I’m not one of those people who thinks Wal-Mart is responsible for all the world’s ills, but I do believe some of their business practices leave a lot to be desired.  It’s interesting that in the last few years the company has made some major stumbles in their relentless need to cut prices and be the biggest.  Now, all these mis-steps seem to be catching up to them.  For the first time in a decade, Wal-Mart will report that November sales are down.  Granted, I think they will still be a force for the entire holiday season, but I do believe Wal-Mart’s days as #1 are fading.  Personally, I’ve become a Target shopper. Yeah, I know they have many of the very same business policies as Wal-Mart (cutting costs, cheap labor, etc.), but I actually find a lot of values shopping at Target and most of all I always have a better shopping experience.  Over the years, Wal-Mart’s labor policies have left them with a less than motivated work force and it shows in the lack of customer service I receive at nearly every Wal-Mart I’ve been to across the US.  In comparison, I have been to several Target stores across Missouri and a few in other states and I always have a positive shopping experience.  Something Sam Walton always understood is the the customer is king.  Wal-Mart’s business philosophy seems to be customers will shop our stores if we offer them a variety of items at extreme low prices.  Even if they have to wait in line forever because there aren’t enough lanes open, even if the customer service provided is less than positive, people will shop their stores because they get a good deal.  Well, Wal-Mart isn’t the only place offering good deals and you can have a much better shopping experience elsewhere.   In fact, I’ve been shoppingboth stores this holiday season and I’ve actually far more deals at Target than at Wal-Mart. 

Far be it from me to agree with the hack-tacular, conservative American Center for Law and Justice, but I do.  I think the decision by the city of Chicago to refuse ads for The Nativity Story during their annual Christmas festival because it might offend non-Christians is just ludicrous.  It’s a Christmas festival!  If non-Christians are there wouldn’t you think they’d be offended by the whole thing, not just one movie ad? 

Sometimes you have to wonder what people are thinking.  Apparently, a homeowners association in Pagosa Springs, CO attempted to fine a couple for displaying a peace symbol wreath on the front of their home.  According to one member of the association’s board the wreath might could be seen as a "divisive."  Huh?  Since when did wishing for peace become divisive?  Well, I would it became a divisive symbol sometime around November, 2000, but I could be wrong.  Surprisingly, the residents of this Denver suburb came to the defense of the couple and the homeowners association not only backed down, but three of the board members resigned. 

I find it interesting how the peace symbol has developed such a negative connotation.  Of course, that has much to do with the Vietnam era; and we all know how much Republicans love that little bit of American history.  It just seems odd, especially during the Christmas season when we celebrate the birth of a man who preached the peace on earth and goodwill towards all people.  Maybe those board members need to pick up their Bibles again.

In an effort to cut costs newspapers are letting their film critics go and replacing them with canned wire-service stories.  One critic wonders if communities are losing a local voice in favor of a cheaper way to do business.  I agree with the critic to an extent.  I don’t mind they are losing the high-paid film critics, but I think replacing them with canned stories will not win them new subscribers.  A better option would be to open reviews of all kinds (movies, books, food, etc.) to their local readers and allow them the opportunity to express an opinion.  Set up a blog on their web sites and allow everyday citizens to participate in the newspapers.  Heck, they could even publish some of them in the print edition if the quality is good.  Giving the citizens they supposedly serve a chance to participate would do more to bring in subscribers than firing critics and replacing them with canned wire stories.  Hell, I wouldn’t stop their.  Open up their papers so subscribers can participate in most aspects of the paper:  opinion, news stories, investigative reporting and watch the subscriptions roll in.

You know, Fox News is just about pathetic these days.  Now, they’re using an animated film, Happy Feet, to attack Hollywood for promoting the heinous Liberal agenda of environmentalism.  God forbid, we teach children to take care of planet Earth.  How dare we teach them such a subversive and un-Christian ethic.  Damn Hollywood to hell!

Whenever you watch those "very special" Thanksgiving episodes on television everyone spends time talking of hat they’re thankful for.  In real life my family has never done anything so hokey, but I thought I would take a moment to talk about a few things I’m thankful for:

1. My family.  Of course, they are the most important thing.  As a group they can really piss me off, but when push comes to shove I know they will always be there for me; and me for them.
2. Election 2006.  Yeah, it may seem like something very silly and stupid to be thankful for, but on November 7, 2006, American stood up for itself.  America said "Enough is enough!" and voted the Republicans out of office nationally by giving the Democrats decisive control of the House and a small amount of control in the Senate.  I’ll keep my fingers crossed that the Dems won’t squander this vote of confidence from the American people.
3. Great television.  The Fall 2006 television season has been one of great surprise.  From Heroes to Ugly Betty to Jericho the networks have taken chances on show that historically have been failures.  Who knew a little show based on a tacky telenovella featuring an Hispanic family and an awkward unattractive girl would be one of the breakout hits of the 2006/2007 season?  Even better, science fiction and genre television seems to be making a much-needed comeback!
4. My health.  After two years of fight diabetes, high blood pressure and being overweight I’m finally getting everything under control and becoming very health conscious.
5. The troops.  I know it may seem disingenuous, but I’m thankful for the men and women who serve our country.  I may not agree with the war they’re fighting, and many of them would agree with me, but they make the greatest sacrifice to keep our country safe and free.  Something we should always be thankful for and never forget.

