the tide pod shoplifting challenge

I may or may not have just contributed to the shoplifting of six packages of Tide PODs.

There I was, shopping for more environment friendly laundry detergent in a DTLA Target when a woman behind me asks for help in reaching something.

I turn around and the woman, limited in movement, is asking me to put six of those Tide POD packs into the giant bag hanging off the back of her motor cart.  Granted they’re on the top shelf, and hard to reach for anyone over the height of 5’5”, but there was something kind of strange about her need for six of the packs, and nothing else.

“Is there room for more stuff back there?” she asks barely turning her head.

I tell her she can fit about 3 small items more before needing another bag.

Off she rolls, without a thank-you, her sketchy face-tattoo and unwashed hair now glaringly giving me second thoughts about my good deed for the day.

While checking out, I notice her roll by each and every cashier without paying, and exit the store.

I really hope she isn’t going playground to playground selling the detergent pods at a dollar a pop to naive kids looking for Internet fame.

goodbye new york

You may have seen it on social media if you follow me there, but it's official.  We're moving to Los Angeles in a few weeks.

I've lived in New York City for almost 22 years, and in that time I've had some incredible experiences.  I've never lived anywhere else longer than here, and it's bittersweet to leave friends and family behind.

So, due to opportunity out West, we've loaded up the truck and moved to Beverly.  Okay, not really.  We have people loading the truck (and packing) for us.  And we're moving to DTLA, which like everywhere in Los Angeles is only a 20 minute drive away.

I'd like to say a studio has bought the rights to this blog for a new Netflix series, but I can't really go into the details right now.  Also, that's not true.  But, we're driving across country with three cats, and if that's not material for a Nat Geo or Animal Planet live-streaming special, I don't know what is. 

Keep tuned to the blog here for updates, and if you follow me on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook, you'll probably get some live-video on there during the move and after.

The World I KnewTodd Leaves New York City

I know this is slightly corny, but I've always had a soft spot for the quasi-Christian rock band Collective Soul.   

Their eponymous second album was released around the same time I moved to New York City, so there's one song from it that always sticks.

Hitting the charts around now, 21 years ago, THE WORLD I KNOW might be the most perfect summation of my emotional state as a prepare to leave Manhattan for Hollywood.  I'm not usually a lyrics person (I hear the music before I listen to the words), but this air-guitar ballad pretty much nails it.

The World I Know

Collective Soul

Has our conscience shown?

Has the sweet breeze blown?

Has all the kindness gone?

Hope still lingers on

I drink myself of newfound pity

Sitting alone in New York City

And I don't know why

Are we listening

Hymns of offering?

Have we eyes to see

That love is gathering?

All the words that I've been reading

Have now started the act of bleeding

Into one, into one

So I walk up on high

And I step to the edge

To see my world below

And I laugh at myself

While the tears roll down

'Cause it's the world I know

Oh it's the world I know

I drink myself of newfound pity

Sitting alone in New York City

And I don't know why, don't know why

So I walk up on high

And I step to the edge

To see my world below

And I laugh at myself

While the tears roll down

'Cause it's the world I know

Oh it's the world I know

So I walk up on high

And I step to the edge

To see my world belo

And I laugh at myself

While the tears roll down

'Cause it's the world I know

Oh it's the world I know

the softer side of BEWARE OF THE BABYLON

the softer side of
BEWARE OF THE BABYLON

In this episode, we invite you to explore the softer side of our podcast. Captured live on tape from Hells Kitchen, New York City on a warm Summer's night, Rachel and Todd reach deep into their collective subconsciousness to bring you this and more:

• The cinematic interpretation of Rachel's whirlwind Château vacation

• The dramatic reaction of Todd's misunderstanding of menstruation

• The fantastic exploration of Facebook's founding recapitulation

• The wondrous damnation of a podcast's rapturous exaltation


Don't you forget, this and every episode of BEWARE OF THE BABYLON is available for FREE from iTunes.  
Just search in the Podcast Directory for BEWARE OF THE BABYLON.

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