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Post by carllove on Jul 5, 2021 3:45:14 GMT
Yeah - we wait until a little after 9 or so to start the fountains, then move to the bigger stuff until 9:30 or so. We were done by 10:15 tonight. Company is still here though. I have to work at 6 AM tomorrow.
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Post by kds on Jul 19, 2021 18:04:57 GMT
I have to say that what used to be one of my favorite summer traditions has come and gone - Shark Week on Discovery Channel.
I really think Shark Week....um....jumped the shark around 2012 or 2013 when they did drama-mentary about the Megaladon. Since then, Shark Week has gone down the tubes and is basically now formulaic reality television with some shark footage sprinkled in.
When I saw the line up this year, I honestly thought it was a joke, but it wasn't - the guys from Jackass, Tiffany Haddish, and Brad Paisley among others had their own specials. There was a show on tap called "The Real Sharknado." And, I'm not even going to go on a "dumbing down of pop culture rant" here because I actually legitimately enjoyed the Sharknado movies as silly, over the top entertainment. I like that in a movie, but not so much with what used to be entertaining and smart watching with Shark Week.
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Post by kds on Jul 26, 2021 13:31:55 GMT
I saw Halloween candy at my local grocery store......on July 21.
So.....it begins.
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Post by kds on Jul 30, 2021 13:32:02 GMT
.....and yesterday, at the liquor store, I saw Yuengling Oktoberfest being trucked into the store.
I've never seen a fall beer this early before.
I have to say, I was tempted to buy a warm 12 pack, as Yuengling's Oktoberfest isn't always the easiest one to find.
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Post by Kapitan on Jul 30, 2021 13:37:31 GMT
Halloween candy and oktoberfest beers in July... I swear, people look so far ahead they don't notice or enjoy what's all around them half the time.
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Post by kds on Jul 30, 2021 13:42:47 GMT
I truly don't understand it.
Who is grocery shopping in late July thinking "oh good, Halloween candy, better stock up now for the trick or treators"?
Who wants a hearty marzen beer when the highs are still in the high 80s and 90s?
I mean, there has to a reason these companies put this stuff out so early, right?
Every year around this time, probably because my vacation is already in the rearview mirror, I get this feeling like summer is slipping away, and I feel the need to embrace each moment of it. Seeing Halloween candy and Oktoberfest beers on the shelves does not help.
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Post by Kapitan on Jul 30, 2021 13:46:18 GMT
I think it's a case of supply pushing demand. Manufacturers have their schedules, stores/companies like to push the "beat the rush; get it here first" sorts of angles because it stands out when you're the first/only place to get X as opposed to having it late when everyone else already does, and so that makes people feel like it's just time to do/buy X.
Total speculation of course. But I don't think most people, left to their own devices and without the input of marketing, would be thinking about mid-autumn in mid-summer (except while daydreaming a little about cooler temps or football). I truly believe people's activities and schedules are partly dictated by marketing.
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Post by kds on Jul 30, 2021 13:58:26 GMT
I think it's a case of supply pushing demand. Manufacturers have their schedules, stores/companies like to push the "beat the rush; get it here first" sorts of angles because it stands out when you're the first/only place to get X as opposed to having it late when everyone else already does, and so that makes people feel like it's just time to do/buy X.
Total speculation of course. But I don't think most people, left to their own devices and without the input of marketing, would be thinking about mid-autumn in mid-summer (except while daydreaming a little about cooler temps or football). I truly believe people's activities and schedules are partly dictated by marketing.
It seems counter productive to me. This is simply one example, but I know a local bar I used to frequent stopped carrying Sam Adams Seasonal because the distributor would change the keg to Oktoberfest in mid August, and the patrons will wanted Summer Ale. I'm sure marketing plays a part, especially in this idealizing of autumn that exists, but I think they could just as easily roll out closer to Labor Day.
