On Thanksgiving Day, I did what any respectable guy would do. Besides stuffing my face, I took some time to browse the sale papers for Friday's big bonanza. I found the usual suspects. Circuit City, Comp USA, Best Buy and Ultimate Electronics. Even Target's ad got a once over from me.
Many of the bargains looked quite appealing, but there was no way in the world I was going to get up at 5:30 am to be at a store by 6 am. So I leisurely rose around 9 am, took my time getting dressed, checked my email, and was in my car by 10 am.
First stop? Office Depot. The store was not busy at all. I picked up a Microsoft wireless keyboard/mouse combo for $15 after rebate. I picked up a linksys router AND wireless pcmcia card for $10 after rebate. I stocked up on some AA batteries, something like $6 for two dozen. I got 150 blank CD-Rs for $18.00. And I happily snagged a 15 pack of DVD-R discs for $5.00.
Next it was off to Target. Expecting the very worst, I braced myself for a zoo-like atmosphere. I can't say I was disappointed when the checkout lanes were no worse than any average Saturday. So I took off for the DVDs first. I picked up a copy of The Day After Tomorrow for $8.88 (I know it is liberal lunacy but it should play nicely on my home theater!), The Simpsons 4th Season for $17.88 and Mulan special edition for $12.88. I picked up a couple gifts for the kids, some milk for Mary and I was on my way.
I spoke with an individual that said Best Buy was likely to have some unhappy customers on their hands. They were supposed to have opened up at 6 am, but apparantly there were so many people waiting earlier that they opened the doors at 4:30 am and then wouldn't let anyone else in until the original time. Well, the people who got there earlier made off like bandits, leaving the rest bitter and disappointed that they missed the best stuff. Hardly a best buy, huh?
The analysts are saying that spending is going to be down from last year due to high gas prices and an uncertain economy. I guess we'll wait and see.
By the way, for those who don't know WHY it is called Black Friday, it is because the day after Thanksgiving is traditionally the day where retailers move from being in the red to entering the black and turning a profit. A little bit of seasonal trivia for you. No charge.
It's Del.icio.us!
Furl It!
November 27, 2004 12:22 AM
Just a quick thought - why is there an anti-liberal comment in a list of what you did for a day? The Day After Tomorrow is FICTION and ot some "liberal lunacy". It was an alright movie, but FICTION that could NEVER really happen, at least the way it is portrayed. Nobody was ever supposed to think that it could really happen that way. The best scientists of all belief systems know that only in Hollywood do thigs occur that way. But liberals are not at fault for the movie - I'm sure there were plenty of Conservatives who worked on the movie - it is a disaster MOVIE, not political commentary. But it is TRUE that if we keep destroying our environment without finding ways to give back to Mother Nature, the planet probably will turn on us and wipe us out. Such a thing may not happen for 100 years or more, but we DO need to find ways to better this planet instead of destroying it for industry, money and profit. Why are, again (sigh) liberals responsible for all of the evils of the world in your eyes?
November 27, 2004 02:26 AM
Hey Robert.. I am looking forward to watching it... should make my subwoofers rock!
I mock it because many on the left took it as gospel truth, even going so far as to hand out leaflets at theaters it was showing at indicating this could REALLY HAPPEN! (ergo, the lunacy...)
But I shall report back after I have a chance to view it. Don't know if it will be anytime soon as I have quite a backlog.
As for liberals being responsible for all the evils of the world, I don't believe that at all. I stand by my contention that the liberal leadership has attempted to destroy that which makes America great.
Did you go shopping today?
November 27, 2004 11:16 AM
Fair enough. But just remember that it is not only liberals that sometimes do crazy things like promoting that movies could be real. My brother just told me recently that he just saw, again, several people downtown in the city he live in standing on street corners chanting religious mantras and screaming "Repent, Repent to Jesus - the End of Times is Near !" Also, have you watched some of these so-called Christian shows lately where evangelists get up in front of thousands of people and claim they can "heal" them with the power of God? They go through this whole ritual (that can't be anything but fake) to miraculously "cure" these ailments (and the blind can see) all the while asking for people to send MONEY to their church. Can you tell me that is not a SCAM and "lunacy". And the worst part is, so many people, so many Americas who are Conservative, are gullible enough to believe that tripe. Look at it LOGICALLY and tell me, can these evangelists REALLY be true, or just preying on people's fears and hopes for their own profit? Liberals arenot the only ones with strange and UNREALISTIC ideas. Remember that. Some Conservatives are just as CRAZY if they believe all that evangelical stuff.
November 27, 2004 08:31 PM
Robert,
I agree that many people who claim to be Christians do absolutely insane things. I think for the most part the "faith healers" are hucksters at worst, and misguided at the very least.
For the record, I know people who have been miraculously healed by the power of God. I just don't believe God needs any preacher to do the healing, and I think the "carnival" atmosphere is repulvsive.
