Overheard on Facebook

[Davin]

...  So, today I posted "The end is near, I will now be spending all of my money on blow and GT-R's."
...

I give up, what is a GT-R? I may need to get one (or more) before the end!

[Zikoris]

cloth bags .... they're not practical for biking or walking longer distances at all.

Cloth bags are for transporting groceries between Trader Joe's/WholeFoods and the back of your Volvo/Hybrid SUV.

Because you wouldn't dream of driving a pickup but small cars aren't safe....

Cloth bags are perfectly fine for loading groceries into a bike trailer or, I assume, panniers. Can't shop for a family of four with a backpack!

Back when I had panniers I just brought them into the grocery store with me and loaded them up at the register, then snapped them back onto my bike and left. Also sometimes brought my basket in the store as well and did the same. Between that and my bike rack (and my boyfriend's identical setup), I was pretty much set. These days a backpack and more frequent trips seems to work well though.

[RWD]

...  So, today I posted "The end is near, I will now be spending all of my money on blow and GT-R's."
...

I give up, what is a GT-R? I may need to get one (or more) before the end!

Starting at ~$102k:
http://www.nissanusa.com/sportscars/gt-r

[Wings5]

My homophobic, condescending, judgmental c*nt of a SIL keeps posting her hate-filled rants about homosexuality. 

Did just just pass judgment on her?

[RetiredAt63]

Here the plastic bags (that you are charged $0.05 for) are so flimsy that there is usually a hole in them by the time you get home.  I used to use plastic grocery store bags for garbage, now I have to buy bags just for that. Way back when (yes I am that old) we had the choice of paper or plastic, or bringing your own, so I used whatever was appropriate.

I don't get why people would even want to use the plastic bags.  They only hold a few items, the handles breaks etc...  You need 15 of them vs only 5-6 cloth ones.  They are terrible.  I shop without my reusable ones every so often so I get get a supply of bags for trash can liners and I hate it.

[Threshkin]

Here the plastic bags (that you are charged $0.05 for) are so flimsy that there is usually a hole in them by the time you get home.  I used to use plastic grocery store bags for garbage, now I have to buy bags just for that. Way back when (yes I am that old) we had the choice of paper or plastic, or bringing your own, so I used whatever was appropriate.

We still have that choice here.  If i don't bring my own bags I request paper because it composts better.

[katstache92]

Paper bags are worse for the environment than plastic bags, as far as production goes, not taking recycling into account.

Biodegradable plastic bags break down into small plastic pieces and if they get mixed in with plastic bags that are being recycled it can make the whole load unusable.  I guess if you have your own compost pile then they would be preferable.

Source - I once worked somewhere that looked into switching to biodegradable bags.  Although, I guess most of what we learned was from salesmen, so take this info with a grain of salt and do your own research, because who knows how accurate the sales info actually is.

[dragoncar]

Paper bags are worse for the environment than plastic bags, as far as production goes, not taking recycling into account.

Biodegradable plastic bags break down into small plastic pieces and if they get mixed in with plastic bags that are being recycled it can make the whole load unusable.  I guess if you have your own compost pile then they would be preferable.

Source - I once worked somewhere that looked into switching to biodegradable bags.  Although, I guess most of what we learned was from salesmen, so take this info with a grain of salt and do your own research, because who knows how accurate the sales info actually is.

Yeah you really have to define "worse" in this context.  Paper bags are typically made from mostly recycled materials

[Sibley]

Honestly I like getting free plastic bags, I use them for scooping my cats litter boxes! I also out them in small trash baskets.

Me too! They're great for the litterboxes. Why would I pay for bags just to fill them with cat pee and poo and throw it all out? I do double them, they always have holes, but still. Anytime I get more than I can use I just throw a big bag of them into the recycling.

[katstache92]

Yeah you really have to define "worse" in this context.  Paper bags are typically made from mostly recycled materials

It's really in the production that paper bags are worse than plastic, at least as far as I know.  Recycled materials are great, but in making paper you use an amazing amount of water plus a whole host of chemicals regardless of the fiber being virgin or recycled.  So the real wins for recycled material are keeping things out of landfills and not cutting down trees.  I worked in a paper mill for a while (I couldn't figure out what I wanted to do, I still don't know actually) and the amount of chemicals being used was staggering, at least to me.  Unfortunately I don't know anything about producing plastic other than - it uses oil.

