Sprawled Out: The Search for Community in the American Suburb

"Study": Wal-Mart causes weight loss! Hooray! In other news: Rattlesnake bites cause weight loss!

A reader directed me to this pile of pap at the "MSN moneyblog topstocks" (boy, that sounds promising) site.

One can easily imagine a recent phone conversation between this "article's" author and Bentonville, home of Wal-Mart:

"Just make that check out to Anthony Mirhaydari, Spelled m-i-r-h-a-y-d-a-r-i. No, I won't take in-store credit ..."

(UPDATE: Another reader tells me that my tipster may have seen the Wal-Mart story here. Oops - I guess one man's "hero" is another man's blood-sucking, corporate socialist.)

MSN Money:

Wal-Mart Causing Weight Loss
By Anthony Mirhaydari

In the latest surprise to come out of the halls of academia, researchers have found "robust evidence" that Wal-Mart is responsible for slimming down not only its shoppers, but the people of the community surrounding it.

As I discussed in my first-ever post on Top Stocks, Wal-Mart is able to expand real incomes thanks to its zealous commitment to low prices. A separate study has found that there is up to a 1.2% reduction in grocery prices at competing locations when Wal-Mart enters a market. So even if you don't shop at one, you're still benefiting.

According to the research, people armed with greater purchasing power substitute healthier, higher quality foods like fresh fruits and vegetables into their diets while avoiding processed foods high in fat. For every 100,000 residents, the addition of one Wal-Mart increases produce consumption by 2%, to roughly four servings per day. This causes a statistically significant weight loss of half a pound.

An even bigger impact is made on lower-income shoppers, who spend a larger percentage of their disposable income on food and household goods. These folks are also traditionally more likely to suffer from obesity.

The key is whether or not unhealthy foods are considered "inferior goods" in the eyes of consumers. If so, than income gains caused by Wal-Mart will decrease consumption in favor of healthier foods. If not, than people will just buy more junk food with their extra money. At this point, the evidence seems to support the former.

Another caveat, sure to be mentioned frequently in the comments below, is whether Wal-Mart negatively affects actual earned incomes by forcing small businesses to close. Research in this area is mixed, I will admit. For the sake of argument, and citing a study that finds net job creation in the near-term, the authors assume Wal-Mart's presence is a positive.

If you seem underwhelmed by the result, know that the weight drop could've been much larger: An additional Wal-Mart is related to a 2.9% reduction in the probability of engaging in regular exercise. Most likely, the researchers report, people didn't have that nagging urge to hit the gym as a better diet kept their weight down naturally.

Still, every little bit helps. Plus, these findings play into Wal-Mart's continued efforts to rebrand itself as a benevolent corporate entity and appeal to those urban and suburban shoppers that avoid the retailer -- and the gym, for that matter.

Be sure to join in the discussion, either in the comment field below or on the MSN Money message boards.

(Disclosure: I don’t control a position in any of the companies mentioned)

Read the rest - - and especially the comments - - at MSN Money.

Then read this:

The Bush Doctrine and Sarah Palin: "I didn't study that chapter, Charlie. Is this going to be on the test? Because no one told me this was going to be covered ...""

Breathtaking.

It's a bad movie script playing out in real life.

Sanity Spreads: Roundabouts in TIME magazine

Click for full-sized graphic.

Too good not to share: The Right spins like a top

"I guess a small-town mayor is sort of like a “community organizer,” except that you have actual responsibilities."
Sarah Palin.

Nice. Community organizers are not taking that laying down. Community organizers also do much to get out the vote in local precincts; she might have stepped in something messy there.

The word for a choice like Sarah Palin is "cynical." Do Republican women appreciate the condescending pat on the head they've received? Will local squawk radio station WISN rush to scrub the classy "Anchor Babes" feature on their website now that the talking points memo instructs them to cry "sexist" when Palin is fact checked or called to account for hypocrisy? (In WISN's favor, I notice that they no longer seem to have a woman they call "The Garden Hoe" on their Sunday morning gardening show.)

You gotta hand it to John McCain, though; when the Republican party made clear that they would fight his first two choices (Tom Ridge and Joe Lieberman, evidently), he fired back: "Oh yeah? Then I pick....her, whoever she is. Spin that, you $%&^'s! Now get out of here. And I suppose I should actually meet her a couple days before the convention, so set that up."

Counter-programming as party policy. Wonderful.

 

ABOVE: The WISN radio website: class all the way

BELOW: Spinning like a top

Things to do this weekend in Franklin: Library Annual Book Sale

I'm going to level with you here; I very nearly fudged the opening time for the Franklin Public Library's Annual Book Sale so I'd have an open shot at what's available right when they open the doors - - I lost 900+ books in June's flood, after all, and it's a long uphill climb replacing even a few of them.

Trust me, these are the actual times for the sale. Everyone gets a fair shot at 'em.

