Ok, so I waited a little late to do my Christmas shopping this year: I've been sick. First the flu, and then really BAD sinus infection. (Thanks. Glad you asked. I'm better now.) But where are these big sales they keep pitching on TV, hour by hour?
We went to Kohl's, which I'd say is a J C Penney type store, in Ohio to buy kids' clothes for Christmas presents. "50% off, 25% off, BUY 1 GET 1 HALF PRICE": you know the drill. I'm ready to get my bargains. The last outfits I'd purchased were this summer for birthdays. Was there a fleece shortage I missed? Has the stock gone up on denim? Was there a famine in Taiwan so that the cost of acrylic has been raised? What about cotton? The so-called sale prices were at about the same level that "regular prices" were a couple of months ago.
Now I'm not a cheapskate, but I like to get the most (and cutest) for my money. Why was this adorable embossed red cotton sweater in boys size 3T worth $30.00? What about the cute brown, pink, and jade fleece hoodie in girl's size 6 being $24.00, and don't even ask about the matching pants. A black tweed (cotton and acrylic) sweater in 8P for my mom, $50.00. When it was all tallied up I'd "saved $145.00", which is just about the amount I spent for four toddlers outfits. Pardon me, but I do believe there is something wrong here. No wonder families with kids go to Walmart (ugh) and Dollar General (great to "run in" for stuff).
Yes, I know, I got my 50% or whatever off, but I got the feeling it was no bargain. Was the old shell game of raising prices only to give-you-a-sale-price -later in effect here? My total for my purchases, while not being exorbitant, was certainly not of the we-know-we're in a recession genre. It was more like the stores want to make you THINK you're getting more for you dollar. You know: like when your cereal is in a smaller box, but the price is the same. Is it me, or did anyone else notice this?
Monday, December 21, 2009
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
WWJD IN TODAY'S POLITICS
I overheard some statistics yesterday on CNN put forth by Jack Cafferty, as I worked my way to HGTV. He said that 49% of white people who call themselves Republicans consider themselves "religious" and 37% of white Democrats do the same. Religious means going to church once a week, he explained. A higher percentage of Black and Latino voters consider themselves very religious, and they sway to the Democratic ticket usually. Now, I find that to be very telling and a sad state of affairs today.
To me, a spiritual, religious person (member of an organized church or not) is aware of the world around him. He is in tune with the universe as a whole, and the sufferings of all its people. He does not impose his beliefs on others as he goes about his daily life trying to help those less fortunate than himself. He considers all the good in his life and family, and is more than willing to give a helping hand to build a better world for others. He uses his head and his heart to make decisions in life, and if necessary makes monetary contributions when and where it's needed. The good of the whole group is much more important than the complete satisfaction of every individual in it. He is not easily swayed by the hysteria and ranting of the unruly crowds surrounding him. He uses his head. I think Jesus was this type of person. At one time, I was a Southern Baptist.
Democrats and Republicans are two different animals. Right now I'm more than a little upset with both of groups! Repubs can motivate at the drop of a hat: get that revival feeling going, as it were. Nobody even stops to think "why", let's just go. Dems need to consider all sides, not make a show of things, and include everybody. Not much action there. Guess the better use of "religion" goes to the right wing on this count. But it's not a good thing. In a humorous book I'm reading about girls in the south (go Tennessee!) the author said 98% of Southerners said they own a Bible, but she questioned if they ever opened them.
I'm tired of having to be politically correct for right wing "Christianity" and yet not being able to let others observe their beliefs without being criticized. Why does the "party line" carry more weight than the needs of the people in important decisions? Why do Bible verses need to be used to score political points if you're playing a crocked game? Why does "You lie" seem to be the only thing you hear these days in any type of political discussion? What happened to common sense and the common good? Wars, inquisitions, Crusades, jihads, suicide bombings, Civil wars, and massacres have all be committed in the name of religion. What's the point?
To me, a spiritual, religious person (member of an organized church or not) is aware of the world around him. He is in tune with the universe as a whole, and the sufferings of all its people. He does not impose his beliefs on others as he goes about his daily life trying to help those less fortunate than himself. He considers all the good in his life and family, and is more than willing to give a helping hand to build a better world for others. He uses his head and his heart to make decisions in life, and if necessary makes monetary contributions when and where it's needed. The good of the whole group is much more important than the complete satisfaction of every individual in it. He is not easily swayed by the hysteria and ranting of the unruly crowds surrounding him. He uses his head. I think Jesus was this type of person. At one time, I was a Southern Baptist.