But again, the whole "paper bags are worse than plastic" is based on a few sales conversations.  So it's entirely possible that their margin on plastic bags is better than paper bags and that's why they were recommending plastic.  Who knows.

[katstache92]

Thanks Philociraptor!!  That is a really interesting process.  I had no idea shooting plastic bubbles into a tower was part of how plastic bags are made, that's awesome!

[dragoncar]

Yeah you really have to define "worse" in this context.  Paper bags are typically made from mostly recycled materials

It's really in the production that paper bags are worse than plastic, at least as far as I know.  Recycled materials are great, but in making paper you use an amazing amount of water plus a whole host of chemicals regardless of the fiber being virgin or recycled.  So the real wins for recycled material are keeping things out of landfills and not cutting down trees.  I worked in a paper mill for a while (I couldn't figure out what I wanted to do, I still don't know actually) and the amount of chemicals being used was staggering, at least to me.  Unfortunately I don't know anything about producing plastic other than - it uses oil.

But again, the whole "paper bags are worse than plastic" is based on a few sales conversations.  So it's entirely possible that their margin on plastic bags is better than paper bags and that's why they were recommending plastic.  Who knows.

So what if it uses water and chemicals?  Are the chemicals polluting?  Is the water being drawn from a drought stricken area?  In other words, telle how the environment is being harmed, compared to plastic bags.

[RetiredAt63]

When we had the choice, I could reuse the paper bags several times, and then they were used to hold paper recycling when it went out.  The plastic grocery bags were sturdy enough to be reused a few times, or be used for kitchen garbage, or picking up after the dog or doing the cat litter.  I would happily pay the 5 cents every so often to get some solid bags, but that is no longer an option.  Bulk Barn, on the other hand, has good solid reusable plastic bags.

[Andy_in_Aus]

Paper bags are worse for the environment than plastic bags, as far as production goes, not taking recycling into account.

Biodegradable plastic bags break down into small plastic pieces and if they get mixed in with plastic bags that are being recycled it can make the whole load unusable.  I guess if you have your own compost pile then they would be preferable.

Source - I once worked somewhere that looked into switching to biodegradable bags.  Although, I guess most of what we learned was from salesmen, so take this info with a grain of salt and do your own research, because who knows how accurate the sales info actually is.

Skeptoid recently did an article spelling out the form and against for all different types of grocery bags.

Bottom line - Plastic bags if used again at least once for garbage, or pet litter and then put into landfill beat all others.

Source: http://skeptoid.com/episodes/4460

[geekette]

When I don't need plastic bags for kitty litter (they're still free here), I carry some envirosax like this.  I got them years ago on some half price sale.  They hold a LOT, they're washable, and the best part is, they roll up and snap closed into a small roll.  I usually have a couple in my pocketbook. 

Foamy...

[merula]

Paper bags are worse for the environment than plastic bags, as far as production goes, not taking recycling into account.

Biodegradable plastic bags break down into small plastic pieces and if they get mixed in with plastic bags that are being recycled it can make the whole load unusable.  I guess if you have your own compost pile then they would be preferable.

Source - I once worked somewhere that looked into switching to biodegradable bags.  Although, I guess most of what we learned was from salesmen, so take this info with a grain of salt and do your own research, because who knows how accurate the sales info actually is.

Skeptoid recently did an article spelling out the form and against for all different types of grocery bags.

Bottom line - Plastic bags if used again at least once for garbage, or pet litter and then put into landfill beat all others.

Source: http://skeptoid.com/episodes/4460

I read that link. I'm not sure that all of the factors of paper versus plastic have been taken into account, so I'll have that aside.

"When the UK Environment Agency did a life cycle assessment of supermarket carrier bags (PDF) they found that non-woven polypropylene bags needed to be re-used at least 11 times to have lower global warming potential than single-use HPDE, or High-Density Poly-Ethylene, bags. Cotton shopping bags need to be used at least 131 times."

