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November 2006
Gift or hype?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Did you ever get a gift that didn’t live up to the hype that went with it? Was it so lousy you returned it? Or did you regift it?
What’s the worst gift you’ve ever gotten?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
As the gift-giving and receiving season picks up steam, what’s the worst gift you’ve ever received? Do you suspect you were a victim of regifting? Did you pass the item on?
What are you thankful for?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
What are you most thankful for this holiday season? Good food and good health? The nearness of family — or not! The beginning of the holiday shopping rush? Tell us …
An ‘Idol’ harvest, ripe for holiday picking
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Mark your calendars, “American Idol” fans. Already, three “Idol” finalists have released new albums in recent weeks: Season 2 victor Ruben Studdard, Season 2 runner-up Clay Aiken and most recent season finalist Kellie Pickler. The onslaught is not over. Today, fourth-place finisher and rocker Chris Daughtry comes out with his first effort under the band name Daughtry. And three more “Idol” albums are scheduled to arrive in stores before the holiday season is over: Season 3 winner Fantasia, current crown holder Taylor Hicks and runner-up Katharine McPhee. Based on sales so far, it’s unlikely Studdard, Aiken or Pickler have Kelly Clarkson-level blockbusters on their hands, but blockbusters are hard to come by for any musical act nowadays. David Bloomberg, editor of “Idol” fan site Foxesonidol.com, predicts that of the four releases, Hicks’ album will do the best, followed by those of Daughtry, Fantasia and McPhee. “I have a bad feeling about Kat,” Bloomberg said. “It’s hard to say what her appeal will be on a CD.” Here’s a sneak preview of the new and upcoming releases:
CHRIS DAUGHTRY Title: “Daughtry” First single: “It’s Not Over” What it’s about: It’s a blend of hard-rock anthems, melodic pop-rock mid-tempo tunes and a couple of power ballads. He wrote several songs himself and collaborated with others such as Brad Arnold (Three Doors Down), Carl Bell (Fuel) and Rob Thomas (Matchbox Twenty). Quote: “I’m making the kind of album I’ve always wanted to make,” Daughtry told MTV.com. “It’s got the sensitive, lighter stuff but also the stuff that makes you want to run around in circles, pounding the walls in or something.”
FANTASIA Title: “Fantasia” Release date: Dec. 12 First single: “Hood Boy,” featuring Big Boi of OutKast. What it’s about: She’s worked with producers Missy Elliott, Swizz Beatz and Babyface and songwriters Diane Warren and Sean Garrett. Quote: “I’ve let go of things from the past, and I’m having a good time,” Fantasia told Billboard.com. “Now I’m on a whole different level … and I let everyone know that I’ve moved on from where I was.”
TAYLOR HICKS Title: “Taylor Hicks” Release date: Dec. 12 What it’s about: AOL Music reports he’s worked on one song with Bryan Adams, while Billboard says he’ll do a cover of a song by his hero Ray Charles. His producer is Matt Serletic, a Grammy winner who has worked with Carlos Santana and Willie Nelson. Quote: “If I gave away all my secrets, my album wouldn’t be as special,” he told AOL Music late last month. “I don’t want to let the cat out of the bag too quick. I want somebody to be excited about getting the CD and being able to open it and really listen and see what the music is on there.”
KATHARINE MCPHEE Title: To be announced Release date: Dec. 19 What it’s about: So far it’s a mystery. A month before its release, there’s virtually no information about her first album.
Worst Thanksgiving stories
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Have you ever had a Thanksgiving that was anything BUT a celebration of appreciation and gratitude? Any family horrors revealed? Food fights? Permanent family rifts? Tell us about the Thanksgiving you were most thankful was over …
Same story, different verse
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Let me guess, you meant to place a pre-order for a PlayStation 3, but somehow you forgot to seal the deal. The same thing happened when the XBox 360 was unveiled. Now you’re faking a cough, developing a case of the chills and plotting a game plan for escaping the office, picking up a tent and scouting out a Target waaaaaay out in the suburbs in hopes of landing your beloved $600 prize.
Sorry, Charlie. Methinks you’re too late. Only 400,000 consoles will be available across the United States today. Divide that number by all the retailers — from Amazon.com to Target to about a gazillion Wal-Marts — and the prospects become pretty bleak. Folks are already lining up outside chain stores like Target and Best Buy, even though many stores will have fewer than 10 units available.
The ensuing rush has all the makings a great video game; I’m thinking steel cage shopping death match…only the strong will survive.
We want to hear your PlayStation 3 story. Are you in line waiting for your pre-order? Did you have to fake an illness to get the day off? And, here’s the million dollar question: Is the system really worth all this drama?
When’s too early for Christmas music?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Editor’s note: Rodney Ho regularly blogs about local radio on his Radio Talk blog. Today’s topic seemed perfect for our holiday readers, so we’ve borrowed his question to share with you:
It’s another day without much going on so let’s throw out a question. I was at Phipps today for an event and was amused to see Santa already workin’, holiday decor everywhere and Christmas music, too. (T-minus 41 days!) Lite has already done its sample Christmas music weekend. When is a good time to go all Christmas? Lite in recent years started the week of Thanksgiving. The others (B98.5 and the Fish) follow on Thanksgiving, which is only nine days away. Is that too soon? Just right?
I see no signs that any of the three are going to cede Christmas, that we’re on our way to a triple Christmas station market again.
Let the (safe) shopping begin!
