Thanksgiving and "Black Friday"

This is a the time where I wish everyone had an utterly belated happy Thanksgiving.  Hopefully everyone had great times with family and friends.  Thanksgiving is generally seen by many a very male-friendly holiday since many take the day to eat much carbs and protein and watch football.  Take the day as you like, but one should be spending it with conversation and fellowship in my myopic opinion.

As you may know, my mother is in the old country, so I was able to spend Thanksgiving in St. Paul at the gracious invitation of the Delaney household.  It's the second time I've had the opportunity to join them for Thanksgiving and each time I left full of protein and grilled turkey.  I think I'm still recovering five days later.  Very good food and very enjoyable fellowship for sure.

I also know that many go shopping Thanksgiving evening/Friday morning for a commercial event called "Black Friday."  I personally don't go shopping on Black Friday, mainly because I have a quasi-phobia to shopping in general.  When I go shopping generally I try to get out of the store as quickly as possible because I subconsciously hear a "giant sucking sound" on my wallet.   But as a Best Buy corporate employee, I'm glad not everyone feels that way.  In fact, I hope most individuals does what this young lady is up to at a local Best Buy near you.

So knowing that "Black Friday" is a high traffic time at Best Buy (you just have to trust me here),  how do we get our employees  in the store, the "Blue Shirts" (no not the Chelsea Football Club) ready to take on such a challenge?  The Best Buy Cheer, of course:

That's the corporate spirit!  Shop away everyone! We're ready!

Head Slapper (of the month)

I know, I know.  It's been a long times since the last Head Slapper.  I've been so busy with work that Head Slappers haven't really come into focus.  So this past week I thought about possible winners, such as the attention Patrick Reusse gets for naming Turkeys of the Year and my Pastor at church singing Beatles tunes.   But I did find a winner:

"I've been to some bizarre spots in South Korea, from DMZ tunnels to a seaside park dedicated to male "parts,"  but a new theme park in Suwon is at the top of my must-see list: it celebrates toilets.

The Restroom Cultural Park is billed as the world's first toilet theme park. It's a monument to the colorful former mayor of Suwon, a man known as Mr. Toilet.

The late Sim Jae-duck was himself born in a toilet and had an affection for loos throughout his life, rigorously promoting public facilities while mayor.

Sim also founded the World Toilet Association and wrote a book entitled "Happy to Be With You, Toilet." He died of prostate cancer in 2009……"

Indeed folks, you can head to South Korea to go to a toilet museum.  I'll just leave you with this link and the following BBC News story (discretion is advised) (Three and a half head slaps).

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-57548161-1/flushed-with-pride-korea-celebrates-toilet-theme-park/

Quick Update

I guess it's been awhile since I last posted in this space.  As you can guess, I've been insanely busy with work as Best Buy continues to be in the news, both locally and nationally, regarding the condition of the company.   I've worked multiple all nighters the past couple weeks as I've tried to keep up with different fire drills as they happen.  Gotta love that corporate life.

 Last week, CEO Hubert Joly provided his prognosis on how to revive the company's fortunes.  As I saw the PowerPoint deck he presented to stock analysts and the public at large, I kept thinking to myself that I have seen many of these slides already.  I guess having a cube within 75 feet of the President and CEO of the company could have something to do with that.  I don't know if that's a good or bad thing either.

 

Oh by the way, support this blogger and buy an item or two from Best Buy this Christmas shopping season :)

I also learned last weekend while I was in Duluth that my mother is going back to Hong Kong for a month.  It'll be a first time back there since my father passed away.  I'm glad that she'll be able to see her family for an extended period of time.  She asked me before she left if I wanted her to bring anything back.  I simply said no. 

I have been told that I should post pictures of individuals on this blog.  Well, as a single guy that doesn't get out much outside of Gopher sporting events and church I have to say I don't have many opportunities to take pictures of different individuals.  So I'm sorry about that.  However, I have to say that this being the first blog after an election that shows the milquetoast Presidential candidates present negative vibes for his party, I'll present my feeling how this election turned out through one picture.

Head Slapper of the Week

While disappointed regarding this year's election results, (who would have thought John McCain generated notably more GOTV enthusiasm than Mitt Romney), I have to say the following story was too strange to pass up:

"Rochester City Council President Dennis Hanson died of a brain aneurysm in June. On Tuesday, he won re-election.

And it wasn't even close.

Hanson prevailed with 51.5 percent of the more than 46,000 votes cast. Challenger Jan Throndson was second with 43 percent, and write-in candidate Jeff Thompson received about 5 percent of the votes.

"It's what Denny would have wanted," said John Eckerman, Hanson's campaign manager and a longtime family friend.

The unusual election came about because Hanson died after the deadline for withdrawal from the race.

Filings closed June 5, with only Hanson and Throndson signing up to compete for the job of running the City Council. The withdrawal deadline was two days later. Hanson died June 27.

Under state law, his name couldn't be removed from the ballot, said Rochester City Clerk Judy Scherr.

And so the race…."

Think about it, a deceased man had better electoral success than Mitt Romney.  Three and a Half Head Slaps.

A Walk Through Target Field

Last Friday, I took the day off from work at Best Buy as an indulgence for my birthday.  I had lunch at the Ike's with a few of Straitgate's best and brightest law minds and then I decided to take a tour of Target Field.  Here are a few photos:

Dining Room of the Champions Club

Memories of better times

Manager's Ron Gardenhire's view from the dugout

View from behind home plate

3rd base dugout (Vistors)

Visitor's Batting Cage:  Underneath the 3rd base stands

Visitor's Vending and Dining Area

Visitor's Clubhouse

Yes, the Twins did win championships while in MInnesota

The tour was about 90 minutes and was well worth it.  If you have a chance to take a tour, I would advise you to do so.

Election Predictions

Since it seems like my revelation of my ballot has created enough head slapper comments that I probably won't be providing original material till the New Year, I guess I should just go ahead and quickly provide some election predictions.

President:

Here's my map:

US Senate:

53 Dems -47 Reps.  No Net change.  

US House of Reps:  242 Reps - 193 Dems.  No Net Change.

Minnesota:

DFL wins Senate, GOP keeps House

Voter ID amendment passes

Marriage amendment fails due to excessive number of blank ballots (refusing to vote is counted as a "No" vote).  If it fails, MN will be the first state in the country where a traditional marriage amendment fails.

It is what it is.

The Time has Come!

In 10 hours, I will journey down to the Ramsey County Elections office and complete my election ballot.  It's been a long election season and I have pretty much made my decision on whom I'm voting for for each office.  For now I'll just say I'm voting for my strongest preference, which I urge all of you of voting age to do also.

In regards to this election, I assume that many may agree with this young lady:

Nevertheless, as my father told me, we are all blessed to live in a country of this much wealth and freedom, protect it at all costs.   Please decide with great care.