With little else on television last night I decided to watch Madonna on NBC in a peformance from her Confessions Tour.  When I was younger, I was quite the Madonna fan.  Starting with Like a Virgin and all the way through Erotica I never missed a Madonna CD.  From that point forward I was hit and miss with the former Material Girl.  I never really liked her foray into electronica.  With a few exceptions like "Music," "Ray of Light," and "What It Feels Like for a Girl" I rarely found a Madonna song I could like.  In fact, until recently Ray of Light was the last Madonna CD I purchased.  That changed last year when Madonna released Confessions on a Dance Floor.  Not a perfect CD, but good enough that I broke down and downloaded the entire CD fro iTunes.  Confessions was, in many way, a return to classic Madonna; a fun, non-stop dance CD. 

Recently, Madonna’s been garnering a lot of attention for for Confessions Tour, and I’m surprised NBC took a chance on not only airing it, but airing it in the family hour.  The performance was full of the usual overt sexuality you can expect from a Madonna performance, but it also showcased Madonna’s maturity.  The last time I saw Madonna perform live it was during the Like a Virgin tour 20-odd years ago and her singing ability outside the studio was not that great.  Maybe it’s maturity, or maybe it’s the work she went through to improve her vocal abilities for Evita; for whatever reason, Madonna’s vocal ability has vastly improved.  While I could have done without all the "messages" in last night’s performance, overall it was quite enjoyable.  I especially liked some of the updated versions of her "classic" songs.  Madonna has often said she doesn’t like performing "Like a Virgin," but last night she updated it with less pop keyboards and more guitar, and when she hops on that saddle…wow!  For a mother of two in her 40s she looks damn good!  "Ray of Light," one of my favorite recent Madonna tunes, sounds better live and one of her lesser songs, "Live to Tell," from the Sean Penn years and the movie At Close Range works perfectly as an anthem to discuss children in Africa orphaned by AIDS.

Overall, this was a really great performance, which you would expect from Madonna. As I said, I’m a little surprised NBC aired the concert since it was filled with sexual innuendo and bad language.  Several times she gave the bird to the audience, which was pixelated by NBC, but still obvious to the viewer.  At one point, during a performance of "I Love New York," she says, "…if you don’t love New York you can go back to Texas and suck George Bush’s dick."  It could have been cock, but I know it ended with a "ck."  Of course, NBC totally bleeped that out, but you could obviously tell what she was saying, but during another point in the song they allowed "pussy" to come through quite clearly.  They will be sure to get some FCC complaints about that.

Maybe it’s because I’m a softy for Jesus films, but I am really looking forward to seeing The Nativity Story.  Unlike The Passion of the Christ, this films seems like it’s something you can take the kids to without worrying they will have to endure the violent and bloody beating of Jesus Christ (of course, that didn’t stop many, many Christians from taking their young children).

Something tells me respect for the dead and good taste had little to do with Fox network’s decision to pull it’s planned two-part interview with O. J. Simpson right before the release of his disgustingly titled "confession," If I Did It, Here’s How It Happend.  Don’t feel too sorry for Simpson.  The publicity generated by this sick book almost assures that it will sell well.

UPDATE:  I misread:  it’s the book as well as the interview.  Good for News Corp.  This was an ill-conceived project from the beginning.

According to CBS News President Sean McManus, Katie Couric is being given time to bring up the ratings; at least a year, he indicates.  My next questions would have been, "What next?"  You bring in a woman who was called America’s News Sweetheart, pay her an eight figure salary, and expect that her supposed star power will bring up the ratings.  So far, CBS hasn’t had much luck in the area.  Couric’s ratings started out good, but not great, and have steadily erodes over the last two months to the point that she now doing worse that her stand-in predecessor, Bob Schieffer.  What in the world will CBS do with its multi-million dollar girl if she can’t deliver.  Moreover, what will this mean for Katie Couric who pretty much had it easy on the Today show?  I wonder how she feels knowing that Today is not only surviving without her, but growing its audience since she left?  Not exactly the triumph she or CBS expected.