Friday, September 5th
10 am - 5pm

Saturday, September 6th
10 am - 5 pm

Sunday, September 7th
1pm - 4 pm

Things to do this weekend in Franklin: Island Music

It's lawn seating at the band shell so bring your own blankets and chairs.

This event is a fundraiser for the Franklin Cultural Arts Center.

Evil Developer responds to MJS story on Fountains of Franklin

Developer Dave Hintzman, he of Fountains of Franklin, learned in a recent Milwaukee Journal Sentinel story that he is an evil developer (he may even have awoken this morning to find that he now has a handlebar mustache perfect for twirling whilst conniving against the elderly).

Snidely Whiplash Hintzman sent the following email to local bloggers, which I post in its entirety:

Dear Franklin bloggers,
 
After reviewing the opinions of some of your blogs, and those who posted comments, I feel compelled to respond to the insinuations made against our project.  You have been misinformed.
 
Yesterday's Journal Sentinel story was not a true, accurate article.  Instead, it was an obvious attempt to manufacture a storyline that is nothing short of "if it bleeds, it reads."  Given the Journal Sentinel's decrease in revenue, readership, and advertising, it appears this reporter wanted to create a more interesting story.

1. Our original (or current) plan did/does not include any other property.  However, when the area was being rezoned, the Plan Commission expected us to create a conceptual plan including all of the commercial properties of the area.  Afterwards, I spoke with the Sendik's developer and the owner of Andy's gas station to see if they were interested in marketing the area under the brand name of Fountains of Franklin (similar to what the cities of Oak Creek & Franklin were doing with "Boomgaard").
2. I do not want nor will not purchase our neighbor's property now or in the future.  The entire Journal Sentinel story revolved around this premise.
3. I do not support, nor have I ever heard of anyone supporting the idea to "kick the Foxes out of their home."  I have been neighbors to the Foxes since 1999, and feel that we've shared a positive and healthy relationship.  We bought ten acres from our neighbor in 2005 to create a development and named the road in honor of their daughter, as this was very important to them.  Later, a nearby park was named after her.  The Foxes have shared with us that they were very happy to work with us on that project.
4. We do not consider the Target center as competition.  First, a commercial broker explained to us that it is in a different market area.  Second, that area has a different level of roadway access and demographics.  Third, that project contains the second largest discount retailer in the world.  Mark Carstensen is a very successful businessman and he is building a different project than ours.  I'm only surprised that Mark Carstensen chooses to visit our neighbor so frequently.
5. We were aware of our neighbor's business activities prior to the beginning of our project.  We designed a full and mature landscape buffer to benefit both properties.  However, when desired national businesses are reluctant to locate in a community that doesn't enforce all of their Ordinances, it was our responsibility to address their concerns.  We were unaware, as I believe the city was, that our neighbor is operating multiple businesses unlawfully and has multiple zoning violations.  This is a reasonable concern for any neighbor.
6. Our neighbor has chosen to not comply with the laws of the city originally or to date.  A few months ago, our neighbors told me they intentionally did not fulfill their responsibilities or city agreements because it would cost them money and their taxes would increase dramatically.  Most people are not aware that the city provided multiple warning letters in efforts to help get them in compliance.  Afterwards, the city offered a clear path of compliance without any penalties or fines, which included an additional year to cure their deficiencies to fulfill their responsibilies and agreements with the city.  Mr. Fox declined the goodwill offer and threatened a lawsuit against the city with two different attorneys.
7. The last time we talked to our neighbors, they told us to send over a "multi-multimillionaire" if we found one.  It is our understanding that they have been offered almost $3,000,000 for a property that's worth much less than $2,000,000. Since it has been brought to my attention that the Foxes bought their property for $1.00 (one dollar), it appears they are “at the right place at the right time.”
8. The city has now confirmed that the outdoor storage, the boats and RVs, will have to go. We as a neighbor, have a reasonable concern why this issue has not been enforced to date.

I trust that you will find the above accurate and truthful information beneficial.
 
Thank you,
 
David Hintzman
President
Equitable Development, LLC

Too young to drive, but old enough to blow up Nazis

Follow up to an earlier post ("Make no mistake: Potential developers are watching how Franklin handles the Fountains of Franklin situation"): In a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article that identifies Leonard Fox as 78 years-old, he is quoted as saying:

“I never thought, when I was in Europe and calling out artillery fire, that I’d ever have to come home and defend my own property.”

I wish I could take credit for the catch, but someone else pointed out to me that, unless the MJS got his age wrong, Mr. Fox would have been 15 years old in 1945, when World War II ended. Sneaking into combat underage - - -now that's a story!

Republican lobbyists can't even PRETEND to care: Party on in St. Paul while Gustav blows in

I heard this precious exchange on Milwaukee's WISN radio last week: Republican party water-carrier Jay Weber (who is spinning himself into the ground this week trying to make McCain's VP choice look merely presentable) and "news" person Ken Herrera are riffing in their "fair and balanced" manner about the then-approaching hurricane.

