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    Rant of The Week – Holidays (06/11/2008)

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    by Tammy.Cavadias ·

    Woo Hoo! It’s that time of the week again, so get out your violins and ear plugs while you listen to me whine, rant, stomp my little foot and just basically give my feeble opinion (as little as we all know that is).

    In light of Father’s Day fast approaching this Sunday (June 15th, for those who actually observe this holiday) this week’s rant is about Holiday’s. Not Holiday’s per se, but rather how commercialized holidays have become from when the holiday was first celebrated. It seems anymore the significance behind certain holidays is becoming lost or rather over-shadowed as more and more companies turn it into just another day for making money. Not that there is anything wrong with companies wanting to increase their profits but I have no doubt the commercialism would have certain people rolling over in their graves. I know it makes me want to roll over in mine and I’m not dead yet.

    Heck, some holidays I never even heard of – such as Bean Day (Jan. 6th), Peculiar People Day (Jan. 10th), Elmo’s Birthday (Feb. 3rd), Toothache Day (Feb. 9th), Respect Your Cat Day (Mar. 29th), Jump Over Things Day (April 6th), Dance Like a Chicken Day (May 14th), Vinegar Day (June 16th), Be a Geek Day (July 14th), Race Your Mouse Around the Icons Day (Aug. 28th), Big Whopper Liar Day (Sept. 15th), National Babbling Day (Oct. 15th) and my all time favorite which I do endorse whole heartedly – National Men Make Dinner Day (Nov. 7th). Nevertheless, as strange as these holidays may be somewhere some company has turned even the strangest holidays into a money maker and we buy into all this garbage.

    What happen to the days when Holidays were meant for spending time with family and friends? When commercials on TV were about the true meaning behind certain holidays and I don’t mean the weird holidays, but the ones like – Christmas, Hanukkah, Thanksgiving, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Memorial Day, Easter and Veteran’s day just to name a few. When did holidays become such big money makers? And more importantly, why do we buy into all of this?

    Has anyone noticed how Christmas items start wandering onto the shelves in July? By October, you see Halloween items on one shelf and across from them you are looking at a Nativity scene. That is just too freaky for me. Come on, at least wait until Mr. Headless Horseman has rode off into the night before placing Santa Claus next to him.

    Not only have businesses started pushing holidays earlier and earlier each year, but it seems every company is jumping on the band wagon even those that have nothing to do with the holiday. The other day I got some junk mail in my post box – Save for Father’s Day it read – all bra’s, panties and panty hose 20% off! What?!?!?!? Just what my Dad needs – another bra! 😉 At least the grocery store was offering tampons “Buy One Get one Free” for their Father’s day special. Now that is something Dad can really use – stops them nose bleeds every time!

    I don’t know about you all, but I’m tired of seeing what I consider sacred holidays being turned into nothing more than dollar signs. What should be a time of good will and celebration instead leaves me feeling pressured and stressed. While I’m not obligated to buy anything, I feel I should.

    How about you? Do you find yourself feeling pressured to – buy buy buy? As each new holiday approaches do you find yourself left with a feeling of dread?

    How do you handle the commercialism of Holidays? Do you buy into all the garbage?

    -Tammy 🙂

    PS: Now I’m off to buy gifts for my Dad, my Father-in-Law, my husband, and the milkman. :p

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    • #2568230

      “and the milkman. :p ” — LOL

      by the scummy one ·

      In reply to Rant of The Week – Holidays (06/11/2008)

      special relationship there?? :0

      I agree, however Christmas stuff SHOULD be after Thanksgiving, not after Halloween.

      Funny, I’ve never heard of most of those ‘strange’ holidays. I need to start celebrating more 😀 When is BEER day? When is Scummy day? When is get e free BJ day? 😀

      However, keeping up with the spirit of the holiday is something else that should be done. Common sense ya know. But I think that what this signifies is that people, while looking to purchase for others, need to get something for themselves as well. After all, we all need to buy, buy, buy, right?

    • #2568227

      Holidays

      by oz_media ·

      In reply to Rant of The Week – Holidays (06/11/2008)

      “Let me take you far away, you’d like, a Ho-li-daaaaay! [i]sorry, Scorpions moment there, my life is a song.[/i]

      My friend works for a company with Teamsters employees, because they have US branches, they had to ‘create’ a holiday to coincide with Heritage Day in the US, so Canadian employees can have that day off too, so they have created ‘Family day’, nice one!

      I find MOST holidays are just an excuse to legally close for the day, there are rules against unannounced, non-emergency closures in Canadian businesses, so many create holidays.

