comment #1

Edward says ...

It's bad enough the cities in the US are all having the same ugly strip mall look, the McD's, Starbucks, Burger King, Subway, etc. Do they have to make the rest of the world equally bland? A truly sad state of affairs. With all of the corporate sameness and the direction our society is taking my wife and I are considering retiring to Belize or Mexico, somewhere we can afford to live more comfortably than we can here in the US.

comment #2

Movie fan09 says ...

too awesome jeff.
what did you think of that bio pic of him starring Jeffrey Wright?
I hated it. It was boring as crap, really lost the charm and fun of the real guy.
my sister is a HUGE fan of his and has the new york '81 doc oh him and new york at the time.
It's freaking fantastic and rivals that beat doc that featured johnny depp as jack kerouac in its poetic anarchy.

comment #3

tholl-yung says ...

Maybe we crossed paths: do you remember the large stray can paintings by an artist who used to write I AM AN ARTIST on a wall?

Which of the following is omniprznt? Lee Harvey Oswald, Coca Cola Logo, General Melonry (????), SAMO.

comment #4

NYCBusybody says ...

"Anyway, I've never forgotten a certain SAMO graffiti that said the poiltical power of McDonalds had become equal to that of the CIA or the Vatican. I saw it somewhere near Broadway and Prince. That was something like a Major Moment for me, burned into my brain. McDonald's = pernicious, anti-human, scourge of cvilization."

Do Leftists like this REALLY not see why they're so ridiculed and made fun of? Do they REALLY not see how Jeff just described how easy, trite, and simplistic-sloganeering all this mindset is? Their political philosophy has been like this for 40 years, and they wonder why it never catches on with regular people who have the power of critical thought?

Man, I'm enjoying a Big Mac right now and scoffing at all the childish, cliched prattle. I think I'll get a Starbucks latte too, just to see hear the girly hippies whine.

comment #5

tholl-yung says ...

Are you 300 pounds and counting?

comment #6

SpinDozer says ...

"Do Leftists ...blah bray blah bray blah bray blah bray blah bray blah bray blah bray blah bray blah bray blah bray blah bray blah bray blah bray blah bray blah bray blah bray blah bray blah bray blah bray blah bray blah bray blah bray whine."

(yawn) If only we'd listened to the fascists sooner. So much hard complex sloganeering, so many deep crit-ic-al thoughts, gosh I-wish-I-could-be-a-bootlicker-too.

comment #7

NYCBusybody says ...

"Fascists" as they are literally defined are substantially more idiotic and sloganeering than Western far-leftists like Basquiat and Wells, yes.

What's your point? Simplistic, soundbyte, shallow ideology is just that, there are just different degrees.

I just put every "Leftist" nonsense quote in Dennis Hopper's voice, and it sounds deliciously paranoid. "Home Depot is responsible for the destruction of all the brown-skinned beautiful peoples, man!!!!!"

Shut up and have a Big Mac. No one's ever listened to this nonsense, and no one ever will. Apart from upper-class guilty WHITE liberals, of course, but everyone knows they're a joke.

comment #8

NYCBusybody says ...

The further the Left drifts away from Bill Clinton, the worse they'll always do. Good ol' Southern boy, substantially liberal, pro-gay, pro-choice...yet...where...was..his...favorite place to eat?

A place that served McNuggets, wasn't it? Do people really think they can ever win elections in this country with the half-baked ideology of Basquiat and Karl Marx?

comment #9

SpinDozer says ...

'"Fascists" as they are literally defined are substantially more idiotic and sloganeering than Western far-leftists like Basquiat and Wells, yes.'

A searing self-indictment to be sure.

'What's your point?'

um, you're a fascist (or a dog being led on a leash by fascists, take your pick) and you spread 'substantially more idiotic and sloganeering' than Wells or anyone who might accurately (something you're not terribly good at)be called left of center on this blog.

'Shut up and have a Big Mac. No one's ever listened to this nonsense, and no one ever will. Apart from upper-class guilty WHITE liberals, of course, but everyone knows they're a joke.'

More trenchant analysis and crit-ic-al thinking from the dip-shit who couldn't even figure out why Reagan wasn't keen on Blacks voting in So. Africa.

'The further the Left drifts away from Bill Clinton, the worse they'll always do. Good ol' Southern boy, substantially liberal, pro-gay, pro-choice...yet...where...was..his...favorite place to eat? '

The point being that Basquiat and Karl Marx aren't going to be accepting concession calls anytime soon? Again, your insight is invaluable, quick, everyone make a note, 'politicians running for elected office are always on the cutting edge of political thought' & 'impossible for left-wing candidates to win election'. There now we have the sum-total of your wisdom. Thanks so much, go spread the news. elsewhere. Buh-bye now.

comment #10

nemo says ...

