Monday, November 19, 2012

Real Working Women: The Dust Bowl, Part 2 “Reaping the Whirlwind”

"They are proud, strong people--patient, uncomplaining, intelligent. They want first of all to work, to have a home for their families, to educate their children." ~Sanora Babb, social worker

Discuss PBS’s The Dust Bowl, airing November 18th and 19th. Check local listings. Pre-order on DVD/Blu-ray here

Sanora Babb and her boss, Tom Collins, help hang laundry at a farmers' camp

Out of the dust of this Great Depression emerged some independent, bright, hard-working career women. Women out in the field rolling up their sleeves trying to help when careers just weren't fashionable. Two such working women were Sanora Babb, a social worker (though later well known as a writer), and Dorothea Lange, a photographer for the state of California. The Dust Bowl will profile these two women tonight. 

Sanora Babb didn't attend school until she was eleven years old, but graduated valedictorian of her class. During the Dust Bowl, she took a job with the Farm Security Administration, and in addition to helping set up migrant camps, traveled around to families providing assistance and resources for food, medical assistance, housing and education. She was just 30 years old when she took the job. Sanora Babb's notes on what she experienced were borrowed by John Steinbeck for his great novel The Grapes of Wrath.

Dorothea Lange also worked for the government, hired by California to photograph the hardships of the Dust Bowl. Her famous Migrant Mother photograph has come to epitomize the Great Depression. Neither Lange nor the family pictured was paid for the photo, as it belonged to the state of California. 


248 sediments (sic) from readers:

«Oldest   ‹Older   1 – 200 of 248   Newer›   Newest»
TLC stinks said... 1

I saw part 1 last night. It was excellent.

This I am carrying over from the previous thread because I believe this is some of what is going on in Kate's Twitter:

A sockpuppet is an online identity used for purposes of deception. The term—a reference to the manipulation of a simple hand puppet made from a sock—originally referred to a false identity assumed by a member of an internet community who spoke to, or about himself while pretending to be another person.[1] The term now includes other uses of misleading online identities, such as those created to praise, defend or support a third party or organization,[2] or to circumvent a suspension or ban from a website. A significant difference between the use of a pseudonym[3] and the creation of a sockpuppet is that the sockpuppet poses as an independent third-party unaffiliated with the puppeteer.

I have read that they are easy to create. Sounds like something right up Kate's alley to keep her Twitter account active between sheeple and nonfans.

So yes, Dmasy, Crayola1231 does not add up to 8, but then it would be too obvious. You guys have got to realize that it is incredibly easy to pretend on the internent, and what better way for Kate to vent than to invent a sheeple(s) to say the things she wants to say, but can't, because of image. The woman is mentally unstable. If you go to Wikipedia, you can read about past internent sockpuppets. I truly believe Kate lives in a alternate universe full of lies.

Vanessa said... 2

I agree, khate could very well be the sock puppet on her twitter, even the "strawman puppet", she already has the hair for it.

Improbable Dreams said... 3

Reflecting on documentary, which affects me still this morning. I love reading everyone's reactions here! And then I catch a glimpse of Kate's twitter feed...

@Kateplusmy8 Today, I am more determined than ever to actively move towards a positive future..for myself but more importantly,for my kids! B determined!

The first word that pops into my head is "vacuous." Empty headed. Absent the heart and soul of the heroic women who inspired me so last night.

wayward said... 4

@Kateplusmy8 Today, I am more determined than ever to actively move towards a positive future..for myself but more importantly,for my kids! B determined!
_________________________________________

Let me translate:

"Today, I am more determined than ever to find ways to use my children to generate the wealth I need to live in the manner I deserve to... for myself and more importantly.. for myself!
#kidscan'tjustplayandgotoschoolhavetoearntheirkeep

Improbable Dreams said... 5

She posts so many platitudes, but does she have any actual plans? Goals and deadlines, I mean, with specific details about implementation?

It's said that "A goal without a deadline is just a dream." Her dreams!!!!!! There you have it, in my opinion.

Tweet-le De Tweet-le DUMB said... 6

Kate is merely "moving towards a more positive future?" I thought she'd made it there by now. Isn't that what all those platitudes do--make you successful in reaching all your goals? /snark

Vanessa said... 7

For the love of everything, she has to be theee most NEGATIVE person I've had the misfortune to "meet". She wouldn't know what positive was if it bit her in the ass. Like everything that comes out of her mouth, just because you say it, doesn't mean you MEAN it. She's tweeting things she "thinks" she's supposed to be tweeting...yet again, that narcissim comes through.

Formerly Duped said... 8

Kate is 'feeding and preparing' the kids for school. 12 year olds can feed themselves and even get their stuff together! Eight year olds need some help but they are not baby birds in a nest waiting for Kate to drop a worm in their open beaks ( ?)It's annoying how she makes them out to be so needy and helpless without her.

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said... 9

It's annoying how she makes them out to be so needy and helpless without her.

&&&

Who wants to bet she actually lays in bed until 5 minutes before she has to drop them off at the bus stop?

Have any of the sheeple dare ask her to clarify her 100% not true comment about the reality show?? Okay, if it's not true, then what was that project she and Kendra were off to do for a week in October that they both tweeted about? Do tell.

Buttercup said... 10

Whoops - didn't realize there was a new post. Bringing this over from the last thread:

Someone (sorry cannot find who!) mentioned earlier that the Wikipedia page for Kate needed to be updated. I was just looking through the archive page and found this hilarious tidbit:

Kate Gosselin

How tall is she compared to Jon? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 99.254.234.22 (talk) 22:25, 24 May 2009 (UTC)

She is like 7 feet tall; I think he is 4 inches tall. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.188.159.10 (talk) 03:32, 25 May 2009 (UTC)

I came to this page with a sense of outrage - but you, sir, just made my day. Thanks for that. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 74.128.190.96 (talk) 00:51, 23 June 2009 (UTC)

The archive can be found here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Kate_Gosselin/Archive_1

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said... 11

This series has given me a lot more compassion and understanding for hoarders. For most it seems to me some kind of triggering event that set them off, usually some kind of financial crisis. It is sad to hear that a lot of nursing homes see hoarding. They would be just the right age to be children of the depression. It also makes me sad to see it reflected in other ways. My grandparents saved and saved and saved and saved and saved. It's all they ever did. When they finally retired, took a deep breath, and started spending on trips and things, not two years later my grandmother got pancreatic cancer and was dead in six months. An entire life spent saving up because they were afraid of another Depression and they never really got to enjoy their hard work. :-(

Another thing that moved me about the series was that everyone still living was so little when this happened, so they are reflecting on a child's memories.....so you really got to see what really stuck with kids. And not surprisingly, it was the most heartrending things. Their precious calves being shot in front of them, their beautiful little sister dying, their brothers being buried in a shoebox, their mamas crying. An 80 year old woman still breaks down into tears over her poor calf. Heartbreaking what this did to a child's psyche.

Heather I also would have liked to understand the science behind it a little better. To be honest I didn't realize this was completely man made. The doc was a little unclear, but it sounds like it was. From what I think they were saying, the science sounds pretty simple--because all the grass that held the dirt down was plowed up, it created way too much loose dust. All it took were a few bad wind storms and that dust was swept away. Right? Had they had satellite photos back then I bet you anything you could see it from space.

I also would like to know if scientists were trying to come up with ideas and plans to try to stop this as it was going on ...I believe some of that is coming in part 2.

wayward said... 12

Vanessa said... 7
...."Like everything that comes out of her mouth, just because you say it, doesn't mean you MEAN it. She's tweeting things she "thinks" she's supposed to be tweeting...yet again, that narcissim comes through."
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Exactly! Kate would have fit in really well with the old movie studio system of PR of the 40s & 50s. The studios invented fabulously (false) wholesome images and wildly romantic stories about their stars for the specific purpose of thrilling the fans. It was just like a fiction novel only it involved real people.

Kate does the same thing. And like I said the other day, she always cries foul and that she's being bullied when she's outted. Hey Kate? How about not constantly telling lies? How about not telling your kids that they are only getting one gift for Christmas because the show was cancelled? How about not making Christmas SO UN-special that one of your older daughters writes a very sad and dark Christmas poem? How about not asking your children to lie for you and keep secrets? How about not going on and on about your fabulous gourmet organic cooking, when really you have a personal chef and you never cook? How about not doing things you wouldn't want anyone to know about? If you have the cajones to wrap your kid's Christmas presents in ugly, free newpaper end rolls, take a picture of all those grey packages and put it on twitter.

She just doesn't get it. She doesn't get that she is a known and pathological liar. Therefore, she has no credibility. When she speaks, it moves people to expose the truth. Because of her mental illness, her point of view is that she has the right to lie and get others to lie for her, and those who continue challenging her on this are bullies or the bad guy. We find out a few weeks ago that Kate left her kids with Kendra Wilkinson for a week and told them they could tell no one. So she's still at it. Still hasn't learned. And the sheeple think we should stop talking about Kate because we are hurting the kids more. Noooo... first of all, the things they say about Jon are so vile, he has several good lawsuits and criminal charges on his hands if he wanted to pursue them. Bitch please, that argument is no good. As long as Kate sees fit to lie and involve her kids in her lies, we will still talk about it.

OrangeCrusher1 said... 13

What the 100% not true refers to IMHO is that she paid expenses for that show, as in she did NOT put up money. Sheeple are satisfied with anything she says.

Perhaps the woman who has no Thanksiving plans can get jump started on her Christmas surprises and shop Thursday evening. She would need a disguise so the paps following her don't get another Target picture of her scowling face. Nah, the box o' wine will be paying a holiday serenade.

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said... 14

Does anyone else think it's sad that Target is opening at 9pm on Thanksgiving night? I will gladly wait until the next day for what I need to let those employees be with their families.

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said... 15

Kate Gosselin ‏@Kateplusmy8
Today, I am more determined than ever to actively move towards a positive future..for myself but more importantly,for my kids! B determined!
Collapse Reply Retweet Favorite

&&&

As far as I can tell this tweet got one response. One. lol.

Would anyone else love to hear specific examples of how she plans to "actively move" toward a positive future?

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said... 16

Great Minds Quotes ‏@GreatestQuotes
"Failures, repeated failures, are finger posts on the road to achievement. One fails forward toward success." - Charles F. Kettering
Retweeted by Kate Gosselin
Expand Reply Retweet Favorite
3h Life Tools ‏@LifeTools
Every day is a new beginning. Treat it that way. Stay away from what might have been, and look at what can be.
Retweeted by Kate Gosselin
Expand

&&&

She's tweeting like something fell through again. Who said no means no this time?

librarylady said... 17

Heather I also would have liked to understand the science behind it a little better. To be honest I didn't realize this was completely man made. The doc was a little unclear, but it sounds like it wa
********************

Yes, they never really made it clear exactly WHY it happened, the dust storms, so often. So I had to do a little research after the show. It looks like it was more of a combination of things - the plowing and loss of the grass in such a wide swath of land, then the drought which added to dry and barren land which made the dirt/dust so easy to pick up. But what I would like to know more is why exactly so much wind and so many dust storms, one right after another - what was going on in the climate to make them so frequent? Or was it simply because it's windy anyway and the drought and plowing simply made it easier to turn into these storms? I haven't quite found that answer yet. Such an interesting show, especially because so many of us have heard family members speak of that time.

wayward said... 18

Realitytvkids.com (Administrator) said... 9


Have any of the sheeple dare ask her to clarify her 100% not true comment about the reality show?? Okay, if it's not true, then what was that project she and Kendra were off to do for a week in October that they both tweeted about? Do tell.
##################################

Admin, I took Deanna's 100% false denial as denial that Kate $fronted$ the entire project.

I think she wants to pretend Kate is relevant enough that another production company backed thi$ project. When in 'reality,' Kate is so over and so despised, she had to spend $100k+ of the kid's money to try to get back on TV.

