Althouse: Buy stuff.

November 28, 2008

Buy stuff.

You're supposed to buy stuff today. I read that in the newspaper.

51 comments:

Meade said...: "I read that in the newspaper."

You bought a newspaper?; 11/28/08, 7:57 AM
AllenS said...: I will go to the hardware store and buy 2 1/2 gallons of 30 weight nondetergent motor oil and then it's on to the grocery store.; 11/28/08, 8:04 AM
Chip Ahoy said...: Ha ha ha ha ha ^^^, Meade.

This is a very good idea. But I'm torn. I have it narrowed between two for a 15 year old boy. Which is best, the EyeClops Night Vision Infrared Stealth Goggles, or the EyeClops Bionicam, electronic microscope?; 11/28/08, 8:05 AM
Meade said...: Chip, If I were still a 15 year-old boy, I would want the microscope. Unless... do the night vision goggles enable one to see through ladies clothing? I've wanted those since I was about two.; 11/28/08, 8:13 AM
KCFleming said...: It is good to buy things. We want to give presents, to make others happy or show them our love. The shopping today is a little beyond my ken, though; too many jostling people for my neo-autistic self. But I harbor no bad feelings for those who enjoy it.

The things I most desire I cannot purchase.
The person I want to be I cannot buy.
The future I hope for my family has no price.
The marriage I strive for lacks a tag or return policy.

Today I am going to ignore the newspaper. Glad tidings of the day to Althouse and her kin, and to her many readers here.; 11/28/08, 8:13 AM
Simon said...: I'm not buying it.; 11/28/08, 8:14 AM
Ron said...: C'mon, Althouse, this day is prime blogging material! Gawk at shoppers! Question their purchases! Photograph the food courts!

and you sit and fuss...; 11/28/08, 8:20 AM
MadisonMan said...: I might buy some bread later, good bread, to go with the turkey soup I'm making for dinner. Does that count?

I think I'll try the new French Bakery on Mineral Pt across from West Towne. It moved down here from Minocqua and is supposedly tres bien.; 11/28/08, 8:22 AM
rhhardin said...: Today I'm returning the same refurbished Dell laptop that they sold me once before. It has the wrong processor. Institutional records never change no matter what's actually inside the machine.; 11/28/08, 8:28 AM
save_the_rustbelt said...: Given the choice of cleaning the basement or going shopping today, I'm cleaning the basement.

I am looking for a couple of new semi-auto rifles and a new Glock, in anticipation of the Obama administration, but those can wait for a few days.

The canned food stores are already close to full.

(Go buy a car, preferably a Chevy); 11/28/08, 8:33 AM
DaLawGiver said...: Pogo said,

too many jostling people for my neo-autistic self.

I feel the same way and I call it mallphobia. Too many people to look at, too many threats to assess, sensory overload, targets get lost in the ground clutter. I become light headed and unable to concentrate on my mission. If my spousal unit requires a lengthy stay I have to sit on the bench in the middle of the mall with the other old men. If you talk about mallphobia a lot you can often avoid these dreaded excursions. Your superior may grant you a hardship reassignment and allow you to mow grass or shovel snow instead.; 11/28/08, 8:42 AM
Darcy said...: What's the secret for a good turkey soup, MadisonMan? A lot of chicken broth? :) I'm seriously asking, because I've got to make soup, too...and I haven't really liked my prior attempts at turkey soup.

I'll spend money today, probably by taking my son and his cousins to the movies. No shopping for me.
I don't mind crowds, if I'm sitting and people-watching, but actually trying to shop amongst the crowd is not me.; 11/28/08, 8:44 AM
MadisonMan said...: I just boil the carcass for a couple hours to extract everything that can be extracted from the bones, skin, leftover meat, etc. Refrigerate and then skim off the fat, and then add any meat back in, plus carrots and wide noodles. That's what works for me.

Sometimes I boil onions and garlic with the carcass, but we didn't have any in the house last night.; 11/28/08, 8:55 AM
Darcy said...: Thanks, MM. It may be that I just don't like turkey broth, I guess, but I'll attempt again.

And LOL @ "carcass". My dad used to call it that, too...and I'd try to get him to use some other word for it.; 11/28/08, 9:02 AM
Freeman Hunt said...: I would actually like to participate in Black Friday just once for the people-watching and the experience of tracking down some badly wanted thing.

The only problem is that I don't want anything, and I already know what I'm getting for everyone else. None of it is available at these sales.

If one were a big purchaser of popular toys or consumer electronics, today could be fun.; 11/28/08, 9:07 AM
Chip Ahoy said...: Turkey Soup. I know you didn't ask me, but I can not resist.

Take pliers to the larger bones of the turkey carcass to break them open, this ensures the maximum marrow is extracted. In your largest pot, boil in six to eight cups of water the carcass and everything that came with the turkey, everything ordinarily discarded. The neck, the gizzard, the liver, the skin, all the tiny bones, wing tips, everything.

A pressure cooker is perfect for this but not essential.

Throw in an onion, a split bulb of garlic, carrots, celery, whatever you've got.

