“
So many likes and retweets for having the "GUTS"
to say what every-
one thinks
ON
THE
FUCKING
INTER-
NET
(but never in the street).
”
”
Andy Carrington (Self Service Check-Outs Have No Soul)
“
It's often suggested that as a culture, we're only interested in immediate gratification. Fast food. Self-checkout. Downloadable music, movies, books. Instant coffee, instant rebates, instant messaging. Instant weight loss! Shall I go on?
”
”
Stephanie Perkins (Anna and the French Kiss (Anna and the French Kiss, #1))
“
When did they stop putting toys in cereal boxes? When I was little, I remember wandering the cereal aisle (which surely is as American a phenomenon as fireworks on the Fourth of July) and picking my breakfast food based on what the reward was: a Frisbee with the Trix rabbit's face emblazoned on the front. Holographic stickers with the Lucky Charms leprechaun. A mystery decoder wheel. I could suffer through raisin bran for a month if it meant I got a magic ring at the end.
I cannot admit this out loud. In the first place, we are expected to be supermoms these days, instead of admitting that we have flaws. It is tempting to believe that all mothers wake up feeling fresh every morning, never raise their voices, only cook with organic food, and are equally at ease with the CEO and the PTA.
Here's a secret: those mothers don't exist. Most of us-even if we'd never confess-are suffering through the raisin bran in the hopes of a glimpse of that magic ring.
I look very good on paper. I have a family, and I write a newspaper column. In real life, I have to pick superglue out of the carpet, rarely remember to defrost for dinner, and plan to have BECAUSE I SAID SO engraved on my tombstone.
Real mothers wonder why experts who write for Parents and Good Housekeeping-and, dare I say it, the Burlington Free Press-seem to have their acts together all the time when they themselves can barely keep their heads above the stormy seas of parenthood.
Real mothers don't just listen with humble embarrassment to the elderly lady who offers unsolicited advice in the checkout line when a child is throwing a tantrum. We take the child, dump him in the lady's car, and say, "Great. Maybe YOU can do a better job."
Real mothers know that it's okay to eat cold pizza for breakfast.
Real mothers admit it is easier to fail at this job than to succeed.
If parenting is the box of raisin bran, then real mothers know the ratio of flakes to fun is severely imbalanced. For every moment that your child confides in you, or tells you he loves you, or does something unprompted to protect his brother that you happen to witness, there are many more moments of chaos, error, and self-doubt.
Real mothers may not speak the heresy, but they sometimes secretly wish they'd chosen something for breakfast other than this endless cereal.
Real mothers worry that other mothers will find that magic ring, whereas they'll be looking and looking for ages.
Rest easy, real mothers. The very fact that you worry about being a good mom means that you already are one.
”
”
Jodi Picoult (House Rules)
“
We always thought the robot apocalypse would be fleets of killer drones and war mecha the size of apartment blocks and terminators with red eyes. Not a row of mechanised checkouts in the local Extra and the alco station; online banking; self-driving taxis; an automated triage system in the hospital. One by one, the bots came and replaced us.
”
”
Ian McDonald (Luna: New Moon)
“
This book is written from a changing town in Virginia, but this class of mine, these people--the ones who smell like an ashtray in the checkout line, devour a carton of Little Debbies at a sitting, and praise Jesus for a truck with no spare tire--exist in every state in our nation. Maybe the next time we on the left encounter such seemingly self-screwing, stubborn, God-obsessed folks, we can be open to their trials, understand the complexity of their situation, even have enough solidarity to pop for a cheap retread tire out of our own pockets, simply because that would be the kind thing to do and surely would make the ghosts of Joe Hill, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Mohandas Gandhi smile.
”
”
Joe Bageant
“
Turtles don’t have nations. Or flags. Or strategic nuclear weapons. They don’t have terrorism or referendums or trade wars with China. They don’t have Spotify playlists for their workouts. They don’t have books on the decline and fall of turtle empires. They don’t have internet shopping or self-service checkouts. Other animals don’t have progress, they say. But the human mind itself doesn’t progress. We stay the same glorified chimpanzees, just with ever bigger weapons. We have the knowledge to realise we are just a mass of quanta and particles, like everything else is, and yet we keep trying to separate ourselves from the universe we live in, to give ourselves a meaning above that of a tree or a rock or a cat or a turtle.
