Yesterday, I took my computer to the Mac "Genius" counter. $600 + a new power cord ($85) was the genius solution offered to me. I gave the girl genius a quite thank-you and packed up my computer. I then drove to a computer store nearby where an Eastern European man took a tool that looks like a screwdriver, fiddled with my computer for a few seconds, and, suddenly, it powered up just fine. I did have to buy a new power cord, but he didn't charge me anything for his services. Is it me, or are monolithic companies going down the tube (Starbuck's, Apple, Border's...)?!

I'm in a salsa dance group that practices way out in East LA. Some might call it a ghetto-ish neighborhood. It's a long drive (long ass, I should say), and definitely proves my commitment to practicing the art of salsa. Anyway, last night I got there early and I decided to go to the market next to the studio. I walked out with a bag of oranges and six manilla mangoes for $2.50. In Santa Monica, $2.50 will get you maybe an apple (at Whole Foods it will buy you about a third of a peach).

Just for today, I can resist the capitalistic forces hell-bent on parting me from my money.