Boil for about an hour, possibly more. Until the vegetables go soft, until the kitchen is filled with the odor of cooked turkey.

Strain first through a colander, then through a strainer.

Chill, a tall container is best. Remove most of the layer of fat that forms a disc at the top. Leave whatever amount of fat you want your broth to retain. You're looking for gelatinous aspic that informs of your success.

This broth, liquid gold to cooks, is the basis, or stock, for your soup. Dice onion, carrots, and celery (mirepoix) in the size you want to see on a spoon. and saute. Add turkey bits and diced potato, and of course, your turkey stock.

Elaborate to your heart's content. Bay leaf, pepper, poultry seasoning, hot pepper flakes, noodles, dumplings, whatever.

Brace yourself for the cheers and accolades that follow.; 11/28/08, 9:08 AM
Trooper York said...: Hey Lee Lee's Valise is having a big Black Friday Sales event so don't freakin' jinx me.

Consumer confidence is really down and we need people to buy so we can turn over inventory and get new stuff.

Not everybody is a chain store or mega corporation. Have some mercy on your local small businessman and buy something in his store.; 11/28/08, 9:10 AM
bearbee said...: rhhardin said...

Today I'm returning the same refurbished Dell laptop that they sold me once before.

Dell products stink. Since day one have had nothing but problems with a desktop purchased 2 years ago. Haven't gotten around to writing Michael Dell a scathing letter about the crap he is producing.

Been considering replacing with Lenovo brand.

Any suggestions?; 11/28/08, 9:13 AM
ricpic said...: Instapundit links to some seriously elegant gifts for under $50! Worth a look.; 11/28/08, 9:25 AM
rhhardin said...: I like Dell. Very few problems, the stuff runs for years.

My current `desktop' is an ancient entry level Inspiron 1200 laptop, attached to a 24" monitor and PS2 keyboard and mouse, that's been running nonstop for a few years now.

The trick on that particular line of laptops seems to be don't move them around.; 11/28/08, 9:35 AM
Darcy said...: Thank you too, Chip Ahoy!; 11/28/08, 9:35 AM
Chip Ahoy said...: Darcy, I forgot to mention, when you first bring all that stuff to a boil, some brown protein foam forms. You can remove that foam by skimming. If it boils back into the broth it's not catastrophic but tends to give the broth some bitterness, at least that's what some cooks say.; 11/28/08, 9:41 AM
Freeman Hunt said...: Worry not, Trooper. I just called my in-laws to see what was going on at their house, and half of the adults have shopping since 3AM!; 11/28/08, 9:53 AM
Darcy said...: Oh...good call, Chip Ahoy. I'm going to think positively about this attempt!

Good luck on your Black Friday sales, Trooper.; 11/28/08, 9:56 AM
Freeman Hunt said...: have *been* shopping even

I just fixed myself a huge plate of leftovers only to find that the person in charge of getting our leftovers together from the relatives' house did not abscond with any turkey! No turkey! I have a huge container of cranberry sauce, and a huge container of gravy but no turkey! I have stuffing, broccoli rice, corn pudding, and brisket, but no turkey!

I called the relatives to see if any turkey was left to be had. Score! I will pick it up later. (They don't like Thanksgiving leftovers very much over there.); 11/28/08, 10:05 AM
William said...: Part of the magic alchemy of very young children and Christmas is that you can buy them the cheapest crap imaginable and they go all bug eyed with wonder on Christmas morning.; 11/28/08, 10:13 AM
Bob W. said...: People went shopping today at a Walmart in Long Island, and some will never come back from the experience; terror attacks on a major city target westerners, and the casualty list grows.

There are still some reasons to Hope this year, though.

Cheers.; 11/28/08, 10:30 AM
Original Mike said...: "Buy stuff".

Not gunna do it.; 11/28/08, 10:34 AM
Original Mike said...: Noodles! I knew something was missing on my grocery list for turkey soup, but I couldn't figure out what it was. Thanks, MM.; 11/28/08, 10:35 AM
Original Mike said...: "Carcass" is what it is, Darcy.; 11/28/08, 10:36 AM
Bissage said...: For years now we’ve been referring to what’s left of the bird as the Caracas.

It’s even funnier if you say it with a hugely affected Venezuelan accent.

If everyone has had enough to drink, a hugely affected Speedy Gonzales accent is funnier still.; 11/28/08, 10:49 AM
Darcy said...: I know that, Original Mike! It just reminds me of wildlife shows or something. "Buzzards feast on the carcass..." You know? I don't refer to it as that. Silly, I know.

Anyway, it's boiling, and it smells yummy...; 11/28/08, 11:02 AM
Original Mike said...: What do you call it, Darcy?; 11/28/08, 11:26 AM
Peter Hoh said...: Stock: Whatever you don't use by tomorrow should go into the freezer.

I freeze it flat in ziploc bags, which makes for easy storing. I put about a cup of stock in each bag.

When it comes time to use it, you don't need to thaw it. I just snap it in half and dump the frozen stock in whatever I'm cooking.

