i went to the mall today

lennox mall is really the epitome of atlanta life. where else can yoou find a metro pcs, a fendi store, a place you can order lemon pepper wings, and local boutique full of lame decor with "virginia-Highlands" on it. 

malls get me thinking a lot about consumerism (be a conscious consumer) and even more than that, human behaviors. 

the carelessness that is outlet stores
because having to face that fact that you overproduced last season's catalog, would mean you would have a cluttered stored and not enough space for new items. you rent another storefront, in the same mall, for the old items. similar to how we individually buy too much furniture and then rent a storage unit. i like companies like supreme, that intentionally produce less supply than their anticipated demand. with the intention to sell out. it is a bit elitist, but at least they're not being wasteful. 

lack of vegan snacks
malls of america, where thee fuk are your vegan snacks?!!? all the food is either american sad diet or greasy not-so-asian foods. malls are really american life in a capsule. I wanted a vegan cupcake or a smoothie. neither of those options were available. since agriculture, particularly livestock grazing, is the largest contributor to climate change, it seems like more plant-based foods needs to be a move.

and lastly, why does the whole mall smell like polyurthane phylates?

from an article i wrote a few years ago, here's 7 questions to answer before buying stuff.

1. Do I need it or can I live without it?
2. Why am I compelled to make this purchase? Am I doing it for superficial reasons?
3. How will it add value to my life? Will this help me fulfill a goal, activity or challenge?
4. How was this product manufactured? Were there underpaid workers involved?
5. How did it get to me physically? Was it shipped using fossil fuels, was it shipped overnight on a private jet?
6. What are the environmental sacrifices for my purchase?
7. What will I do with it at the end of it's life cycle? Can I reuse or recycle this item?