The Gap

Is it me, or does something about the Gap just seem irritating? I don't know what it is, but I freakin hate that store. Hopefully people reading this who like the Gap or even worked there before don't feel insulted. The clothes appear to be fine. The store looks clean enough. They don't have T-Shirts that insult Chinese people, either.

But everytime I go there, it just feels uncomfortable or something. Maybe the store is simply too normal or bland/cookie-cutter. Maybe it's those annoying commercials. Maybe it's the canned rock music they play in the stores while you shop. Or the fact that they have like 3 people hired just to greet you when you walk in and when you walk out. I know other stores do that but doesn't it seem like the greeters at Gap are significantly weirder?

It's a strange thing, though, Banana Republic is owned by the same company and I don't really have any problem with that place. Except that more than half the clothes there are made in the ugliest earth-tone or pastel color. And there's too much stretch-fabric shirts for men, seems a little too gay for me. I guess I'm just not trendy like that, or fashion savvy. Wait a tick, I'm hip, I'm with it... Don't look at me like I'm frickin Frankenstein. (Austin Powers. 7/26/02).

Or, you'd think that someone like me who wears a lot of JCrew, Abercrombie, and old Structure clothes would like the Gap too. Nope. Ok, I know people are gonna start ripping on me for still wearing Abercrombie after all that racism commotion (see http://www.umich.edu/~uaao/boycottaf/) of a few months back. Well, for one thing, I haven't gotten anything from there in a long time, since way before that stuff happened. Honestly, though, it's not like I love the store, I just like the pants mostly, and I have maybe a few shirts, none of which say "Buddha Bash." But I think everyone needs to chill, it's just a dumb clothing store. Nobody over the age of 25 shops there and no one takes it seriously either. Not trying to hate on the people organizing the boycott because they are supporting the Asian cause in their own way. I grew up in a school surrounded by idiot white kids who thought it was hilarious to say "I Chink I know you, but I may be Wong" and if anything, there are far more blatant acts of racism in this world today to worry about.

Anyways, think about all the people you're hurting with a boycott. All those poor Abercrombie employees! You know they all have families, and they're gonna starve to death if we stop shopping there. Please, think of the children! If there's anything we shouldv'e learned from this whole fiasco, it's that "Two Wongs don't make it white" and it's certainly Wong to be starving the innocent folk who work our local Abercrombie stores. Ok, I'm just kidding. I doubt anyone who works at A&F has a family to support. Actually, I don't think nobody important really works there. Except Liz, of course. I wonder if she reads this. If so, I bet she is throwing a fit. Sorry Lizzie...

Oh yeah, one more thing. When did all the Walgreen'ses get to look so pimp? Those used to all be so ghetto and run-down, or at least plain outside, as if it were just a regular drugstore or something. Now they all got these shiny glass windows and fancy lighting like Vegas casinos. Pretty soon they will have girls walking around in there with trays to serve you drinks while you get your prescription filled. And you will start getting comp-ed if you shop there frequently for all your Tylenol or contact lens solution needs. Wouldn't that be cool? Dang, now I wish my house was like a Walgreens. We'd be the hotshots on our block if we replaced our front aluminum siding with some glass panels and a big lighted sign that said "Chen Residence - Don't Hate, Congratulate." Um, right...

Updating Your Blog Is For Winners

I don't have time to write a long thing right now. While all of you are sighing in relief, I just wanted to take a little time to say that I am impressed with how many people started a new blog lately. I would especially like to say that whoever updates their blog regularly is cool. I personally spend too much time writing stuff because there is lots of downtime when I am working and also because I have a lot of random thoughts with little discretion on what is worth writing about. But normal people who write a few times a week is good. Plus, you all have much more interesting things to say than me.

Wow, shortest post ever. Only cause it's getting busy here. Or should I say it's gettin busy in herre. Whatever. Whateverre. Alright yo, I gotta rage!! (hahaha I was told that phrase would catch on... we'll have to see about that).