That makes some logical sense; reusable bags require more energy at the outset, so they should have a higher "payoff period". But using that to disqualify reusables as good option is ridiculous. I have probably twenty reusable bags, and use them for everything. I haven't had any wear out in the 10 years or so that I've been using reusables, I only lose them when I use them to give someone something and they don't get returned. Back of the napkin math, my bags have been used at least 300 times each, on average, so well past the point where they're better than single-use.

I steal plastic bags out of my neighbor's recycling bin to use as bin liners. I've considered doing the same with the collection box at the grocery store, but thankfully haven't had to go that far.

[Argyle]

Well, I have some cloth shopping bags inherited from my mother, who was using them as long ago as the 1960s.  So I think they've met their 131-use targets and then some.  With the number of cloth bags being given out as freebies at events and conventions all over the place, I'm perplexed as to why most people don't just have their own supply which means that using plastic is even more pointless.

[RetiredAt63]

I find the fabric bags are too bulky so they only go with me when I remember them.  These, on the other hand, live in my purse (http://www.leevalley.com/US/wood/page.aspx?cat=2,42194&p=62658).  They also wash easily and air-dry fast, so no worries if something leaks/spills in them.
What bugs me about our local plastic bags (most stores, all grocery stores) is that they are so flimsy that they don't last even the trip home from the store, in the car - I would hate to have to actually use them to carry things any distance.  And this means they are definitely one-use bags, such a waste.

[10dollarsatatime]

I find the fabric bags are too bulky so they only go with me when I remember them.  These, on the other hand, live in my purse (http://www.leevalley.com/US/wood/page.aspx?cat=2,42194&p=62658).  They also wash easily and air-dry fast, so no worries if something leaks/spills in them.
What bugs me about our local plastic bags (most stores, all grocery stores) is that they are so flimsy that they don't last even the trip home from the store, in the car - I would hate to have to actually use them to carry things any distance.  And this means they are definitely one-use bags, such a waste.

I have some kind of like that.  I think they were 75 cents at ikea.  They're just right for sticking in a pocket for a walk to the grocery store.

[ender]

A much more meaningful reason in the "cloth vs plastic" bag discussion is how that impacts the rest of your life.

I suspect that for many people, once you start using cloth bags you start being more aware of waste(s) in the rest of your life.

From that perspective I think cloth bags win hands down, 100% of the time.

[Joshin]

Eh, that Skeptoid link is missing parts of the picture. Plastic bags are having a major impact on the inland waterways around me, as far as actually clogging up the water treatment plant(at least according to an engineering buddy who has the job of keeping the plant running). I also volunteer with our local clean river and lake group, and the plastic in the water is posing a hazard to both wildlife in the water (clogging up reed  beds and other hiding/feeding areas) and issues with local humans trying to enjoy the water. So yeah, it just depends what part of the picture you want to look at.

There's enough reusable bags already out there that we could likely stop producing new bags now and be good for a good long while. That solves the production issue of reusable bags right there. As for me, I use the cool collapsible crates I found at a thrift store, and I use them for more than just groceries so I'm sure they have more than worked off their manufacturing costs. Two fit perfectly into my grocery cart.

/foam

[4alpacas]

I find the fabric bags are too bulky so they only go with me when I remember them.  These, on the other hand, live in my purse (http://www.leevalley.com/US/wood/page.aspx?cat=2,42194&p=62658).  They also wash easily and air-dry fast, so no worries if something leaks/spills in them.
What bugs me about our local plastic bags (most stores, all grocery stores) is that they are so flimsy that they don't last even the trip home from the store, in the car - I would hate to have to actually use them to carry things any distance.  And this means they are definitely one-use bags, such a waste.

I have some kind of like that.  I think they were 75 cents at ikea.  They're just right for sticking in a pocket for a walk to the grocery store.

I have one of the ones from IKEA too.  It's lasted 2.5 years.  I use it at least once a week.  It fits in my purse, so I use it for any shopping or any time I find things that I need to carry.