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Steve Rose, a lieutenant with the Sandy Spring police department, writes the View from the Cop blog for ajc.com. He offers these tips for all you holiday shoppers:
Once again we find ourselves at the brink of another holiday season. First we start with Thanksgiving. Every year, first with my kids, and now my grandchildren, I tell the great story of how the Pilgrims came over on the Queen Mary and discovered hippies, disguised as Indians, living in tents near Plymouth Fury. Once the Indians stopped laughing at the funny hats the Pilgrims wore, they sat, smoked from the great peace-pipe, and got really hungry. Following the traditional Chinese take-out, they watched football.
Next in this holiday cycle comes the great shopping extravaganza. It is probably now when you need to make a dent in the shopping experience. For some reason, most of us wait until the bitter end. We are creatures of procrastination. Why? I’ll explain later.
We will soon line up at the mall, jockey for parking positions, and lip read the insults from passing cars as you go the wrong way down the long parking aisle. We will wave to our fellow men and women with one finger and then, with assembly-line mentality, slowly make our way into the overcrowded stores, praying and hoping for a shopping cart with the wiggle-wheel that doesn’t go left.
This is also the time when the sharks start to swim among us. No smarter than they were last year, thieves will start cruising the mall and shopping center parking lots, doing the same thing they always do, looking for the weakest in the herd. Wake up America—or at least wake up locally. Crime will spike in November and December. There are people out there, spending all day and night looking to steal your stuff. Don’t let them!
If you will read and follow, read and follow (notice I didn’t say read and forget), the following common-sense tips while shopping, you will place yourself in the teeny-tiny percentage of shoppers known as prepared. This, as you know, will be good for America!
Here we go.
First, know the enemy. Crooks don’t dress in black turtleneck sweaters and black stocking caps. Most dress just like most of you do, with jeans, flannel shirts and sometimes fashionable hair. Not all crooks are men. Women make good thieves too. Sometimes they work together simply because that looks normal. The man usually has a scowl on his face just like most men at the mall. Don’t confuse opportunity with brains. Most crooks are simpletons. They do, however, recognize opportunities left behind by lazy victims-to-be. Here is a news flash: Your car is not Fort Knox. Just because you lock the door doesn’t mean someone won’t smash and grab what they see inside.
Stealth is good. If you can’t lock it away, hide it. Although not completely safe, your odds of retaining your valuables in the car are better if they’re locked in the trunk. Not only locked but hidden. If the bad people get in the trunk, having to look around may be a bit too much on their risk timetable. They don’t have a lot of time. Breaking a window, reaching in and grabbing your purse or other valuables are well within it. The moral of this paragraph is: Make the crook take time to look. Hide everything.
Be alert and aware of your surroundingsCall it the “Duh-Factor.” I saw a man, so consumed with his Blackberry, actually walk into a wall. That really hurt.
Display confidenceCrooks choose targets. This really works. I mean, don’t overdo it. You don’t want to look like your walking into the ring for your title match but do have “The Look.” “The Look” is this: Make eye contact a little longer than usual. It’s uncomfortable but equally so for the other person. If they’re a bad person, it really sends out bad vibes to them. If you nod to someone as you pass them, only nod your head up—never down. Down is submissive. Nod up and keep your eyes right on them. Again, uncomfortable but as you will soon realize, weirdly entertaining after a while. As your skills develop, you can act mildly demented in certain cases where you feel it best serves the purpose. It’s your world man—crazy-time is ok.
Trust your instincts Don’t second-guess. It’s that simple. If your biological “Oh-Sh**“ alarm goes off, act on it. Remove yourself from the physical location and take action towards a safe zone. When in doubt, act crazy. People don’t mess with you when they think you’re crazy.
Carry only what you need This is a good one. Okay, I’ll say it. “I’m really impressed with your Rolex Presidential.” There. Now go put the damn thing away while you shop. Believe me, you flaunt that thing to the wrong person, they’ll get it if they want it.
It’s here where I get the “I won’t live my life in fear” comments. I don’t want you to live your life in fear but that doesn’t mean you should live it in dumb also. Just make the change in the shopping season. Maybe you should leave the 40-pound purse at home and slim it down to a wallet that you could carry in your front pockets of your designer jeans. Coat pockets are easier targets for pickpockets. If you’ve ever seen pickpockets who are good at what they do, you would be amazed at how fluid and quickly they can go in and out of pockets, even tight pockets, and come away with your wallet without you knowing it. Some work in teams. One guy or girl bumps you while the other grabs. Take only what credit cards and cash you need on the trip. Keep your goods out of your back pockets. Front pockets only. Up near Ball Ground, we sometimes barter with small pigs and other small farm animals. If that is the case, firmly carry the small pig under your arm or in your burlap bag. Never leave your pig unattended.
Don’t carry too many shopping bags Carrying too many bags makes you appear (and you are) vulnerable. Request the store to hold your merchandise or place them in your trunk. If you are reasonably close to home, make it a two-tripper.
Shop with others It’s fun and you can spend the time talking about those didn’t make the trip with you. You’ll significantly reduce your risk by having others with you, especially after dark.
Utilize securityIf you do have to shop alone, ask for an escort to the car. The shopping centers and malls will begin staffing security personnel for this reason. Don’t be shy about asking.
Be ready Don’t wait until you get to the car to look for your keys. Get them out while you’re still inside the store. If you have pepper spray, and you should, have it ready (and pointed in the right direction please.) Get to the car, put your stuff in, start it up and go. Don’t look at receipts. Just go. If you’re up near Ball Ground, quickly throw the pig in the back of the pickup and go on.
