Online shopping

I buy a lot of stuff online. I don't like to shop, but I do like to buy things, and online you can find just about anything. Like desert camo low-rise Chuck Taylors. For some things there's no substitute for going to the mall or department store or whatever, and there are other things that aren't practical to ship because they are too heavy or bulky or inexpensive. The online groceries sites flamed out. I had a buddy who was part of a widely anticipated IPO called garden.com which didn't turn out like they'd hoped. Most everything else you can get online faster cheaper, and better. Online, everything's in stock, since they will just ship it from wherever it is in the world to you. Usually there's no state sales tax, unless the outfit has a retail outlet in that state. Often for significant orders (more than $25 at Amazon, for example) delivery is free. And even though you don't get it in your sweaty hands immediately, there is a form of instantaneous gratification when you click on the "Buy Now" button.

Things I've bought online
Car (1982 Toyota Land Cruiser on eBay Motors)
Stereo equipment
Clothes
Bedding
Toothbrushes
This computer (Dell)
Books
CD's
Musical instruments
DVD's
Watches
Electronics (my iPod, digital camera, and Bose headphones, for example)
Shoes

I bought my new shoes at zappos.com, it's a great site. I'm a perfect 13, I never have to return shoes because they don't fit, so I can buy them without trying them on. I thought of how much different it was for my parents at my age. And then I remembered when I was about 6 years old, getting shoes in the mail. My mom would have me stand on a piece of paper and trace my feet, and then she'd mail the outline to the shoe store. Years later I asked her how she picked out the styles, and she said "Oh, I just wrote them that you needed dress shoes or sneakers, and they sent them." The Sears catalog originated in 1887, ordering stuff online is no different from ordering from the Sears catalog. Except nowdays instead of taking whatever style they have, you can see every style ever made. The only difference is now you have more information. And that's kind of what the whole internet thing is about, anyway.