[Malaysia41]

My friend just posted this on FB:

Just bought this awesome Thomas Kincaid print!  ....  Im so excited!!!

I don't see much hope for our friendship going forward. 

[cerebus]

My friend just posted this on FB:

Just bought this awesome Thomas Kincaid print!  ....  Im so excited!!!

I don't see much hope for our friendship going forward.

Not a fan of garishly coloured landscapes?

[katstache92]

"Wooo. Student loans payoff amount officially under 10k.  If only I could say the same about my credit cards..."

Someone offered to trade their balance for his, plus give him a $2k taco bell gift card.  His response, "well, I've gotten my taco bell spend down to $400/year, so that would last 5 years!"

[partgypsy]

Eh, that Skeptoid link is missing parts of the picture. Plastic bags are having a major impact on the inland waterways around me, as far as actually clogging up the water treatment plant(at least according to an engineering buddy who has the job of keeping the plant running). I also volunteer with our local clean river and lake group, and the plastic in the water is posing a hazard to both wildlife in the water (clogging up reed  beds and other hiding/feeding areas) and issues with local humans trying to enjoy the water. So yeah, it just depends what part of the picture you want to look at.

There's enough reusable bags already out there that we could likely stop producing new bags now and be good for a good long while. That solves the production issue of reusable bags right there. As for me, I use the cool collapsible crates I found at a thrift store, and I use them for more than just groceries so I'm sure they have more than worked off their manufacturing costs. Two fit perfectly into my grocery cart.

/foam

Actually I think this is the best solution yet, crates or cardboard boxes ala Costco shopping.

[Dollar Slice]

My friend just posted this on FB:

Just bought this awesome Thomas Kincaid print!  ....  Im so excited!!!

I don't see much hope for our friendship going forward.

I'm sorry for your loss. ;-)  I used to work with someone who loved that stuff, I never dared look at how much it cost to buy one. She was a hardcore spender in general, although I think shopping started turning into therapy/addiction as she had some really bad-luck stuff to deal with in her life (actual bad luck, not poor choices).

[Melody]

"Wooo. Student loans payoff amount officially under 10k.  If only I could say the same about my credit cards..."

Someone offered to trade their balance for his, plus give him a $2k taco bell gift card.  His response, "well, I've gotten my taco bell spend down to $400/year, so that would last 5 years!"

It's been a while since I had a taco bell but isn't the 1lb burrito like $2? So 200lbs of burrito a year???
Even if he's having the fancier menu items it's at least one full meal a week? And I'm guessing he goes to other fast food places too????

[MgoSam]

"Wooo. Student loans payoff amount officially under 10k.  If only I could say the same about my credit cards..."

Someone offered to trade their balance for his, plus give him a $2k taco bell gift card.  His response, "well, I've gotten my taco bell spend down to $400/year, so that would last 5 years!"

It's been a while since I had a taco bell but isn't the 1lb burrito like $2? So 200lbs of burrito a year???
Even if he's having the fancier menu items it's at least one full meal a week? And I'm guessing he goes to other fast food places too????

I have from time to time, gotten a full meal at T-Bell for like $1.07 (a bean burrito with a glass of water). Meanwhile, I've seen people order $5, for the same thing but with steak instead and a large pop. It is easy to spend a lot of money at places if you aren't thinking about it. I can't recall the last time I ordered pop, it is such a ripoff and absolutely terrible for you.

[Melody]

Yeah I agree... Although if they sold beer I would be all for it!!!
This is why I manage to get so much restaurant food and takeaway into a quite small food budget... With couponing, not buying the drinks and sticking to the specials it doesn't have to cost a tonne to eat out.

[dragoncar]

"Wooo. Student loans payoff amount officially under 10k.  If only I could say the same about my credit cards..."

Someone offered to trade their balance for his, plus give him a $2k taco bell gift card.  His response, "well, I've gotten my taco bell spend down to $400/year, so that would last 5 years!"

It's been a while since I had a taco bell but isn't the 1lb burrito like $2? So 200lbs of burrito a year???
Even if he's having the fancier menu items it's at least one full meal a week? And I'm guessing he goes to other fast food places too????