      There are key golidays, which have been TRASHED by commerce, such as Christmas, Mothers Day, Fathers Day etc. And there are stats, which most are not other than Christmas Day, New Years etc.
      In BC we have New Years, Good Friday, Victoria Day (not for the city of Victoria but to commorate Queen Victoria), Canada Day, B.C.Day, Labour Day, Thanksgiving day, Remebrance Day and Christmas Day.

      As for Red nose day,hot dog day, Pair Hilton Day etc. I don’t bother.

      I haven’t spoken to or seen my dad in over 20 years so fathers day is just a camping weekend for me.

      I don’t dread holidays anymroe, I just don’t buy into teh commercialsim of it all, and neither do other members of my family, so nobody is upset when I don’t give my brither inlaw or even brother somethign for Fathers day, they aren’t MY father, though many feel any man who’s a father gets some special teatment by all who know him.

      Don’t buy into it, just go with what you feel good about. They have even come close to making Halloween a holiday, why not, it is already commercialized.

      • #2568211
        Avatar photo

        Family Day is great!

        by Tammy.Cavadias ·

        In reply to Holidays

        I like that one.. too bad more companies don’t create purposeful holidays. As I just know some of the off the wall ones were created by companies for no other reason then to go with their next big sale!

        -Tammy 🙂

    • #2568221

      sure as heck am

      by jck ·

      In reply to Rant of The Week – Holidays (06/11/2008)

      I especially hate Christmas being commercialized.

      I wanna go live in a cave now. lol

      • #2568213
        Avatar photo

        Aww…. don’t cry…

        by Tammy.Cavadias ·

        In reply to sure as heck am

        it’s ok JC…. Here have a box of tampons, it works wonders for drying the tears too! 😉 😀

        -Tammy 🙂

        • #2568201

          :^0 :^0 Fathers Day Gift :)

          by the scummy one ·

          In reply to Aww…. don’t cry…

          so how often are you screaming JCK is my daddy! :^0 :^0
          Sorry — that was bad…

        • #2568200
          Avatar photo

          Milkman…

          by Tammy.Cavadias ·

          In reply to :^0 :^0 Fathers Day Gift :)

          ..not Daddy.. get it right now Scummy :p 😀

          -Tammy 🙂

        • #2568198

          So, JCK is your ‘Milkman’??? :0

          by the scummy one ·

          In reply to Milkman…

          what kind of ‘milk’ :0 :0

          This time no ‘sorry’ cause my religion made me say it!!!

          :^0

        • #2568189

          i’m your ice cream man…

          by jck ·

          In reply to So, JCK is your ‘Milkman’??? :0

          stop me when i’m passin by…
          all my flavors are…
          guaranteed to satisfy…

          lol ]:) (and no that’s not to you, Scummy lol)

          i’m not King of Swill for nothin, ya know 😀

        • #2568180
          Avatar photo

          Sonja made me do it :D

          by Tammy.Cavadias ·

          In reply to So, JCK is your ‘Milkman’??? :0

          After all I meant to say – Ice cream man… yeah that’s the ticket! Sonja made me say it 🙂 <~~ sweet innocent face with halo on top -Tammy 🙂

        • #2568179

          awww

          by jck ·

          In reply to Sonja made me do it :D

          Well, you said it Tammy. So, take your spanking like a good girl ]:)

          I’ll serve diet coke afterward 😉 lol

        • #2568190

          oh Tammy…

          by jck ·

          In reply to Aww…. don’t cry…

          you love me so much to share lol 😉

          ya know, they clean up diet coke messes too 😀 lol

      • #2568144

        Commercialization of Christmas

        by charliespencer ·

        In reply to sure as heck am

        Disclaimer: I’m an atheist.

        I love it when some rabid Christian groups say you should boycott a particular retail chain because the employees are instructed to say, “Happy Holidays” and not “Merry Christmas”, and you should do your Christmas shopping elsewhere. If they were really interested in putting Christ back in Christmas, wouldn’t they be less concerned about the commercial sales aspect and more concerned about assisting others? Talk about hypocrisy.

        • #2568123

          Is it Christian Groups that are doing this?

          by the scummy one ·

          In reply to Commercialization of Christmas

          in the instances that I have paid (little) attention to, I was under the impression that it was non-christian groups… I could be wrong though.

        • #2568086

          Hypocrosy on who’s part?

          by jdclyde ·

          In reply to Commercialization of Christmas

          If a store is going to make 60% of their yearly profit off of Christmas, it is hypocritical of THEM to not acknowledge the holiday.