”
”
Matt Haig (How to Stop Time)
“
One thing I’d learned out in the world was that nobody’s so different. We all buy toilet paper, contemplate the ply. Request help at self-checkout because something always fucking goes wrong, doesn’t scan. We all spend too much money at Target, stand there in the parking lot going through the receipt, brow furrowed. We forget to take our vitamins, to take out the trash. We microwave leftovers. Set our alarms. Waste time on the internet. Forget our passwords. We worshipped gods of our choosing.
”
”
Rachel Harrison (Black Sheep)
“
I know for a fact that he regularly steals from self-checkouts and sticks his gum underneath desks. Those are not the actions of a moral person.
”
”
Chloe Seager (Dating Disasters of Emma Nash)
“
I’m in love with the customer service at Walmart. And by customer service I mean the customer is forced to self-checkout because there are two open lanes and 200 people trying to check out.
”
”
Jarod Kintz (Love quotes for the ages. Specifically ages 18-81.)
“
Maybe we should be looking at how we live, and how our minds weren’t made for the lives we lead. Human brains – in terms of cognition and emotion and consciousness – are essentially the same as they were at the time of Shakespeare or Jesus or Cleopatra or the Stone Age. They are not evolving with the pace of change. Neolithic humans never had to face emails or breaking news or pop-up ads or Iggy Azalea videos or a self-service checkout at a strip-lit Tesco Metro on a busy Saturday night. Maybe instead of worrying about upgrading technology and slowly allowing ourselves to be cyborgs we should have a little peek at how we could upgrade our ability to cope with all this change.
”
”
Matt Haig (Reasons to Stay Alive)
“
I’m a migrant worker picking frozen peas,
and a clodhopper hiding behind a white sheet.
I’m a shootout at Ruby Ridge,
and a freefall of flames.
I am closed for the winter,
and crawling in my playpen.
I am cold,
and quick chatter and beautiful smiles.
I am a man missing a limb,
and lettuce and tomatoes.
I am a palace,
and fresh milk and goat cheese.
I’m the great emptiness among Cubans,
and a job that requires the auditing of truth and lies.
I’m a confounding calm that will shatter fear and complacency,
and a town full of self-defined renegades and recluses.
I’m a public execution,
and a lanky husband waiting by the checkout.
”
”
Brian D'Ambrosio (Fresh Oil and Loose Gravel: Road Poetry by Brian D'Ambrosio 1998-2008)
“
Humans will stop acting like robots (cashiers) vs self-checkout and work will be strategic and anything that doesn’t require repetition. Ironically, humans will become less robotic (industrial revolution turned us into robots) and we will become more artful, thoughtful and creative...because we have to...bots will do all else.
”
”
Richie Norton
“
The switch from sales ladies behind each counter in five-and-dime stores to checkout lines, from waiter-served to self-service and fast-food restaurants, from full-service to self-service gasoline stations are among the responses to higher labor costs. So, too, are the absence of movie theater ushers and the wide use by restaurants of plastic utensils and paper plates, because they do not require dishwashing.
”
”
Walter E. Williams (Race & Economics: How Much Can Be Blamed on Discrimination? (Hoover Institution Press Publication Book 599))
“
As she does, she speculates about all the
aspects of the mortal world she’s going to have to explain to
Dad. “Like cell phones,” she says. “Or self-checkout in the
grocery store. Oh, this is going to be amazing. Seriously, his
exile is the best present you ever got me.”
“You know that he’s going to be so bored that he’s going to
try to micromanage your life,” Taryn says. “Or plan your
invasion of a neighboring apartment building
”
”
Holly Black (The Cruel Prince / The Wicked King / The Queen of Nothing / How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories (The Folk of the Air, #1-3.5))
“
...she speculates about all the aspects of the mortal world she's going to have to explain to Dad. 'Like cell phones,' she says. 'Or self-checkout in the grocery store. Oh, this is going to be amazing. Seriously, his exile is the best present you ever got me.'
'You know that he's going to be so bored that he's going to try to micromanage your life,' Taryn says. 'Or plan your invasion of a neighbouring apartment building.'
At that, Vivi stops smiling.
It makes Oak giggle, though.
”
”
Holly Black (The Queen of Nothing (The Folk of the Air, #3))
“
Once more I'm out, at one A.M., in some store trying to purchase bedding plants. The cashier woman says, "They're three for five dollars. You sure you need eight?"
I"m distracted, looking at this man behind me.
She ask, "You're sure you want to cut it off at eight?"
This guy behind me in the checkout lane is wearing a sweater vest and his arms bare. He's waiting with a hundred-dollar bill to pay for Twizzlers and a porterhouse steak.
