Doesn't that feel good.

Add "romance" to your next grocery list.

According to a map of the most common Craigslist missed connection locations, most Americans are looking for love while running errands.

For Psychology Today, Dorothy Gambrell mapped out the most common missed connection locations by state. Her study, which was based on each state's most recent 100 postings, reveals an interesting glimpse into the psyche of stranger love.

Some results were unsurprising. New Yorkers, for example, tend to post after a subway sighting.

In California, land of pumping iron and fro-yo, most missed connections occurred at 24 Hour Fitness.

Other locations were just plain weird.

In fifteen states, including Ohio, Florida and Texas, a mega-market stocks the most romance-seekers. Yes, Walmart is the land of low prices and high libidos. Baby's got rollback.

Oklahoma wins the award for least creepy and most romantic—the majority of postings involved state fair rendezvous. What could be more amorous than fried butter on a stick and Tilt-a-Whirls amplified by land-locked isolation?

In Rhode Island, most missed connections occurred on parking lots. Because nothing says sexy like "I sat on the curb and watched you get into your car last night."

And Indiana, the most frequent postings occurred "at home." Wait, at home? What does that mean? "I watched you through your window?" or worse, "I am a member of your family?"

There's hope for all you hopeless romantics out there —ditch the dive bar and look no further than aisle 14.

The most popular articles on Huffington Post

*Slow clap* Congratulations, Arianna. We see that you've beat the dreaded "Original Holiday Content" beast that has driven down traffic at so many other Internet hubs. And you were so clever about it, too! Why make one post merely listing Walmart's schedule today, when you can create a sort of listicle-generator that randomizes and promotes every pairing of store hours possible?

Here's how the link-bait portal just found a new way to game the system.

On December 5, HuffPost Home put up a piece called Holiday Store Hours 2012: Walmart, Target, Costco And Other Major Retailers (PHOTOS). Since this was on the "Home" section, no one saw it. (Check out the number of tweets, emails and Facebook shares it received.)

HOWEVER, someone must have noticed the clever S.E.O. from the post, which put it on the top of the list when you Google "Most Popular Holiday Store Hours."

Then the program began to self-replicate: On the 22nd, HuffPost Home basically rebooted the same article, calling it "Christmas Eve Store Hours For Target, Walmart, Costco And Other Major Retailers." That rocketed up to the site's "Most Viewed" page, so the next day, there was a new list: "Christmas Eve Store Hours For Target, Walmart, Costco, Toys R Us."

And in case you still haven't gotten the drift of what's going on, the most popular story on all of Huffington Post this morning is in HuffPost Business, and it's literally just a listing from the 23rd of Walmart's hours on Christmas Eve/Day.

The most popular articles on Huffington Post

Quick, try to guess the content of this very popular article! Give up?

"Walmart will not be open on Christmas Day. Most stores will close at 8 p.m. on Christmas Eve, but be sure to check your local listings before heading out to do last-minute Christmas shopping. Walmart stores will reopen on December 26."

Whoever came up with this formula, give the (wo)man a bonus!

Gateway Center 2, no longer wanting for Walmart. (Real Deal)

Walmart just sent out another cryptic release about a store it will not be opening in New York. Last time, it was an outlet at Willets Point. This time, we learn it is an even more serious non-event: the big box bogeyman's long-sought beachhead in Brooklyn is not happening.

According to Walmart spokesman Steve Restivo, the company could not reach an agreement with The Related Companies to anchor the developer's Gateway project in East New York. Despite this setback, the company promised to keep trying.

Walmart today announced that we were unable to agree upon economic terms for a project in East New York. We remain committed to bringing new economic development and shopping options to New York City, especially in the neighborhoods that need them most. Two things remain constant: most New Yorkers want us here and we remain interested in providing more convenient access to Walmart for local residents.

We appreciate all our supporters –the Mayor’s office, Borough President Markowitz, Reverend Youngblood and countless others in and outside East New York – who helped us strengthen local relationships and build bridges with the community. In addition to providing good jobs and  affordable groceries, residents want a retailer in Brooklyn that would hire and buy local, and look to make a positive economic impact by hosting job fairs, workforce development initiatives and supplier summits. Walmart will continue to evaluate local opportunities across all five boroughs.

That may be wishful thinking, though. The unions have fought a dogged campaign against the company for years now, dating back to Walmart's efforts to anchor a Related project in the Bronx. Unlike Gateway, that development required City Council approval, and the elective body has shown no love for Walmart.

Which is why Walmart find itself in dire straights now. If it could not set up shop in an as-of-right development under the invitation of a favorable mayor, how will the company fair when some of its most vocal opponents are running for mayor, with one of them almost bound to get the job?

