By American

Buy Used: Samsung Exhibit II

2012-02-26T17:28:00.000-08:00

When I buy used:

- I am not purchasing directly from foreign owned, foreign manufactured companies and products.
- I am contributing to the individuals and small businesses in my immediate surroundings.
- I am not requesting additional raw materials be developed for my consumption.

It is with these thoughts in mind I venture down to my local CEX in search of a smartphone so I can be cool like everyone else!

A couple things about CEX: they are awesome. If you prescribe to my above points about used shopping they are a terrific resources for electronics. They offer a 1 year warranty on any item they sell, which is extremely reassuring when dealing with products as complex as, say, a smartphone!

Which is what I bought!

Since I'm still with T-Mobile after all these years and they offer the cheapest data plans, I pursued a T-Mobile compatible smart-thing and here it is (works great!):

A Pretty Penny

2012-02-26T17:15:00.000-08:00

It's a Want (captital W). If it's a Want you can save the money til you've earned it. You don't have to buy the first piece of shit you see in the shop. If it's a Want you can wait for something beautiful like this:

http://www.geekhousebikes.com/

Then imagine how much good your Want is doing for your peers and neighbors.

Thanks to Alex for sending this my way. Now I'm salivating for a new pedal whip.

I Ain't Perfect

2012-02-26T17:06:00.000-08:00

I'm not perfect, nor are the options.
I could have bought these items used (minus the CDs, cause that just don't work). But as they say, TIME IS MONEY.
I made a stop at my local Best Buy today to help stimulate this here American economy (and the Chinese, Korean and Indian):

WE GOT ONE!

Needs versus wants. This was definitely a want. Better luck next time.

The Hangover

2012-02-22T22:11:00.000-08:00

Anybody celebrate Mardi Gras in the New Orleans style?
Anybody pick up some beads? Did you get nasty for em?
Did you think about who made them? Did you think about keeping them for next year?
Did you throw them out after?

I've heard this is pretty powerful. Available by DVD on Netflix.

January Success

2012-02-12T10:46:00.000-08:00

You can see it here folks, all my purchases for the month of January.
Almost All American.
It's my gut that deceives my mind and wallet: Fernett and Irish Whiskey

January Purchases

Let's see if I can successfully handle February.

Check Your Chappy

2012-02-12T09:33:00.000-08:00

Cause the American variety makes me happy:

A Great Revelation

2012-02-05T22:20:00.000-08:00

So you can make shoes, sneakers and the like in Southern California; I'mma do that:

Ok kids, who has been? Please lemme know. Please.

Beer American

2012-01-24T21:14:00.000-08:00

I have no clue why people buy European beer, especially if you've got these west coast classics (I could go on and on about this one):

State of Me and Obama

2012-01-24T21:07:00.000-08:00

It's real good:

"Those are the facts. But so are these. In the last 22 months, businesses have created more than three million jobs. Last year, they created the most jobs since 2005. American manufacturers are hiring again, creating jobs for the first time since the late 1990s."

Just wait my friends, things are a brewing.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/01/24/transcript-obamas-2012-state-union/#ixzz1kRXX1qVd

Talk of the Town

2012-01-21T17:05:00.000-08:00

I should be talking about this group everyday.
I should be buying things from these peeps everyday.
I should join these geniuses right now:

http://www.sfmade.org/

And with info like this, there should be no excuses:

My Hair Treatment

2012-01-17T22:34:00.000-08:00

Goddamn it, I don't want FOP!

I'm a Dapper Dan Man.

Classics

2012-01-17T22:29:00.000-08:00

This is the easy way.
Anybody ever been to the American Apparel factory?
I wanna go.
I used to think American Apparel would be simply more popular for the reason of the name rather than the sex appeal. Am I wrong? Are there gonna be sexy kids working on the line?

Bolt

2012-01-17T22:19:00.000-08:00

Whilst back in my hometown of Salt Lob City, we stopped in at the Gateway's original scene-ster boutique, The Bastille. I discovered a nice secret. Lightning Bolt. There were also some comfy cut off sweat shorts (but too much at 70 bucks).

Swass

2012-01-11T23:01:00.000-08:00

I'm going to call this Swass for 1 reason only:

Hey Handsome

2012-01-11T22:45:00.000-08:00

What you know about that?

Light Reading

2012-01-06T21:03:00.000-08:00

Lately I've been getting into The China Price a report gathered by this lady named Alexandra Harney.
The information divvied out has been great thus far. She sets the report up as being a reaction to American economists and politicians, but as I've gotten farther into it she has continued to humanize the Chinese who are contracted to do our manufacturing. If anyone else has read this, you should lemme know.

She's also got a blog, which doesn't look like it's been updated for a lil while:

http://thechinaprice.blogspot.com/

I'l let you know what I think when I reach the end.

Under The Radar

2012-01-03T20:41:00.000-08:00

In order to finance future purchases towards the advancement of neighbors and countrymen:

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/msg/2781993582.html

buy now.

