Two of my favorite things (Early Intel Mac edition).

[WriteNow]

At some point they realized they could make more money by putting electronics on Shop Goodwill

It's not just electronics, but anything they think they can get more $$$ for. I've heard complaints on-line about how posters' local stores ceased having anything worth bothering with after the advent of Shop Goodwill.

Locally, it's not quite so bad, but I've heard complaints from people who do reselling (buy cheap in thrift shops and resell for a profit). Although they also say that stuff can and does slip through (particularly in books).

Of course, it can be argued that Goodwill should benefit from on-line sales instead of private resellers. Although it could also be argued that reselling can give private individuals an opportunity to earn income they might not have otherwise.

 

[WriteNow]

I took a couple of not too great pictures of the percolator I used earlier today, using a camera I got at Goodwill. The percolator looks better in person than the photos--but it was definitely well used by the the previous owner(s). Although one can argue that such an item is something that one can use without worrying about. And it's impressive how something made decades back can survive decades of use and possible abuse and still work.

A closeup of the glass bulb. One reason I like percolators: one can watch the percolating thanks to the glass bulb. Simple minds, simple pleasures, I guess...

Then, again, this might be better entertainment than a good chunk of the current TV schedule. LOL

This bulb must be a replacement. I'm betting it's a Fits-All.

 

[eyoungren]

It's not just electronics, but anything they think they can get more $$$ for. I've heard complaints on-line about how posters' local stores ceased having anything worth bothering with after the advent of Shop Goodwill.

Locally, it's not quite so bad, but I've heard complaints from people who do reselling (buy cheap in thrift shops and resell for a profit). Although they also say that stuff can and does slip through (particularly in books).

Of course, it can be argued that Goodwill should benefit from on-line sales instead of private resellers. Although it could also be argued that reselling can give private individuals an opportunity to earn income they might not have otherwise.

Agree with you on all points. I'd just add that there is still some ways to find value there. If I want a coffeemaker, bed rails or mattresses I go to one specific Goodwill in my area. If I want monitors and other electronics that aren't your basic rando garbage, I go to another. I'm fortunate that within five minutes of me are those two Goodwills. Expand that to about 10-12 minutes and I can get about three more. 20 minutes and so on. In fact, I probably don't know all the Goodwills in my area. So, it can also be "If this one doesn't have 'X', let's try that one!"

At one Goodwill once, someone was dumping their Sci-Fi/Fantasy paperbook books at my local Goodwill. Would have been great if I hadn't had those books already. Goodwill is also affected by the neighborhood it's in. That Goodwill where I can always find monitors? It's in a neighborhood where in the past few years a lot of people have been trading up for larger monitors. So I can literally walk in there and expect to walk out with a 24" monitor or a 32" TV.

But yeah, in general it's gotten to a point where they are only putting out the lower quality stuff in the stores.

 

[eyoungren]

I took a couple of not too great pictures of the percolator I used earlier today, using a camera I got at Goodwill. The percolator looks better in person than the photos--but it was definitely well used by the the previous owner(s). Although one can argue that such an item is something that one can use without worrying about. And it's impressive how something made decades back can survive decades of use and possible abuse and still work.

View attachment 2482587

A closeup of the glass bulb. One reason I like percolators: one can watch the percolating thanks to the glass bulb. Simple minds, simple pleasures, I guess...

Then, again, this might be better entertainment than a good chunk of the current TV schedule. LOL

This bulb must be a replacement. I'm betting it's a Fits-All.

View attachment 2482591

Percolaters are like tanks. Takes a lot to kill them and they do one thing very well - consistently.

 

[Certificate of Excellence]

Agree with you on all points. I'd just add that there is still some ways to find value there. If I want a coffeemaker, bed rails or mattresses I go to one specific Goodwill in my area. If I want monitors and other electronics that aren't your basic rando garbage, I go to another. I'm fortunate that within five minutes of me are those two Goodwills. Expand that to about 10-12 minutes and I can get about three more. 20 minutes and so on. In fact, I probably don't know all the Goodwills in my area. So, it can also be "If this one doesn't have 'X', let's try that one!"

At one Goodwill once, someone was dumping their Sci-Fi/Fantasy paperbook books at my local Goodwill. Would have been great if I hadn't had those books already. Goodwill is also affected by the neighborhood it's in. That Goodwill where I can always find monitors? It's in a neighborhood where in the past few years a lot of people have been trading up for larger monitors. So I can literally walk in there and expect to walk out with a 24" monitor or a 32" TV.

But yeah, in general it's gotten to a point where they are only putting out the lower quality stuff in the stores.

Just went to my fav goodwill and picked up a brand new pair of checkered Vans for my 5y/o for $8 bucks. Can’t beat that.

There was a no-name usb condenser mic + average desk arm for $8 but I opted not to as I have a nice xlr condesner already so wasn’t into risking there being an issue with it (can’t test it) and no return policy.

So out the door with my $8 slip on vans for my kiddo I went lol.

