Who Are They Trying to Fool?

Today is the day of extremes.

You shop, or you don't.

I don't.

Those people scare me, the ones who line up so early.

I tried it once, with my mom, and never again.

The one time we did, the toy store opened, and the first person through the door walked over to the manager and asked for a particular sale item, a real big item that was heavily advertised and hugely discounted.

She was told they were sold out.

Did I mention she was the first person through the door?

She was told there would be no rain checks issued, sorry, only what is in stock is available, and we are already sold out.

Only by threatening to call the sheriff's department fraud division did she get the manager to agree to give rain checks to the first 10 people in line who wanted that item.

If you read the fine print on the ads for one department store this year, their big door buster appliance says they only guarantee to have 3 available per store.

Last year, at the local Monster Mart, there were only 10 of a certain electronic item available at the special price. This happens to be a 24hr. Monster Mart and they closed a half hour before the sale began and made all shoppers leave, just to make sure everyone had the same chance.

Two employees, at 5AM as the doors opened, walked over to electronics and got in line first.

It is just not worth the aggravation of fighting all of that.


Today is:

Black Friday OR Buy Nothing Day, depending upon your preference

Eid al Adha -- Islam

Family Day, Nevada, US

Festival of Solitude (Not if you go shopping!)

Flossing Day

Maize Day

National Bavarian Cream Pie Day

National Day of Listening

Old Tyme Farm Day

Pins and Needles Day

St. Maximus' Day (patron of babies, the dying)

You're Welcome Day (Always the day after Thanksgiving -- somebody really has a sense of humor here, to create this holiday!)

Zibelemarit, Switzerland (Onion Market Festival)


Anniversaries Today:

William Shakespeare marries Anne Hathaway, 1582


Birthdays Today:

Jaleel White, 1976
Brooke Langton, 1970
Robin Givens, 1964
Caroline Kennedy, 1957
Rick Rockwell, 1956
Jimi Hendrix, 1942
Eddie Rabbit, 1941
Bruce Lee, 1940
"Buffalo" Bob Smith, 1917
Chick Hearn, 1916
James Agee, 1909
L. Sprague de Camp, 1907
Forrest Shaklee, 1894
Anders Celcius, 1701
Emperor Xiaozong of China, 1127


Today in History:

The first elected representatives from Lancashire were called to Westminster by King Edward I to attend what later became known as "The Model Parliament", 1295
The Portuguese Royal Family leaves Lisbon to escape from Napoleonic troops, 1807
Adoption of Constitution of the Kingdom of Poland, 1815
NY Times dubs baseball "The National Game", 1870
Alfred Nobel establishes the Nobel Prize, 1895
In New York City, the first Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is held, 1924