John Wise

Phoenix, a city of hot days, cactus, swimming pools, pharmacies, Mexican food, and now fast cash and payday loan sharks. Almost as prolific as fast food, these small shops sprout up all over the valley offering those hurting for cash to come in and add insult upon their injury. I have heard from time to time that certain politicians would like to shut these down as some have been known to charge people up to 25% interest, but then what’s wrong with that? Haven’t they read the small print on credit cards, miss a payment and you will be charged prime plus 19.99% to equal but not exceed 29.99%? I see, only banks should be able to rip people off.

Kudos to Katelyn the comfort engineer, who on a stroke of genius has delivered the ‘Husband Chair’ at a local branch of Michaels, also known as “the dreaded craft store”. This convenience near the entrance of the store allows us, men, to quickly take refuge near the same door that is also the exit. While not as anonymous as staying in the car, I must admit, since gasoline prices are so high, that sitting in the car with an idling engine and the air conditioning running full blast is getting a bit expensive.

Katelyn, seemingly on a direct connection with the male psyche is looking at improving her masterpiece-in-progress by adding a cushioned seat cover, a custom coat of middle-age defying glossy black paint, and possibly even flames – those OC Chopper dudes would be envious. This woman will be a corporate goddess in her own time. My only suggestion, we need some manly magazines to hide behind and let others know that we are real men, even if we are in the craft store.

What do you get when you take a cheap, run-down $450-a-month apartment in a bad neighborhood and call it a condo? Rich! That is what this apartment owner is hoping for. At 595 square feet (55 square meters) this newly refurbished largish 1-bedroom-closet is now on sale for $120,000 – and it comes with covered parking! Since laundry machines are so bulky and noisy these master-planned luxury units offer luxury laundry rooms near the pool. With such wonderful digs in your newly improved neighborhood and the expensive pool and grounds maintenance costs, owners will be paying on average $140 in HOA fees, but that includes water and trash. So your walls are still paper-thin and the neighbor stomping upstairs is guaranteed not to be moving out soon – this place is all yours for the rest of eternity.

Next to security cameras, alarms, guard dogs, barred windows, and a well-lit corner location, what else does the modern business need? RAZOR WIRE!

There is a very nice festival on August 9th in the Hindu calendar called Raksha Bandhan. On this day sisters and close friends offer their brothers a rakhi to be worn on their right wrist to ward off evil. As can be seen from above, rakhis can be found in many different colors sporting a variety of charms, but simple threads wound together and tied around the wrist are also offered. Once put on they are seldomly taken off intentionally. I have seen these rakhis lose color and become threadbare after months of wear. I would venture to guess that some rakhi make it to the following year and the next celebration of Raksha Bandhan.