Don't bother arguing with NYCBusybody when he starts throwing around words like "left", "leftist", and "lefty".

He uses those words the way a 5-year-old uses words like "fuck" and "shit". He has no idea what they mean, but he's observed that they're hot buzzwords that get a rise out of people.

For him it's a content-free attention-getting device.

comment #11

MrThompson says ...

Aside from their popularity, Starbucks and McDonalds dont strike me as all that similar. Starbucks has a great product and is far more eco/health-friendly than McD's.

Apologies if being anti-heart disease is a 'girly hippy' thing.

comment #12

MathewM says ...

McDonalds and Starbucks are both efficiently run companies which is why they are successful. If you don't like them then don't patronize them. In the end it's the people who choose and that is the beauty of capitalism.

comment #13

D.Z. says ...

NYC: "pro-gay,"

Um, "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and "The Defense of Marriage Act" isn't being pro-gay.

Mathew: "McDonalds and Starbucks are both efficiently run companies"

Since when?

"which is why they are successful."

They're successful, because they get subsidies for putting mom-and-pop restaurants out of business.

comment #14

MathewM says ...

"Mathew: "McDonalds and Starbucks are both efficiently run companies"
Since when?"

Having an efficient business is the key to success and profitability. For example McDonalds are all basically the same. You walk in the door, you get what you expect. McDonalds is the only fast food restaurant that I've been to that can be considered "fast". They also don't over build like many people think. Have you ever seen an out of business McDonalds all shuttered up? I haven't. That says something. Now that doesn't mean you have to like McDonalds but to not respect or envy their business model is idiotic.

comment #15

SpinDozer says ...

"They also don't over build like many people think. Have you ever seen an out of business McDonalds all shuttered up? I haven't. That says something."

To be honest, it says you're not paying attention. I see it all the time. One of the most powerful arguements against McFastFood franchises is the largish percentage of the franchisees that obtain small bus loans from the government and eventually default on the loans due to policies of the parent corp (Must buy supplies at inflated prices from parent co) or parent co's granting franchise that cannabilizes business from another location. Meaning their business model is built on something approaching fraud...you may admire, but taxpayers shouldn't.

comment #16

MathewM says ...

Re: SpinDozer

I'm not sure of the small business loans you speak of. Any references to back up your data? As a person who grew up in a family of small business owners I'm fairly well versed in the daily grunt work of running one.

Regardless, if you don't like McDonalds then don't patronize their stores.

comment #17

tholl-yung says ...

I remember. The artist used to sign the name Renee (with an accent), in spray paint, to the painting I AM AN ARTIST on a wall in Soho on Broadway just before entering Tribeca, in the days when you could meet Matt Dillon or John Malcovich and Spalding Gray in a bar, or take a train to the Jersey shore and hear Bruce jam and bump into Johnny Cash the next morning in a dim, cool mom & pop shop with a slamming screen door.

comment #18

SpinDozer says ...

"I'm not sure of the small business loans you speak of. ...As a person who grew up in a family of small business owners I'm fairly well versed in the daily grunt work of running one."

And you've never heard of the Small Business Administration or their loan programs?

"Any references to back up your data?"

The only 'data' presented was my observation that I had seen many McD's shuttered, and or/bulldozed. Do I need to provide a reference? If you mean the SBA loans & fast-food franchises, the Heritage Foundation (note: wingnut thinktank) has done work critical of this practice.

"Regardless, if you don't like McDonalds then don't patronize their stores."

Thanks for the red-hot tip. I was merely offering a POV that even if you can get past some of the ethical problems created by this business...customer's health, environmental impact, etc., I think its still not a slam dunk to say you have to admire their business model.

comment #19

MathewM says ...

"..customer's health, environmental impact, etc., I think its still not a slam dunk to say you have to admire their business model."

I'm not going for a slam dunk. I'm merely trying to play down the typical big corporate blame game that is so popular nowadays.

McDonalds offers salads and other more healthy alternatives. The thing is that most people who frequent McDonalds opt for a burger and fries instead. Is that McDonald's fault? No. They are merely offering up what the customer wants.

"And you've never heard of the Small Business Administration or their loan programs?"

Sure I've heard of them but I nor anyone I know has ever used them. Most people borrow from banks that are willing to loan them the money. Other people use venture capital or pool resources from multiple business partners.

Honestly I think SBA loans are more aimed at giving minorities a leg up with starting a business. For better or worse that might be what you are getting your information about.

"I had seen many McD's shuttered, and or/bulldozed."

Where? What part of the country, city, street....

comment #20

D.Z. says ...