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said... 19

Library I thought they said it was always windy there generally. And they had some guy say that the grasslands with an evolutionary adaptation to help hold the soil down against the wind. Only in the late 19th century suddenly the grass started to be plowed up. From what they said, I don't think the wind was that different, it's just what the wind was able to pick up that was different--the dust.

They did go into this a little but it was a the beginning.

wayward said... 20

OrangeCrusher1, I didn't see that you had the same sediment as I re: the funding! Great minds think alike! ;)

Tweet-le De Tweet-le DUMB said... 21

Admin said...She's tweeting like something fell through again. Who said no means no this time?
__________________________________________

That's exactly what I am thinking. There are so many things it could be. No go with show, kids wanting to spend the holidays with Jon, another reject from a publisher about her book(s)...wasn't she supposedly "writing" a picture book plus the cookbook?

I'm glad to see her Twitter page is mainly tweets from her fans. It's a pretty lonely place when the haters aren't there.

Anonymous said... 22

Admin,

When I told hubby I wanted to watch it, he said: "Manmade environmental disaster due to poor farming techniques."

He's not one to mince words, lol.

But I think it was more than that. There was an underlying greed involved, re the "suitcase farmers" and the idea that they would always prosper (sound familiar? housing bubble?).

And I would have liked to see the economic/science angle played out a little more. It seems that the Depression didn't reach them until they had the drought, yet what IF they had bumper crops then? IIRC, the price had dropped to $0.17/bushel by 1933-1934. So it wouldn't even have mattered if they good crops, they still would have lost money/homes/land.

What can I say, I am a practical gal. But I hope they include some families they left the area, how they left, what happened to them/did they go back, etc.

heather


aggiemom09121416 said... 23
This comment has been removed by the author.
Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said... 24

This article kind of gives a general overview. They seem to be saying once it got going, it was like trying to stop a freight train.

Heather remember the one quote from the family saying they should have just slept all year? It didn't matter if they made crops or not the whole area was devastated.

http://www.livescience.com/4915-1930s-dust-bowl-bad.html

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said... 25

The doc makes it seem like they were slow to catch on this was man made. People were blaming God and whatnot.

Wonder if part 2 will clear this up. What a tragedy if they could have done something to stop this earlier.

wayward said... 26

Realitytvkids.com (Administrator) said... 16

..."She's tweeting like something fell through again. Who said no means no this time?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Admin, when I saw the "actively moving towards a blah blah yadda yadda" tweet, I thought the same thing. No lie!

When she does that melancholy shit, it means she's had a door slammed in her face. Is it possible her pilot made the rounds and everyone took a pass?

Jane said... 27

Caught up with The Dust Bowl late last night after seeing Lincoln. Quite a movie day!! I recommend both.

I didn't realize the dust storms lasted 10 years and, at times, showered the east coast with dust. I had an image in my mind that this was a fairly short event - maybe a year or so - and was limited to OK, north TX, the southern plains. And like others, didn't know it was the great plow up followed by drought that brought this on.

The stories were so poignant and the photos and video eye-opening. In our area we're still recuperating from Sandy - over 400 homes will be torn down, thousands more need major rehab and thousands remain homeless. There are still trees down, wires hanging in my area. It seems that we just don't learn.

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said... 28

Someday I'll be very elderly, God willing, and I will be one of the few survivors left who remembers 9-11. The last survivors of 9-11. I wonder if a Ken Burns type will interview people my age about our thoughts and perceptions. Strange to think about.

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said... 29

Pilot season I thought was more like in the Spring but I guess with reality shows and shows starting up at all different times these days, everything I used to know is outdated.

Does anyone know how pilot season works now and what the timelines might be for a show to air in the spring?

NJGal51 said... 30

We've lived in TX, NM and AZ and we do have our "windy" season. When we were in El Paso it was hard to be motivated to dust during the windy season. Dd you see that major dust/sandstorms storms in the Phoenix area the past couple of years? I can't cut and paste right now but you can google videos. These were isolated and I can't imagine them coming one right after the other. My brother is in PHX and he said there was nothing to do but close everything up and hope for the best.

Tweet-le De Tweet-le DUMB said... 31

Admin said...Does anyone know how pilot season works now and what the timelines might be for a show to air in the spring?
________________________________________________

Bookmark this site:

http://www.thefutoncritic.com/

I'm not sure it explains how/what timelines might be these days, but it's chock full of information about all TV shows. It was the first site indicate that Kate+8 wasn't being picked up for fall and winter shows.

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said... 32


She just doesn't get it. She doesn't get that she is a known and pathological liar. Therefore, she has no credibility. When she speaks, it moves people to expose the truth. Because of her mental illness, her point of view is that she has the right to lie and get others to lie for her, and those who continue challenging her on this are bullies or the bad guy. We find out a few weeks ago that Kate left her kids with Kendra Wilkinson for a week and told them they could tell no one. So she's still at it. Still hasn't learned. And the sheeple think we should stop talking about Kate because we are hurting the kids more. Noooo... first of all, the things they say about Jon are so vile, he has several good lawsuits and criminal charges on his hands if he wanted to pursue them. Bitch please, that argument is no good. As long as Kate sees fit to lie and involve her kids in her lies, we will still talk about it.

%%%

Well said. If she never lied, she might find people actually trusting her when she says something is 100% not true.

LoveMyGrandsons said... 33

I thought the show last night was very good. It prompted me to do some research about the dust bowl afterwards. I, too, didn't realize it lasted as long as it did, nor did I know that it partially a man made disaster and not just the lack of rain.

Admin, I agree with you about stores opening on Thanksgiving Day. I think that is so wrong just to hopefully make a few more bucks. I know some stores in my area do it, but I certainly will not be go there.

Sidney #173 (previous thread):
That was a very sweet comment. Thank you so much.

Pity Party said... 34

To me it was all about greed. The rich who lived in town and brought out wall to wall tractors to turn the land and saturate the market and then return to their homes in town. They left the huge fields of loose dirt to lie unprotected against the wind after harvest.

The same greed is going on today with factory farms where pigs are forced suckle their young, and sleep on their feet, because they are kept indoors on concrete in cubicles that they cannot turn around in or lie down. Cows the same. I think that is where mad cow disease came from and something is likely to happen with pigs soon too. The mentality is the same as when fur was all the rage. It was deemed to be okay to wear a mink coat because that is what they were RAISED for, never meant to have a life. I buy from the local grocer who gets his meat from local farmers and butchers it himself and sells it a reasonable price.

I never buy meat at Walmart of any of the other large chains as the meat is sure to come from factory farms.

I live in farm country, and as soon as they harvest one crop (not with wall-to-wall tractors) they plant another. They harvest potatoes then plant cane or sorghum that does not bear fruit or vegetables and is soft on the land. This goes to be used for sweet feed and such for animals. They rotate between cabbage and potatoes and most have a small section for all sorts of vegetables not only for them but to sell locally as well. Because it is farm country, some of the local vegetables are merely sat out in a stand with a box to drop the money in and you help yourself.

Greed is such a terrible thing. I am not sure if I will watch tonight as it was just too painfully sad.

rainbowsandunicorns said... 35

@TheAustinMartin: @Kateplusmy8 Would you be willing to meet up with me & @Paige_Kate8fan for coffee or something this summer, if we take a little trip to PA?!

Did Kate give an answer? Anyone want to bet that this just isn't going to happen? :)

Anonymous said... 36

Admin, I agree with you about stores opening on Thanksgiving Day. I think that is so wrong just to hopefully make a few more bucks. I know some stores in my area do it, but I certainly will not be go there.
___

I agree. And I am glad to see workers starting to strike/petition against working on Thanksgiving. Not one has said anything/complained about early openings on Friday, it's just about Thursday.

And I will not be shopping either.

heather

Buttercup said... 37

Tweet-le De Tweet-le DUMB said... 31

http://www.thefutoncritic.com/

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Awesome site thanks! Interesting note - if you look at the description for Twist of Kate it could also describe the "Mom Swap" with Kendra.

DESCRIPTION:
(from TLC's press release, April 2010) In this new series, Kate Gosselin travels around the country to find out how other people juggle work, family and all the other challenges life throws at them. In each episode, she'll walk a mile in someone else's shoes -- meeting real families in the middle of their own extraordinary challenges. She'll try out their jobs...see how their home life runs... see what they're up against... and find out what they do to let off steam. Each family will have some unique circumstance that is a story in itself. As Kate gets to know them she'll roll up her sleeves and see what she can do to help.


She's not that creative. I think she still thinks she can make this work. My theory - she's still working this angle.

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said... 38

Pity Party I think one of the most underestimated black marks on our society that really is ongoing, is the history of farming in America. There are so many dark, dark days for farmers that are but passed by in the history books.

This is why The Farmer's Wife and The Dust Bowl are so important. Their stories should be told. We are not spending enough time learning, studying, appreciating and making better our farming.

Dwindle said... 39

~From the last thread~

Realitytvkids.com (Administrator) said... 183
Consumerism has ruined the world in my opinion.

&&&

I have to agree. I feel like a fuddy duddy for saying so but so be it. And I'm as guilty as the next as being part of it. We have so much crap we don't need. We are buying bigger, better, more expensive things like crazy. Apple really is a great example and I freely admit I'm an Apple gal. That iphone is 600 dollars. 600 dollars!! For a phone! At minimum $200 IF you are at the end of your contract and are willing to sing your firstborn over to them. When you could just go get a cell phone that makes calls and texts for nothing and pay next to nothing for pay per use? How many people really are content with the basic cell phone though? Not many

44444444444444

I am one who has no desire to use my telephone as a hand held computer. I have had the same basic cell phone for nearly 4 years, and it was a serious downgrade when I got it. I lost my job 4 years ago and had to downgrade a great many things, and I regret very little of it now. It is like a huge burden of minutiae off your shoulders and out of the back of your mind. The relief is hard to explain.

We dumped our cell phone contracts, our cable, our land line, my wine of the month club (seriously), our mowing service, the swimming pool, a bunch of other stuff. My car is 11 years old and I have no trouble with it. I used to get highlights, pedicure, all that stuff every 8 weeks, now I do it myself at home. I dont miss the expense at all. I dont miss scheduling the time and juggling things to fit it all in. It is all such a relief.

I wash and reuse and repurpose the oddest things and I feel so dang good about it all at the end of the day. Life is so much more simple.

I remember when the push came to switch from VHS to DVD and many folks said "OK but this is the last thing I am upgrading". We as consumers were spending tons of money every couple of months to have the newest and best technology, and we were putting it all on credit cards. A lot of people said ENOUGH! (Albums to 8tracks to cassetts to CDs, all in a matter of a few years!) Dont get me wrong, i was thrilled with the gift of my Kindle, and we do seem to upgrade our laptops every 2 years, but just your basic laptop, not iPads and dockable keyboards or whatever. I have 2 first generation iPods, between the two of these dinos they only have 5 gigs of storage, but I refuse to upgrade them. Refuse.

Sorry. This was an issue, a deep one, that we had to face and we have put a great deal of thought and emotion into it. I could really go on even more about this. We had to examine what propoganda we had been fed all these years that had gotten us to that point of obsessive consumerism, so we could wean ourselves off of it. And Christmas commercials are the worst of the brainwashing!

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said... 40

Another interesting tidbit about Sanora Babb, who was from Oklahoma--she was homeless herself at one point and slept in parks. But she found a way to get out of her impoverished circumstances, get an education and a job, and give back to the people she grew up with. Her story is inspiring.

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said... 41

Dwindle your story proves we CAN cut back on things. I try to be aware of it. In the past if I was missing a button or something broke I might throw it out. Now I pull out my sewing kit. Why throw something out when you can fix it good as new. My leather file bag was getting old looking, thought it needed to be replaced. I resisted the temptation, looked up on line how to clean and restore leather, and that's the project I worked on this weekend. Looks 6 months old now, not the 6 years it is. I haven't done this yet, but lots of friends of ours have cut back cable especially with Netflix, Hulu and everything else online these days. They don't miss it either they say.

