WHAT'S UP WITH ASHLAND?

Lately I've been hearing a lot of people complaining about the Ashland Food Co-op here in town. The co-op is the only game in town, and they know it, so they price accordingly. Since most of their clientele are retirees who move here with lots of money, they can get away with it. But it sure does squeeze out the working class (what, a working class in Ashland? No way!)

Recently I was back up in Eugene, and I stopped by my favorite store in the world, Sundance. I went to their salad bar, and knew I'd find a killer selection made with progressive ingredients. Like instead of any of their noodles being wheat, they're all rice or quinoa. And instead of any of their sweeteners being cane sugar, they're agave or honey or brown rice syrup.

Sure enough, there was a great selection, and I ate like a king. And the price was only $6.59/lb, as opposed to $7.50/lb at the Ashland co-op, which does use cane sugar and wheat noodles. Hmm, cheaper ingredients, higher price. Greed? Nah.

Why does this matter to me? Well, because this town likes to think of itself (if a town can be said to think of itself, which is another way of saying what the majority of locals think, whatever they are) as a progressive, healthy, spiritual town. There's a place here called the Rogue Valley Metaphysical Library, and there are more naturopaths and chiropractors and spiritual healing centers than anywhere I've ever been.

Yet they still smoke cigarettes in some of the bars here. How 20th century is that? And everyone drives, everywhere, even though it's a very small town.

All of this has led me to the idea of putting out a hoodie that says UC Ashland (University of California at Ashland). And it wouldn't even have to be on organic cotton.