          If they are NOT, then “have a nice day” will do just fine.

          I personally do my Christmas shopping at a place that is selling things FOR Christmas. I will NOT shop where they are selling “Holiday trees”.

        • #2568065

          What, you wont buy from a place that has

          by the scummy one ·

          In reply to Hypocrosy on who’s part?

          a great deal for a holiday called ‘Happy sumting or another day’

          :^0 :^0
          I think that’s a coming soon — how sad would that be :0

        • #2573021

          As all standards go out the window

          by jdclyde ·

          In reply to What, you wont buy from a place that has

          you see it more and more.

          No, I won’t/done shop for Christmas at a “holiday” store.

          The stores have EVERY right to be hypocrites if they choose. They just have to decide who it is they are really more concerned with not offending. That anti-religious people that are not spending hundreds for Christmas presents or the religious people that ARE out buying Christmas presents.

          I vote with my wallet. Knowing how sales figures work out and what a huge money maker Christmas is for these stores, they need to make the call.

          I did notice that more stores ARE going back to Christmas trees and such. Was stupid for them to try to get politically correct in the first place.

        • #2572815

          Ba-da-boom.

          by boxfiddler ·

          In reply to Hypocrosy on who’s part?

          You want my money at Christmas? Wish me Merry Christmas and play my favorite Christmas carols – you know, Hark the Herald Angels Sing, O Holy Night, We Three Kings, etc…?

    • #2568208

      Most “Holidays” aren’t.

      by jdclyde ·

      In reply to Rant of The Week – Holidays (06/11/2008)

      Aren’t holidays, that is.

      BS crap like “Sweetest Day” and “Secretaries Day” and the list goes on.

      It feeds right into the “ME ME ME!” generation of “It is a holiday, so go BUY me something!”

      I keep spending to a minimum and ignore what I can.

      I never buy out of guilt.

      I will buy out of self-preservation, such as when I used to buy Anniversary gifts. These are really just bribes that allow you to get to the NEXT Anniversary…. 😛

    • #2568175

      Memorial Day rant

      by charliespencer ·

      In reply to Rant of The Week – Holidays (06/11/2008)

      I have a problem with the way we’re observing the US Memorial Day holiday. Some may find this offensive, but here goes anyway.

      Memorial Day is a day to remember those who have already sacrificed their lives for the continued freedom of others. It is not a day to thank living military veterans (that’s Veteran’s Day) or to thank those currently serving in military (that’s Armed Forces Day).

      In this time when so few US citizens chose to serve in the military, I’m grateful for any recognition they receive from their civilian debtors. However, if you chose to honor Memorial Day, spend it placing flags and flowers in military cemeteries, not giving parades and sales discounts to living service members. Consider a contribution to those charities that assist the widows and orphans of the deceased.

      And before anyone asks, I’m a retired veteran from a family with a strong history of military service on both sides, as are my in-laws.

      • #2568152

        a Sad Note and Addition to Your Rant

        by dawgit ·

        In reply to Memorial Day rant

        My Father who is now retired, and a Vetern of WWII (Second Ranger Bat.) is active in the American Legion. Every year they used to place American Flags on the graves of deceased Veterns for Memorial Day. They used to use Bronze markers to place the flags, but they started getting stolen, so the Local Legion used Aluminum ones, until they also were stolen, they even tried plastic ones, they got stolen as well. They had to stop the placing of the flags, as they wouldn’t be there anyway. These are some sad times for America. With entirely too many ungrateful Bastards breathing up good air. -d

      • #2568011
        Avatar photo

        Too true…

        by Tammy.Cavadias ·

        In reply to Memorial Day rant

        I do agree with you. Memorial day (U.S) as the name implies “is in memory of” – anymore though it’s just another day to get 30% off in celebration of. This term has always unnerved me a bit – yes, we do celebrate per se, but I wish that instead of celebrate the term would be – Honor. I tend to feel memorial day is a day of *honoring* those “who gave all”.

        Just my two cent.

