Put A Little Love In Your Heart ( And Community)

"
Think of your fellow man
Lend him a helping hand
Put a little love in your heart
You see it's getting late
Oh, please don't hesitate
Put a little love in your heart

And the world will be a better place
And the world will be a better place
For you and me
You just wait and see

Another day goes by
Still the children cry
Put a little love in your heart
If you want the world to know
We won't let hatred grow
Put a little love in your heart

And the world (and the world) will be a better place
All the world (all the world) will be a better place
For you (for you)
And me (and me)
You just wait (just wait)
And see, wait and see

Take a good look around
And if you're looking down
Put a little love in your heart
I hope when you decide
Kindness will be your guide
Put a little love in your heart

And the world (and the world) will be a better place
And the world (and the world) will be a better place
For you (for you)
And me (and me)
You just wait (just wait)
And see
----Jackie DeShannon, Jimmy Holiday, and Randy Myers


This past week saw an extreme change in our weather pattern.  We went from the coldest I've ever felt it here in Southern California back to warm and sunny just a couple days ago - but I'll tell you that was one long, cold spell we had!  It proved to me that we are so not acclimated to chilly temperatures, and Scott and I were overjoyed when the mercury topped 75 degrees in beautiful Altadena!

Just as our weather can change dramatically, so can our shopping habits.  In a post on our Facebook page this week, I posted an article from Retail's Big Blog that recounted former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan's recent speech at the Big Show in New York.  The gist of his speech was that retail just may end up being a core driver of employment in the future, if the global community begins to plan ahead for sustainability and focus on what he terms "the three pillars" of stable governments -  peace and stability, development, and rule of law and respect for human rights.  In short, and in my opinion, this equates to everyone adopting fair trade practices.

If we truly care about being responsible global citizens, and having a world economy that thrives, we must learn to cooperate.  Cooperation and fair trade practices start at the grass-roots level, in our own dealings in our communities.  Four years ago, I wrote a blog post called "The Meaning Of Think Global, Buy Local", in which I explained what happens when you shift your shopping.  We're still at it, doing what we can to be good global and community citizens.  Over the years, we've concentrated more on buying from hyper-local companies and community artists.  We love doing this, and we love being able to donate to community non-profits!

Our latest came yesterday, when Scott and I handed a check to the Christmas Tree Lane Association in the amount of $512.00!  See the Altadenablog article about it here.  We are so pleased that their merchandise sold so well this year, and want to thank our customers for buying so enthusiastically!  Keep it up, friends, you're contributing to a great cause!

We'll talk again next week - until then, have a great week!

Lori and Scott

Video Killed The Radio Star.....

  VIDEO KILLED THE RADIO STAR

"I heard you on the wireless back in '52
Lying awake intent at tuning in on you.
If I was young it didn't stop you coming through.
Oh-a oh
 

They took the credit for your second symphony.
Rewritten by machine and new technology,
and now I understand the problems you can see.
Oh-a oh

I met your children
Oh-a oh
What did you tell them?
Video killed the radio star.
Video killed the radio star.
Pictures came and broke your heart.
Oh-a-a-a oh

And now we meet in an abandoned studio.
We hear the playback and it seems so long ago.
And you remember the jingles used to go.
Oh-a oh
You were the first one.
Oh-a oh
You were the last one.

Video killed the radio star.
Video killed the radio star.
In my mind and in my car, we can't rewind we've gone to far
Oh-a-aho oh,
Oh-a-aho oh
Video killed the radio star.
Video killed the radio star.

In my mind and in my car, we can't rewind we've gone to far.
Pictures came and broke your heart, put the blame on VCR.

You are a radio star.
You are a radio star.
Video killed the radio star.
Video killed the radio star.
Video killed the radio star.
Video killed the radio star.
----Trevor Horn, Geoff Downes and Bruce Woolley

 

We were driving to the store a few days ago, and, as always, Scott and I were listening to KNX Radio 1070.  While gazing out the window, contemplating the day ahead of us, I heard anchor Bob Brill discussing his new book with another reporter.  Of course, the title of the book, "NO BARRIER: How The Internet Destroyed The World Economy" grabbed my attention right away!  

 

As we've discussed on various occasions here, the problems that independent business owners face today are a direct result of the internet.  How?  Doesn't the internet mean instant connectedness and therefore the chance to get your product in front of the global community?  It may seem that way, but so not true.  Right this minute, I could open an eBay store and list dozens of items for sale, but with so many thousands of other similar products pushed by other vendors, it's unlikely my products would ever be seen. 

