Target Goes for "Tarjae" Status ON Thanksgiving

Is Target looking for a "Tarjae" amount of money to bring them into ‘the black’ this holiday season...before the infamous "Black Friday" even starts? Either they got really confused with Daylight Savings Time this year and set their clocks 3 hours ahead or they deliberately chose to get a head start on the money making by opening their stores on Thanksgiving evening at 9 PM. Years ago many retailers moved their opening time to midnight...technically Friday, but this most recent change has resulted in over 200,000 names on a petition. The petition was written by a young employee who wrote to the corporate office asking this, “Target: Take the high road and save Thanksgiving."

Check out the full story here:

http://www.chron.com/life/article/Target-employee-starts-online-petition-to-keep-4033317.php

In all fairness, Target is not the only retailer that decided to use this technique this year. Other holiday-snatching companies include Wal-Mart and Sears who are opting for an even earlier open, 8 PM. Now, similar petitions for the other stores are also going viral. This story reminds the public of an interesting way to engage in discourse; petitions are an often useful method to show disapproval of an action. In this case, Target responded to their employee by informing her that she will not be punished for her action (i.e. creating the petition) and offered her the evening off on Thanksgiving. She respectfully declined with the reason that it would not be fair to her fellow team members. The petition was enough to catch the attention of the corporate office, but not enough to change the time of opening on Thanksgiving.

Will this story affect how you use your Red Card? 

"Don't you dare say the "D" word or the "F" word!"

If you work in Higher Education...your vocabulary has got to change. And no...we are not referring to curse words.

The "D" Word: As a college student, I commonly referred to where I lived as my "D-O-R-M" and now I have learned to erase that word from my vocabulary. The word that has taken its place is the much more proper, "Residence Hall". While I understand the reasoning behind the switch, I cannot help but wonder if this really has any effect on the students.

Check out this explanation from Vladosta State University http://services.valdosta.edu/housing/Dormvs.ResidenceHall.aspx

While I understand the explanation -- I question the research, or lack thereof...

The "F" Word: When I first started college, I was a "F-R-E-S-H-M-A-N" and now that word too has been eliminated from my vocabulary and replaced with "First-Year". Again, I understand the reasoning, but I question the true effect that this has on students. All our previous presidents were referred to as "freshman" and this did not lead to negative self-fulfilling prophecies.

I wonder if we get too caught up in the "political correctness" of words and lose sight of the bigger picture -- does this really affect our students... because that is what we are here for...right?

"Granito"...Why the Filmmakers want it Bootlegged?

"We sold the movie to the biggest bootlegger there is in Guatemala...because we WANT people to see it"
--Pamela Yates

When the filmmakers are encouraging their own documentary to be bootlegged -- you know they are not in it for the money, but they are in it for the spreading of a message. "Granito: How to Nail a Dictator" is a documentary that was almost accidental. The first film that Pamela Yates made on Guatemala was called, When the Mountains Tremble. Essentially this documentary provided the outtakes that would eventually become the necessary "grain of sand" to "tip the scales of justice" for indicting a human rights villain. The villain, Dictator Efraín Rios Montt, knowingly ordered genocide on the indigenous people of Guatemala despite his adamant denial.

After watching the documentary, I could not help but be stunned at the courage of the filmmakers, particularly Pamela Yates. She put her life on the line for years in hopes of exposing an injustice and working towards change. Without the bravery of leaders like her, our world would be a very stagnant place. Progress is simple not automatic or instantaneous. We all have someone to thank for the freedoms that we enjoy today and for this we have to do our part for those who still lack the basic human rights. Films like this opens our eyes to a world that is not filled with free education, homes, and SUVs -- in fact, if you have any of the above you are more fortunate than the majority of the world. Injustice exists and we need to look it straight in the eye…just as these filmmakers concentrated on the head of the “nail” that eventually led to decades of overdue justice for a dictator.

Planning the Perfect Election Watch Party

Appetizers...check
Beverages...check
Clean house...check
TV ready...check
Guests invited...um...WHO?

For someone who has never hosted nor attended an Election Watch Party, I cannot help but wonder all the goes into the process. While I understand the proper hosting etiquette...the only BIG question I have for this type of party is...WHO DO YOU INVITE?

For instance, say you identify as a Moderate...do you invite your extreme liberal and conservative friends to the same party? Say you are very conservative; do you only invite only your friends and colleagues that will reinforce your values? Or, do you invite your liberal friends in hopes that you can put a "W" in their face?

Maybe it is like having a Bears vs. Packers party...except just a whole lot more personal. This party may have two different "teams" you’re rooting for, but you’re not just voting for the team that you grew up watching...you are rooting for the candidate that shares your ideologies.

So, if I had to choose my guest list now, I would say I would choose a variety of perspectives and then I would get my largest knife sharpened...just in case I would have to cut the tension in the room.

Until Tuesday...Happy Election Party Planning!