I'm thinking about moving to Gaza

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Hence my reason for starting this thread. I also assumed that Gaza had more in common with Stalingrad in WW2 then the suburbs of Boston.

 

As for that mall, the reported size is about 1.850 m2. That would be about half a the size of a 'Supermercado de Wal-Mart' with 3.600 m2. I understand that the average Wall Mart is considerably larger. The average size of a US shopping mall is 5.222 m2 - i.e. the term 'mall' was chosen deliberately to create a misleading impression about the size of the thing, by inviting readers to compare it with their own shopping mall experiences.

And it works: Snook is persuaded the Gazan's are having a great time. Whether that's the case is in a sense an almost unrelated matter: While Hamas propagandists were celebrating the opening as a 'victory over the blockade', Israeli counter-propaganda is hyping it as the manifest evidence for their theme that there is no humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

So, as usual, reality is a little more complex. True/Slant:

But by all means, Snook, since a picture says more than a thousand words, treat it as suppressed proof of secretly booming Palestinian prosperity.

 

I think you're getting a little paranoid now, especially considering the signs on the walls call it a mall. To be certain, the average American mall is larger than that by a good but, but I'd bet the average American mall is larger than the average European mall as well. That's America, we're big on shopping. On the flip-side, however, there are several local 'malls' that have parking lots only slightly larger than that (and the 'mall' itself is smaller). I.e. the usage of the term is legitimate.

I do hope that was artistic license and you don't actually think Snook thinks that.

At the same time, while the western media was reporting on Gaza as a bombed out shell and we were arguing that there simply weren't such things in Gaza, lo and behold, here it is. The point is to correct some misperceptions and show that these things actually are there.

Of course, which makes me wonder something. If so many thousands of tons of fruits, vegatables, and other foods are given to Gaza through international charity every year, why is it that everyone is saying the poor can't afford the food?

 

Don't hurt your back twisitng everything so much. I never said that things are booming, I'm just saying the story isn't the way you like to portray it.

From the same site.

 

Not really. You forgot about Asia. And since I worked the retail business, I can tell you America's no longer that hot of a market (not like it used to be). I hear over-and-over again that everyone wants a piece of the Asian market and wants to be there.

That's a hot market.

Sorry, I forgot the source. It was Forbes, 2008.

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That comment doesn't make any sense. The American government relies on the media for information about where to spend money? I would think the government has its own people, in the foreign service, working on the ground there. It would be better if they were more specific.

 

On the contrary, I just didn't mention Asia. I, too, have heard some amazing things from Asia (if you're a shopping addict, at least).

The American government is heavily influenced by the American people when it comes to where to send how much aid. We give a lot to the tragedies de-jure, but not so much to the other atrocities going on around the world.

 

I didn't say you did mention Asia.

I haven't notied that, but if you say so. Nevetheless, the point was really about the media, not the elections.

 

You suggested I should have when you said:

I was strictly comparing apples and oranges (American malls and European malls). Watermelons (Asian malls) are an entirely different discussion.

 

Well, that's true. I thought you should have, to add clarity, but I mentioned it for you, so it is fixed. Nevertheless, American malls are declining in favor of big-box stores and they are acsending in emerging markets (like Asia). From a retail perspective, which I know first-hand, Americans are not shopping like they used to, unfortunately. It is matter that is close to my heart, (and even closer to my wallet). I'm sure you understand, NOG.

 

When you say, 'not shopping like they used to', do you mean 'like they did before the recession', or is this a longer trend?

 

NOG - Since 2008 consumer spending is down. During the "economic slowdown" of 2008 it was a trend, which is why we were given "consumer rebates." GWB at the same time asked consumers to "go out and spend the rebates," which many did. It was a nice bump at the time.

http://www.usatoday.com/money/perfi/taxes/2008-04-25-tax-rebate-checks_N.htm