Jame's Thoughts

Open Letter to the .01%: Stay Home #occupyoakland

I have mixed feelings on the #Occupy movement.  As a part of the 99%, I am in support of the idea of a movement.  I am less enamored with a leaderless, undefined movement.  That being said, Occupy is great opportunity for anyone to take part in the movement. 

All throughout the day, I checked in on the activities at #OccupyOakland on Twitter.  I am an Oakland booster, and I was hoping nothing like the Oscar Grant protest or last week’s events would unfold.  Things were largely OK, until I heard about the incidents at Chase, Wells Fargo, Whole Foods and B of A. 

Later in the evening, when things escalated into police in riot gear and violent protesters, I realized the largely positive events of the day would be overshadowed by the dramatic shift in the crowd, and the Occupy movement would lose solidarity with the 99%.  Looking at the social media reactions in my immediate circle and the general sentiment, this appears to be the case.

As usual, the .01% came out to wreck havoc and cause all of the drama. 

This is my open letter to the .01%.  The 99% does not want you at the protest.  Please leave your desires to loot, cause violence, instigate property damage and make trouble at home.  Or take them to some other town. 

The Occupy Movement is about taking back our cities, communities and local economies.  If you are part of the .01%, you are not part of the solution.  You might as well band with the 1%, because you do not represent the 99%.  Start your own movement.  As far away from the Town as possible — occupy your backyard?  Death Valley?  Or how about internet forums?  The only reason you are part of the 99% is because we needed to round up.

Sincerely,

A Normal Oaklander in the 98.99%

Living Social Sells $10 Million Worth of Whole Foods Vouchers in One Day

Did you get one?  I did?

baddeal:

Living Social, the second largest daily deal site after Groupon, has sold $10 million worth of coupons for Whole Foods in under 24 hours. That’s more than this weekend’s combined box-office receipts for Our Idiot Brother, Shark Night 3D and Apollo 18. The Washington, DC-based Living Social sold out of its one million $10 coupons; each are redeemable for $20 worth of groceries at any Whole Foods location. Five percent of the sales price (so, $500,000) goes to the Whole Kids Foundation. Would we rather see a deal company highlight an independent supermarket, a farmer’s market, or at least a smaller behemoth like the excellent Eataly? Of course. Still, we’re impressed at the sheer magnitude of Living Social’s sales. Three final thoughts: 

1. Lines are about to get A LOT longer at Whole Foods. 
2. Expect a similar stunt by Groupon, whose sales have been tanking. 
3. Today, Living Social tried to show investors & journalists that they can be the next 800-pound Gorilla. But they can they repeat this feat? 

Eats: Local Cafe is Open (Piedmont Ave)

As reported a few weeks ago, it looks like it’s official, Local Cafe is open.  Dinner is slated to start next month.  I am sad there are no espresso drinks. The prize for best 3rd wave coffee on Piedmont Ave is still up for grabs!

Here’s an excerpt of the menu. 

Full menu here (PDF link)

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