All these little things add up and you are absolutely right, you don't miss it.

mim said... 42

Admin, I think others have posted this, but if you want to learn more about the Dust Bowl and what contributed to the disaster, read The Worst Hard Time, by Timothy Egan. He's the author interviewed throughout the Ken Burns' film.

Dwindle said... 43

Buttercup said... 37
4444444444444

Hey, thanks for posting that show description again! I had forgotted how comical it was. You know, one thing that stands out in that "Twisted" description that makes me certain Kate would never be happy with a show like that: She needs pity, more than anything else. She wants someone feeling and dealing the "HUGE" burden of her children so Kate can hear the pity, the sympathy, the kudos, the OMGs. Nothing in the 'twisted' description allows Kate to be the center of pity; not even the center of attention actually as all the attention would have been on the other family and THEIR story.

By doing momswap, someone else gets to enjoy the Gosselin children for 3 days and read scripted lines about OMG how does Kate do it all, poor poor pitiful Katie, so strong so amazing so hardworking so organized soooo underappreciated! THAT and the $$ is what Kate lives for. Oh and swinging the plastic tatas.

silimom said... 44

Realitytvkids.com (Administrator) said... 15
Kate Gosselin ‏@Kateplusmy8
Today, I am more determined than ever to actively move towards a positive future..for myself but more importantly,for my kids! B determined!


The "Mom Swap" show must not have been picked up or it didn't lead to Kate being offered a regular reality show gig. The tweet has the tone of someone who is becoming discouraged by the lack of employment opportunities for her.

Dwindle said... 45

Admin, I have heard little hints in your 'voice' that you are considering a cut back in cable.hehe. Once you get it set up, it is easy peasy. But be aware - it is a different mind set completely, one that consumers have never had in 70 years of television. One does not sit down in front of the box and flip to see what's on and then choose something. Before you sit down in front of the TV, you must already have an idea of what you want to watch and then you go find it.

We have Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu and HuluPlus, and there are tons of free things out there too. Email me if you ever want some info on our misteps and successes. :-)

She's come undone said... 46

Admin 11
I don't know if you remember but I mentioned a few days ago about this very subject and a book called The Worst Hard Time by Timothy Egan. He explains a lot of all of the conditions leading up to the disaster in more detail. And he talks about what happened in the north plains, such as Nebraska that caused a lot of the problems. In fact, he was in the program last night as a narrator at times. His books also follows up a bit on after the Dust Bowl was over and what happened to some folks. A very good read. I don't know if it is available on Kindle but I bought the book. One comment that was profound was 'between the earth and that sky I felt erased, blotted out'. And just think about this statistic -- Black Sunday, April 14, 1935 the day of the worst duster of them all -- the storm carried twice as much dirt as was dug out of the earth to create the Panama Canal. The canal took seven years to dig; the storm lasted a single afternoon. More than 300,000 tons of Great Plains topsoil was airborne that day.

Dwindle said... 47

I have a question about last night's episode. I missed why they were slaughtering the rabbits. Were they jackrabbits? Where did they all come from and what was the reasoning behind the massive slaughter? What was the reason the couldnt have been used for food? (I have relative that have a farm and raise rabbits for the table; Wednesday nights, as a matter of fact.)

Buttercup said... 48

Dwindle said... 43

THAT and the $$ is what Kate lives for. Oh and swinging the plastic tatas.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Plastic? I thought they were made of solid Naugahyde with gold trim. Plastic is too mediocre.

Yes a Meowy Snark from me to KG today cuz that's what kind of mood I'm in! :)

wayward said... 49

Realitytvkids.com (Administrator) said... 28
Someday I'll be very elderly, God willing, and I will be one of the few survivors left who remembers 9-11. The last survivors of 9-11. I wonder if a Ken Burns type will interview people my age about our thoughts and perceptions. Strange to think about.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Every spring, the 8th graders at my school travel to the Whitaker Center in Harrisburg to see the play "The Diary of Anne Frank" as part of their language arts unit on the play. Around the same time, they are studying the Civil War in social studies. They have taken a field trip to Gettysburg for the last 20 years, but this year budget cuts forced one trip to be cancelled.

We decided to cut the Gettysburg trip. Hopefully, the kids will get a chance to see Gettysburg at another time and it will always be there. At the end of the Anne Frank play however, a sweet woman named Hilda Mantlemacher speaks. She is a Holocaust survivor. She will not always be here and it is an honor and privilege to hear her speak. Many, many of the kids are moved to tears listening to her story and hearing the answers to the questions they ask her. It is very humbling, and kids at this age often need to be humbled.

She didn't start speaking about her experiences until about 17-18 years ago. She wanted to put that portion of her life behind her, most understandably. She was watching 20/20 or some show like that and she said a man was on the the show saying the Holocaust never happened. This made her angry and she has spoken to thousands of people since.

When I read your statement about hopefully being one of the last witnesses to a major historical event, I immediately could relate.

Formerly Duped said... 50

Dwindle;

Oh dear, I had pet rabbits ( outdoor). I know it's food, but funny how your mind works when you 'know ' the animals.
~~~~

Admin: I agree with two points you made. I agree farming for some reason has not received the assistance and attention it deserves- where do people think food comes from! I did not get to see the Dust Bowl last night due to a family birthday, but hope to catch it..have read Of Mice & Men and Grapes of Wrath, plus looked up the Dust Bowl to see what this was all about.I am enjoying this thread so far...

Also agree about stores and T-Giving hours; its a disgrace that employees have to stay, often in an empty store, and then have a hurried meal and be back in the wee hours for Black Friday. Both my kids work in retail part-time . I think people should plan better so as not to need stores on these holidays- and also stores need not cater to the greed of our society, one which indeed to some degree has forgotten the labor, values and suffering of our ancestors.

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said... 51

Dwindle, they killed all the coyotes because they killed the livestock. Coyotes kill rabbits so it resulted in a massive overpopulation of jack rabbits and they ate the gardens and veggies. So they had roundups to kill them. It sounded very inhumane.

I thought it was yet another example of how something was done without thinking about the consequences. In a way, just cart blance killing all the coyotes was representative of how they just plowed the land however they felt like it without thinking or caring about future consequences. Killing coyotes had consequences and so did plowing.

Audible Click said... 52

Buttercup said... 48
Plastic? I thought they were made of solid Naugahyde with gold trim. Plastic is too mediocre.
************************************************
The Naugas are on the endangered species list due to having so many hydes used for Kate's tatas.

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said... 53

I don't have a problem with early hours Friday morning. Friday has been a shopping day for ages.

I do have a problem with opening 9pm on Thanksgiving night. What about the moms and dads exhausted from cooking and entertaining all day, but who will lose their jobs if they don't come in and work? It's awful.

It's one thing to open early on Friday like everyone has for years. Quite another to start pushing it back to Thanksgiving night. Shame on Target. It'd be nice to see Kate take a stand on this and tweet about it since she always shops there. This is when being a celebrity is where you might be able to make a difference and use your fame for good.

Dmasy said... 54

Dwindle, 39 -- excellent post. We probably all have something we can contribute to the "cut back" list that you started.

I loved your line about "minutiae off your shoulders" -- as most "upgrades" of life come with strings that bind us.

Hubby and I are in the process of making down size decisions. I look forward to the feeling of liberation!

Dwindle said... 55

Realitytvkids.com (Administrator) said...
Dwindle, they killed all the coyotes because they killed the livestock. Coyotes kill rabbits so it resulted in a massive overpopulation of jack rabbits and they ate the gardens and veggies. So they had roundups to kill them. It sounded very inhumane.

I thought it was yet another example of how something was done without thinking about the consequences. In a way, just cart blance killing all the coyotes was representative of how they just plowed the land however they felt like it without thinking or caring about future consequences. Killing coyotes had consequences and so did plowing.

4444444444444444

OK that makes total sense then. I wonder how much we as a society have learned from that - a bit I think.

I came back in the room when the elderly man was choking up about the screams of the rabbits, and a clip of hundreds of them hopping around.

But unless they were rabid or something, it is too bad they werent used for the table. Anything can be stewed.

There I go again, thinking frugally of the waste.

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said... 56

None of these big box stores would go out of business if they didn't open until Friday, that's what's so frustrating about this. Their online stores can be open without anyone on duty other than a tech or two on call.

I think consumers also need to send them a message they don't support this and DON'T shop on Thanksgiving Day. We can make a difference.

Dwindle said... 57

Realitytvkids.com (Administrator) said... 53
I don't have a problem with early hours Friday morning. Friday has been a shopping day for ages.

I do have a problem with opening 9pm on Thanksgiving night. What about the moms and dads exhausted from cooking and entertaining all day, but who will lose their jobs if they don't come in and work? It's awful.

It's one thing to open early on Friday like everyone has for years. Quite another to start pushing it back to Thanksgiving night. Shame on Target


44444444444444444444444

Walmart's sales actually start at the crack of dawn on Thanksgiving day!!!!! At least around here and they are advertising it ad nauseum. And it is mandatory that every single employee works that 5 day stretch, I have been told. 2 of my Thanksgiving dinner guests wont be making it on Thursday because of this, unless they quit their jobs this week, which is a real possiblity. We may fix our friends some plates and drive them up to the store so they can have the dinner on their breaks.

Also, my son cooks in a family owned Italian Resturaunt. He has been there for a few years and they have never been open on Thanksgiving before - this year they are and he has to work a 10 hour day. He is heartbroken, as am I and also his 82 year old grandmother, she loves how he gobbles down her stuffing! Son LOVES dashing from my home to my sister's to his GMa's to make a piggy of himself of all his favorite family recipes. But not this year, and Gma is frail so it is heartbreaking for him.

Dreams said... 58

Consumers caused this greed and continue it by being early customers. Stores are only filling a need and if missing one meal will bring turmoil to the family, tell him to quit his job. Many single parents would be thrilled to work on a holiday or work any day.

Parents continue to coddle their kids and then wonder why they are so flakey.
"Poor baby, has to work n a holiday."
If you don't want to work holidays, please stop whining about it.

aggiemom09121416 said... 59

One of my daughter's friends is a high school senior that works part time to earn gas money. He has to work on Thanksgiving Day! I'd like to give a shout-out to our local SUBWAY for making their employees work on Thanksgiving, and NOT PAYING HOLIDAY PAY. SUBWAY SUCKS.

Heide said... 60

Dwindle said... 45
We have Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu and HuluPlus, and there are tons of free things out there too. Email me if you ever want some info on our misteps and successes. :-)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I, for one, would be interested in hearing about the misteps and successes.

aggiemom09121416 said... 61

Dreams said... 58

Consumers caused this greed and continue it by being early customers. Stores are only filling a need and if missing one meal will bring turmoil to the family, tell him to quit his job.
------
I respectfully disagree. Big box stores are only interested in filling their own pockets. Corporate greed. Why don't they grow a conscience and close for the day.

rainbowsandunicorns said... 62

I do have a problem with opening 9pm on Thanksgiving night. What about the moms and dads exhausted from cooking and entertaining all day, but who will lose their jobs if they don't come in and work? It's awful.

True. But then again, there are the employees who aren't exhausted from cooking, who really don't have a traditional Thanksgiving holiday to share with families and who really want to work because they need the money. Desperately. I've talked to people in retail who are working on Thanksgiving and they've said that they weren't doing anything anyway, so why not work and help pay the bills. A friend's son announced he's working twelve hours, starting at midnight Thanksgiving, and he's thrilled. He needs the hours, he's already eaten his turkey, and the money is good.

But when companies force their employees to work on a holiday at the risk of losing their jobs, that's a different thing.

Dreams2 said... 63

I don't see the problem with people working on Thanksgiving. Adjust the time of your meal accordingly. I'm not saying this to cause arguments, I just don't see the big deal. The economy is bad and many people are probably glad for the extra hours especially if they're not salaried workers.

AuntieAnn said... 64

Well Mom watched pt.1 . I told her I could certainly understand why they called it The Great Depression and she said "it made us tough". I think I detected a slight tone of righteous indignation in her voice when she said it, but I'll give her that one. She and dad both worked hard all their lives so that they'd never again have to live through the kind of poverty. It also explains why she questions all my purchases when we go shopping together. Her mantra has always been "do you need it or do you just want it?" grrr.
She said in the mid thirties the Canadian and US governments developed drought- alleviation programs like building dams and dugouts, planting tree lines to stop wind erosion.
Dwindle - the government started paying for coyote skins which then led to the overpopulation of the jackrabbits.
Wish I could discuss this more in depth with you all...family member is having some health issues here. I'll catch up with you later hopefully.

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said... 65

I think forcing people to work on thanksgiving disrespects the one day, one day out of the year we are supposed to pause, gather with family and friends, and give thanks. It's just three measly extra hours of work at Target. It probably wouldn't make much of a difference if you need hours that badly. Employees are outraged so I don't think the general consensus is I want the hours. Not at all. I also think it takes consumerism to a frightening level. Who needs a laptop so bad they can't wait until the turkey is cold?

SeeSaw said... 66

In our area last year a lot of stores opened right before midnight Thanksgiving night. Now, they're opening at 8 p.m. and even earlier. No way would I go out shopping on Thanksgiving. By 8 p.m. I plan to be munching a turkey sandwich and drinking a glass of wine with my kids' friends who always spend time after their family dinners at our house.
Co-workers have said they NEED to go out so they can get the bargains. Funny that most are shopping for TVs and appliances for themselves and not for Christmas gifts.
By next year I predict stores will be open all day on Thanksgiving to keep up with or beat their competitors. Sad. I love to save money, but not at the expense of my holiday with family and friends.

P.S. Watched part of the Dust Bowl last night but DH said he wanted to watch, too. Waiting until post-Thanksgiving to catch the whole series with him.

Formerly Duped said... 67

I meant our mall either opens at midnight TG night for Black Friday or stays open till then BF itself. Either way I think it does undercut the meaning of Thanksgiving, being grateful for what you already have and family etc, not the need to buy more. I know companies need to stay in business and so on, but when it affects society as a whole- desperate commercialism at holiday time- it's too much. Remember when Sundays everything was closed?

SeeSaw said... 68

My DH says next year stores will open on Christmas so people can do their returns right away. He's trying to be funny, but maybe he's not far off of the mark.

Formerly Duped said... 69

SeeSaw said... 68

