Hippie Christmas and False words
Madison's Annual Student move out days, AKA Hippie Christmas, took place the past few days. Normally the streets are clogged with folks moving out the 13th and 14th, and people moving into new places the 15th , 16th. So the university and downtown areas are clogged with rental trucks, moving vans and vehicles of every size stuffed with belongings.
The things the students don't take or landlords pitch are always tossed to the curb. More often than not, great things can be found, free for the taking. But you gotta search for the "diamonds in the rough".
In past years I've found all sorts of things to reuse, sell or pass on.
This year it was totally different.
The city dumped literally hundreds of tan and green refuse bins all over the place and had the trucks running and grabbing constantly. The students actually used them! Only the occasional dumped bin from a frustrated scavenger showed where stuff was found. That and the more outlying areas past the clusters of bins yielded stuff.
That and the 'Cutter' was back, slashing any and all sofas, chairs and couches looking for just spilled change. Ruining far too many salvageable furniture just for a few possible coins.
My usual grab of resell-able text books didn't happen, didn't see any,I wasn't about to fish through the huge bins either. What little I recovered netted me only $3.50 compared to last years almost $400. The Beer kegs netted me another $40. I did manage secure a Lifetime 5 quart pot, decent carving knife, two omelet skillets that were cast iron, a complete Wacom tablet with all the gear, a Columbia Winter coat for Hake and a autumn weight Nike jacket for John.
Plus replaced a beat up kitchen chair with a really decent oak kitchen chair, my co-workers really appreciated the donated dead kitchen chair. The smokers are a generally lazy lot.
I was overall, very disappointed with this years move out.
But the thing that caught my eye was the Willy street "Free Market", everything was free and donated for the taking....so it seemed.
I stopped, looked at all the items that needed adoption, mostly clothes, kitchen gear and lots of bikes, plus a host of other kruft. I found a decent bike, really nice bike, a 10 speed. I wheeled it towards my car and was stopped by the lady running the 'free market'.
Seems she wanted a donation.
I ask her what kind of donation? Thinking an item for an item.
"Cash donation" she tells me.
I blink, "I thought this is a 'Free Market' as advertised by your banner."
"It is free, but you must donate money to either the Green Party or MoveOn.org or both." She smiles. "How does $30 sound for the bike?"
"Ah, so like a typical progressive, You want somebody else to pay for something you "freely" give away." I snarl.
She just says nothing and yanks back the bike I was wanting....no biggie. But I couldn't help but notice the table layered in Pro-green party and MoveOn.org paperwork. Plus numerous stickers and buttons trashing Bush, Republicans, Conservatives and the US Military.
Typical.....so so typical.
The things the students don't take or landlords pitch are always tossed to the curb. More often than not, great things can be found, free for the taking. But you gotta search for the "diamonds in the rough".
In past years I've found all sorts of things to reuse, sell or pass on.
This year it was totally different.
The city dumped literally hundreds of tan and green refuse bins all over the place and had the trucks running and grabbing constantly. The students actually used them! Only the occasional dumped bin from a frustrated scavenger showed where stuff was found. That and the more outlying areas past the clusters of bins yielded stuff.
That and the 'Cutter' was back, slashing any and all sofas, chairs and couches looking for just spilled change. Ruining far too many salvageable furniture just for a few possible coins.
My usual grab of resell-able text books didn't happen, didn't see any,I wasn't about to fish through the huge bins either. What little I recovered netted me only $3.50 compared to last years almost $400. The Beer kegs netted me another $40. I did manage secure a Lifetime 5 quart pot, decent carving knife, two omelet skillets that were cast iron, a complete Wacom tablet with all the gear, a Columbia Winter coat for Hake and a autumn weight Nike jacket for John.
Plus replaced a beat up kitchen chair with a really decent oak kitchen chair, my co-workers really appreciated the donated dead kitchen chair. The smokers are a generally lazy lot.
I was overall, very disappointed with this years move out.
But the thing that caught my eye was the Willy street "Free Market", everything was free and donated for the taking....so it seemed.
I stopped, looked at all the items that needed adoption, mostly clothes, kitchen gear and lots of bikes, plus a host of other kruft. I found a decent bike, really nice bike, a 10 speed. I wheeled it towards my car and was stopped by the lady running the 'free market'.
Seems she wanted a donation.
I ask her what kind of donation? Thinking an item for an item.
"Cash donation" she tells me.
I blink, "I thought this is a 'Free Market' as advertised by your banner."
"It is free, but you must donate money to either the Green Party or MoveOn.org or both." She smiles. "How does $30 sound for the bike?"
"Ah, so like a typical progressive, You want somebody else to pay for something you "freely" give away." I snarl.
She just says nothing and yanks back the bike I was wanting....no biggie. But I couldn't help but notice the table layered in Pro-green party and MoveOn.org paperwork. Plus numerous stickers and buttons trashing Bush, Republicans, Conservatives and the US Military.
Typical.....so so typical.