        -Tammy 🙂

    • #2568168

      Some nobility to it…

      by jellimonsta ·

      In reply to Rant of The Week – Holidays (06/11/2008)

      I believe one thing to contemplate in regards to so many ‘Holidays’, is to consider each day worth celebrating.
      Not purchasing pointless trinkets per se, but rather, legitimately celebrating life and the nuances it presents while on the journey. 🙂

    • #2568096

      You forgot National Sys Admin Appreication Day

      by rfink ·

      In reply to Rant of The Week – Holidays (06/11/2008)

      It’s the last Friday in July. It has its own website.

      http://www.sysadminday.com/

      • #2568031

        I prefer Sept 19th

        by jellimonsta ·

        In reply to You forgot National Sys Admin Appreication Day

        International Holiday ‘Talk like a Pirate day’

        http://www.talklikeapirate.com/

        • #2568027

          Captain Billy must have started that one :^0

          by the scummy one ·

          In reply to I prefer Sept 19th

          funny thing, I have heard of it before :0

          Edited to ask — when is talk like a HAL computer day? Oops, we had better not. There would likely be a lot of killing going on :0

          second thought……

        • #2568010
          Avatar photo

          Hal computer day…

          by Tammy.Cavadias ·

          In reply to Captain Billy must have started that one :^0

          is the day that Hal goes from 666 to 667 – otherwise when heck freezes over 😉

          -Tammy 🙂

        • #2570701

          :^0 — But you can help here :D

          by the scummy one ·

          In reply to Hal computer day…

          lets say — tomorrow (planned event) — just add a T-Up to his account 😀

          see how many are slaughtered before it gets removed :0
          Just think of it as — Population Control :^0

        • #2572843

          Not a very good idea Scummy One. :^0

          by i’m orac ·

          In reply to :^0 — But you can help here :D

          HAL 9000 is watching you and will pounce when you least expect it to happen. 😀

          I believe that the latest that the HAL is working on is the Total and Complete Genocide of those that belong to the

          [b]Church of Scum.[/b]

          But I didn’t tell you that. B-)

        • #2959439

          I wonder how many people

          by neilb@uk ·

          In reply to Not a very good idea Scummy One. :^0

          will get the Orac reference!

          😀

          I do remember that Orac’s end was never shown and as the ratty little calculating machine could take over any other computer, he could really be here!

          Yeah, I know that it’s a resurrected old script but I haven’t seen the ORAC avatar before and this was his first post…

        • #2572829

          BAD BAD BAD BAD Scummy One

          by the master2 ·

          In reply to :^0 — But you can help here :D

          Look what you have done now they are breeding. :8}

          While I know I am great not even I can be expected to try to control a bunch of Homicidal AI’s out to kill everyone in the Galaxy and then Destroy the entire Galaxy can I? B-)

          Now [b]Cease & Desist[/b] Immediately before I have to take steps against you for this Ungodly Abomination that you have created. And I will Too! X-(

          There are just some species that you do not mess with things like Darleks, Cybermen and the HAL Series of AI’s. Honestly you should know better. ;\

          Now when are we going to start talking about the Holiday Dedicated to me where everyone goes out and gives me all their money even Power Crazed Megalomaniacs need funds to carry on their work don’t you know? :0

          [b][i]DIE DIE DIE you Scummy One.[/b][/i] :p

        • #2959438

          You’re starting to scare me, Col

          by neilb@uk ·

          In reply to BAD BAD BAD BAD Scummy One

          I think that you may have had too many engine blocks dropped on your head. Seek treatment now!

          :p

        • #2959436

          :D :D :D

          by boxfiddler ·

          In reply to BAD BAD BAD BAD Scummy One

          Too many engines…

        • #2960353
          Avatar photo

          Me BAD, BAD, BAD

          by hal 9000 ·

          In reply to BAD BAD BAD BAD Scummy One

          I’m so sorry Neil that I’m only now starting to scare you. [b]Honest.[/b] :^0

          But I’ll work harder so that you will be [b]Truly TERRIFIED[/b] of me. :^0 😀 :^0 😀

          Col 0:-)
          Drat I really need a [i]Maniacal Laughter[/i] Emotion. My postings just don’t have the right feeling without one. :_|

        • #2960337

          See HAL, even Neil thinks that

          by the scummy one ·

          In reply to BAD BAD BAD BAD Scummy One

          you are a mess and need treatment. So, it is time for you to admit it!

        • #2960291
          Avatar photo

          Scummy I don’t know how to break this to you

          by hal 9000 ·

          In reply to BAD BAD BAD BAD Scummy One

          But as Neil is a Pom his opinion doesn’t matter. :^0 😀 :^0 😀 :^0 😀

          Col 0:-)

        • #2572813

          But Temporary genocide could be a ‘good thing’ right?

          by the scummy one ·

          In reply to :^0 — But you can help here :D

          All we have to do is upset the HAL units. They seem to be breaking down anyway (have you seen the HAL 9000’s work area) :0

          So what is wrong with limiting the population just a bit (a few million) at a time???

