalled toy – apparently kids were banging themselves up pretty good with them back in the day!

[/quote]

Sooooo much better than TruckNutz.

BG, didn’t you say that you were a military spouse for many years? Do you mean to tell me that you managed to hold onto a set of clackers through all those moves?

Actually I had forgotten all about these things (I was never affluent enough for a pair of my own Clackers. Those and white go-go boots. Fvcked me up for life.) Hmmm, a lot of the craziness I’m seeing in members of my generation these days can probably be traced to these things (Clacker-induced TBI).

[eavesdropper]

[quote=bearishgurl]I also loved playing with clackers (they developed hand-eye coordination) and still have an orange pair. They were later “recalled” because people were getting concussions with them (user and bystanders).

http://vintagegoodness.blogspot.com/2010/04/vintage-70s-clackers-toy-garage-sale.html

. . . First, I was digging through a filing cabinet earlier today and came across these:

[img_assist|nid=14164|title=Clackers|desc=|link=node|align=left|width=318|height=320]

Never opened, still in their original packaging Win Industries Clackers from 1971! I found them a while back and listed them on eBay, but the listing got pulled because they are a recalled toy – apparently kids were banging themselves up pretty good with them back in the day!

[/quote]

Sooooo much better than TruckNutz.

BG, didn’t you say that you were a military spouse for many years? Do you mean to tell me that you managed to hold onto a set of clackers through all those moves?

Actually I had forgotten all about these things (I was never affluent enough for a pair of my own Clackers. Those and white go-go boots. Fvcked me up for life.) Hmmm, a lot of the craziness I’m seeing in members of my generation these days can probably be traced to these things (Clacker-induced TBI).

[eavesdropper]

[quote=bearishgurl]I also loved playing with clackers (they developed hand-eye coordination) and still have an orange pair. They were later “recalled” because people were getting concussions with them (user and bystanders).

http://vintagegoodness.blogspot.com/2010/04/vintage-70s-clackers-toy-garage-sale.html

. . . First, I was digging through a filing cabinet earlier today and came across these:

[img_assist|nid=14164|title=Clackers|desc=|link=node|align=left|width=318|height=320]

Never opened, still in their original packaging Win Industries Clackers from 1971! I found them a while back and listed them on eBay, but the listing got pulled because they are a recalled toy – apparently kids were banging themselves up pretty good with them back in the day!

[/quote]

Sooooo much better than TruckNutz.

BG, didn’t you say that you were a military spouse for many years? Do you mean to tell me that you managed to hold onto a set of clackers through all those moves?

Actually I had forgotten all about these things (I was never affluent enough for a pair of my own Clackers. Those and white go-go boots. Fvcked me up for life.) Hmmm, a lot of the craziness I’m seeing in members of my generation these days can probably be traced to these things (Clacker-induced TBI).

[eavesdropper]

[img_assist|nid=14163|title=’72 CB350F|desc=|link=node|align=left|width=100|height=75]

[eavesdropper]

[img_assist|nid=14163|title=’72 CB350F|desc=|link=node|align=left|width=100|height=75]

[eavesdropper]

[img_assist|nid=14163|title=’72 CB350F|desc=|link=node|align=left|width=100|height=75]

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