 

[eyoungren]

Sunday morn, Macs and coffee. Brew is Seattle's Best Post Alley in a Starbucks mug. Streaming 'Audio Sanctum' on Spotify.



Images on the top two monitors are of the Swan. The Swan is a central area in the Cyan game Firmament from which you (the player) can access all the other realms of the game. I thought it appropriate for two monitors in which I am keeping Finder windows open.

 

[WriteNow]

^Do you find it limiting having so few monitors and such limited total display area? LOL

I remember back to the 1980s and how attractive the Macintosh ability to easily support multiple monitors was.

 

[WriteNow]

I'd just add that there is still some ways to find value there.

Definitely. The ones in my area don't have the finds they once had, or the interesting stuff they once had. But there is alot of practical and usable stuff that turns up. My last microwave was from Goodwill--and thanks to a holiday season sale, $2>. One of my electric skillets was color tag clearance for $1.30--and the interior was in-like new condition.

And while I miss the days of more interesting finds, practical stuff cheap does free money up to buy more fun stuff elsewhere.

 

[WriteNow]

Percolaters are like tanks. Takes a lot to kill them and they do one thing very well - consistently.

The older ones, yes. I've heard newer Chinese made often don't hold up that well.

 

[eyoungren]

Inner sanctum. Mac, Cinema Displays, Peet's Coffee (in a Dunkin' Donuts mug) and ambient music from Firmament (the Swan) playing over the headset.



I've really gotten into this particular element of Firmament. Firmament has a lot of story problems, but the Swan (and it's background music) reminds me a lot of the early days my wife and I shared in Starbucks cafes. It's reminiscent of the warm, inviting decor and lighting and the opportunity to sit, relax and enjoy your coffee in a peaceful place.

Then Frappucino's came along, which brought in the ice blenders and ruined it all.

 

[WriteNow]

Inner sanctum.

Complete with a squeaky door?


(For those who don't get this, Inner Sanctum of old time radio featured a squeaky door during the intro.)

 

[WriteNow]

It's reminiscent of the warm, inviting decor and lighting and the opportunity to sit, relax and enjoy your coffee in a peaceful place.

Now that you mention it, Starbucks doesn't seem quite as inviting as was once the case.

I was in one recently where I went semi-regularly many years ago. It didn't seem as nice--but the thing that got me was how empty it was. Everyone coming through was getting coffee to go. Including me.

 

[WriteNow]

Speaking of Starbucks... My current coffee is Starbucks, which was on sale a couple of weeks ago. I'll probably get some more, because the same sale got repeated this week, making it probably one of the better buys at my regular store.

I don't know if this is industry wide, or just what I'm seeing at the stores wehre I go, but I've been noticing that good deals on coffee seems to be harder to come by than even a month ago.

 

[eyoungren]

Complete with a squeaky door?


(For those who don't get this, Inner Sanctum of old time radio featured a squeaky door during the intro.)

LOL! Well…sort of. If you look to the right at the video on the TV, there's a sphere shaped object called a 'conveyance pod'. The conveyance pods DO make a LOT of noise!

 

[eyoungren]

Now that you mention it, Starbucks doesn't seem quite as inviting as was once the case.

I was in one recently where I went semi-regularly many years ago. It didn't seem as nice--but the thing that got me was how empty it was. Everyone coming through was getting coffee to go. Including me.

This has been a thing of mine for about 15 years now. In fact, before reading your message I abandoned a Google search on SB being a 'third space'.

The decor and the lighting were all originally designed to bring customers in and give them a coffee house experience. Over time, it all became less and less and ultimately went out entirely some time around 2015 or so if not earlier. Now, a lot of the stores are primarily just for service. There are two SBs near me that are solely drive through and carry out. The interesting thing is that BOTH of those stores used to be where my kids and I hung out for an hour and a half on the weekends.

My current Starbucks was a former KFC. And it's got all the earmarks of a space where you just go to get coffee and leave. It's maybe 500 feet away from the OLD location, which when built had all those comfy chairs and lighting and all that.

Now, COVID of course didn't help, but SB was on the way out on this well before that. The new CEO has stated that they want to return to being a 'third place'. But other than a large order of Sharpie markers so the baristas can write on your cup again, I don't see it. And, oh yeah. It's for customers only. They don't want you in the store if you aren't going to buy anything. They are ultimately a business and so I get that - but talk about non-inviting.

The employees at my local SB are nice, but again, the environment they work in is industrial spartan. It's not warm, not inviting and for a time they were playing the music loud so no one would stay inside. I don't see why SB corporate is wasting it's money. Just convert all the rest of the stores to drivethru/carryout and be done with it. Your local small business coffeeshop has taken over the 'third space' because SB abandoned it. The competition for that space now is way more intense than when SB was the only game in town.

The only thing SB really still has going for it, and the reason I still continue to go there, is that they haven't screwed up the coffee yet.

 

[eyoungren]

Speaking of Starbucks... My current coffee is Starbucks, which was on sale a couple of weeks ago. I'll probably get some more, because the same sale got repeated this week, making it probably one of the better buys at my regular store.