          Maybe the HAL units will only target script kiddies and the like 😀

        • #2572818
          Avatar photo

          Well normally I would post something here

          by hal 9000 ·

          In reply to Hal computer day…

          But it seems that the wackos have arrived so because I’m [b]NICE[/b] I’ll not say a word. 😀

          Col ]:)

        • #2960289
          Avatar photo

          Well as Scummy has been a Naughty Little Boy recently

          by hal 9000 ·

          In reply to Hal computer day…

          And Boxy hasn’t been any better how about I say this?

          [b]Hal computer day… [/b]

          Is the day that Tammy corrects the severe mistake caused by a incorrectly implemented TR Site Downgrade and returns HAL’s thumb count to 666. 😀

          Col 0:-)

    • #2568707

      Forget Holidays…..

      by the ‘g-man.’ ·

      In reply to Rant of The Week – Holidays (06/11/2008)

      Jun 12 2008

      THE BBC have been ordered to improve their coverage of Scotland after a hard-hitting report found news programmes were “preoccupied” with London.

      The BBC Trust said viewers felt there was “a general bias in favour of stories about England” on flagship UK-wide news shows.

      They also said there were “concerns as to accuracy and clarity of reporting” on stories affected by devolution.

      The trust, who represent viewers, told BBC managers to come up with an action plan to improve coverage by July.

      Their study included an analysis of UK-wide BBC coverage, including the main 6pm and 10pm bulletins, by media expert Professor Anthony King.

      His research showed that during a month-long period last year all 136 items about health and education on the main BBC news related to England only – as separate policies applied in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

      Analysis of the BBC’s coverage found one in five stories involving devolution were “vague and confusing” or factually inaccurate.

      Professor King warned Scots had less faith in the BBC than viewers anywhere in the UK.

      More than a quarter of Scots felt the BBC’s UK-wide coverage was of interest “almost exclusively to posh people who live in London”.

      He said the BBC had not kept pace with changes brought about by Holyrood and the Welsh and Northern Ireland assemblies.

      The south of England saw the rest of the UK as a “sort of British ‘rust belt’ -old, behind the times, rundown, forlorn, grey and dreary, not parts of the world that anyone would want to visit, let alone live in.”

      He said the BBC should consider moving their main newsroom out of London.

      BBC bosses dismissed the idea yesterday, though they did agree to improve training and monitor their coverage of devolved nations.

      Trust chairman Sir Michael Lyons said: “The resounding message from this review is the BBC is falling short of its own high standards and is not meeting properly its core purpose of helping to inform democracy.

      The problem is not about impartiality but about clarity, precision and the balance of reporting from around the UK.”

      BBC managers said in a statement: “While the report does find that the BBC’s reporting of the UK is seen as consistently superior to that of other broadcast outlets, we recognise the need to raise our game further.”

      First Minister Alex Salmond said: “It’s a good thing the BBC Trust are able to demonstrate that they recognise the failings that have been so evident to people in Scotland, in Wales and elsewhere for such a long time

      “In so many respects, BBC’s network news doesn’t seem to recognise that there are other areas and nations outside London.

      “We see regular examples of stories about education in England presented as if it is relevant right across the UK, and English law as if it applies in Scotland as well

      “When things are covered from elsewhere, it’s usually some sort of funny quirky story at the end of the news, like the Loch Ness Monster.

      “That is not the way anyone should expect the BBC network to cover things.”

      Blair Jenkins, head of the Scottish Broadcasting Commission, said the findings echoed their investigation, the results of which will be published this summer.

      My View – The BBC sucks and I HATE being forced by the government to pay a TV licence fee (about ?140 a year) to have the ability to watch the garbage they put on. Garbage that has no interest to me.

      Hell even if I said that the channels are of no interest and not watched STILL I have to pay for the ability to recieve them (having a TV) !!!

      The sooner the better for the abolition of the TV licence!!

    • #2568673

      Everyday is a holiday….

      by mojodelirium ·

      In reply to Rant of The Week – Holidays (06/11/2008)

    • #2572825
      Avatar photo

      What;s wrong with spending money for Holidays

      by hal 9000 ·

      In reply to Rant of The Week – Holidays (06/11/2008)

      After all cases of Champaign do cost money and should be drunk when you are not working.

      Only thing to spend money on for a Holiday is [b]Booze.[/b] Nothing else is important enough to waste money on.

      OH may I take this opportunity to Propose a New Holiday [b]Global TR Moderators Day[/b] Dedicated to our very own [b]Tammy[/b] TR’s new Moderator. How about February the 30th? :0

      Col ]:)
      [i]edited to add[/i] WTF has the Scummy One been up to seems that he is bringing out all the [b]Weirdos.[/b]

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