Which leads me to look down at my own self.
Do I know you?" he asks softly.
No," I say, sighing. "Not in the way you mean.
”
”
Mary Robison
“
Forty-five minutes and many pairs of kids' pyjamas, handballs and packets of coloured pencils later, I have had to swap my basket for a trolley, but when I get through the self-checkout and find out the total is forty-seven dollars, I'm so horrified by the low price that I abandon it all. That was a pricing mistake they made there. They made it so low it alarmed me and reminded me what a lot of mass-produced tat it was, and how it was possibly made my small exploited children in the third world. If the total had been seventy dollars I probably would have bought the lot.
”
”
Jessica Dettmann (How to Be Second Best)
“
Life as a retiree took some adjustment. My first trip through self-checkout at the grocery store had all the makings of vaudeville comedy, and the short-term protective-detail officer assigned to me seemed quite amused.
”
”
James R. Clapper (Facts and Fears: Hard Truths from a Life in Intelligence)
“
The longer you live, the more you realise that nothing is fixed. Everyone will become a refugee if they live long enough. Everyone would realise their nationality means little in the long run. Everyone would see their worldviews challenged and disproved. Everyone would realise that the thing that defines a human being is being a human.
Turtles don't have nations. Or flags. Or strategic nuclear weapons. They don't have terrorism or referendums or trade wars with China. They don't have Spotify playlists for their workouts. They don't have books on the decline and fall of turtle empires. They don't have internet shopping or self-service checkouts.
Other animals don't have progress, they say. But the human min itself doesn't progress. We stay the same glorified chimpanzees, just with even bigger weapons. We have the knowledge to realise we are just a mass of quanta and particles, like everything else is, and yet we keep trying to separate ourselves from the universe we live in, to give ourselves a meaning above that of a tree or a rock or a cat or a turtle.
”
”
Matt Haig (How to Stop Time)
“
Maybe we should be looking at how we live, and how our minds weren’t made for the lives we lead. Human brains—in terms of cognition and emotion and consciousness—are essentially the same as they were at the time of Shakespeare or Jesus or Cleopatra or the Stone Age. They are not evolving with the pace of change. Neolithic humans never had to face emails or breaking news or pop-up ads or Iggy Azalea videos or a self-service checkout at a strip-lit Tesco Metro on a busy Saturday night. Maybe instead of worrying about upgrading technology and slowly allowing ourselves to be cyborgs we should have a little peek at how we could upgrade our ability to cope with all this change.
”
”
Matt Haig (Reasons to Stay Alive)
“
There should be a holiday to celebrate whoever invented self-checkout.
”
”
Emilee King (Surviving through the Night (Arie's Story Book 2))
“
A person au fait with the millenarian edict of knowing oneself does not need a tattoo, pierced ear, or gaudy neck chains to declare who they are. Eccentricity for its own sake is simply a boring fashion statement and not a thoughtful statement of what comprises a wholesome self. A self-poised person does not need to own a luxury car to determine their degree of self-worth. Nor does a self-determined person need to idolize celebrities, hate other people whom they do not wish to exemplify, or live vicariously through other people’s admirable deeds. A person with unique and contented self-identify does not flip through fashion magazines or scan the headlines of gossip magazines when loitering in the supermarket checkout stand. A person who contemplates the meaningfulness of their existence is not fixated with posing in other people’s raiment or observing other people’s nakedness. A person who knows who they are and realizes how to accomplish all of their life goals does not dally by people watching or become distracted by envying other people.
”
”
Kilroy J. Oldster (Dead Toad Scrolls)
“
Because we expect adults to have this executive function, society reacts pretty negatively to extreme or exaggerated expressions of emotion. We accept the fact that babies scream at the slightest emotional pain because it’s a self-preservation mechanism. And we understand perfectly when 3-year-olds throw a temper tantrum when they don’t get the candy at the grocery store checkout counter. But we’re embarrassed and disapproving of an adult who bursts into tears or yells in anger in public over a minor frustration like having to stand in a long line at the supermarket.