~~~~

Your husband sadly may be right!

Tweet-le De Tweet-le DUMB said... 70

Who had the water heater problem? I scanned the comments at the time but nothing really registered since my water heater was fine. Now I can't get the pilot light to come on, have called someone out.

If I remember correctly someone had to have their water heater replaced? Anyone remember this?

aggiemom09121416 said... 71

Admin 65 said
Who needs a laptop so bad they can't wait until the turkey is cold?
-------
*snort*
LOL

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said... 72

Improbable it occurred to me that whole Kate tweets platitudes about actively moving towards positivity, the woman of the dust bowl actually rolled up their sleeves and made it happen. Like Sanora Babb and Dorothea Lange.

Anonymous said... 73


It is a disgusting display of corporate greed and employee disenfranchisement. My BIL can never come to Thanksgiving dinner because he always has to work. Last year he was able to be here for Christmas, he still doesn't know if he can this year.

And it's RIDICULOUS to go out shopping at 10 pm on Thanksgiving night. Do you really need that tv/computer/blender that badly? Is saving a few dollars more important than spending time with your family and friends?

I've done the Black Friday sales, but I don't think it's worth it anymore. We have also cut back tremendously out of necessity. Thank goodness my hubby is not a techie, so we never upgrade anything. We will have our tv until it breaks. Our home improvements include a can of paint and paint brush, lol.

As a society we have lost the understanding of "need" versus "luxury."

heather

Millicent said... 74

Realitytvkids.com (Administrator) said... 14

Does anyone else think it's sad that Target is opening at 9pm on Thanksgiving night? I will gladly wait until the next day for what I need to let those employees be with their families.
* * *
Yes, on many levels. One - that people would want to leave their homes and family on Thanksgiving to go shopping. Two - that people will be drawn away from their homes and families to staff the store. Don't encourage Target and other retailers by shopping on Thursday night. If the turn out is poor, maybe they won't do it again next year.

I also avoid Black Friday shopping and have for many years. It's probably originally based on my dislike of crowds, but I have also grown tired on the rampant consumerism of the whole thing. My extended family has all agreed, especially since the recession, that it is better to donate to charities than to shop for the next "big thing". So we give financially to Heifer or the Salvation Army, Meals on Wheels, the local food bank, and others - in the names of our family members. It's so much more relaxing and I feel better about myself than I would if I was out there at 5:00 a.m. on Friday after Thanksgiving.

Dwindle said... 75

Not everyone lives 10 minutes down the road. It is too difficult for anyone to work from 10A to 8p and then drive an hour and 45 minutes for dinner. Grandma isnt capable of serving dinner at 10 at night to accomodate an Italian Resturant 3 counties away. And he has to be back at work at 10A the next morning.

There are a great many things going on for Walmart workers right now, I apologize if I upset you with my unintended implication that my 2 friends might quit their jobs to avoid working on Thanksgiving. That is not the case at all. They are both over 65 and were hired as a greeter and one as cashier for 20 hours a week, and now they are being assigned long days stocking shelves, hauling pallets, and climbing ladders etc, neither of them are physically cabable of that for repeat long days.(Hauling 30lb bags of dog food up to the top storage shelves in the pet department is one new duty.) Yes, they can do these hours and these duties outside of what they were hired for or they can quit, 'like it or leave it' as many say. THEY arent whining but the physical pain is taking it's toll, and neither is my son whining, but we their loved ones are.

No need to use such angry language and be so accusatory. All working people are entitled to a few days off and sometimes those days are counted on and important personal plans made. it is disappointing to anyone to have it yanked away. But we carry on.

rainbowsandunicorns said... 76

Admin 65 said
Who needs a laptop so bad they can't wait until the turkey is cold?

-------

lol! So true, but, if two family members are asking for super-dooper crockpots for Christmas, and they are regularly fifty dollars each and you can get them for eight dollars each on Black Friday, do you wait until the turkey is cold and spend $84 more for them the next day?

I got snared into the Black Friday sales last year. I hate crowds. I hate playing their games, but with such a deal, and I knew what I wanted, I just ran in and got the items and was out in a flash. I'm not doing it again this year, though, even if coffee makers are on sale.

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said... 77

I could not disagree more strongly with the "poor baby he has to work a holiday" and that that coddles kids.

How about it teaches kids that a few times a year we should all stop our obsession with stuff, pause, and give thanks with family and friends. Maybe these kids will grow up actually being there for their kids instead of treating holidays or birthdays like just another day they may or may not have time to fit the kid into their hectic schedule. If that's coddling kids, so be it.

No one was coddled in the depression yet they somehow managed to pause not just for thanksgiving but Sundays too. One day, just one, where everyone vows not to buy any stuff, is absolutely not too much to ask of us and I find it astounding how blasé some have become about it, and ashamed. We are so lucky and we should stop to recognize that.

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said... 78

Rainbows once again I have no issue with Black Friday shopping. Just thanksgiving day shopping.

The Magic is All But Gone... said... 79

We live near Orlando where thousands and thousands of people working at the theme parks work on all major holidays. The ones I know say a 9pm start time doesn't sound so bad.

Formerly Duped said... 80

Tweet:

I don't see my post so I'll try again.It was me. I had a problem with my water heater- plumbers working on my gas leak told me to replace it for $1200! Everyone here said that was outrageous, and you can get a new one-and tankless ones- at Home Depot for a fraction of that, then have it installed. Hope your pilot can be fixed and the heater saved.

Now I am trying to get a hurricane- fallen tree removed by insurance plus the roof, fence and siding fixed and still not finished with my car accident case!

Dmasy said... 81

I have always been grateful to the necessary workers on holidays. Hospitals, airports, gas stations, etc. They are sacrificing family time for service.

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said... 82

The necessary workers are real gems and sacrifice a lot. I can't believe though now Target employees have creeped into the ever expanding necessaries. I am disillusioned.

Tweet-le De Tweet-le DUMB said... 83

Formerly Duped, thanks for the reply! The repair guys will be out sometime today between 3-5. IF it cant' be repaired I'll be sure and ask about the tankless ones. I've been interested in them, but NO WAY will I be spending $1200. I think this company is pretty reputable. This is a small, rural area and they couldn't stay in business as long as they have if they were ripping people off. People DO talk around here. LOL

As for you fallen tree, good luck working with the insurance companies. I had good luck with mine regarding my recent accident where my car was totaled. My insurance paid off within about 3 weeks, but now I have to see about getting my deductible.

It's always something it seems. Maybe we need lots of slap-happy platitudes. That should help, right?

Thanks again for replying.

Dwindle said... 84

I think it's a dangerous game we play, setting civilizaton back 100 years, when we expect folks to put up with poor working conditions with the excuse that the employer will find someone else to take the abuse or they will take their jobs oversees and ttthhhpppbbbttt so there.

I suppose some teens today ARE coddled, especially those that have jobs just for gas money for the brand new cars their parents bought them. My son is 27 and has his own house, he didnt go into resturant work because he wanted cushy hours, that's for sure.

When DD#3 and I were both working for hospice, we had lots of occasions when you think you going to get a bit of dinner or a minute to exchange a gift and the pager or cell phone goes off and you gotta fly to an emergency home visit. In THOSE cases, working was indeed much more important, a calling. And DD always, and still, offers to work holidays for those that have kids at home, in exchange for her New Years Eve and New Years Day off. She is young and it all works out for her. But sitting here watching Thanksgiving Day being turned into a giant shopping event a bit more every year,instead of what we grew up with, is disturbing for a lot of folks.

Bearswife said... 85

Heather said:
I was a little disappointed in that there wasn't a lot of time spent explaining why the dust bowl happened. I would've like more "science" in the documentary, especially when the huge dust storm reached the Atlantic Ocean or explaining exactly what dust pneumonia was, why some survived, etc.
~~
You know, I missed the first half hour (doh!) and thought perhaps they had covered this in the beginning. I'm going to have to do my own research, because I'd like to understand the HOWs as well.

Overall, I really enjoyed it and will be watching tonight.

aggiemom09121416 said... 86

Dwindle!
Have you read "The Working Poor" and "Nickel and Dimed"?
if you haven't, you ought to.....

Makes you really think about how society treats our 'invisible' workers.

Anon Mom said... 87

My child a counselor/case worker in a juvenile detention facility and works holidays. The kids need my child's guidance most during the holidays. I'm a regular poster but will remain anonymous this time because I don't want sheeple trying to find either me or my family. I may not agree with the stores opening a day earlier just to make an extra buck, but people do work the holidays.

Dwindle said... 88

Heide said... 60
Dwindle said... 45
We have Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu and HuluPlus, and there are tons of free things out there too. Email me if you ever want some info on our misteps and successes. :-)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I, for one, would be interested in hearing about the misteps and successes.


44444444444444444444

DO NOT buy the new Apple based internet TV. There are copyright restrictions on what the TV will allow you access to. Basically, if Apple doesnt have contracts with the apps, you cant watch them.

DO start out by trying a ROKU box or other internet connected device on your TV. We are up to 3 Roku boxes around the house. It is internet TV for Dummies, like me. The picture quality is perfect and the selections are growing. But it is just a drop in the bucket of what is out there for free. Free channels will have some commercials. Even Hulu Plus, that you PAY for, has commercials! Yuck.

DO upgrade your router. That is not the place to skimp. And we havent had a dial up modem for internet for years, we only have a cable modem, so I dont know how any dialup would work.

You will need either an antenna converter or a TV with it built in in order to receive your free local channels.