I have from time to time, gotten a full meal at T-Bell for like $1.07 (a bean burrito with a glass of water). Meanwhile, I've seen people order $5, for the same thing but with steak instead and a large pop. It is easy to spend a lot of money at places if you aren't thinking about it. I can't recall the last time I ordered pop, it is such a ripoff and absolutely terrible for you.

This is how a lot of fast food joints get ya.  There's always some crazy overpriced item, that is not substantially different from another cheaper it, but costs twice as much or more.  Think Big Mac vs mcdouble.  At Taco Bell, they have some $6 nachos if I recall correctly.  That's not much better than an actual Mexican place.

[Alenzia]

Paper bags are worse for the environment than plastic bags, as far as production goes, not taking recycling into account.

Biodegradable plastic bags break down into small plastic pieces and if they get mixed in with plastic bags that are being recycled it can make the whole load unusable.  I guess if you have your own compost pile then they would be preferable.

Source - I once worked somewhere that looked into switching to biodegradable bags.  Although, I guess most of what we learned was from salesmen, so take this info with a grain of salt and do your own research, because who knows how accurate the sales info actually is.

Skeptoid recently did an article spelling out the form and against for all different types of grocery bags.

Bottom line - Plastic bags if used again at least once for garbage, or pet litter and then put into landfill beat all others.

Source: http://skeptoid.com/episodes/4460

I read that link. I'm not sure that all of the factors of paper versus plastic have been taken into account, so I'll have that onment Agency did a life cycle assessment of supermarket carrier bags (PDF) they found that non-woven polypropylene bags needed to be re-used at least 11 times to have lower global warming potential than single-use HPDE, or High-Density Poly-Ethylene, bags. Cotton shopping bags need to be used at least 131 times."

That makes some logical sense; reusable bags require more energy at the outset, so they should have a higher "payoff period". But using that to disqualify reusables as good option is ridiculous. I have probably twenty reusable bags, and use them for everything. I haven't had any wear out in the 10 years or so that I've been using reusables, I only lose them when I use them to give someone something and they don't get returned. Back of the napkin math, my bags have been used at least 300 times each, on average, so well past the point where they're better than single-use.

I steal plastic bags out of my neighbor's recycling bin to use as bin liners. I've considered doing the same with the collection box at the grocery store, but thankfully haven't had to go that far.

I read the UK study as well as part of my participation on a recycling and conservation committee for my town. The study even assumed that some of the plastic bags will be reused (I'm remembering 1.5 times per bag or something similar). 11 reuses on a polypropylene bag is really not that hard to get to!

[mm1970]

My friend just posted this on FB:

Just bought this awesome Thomas Kincaid print!  ....  Im so excited!!!

I don't see much hope for our friendship going forward.

I'm sorry for your loss. ;-)  I used to work with someone who loved that stuff, I never dared look at how much it cost to buy one. She was a hardcore spender in general, although I think shopping started turning into therapy/addiction as she had some really bad-luck stuff to deal with in her life (actual bad luck, not poor choices).

When he was super big I really liked his stuff. Never bought a print, but enjoyed postcards, some jigsaw puzzles (these were a challenge), and did a cross stitch once - that one was pretty fun.

[DINK]

A woman I went to high school with posted on FB that her son emptied out a $40 bottle of shower gel while he was in the bathroom. What the hell kind of magic ass body wash costs $40 a bottle??

[MgoSam]

"Wooo. Student loans payoff amount officially under 10k.  If only I could say the same about my credit cards..."

Someone offered to trade their balance for his, plus give him a $2k taco bell gift card.  His response, "well, I've gotten my taco bell spend down to $400/year, so that would last 5 years!"

It's been a while since I had a taco bell but isn't the 1lb burrito like $2? So 200lbs of burrito a year???
Even if he's having the fancier menu items it's at least one full meal a week? And I'm guessing he goes to other fast food places too????

I have from time to time, gotten a full meal at T-Bell for like $1.07 (a bean burrito with a glass of water). Meanwhile, I've seen people order $5, for the same thing but with steak instead and a large pop. It is easy to spend a lot of money at places if you aren't thinking about it. I can't recall the last time I ordered pop, it is such a ripoff and absolutely terrible for you.