A Minor Trip Out The Gate

2012-01-02T17:55:00.000-08:00

Have you ever had one of these:

This is a Irish Coffee from the Buena Vista in Fisherman's Wharf, SF.
it is delicious, boy what a treat.
Alas, Irish Whiskey and Irish Cream don't fall into the classification of American goods.
So in my haste to pay the check for my family visiting from out of town. . . I bought 3 of these.
Well, we live and learn and make mistakes along the way.

Hasta luego Irish liquor, see you back in Ireland.

From the top: 5, 6, 7, 8...

2012-01-01T11:57:00.001-08:00

And we are off to the races.

Purchases have already been made at my local grocery:

The theme of the morning: Good luck and Prosperity for the New Year!

All purchases were in fact, American!

The coffee beans, while roasted here in SF were harvested in Peru.

The red bell was pulled from the earth in Mexico. Viva Mexico!

Meanwhile, the only problem to sort out at the moment is where am I going to keep all these receipts?!

Good Luck and Happy NewYear to everyone! Viva America!

Buy Used: Canon T3i

2011-12-29T10:15:00.000-08:00

When I buy used:

- I am not purchasing directly from foreign owned, foreign manufactured companies and products.
- I am contributing to the individuals and small businesses in my immediate surroundings.
- I am not requesting additional raw materials be developed for my consumption.

It is with these thoughts in mind I venture down to my local CEX in search of a camera to help me tell the story of American manufacturing.

A couple things about CEX: they are awesome. If you prescribe to my above points about used shopping they are a terrific resources for electronics. They offer a 1 year warranty on any item they sell, which is extremely reassuring when dealing with products as complex as, say, a digital SLR camera.

Which is what I bought!

I've been eyeing the Canon T3i based on some recommendations, but was hesitant to buy used from a third party. But now I'm set and ready to document mine and other's American purchases this upcoming 2012.

i got the hook-up, holler if you hear me!

(this also saves me the irony in filming a documentary about american made goods whilst using a foreign made tool, I hope)

New Year: New Resolve

2011-12-29T09:38:00.001-08:00

Let's look to the future.
Back to the beginning, i get to start once again.
The resolution is the same as before.
I KNOW the purchases i made in 2011 (for the majority) went to my neighbors.
The money i earned in 2011 went to countries physically connected to the USA.

So, for 2012, i go better than before.
And in 2012 i document this.
Look out for daily updates here on By-American.
Look out for updates from around the country.

It is sooo on.

Questions?
Good.

unionmade

2011-11-12T22:40:00.001-08:00

SF Saturday!

I pretty much walked the whole mission twice today in search of some new pants.

I took my first stop took me to UnionMade today and it was awesome. Lots of really great American made goods. They also featured lots of European bits, odds and ends (I found pairs of British made New Balance 420s, pretty rad!)

I did find exactly what I wanted:

Made by Unis in New York.

The price was heavy, two big ones when all is said and done, but hey, this is a purchase of wants, not needs. Unfortunately, they didn't have my size in the color I wanted, hopefully they restock soon.

Check out the UnionMade blog below for other made around herrr goods.

http://blog.unionmadegoods.com/

Compromise for Saftey Pt 2

2011-11-12T20:13:00.001-08:00

I have some really really good ideas up ahead. the lego building blocks are coming together in my head.
but for now, SOME things must stay the same.

My girl the other day was suprised to hear I played Junior Jazz Rec basketball through senior year of high-school. This rec league was for kids for whom many, church-ball was not for their community option (me!)

I'll tell you, church-ball made me envious.
Not to say I never played in one, a church. Not to say i never BROKE INTO A WARD, just to play hoops. I didn't display full respect to the group, but no one fought over it either.

I've had many other basketball moments and i don't think they plan to end anytime soon.

SO, you did what you HAD to do. if you play basketball 3-5 days a week for a 1 year, your top of the line, expertly crafted by nike, oregon, usa (and it's foreign work force), Kevin Durant Signature shoe will breakdown. you WILL get hurt. you WILL sprain your ankle.

you WILL NOT be able to do many one of the exercises you enjoy most which also does good for the city (ride you're bike).

you MUST, per your choice of a lifestyle, buy a new pair of basketball shoes:

i can't tell a fib and say these shoes are not awesome for playing hoops in.
the lebron-jesus soldier five.
i am having a good solid season.
GRAPE CRUSH!

Speaking of . . .

2011-11-09T21:20:00.000-08:00

http://thecommonsf.com/

This is the spot my friends.

If you live in the city (of SF), wanna look good, wanna support American jobs, you must patronize The Common.

I spoke with the fellas one Saturday afternoon, they are all business school buddies who wanted shirts that fit them. So, in a effort to kill multiple birds with one sharp sharp rock, they started The Common.

It's American made goods like the following that will keep me gong back:

My American Birthday

2011-11-09T21:08:00.000-08:00

My girl got me this, and my girl got me that, my girl got me this dope American made hat:

Disregard the Adidas by Cambodia. Focus on the dome-peice, by American, purchased here:

http://thecommonsf.com/

And a little bit of SF history came along for the ride:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mission_Reds