Mat:

"For example McDonalds are all basically the same. You walk in the door, you get what you expect."

Lack of people running the place to the point that the bathrooms are likely to be dirty, and possibly occupied by homeless and drug users?

"McDonalds is the only fast food restaurant that I've been to that can be considered "fast"."

You're right. It's so fast that the food burns my mouth.

"They also don't over build like many people think. Have you ever seen an out of business McDonalds all shuttered up?...Where? What part of the country, city, street...."

Actually, I have. It was on Sunset and Highland in L.A. It was next door to one on Hollywood and Highland, as well as one block down and two blocks away from another McDonald's on La Brea and Santa Monica Blvd.

"Regardless, if you don't like McDonalds then don't patronize their stores."

I'd love to, if I had a steady job. Establishments like McDonald's tend to undermine job security in a community by creating a demand for high school students who are under 18, rather than people with diplomas and degrees.

"The thing is that most people who frequent McDonalds opt for a burger and fries instead. Is that McDonald's fault? No.They are merely offering up what the customer wants."

Well they intentionally make the salads as bland as possible so that people are more likely to get the fatty foods. What I want as a customer is a salad which doesn't taste as plastic as the spork I use to eat it.

comment #21

SpinDozer says ...

“I'm not going for a slam dunk. I'm merely trying to play down the typical big corporate blame game that is so popular nowadays.”

Hmm, “Now that doesn't mean you have to like McDonalds but to not respect or envy their business model is idiotic”, sounds like an attempt at a slam-dunk to me. Maybe if you made an honest effort to discover the extent that a corporation deserves blame, you wouldn’t feel the need to play down what is so generally well earned.

“McDonalds offers salads and other more healthy alternatives. The thing is that most people who frequent McDonalds opt for a burger and fries instead. Is that McDonald's fault? No.”

Well, you’re certainly being generous with your judgements. How many years has McDonald’s offered exclusively high-fat food & spent billions to get children aclimated to this diet compared to their recent efforts to get healthy?

“Honestly I think SBA loans are more aimed at giving minorities a leg up with starting a business. For better or worse that might be what you are getting your information about.”

Its not better or worse, whether your insinuation is based in fact or predjudice, I don’t care; Its still tax dollars underwriting a multi-billion dollar corporation’s expansion.

“Where? What part of the country, city, street....”

There are probably 15 McD’s I see on a weekly/bi-weekly basis. Over the past 20 years, that would represent a 50% increase in number of rooftops. So 20 years ago we had 10, now we have 15. I know that 5 have closed permanently and been demo’d in that same period. At least some of these failed franchises occurred within 24 months of another McD’s construction in an area which one would reasonably conclude cannabalized sales. I live in the fastest growing community in my state over the last 15 years. Even this potentially somewhat understates the fail-rate, because these are buildings that no longer exist. Typically, from my understanding, McD’s either assumes ownership of franchise, or finds another franchisee when the first goes out of business, in which case the exterior of the building remains as before.

comment #22

MathewM says ...

Re: D.Z.

"I'd love to, if I had a steady job."

That explains a lot of your problems. Sorry to hear things are so tough for your right now....

comment #23

MathewM says ...

Re: D.Z.

"I'd love to, if I had a steady job."

That explains a lot of your problems. Sorry to hear things are so tough for you right now....

comment #24

MathewM says ...

Re: SD

Your last post is hard to follow.

"How many years has McDonald’s offered exclusively high-fat food & spent billions to get children aclimated to this diet compared to their recent efforts to get healthy?"

How is it McDonald's fault that parents decide what their kids eat?

comment #25

SpinDozer says ...

How is it McDonald's fault that parents decide what their kids eat?

Because they made a strategic decision to offer an addictive/habit-forming diet and market to children...the 'nag-factor' is not against the law, just unethical to some people, & highly profitable to the company.

Sorry you're having difficulty following the posts, that might explain some of your problems.

comment #26

MathewM says ...

Re: SpinDozer

"Because they made a strategic decision to offer an addictive/habit-forming diet and market to children...the 'nag-factor' is not against the law, just unethical to some people, & highly profitable to the company."

I don't doubt that people can become addicted to the taste of McDonalds but it's no different from any other source of food. My mom makes a mean meatloaf that is probably not very healthy but it sure is addictive...do I lump her in with McDonalds?

If you're talking about artificial flavor enhancements then yes but again those can be found in just about every food today that isn't fresh or organic. Luckily most of us live within driving distance of grocery stores that supply organic and "whole" foods if we choose.

"Sorry you're having difficulty following the posts, that might explain some of your problems."

No need to be a prick.

comment #27

SpinDozer says ...

"No need to be a prick."

& the same to you, good man.

comment #28

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