We bought a new, baseline, PC computer and hooked it up to our HD TV to use as a monitor. So anything you can find on your computer or laptop to watch, we are doing the exact same thing on our TV, just larger.

I strongly recommend a Roku box to get you started and see what you think of App based TV.

There is so much more and the offerings are growing and getting safer all the time. I have never ever had a virus or tracking trojan on my TV computer, but found 3 of them on my laptop this morning.

Anonymous said... 89


There are workers that are necessary 365 days a year.

I hardly think Target or WalMart is one of them. People can wait 12 hours to go shopping.

I really hope the WalMart workers go through with the strike. WalMart is HORRIBLE to its workers, and we as taxpayers are picking up the tab for the poor wages it pays its employees as it rakes in billions and billions of dollars. And now its going to dump increased health insurance costs on the employees?? But it will negotiate every.single. vendor. down in price to get bottom dollar product to sell. But it refuses to go to bat to reduce its health insurance costs, just dumps it on the minimum wage workers.

Disgusting.

OK, off the soapbox (deep breath).

heather

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said... 90

Dwindle I agree. Essential workers will always be needed and always admired for working or being on call on holidays and that's what you sign up for. But we are blurring the lines between essential and nonessential and with it, degrading a national day of thanks. No one will die because Target and Subway close. Lincoln, who made thanksgiving a holiday in 1863, would be shocked.

Dwindle said... 91

Auntie, hope all is well.

Bearswife said... 92

well there I go again posting without reading all the way through!
I see that I was not alone in my questions about the hows and whys. Now I'm off to check out the article admin mentioned.

Quick OT about rabbits:
One year my mother and her sister got rabbits at Easter. My grandpa built a hutch in the backyard for them and and my mom and auntie loved taking care of their bunnies. One day they came home from school and the rabbits were gone! They had fried 'chicken' for supper that night...
Draw your own conclusions! ;)

rainbowsandunicorns said... 93

Rainbows once again I have no issue with Black Friday shopping. Just thanksgiving day shopping.

--------------

But Black Friday shopping starts on Thanksgiving, and if you want a deal you are under their mercy and must do the shopping when the store opens, which last year was before Friday. When I went for my purchases it was still Thanksgiving Day, technically, and they were sold out within fifteen minutes. Had I waited until Friday, I would have been out of luck and would have had to pay full price when the item was restocked.

If you want to save money, you're at their mercy. Is it fair? No, and as Tom Hanks said in You've Got Mail, "It isn't personal, it's business."

Unknown said... 94

Jumping in with a comment before reading everything....
Realitytvkids.com (Administrator) said... 19
''Library I thought they said it was always windy there generally. And they had some guy say that the grasslands with an evolutionary adaptation to help hold the soil down against the wind. Only in the late 19th century suddenly the grass started to be plowed up. From what they said, I don't think the wind was that different, it's just what the wind was able to pick up that was different--the dust.''
~~~~~~~~
I believe you're correct. The wind became the problem when the grass was plowed up, allowing the wind to blow dust, instead of blowing across the grass. I've read a lot of things about pioneer women, and in almost every account, the unrelenting wind is talked about. The loneliness from isolation, and the never ending wind seemed to affect the women more than anything else.

Dwindle said... 95

Realitytvkids.com (Administrator) said... 90
Dwindle I agree. Essential workers will always be needed and always admired for working or being on call on holidays and that's what you sign up for. But we are blurring the lines between essential and nonessential and with it, degrading a national day of thanks. No one will die because Target and Subway close. Lincoln, who made thanksgiving a holiday in 1863, would be shocked.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

I agree. Workers have traditionally had Sundays and Holidays off as days of reverance and family; it is not always about putting your feet up, pampering yourself, and having a day off WHEEE! Then someone decided that since MOST folks had these days off, they might as well shop. And now here we are. It's not about coddling, it's about having days of reverance and spirituality taken away in the name of fostering more consumerism. Like it or leave it, indeed. Ringing register at Target is not the same thing as being a nurse or firefighter.

And check out Kmarts hours this Thursday.

Anonymous said... 96


It's your choice to buy anything. No retailer has power over you, you are not at their mercy.

They just want you to think that way.

If they sell out in 15 minutes, what does that tell you about the respect they have for YOU as a customer? They don't. It's your $$ they want. So they stock a handful of items at a ridiculous price and are betting that you will not get what you want, so you will buy something that you don't want. At a higher price of course.

Retail is a two-way street. And there are stores I refuse to shop at because of the policies they have. WalMArt is one of them. I'd rather pay a few more dollars some where else.

heather

Dwindle said... 97

Anon Mom said... 87
My child a counselor/case worker in a juvenile detention facility and works holidays.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

And he never chose that profession for the easy hours. I applaud him, and you. He is NEEDED and clearly it is more than just a job to both him and you.

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said... 98

Let me clarify once again. I have no problem with Friday sales. I do have a problem with Thursday sales.

It's not your fault you can't get a better deal on any day but thanksgiving. But it sure is personal to the families who give up part of their holiday to go sell stuff.

Dwindle said... 99

Anonymous said... 96

444444444444444

Heather, I agree. US Labor Day is one day I refuse to shop. ALL WORKERS should have that day off as much as possible. I wont even buy gas on Labor Day.

As far as getting a great deal when the doors open on Black Friday, I tried that a few times and mysteriously never found what was advertised. I was had; bait and switch. 3TVs per store? 2 sale blenders? forget it. I'll stay home and preserve my dignity and never be baited into a store like that again for items I dont stand a chance of getting.

She's come undone said... 100

Dwindle, I have no idea why you were attacked for your comments re your son. I totally understood what you were saying and couldn't agree more about the folks having to work that day. I find it sad that whatever we say on here, someone inevitably comes on and tries to start controversy. If I understood you or correctly, you were saying this is the first year your son was required to work on TG and his grandmother is getting older and wants her grandson to be there to enjoy her home made food. I just don't get what part of that needed attacking.

I enjoy reading your comments and I do not think for a moment you are coddling your son about this. In fact, it's probably harder on you and grandmother than it is on him.

Anonymous said... 101


Agree with you 100% Admin. I have no issues with the early Friday sales.

Remember the stores need you, not the other way around.

And you will be able to find whatever it is on sale another day. Maybe the discount won't be as steep, but there is no reason ever to full price for anything. If it is something you need, just keep an eye out. You will get it.

heather

SeeSaw said... 102

Heather - I'm with you!
I haven't been inside a Walmart in more than 10 years for a lot of reasons I won't bore people with here.
I plan to support "Shop Local" on Saturday. Now that's an idea I can get behind.

rainbowsandunicorns said... 103

Lincoln would turn over in his grave. George Washington issued two proclamations for making Thanksgiving a holiday, but the states never could get together and make the date stick.

Lincoln's Thanksgiving was to be held on the last Thursday of the month. Along came FDR and made it the second-to-last Thursday, giving retailers more time between the holiday and Christmas. Apparently there was so much confusion, retailers weren't seeing any difference in sales, and Congress took charge and declared it the fourth Thursday of the month.

At least that's what I remember...sometimes I'm foggy on things like that, though!

Anonymous said... 104

AHhh Black Friday- can't stand it- refuse to participate. I do Cyber Monday If I feel the urge to shop at all.
My daughter will be working this Turkey day, she works at a theater. So guess where I will on Thursday? Yep- seeing some random movie so I can be at the theater with her :) And that's how I make the most out of a less-than-ideal situation.

Dwindle said... 105

She's come undone said... 100

4444444444444444

For every one of those "WTH?" posts, there are 100 wonderful posters with wonderful conversations. And you are always one of them.

Yes, you understood my original post completely. thank you. My 4 adult children are my ex MIL's only grandchildren, none of them live nearby her so everytime they do see her, they really note how much more frail she is becomming. Not that this matters, but he is her only Grandson and he is named for her late husband... No matter - it was just an unpleasant surprise that one of the two days a YEAR we count on with him wont happen this time.

Thank you. :-)

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said... 106

What an appropriate discussion in the real working women thread. Today Target CEO Gregg Steinhafel will receive a petition to stop Thursday store hours that had 350,000 signatures. A target employee from CA started it and had this to say:

I'm not complaining about being a minimum wage worker. Target, as a company, does some good and maintains a commitment to charity. Thanksgiving, though, is one of the three days retail workers get off a year, a day most spend with family. The issue is not black Friday, though it's not exactly this country's shining moment. Every year the opening time gets pushed up more and more. Midnight last year was pushing it. How can you expect workers to spend time with family and then stay up all night. It's inhumane and inconsiderate. You are most likely tucked away in bed while workers are in the stores pushing back a rabid crowd of shoppers trying to get an iPod. A 9pm opening disgusts me and symbolizes everything that is wrong with this country. Give Thanksgiving back to families. The world won't end if people have wait 7 more hours to buy useless junk that will be outdated in a year anyway.

I put a lot more weight in an actual employee's take on it.

rainbowsandunicorns said... 107

Let me clarify once again. I have no problem with Friday sales. I do have a problem with Thursday sales.

-------------

Do you have a problem with sales that start Friday at 12:01 a.m., or only on the actual Thanksgiving holiday?

Personally, I would rather see stores open on Friday at their regular opening times, rather than playing these games of opening at 8 p.m. or midnight on Thanksgiving Day. It's getting out of control, and each year the sales start earlier. I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if the big stores open next year before the sun even sets on Thanksgiving Day.

Heide said... 108

Dwindle - thanks a lot for the tips!

Anonymous said... 109

I hope Target hears and listens to the employee's arguments. I agree wholeheartedly. The consumer can wait. Let the employees have their holiday.

Marie

Jeanne said... 110

I watched the first part of the Dust Bowl last night. Very interesting and very sad. I think they could have covered a little more why it happened but they did explain it. During WWI the farmers made good money with their crops feeding the US and other places. After the war prices dropped and some farmers farmed more acres to get the same money. Others sold land to people to bring them to Oklahoma and other states with promises of riches and the good life. They also started using new intensive plowing techniques that went deeper. Eventually there was nothing left to anchor the soil. On top of that there was an intense drought for 9-10 years. The winds blew up and the soil blew around. It was a man made environmental disaster. Even leaving more trees would have helped. Very sad.

I never knew about the bad storm that blew dust to NYC. I never heard about it from my grandfather who was 15 yrs old at the time on a farm in Michigan. The show said Detroit was affected so he should have been. I'm thinking about some older people at church I might be able to ask.

I don't know if I can see the second part tonight but it's on my DVR. It's just so sad what those families went through. Some of the mothers committed suicide because it was so bad. I can understand that.

librarylady said... 111

Kmart has been open all day on Thanksgiving for several years.

Our local fake-Amish (popular and well-known - but any restaurant that says it's Amish isn't really Amish...) restaurant opened last year on the day. That was the first and last Thanksgiving of that - there was quite an outcry from our very conservative and family-oriented area, and that was the end of that idea.

ZeldaZee said... 112

The psychology of Black Friday sales is really astounding. You will never see a more apt visual definition of "mob mentality" than what happens once those doors open. It's frightening to see in person.

Does anyone remember a few years back when an employee of– I believe it was a Wal-Mart– was trampled to death when the crowd rushed him? The rush to have the "next big thing" at a marginal discount literally cost a man his life.

I am not one that particularly wants to go back to "the good old days" (I'm a computer programmer, fer Cripes sake) and I'll be honest, I suspect that if you offered many of the freight-hoppers and migrants the creature comforts we take for granted they'd jump for them in an instant...but when you value a wide-screen TV over someone's life, Jesus, there is some real moral dissonance going on there.

Dwindle said... 113

butterfly said... 104
AHhh Black Friday- can't stand it- refuse to participate. I do Cyber Monday If I feel the urge to shop at all.
My daughter will be working this Turkey day, she works at a theater. So guess where I will on Thursday? Yep- seeing some random movie so I can be at the theater with her :) And that's how I make the most out of a less-than-ideal situation.

44444444444444444

I cant find an internet way of expressing the happy but sympathetic chuckle I am having right now! Spending time at her job to be near her on a holiday sounds like a loving and fun thing! It's what memories are made of!

What's Next? said... 114

Yesterday I was in Walmart and an employee was telling me about last year's "Blow Out" sale. He said the shoppers were camped out (literally tents and all) in the produce department since our local Walmart often puts big screen TV's in the produce department. He said the sale merchandise was sitting in the aisles on pallets complete with shrink wrap. Then about 5 hours before the sale was to start they literally put their hands on the merchandise they wanted and stood there, hands on merchandise awaiting the start of the sale. Then once the sale started the shoppers had to literally tear off the shrink wrap to access the merchandise. He said the police had to be called as some shoppers were wielding knives and it soon got out of hand. He said he was not at all looking forward to that again.

Can you imagine? I love to save $ when I can, but I equally, or maybe even moreso, hate crowds and frantic people, so I refuse to partake in that madness.

One thing I noticed last year was that if I looked at reviews of the big ticket items on these sales they tend to be ones that have lower ratings (on various consumer sites) than other brands or model numbers of the same item. So I suspect they are trying to clear out less desirable products. Big win for the stores.

IDModo said... 115

Would someone please explain to this Canadian about the origin and the name of Black Friday?
Last year was the first time I ever heard of it.

We have Boxing Day, the day after Christmas, but it doesn't seem to have as much hype connected with it as Black Friday.

FYI said... 116

Don't know if this has been mentioned, but Coupon Cabin has completed wiped Kate's blogs off their site. They're gone like she never even existed.

She still has the links on her website. If you click on the link to her blog, the only thing that comes up is the letter from Scott.

Poor Kate-not only did she lose her job-it was erased off the face of the earth.

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said... 117

Lol no, they swiffered her? baw haha that's classic. What in the world did she do to piss them off this much that they can't leave a few Halloween tips up?

Moose Mania said... 118

He said the sale merchandise was sitting in the aisles on pallets complete with shrink wrap. Then about 5 hours before the sale was to start they literally put their hands on the merchandise they wanted and stood there, hands on merchandise awaiting the start of the sale. Then once the sale started the shoppers had to literally tear off the shrink wrap to access the merchandise

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Then there are the cheaters who, because the store is so crowded and figure nobody will notice, wiggle their hands through spaces in the shrink wrap several hours before the item is set to go on sale. They have this strategy down to a sneaky perfection. They take it to the register and check out. The cashiers are so discombobulated (is that a word?) and they ring it up at the sale price. Nobody is the wiser and the customer gets out of there in record time with the purchase while the other 500 people stand there with their hands on the shrink wrap waiting for five hours for it to be unwrapped.

Last year I wanted some things at Toys R Us that were really a bargain price ($399 horse for $80). I was foolish enough to think I could get into the store. The line wrapped around the store twice, and there were security guards allowing only so many people in at one time. I'm all for saving money, but even if they were giving away toys for free, you wouldn't find me waiting in line. But you know, there are some people who just thrive on that kind of thing...it's their annual tradition, love the crowds and go shopping even if they're not planning on buying anything. Kind of the social event of the year.

Moose Mania said... 119

justshannaj
@Kateplusmy8 do you have your regular meals posted somewhere? I love when 2 kids are happy with what I've made let alone 8!

Speaking of which, whatever happened to Menu Mondays? Is she still posting recipes, or did that go by the wayside, too?

FYI said... 120

IDModo said... 115

Would someone please explain to this Canadian about the origin and the name of Black Friday?
************
There are many theories to the origin on the term Black Friday. Some say it because that's when retailers start operating "in the black" due to increase in profits from the sales. Another is that Black Friday was a term coined by the Philadelphia police to describer the traffic jams and hordes of people out shopping that day.

Wikipedia has a good entry about it. It lists several of the violent incidents that have occurred on BF.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Friday_(shopping)

Formerly Duped said... 121


IDModo said... 115

Black Friday is named for the profits ,as in the stock market, being 'in the black.' Or, in 1961, "For downtown merchants throughout the nation, the biggest shopping days normally are the two following Thanksgiving Day. Resulting traffic jams are an irksome problem to the police and, in Philadelphia, it became customary for officers to refer to the post-Thanksgiving days as Black Friday" (from Wikipedia)

As a dual citizen, I am sad to see Boxing Day go the same route of massive sales- originally it was a day of giving, 'boxing ' up baked goods to give to merchants you dealt with or other employees etc.
"In the UK, it was a custom for tradesmen to collect "Christmas boxes" of money or presents on the first weekday after Christmas as thanks for good service throughout the year.[7] This is mentioned in Samuel Pepys' diary entry for 19 December 1663. Since they would have to wait on their masters on Christmas Day, the servants of the wealthy were allowed the next day to visit their families. The employers would give each servant a box to take home containing gifts and bonuses, and sometimes leftover food." ( also from Wikipedia)

FYI said... 122

Realitytvkids.com (Administrator) said... 117

Yep, she got totally swiffered. Now what her fans going to do to get tips for Black Friday and Cyber Monday? They'll be completely lost.

Rhymes with Witch said... 123

Would someone please explain to this Canadian about the origin and the name of Black Friday? 115

It's called Black Friday because it has long been the traditional start of Christmas shopping (even before the insane opening hours) that took stores out of the "red" and into the "black" in terms of profits.

What's Next? said... 124

IDModo 115, Without googling, going on solely my own understanding...You've most likely heard the term "in the red" as far as businesses. In bookkeeping a total "in the red" means a negative number, whereas a total in black means a positive number. Therefore, businesses not turning a good profit (in the red) often turn that around on "Black Friday". For some businesses it is their biggest money making day of the year.

If I'm wrong someone will correct me, but I can proudly say I didn't google my answer, right or wrong - LOL.

FYI said... 125

Moose Mania said... 119

She has posted any recipes since August. But we have to remember, she's working on a "cookbook", so she's not going to give them away for free, when she can charge $ for people to get them.

FYI said... 126

That should be "hasn't posted", in my previous comment.

PatK said... 127

Anonymous 124

Well thank you for that explanation. That must be the reason he dislikes her so. I shall make note of that and refer to it every time I think about her pulling up kids by the hair, whacking them with a spoon and grifting like there's no tomorrow.

Shame on them said... 128

History Channel has a program, Black Blizzard. Same subject, some comments by the same survivors and very interesting and heartbreaking.

Looked at the twitter war last night. Those people were vicious and horrible to each other. Surprised there was no blood. They were scary to read. Think they would actually hurt each other if they could. Didn't realize that went on. This was when someone offered a gift card to out another. They should be ashamed.

Don't want them coming after me. New name for this post.

JoyinVirginia said... 129

I will dvr the documentary. It sounds fascinating.
Now for all of you who will be watching The Dust Bowl tonight, you can still vote for Saint Tony of the Ballroom and his lovely partner Melissa! Just dial this number beginning at 8 pm in your time zone. 1-800-868-3406.
Yes, you can vote before they actually dance, phone lines open when the show comes on. Them Thar Stars will be Dancin to Michael Jackson songs tonight.

PatK said... 130

kateplusmy8
It's taco night here...I always love announcing dinners I know will be greeted with 8 sets of cheers..and tacos are definitely one of those

&&&&&&&&&&

Those poor kids are obviously starving to be so excited. Either that, or she still lies about all the cheers and thanks x8.

What a nutbag.

Dmasy said... 131

Kids cheering for tacos...I agree with Pat K. Those are some bored kids. Tacos are not that exciting.

GOOGLE IS YOUR FRIEND said... 132

IDModo said... 115

Would someone please explain to this Canadian about the origin and the name of Black Friday?



SERIOUSLY? A basic search will provide this information.

Or is the internet stiil new in your country? ;)

Unknown said... 133

Dmasy said... 132
''Kids cheering for tacos...I agree with Pat K. Those are some bored kids. Tacos are not that exciting.''
~~~~~~~~
I'm not so sure about that. Compared to the many cans of questionable things stirred together into a disgusting pile of slop.....tacos must look like manna from Heaven too those poor children!!

