Open Thread
By bluegal Thursday Nov 26, 2009 8:30pmVarious days this weekend worldwide (and tomorrow in the US) is Buy Nothing Day. This video uses clips from John Carpenter's "They Live" to terrific effect.
Open Thread below... And Happy Thanksgiving.
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buying nothing is not an option. They've nothing to spend. More's the pity.
.
How about buy nothing from a Republican contributor throughout the year and also get some progressive legislation from them.
Go see http://www.democratz.org
in case the domain appears down go here http://liberal.posterous.com/the-liberal-demo...
with what they are doing to the economy, soon the dollar will be debased to the point where no one will be able buy anything with it.
"The Secret of Oz" trailer - How to Fix the 2010 Depression - directed by Bill Still
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cq9yEVcGIU
...The Church of Stop Shopping too!
To all the C&Ler's...
Best Holiday Wishes...
GOPnot4me
I spoke of this last night. Sears will open at 4:00 A.M. for you. Don't be a player.
during the Xmas season (which now runs roughly 6-7 months of the year)for at least 20 years now and I have no intention of ever returning to that particular rat race.
But I have to sleep. All that food and beer. Obey the turkey. OBEY!
Happy Thanksgiving to all my American friends.
In Korea, they have a Harvest celebration, based on the lunar calendar, whenever the Harvest Moon falls (date changes). Canada's was last month. Just a little trivia in case you didn't know.
Buy Nothind Day is on the 28th here, but I doubt anyone here will pay any heed to it. I will.
I don't even like Sears, so lining up at 4 a.m., um, no thanks. Buy from local shops (at other times) if you can.
Be axing all the fat belly ads over here? ----->
Over at Red State all the ads are for fat heads.
fat belly ads here. They have hacked into your camera imbedded in your monitor. Conspiracy #1, be afraid, very afraid.
but I'm serious - Right now I have Sears ads (3 of them!) over there and one telling me I can save 55% tomorrow. Let's not be hypocrites.
site. It's why we get ads for right-wing websites and books occasionally.
and they still rack up 100% or more in profits. You should realize when you're being scammed.
I'll take the best of both worlds and do some black friday shopping online. It's the ONE day a year I actually consider buying something at a discounted price (all other buying is impulse or necessity), and I already did it online. A TomTom GPS for $97.00 at Wal Marts main competitor works fine for me. Now its off to bed. Nighty night.
I saw an ad for Radio Shack for around $69 bucks.
The 340S is the one I got, it has the voice activation, it lists for $250.00
run the TV ad with the model or it's so fast and in smallm print you can't see it unless you have Tivo and can pause it.
TomToms suck. That's why they're so cheap.
I have to thank you for that prescient insight.
Simple Adbock for IE!
No muss no fuss! Easy to use! Tastes good and is good for you! Best of all, it's FREE!
I only come here to read the articles.
grilled at Canadian border.
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/sto...
Big trouble N60.
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/north/story/2009/11/...
What happened to Amy Goodman is simply outrageous. I am embarrassed for my country.
I saw the raw footage of Goodman talking to the CBC reporter about this, and I'm sure that the reason this happened is because Goodman was put on the DHS watch list after her arrest at the GOP convention last year. Your border agents simply got a hit on her name when she tried to come into the country this time (unlike the last time she visited Canada, which was a trip to Windsor in May, 2007- before she was arrested- and she was treated pretty normally).
As much acrimony as there is about the upcoming Vancouver Olympics, Goodman would have faced similar questioning if BC wasn't hosting these games, but was soon hosting a WTO summit or a visit from Obama. I think the border agents were just doing their jobs the way cops are taught to: By asking questions.
But if Goodman's name hadn't been placed on the watch list, there would have been no questions, and no short-term visa issued. She would have gone on uninterrupted as she had in the past.
I just hate to see this kinda stuff happening.
Goodnight from the land of Winfasprummer on the 331st of Novapuary!
;)
My goodness, he was armed and dangerous. ;)
and (calgary) I became embarrassed for my country when we elected Harper. Nothing has changed since.
could not have been more different for my ENTRANCE into Canada in 2003. Treated like a king by the lady on the Canadian side, however, my EXIT meant that I had to pass thru a gauntlet of dogs and VERY rude border guards on the U.S. side, who searched my car twice (with dogs) and then proceeded to grill me as to my reasons for going to Canada. I was not at all pleased, but too stoned to even care
BC bud, I presume?
;)
..and quite impressive it was. High quality stuff bought from a stranger. Who was open, honest, and not so much worried that I was undercover there to arrest him. B.C. is great
We seem to have an "Olympic Police" up here to make sure everyone toes the line about how wonderful it is for our city and mostly our economy.
I, for one, am planning on flying the coop for the 2 weeks that the circus is in town.
...a year ago. Campbell makes Glen Clark look like Mother Teresa - 2 terms of that shit was enough.
;>)
more of the conspiracy theory about the North American Union, which I think there may be more truth to than many realize?