Alternative freezing method -- freeze in a silicon muffin pan. When frozen, put the stock disks in a zip bag.; 11/28/08, 11:30 AM
Peter Hoh said...: Shopping: Menard's had a deal I couldn't pass up. My daughter was quite interested in hitting Penney's and Kohls, so we got off to an early start this morning.; 11/28/08, 11:31 AM
Darcy said...: Original Mike: "The turkey" or "turkey bones". I should have never mentioned my hesitation to call it a carcass, I see that now.

Great tips, Peter. Thanks.; 11/28/08, 11:42 AM
Freeman Hunt said...: This Thanksgiving I discovered that one of my favorite dishes, faithfully cooked by a certain relative each year, contains, among many other things, Cheez Whiz! Who knew? I've never purchased Cheez Whiz in my life, and I've never seen my parents purchase it either. So today I salute Cheez Whiz, the humble ingredient annually served in a truly delicious holiday side dish.; 11/28/08, 12:50 PM
Darcy said...: Chip Ahoy and MM: My turkey stock is amazing! I did skim off the stuff at the top at first, Chip, that was a great tip.

I loaded the stock pot up with all kinds of goodies and then strained it. Now waiting for it to cool so I can get the fat off the top, add the noodles and stuff and YUM. Anyway, thanks you guys.; 11/28/08, 1:37 PM
Maxine Weiss said...: Gimbels, Robinson's, Strawbridge's, Buffums, Korvettes, Ohrbach's, Marshall Fields', John Wannamaker's, Rich's, Hinshaw's, Silverwoods, Desmonds, Bonwit Teller, The May Company, I.Magnin, Gemco, Fedco, Fedmart, Abraham & Strauss, Zody's, White Front,; 11/28/08, 2:27 PM
Trooper York said...: Freeman, Cheese Wiz is the most important ingredient in a properly prepared Philly cheese steak. Ask AJ if you don't believe me.

Plus you can't beat Velveeta when you are making your Mac and cheese. Just sayn'; 11/28/08, 2:34 PM
blake said...: What do you call it, Darcy?

His name was "Tom Turkey"!; 11/28/08, 2:55 PM
JAL said...: Downsized Christmas this year -- or so I tell myself. Local Wal-Mart had a couple things I realized would save me some money if I picked them up this morning. Figured when I woke up I'd go out and get them. If they were sold out, no big whoop.

Woke up after 5, wandered over to the store around 6. Picked up a couple other things cheap (flash drives, memory cards) for stocking stuffers...

Saved about $100.

I am not a Black Friday shopper historically. This is the first time I've been up and out quite that early. (Last time I tried that daughter and I were aiming for 7 am and my car died in the parking lot of the first store ...)

Down here in the South they had people outside Best Buy sleeping in camping tents. (They must have really wanted those big screen TVs...)

Actually I see great things in catalogs (still get those -- like the tactal stuff pages give off to my fingers) and decided I would cut them out, mount them on card stock, and give the picture to my family members and friends. We'll have a a virtual Christmas this year, right? ;-); 11/28/08, 2:58 PM
AllenS said...: Instead of carcass, how about skeletal remains?; 11/28/08, 3:09 PM
Meade said...: I give everyone money. Green cash. Tacky, I know, but no one ever seems to complain when they see General Grant or Ben Franklin's face.

Of course children under ten get toys. Children need to unwrap boxes with toys inside. Part of being a kid.

Grown nephews and nieces get an extra 20 dollar bill pressed into their palms with the command: "That's for gas money... come see your old uncle sometime." And so they do.; 11/28/08, 3:30 PM
Darcy said...: Instead of carcass, how about skeletal remains?

LOL! I think I prefer carcass.; 11/28/08, 3:34 PM
Kirk Parker said...: rustbelt,

"I am looking for a couple of new semi-auto rifles and a new Glock, in anticipation of the Obama administration, but those can wait for a few days."

Those things, especially the rifles, were a lot cheaper just before the election. Those who hesitated get to pay more.; 11/28/08, 3:43 PM
rhhardin said...: Gas has bottomed out.

Nov 22-26 $1.58
Nov 27 $1.55
Nov 28 $1.72

reverse time order slide show.; 11/28/08, 4:25 PM
joewxman said...: So far the death toll from Black Friday is 3. One man got trampled to death in a Long Island NY Walmart...2 others at a toys r us in California.

Lovely isn't it.; 11/28/08, 5:20 PM
Peter Hoh said...: JAL, it's not just in the Deep South. We had people camped out in front of Best Buy here the Twin Cities.; 11/28/08, 7:06 PM
Peter Hoh said...: Three dead from shopping? What is this, like deer opener?; 11/28/08, 7:14 PM
bearbee said...: Gas has bottomed out.

Americans have short memories. There no longer is an energy crisis because gas prices have fallen and they are back to buying suv's.

Crude oil has fallen because of the financial crisis and huge deleveraging in oil futures.

Global demand will continue to increase while production decelerates. Crude prices will climb and surpass summer highs.

Even Obama recognizes that outcome.; 11/29/08, 7:32 AM

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)