Don't Even Bother

[Shopping] So, I'm happily streaming along on Macy's department store's Web site, scrolling through the wedding registry for a cute young family member. I'm buying her a shower gift. I choose a sweet little set of Egyptian cotton towels. Color: Oyster.

In the check-out process, a window pops up, asks me if I want it gift-boxed. Well hell yes! The bride and groom plan to live in Logan, after all.

Then this box pops up:

The perfect gift tied with a bow! For a $5 fee, we'll package your purchase in our graceful cream gift box, tie it with ribbon and enclose a personalized gift message.

(We're sorry, but due to size the following items cannot be gift boxed: luggage, dinnerware sets 20 pieces or larger, rotisseries, convection or microwave ovens, indoor/outdoor grills, standmixers, breadmakers, juicers, cookware sets, hanging pot racks, picnic baskets, mattress pads, pillows, comforters and comforter sets. Please choose the "no gift box" option if purchasing one of these products.)

Hmmm ... About covers every wedding gift I can think of. Is there anything Macy's will wrap for my measly little $5? Ah, customer service... (Holly Mullen)

Ix-Nay on Black Friday

[Mainstream Media] Several times a year, another reason why it made sense to leave daily newspapers for a job with the alternative press hits me upside the head. Example: The day after Thanksgiving.

This day has all but become a national holiday for most Americans. So among the mainstream media, there is little more to cover than the craziness of BLACK FRIDAY.

Every year, reporters assigned to this story try to find a new and interesting way to pump up America's need for greed. And every year they write the same old story. Door crashing, shopper-on-shopper violence while standing in line, hot-or-not toys. Blah, blah, blah. Why, just all on my own over the years I'm sure I've covered every possible angle on this non-story. How great would it be if every daily newspaper editor and TV news producer stuck it to the man and just said no to any coverage of Black Friday? I mean, you can't be part of the solution if you remain a major part of the problem. (Holly Mullen)