...planting the flag for the Great White NAU, expect single malt sellouts and soiled shorts.
;>)
will not be WHITE.
and they'll have reverse skidmarks on the outside from having the province sold out from under them too.
;>)
Nice piece from the Guardian about "good" and "bad" Americans.
Not your typical American
Good Americans don't question the US's superiority. I think there are other places in the world that are OK. I am a Bad American
of what the MSM has done for the corporations promoting the idea it's great if it's cheap. If it's made in China it's cheap and the propaganda says it's a good deal. Then the one in the ad doesn't have everything you wanted or they have a limited supply and you spend a few hundred dollars to get all the extras you wanted. The retailers win and most of all the corporations that moved to China win because the retailer still paid full wholesale for all of the cheap shit imported from China.
Black Friday stampede last year in New York were in my thoughts tonight as we got our grocery shopping out of the way...
Definitely not buying anything tomorrow.
exactly what I was thinking: lest we forget. Walmart shopper trampled to death; Black Friday
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7aUwmsi6Wc0
*
GNA! Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving! :)
I hope you go before you go to bed. You wouldn't want to wake up being in a wet blanket. Hope you enjoyed your holiday too.
Had a great day with the fam....
Too much food...
A reunion with a 90 year old great aunt whom the "ex" had not spoken to in months....that was cool.
We were all together after four years.
It felt really great.
Hope you and everyone at C&L had a wonderful Thanksgiving Day.
"Various days this weekend worldwide (and tomorrow in the US) is Buy Nothing Day"
I'm not in favor of that. But, I'm in favor of "borrow nothing" if the buying means incurring double digit interest rates on a credit card. In other words, live within one's means. And make resolutions to avoid banking fees, such as ATM withdrawal fees, overdraft fees and so forth. My opinion is that the banking corporations are due a lump of coal in their stocking this holiday season.
And forget about this latest banking scam ... the one where they want you to not enter the PIN for your debit card, but instead sign for the transaction so that they can price gouge the merchant. That just drives up prices for everyone.
and stop funding all these right-wing corporations. I doubt there are any blue companies left....last I heard was CostCo, maybe Bed Bath and Beyond, but that was it.
It's really the source of manufacture to be concerned about. Regardless of the store, the country of manufacture for the particular product is relevant.
Myself, I'm not opposed to the American economy in general, but, instead, certain aspects of it, and first and foremost is the banking industry.
Not too long ago, one could put their savings into a passbook account and get 5¼ interest on it, while usury was defined as lending above a certain interest rate - in many states, 12% or less. And the banks were profitable.
Now passbooks are lucky to pay 1½ percent, credit card loans are at 18% in some instances, and sometimes more, and the banks still need a huge bailout. So, in an economic boycott, we need to focus on those corporations that have ripped us off, and that is the financial sector, along with their governmental accomplices. We need to address the congressional accomplices in the 2010 primaries. But meanwhile, there should be no payment to these financial corporations and no cooperation in their schemes, such as this signature in lieu of PIN on debit cards scheme. I would advocate avoiding any Christmas season activities that contribute to the profitability of banks. I just don't see the "value added" associated with the banks policies.
You will appreciate it more.
Credit union and two brokerage accounts. I have about $1000 in a bank, allows me to use an ATM at no charge within walking distance when needed.
Big problem these days, walking has all of a sudden become a problem. I never really contemplated this situation. Hopefully, it will mend, and so far, it seems to have been mending.
And forget about this latest banking scam ... the one where they want you to not enter the PIN for your debit card, but instead sign for the transaction so that they can price gouge the merchant. That just drives up prices for everyone.
What is this? Are you talking about using the card as credit card (where you are generally required to sign) instead of a debit card (where you enter the PIN)? I have either option on my card.
always run it as a credit card. Some of the larger stores will take the VISA but not the Mastercard. It depends on the motives of the store and who has the right connections I guess.
I've been getting these mailings from the bank. It encourages me to not use the PIN, but instead sign for the transaction. I'll be entered into a drawing for a HD TV on the bank. The credit union has some kind of other scheme along the same bent.
I went to an auto-repair shop two months ago, where the policy was that they would accept credit cards, or accept debit cards on a PIN but would not accept debit cards on a signature. I asked him why, and supposed that the rates for a credit card and a debit card processed through the VISA credit network was the same, and he told me no. He said the charges from the financial corporation was substantially larger for the debit card processed as a credit transaction than for a true credit card. Armed with that information, I asked a second (small business) merchant and got the same story.
My conclusion is a big "FUCK YOU"¹ to the architects of this sign instead of enter a PIN scheme. Since I'm getting it from multiple accounts, I know that many out there are getting the same pitch.
¹ People who have read my responses in the past would note that I don't swear often.
to say Fuck you as long as you're not attacking another poster. Consult the site manager for more information.