I don't know if this is industry wide, or just what I'm seeing at the stores wehre I go, but I've been noticing that good deals on coffee seems to be harder to come by than even a month ago.

Just like prices everywhere else, the price of coffee beans has also gone up. It's affecting both availability and price across all brands and markets. So…less deals being offered.

 

[WriteNow]

I started a bag of Starbucks Caffè Verona today. I think I liked this in the past, but I'm not wild about it now. Changing taste? Or perhaps just not as good as it used to be? I had similar feelings about their French Roast a couple of weeks ago or so. The only thing I truly like about either bag of coffee is the fact that both were cheap on sale. Maybe they were cheap because the store decided they were less than great, and it was time to clear them out. LOL

 

[eyoungren]

I started a bag of Starbucks Caffè Verona today. I think I liked this in the past, but I'm not wild about it now. Changing taste? Or perhaps just not as good as it used to be? I had similar feelings about their French Roast a couple of weeks ago or so. The only thing I truly like about either bag of coffee is the fact that both were cheap on sale. Maybe they were cheap because the store decided they were less than great, and it was time to clear them out. LOL

If you're going to go for the SB dark roasts, you can never go wrong (IMO) with the Sumatra. Verona is hit and miss, depending. And the French Roast tends to be middle of the road, neither horrible nor great.

 

[eyoungren]

Sunday morning Mac and coffee! Peet's Major Dickison's blend (I need to get to the store for more coffee and pods).

2009 MacPro running Sonoma, using Radiola (a menubar app through which I added my SOMA FM stations a while back). I'm streaming Dronezone to the iPhone 5's I'm using as speakers through AirFoil.

 

[WriteNow]

you can never go wrong (IMO) with the Sumatra.

I'll have to remember that next time I buy Starbucks coffee. Which will probably be if/when it goes on sale again.

Verona is hit and miss, depending. And the French Roast tends to be middle of the road, neither horrible nor great.

Glad to know my observations aren't totally limited to me.

But it's sort of disappointing, since Starbucks isn't exactly on cheap. Even on sale, it's not the cheapest option. And they have that Starbucks image--although, at the same time, I am well aware that image and price are no guarantee of quality or how happy I'll be.

 

[eyoungren]

I'll have to remember that next time I buy Starbucks coffee. Which will probably be if/when it goes on sale again.


Glad to know my observations aren't totally limited to me.

But it's sort of disappointing, since Starbucks isn't exactly on cheap. Even on sale, it's not the cheapest option. And they have that Starbucks image--although, at the same time, I am well aware that image and price are no guarantee of quality or how happy I'll be.

One of my problems is that Walmart is really the major convenient shopping place we go to. But, they have a limited selection of coffee and I've never seen any of their coffee selections on sale there - ever.

Lately, I've taken to getting the SeaBest Post Alley pods for the Keurig there though. Inexpensive and the blend has so far been maintaining its consistency. Walmart tends to have it in stock way more than SB Sumatra and the blend of Peets I favor. It sucks having to compensate for Walmart's lack of selection and tendency to be out of stock, but getting to the other places is more of an inconvenience in the limited time I have during the morning and late afternoon.

But yeah, I'm not surprised the Verona and French Roast weren't that good for you.

 

[WriteNow]

It's been years since I was last in a Walmart. My one coffee memory was getting something I think was a house brand that was Fair Trade certified coffee, which interested me in that I'd hear so many stories about how Walmart treated its employees. (That said, I don't avoid the place because of political issues. It's entirely a matter of convenience. If I went to Walmart, I'd lose too much time getting to the store I used to use and back. Or else have to lose time--although not as much--and go to a city I try to avoid as much as I possibly can.)

I do recall taking a serious look at Walmart maybe 10 years ago for groceries when it seemed like I might not have access to my usual store for a period. It would have been doable, but I did note choices were limited. And, oddly, the pricing wasn't very good--although that was based on my particular "typical list" of that time. "YMMV" and all that.

 

[eyoungren]

So, got to the store and got today's haul…and no Walmart was not selling 2009 MacPros, but have to tie this in to the thread title, LOL!



Walmart finally had the 22 count of Sumatra pods, so got that. Peet's Big Bang is an alternate for our daily coffee, so also got that. And the weekend coffee in the larger bag (Major Dickason's Blend).

 

[WriteNow]

I got some of the Sumatra coffee. It is definitely a big step past the previous coffees.

I was a bit worried that the Giant Rat of Sumatra might have stowed away in the coffee, but those fears were unfounded. LOL

(The Giant Rat of Sumatra was a case that was mentioned in passing in a Sherlock Holmes story.)

 

[WriteNow]

With the talk of the impact of tariffs, I'm wondering if my coffee habits will change. I'm assuming coffee pricing will be impacted--both by tariffs, and also if tariffs result in more inflation. I'd been thinking that I'd like to get an automatic drip maker again, but I might end up deciding on having fewer cups of coffee that are individually brewed. Time will tell...