Weber says gleefully, "Well, you just know the lefties are gonna blame this on President Bush. Just like Hurricane Katrina was Bush's fault."

A pause.

And then Herrera intones ever so solemnly, reassuringly, without a hint of irony; almost a church-whisper: "It wasn't his fault."

Thanks, Ken. Now we realize Bush cannot control meteorological events.

But he certainly can put a disgraced former luxury-horse executive in charge of FEMA and then fiddle while an American city is burning. I don't have to tell you what was happening and to how many people at the very moment our chief executive was a-strummin' his gee-tar with the cool presidential seal decal. But loyalty was rewarded and that's all that matters in an administration and political party built on cronyism.

As penance this year, Bush skipped the convention frivolities. But K Street rocked on, unrepentant.

Make no mistake: Potential developers are watching how Franklin handles the Fountains of Franklin situation

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel weighs in on the Fountains of Franklin-Fox property kerfuffle.

[Fountains of Franklin developer Dave] Hintzman contends that the Foxes never obtained the approvals needed for their various ventures, and that they’re interfering with his ability to lure investors and retailers to his planned Fountains of Franklin shopping center next door.

He contends that the city is dragging its feet on enforcement in deference to hometown developer Mark Carstensen — a frequent contributor to city causes and candidates — whose Shoppes at Wyndham Village, at Highway 100 and W. Drexel Ave., is competing for similarly upscale tenants.

...

Hintzman sees Carstensen’s hand in the lack of a resolution, saying he’s repeatedly photographed the rival developer’s Cadillac Escalade on the Fox property.

The Foxes say Carstensen has been helping them “to understand our rights.” They’ve known him for years, they said, and he’s looking out for their best interests.

Carstensen did not return a call for comment.

What could possibly be suspicious about that? (And "Carstensen did not return a call for comment" is one of the most common phrases used in MJS stories about Franklin).

The Journal Sentinel story emphasizes the emotional wear and tear this experience is having on the elderly Foxes, building to this crescendo:

The Foxes, meanwhile, say they’re stressed beyond their ability to cope. He’s been taken to the hospital with chest pains, she said, and she cannot sleep at night.

“They’re going to kill us,” said Verna Fox, 74, standing on the stoop with her husband.

“We had a very peaceful life here until a year ago,” said her husband, who believes he’ll die if he retires. “We just want to be left alone.”

Pretty much covered all the bases there. And, earlier, Mr. Fox's service in WWII is mentioned (“I never thought, when I was in Europe and calling out artillery fire, that I’d ever have to come home and defend my own property.”)

Who can't empathize with the Foxes? It's an easy story to spin: Evil developer and predatory local government looking to toss longtime hardworking residents out on their ears. (Or even kill them, apparently.)

But, emotion aside, this difficult situation begs some equally difficult questions if viewed dispassionately:

- Would a 45 year-old businessperson be given the same wide berth (i.e. allowed to operate and claim for tax purposes businesses without city approvals) if he or she was in the Foxes position?

- Related: Are developers from outside Franklin watching this and taking note of the fact that they would be dipping their toes into unpredictable, emotion-ruled waters if they tried to propose something significant and far-sighted in these city limits?

- If the Fox case is any indication, why should anyone in Franklin, from homeowners building patio additions to commercial locations altering their services, feel bound to seek permits and or approvals from the city? (Am I a sucker because I got all those permits to rebuild my basement after the flood?)

- I'm not Dr. Phil, but I knew from day one that the Foxes would not want to budge regardless of financial offers (I made a few inquires and the writing was on the wall). Why didn't Dave Hintzman realize this? Or, if he knew this, why didn't he take it as seriously as I did? (Anyone with parents or grandparents knows what stubbornness is all about, right?)

- Has a truly generous offer been made to buy the Fox property? If so, without regard to sentimental attachment (which is the wild card here, I'm guessing); at 74 and 78 years of age, wouldn't  a generous buyout of their property - - which is located on a busy arterial road heavily trafficked by dust-spouting trucks from the quarry across the street - - represent a wonderful culmination of the Fox's years of work? And what says Mr. Fox can't go on happily working in a new - - better - - location?

- It is to developer Mark Carstensen's distinct advantage if the Foxes, against all logic, decide to stay put and hopelessly bisect the Fountains of Franklin, which rivals his Shoppes at Wyndham Village. Can he possibly be "looking out for their best interests," or, indeed, the community's best interests?

- A successful Fountains of Franklin (with a viable site plan) is advantageous to the city of Franklin. A bisected site plan will be just another inefficent boondoggle created simply to salvage a developer's investment (which we seem to specialize in here). Shouldn't city administration pitch in to help create a mutually satisfying solution? I.E., shouldn't we be seeing the mayor's vehicle at the Fox house now and then?

Nothing clear-cut about this particular situation, I'm afraid.