This is how a lot of fast food joints get ya.  There's always some crazy overpriced item, that is not substantially different from another cheaper it, but costs twice as much or more.  Think Big Mac vs mcdouble.  At Taco Bell, they have some $6 nachos if I recall correctly.  That's not much better than an actual Mexican place.

Yeah, I hear ya. The funny part is that most places don't make much money off of me. I came across as being really cheap when coming back from a camping trip a few weeks ago, we stopped for lunch at a place that's famous for its pies in Minnesota, and everyone ordered a lunch that cost at least $10, nearly everyone ordered coffee or a soft drink, and then ordered a slice of pie. There was a menu option for a sandwich, soup, and slice of pie for $8, and I ordered that. I got a weird look from one of the people, but no one said anything. My bill came out to be around $11 after tax and tip, which is still more than I wanted to spend but when in a group..., it is of only a little consolidation that my bill was likely half what everyone else spent.

There's a fast food mexican place that is way better than T-Bell near my place, I go there at least once a week (I know face punch) for a burrito that costs about $2.79 with tax, and never get anything else. I'm somewhat known to the employees there who will start making that burrito as soon as I walk in, but the cashier always tries to upsell me...I've noticed that it has become more of a 'the manager makes us, rather than they expect me to,' look on their face as they do it.

[partgypsy]

At the couple places where I am a "regular" they happily start getting my water ready as they get my order, as they know that's what I order. My kids, even if they get a free drink with the meal, order water 90+% of the time, as that is what they like to drink. In that case we ask for the apple juice boxes, so we can stick them in the fridge for general use (usually hubby ends up drinking them)

[MgoSam]

My friend just posted this on FB:

Just bought this awesome Thomas Kincaid print!  ....  Im so excited!!!

I don't see much hope for our friendship going forward.

I'm sorry for your loss. ;-)  I used to work with someone who loved that stuff, I never dared look at how much it cost to buy one. She was a hardcore spender in general, although I think shopping started turning into therapy/addiction as she had some really bad-luck stuff to deal with in her life (actual bad luck, not poor choices).

When he was super big I really liked his stuff. Never bought a print, but enjoyed postcards, some jigsaw puzzles (these were a challenge), and did a cross stitch once - that one was pretty fun.

I fear looking it up, how much do you reckon his prints cost?

Also, is anyone on here knowledable about art? I like art and am willing to buy original art, but at a strict limit. I see "limited edition" prints at galleries and other places that are marked for a ton of money...do they ever make sense to even consider purchasing? I realize that the quality of the print is likely a lot better than something from allposters.com, but I wonder if anyone actually makes money buying them and having them appreciate.

I like to buy original art if I ever see a piece I like that is not expensive (ie, under $150), but it rarely happens. I bought two paintings by an artist I liked before she moved and sold her works at a discount as she was somewhat in a hurry.

[zephyr911]

A woman I went to high school with posted on FB that her son emptied out a $40 bottle of shower gel while he was in the bathroom. What the hell kind of magic ass body wash costs $40 a bottle??

Two possibilities:
A) Pure unicorn tears
B) The same $1 shit as in any other bottle, with a cuter label and more TV ads.

[Dollar Slice]

Also, is anyone on here knowledable about art? I like art and am willing to buy original art, but at a strict limit. I see "limited edition" prints at galleries and other places that are marked for a ton of money...do they ever make sense to even consider purchasing? I realize that the quality of the print is likely a lot better than something from allposters.com, but I wonder if anyone actually makes money buying them and having them appreciate.

There are a lot of different kinds of prints, it's important to know what sort of thing you're buying before talking about appreciation and collectibility... (I'm not enough of an expert to explain it, I just know enough to know that it's a complex topic.) There's an artist I'd love to have a print from but they are $500 and I can't quite convince myself... I do have a nice limited edition silkscreen print (from a relatively unknown artist) that I only paid about $50 for.

One of the biggest financial jaw-droppers of my life... I was browsing some art galleries, just for fun, and I saw a painting I loved. Really loved. It was maybe $1500? I can't remember, but something in that neighborhood. Too rich for my blood (this was back in my early 20s) and I didn't buy it.

