It's Boxing Day...

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It's Boxing Day...

time for more shopping! 

Boxing Day crowds shopping at the Toronto's Eaton Centre in Canada

In Britain, Canada, New Zealand and some states of Australia, Boxing Day is primarily known as a shopping holiday, much like the day after Thanksgiving in the United States. It is a time where shops have sales, often with dramatic price decreases. For many merchants, Boxing Day has become the day of the year with the greatest revenue. In the UK in 2009 it was estimated that up to 12 million shoppers appeared at the sales (a rise of almost 20% compared to 2008, although this was also affected by the fact that the VAT would revert to 17.5% from 1 January).

Many retailers open very early (typically 5 am or even earlier) and offer doorbuster deals and loss leaders to draw people to their stores. It is not uncommon for long queues to form early in the morning of 26 December, hours before the opening of shops holding the big sales, especially at big-box consumer electronics retailers. Many stores have a limited quantity of big draw or deeply discounted items. Because of the shoulder-to-shoulder crowds, many choose to stay home and avoid the hectic shopping experience. The local media often cover the event, mentioning how early the shoppers began queueing up, providing video of shoppers queueing and later leaving with their purchased items. 

The Boxing Day sales have the potential for customer stampedes, injuries and even fatalities. As a result, many retailers have implemented practices aimed at controlling large numbers of shoppers, most whom are typically irate due to the cold (or, in Australia and New Zealand, the heat), and anxious for bargains. They may limit entrances, restrict the number of patrons in a store at a time, provide tickets to people at the head of the queue to guarantee them a hot ticket item, and canvass queued-up shoppers to inform them of inventory limitations.

In recent years, retailers have expanded deals to "Boxing Week." While Boxing Day is 26 December, many retailers who hold Boxing Day Saleswill run the sales for several days before or after 26 December, often up to New Year's Eve. Notably, in the recession of late 2008, a record number of retailers were holding early promotions due to a weak economy. Canada's Boxing Day has often been compared with the American Super Saturday, the Saturday before Christmas. In 2009, a number of major Canadian retailers had their own Black Friday promotions to discourage shoppers from crossing the border.

In some areas of Canada, particularly in Atlantic Canada and parts of Northern Ontario, most retailers are prohibited from opening on Boxing Day, either by provincial law or municipal bylaw. In these areas, sales otherwise scheduled for 26 December are moved to the 27th.

In Ireland, since 1902, most stores remain closed on St. Stephen's Day, as with Christmas Day. In 2009, some stores decided to open on this day, breaking a 107-year-old tradition. Some stores have also started their January sales on this day. but most start them in early December.

Cyber Boxing Day

The online version of Boxing Day has been referred to as "Cyber Boxing Day." In the UK in 2008, Boxing Day was the busiest online shopping day of the year. In 2009, many retailers with both online and High Street stores launched their online sales on Christmas Eve and their High Street sales on Boxing Day. Text via Wikipedia 

Bert and Ernie 

(supposedly) Aren't Gay!

Sesame Street has finally responded to age-old rumors that Bert and Ernie are gay - claiming the infamous room-sharing man-puppet odd couple are JUST FRIENDS ... and have no sexual orientation whatsoever.

A petition emerged online this week, urging the creators of Sesame Street to marry the two puppets - but the Sesame Workshop just posted a message on its Facebook account, writing, "Bert and Ernie are best friends."

The statement continues, "They were created to teach preschoolers that people can be good friends with those who are very different from themselves."

"Even though they are identified as male characters and possess many human traits and characteristics ... they remain puppets, and do not have a sexual orientation."

Shhhuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuure.

Text and image via TMZ

I WANNA TICKLE A BABY POLAR BEAR TOO!

Image via coatofprimer

Kids, don't try this at home!

YouTube 

Sabrina & Salem: 

Together Again

Ah, I miss episodes of Sabrina, The Teenage Witch. I used to live for new episodes of the series on Friday nights. Plus, I am a sucker for anything Melissa Joan Hart really. But come on, this show was awesome. Talking cats, magic and a closet that took you places. The best. Unfortunately, the show ended in 2003 but in a new video fromFunny or Die, Sabrina and her cat Salem are reunited for a little Mexican dinner date. The result is absolutely hilarious.
Salem and Sabrina are sitting at a table and catching up as Salem is explaining his new career ventures when the restaurants waiter comes up to the table expressing how much he loved the show and how pretty he thinks Melissa Joan Hart is. Then switching gears, Salem brings up the idea that the two of them just practice some magictogether. Reluctantly, Melissa agrees and the result is crazy… literally. Watch the video below.

Hilarious right? It makes me miss the good old days of T.G.I.F. If you are in some serious need of Melissa Joan Hart, you can catch her on Melissa & Joey on ABC Family. I’ve only caught one or two episodes online but it’s pretty funny watching watching two teenage stars on the same show.

Text and images via Homo Razzi

Right time, right place...

Image via Amber's Photos

Image via Amber's Photos

Image via Amber's Photos 

Naughty Nigella

YouTube 

Who Knew?

Image via Angry White Dude

Image via Moti Fake 

What lies beneath...

Here is a late but quick 

'oops, I almost forgot all about them' 

Christmas gift.

Buy it here ✔

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What lies beneath...

Since Christmas,  I've been having an out-of-money experience!

Image via Moti Fake