In the ultimate coup for the labor groups fighting Walmart, it is Shop Rite that will be anchoring Gateway. The grocer just happens to be a union shop.

Walmart strikes out once again. (Related Companies)

The press release came in even before The Observer had seen the initial report that prompted it.

"We have not had any talks with Walmart about a location at Willets Point and we have absolutely no intention of discussing this site with them," the email statement read.

Who knew! And yet it made perfect sense, as the company has been looking for any opening imaginable in the city.

The Daily News had heard from two Queens pols that had been contacted by Walmart about potentially supporting one of the big box retailer's outlets at the recently announced Mets Mega Mall.

“They were looking at Willets Point as a possibility for a new site in New York,” said one elected official, who asked not to be named, but said he is opposed to the idea.

Another elected official, who also did not want to be named, said the company had been courting support.

Nothing new here. Walmart has been desperate to open up an outpost in the five boroughs since its efforts in 2006 were thwarted at the City Council, and starting two years ago, the big box boogeyman seriously began to ramp up those efforts, most notably trying to plant itself at the Related Company's Gateway Center development in East New York, where the company could build as-of-right.

But following gaffes here and elsewhere and the notorious bribery incident in Mexico, the efforts have grown more difficult.

Now, even Walmart's staunchest backers seem to want nothing to do with the company. For starters, Related, along with their Willets partners the Wilpons, have disavowed any involvement with the company in building a Queens outpost. The rest of their unexpected statement reads:

There have been and will be no negotiations, they are simply not a part of our plan to build an enclosed retail and entertainment destination at Willets Point, that will bring much needed jobs and economic activity to the area and lead to the development of a new neighborhood.

Those are pretty emphatic words, but they also make a good bit of sense. The rejiggered project has already drawn criticism from a number of corners, does it really need more?

What is also surprising is that the City's Economic Development Corporation, the lead agency behind the project, and the mayor's pro-business attack dog, has distanced itself from Walmart at Willets, as well. An EDC spokesman told Gothamist, "These reports are absolutely without merit. There have been no discussions between the developer and WalMart."

This is in stark contrast to the mayor's previous statements about the company, when hizzoner strongly endorsed Walmart coming here.

He still clearly holds these views even as his underlings at EDC deflect them, at least in one corner of the city. On his weekly radio show today, Mayor Bloomberg reiterated Walmart's rights to open in the five boroughs: "As long as they don’t break any laws, we should not, government, the City Council included, should not be out there criticizing because all that says is to other companies that might want to locate here, you know, ‘What do I need that aggravation for? Who knows if they turn on me?’"

The mayor went on to tick off the various causes Walmart supports, from responsible gun ownership to the United Negro College Fund. He also pointed out that numerous New Yorkers cross city lines to shop at Walmart stores in Nassau County and New Jersey—a point echoed by a Walmart spokesman in an email to The Observer: "New Yorkers went out of their way to spend more than $215 million at Walmart in 2011."

Still, if the rumors of Walmart's "stealth" entreaties to Queens pols for political backing is true, it demonstrates just how desperate the firm's situation has grown.

When the company turned up again two years ago, The Observer predicted it would attempt the same divide and conquer tactics it used to open a store in Chicago not long ago. But almost the entire political class, with the exception of the mayor, has vocally opposed Walmart. This includes every would-be mayoral candidate. It is now or never for the company, and even that may not be enough. That bouncing smiley face may never alight on our fair city.

A Walmart in P&G's clothing? (@PGmobile/Twitter)

'Tis the season for food trucks, with the warm weather meaning comfortable lines and more customers. For Walmart, this is more the season of discontent, with opposition to the store in New York growing on the heels of the big box retailer's Mexican corruption scandal. Even long-time allies like the Related Companies have apparently given up on the southern-fried discounters.

But Walmart has hit upon a novel way to work its way into the city, on board a modified food truck run by partner company Procter & Gamble.

For the next month, @PGmobile will, in the tradition of the great food trucks to come before it, set up shops on street corners across the five boroughs, tweeting out its location and asking for suggestions on where to go next. Eight different products will be on offer—at Walmart’s everyday low prices, of course—from Iams dog food to Gillette razers and Pampers diapers.

The Walmart name appears but once, tucked away on the bottom of the truck, and it is nowhere to be found on the associated Twitter feed. All the while visitors to @PGmobile are directed to shop for more great Proctor & Gamble products via those newfangled QR codes. They link to the products at Walmart.com.

Walmart claims that it has had limited involvement in the project, besides offering up its website as a portal to do more shopping.

