Showing posts with label paranoid. Show all posts
Showing posts with label paranoid. Show all posts

Friday, May 30, 2025

Trash Day Paranoia

Friday is the normal trash pickup day here in old Woodbridge in Detroit. Yet on weeks where there's been a Monday holiday it's pushed back to Saturday. The reason, I presume, is so that the companies (Detroit trash pickup is contracted out) don't have to give holiday pay to their workers. I don't know if I'd like that as an employee. Sure, you get a three day weekend like many others. Yet it's followed by a one day weekend; you work ten days out of eleven. But like Thomas Sowell says, there are no solutions. Only tradeoffs.

So anyway, we typically put our trash out Thursday after 6 because the trucks may come anytime after 7 AM Friday, and they have been early. Remember this is a contractor, not a city worker as I've allowed. Time means something to them. Yet I didn't put ours out yesterday because pickup shouldn't be until Saturday.

In taking my walk around the neighborhood early this morning I noticed a fellow had his trash and recycling cans out. He must have missed the memo.

Pretty soon thereafter I saw to the side of the road more receptacles, along with those large brown paper bags of lawn refuse. You-all are too early, I told myself very proudly.

Then I realized that more than half the residences had their stuff by the curb (I should spell it kerb so I can sound English - look it up) and paranoia grew within me. Did I miss the memo?

Upon arrival back at home I hastily gathered the trash and set out the eight bags of lawn debris I had accumulated during the week. The trash collectors had better come today.

Wednesday, August 21, 2024

The Paranoia Grows

I think advertising exists solely to develop paranoia in the body politic. It does this by causing worry over our actual, physical bodies.

Deodorant has been a medicine cabinet staple for as long as I can remember. I get that: certain odors are unpleasant for everyone. I brush my teeth twice daily and even use a mouthwash which 'kills germs missed by brushing alone AND strengthens enamel' (two jobs in one? Who can resist?). I use foot powder. Give me my regular old Old Spice, something I've emphasized to an admittedly bizarre extreme in these very environs, and I'm fine. 

At least, I thought I was fine. Now there are, all over the place, ads for whole body deodorants. Do I really need that? Is the odor from back of my knees annoying folks? I'm sure that's not an issue. I have many more, and much more effective, ways of being a pest. 

Well, I know what they're talking about, and all I can say is, I'm clean. When I'm not clean I get clean. The advertising oligarchs aren't going to make me any more paranoid. I assure you, I've quite cornered that market all on my own. The paranoids have been after me for ages.