The swearing is because I needed to think a little longer, which I usually do. In this case, I can use my debit card as a "PIN" transaction, or as a supposed "credit, or signature" transaction. The bank/credit union proposes to offer a chance at benefit if I process the transaction as a "credit, or signature" transaction. A couple of months ago, the bank was offering a flat 25¢ rebate if I signed, and I did so. That was before running into the auto repair merchant.
I've decided that the angle is a SLIMEBAG, SLEEZY, and plain and simple EVIL approach, and characteristic of where the banking sector has evolved to. I don't see the benefit added to society as a result of these policies. Therefore, I would advocating avoiding these overtures, as well as avoiding overdrafts, ATM charges and other schemes.
that's the scam. You get a 2 bit rebate for each transaction. Wow, they really do think we're stupid. Uhh wait, there are a lot of people doing this against the benefit of the retailer so now, the retailer has to include it in their overhead. The credit card companies and banks don't care who they screw because the screwing is good whichever way they go.
That's it. It drives up prices and costs to the retailer, in order to deliver revenues to the bank. That is, in itself not bad, but one has to ask, what is the value added as a result of this approach? There is none, and therefore it is bad for that reason. So, go PIN on a debit card.
It's really no difference to me; if anything, probably easier to enter the PIN than sign the draft. I don't get a .25 rebate; might as well help out the small business owner.
Debit Cards vs Gas Stations….
Many gas stations will charge your debit card twice the amount incurred at the pumps; keeping that fact that they want to make sure the funds are available and payable. They keep the funds for up to four days; so if you have low funds; you’ll be paying NSF checks coming in during that period. Now imagine that they are doing this to two hundred thousand people a day; say at 20.00 a whack.
Who gets the interest on $ 4,000,000. kept for 4 days.
The same goes for hotels who have been known to keep these funds for up to fifteen days; as the interest piles up; did they send you an interest bearing check; back??
Answer: No; They keep your interest and all interest; its another way for your debit card to work for them; these hidden practices have cost Americans; 28,000,000 in NSF funds in one year!!
Also made oil companies 177,000,000 in interest also in one year!! Its better to use a credit card or cash at the pumps; its better because you can afford to eat, feed your families. These are only two of the ways your debit cards work for big business; There are MANY MORE ways that are more sinister..
Pay cash whenever possible.
I was told today by my aunt and some cousins that some of the gas stations don't have an attendant at the pumps and they don't accept cash.
a republican Thanksgiving retort about what are nation is suffering from from congressman Mike Pence. He is one lying sack of shit.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/34163...
"Where the fuck were you in the last 8 years?"
He has hosted Laura Ingraham's radio show numerous times. Pence is a hard core right wing ideologue who doesn't have a problem spewing shock jock radio lingo to sell his points to wingnuttia.
If only the repugs were back in charge,right Mr. Pence?
We are in our current situation because of 10 years of failed Repug leadership.
The Repugs are bankrupt of ideas, and those ideas are the root cause of our current troubles.
More of the same Mr. Pence? Nope, you had your chance and you blew it.
unless there is a major happening in the world, you won't see any serious news this weekend. All of the best of the world pundits have the 4 day weekend off. You would think they had some kind of union but no, they have contracts.
"Out of the circle of love" Scahill thinks that Cheney and crew are still running clandestine operations in Pakistan, and I believe him. more...
http://rawstory.com/2009/11/pentagon-intimida...
War is Peace: When a nation is at war, with the whole population geared behind war effort, as in 1984, who is more at peace in their position than the leaders of the country. If the leaders have acted cleverly enough they will have directed their population's anger towards 'the enemy'. It is therefore less likely that a disgruntled citizen is going to attempt to overthrow the government than if it were a time of peace, and the disgruntled citizen had no-one to blame but the nation's leaders. So, to the leaders, War Is Peace
Freedom is Slavery: When the population of a nation is enslaved into serving their government, the only ones with freedom are the leaders of that government. First of all, if properly enslaved, the population is too busy serving the government to stop them doing anything, and secondly, the leaders don't have any work to do, leaving them free to do as they please.
Ignorance is Strength: If the population does not know that anything more can exist, or that they are being lied to, or that change is possible, they aren't going to care. If a government can manage to keep it's population so ignorant that they do not question what they are told, no weaknesses within what the government says will ever be found.
In summary, when is a body so strong as to be free to do as it pleases in peace than when it's minions are ignorantly enslaved into war.
More of orwellian interpretation @
http://www.notbored.org/goldstein.html
Dr. Know
public intellectual
realist/postmodern/anarchist
http://community.freespeech.org/user/dr_know
$atan Rulz: this life is made for suckers
...own small businesses, my wife and I own a small boutique. Thankfully people are buying today. Just don't shop at the big box stores, support local Progressive owned businesses
When will their grassroots folks realize that, just like the attacks on health insurance reform, global warming denial is ginned up by large companies purely out of money-grubbing greed, and those companies don't give a damn about the people? Will right wingers ever wake up and have a "Matrix"-like moment about this?
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