As for those who feel led to call people to repent because Jesus is coming again, I have never stood on a street corner and done this. However, I firmly believe in the doctrine which prompts them to do this. The Bible is very clear that He is coming again. Will you be ready?
November 27, 2004 09:08 PM
Amen to that! I think that those who use any religion to their personal benefit are absolutely hypocritical and repulsive human beings. As for my own beliefs, I may not believe in all of the same things that you do, but I do try to lead a clean moral life and try to help those around me to the best of my ability. Just because I have an open mind to many religions and points of view does not mean that I am not spiritual, it just means that I am not favoring any one religion over another. I think they all have truth to them, as well as every one is flawed in its own ways. I feel that the real truth of the Universe is much, much bigger than you or I could ever imagine and that whatever entity or entities out there that could be considered God are actually much more complex and wonderful than we could ever begin to imagine. From extraterrestrials to Galactic Federations to Jesus Christ - all could be possible. Call it science fiction if you wish, but that is the fun adventure of being open minded. Anything can be possible to the farthest reaches of the human spirit, human creativity. The REAL truth is that none of us TRULY KNOW what is out there, only the limits of our Faith define what we believe. There is no less or no more value to your (meant generally for Christianity) beliefs than there is to a Muslim or a Hindus belief or even someone who worships Bozo the Clown ( albeit that this is a little unconventional). It is all individual choice and faith and belief. That is the wonder of this great Universe - that there are so many cultures and so many choices. The true meaning of living is doing your best for yourself and for others, and trying to make the world a better place. So I hope that whatever end may lie in store for humanity, if there is an end, is a world where those who have done their best to give to others are not punished for being open and honest and believing in the fathoms of human creativity. Those who have been selfish and greedy and petty and uncaring may reap what they sow, but I believe that IF there is truth to the Christian way, then those who have been moral and just, even if they did not believe the myths of the Bible as the ONLY and ABSOLUTE truth, are looked upon favorably. So yes, all of this said, if there is and end to this world, I believe that I will still see a bright future because the Universe is much more wonderful than we can yet begin to imagine.
December 1, 2004 01:03 PM
Robert, just wanted to let you know that I really enjoy reading your comments. We seem to think along the same lines, but you're able to express those thoughts as words - much better than I would be able to. I'm not a religious person. It seems to me that religion is more a source of violence than of peace. I've always considered myself a moral person. I treat others with kindness because that's the way I want to be treated. I don't much believe in the afterlife, but if there is one I'm sure people will be judged by their actions, not by what religion they belong to.
Take it easy, and keep posting your comments.
November 20, 2008 11:11 AM
For those of you who do not understand what a christian is here is a little info: There are, Lutherans, Baptists, Calvinism, Anglican Church, Presbyterians, Reformed Churches, Episcopalians, Methodists, Evangelicals, Dunkars, Moravians, Brethren in Christ, Hutterites, and mormons. So understand when you hear or read the news about priest commiting crimes against liitle children those are catholic christians, and when you here and read in the news about men or fathers marrying their sister and cousins those are mormons, and when you hear and read about women not being able to shave their legs and wear ankle long skirts those are jehovas, and when you read and hear about " I CAN HEAL YOU WHILE ON YOUR WHEEL CHAIR AND MAKE YOU WALK" which GOD gave no one on earth that power but doctors those would be those jokers on TV. I agree with some of your thougts, but there is a "GOD" and his name is JESUS. And with all these religions separated by th ROMAN EMPIRE it can be a little confusing, but it's better than being in a sect or cult that believe in anything that is wrong or evil. It's good to keep an open mind on all religions, no one is to say which is the right one, but know this whatever religion you choose be sure that you priest, pastor etc. is reading out of the bible and not just holding it in the air and screaming jiberish. Good lck, G-Bless Ken SHBAPTIST.
November 20, 2008 11:18 AM
For those of you who do not understand what a christian is here is a little info: There are, Lutherans, Baptists, Calvinism, Anglican Church, Presbyterians, Reformed Churches, Episcopalians, Methodists, Evangelicals, Dunkars, Moravians, Brethren in Christ, Hutterites, and mormons. So understand when you hear or read the news about priest commiting crimes against little children those are catholic christians, and when you here and read in the news about men or fathers marrying their sister and cousins those are mormons, and when you hear and read about women not being able to shave their legs and wear ankle long skirts those are jehovas, and when you read and hear about " I CAN HEAL YOU WHILE ON YOUR WHEEL CHAIR AND MAKE YOU WALK" which GOD gave no one on earth that power but doctorsto help the sick, those would be those jokers on TV. I agree with some of your thougts, but there is a "GOD" and his name is JESUS. And with all these religions separated by the ROMAN EMPIRE it can be a little confusing, but it's better than being in a sect or cult that believe in anything that is wrong or evil. It's good to keep an open mind on all religions, no one is to say which is the right one, but know this whatever religion you choose be sure that your priest, pastor etc. is reading out of the bible and not just holding it in the air and screaming jiberish. Good lck, G-Bless Ken SHBAPTIST.