”
”
Russell A. Barkley (Taking Charge of Adult ADHD: Proven Strategies to Succeed at Work, at Home, and in Relationships)
“
When I read Quin I recognise her fidgeting forensic polyvocal style as a powerful and bona fide expression of an unbearably tense and disorienting paradox that underscores everyday life in a working-class environment - on the one hand it's an abrasive and in-your-face world, yet, at the same time, much of it seems extrinsic and is perpetually uninvolving. One is relentlessly overwhelmed and understimulated all at the same time. Is it any wonder then, that such a paradox would engender a heightened aesthetic sensitivity that is as detached as it is perspicacious? Quin mentions somewhere in one of her shorter pieces the 'partition next to my bed', how it 'shook at night from the manoeuvres, snores of my anonymous neighbour.' If your immediate locale doesn't offer you much in terms of dependable boundaries it's not entirely inconceivable is it that you'll end up writing a kaleidoscopic sort of prose that is constantly shuffling the distinction between objects and beings, self and other, and conceives of the world in terms of form and geometry, texture and tone. The walls are paper-thin. You rarely have any privacy. And neither do you have the safety nets, the fenders, the filters, nor the open doors which people from affluent backgrounds enjoy from day one. When you are living with no clear sense of future, day-to-day life is precarious, disjointed, frequently invasive, and beyond your control.
”
”
Claire-Louise Bennett (Checkout 19)
“
The longer you live, the more you realise that nothing is fixed. Everyone will become a refugee if they live long enough. Everyone would realise their nationality means little in the long run. Everyone would see their worldviews challenged and disproved.
Everyone would realise that the thing that defines a human being is being a human.
Turtles don't have nations. Or flags. Or strategic nuclear weapons. They don't have terrorism or referendums or trade wars with China. They don't have Spotify playlists for their workouts. They don't have books on the decline and fall of turtle empires. They don't have internet shopping or self-service checkouts.
Other animals don't have progress, they say. But the human mind itself doesn't progress. We stay the same glorified chimpanzees, just with ever bigger weapons.
”
”
Matt Haig, How To Stop Time
“
Technology is constantly replacing old jobs with new ones. A hundred years ago no one would have thought of being a computer code writer or a video game designer as a career. Two hundred years ago, no one would have thought of being a movie actress or an airplane pilot. To make way for new jobs, old ones are pushed aside. Today, we see the cashier at large stores being replaced with self-checkout; in a few years, the cashier may be as rare as the full-service gas station attendant.
”
”
Chili Mac Books (Epic Book of Unbelievable True Stories: Collection of Amazing tales and headlines from History, War, Science, Urban Legends and Much More)
“
also have a bad history with the self-checkout stations at my local Safeway grocery store. In my defense, the instructions for those things were obviously written by Russian spies as part of their plan to rip apart the fabric of our society.
”
”
Scott Adams (Loserthink: How Untrained Brains Are Ruining America)
“
Richie Norton
December 31, 2019
MY PREDICTIONS FOR THIS NEW DECADE
20 years ago tonight I was in Brazil waiting to see if the world would end at midnight. #y2k I’m glad the computers figured out how to write the year 2000.
Would’ve been hard to imagine 20 years ago all that has happened in my personal life, family life and the world at large.
1. For example, people could still walk onto airplanes — TSA didn’t even exist, Facebook wasn’t even a thought on Zucky’s mind. No Twitter. No youtube. No ig. No li.
2. 20 years ago was a different time. I predict the next 10 years will bring as much change or more than the last 10 years brought.
3. I mean - TikTok taking over the world...a straight up Chinese company dominating American socials? Amazing. We will see more of this. It will happen in pockets where kids want to buck the boomers, the x men and the millennials. Then it will spread.
4. Universities will try to become relevant again by not focusing on the diploma as much because companies don’t require them anymore (unless doctor or lawyer type). You’ll see people focusing back on skills, results and a mega double down on personal brand.
5. Digital entrepreneurs will start making more money with physical products because people want “real.” YouTubers in large will leave because monetizing will become complicated with more adpocalypse.
6. Basics will come into play with direct selling, conglomerates will break themselves down intentionally into micro-enterprises to stay nimble.
7. Managers will be forced to become entrepreneurs and directly responsible for above the line branding and below the line profits... or they will be fired.
8. Solopreneurs will rise because freelancers will become commodities to utilize.
9. AI will take over every job that could be done by a robot. Making work more human.
10. Humans will stop acting like robots (cashiers) vs self-checkout and work will be strategic and anything arhat doesn’t require repetition. Ironically, humans will become less robotic (industrial revolution turned us into robots) and we will become more artful, thoughtful and creative...because we have to...bots will do all else.
11. To stay ahead, you must constantly learn and apply. It’s the dream. My new community and podcast will help you thrive! Comment if you would like access. Love you!
Happy new year!
”
”
Richie Norton
“
The idiot that had designed the self-checkout lane was an idiot.