"This is not at all related to any Walmart efforts in or about New York," spokesman Ravi Jariwala said. "In fact, it's not really related to Walmart at all, it's much more a Procter & Gamble thing. We’re very pleased to be working with them. Consumable are obviously a very important category for our customers online, and the intent or the thought was as P&G does this, as consumers learn about it on the truck, they’re always welcome to shop for these products on our website."

It is a rather brilliant strategy, playing on busy and desperate New Yorkers' demanding desire for convenience and immediacy, and then directing them to shop Walmart.com. As one tweet from Friday implores, "Less time shopping means more time to enjoy summer in the city. Come see us for free samples and an easier way to shop. While supplies last."

And yesterday, @PGmobile helpfully directs followers to a little online shopping: "Running low on Pantene? Pampers? Tide? No worries. You can get them all delivered for $0*. Come down to see how or shop http://ow.ly/bthEU." Not sure what that asterisk is for, but that link leads to Walmart.com, of course.

Watch out Amazon, Fresh Direct and Duane Reade.

P&G is even bringing out the big guns, like Olympic sprinter Tyson Gay, who is a spokesman for Gillette products: "Yup, that’s @TysonLGay on the side of our truck. He’s racing for gold, and @pgmobile is racing to bring you great deals. #pgmobile"

Great as all this publicity might be for Proctor & Gamble, as Ad Age points out, Walmart and Walmart.com seem to be benefiting far more from this little endeavor than does P&G. The Observer asked how the partnership came about but has yet to hear back on that part of the story from Walmart.

Ever wary of the big box retailers sorties into the city, Walmart's critics are prepared to hound these mobile marts, as well.

"Walmart pretends to save people money and time, but in reality it brings low-wage jobs and pollution to our communities," said Stephanie Yazgi, director of the WalmartFreeNYC coalition. "New Yorkers know when they are being fooled. No colorful truck or endless free samples can cover up Walmart’s highly publicized scandals and purported corruption."

And you thought the line for the Waffles and Dings truck was bad.

Rotten tomatoes? (Getty)

Walmart is in a pickle, and not the kind that can be found in the canned goods aisle. Following the Mexican bribery scandal, pols high and low have reaffirmed their opposition to the store. But they are not the only ones. Even some of the big box retailers staunchest supporters have come out against the company, namely Greg David.

The Crain’s columnist and former editor for three decades of the influential business weekly is a big believer in capitalism and its important role in shaping the city—he just wrote a book about it. To that end, he has long supported Walmart’s efforts to open a store in the five boroughs (14 times at last count). Yet now, in light of the scandal, even Greg David doubts Walmart will ever open in New York. And he believes this is all Walmart’s fault.

For the past three years, ever since the mayor announced his support for Walmart during the 2009 mayoral race, it looked like the company might actually worm its way into the city, following previous setbacks and roadblocks pushed by labor unions and the City Council. It would build as-of-right and with popular and political support. But as the economy turned, the company dithered, and now the political math is no longer adding up, Mr. David argues.

Walmart squandered all that momentum by not announcing a plan to open stores. It is true that giant companies like Walmart march to their own beat, but the months of silence have clearly eroded its position.

The Mexican scandal hurts in two ways. It obviously means any move in New York will need to be delayed until the publicity dies down. More importantly, The New York Times story suggests current CEO Mike Duke, the driving force behind the effort to move into New York, could be implicated.

With the clock ticking toward a new mayor, Walmart may have just blown it.

Still, all is not lost. Mayor Bloomberg, supporter of all things free market and soulless, told reporters they should not rush to judgment on the retailer, according to Capital New York.

“No, I’ve not been a big supporter of Walmart," said the mayor. "I’ve been a big supporter of government not telling people whether they can do business here. I think you let the market decide whether people want jobs or not, whether people want to buy products at given price ranges for different types, and I think that that’s exactly what this is all about. I have no idea what Walmart did in Mexico, whether any of that stuff’s true or not. We’ll have to see. There’s one story in the paper."

There is more than a year until the mayor leaves office, plenty of time for Walmart to try and get things done. And really, how many Walmart shoppers read The New York Times?

Still, the stain of bribery gives the project's opponents ample opportunity to spread the word against the company, as they did at a rally on the steps of City Hall this afternoon. No sooner did the events begin at 2 p.m. than a statement popped up in our inbox, reaffirming the Walmart march continues.

“Our track record as a good corporate citizen is well known and in large cities like New York, residents continue to choose to shop and work at Walmart," company spokesman Steve Restivo said. "As a result, we continue to evaluate opportunities here to make access to our stores more convenient for customers."