IDModo said... 134

Thanks everybody!
I too regret the fact that Boxing Day has degenerated into a day driven by Big Business, instead of a day to relax, rest and hand out presents to friends and workers.

What's Next? said... 135

Question from a southern gal. Would you explain why it is called "Boxing Day"?

Here's a question for the Anonymous people who post here supporting Kate. Assuming you are a staunch Kate supporter and post on Pro-Kate blogs and Twitter under the same screen name, why won't you use that same screen name here rather than posting as Anonymous?

AMD said... 136

Anna Nicole Smith's Daughter Takes Up Modeling
------------------------------------------------
http://www.etonline.com/news/127093_Anna_Nicole_s_Daughter_Takes_Up_Modeling/index.html#at_pco=cfd-1.0
ET was with Anna Nicole Smith 20 years ago as she shot one of her famous ads for Guess, and now we're on hand to witness her daughter Dannielynn walk in her mother's footsteps as the newest Guess girl.
In the new ads, Dannielynn, 6, poses on the beach for the jean company that helped launch Anna Nicole to stardom.
While Birkhead is thrilled with seei
ng his daughter take up where Anna Nicole left off, the decision was ultimately left up to Dannielynn.
"It was something I asked her if she wanted to do, and she said, 'Sure!'" Birkhead says.
-------------------------------------------------This is very disappointing. Will history repeat itself again? This decision should not be left in the hands of a six-year old, especially in view of the fact that her mother literally succumbed to this lifestyle. The parent should be making the decision.

Dwindle said... 137

IDModo said... 115

Would someone please explain to this Canadian about the origin and the name of Black Friday?

44444444444444444

Ignore ignore ignore that horrible poster up there, IDModo! OMG.

I had never heard the term Black Friday until about a dozen years ago. But I am told that the retail industry supposedly operates in the red (red ink signifying debt) all year long and the the day after Thanksgiving signals the start of the Christmas shopping which puts them in the black for the year (black signifying profit.)

I honestly thought, when I first heard it, that the term referred to the shoppers who were behaving like animals and folks getting physically hurt... but I guess not.

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said... 138

Just in general, Someone may or may not have a vendetta against someone else, but assuming for argument's sake they do, that doesn't mean what they've said about them is untrue. Good ole logic. If a vendetta, then information is false? Ehhh, wrong!

Anonymous said... 139


What's Next? said... 136

Question from a southern gal. Would you explain why it is called "Boxing Day"?

Here's a question for the Anonymous people who post here supporting Kate. Assuming you are a staunch Kate supporter and post on Pro-Kate blogs and Twitter under the same screen name, why won't you use that same screen name here rather than posting as Anonymous?
November 19, 2012 2:37 PM
_______________________________

I can only speak for me. I don't post anywhere else and am not on Twitter. I post here or try to sometimes, because so much of what is said here is speculatio or just plain not true. Since no one here would know me any other name wouldn't mean anything different than Anonymous.

And using a name doesn't mean anything. I've seen people post thing shere using a name other than Anonymous get deleted.