Democrats and Republicans are two different animals. Right now I'm more than a little upset with both of groups! Repubs can motivate at the drop of a hat: get that revival feeling going, as it were. Nobody even stops to think "why", let's just go. Dems need to consider all sides, not make a show of things, and include everybody. Not much action there. Guess the better use of "religion" goes to the right wing on this count. But it's not a good thing. In a humorous book I'm reading about girls in the south (go Tennessee!) the author said 98% of Southerners said they own a Bible, but she questioned if they ever opened them.
I'm tired of having to be politically correct for right wing "Christianity" and yet not being able to let others observe their beliefs without being criticized. Why does the "party line" carry more weight than the needs of the people in important decisions? Why do Bible verses need to be used to score political points if you're playing a crocked game? Why does "You lie" seem to be the only thing you hear these days in any type of political discussion? What happened to common sense and the common good? Wars, inquisitions, Crusades, jihads, suicide bombings, Civil wars, and massacres have all be committed in the name of religion. What's the point?
Thursday, December 3, 2009
HOLD THAT TIGER
Ok, I broke my promise to myself, but the incessant coverage of this topic is driving me nuts! Why is Tiger Wood's private life-good or bad- any concern of mine or anybody else's? Has it been a slow news week? No earthquakes? No movie star death? No cure for cancer? (If there was, big PHARMA wouldn't let us know about it.) No John Boehner miscues in Washington?
Another carefully crafted persona has bitten the dust. He's a sports star, for Pete's sake, not the Dali Lama. Anybody that looks to larger-than-life stars of any kind to be role models is surely going to be disappointed. They are human beings just like the rest of us, with the same quirks and foibles, and shortcomings. This is something he has to atone for, deal with, make amends to his family for, and move on. He's young, and very wealthy, but that does not protect him from doing very stupid things. Most of the time that makes the situation even worse. What one of us here has not done something so totally stupid, irresponsible, selfish, life-altering and been found out? Or luckily not?
Why do we as the public feel let down? Why do we feel we have a say in what should happen now? Why do we have any right to even speculate? Who do we think we are? Just because the media keeps harping on "he stated, she says, the police say, the voicemail said" does that make it our concern? The media just wants to get ratings, increase listenership, sell papers, get hits, and tweets. We are only voyeurs and dollar signs.
If you really want to get involved with something, there's enough going on. Of course you have to search for real facts, check your sources, ignore partisan ranting, be willing to change, and be ready to lend a hand. There's health care reform, women's rights, food shortages, climate concerns, jobs, child abuse, cancer, Alzheimers, term limits on members of Congress (oops, sorry about that one), and poverty. Tiger Woods' problems in life seem mighty miniscule compared to all of this. A sort of diversion, if you will, so that the negative areas of your life don't seem so prominent.
Get out of his life and his family. Don't contribute to this nonsense. It's a waste of good, positive energy.
Another carefully crafted persona has bitten the dust. He's a sports star, for Pete's sake, not the Dali Lama. Anybody that looks to larger-than-life stars of any kind to be role models is surely going to be disappointed. They are human beings just like the rest of us, with the same quirks and foibles, and shortcomings. This is something he has to atone for, deal with, make amends to his family for, and move on. He's young, and very wealthy, but that does not protect him from doing very stupid things. Most of the time that makes the situation even worse. What one of us here has not done something so totally stupid, irresponsible, selfish, life-altering and been found out? Or luckily not?
Why do we as the public feel let down? Why do we feel we have a say in what should happen now? Why do we have any right to even speculate? Who do we think we are? Just because the media keeps harping on "he stated, she says, the police say, the voicemail said" does that make it our concern? The media just wants to get ratings, increase listenership, sell papers, get hits, and tweets. We are only voyeurs and dollar signs.
If you really want to get involved with something, there's enough going on. Of course you have to search for real facts, check your sources, ignore partisan ranting, be willing to change, and be ready to lend a hand. There's health care reform, women's rights, food shortages, climate concerns, jobs, child abuse, cancer, Alzheimers, term limits on members of Congress (oops, sorry about that one), and poverty. Tiger Woods' problems in life seem mighty miniscule compared to all of this. A sort of diversion, if you will, so that the negative areas of your life don't seem so prominent.
Get out of his life and his family. Don't contribute to this nonsense. It's a waste of good, positive energy.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)