The fighting has been heady so far, but if it continues, expect things to heat up on both sides.

mchaban [at] observer.com | @MC_NYC

The unhappiest smiley face in the world. (Consumerist)

We bet all Walmart wants to do right now is sink down into one of its faux leather recliners and watch some stupid rom-com on a $199.98 flat screen. It's been kind of  a rough weekend for America's favorite mega-retailer.

First, there was the New York Times story about executives hushing up a vast Mexican bribery conspiracy to win market dominance. And now, in celebration of Earth Day, a local opposition group is going after the company's environmental record.

Walmart Free NYC is calling on Mayor Michael Bloomberg and the Related Companies to withdraw support for the mega-retailer's first store in the city—Walmart is currently in advanced lease negotiations with Related for a 150,000 square foot space at the Gateway II shopping center in East New York.

"With such far-reaching failures on sustainability, including financial support for climate change deniers, Walmart is already undermining Bloomberg's environmental reforms, and [Steve] Ross's green developments," Walmart Free NYC director Stephanie Yazgi said in a statement. "Bloomberg and Ross should stand up to Walmart."

The anti-Walmart group points to a recent report from Food & Water Watch that accuses Walmart of stocking shoddy products, multiplying its waste and pollution, lagging on renewable energy, backing anti-environmental politicians, undermining local producers, degrading the organic designation, voraciously consuming land, and industrializing the food system.

"If allowed in New York City, Walmart would undermine efforts to create a healthier and more fair food system," said Eric Weltman, Senior Organizer for Food & Water Watch. "Walmart has sent mailers to city residents featuring images of organic apples, but there's nothing healthy or appetizing about what the company really stands for."

Some of the accusations, like industrialized food production, are kind of hard to pin solely on the corporate behemoth, but cheap, mass-produced merchandise is pretty much Walmart's calling card and "voraciously consuming land" is also hard to deny, referring, as it does, to the company's sprawling, warehouse-like mega-stores.

The company did not respond for a request for comment, but we'd guess they'd probably point us towards their 2012 Global Responsibility Report, which, according to the company's website "documents Walmart's steps toward becoming a more sustainable, responsible company and building meaningful, long-term change."

Will Walmart really undermine the sustainability initiatives of Related and the Bloomberg administration? Related and Bloomberg don't seem very worried. Neither camp has responded to the coalition's call to action. But then, Related is probably still pissed off about the 7,200 postcards that the anti-Walmart group sent to residents in all its 26 developments this past February.

Meanwhile, local officials are already calling on New York to turn its back on Walmart for good, following the bribery scandal revealed by The Times.

"A company that tries to bribe its way into a community has no place in New York City," Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer said in a statement. "Once again Wal-Mart has shown itself to be a bad corporate actor and a bad neighbor, a company whose black marks already include predatory pricing and blatant disregard for the rights of working men and women."

Stuart Appelbaum, president of the local retail workers union that has been one of Walmart's chief critics in the five boroughs, called for a full accounting of the company's political spending in the city in light of the latest news, including an investigation by any relevant local authorities. " Walmart has spent millions on quote philanthropy and lobbying to enter New York City in the past couple of years," Mr. Appelbaum said. "These so-called donations and contributions have been the core of Walmart’s campaign to break into this coveted urban market."

"New Yorkers have a right to know what Walmart has done, and spent, to buy its way into the city," he added. "How many checks were cut that have yet to be disclosed?"

Update 4/23: A Walmart spokesman directed The Observer to a lengthy statement online denying the allegations of The Times story.

kvelsey@observer.com

More aisles than Walmart, Target, and Best Buy combined! (Courtesy of Electron Plumber)

Big isn't always better!

Best Buy did a monstrous belly flop in the pool of big retailers last Thursday, reporting a $2.6 billion quarter loss and sending tidal waves to similar retailers. Best Buy, along with many of its retailing rivals, is shifting their focus to opening smaller locations. We are facing down the end of the big box story, according to Bloomberg.

Target, Walmart, all are opening smaller stores, a recognition of changing demographics, a shift online and competition from one another as markets become saturated.

Lady Walmart, who is perhaps queen of the belly flop in local communities, has plans to build about 100 petite stores, Neighborhood Market, as well as 150 supercenters, about thirty more than they added in 2011, despite eight consecutive quarters of profit loss. The Neighborhood Markets have been seen as a strategy to break into dense markets like New York, going up against the Duane Reades of the world.