Formerly Duped said... 140

What's Next? said... 136

~~~~~~~~

Read my informative post (lol) at #121 r4: Boxing Day.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Who 'announces' dinner, other than to say 'dinner's ready!!' Cheers? No, all I get is 'oh, no' or 'ok, good.' Thank you at the end of the meal, no shrieks or screeches of joy...

Dwindle said... 141

AMD said... 137
Anna Nicole Smith's Daughter Takes Up Modeling

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Can her own reality show be far behind? Frankly, i have always thought it was what the father wanted all along.

Dwindle said... 142

Troll alert everyone.

It has been much too pleasant and intelligent here today and they cant stand that. They need more attention.

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said... 143

I don't care if you think a name doesn't mean anything it is a rule you have to follow like everyone else.

Paula said... 144

The sheeple are so amusing. They always complain about the "hatersz" talking about Kate, but then when the "hatersz" don't talk about Kate,they get all upset, interrupt any OT conversation on the blog and attempt to move the conversation back to Kate.

They are as whacko as she is.

LoveMyGrandsons said... 145

I did my first Black Friday sale abou 14 years ago at 6:00 AM. I love Christmas and always wanted a set of Christmas dishes, but could not afford them, and the ones I could were so gaudy. Then one year VEnture (remember them?), had sale on a beautiful set of Christmas dishes for 4.00 for a complete service for 4. I bought a service for 12 plus the serving pieces at 4.00 or less (my mother in law bought me a service for 4 so I ended up with a service for 16, which I use).

Anyhow, I started doing the Black Friday sales for the next 2 or 3 years, and then I thought to myself, this is nuts!! I haven't done these sales in over 10 years and I never will again.

Okay, I know I didn't NEED Christmas dishes, they were a silly want, but I did it. However, I've never done it again, so please cut me some slack! Lol!

Jo said... 146

Admin..I really, really, really wish you would just delete any Anonymous poster that comes here from now on. Is there some way you can block that before it even gets posted?

Anonymous = COWARD.

I, personally don't want someone on here who supports child/animal/husband abuse. If they're going to support someone like Kate Gosselin then they have no business here. There are some PRO Kate Gosselin sites they can dump their shit on.

Paula said... 147

You know, I've never understood the Black Friday hysteria. You can get better deals closer to Christmas.

Just on my local news, people have already started camping out in front of Best Buy. Why?

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said... 148

Paula I knew they were going to show up when we started talking off topic. For as much as they moan we won't leave Kate alone, when we do they cannot stand it and jump in to try to stir us back on their favorite topic. Kate. We were having a lovely time without them docussing grown up things. How about leave us alone today?

Dmasy said... 149

I do not think I have ever lied about Kate and I am sure I have never harassed her. If that satisfies you, you can go do something more reasonable with your time.

Unknown said... 150

''You are totally mistaken. If the people who hate Kate would stop harrassing her, lying about her, and just leave her alone "they" wouldn't be talking to you at all.''
~~~~~~~~~
Here's the deal. People here are not ''harrassing'' KK. People here aren't lying about KK. People here will never leave KK alone, because people here will here will never EVER forget that KK is a lying, grifting, abusive to animals, and violently abusive to her children, stuck on stupid person that is STILL supporting her children with the money THE CHILDREN earned. It doesn't matter if ''they'' talk or insert tacky, rude, mean and nasty comments. Nothing ''they'' say will change a single thing!! May as well learn to live with it!!

PatK said... 151

Ahh, "This name" wants everyone to bury their head in the sand.

Sorry. When I see a fake screw-up like Kate put her life out there for public consumption, I'm gonna discuss it and mock them. I do stop short of stalking and harassment, though. Unlike others.

Anonymous said... 152

Realitytvkids.com (Administrator) said... 14
Does anyone else think it's sad that Target is opening at 9pm on Thanksgiving night? I will gladly wait until the next day for what I need to let those employees be with their families.

***********

Some employees might need the paycheck so there is a positive side to it.

Dwindle said... 153

HunnyBunny was dropping ridiculous hints about something for Christmas, so I researched it out and it's on sale this week at Home Depot. But if I dont get it tomorrow, or Wednesday morning, I wont get it. At least not on the sale price. Although I am not sure how much of a crunch there is at Home Depot on black Friday, I dont think I am willing to risk the shopping center. It's not available online.

Black Friday is not my thing. Think I'll stay home and bake cookies or get out the Christmas wreaths.

Does anyone else predict that sometime in the next year, Kate will be tweeting about raising rabbits for dinner? In between Nobu of course.

denni don't like kate..... said... 154

I comment infrequently, but read daily.....to those posters who think that Kate's treatment of her children should just be forgotten....think about it.....when you say "no more wire hangers" who do you think of? Joan Crawford? and after all these years? i guess infamous behavior remains infamous.

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said... 155

I'm glad those who work get paid. I'd expect them to. 350,000 people however felt it was wrong. There are 364 other days out of the year a hardworking person can find extra hours though. What did workers do the past 100 years when stores never opened on a sacred holiday? They managed.

Dwindle said... 156

LoveMyGrandsons said... 146
I did my first Black Friday sale abou 14 years ago at 6:00 AM. I love Christmas and always wanted a set of Christmas dishes, but could not afford them, and the ones I could were so gaudy. Then one year VEnture (remember them?), had sale on a beautiful set of Christmas dishes for 4.00 for a complete service for 4. I bought a service for 12 plus the serving pieces at 4.00 or less (my mother in law bought me a service for 4 so I ended up with a service for 16, which I use).

Anyhow, I started doing the Black Friday sales for the next 2 or 3 years, and then I thought to myself, this is nuts!! I haven't done these sales in over 10 years and I never will again.

Okay, I know I didn't NEED Christmas dishes, they were a silly want, but I did it. However, I've never done it again, so please cut me some slack! Lol!

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Remember when "Malls" were all the big thing? One year my mother wanted to go to a BIG mall near me, so we grabbed my sister and went on Black Friday. Mom convinced us we should just go for the experience and see what it was all about. We had so much silly fun! But as we were sitting in a food court or whatever about 2 in the afternoon, my mother noted all the folks who were leaving with no packages. They came, they saw, they experienced, they left. Not every one was spending money, just like us.This was in the days BEFORE the $18 TV sets at 6AM, but still... for some folks it is just the thrill of The Event.

We never did that again. Oh wait, one year my 3 girls and I went to OpryMills on Black Friday. We had theee most fun just trying to find a place to park! We didnt really spend any money though.

fidosmommy said... 157

The first many times I heard the term "Black Friday" I immediately thought of the day the stock market crashed. Outside of that context it made no sense to me, but there it was, right in my face every day around this time of year. I had to learn what it meant in today's culture.

Anonymous said... 158

Paula said... 149
You know, I've never understood the Black Friday hysteria. You can get better deals closer to Christmas.

Just on my local news, people have already started camping out in front of Best Buy. Why?
__________________________________
They are doing the same here. What the heck is Best Buy selling that someone wants to camp out in line for over 3 days for?? I saw the sneak preview ad (I am a preferred customer - some special Silver reward program- I shop Best Buy too much, LOL) and I did not see anything new and exciting this year. I don't get it. Plus, the last 3 years I have heard more reports of robbery and assault in the stores while shopping and in the parking lots - taking peoples wallets, car keys and mostly their newly purchased goods as they walked back to their cars- No thank you!

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said... 159

A tip that has worked well for me many times. Amazon used. Like new or very good products. Just as good if not better deals than Black Friday.

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said... 160

Dwindle, sports are my biggest hang up. But I've considered cutting cable very seriously, no question. I don't see a good solution to getting the games I need... I mean strongly want.

Dwindle said... 161

Realitytvkids.com (Administrator) said... 159
A tip that has worked well for me many times. Amazon used. Like new or very good products. Just as good if not better deals than Black Friday.

44444444444444

Groan. That reminds me; DD#1 and I share an Amazon Prime account, boy does that work out nice. Anyway I went to buy something the other day and put it in the shopping cart and here she had a couple of things still in there. Things I think might be for me. Oy. I tried not to look, I only saw the first item, I put them back her wish list and I checked out. I didnt mention it to her. My point, and I do have one somewhere, is that I agree about Amazon's not-new selection!

Dwindle said... 162

Realitytvkids.com (Administrator) said... 160
Dwindle, sports are my biggest hang up. But I've considered cutting cable very seriously, no question. I don't see a good solution to getting the games I need... I mean strongly want
44444444444444

Yeah. No. There isnt a solution. MLB is the worst, they have their market locked up tight. It is enough to make us want to get limited cable back again, just so we can watch our baseball! I love MLB. So far all of our NFL games have been broadcast on antenna TV...

Pity Party said... 163

I so wanted to see Gilles dance to the Micheal Jackson songs. He was really good in the free style type of dances. I am sorry I really don't want to see a gold medalist win. They have already reached the highest pinnacle and have an edge over the other dancers. Apollo and his partner seem to have tension between them that is palpable(and holding them back) and I was thinking he would be the one to go. Funny they talk about them fighting, but don't show it so it must not be pretty (or maybe they did when I fell asleep last week). I will be voting for Tony and Melissa unless they fall flat on their faces.

Blowing In The Wind said... 164

Admin..I really, really, really wish you would just delete any Anonymous poster that comes here from now on. Is there some way you can block that before it even gets posted?

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

What good would that do? They can make up any name, or any number of names, "iamas$$tstirrer," or "LowInIQDepartment" and they'll still be here.

No name for this said... 165

There is a way with blogger to block anon comments. The admin can go into comments on the backside of the blog and choose to have comments only from those with a google account. Without it blogger does not let you comment. I'm sure she knows this.

Blowing In The Wind said... 166

Not to change the topic from Black Friday, but has anyone watched the really ridiculous Christmas television movies they have going right now? It seems that they are in a hurry to just slap these movies together so they can advertise them as NEW movies. I've watched about 10 minutes of some of them and that was enough.

My favorite ones in the past few years have been A Christmas Visitor (William Devane), Fallen Angel (Gary Sinise) and The Most Wonderful Time of the Year (because I like Henry Winkler and he's really good in it) and the best -- Timepiece (James Earl Jones) and The Christmas Box (Richard Thomas and Maureen O'Hara). I'd rather watch the Walton's Homecoming, A Christmas Story (Patricia Neal) than the ones that are on right now. Of course, no holiday season is complete without Chevy Chase in National Lampoon.

Other than those, give me the "oldies," -- A Christmas Story, and It's A Wonderful Life.

carolina peach said... 167

There might be tension with some of the DWT Stars since some had 'relationships' with their former partners that didn't end well. Now they have to see them again. Can anyone say Awkward? Then, perhaps I misunderstood what I read.

njay said... 168

Admin, as much as the anonymous drive me insane, I really, really, love that you respect america so much as to allow freedom of speech. In my eyes you are awesome. Thank you!

One more thing, and please don't attack me for this. I think that using a different name depending on the comment or the direction of the thread, is just the same as using anonymous, I still can't tell who I am really responding to.

LoveMyGrandsons said... 169

OT Alert:

I just wanted to wish everyone a very blessed and happy Thanksgiving. I probably will not be here for the rest of the week because I have to get errands done and everything packed for...here it is...Iowa with the grandkids!

May you and your families have a wonderful holiday, blessed with all of the things that fill your hearts with joy. Talk to you on Monday!

IDModo said... 170

GIYF 132:If I wanted just to look something up, rather than join in a conversation, I would have googled Black Friday;or looked it up on one of several of the other search engines available to us way up here in the Frozen North.

That might involve a long trip by dogsled
to Toronto, where all the Internet Cafes are; or a canoe trip down the St.Lawrence, but I could do it!

On your next summertime visit to Canada, don't forget to bring your skis!

Sorry, Dwindle, I TRIED to ignore it.....

Anonymous said... 171

Realitytvkids.com (Administrator) said... 155
I'm glad those who work get paid. I'd expect them to. 350,000 people however felt it was wrong. There are 364 other days out of the year a hardworking person can find extra hours though. What did workers do the past 100 years when stores never opened on a sacred holiday? They managed.

*******************
OK, so you want the hardworking person to work on Christmas, Easter, etc.? Lots of holidays fall within those 364 days.

I'm sorry, but in an economy like the current one complaining about people having the opportunity to work is a bit much. If someone's Target shift happens to fall on a Thursday night, their pay check would decrease with the store closed. Maybe that's not a big deal to someone making a lawyer's salary, but to others it might be a very big deal.

Dwindle said... 172

njay said... 168
Admin, as much as the anonymous drive me insane, I really, really, love that you respect america so much as to allow freedom of speech. In my eyes you are awesome. Thank you!

One more thing, and please don't attack me for this. I think that using a different name depending on the comment or the direction of the thread, is just the same as using anonymous, I still can't tell who I am really responding to.