 

Which leads us to the corporate mega-vendors who dominate the real-world internet marketplace - Amazon, Walmart, Target, and the like.  With enough purchasing power to buy and sell certain small countries, these behemoths have permanently changed the global economy, and not for the better.  All have implemented the use of the internet.  As I listened to the radio spot, Mr. Brill answered the questions of "why don't you think that the internet is a good thing for economy and job creation" by explaining that “the Internet has destroyed the old business model we’ve come to rely upon and eliminated businesses while becoming the most powerful tool the world has ever known.  For all the good it has done, the Web has touched every life in a negative way as well, whether we want to believe it or not.”  The book is forwarded by noted economist Dr. Pamela Falk and contains comments from top leaders of the past 20 years to every day business people whose careers have been eliminated, never to return. Mr. Brill not only looks at where we’ve been but where we are going and, in the simplest of terms, how the United Nations is grappling with it.  I'm very excited to read this book!

In other news, we have heard nothing on the sale of the Webster's complex.  We still wait to find out something - anything! - but nothing seems to be forthcoming.    

 

We're hosting a book signing with local author Randy Jurardo Ertll, whose book  Hope In Times Of Darkness: A Salvadorian American Experience will be discussed.  The event notice is here if you'd like to join us.  Of course, tasty appetizers, coffee and tea are complimentary, and the event is free to the public.

Valentine's Day decorations started going up inside the store this week, which is always a nice respite from the emptiness after removing holiday decor..  It's like taking your Christmas tree down at home, and how everything looks so bare without it!  This year our theme is My Funny Valentine (you'll see why in a couple of weeks), and our decor reflects both the red hearts that are standard Valentine fare and icy winter elements, like bare white trees festooned with snowflakes.  Who knew that it would actually be icy and freezing when we planned this out so many months ago?!  I don't know about you, but I'd like our nice warm Southern California back, thank you very much!

Stay warm, have a great week and we'll talk again next Sunday,

Lori and Scott

2012 Retrospective And Ruminations On 2013

"There are places I'll remember

All my life, though some have changed
Some forever, not for better
Some have gone and some remain
All these places have their moments
With lovers and friends I still can recall
Some are dead and some are living
In my life, I've loved them all.....

 

Though I know I'll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I'll often stop and think about them"

 

---The Beatles, Rubber Soul

 

 

2012 was an incredible year here in Altadena, and, if you wonder what such a year would look like, I'll refer you to this informative Altadenablog article.  We've written here about several of these events, including the most controversial of them, which is the issue of Walmart in Altadena.  While we will continue to oppose the Behemoth from Betonville locating here, there is also truth in what Tim says in his article: "But, while we have issues with Walmart as a corporation, we also don't think it's the big enemy of Altadena businesses: Pasadena is, and the internet is.  An emphasis on buying local -- and Altadena businesses providing reasons to buy local -- is what is really needed."

 

While I was stationed at the Altadena Farmer's Market (another hotbed of controversy, amazingly enough - see Joseph Shuldiner's rebuttal of Altadenablog's assertion that they aren't responsive to the community), it was gratifying to talk with a number of people who shop at our store there. One conversation stood out, though, and it was with a woman named Amy, who I'd had an online go-'round with a couple years ago about our store.  She stopped at our booth, greeted me and introduced herself, then said, "I was quite pleased that this year I was able to accomplish my holiday shopping locally - between you and the pharmacy, I got just about everything I needed!"  That was wonderful to hear, and I'm so glad that Amy was pleased.  I think that if more people tried shopping locally, they might be very surprised and pleased, too!

 

While we are nostalgic for what once was in Altadena, hence the Beatles' song at the head of this post, I feel we can't lose sight of what the possibilities are for our future.  Besides Walmart, and the Farmer's Market, there are lots of things changing the landscape of our fair town. One of those things is the recent sale of the Webster's complex by my father-in-law, the majority shareholder of the family corporation.  We were informed of the sale not long before the Christmas holiday, and still aren't aware of the details, save that the entire property has been sold to a developer.  The property is now in escrow and as soon as we know more, we'll let you know.  It's never a good thing to live without clarity; to exist in limbo; and to not know for sure what we'll be doing a few months down the road (makes planning ahead very difficult, no?); but we're being patient and hoping for the best possible outcome.

 

Of course, the best possible outcome would be to continue serving our community, in conjunction with the other businesses in the immediate area. It's always been my contention that a walkable, communal, and very special shopping area could be developed here, and if you've read this blog for any length of time, or listened to the video we produced with the help of local HalfCity Productions, you'll know this. Perhaps the year 2013 might be a year of positive change in Altadena - let's hope so!

 

We hope you had an inspiring and invigorating holiday season, friends!  Have a great week ahead, and we'll talk next week,

Lori and Scott