Lines, Lines, Everywhere a Line
This is the line outside a Gucci store at a Chicago mall. A similar line was standing outside the Nike store. Marie was told the wait was 45 minutes.
To get inside a store.
The mind boggles. This, no doubt, could serve as Exhibit A to one thing John Paul II and Francis have in common: a condemnation of consumerism. What kind of shallow lives would sacrifice 45 minutes, not to mention the drive time over there and the opportunity cost of the money spent in the store, to buy a non-necessity? As far as systems go, the one that produces 45-minute wait lines for Nike is far better than socialism, which requires people to stand in line just to buy a loaf of bread because the knowledge-resource distribution is so whacked out, but man. For the individual who succumbs to such debased servitude ("You stand in line to spend too much money on our stuff")? I'm afraid I feel disgust.
There's some pity in there, too, but mostly disgust.
But it gives me hope that brick-and-mortar stores aren't dead. I mean, if Nike and Gucci can get people to stand in line for 45 minutes, surely other stores can get people to come into their stores, thereby thwarting the Amazon machine at least a little. I really like Amazon, and I have a ton of respect for what it has done, and I appreciate the reality and goodness of creative destruction, but the juggernaut that is Amazon concerns me a little bit.
Looking for Writers!
I'm looking for Medium writers! Join The Weekly Eudemon publication stable of writers.
Here's how it works. You sign up for Medium.com ($5 a month . . . or $50 a year). You publish stories, articles, whatever. If other Medium subscribers read your stories, Medium pays you money. It's that simple. I'm in the third month and I haven't broken even yet, so we aren't talking an avalanche of money, but the potential is there.
The key, obviously, is to drive traffic to your pieces.
One way to drive traffic to your pieces: Also publish them in a Medium publication. Although Medium closely guards how it distributes articles among its network, the general consensus is that it favors publications. It really wants writers to use publications. So if you sign up, or are already signed up, consider joining The Weekly Eudemon stable of writers. I can't pay you . . . but Medium will. Any money you earn from your pieces at The Weekly Eudemon goes to you.
Email me at ericscheske@gmail.com. If you tell me you read this blog, that's enough for me to waive you in. In all seriousness, I don't expect a ton of writers to join, but I do think that, if you like to write, this is an opportunity, albeit a small/hobbyish one.
The publication was launched, literally, 24 hours ago (Wednesday morning), so don't be disappointed at the lack of material over there. You will be joining something brand new.