A few years later I was at the same art gallery and this time thinking somewhat seriously of investing in a real piece of art because I was making more money and etc. Lo and behold, they had some new pieces from the very same artist that were really incredible. Price tag? Six figures... a 10,000% gain in a few years. Guess I have a good eye for art. :-/

[4alpacas]

A woman I went to high school with posted on FB that her son emptied out a $40 bottle of shower gel while he was in the bathroom. What the hell kind of magic ass body wash costs $40 a bottle??

Two possibilities:
A) Diluted Pure unicorn tears
B) The same $1 shit as in any other bottle, with a cuter label and more TV ads.

Fixed it.  Pure unicorn tears will run at least $50/bottle.

[jinga nation]

My friend just posted this on FB:

Just bought this awesome Thomas Kincaid print!  ....  Im so excited!!!

I don't see much hope for our friendship going forward.

Years ago when a Thomas Kincaid prints store opened in the mall, i figured out that it's not THAT special if it's mass market art. It has closed down since.

[MgoSam]

My friend just posted this on FB:

Just bought this awesome Thomas Kincaid print!  ....  Im so excited!!!

I don't see much hope for our friendship going forward.

Years ago when a Thomas Kincaid prints store opened in the mall, i figured out that it's not THAT special if it's mass market art. It has closed down since.

Talk about a niche market.

[Beaker]

A woman I went to high school with posted on FB that her son emptied out a $40 bottle of shower gel while he was in the bathroom. What the hell kind of magic ass body wash costs $40 a bottle??

Maybe it was a 5-gallon jug?

[No-stache]

Person vacationing in FL. She jumped into the pool with her phone on her because her son needed help. (Legitimate.)

Trying to fix the phone:

"It was in rice for a couple of days and nothing. ... I really can't afford to replace my phone after this vacation either. I had to buy a camera just so I could take pictures."

She works two jobs. Not sure about her husband. They have two kids. She's always complaining about money, etc.

If you can't afford to replace your phone, you don't need to be on a vacation in FL. Take a small day trip or overnight trip somewhere close and make do.

I make bad decisions too but geeeeeez.

[mm1970]

My friend just posted this on FB:

Just bought this awesome Thomas Kincaid print!  ....  Im so excited!!!

I don't see much hope for our friendship going forward.

I'm sorry for your loss. ;-)  I used to work with someone who loved that stuff, I never dared look at how much it cost to buy one. She was a hardcore spender in general, although I think shopping started turning into therapy/addiction as she had some really bad-luck stuff to deal with in her life (actual bad luck, not poor choices).

When he was super big I really liked his stuff. Never bought a print, but enjoyed postcards, some jigsaw puzzles (these were a challenge), and did a cross stitch once - that one was pretty fun.

I fear looking it up, how much do you reckon his prints cost?

Also, is anyone on here knowledable about art? I like art and am willing to buy original art, but at a strict limit. I see "limited edition" prints at galleries and other places that are marked for a ton of money...do they ever make sense to even consider purchasing? I realize that the quality of the print is likely a lot better than something from allposters.com, but I wonder if anyone actually makes money buying them and having them appreciate.

I like to buy original art if I ever see a piece I like that is not expensive (ie, under $150), but it rarely happens. I bought two paintings by an artist I liked before she moved and sold her works at a discount as she was somewhat in a hurry.

Looks like $200 to $5000 on the website, maybe even higher.

I have a super small house and not much wall space.  I'm also not knowledgeable about art.  Here's what we have on our walls:
1. quilts (mine and ones that friends/family have made for me)
2. family photos (this is brand new! Finally got photos taken)
3. A photograph on canvas from a local artist.  It spoke to me.  Actually we have two, one spoke to my husband.
4. A painting that I bought for $20 from a store called Ames in NoVA on Wilson Blvd, back in 1992, when I first got out of college and wanted to put something on my wall.  The frame was $80.
5. A Monet print, framed, that my husband owned.
6. A couple of framed photos (in the bathroom) from a local photographer. (around $25)
7. A few unframed canvasses from my "mom's nights out" at a local place where you drink wine and paint.  Cost: $40 each including the wine.
8. A cute little sewn hanging thing that my MIL made for my husband when he was a baby and she kept, so we have it now.  It's felt on burlap with a baby carriage, an airplane, a car, etc.

