Online sales are estimated to be $45 billion to $50 billion this holiday season, which runs from two weeks before Thanksgiving until Christmas, said Richard Feinberg, director of the Center for Customer-Driven Quality. The amount is up from $34 billion in 2006.

I would ask if this is truly news-worthy, however, after talking with one of my aunts this evening, who is still accessing the Internet via DIAL-UP on a mind-boggling-old-ass laptop, I cannot. The Partner and I have seen an increase in our own Internet consumption; prices are cheap, items are available, and shipping is fast. I got a blurb regarding the above quote from my hosting company, which is perhaps geared towards small-businesses/Internet businesses, but still. Do I really need to be told Internet purchases are ever-increasing?

Not a Surpsie #2:

I, and several of my friends, witnessed a dude being “ushered” out from a local campus bar this evening shortly after last-call, only to charge towards the door/bouncer and then be violently tackled by more than five bigger-than-him dudes to the concrete road, where he was choked and pinned to the ground until the cops showed up. I watched closely. (I remember.) So I got close. The cops came and told him to turn over onto his back. They cuffed him and started patting him down, getting out his wallet. I told him, “Don’t say anything until you have legal representation. Don’t say anything. Get a lawyer. Legal aid, dude, legal aid.” And what did he do? He started talking to the cops.

I’m not sure which I’m more upset over:

• John Dennis winning, or
• Out of a population of roughly 28,800 people, only 4,605 people voted for mayor, OR
• Only 540 people voted for mayor, because I’m not sure which numbers are what (or how to read that site)

Whoever decided to let Mike Prangley keep a blog needs to get a raise.

I do not want anybody to be caught out in the rain so make sure to tune in tonight and I will have more on this with Live Doppler 18. There is way too much candy in the Prangley household at this time. So remember when you see me bouncing around on your television screen a little more than I usually do, it is the chocolate. Beware of the weatherman. I have issued a chocolate and werewolf advisory as a result. I will be howling tonight about cooler weather as we head into November. [source]

Below the fold are some of my favorite shots, but you can always skip straight to the whole set.

I think these two are parents of a football player. Every so often a cart would pass carrying parents, I’m guessing they were getting a tour of the campus.

Yes, I told this girl her skirt was stuck (after I took this shot, though):

Punny!

This gal was extremely intoxicated and was desperately trying to text somebody while keeping her balance:

This guy had been wobbling down the road and the cops finally decided to talk to him:

I got this gal during the last Breakfast Club, but she wouldn’t believe me:

Finally, a kissing booth for smokers:

This was a Breakfast Club where the parents got involved, too:

Click here to view the entire set.

Breakfast Club is where tons of students dress up in costume and go to the bars to get stupid drunk. The bulk of them simply continue their drinking from the night before, some taking a nap in between, others merely drinking through the night. Technically, they’re supposed to make their costumes by hand, not buy them at stores, and they’re supposed to try to be as original as possible, never duplicating a costume they wore at any other Breakfast Club.

My liver cannot handle me drinking Friday night and then again Saturday morning, so I took pictures. The great thing about walking around sober with a camera around my neck is not having to look for the perfect shot. Folks willingly pose for me, some even demanding I take their picture. There were three or four gals who freaked out and said I couldn’t post their pictures because their parents might see it, but you’ll find below some of my favorites of those I can post.

This guy was out Friday night and was so incredibly drunk. He kept hitting on me, and freaking me out, but eventually he fell down and stumbled away. Is this your son? He needs to get a grip.

Yes, this is a Facebook placard:

You can view the entire set here.