”
”
Benjamin Wallace (Dumb White Husband vs. the Grocery Store)
“
With frantic abandon, John forced his purchases into bags as he waited for the total. “Sir.” John turned to see apron-boy standing behind a central podium that oversaw the self-checkout area. “Yeah?” “The dog food.” John looked to the bottom of the cart and the green bag of dog food that proclaimed to be “now tastier than ever.” He thought for a second about how much he didn’t care if his dog thought the dog food was tastier than ever and then bent down to get the bag. Halfway down he remembered the scanning gun attached to the checkout. Snatching it from its holster, he pointed it at the oversized barcode on the dog food. Beep. “Ha,” he spun the scanning gun like a six-shooter and placed it back in the holster. “Please place item in bagging area.” “Oh you’ve got to be kidding me! There’s no room in the bagging area you stupid piece of…” “Is
”
”
Benjamin Wallace (Dumb White Husband vs. the Grocery Store)
“
We don’t talk about that night or that weekend. We don’t bring up the accident, even though my bruising is changing colors by the day and our co-workers ask questions about it. Jesse tells me to take time off. I refuse, even though my gut is in knots most mornings. The ache doesn’t go away whenever I bump into her in the fluorescent-lit kitchen, but now it’s different. Instead of constantly convincing myself of lingering glances or smiles that mean something, I take it for what it is. Maeve is friendly and is treating me like a colleague, like a co-worker, like a friend. It doesn’t matter that I know her favorite Chinese food, or what her hair looks like in the morning, or that she hates the self-checkout lane at Target. Where does all of this information go? With Lacie, I don’t have access to these databases anymore. I know she got her hair done every six weeks. I remember her liking the color pink. Is that it? She had a brother, but fuck. I can’t even remember his name now. Shane? Is this what will happen with Maeve? For the first time in my life, I want to start journaling. The thought comes as quickly as it goes.
”
”
Anna Pollock (Pit and a Peach)
“
I successfully make it through the rest of my impromptu shopping trip without any further human interaction (thank you, self-checkout)
”
”
Allie Otoski (More Than Just Us)
“
Don’t like standing in the checkout line next to that guy who hasn’t showered all week? Let me route you over to the self-checkout where you can breeze right through. Suspicious of that Uber driver with the unpronounceable name? Well, self-driving cars are coming to your city soon. Need a movie recommendation for this evening? Netflix has already analyzed your viewing habits and made suggestions for you. No need to call a friend.
”
”
Richard Kyte (Finding Your Third Place: Building Happier Communities (and Making Great Friends Along the Way))
“
Introduction
Convenience stores have always played an important role in our daily lives, providing quick access to everyday essentials. However, in recent years, Monkey Mart has emerged as a leader in reimagining what a modern convenience store can be. By combining cutting-edge technology, sustainability, and an exceptional customer experience, Monkey Mart is setting the standard for the future of convenience shopping.
What Sets Monkey Mart Apart?
While traditional convenience stores focus on speed and accessibility, Monkey Mart offers more than just the basics. The store integrates innovative technology, making the shopping experience not only faster but also more enjoyable and efficient. With mobile apps, self-checkout systems, and personalized recommendations, Monkey Mart is transforming the way we shop for essentials.
Tech-Savvy Shopping Experience
In today’s fast-paced world, time is a precious commodity. Monkey Mart leverages technology to streamline the shopping experience. Customers can use their smartphones for contactless shopping, pre-order products, and navigate the store easily. The introduction of smart checkouts allows you to avoid long lines, making shopping quick and effortless.
Commitment to Sustainability
Sustainability is at the core of Monkey Mart’s operations. The store is dedicated to minimizing its environmental impact by incorporating energy-efficient lighting, reducing waste, and sourcing sustainable products. Whether it’s offering reusable shopping bags or ensuring that products are responsibly sourced, Monkey Mart is aligning with the growing demand for eco-friendly practices in retail.
Why It’s the Future of Convenience Stores
The combination of technology and sustainability positions Monkey Mart as the model for future convenience stores. With the ability to personalize the shopping experience and reduce its carbon footprint, Monkey Mart is redefining what it means to shop for essentials. This forward-thinking approach to retail ensures that the brand is not just keeping up with trends but setting them.
Conclusion
Monkey Mart is leading the way in the future of convenience shopping. By embracing technology and sustainability, it offers an unparalleled shopping experience that meets the needs of today’s fast-paced, environmentally conscious consumers.
”
”
Monkey Mart