4444444444444444444

njay - yay! I have brought that up to, to the poster (I think it is pretty much just one), please pick a name and let us get to know you! You dont have to change your name every day or every post. The one poster I am speaking of is always intelligent, adds a lot to the conversation and is respectful. If s/he is reading this, they know who they are. Pick one name, please?

As for the angry little pot stirrers, I dont care what name they use, the content is always the same.

Dwindle said... 173

IDModo said... 170
GIYF 132:If I wanted just to look something up, rather than join in a conversation, I would have googled Black Friday;or looked it up on one of several of the other search engines available to us way up here in the Frozen North.

That might involve a long trip by dogsled
to Toronto, where all the Internet Cafes are; or a canoe trip down the St.Lawrence, but I could do it!

On your next summertime visit to Canada, don't forget to bring your skis!

Sorry, Dwindle, I TRIED to ignore it.....

4444444444444444

LOL! you're forgiven. I promise!

Here is the thing about online communities that have an international membership: you get to ask about each others' cultures and get information and nuances that you cant get elsewhere. It is one of the miracles of internet and is fun and educational.

On another site I go to, we have members that live in England, Wales, Scottland and Ireland. Oh and Australia and South Africa too. Comparing traditions and especially the differences in the English language is amazing. Dont EVER go to the UK with a hip pouch on and call it a fanny pack. Over there it means tampon!

IDModo, when I am coming up your way, I want to talk to YOU about it, not Wikipedia!

Dwindle said... 174

LoveMyGrandsons said... 169

4444444444444444

Be safe and enjoy! I hope for stories when you get back!

Deck The Halls said... 175

"If someone's Target shift happens to fall on a Thursday night, their pay check would decrease with the store closed. Maybe that's not a big deal to someone making a lawyer's salary, but to others it might be a very big deal."

************

I can understand this reasoning. That one day might make all the difference in the world to someone with a family who lives paycheck to paycheck and who needs that money to put food on the table, or be able to make rent that month.

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said... 176

I am not ignorant to a paycheck to paycheck mentality. I have to say t hough how did people get by last year? This is the first ever year target has ever done this. The argument they need the hours doesn't make sense when they never did this before.

IDModo said... 177

That's how I feel too, Dwindle! I would much rather talk to real people than bury my nose in a dictionary - online or otherwise.

I didn't appreciate being condescended to by someone who doesn't know anything about me, or apparently anything about my country, or is just being mean spirited.

The more we know about each other's cultures, the closer we are to peace in the world, IMO.

Moose Mania said... 178

Who 'announces' dinner, other than to say 'dinner's ready!!' Cheers? No, all I get is 'oh, no' or 'ok, good.' Thank you at the end of the meal, no shrieks or screeches of joy...

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

I think of the Rosanne episode when she's teaching some kids in Darlene's class to cook a meal for a family and one girl asks how long you cook it, and Roseanne says, "Til the oldest kid comes down and whines 'Oh God, not meatloaf again!'".

Improbable Dreams said... 179

LOL, really? Shoka's crossed over from mere dog to mythical being.

Either this is a) intended to reveal that Shoka is alive but perhaps not well; or b) the furtherance of a big fat LIE. If you're inclined toward another option, let's hear it. :)


@MiloandJack no... He usually gets what we have if it's bland..And I even cook for him 'special' now (shh. He's spoiled) but NO spice 4 him!
49 mins ago - Twitterrific

MiloandJack @Kateplusmy8 Did Shoka chime N on that? A GermanShepherd eatin Mexican? Just like his family.. #InternationalTasteBuds A PawsUp fr Shoka!

fidosmommy said... 180

There is one guy at the Shell gas station who is a fixture there on Thanksgiving and Christmas and New Year's Eve. He thinks since he's single and the other workers have families, he's the logical choice to work holidays. Nice. It also gives him double time pay, but I think that's really only half his reasoning. He's a thoughtful guy. Others could be scheduled to work if they wanted to, but they don't. So he gets to, benefitting everyone.

Moose Mania said... 181

But we have to remember, she's working on a "cookbook", so she's not going to give them away for free, when she can charge $ for people to get them.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

I guess her positive platitudes are kicking in if she thinks people would actually be willing to pay for those recipes (and I use that term loosely).

About Tony and Melissa...I'm glad that he finally got someone who can dance and it would be so nice to see them win. However, I think that Shawn, regardless if she is a gymnast, is the better dancer, better moves, better timing, and she's doing incredible dance routines.

Deck The Halls said... 182

kateplusmy8
It's taco night here...I always love announcing dinners I know will be greeted with 8 sets of cheers..and tacos are definitely one of those

%%%%%%%%%%%

When she says, "It's a five bean casserole with eight pounds of cheese and spinach" do they all say "Not that crap again!"

Jane said... 183

It used to be that when Kate was twittering, the tweets per hour number would be in the hundreds - 200 even 300. So tonight she was spewing and there were 30 tweets per hour, all from the same tired old fans - milo, goody, etc. It was obvious Kate couldn't wait to get away from them. Circling the drain, getting closer!

IDModo said... 184

If Shoka is alive, and Kate is feeding him "what we have", he won't be healthy ! German Shepherds are carnivores, as are all dogs, and need a high protein diet.
Cooking their food deprives them of nutrients they need, as does feeding them people food. They need meat protein. Dogs can eat veggies, but usually don't digest them well.
I hope this is a case of Kate telling lies again..

JoyinVirginia said... 185

Tony and Melissa need votes! for you us posters, take a minute to call 1-800-868-3406!

rainbowsandunicorns said... 186

sarjarmom
@Kateplusmy8 how much beef do u cook for taco night?

You read this stuff and you just want to yell, "WHY?" What does it matter? She's not cooking for you, and you're not cooking for her. You cook enough beef to fill the taco shells!
Sheeple are such airheads.

Anonymous said... 187

Realitytvkids.com (Administrator) said... 176
I am not ignorant to a paycheck to paycheck mentality. I have to say t hough how did people get by last year? This is the first ever year target has ever done this. The argument they need the hours doesn't make sense when they never did this before.

***********

I didn't say that Target was doing it *because* people need the hours. I said it was a positive side of the stores being open. As for how people got by last year without the hours, um, maybe some of them didn't.

carolina peach said... 188

The Dust Bowl, part two coming on now.

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said... 189

Read what the CEO said. They certainly aren't doing it to help employees get by. They are doing it for the customer. If we as a society have decided nonessential workers are ok on thanksgiving that's nothing I am proud of. Not sure why a hard worker who needs the money is more valued than a hard worker who needs one day, just one to be with their family. I still have yet to see any contention they can't make up these bonus gift hours some other day. My understanding from the brief comments I read is that target employees are actually complaining they are over scheduled not under.

NJGal51 said... 190
This comment has been removed by the author.
Paula said... 191

Yes, admin occasionally has to delete posts - those who only purpose is to bully and try to stir up trouble. And we thank her for that.

Improbable Dreams said... 192

My eyes are wide open, as is my heart. I don't hate anyone, but I find loathsome the tendency of some people to treat their children like commodities. More so (if that's possible), I'm repulsed by abusive behaviors.

Speaking of which, I think it's reprehensible for you to accuse anyone of blind allegiance. Splinter and mote, I hope you're intelligent (or at least well-versed in literature) to get that Biblical allusion.

Now get thee behind us. Or to put it plainly: skedaddle, you pest!!

Paula said... 193

Anonymous 193...don't yu have your own blog to attend to?

All This Is That said... 194

I guess I'm missing something here about working on Thanksgiving. Are the stores making their employees work ALL DAY? If some have no objection to the stores being open on Black Friday, then is it okay to open at midnight on Thanksgiving? That IS Black Friday (early, yes, but still Friday).

A store opens at 9 p.m., or 10 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day (night). Aren't most dinners over by then? If an employee can get at least two or three hours of pay with an early opening, and work the next six hour-shift, how is that taking them away from their families for the entire Thanksgiving holiday?

And if they want to work and need the money, shouldn't they be allowed to do so?

Anonymous said... 195

Read what the CEO said. They certainly aren't doing it to help employees get by. They are doing it for the customer. If we as a society have decided nonessential workers are ok on thanksgiving that's nothing I am proud of. Not sure why a hard worker who needs the money is more valued than a hard worker who needs one day, just one to be with their family. I still have yet to see any contention they can't make up these bonus gift hours some other day. My understanding from the brief comments I read is that target employees are actually complaining they are over scheduled not under.

*****************

Once again, I didn't say that Target was doing it for the sake of employees nor did I imply any such thing. I simply stated that there was a benefit for some people who need the hours. You don't have to agree with me, but my opinion on the issue is as valid as yours. You believe that employees "need" to spend the day with family trumps others' "need" to put food on the table. I don't happen to agree with that.

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said... 196

It's the night shift. You'd have to sleep through thanksgiving or be insanely exhausted all night at work. Neither one is very humane. It's not optional. Someone posted a pic of their work board that blocked out thanksgiving, no one could put in for it off. Sad.

ZeldaZee said... 197

In an ideal world (ha!), if stores, restaurants, etc (the "non-essential" workforces) want to stay open on holidays, it should be on a volunteer basis. A Muslim probably wouldn't mind working on Christmas, a Christian during the High Holy days. You know, co-operation.

I, for example, wouldn't mind working on Thanksgiving in the least– I'm single, live in NYC while the rest of my family is scattered all over the country/world, and being a vegetarian there isn't much I can eat anyway. Thanksgiving– at least the "going back to the homestead to stuff your gills" aspect– is, frankly, kind of wasted on someone like me.

In a past career-life I worked in a restaurant and had no qualms about swapping shifts with someone who wanted to be home with their family, with the understanding that they'd cover for me another day. I think THAT is what is missing from modern life, more than the "make do and mend, wash the tinfoil" mindset– people actually helping each other out when they were in a bind. Unlike most stories here, my family came through the Depression with nary a scratch, but I remember my grandmother telling me how her father– a well-respected physician– would accept a carton of eggs from a patient who couldn't pay their bill. Try doing that nowadays.

Oh man, I would like to apologize for how long-winded I get, considering I'm a newbie poster. I'm just one of those people who likes to spin a yarn...as that same grandmother would say!

Dmasy said... 198

ZeldaZee, I like your ideal world.

Dwindle said... 199

Anonymous said... 195

... You don't have to agree with me, but my opinion on the issue is as valid as yours...


44444444444444444

Yes, of course it is!

Now what do you think of the documentary we are watching? Are you a fan of Ken Burns' style of presentation? Which of his pieces has been your favorite? What period of earth history do you follow? What is your input about the struggles that the Real Mothers noted above have dealt with trying to stave off starvation and that pnuemonia? Do YOU have family that lived in that part of the country at the time? Do you have stories handed down about the depression or farming hardships that you can share with us?

Are you hosting Thanksgiving at your house or going to family? How much of the cooking will you be doing on your own? What are the dishes and sides that are must haves in your family? Do you get to work on Thursday or do you have to take the day off? What is your household doing with the surge in ever changing electronics and life-style improvements? Are you simplifying these days or do you feel you need the conveniences?

Dmasy said... 200

Oh Dwindle, I fear you have put your bullseye T-shirt back on!

«Oldest ‹Older   1 – 200 of 248   Newer› Newest»

Post a Comment

Want to see your comment published? Follow a few simple rules:

1. Do not use Anonymous. Pick a name (click Name/URL to type in a name) and stick to the same name.
2. Anonymous insider stories should be emailed to us directly (in confidence). They will not be posted here unless we can verify the validity, such as with photos. This is not to discourage legitimate insiders from speaking out, but to guard against all the fake stories out there.
3. No insulting other posters or picking fights, refusing to let things go and move on. Stop with the snotty comments--they will be rejected. Treat people here like how you would talk to the person you most respect in your life, it's just pleasant that way.
4. No trash talking other blogs/bloggers here.