[dragoncar]

You can get some good stuff on Ebay.  Only problem is discerning the real originals from the mass-produced crap.  It's not going to appreciate, but if you like it, why not?  I only buy true "original" art these days, even if it's just $20 for an amateurish oil from a fledgling art student.  I used to get cheap reproductions painted in India, but didn't seem worth it.  Won't do prints (mostly because you end up paying almost what "real" art would cost, especially if you are framing the print)

[Malaysia41]

My friend just posted this on FB:

Just bought this awesome Thomas Kincaid print!  ....  Im so excited!!!

I don't see much hope for our friendship going forward.

I'm sorry for your loss. ;-)  I used to work with someone who loved that stuff, I never dared look at how much it cost to buy one. She was a hardcore spender in general, although I think shopping started turning into therapy/addiction as she had some really bad-luck stuff to deal with in her life (actual bad luck, not poor choices).

When he was super big I really liked his stuff. Never bought a print, but enjoyed postcards, some jigsaw puzzles (these were a challenge), and did a cross stitch once - that one was pretty fun.

I fear looking it up, how much do you reckon his prints cost?

Our friendship is merely threatened by the Thomas Kincade price-tag.  It's over due to lack of taste. 

[AlanStache]

My friend just posted this on FB:

Just bought this awesome Thomas Kincaid print!  ....  Im so excited!!!

I don't see much hope for our friendship going forward.

I'm sorry for your loss. ;-)  I used to work with someone who loved that stuff, I never dared look at how much it cost to buy one. She was a hardcore spender in general, although I think shopping started turning into therapy/addiction as she had some really bad-luck stuff to deal with in her life (actual bad luck, not poor choices).

When he was super big I really liked his stuff. Never bought a print, but enjoyed postcards, some jigsaw puzzles (these were a challenge), and did a cross stitch once - that one was pretty fun.

I fear looking it up, how much do you reckon his prints cost?

Our friendship is merely threatened by the Thomas Kincade price-tag.  It's over due to lack of taste.

Sorry but had to look, according to thomaskinkade.com (no I wont link it!!!)  they have something for any budget, small stuff for 25$ on up to over 6k$ "limited edition" prints.  I had not seen his stuff probably during my adult life but I guess it is ok if you are decorating a dentists office.  I might even prefer some of his stuff over the current trend to print inspiring quotes on a canvas.  fuck if I see one more "Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away" poster, call for backup, because its going down.

[justajane]

Well, I have some cloth shopping bags inherited from my mother, who was using them as long ago as the 1960s.  So I think they've met their 131-use targets and then some.  With the number of cloth bags being given out as freebies at events and conventions all over the place, I'm perplexed as to why most people don't just have their own supply which means that using plastic is even more pointless.

Exactly. I was going to say the same thing. I've probably only paid for one or two reusable bags in 20 years. The rest I have acquired from various places. We mostly shop at Costco, Sam's and Aldi where we use no paper or plastic, and somehow we still manage to acquire more plastic bags than we could ever use. And we have a cat and a baby, for both of which we use bags for their poop. I can't imagine how overflowing our plastic bag supply would be if we didn't use reusable.

[Dollar Slice]

I only buy true "original" art these days, even if it's just $20 for an amateurish oil from a fledgling art student.  I used to get cheap reproductions painted in India, but didn't seem worth it.  Won't do prints (mostly because you end up paying almost what "real" art would cost, especially if you are framing the print)

To each his own, but I happen to really like the silkscreen prints I own. These are not reproductions of paintings, they are designed as prints from the get-go (printmaking is an ancient art-form). And they are much better value for the art quality you get. I have one in a limited edition of 250, price to me was $40. In other words, the artist is good enough that he can make $10,000 off of one picture. It's really beautiful. Although Thomas Kinkade would probably think it is too dark ;-)