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Post by Kapitan on Jul 30, 2021 13:59:42 GMT
Never let it be said that industrial-scale production and marketing make a lot of common sense for normal people... Rather than the machine serving people, the people begin serving the machine.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Jul 30, 2021 14:05:36 GMT
Yeah, it's the stores who initiate it. They are the ones stocking these Halloween/Thanksgiving/Christmas items early, and then it causes fear and apprehension in the shoppers. They, the shoppers, then think that they just have to buy it while it's available - so they're not left out in the cold if/when it eventually sells out.
I don't like it either but I'm starting to learn my lesson the hard way. Each Christmas the last few years, I see these special sales in October and early November and think, well, I'm NOT READY yet to do my Christmas shopping yet, so I wait. I'll do it when I'm ready. Then, when I do think...it's time...to Christmas shop, post-Thanksgiving, everything's sold out! Hey, if can't beat 'em, join 'em.
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Post by kds on Jul 30, 2021 14:20:37 GMT
I do agree with these assessments Kap and Sheriff, but it's pretty sad that people are that...fuck it, I'll say it, dumb.
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Post by Kapitan on Jul 30, 2021 14:23:08 GMT
No disagreement here. I'd like to credit wisdom, but I think it's probably just contrarianism; but either way, I've made quite a habit of opting out of those sorts of expectations of what to do, when, and how.
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Post by kds on Jul 30, 2021 14:32:50 GMT
No disagreement here. I'd like to credit wisdom, but I think it's probably just contrarianism; but either way, I've made quite a habit of opting out of those sorts of expectations of what to do, when, and how. Maybe I'm in the minority, but I just find following a calendar really easy. Although in my dealings with people personally and professionally, that doesn't seem to be as common a skill as one would think. And wouldn't you know it? The calendar says July 30, still over a month away from Labor Day, almost two months away from the end of summer on the calendar. Despite the objections of the "basics" and corporate marketing, we still have quite a bit of summer left to go.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Jul 30, 2021 14:33:50 GMT
I don't think the people, the shoppers are dumb. They are kind of forced to comply with what the stores are dictating. Yeah, you can hold your ground and say "I'm not giving in to this insanity. I'll wait until it's 'time' to do the shopping." But, again, you're going to suffer in the end. Everything is going to be picked out. At least that's what I have been experiencing. I would drive by these stores and malls in October and early November and see many more cars than usual due to the sales. Then, I would shake my head and stubbornly drive away and come back at the "right time" to do my Christmas shopping, only to find out the color of this item is sold out, or the size of that item is picked out, and don't even think about the popular items advertised that the person on your Christmas list wants.
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Post by kds on Jul 30, 2021 14:41:38 GMT
I don't think the people, the shoppers are dumb. They are kind of forced to comply with what the stores are dictating. Yeah, you can hold your ground and say "I'm not giving in to this insanity. I'll wait until it's 'time' to do the shopping." But, again, you're going to suffer in the end. Everything is going to be picked out. At least that's what I have been experiencing. I would drive by these stores and malls in October and early November and see many more cars than usual due to the sales. Then, I would shake my head and stubbornly drive away and come back at the "right time" to do my Christmas shopping, only to find out the color of this item is sold out, or the size of that item is picked out, and don't even think about the popular items advertised that the person on your Christmas list wants. I really can't say that I've found that to be the case. Granted, I try to do most of my shopping online. But, there always seems to be last minute thing I need to get, which forces me to a store between Dec 20 - 24, and I've not encountered bare shelves, nor had any trouble finding a gift. But, aside from Christmas shopping. Going back to what I brought up with Halloween candy and fall beers. Is there any threat of not being able to find candy by mid October? Nope. Even with the insanely early roll outs of fall seasonal beers, I've really had no trouble finding them in October when we finally get fall weather. I might run into some selection issues by closer to Halloween with fall beers, but that's only because they're rolling out the Winter / Christmas seasonals already.
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