Archive for Black Friday
Until Next Year…
Posted by: | CommentsHello again to my loyal sum of readers. I hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas. It seems, however, that a few monsters have to spoil it for the rest of us. Yes, Virginia, there are monsters. They come disguised as parents who will fight, claw, trample and whatever else is necessary to get the latest and greatest toy gun, electronic gizmo, or (gulp!) fill in the blank sneakers. Do you really need to fight over shoes? What kind of example are you setting for your kids in the season of sharing and caring with behavior such as this? You need to go back to parenting school if you have children who can’t get by without a particular brand of gym shoe. This is not what Christmas is all about, but apparently, you didn’t get the message.
I discovered another pet peeve over the holidays. Holding family gift exchanges in restaurants. Many kids in restaurants behave badly enough on their own without the added incentive of presents to open. If you are too put upon to host at your house, then rent a private room if you want a family Christmas party. Don’t inflict your revelry on the rest of us.
Lastly, I was really moved by our Christmas Eve service at Messiah-Trinity. Our choir was excellent and my praise is especially exuberant for the job of our special musicians, Michael Allen on trumpet and Bridgette McAuliffe on the flute. You added an exquisite flavor to the service that was wholly satisfying. Well, in closing, I wish everyone a Happy New Year 2012 and may all your resolutions be kept and wishes come true.
Until next year, Doc.
Let’s give thanks
Posted by: | CommentsHello again to my loyal circle of readers. It’s the holiday season once again. Time once again to be thankful for stores, sales, gift certificates, store Santas, etc. At least that’s what it appears to the casual observer. Is it too much to ask to set aside one day to be thankful and be with family without shopping intruding? Black Friday keeps getting earlier and earlier every year. Especially hard hit are the store employees, many of whom no longer get to spend any quality time with family. We as citizens must stop this senselessness. Bargains can be held at 8:00 a.m. Friday just as easily as midnight Thursday. As Thanksgiving arrives this year, I find I’m more thankful than ever before for close friends. Without them I would be lost. It’s time to reflect upon what is truly important in life and it’s not the latest trinket from Wal-Mart!
As a follow-up to last week’s column about how Congress flouts insider trading laws came a story this week about how the net worth of Congress has increased 25% in the last three years even as most citizens’ worth has declined. Again it is no wonder they will do anything to get re-elected. Speaking of re-election, it was noted with interest that the same Congress people who last year voted to censure Rep. Charles Rangel this year showed up in full force at his big fund raiser. In Washington, nothing is like the real world and it is all smoke and mirrors.
Until next week, I hope everyone has a safe and wonderful Thanksgiving, Doc.
College Football Wrap Up and Black Friday
Posted by: | CommentsHello again this week to my posse of loyal readers.
Well, another college football regular season has come and gone with a few surprises. The Big Least was terrible this year. I totally agree with Bozich’s column that they should refuse an automatic bid into the BCS this year. In addition, the powers that be should put limits in place on qualifying for the BCS to avoid these fiascos in the future. I feel that both UK and UL both badly underachieved this year at 6-6 given that the SEC east and the Big Least were both especially weak. However, given that both teams had rookie head coaches, some slack can be cut until next year.
Parity has now officially arrived in the NFL. After 12 weeks of the season we now have one division where everyone is under .500 and another division where all teams are 6-5 or 5-6. This is going to allow some awfully weak teams to reach the playoffs. Speaking of playoffs, I am against expanding the baseball playoffs. The season is already stretching into November. It’s not fun to watch baseball dressed for football weather.
Lastly, I slightly participated in Black Friday for the first time in recent memory. The only thing black is all the bruises you get trying to fight your way through the store. Have we really gone this insane as a society that we will get up at 3:00am and wait in the cold just to ensure that we will get a particular toy or electronic gizmo? It appears to me that most of these people would wade nude through ten feet of mud if the stores ask them to. We are the consumers! Why are we allowing the stores to dictate to us in this fashion? No toy or appliance is worth being treated like cattle. Wake up and get some self-respect. Buy online, it’s much easier.
Until next week, Doc.
