Trying to read each of these rather than skimming. Your writing is SO entertaining. Today is a good day to comment on this umbrella thing. Already commented on the rest but it is rainy today here so I decided to riff on umbrellas. Always amazed how few people have one when waiting on the light rail train where I live. Getting caught in the rain once is a good lesson.
Modern world take :: Having an Alexa or a Google Home or even just a "Tile" makes forgetting an umbrella pretty unlikely. Probably a lot cheaper just to rent one when you need it (instead of buying an Alexa) but just saying. I think a Supermarket that included them complimentary at the exit with a place to return them by the carts would make a killing and most people wouldn't want to walk around with an absurd styled umbrella anyhow. Something like embossing a label on a Whole Foods umbrella like "Stolen from Store #1234". Prime members get $5 off for returning.
Now this is getting too long meaning I'm obsessed. Always comes back to whether people will steal them I suppose. Read a funny story about shopping carts years ago. Innovative companies have built pretty cool systems (like drone geofencing) that just lock the wheel if you take it out of the parking lot. Every city has shopping carts everywhere and it is a crazy problem. Everything else has location tracking, why not shopping carts. I suppose the store could figure out how long you stared at the endcap with cookies :)
Love the spirit of these posts. They just make me laugh! (1) A QR code in a church. That is the best and my kind of mind-bender (2) The doll in the drycleaner is subliminal...the secret to low prices? (3) As for the logo, I am thinking that they probably didn't need to trademark it as infringement was unlikely...
Thanks for the umbrella update! It’s good to know— since moving to the city I’ve had a few situations where I got absolutely drenched and it would have been a lifesaver.
Regarding the NYC Logo— I wonder if the flag-ologist you interviewed early on in Cafe Anne could be of help? We all remember his strong opinions on these sorts of things?
Cafe Anne readership Logo competition with flag guy judging? 🤔
I did not realize that was NYC's logo! Granted, I'm not a New Yorker but have visited many times. Looks like something better suited to a tire company haha.
Also rental umbrellas, wow! Though I'm a bit concerned about the "3 days and it's yours" bit - I could see a lot of people ending up with quite a hefty collection of never-returned umbrellas!
I kinda love the umbrella rental idea. Back when I lived in nyc, I bought my share of those cheap umbrellas those guys sell whenever it rains. Those umbrellas always let me down, but somehow I think the rental umbrellas might be built to go the distance. Then again, now that I live in Los Angeles, walking anywhere rain is a distant memory :)
Are rental galoshes next???
We love CLARE!
Trying to read each of these rather than skimming. Your writing is SO entertaining. Today is a good day to comment on this umbrella thing. Already commented on the rest but it is rainy today here so I decided to riff on umbrellas. Always amazed how few people have one when waiting on the light rail train where I live. Getting caught in the rain once is a good lesson.
Modern world take :: Having an Alexa or a Google Home or even just a "Tile" makes forgetting an umbrella pretty unlikely. Probably a lot cheaper just to rent one when you need it (instead of buying an Alexa) but just saying. I think a Supermarket that included them complimentary at the exit with a place to return them by the carts would make a killing and most people wouldn't want to walk around with an absurd styled umbrella anyhow. Something like embossing a label on a Whole Foods umbrella like "Stolen from Store #1234". Prime members get $5 off for returning.
Now this is getting too long meaning I'm obsessed. Always comes back to whether people will steal them I suppose. Read a funny story about shopping carts years ago. Innovative companies have built pretty cool systems (like drone geofencing) that just lock the wheel if you take it out of the parking lot. Every city has shopping carts everywhere and it is a crazy problem. Everything else has location tracking, why not shopping carts. I suppose the store could figure out how long you stared at the endcap with cookies :)
Love the spirit of these posts. They just make me laugh! (1) A QR code in a church. That is the best and my kind of mind-bender (2) The doll in the drycleaner is subliminal...the secret to low prices? (3) As for the logo, I am thinking that they probably didn't need to trademark it as infringement was unlikely...
I like the current nyc logo.
Nothing wrong with being a little bit intimidating.
Thanks for the umbrella update! It’s good to know— since moving to the city I’ve had a few situations where I got absolutely drenched and it would have been a lifesaver.
Regarding the NYC Logo— I wonder if the flag-ologist you interviewed early on in Cafe Anne could be of help? We all remember his strong opinions on these sorts of things?
Cafe Anne readership Logo competition with flag guy judging? 🤔
I did not realize that was NYC's logo! Granted, I'm not a New Yorker but have visited many times. Looks like something better suited to a tire company haha.
Also rental umbrellas, wow! Though I'm a bit concerned about the "3 days and it's yours" bit - I could see a lot of people ending up with quite a hefty collection of never-returned umbrellas!
I like your doorman's reaction to your umbrella rental: oh shit! 😅
I kinda love the umbrella rental idea. Back when I lived in nyc, I bought my share of those cheap umbrellas those guys sell whenever it rains. Those umbrellas always let me down, but somehow I think the rental umbrellas might be built to go the distance. Then again, now that I live in Los Angeles, walking anywhere rain is a distant memory :)
Wow! The umbrella sharing service is awesome!!!
🌧🌈
Your weekly missives from our larger (yet charmingly small) world bring me a shot of unexpected joy. Thank you!