Still, the news of shrinking interest and sales can't help but cause wonderment at the fact that Walmart is somehow America's favorite retailer.

mewing@observer.com

The mystifying powers of a seemingly endless Visa credit limit and the bargain prices of Walmart! (Image Katu.com)

Fordham University published their Fourth Quarter 2011 V-Positive Report, which measures the Consumer Value Index. The methodology is based off of a few psychological theories that reflect the "understanding of the motivation to consume." In short: a thousand people are surveyed at the end of the year and answer several attributes for each of the seven domains.

The research is then used to measure and showcase the extent of which massive corporations impact our lives. The questions consider happiness, self esteem and physiological benefits to truly list the most beneficial and admired companies.

In terms of Societal V-Positive, which measures brand value across the United States, the most highly regarded companies were as follows:

• 1. Walmart
• 2. Facebook
• 3. Google
• 4. Visa
• 5. Yahoo!
• 6. McDonald's
• 7. Amazon
• 8. Coca-Cola
• 9. Microsoft
• 10. Target

It's relatively clear that Americans like a bargain with Target, Amazon, and Walmart taking three of the spots. They also like to consume calories, in the case of McDonald's and Coca-Cola. Yahoo! and Microsoft might be the most questionable of them all, but Google says enough by being ahead of them. Now, Visa is kind of unexpected, but who doesn't love spending money they don't have at all of these other fine establishments?

We have all of these in New York except for Walmart. Then again, do we really need another night club?

mewing@observer.com

Can a smiley face even stand up? (Courtesy of Consumerist)

Oh, Walmart. Your time might be running out, but your efforts are no less persistent. The boxing gloves have been long thrown to the side, but New York's bare knuckles have delivered some blows lately.

The problems aren't limited to New York, either. Walmart is facing resistance in the Chinatown district in Los Angeles. The LA Times reported that City Council outlawed big box chains from opening up in the neighborhood last week.

But Walmart responded, quite shockingly, by saying that "it speaks volumes that the community was not consulted in the writing of the motion." Riding the wave of input outcry, Walmart even called for community input in Aspen Hill, Md. last October.

But community input in New York? Walmart wants nothing of the sort.

“Funny that in Los Angeles, Walmart wants 'community input' while in New York they hold closed door meetings with a hand-selected audience and refuse to participate in Council hearings," Maritza Silva-Farrell, Senior Organizer with ALIGN, told The Observer in response to the LA reports. "Our communities want to know how Walmart will ensure that the jobs they ‘create’ won’t simply destroy local businesses.”

There'a laundry list of meetings that Walmart and Related Companies have skipped around the city, according to the Walmart Free New York coalition:

- Walmart skipped multiple public hearings held by the New York City Council in 2011

- Related Companies agreed to discuss its Gateway II proposal with the East New York Community Board, only to cancel 20 minutes before the meeting was slated to start.

- Related Companies refused to meet with community leaders on multiple occasions – not responding to multiple requests via letter and in-person visit.

- Walmart held a secret meeting in Brooklyn and refused to allow councilmembers and members of the community board to attend.

- Walmart CEO and company board members won’t grant a meeting with their own associates, even after asked multiple times by OUR Walmart members.

New Yorkers are, once again, disappointed and angry at Walmart.

Wandra Salaman, Executive Director of Mothers on the Move, commented that "Yet again Walmart is showing its true colors—it talks a good game, but that talk rarely matches reality."

"Will the real Walmart please stand up?" questioned Nieves Padilla, playing on Eminen's The Real Slim Shady.

Had Walmart opened in New York, you could have saved $11.98 (71%!) on the CD in store.

Update: Walmart takes issues with a number of the contentions made by Walmart Free New York and released the following statement to The Observer:

While we don’t yet have a site to announce in New York City, we have gone to great lengths over the past 18 months to engage with New Yorkers and share facts in all the ways people get their information.  From local community outreach and one-on-one meetings with stakeholders to earned, paid and social media initiatives, it’s clear that these discussions have resulted in more informed opinions about our company.

Consider this: more than 100,000 New Yorkers have signed a petition in favor of a store, more than 60,000 people have "liked" our local  Facebook page, our community web site is a growing resources for those seeking facts and every recent, independent poll has shown overwhelming support for our stores and what they can deliver.  At the same time, New Yorkers are visiting Walmart stores OUTSIDE the city more than ever.

As for our efforts in Los Angeles, we have secured the necessary permits to move forward on a new Walmart Neighborhood Market in Chinatown and enjoy a similar level of support from the community.

All across the country, we’re working hard to be part of the solution when it comes to creating jobs, stimulating economic development and expanding access to affordable food.  Los Angeles and New York City are no different.

mewing@observer.com