Oleg V. Khlevniuk, Stalin

At Amazon, Oleg V. Khlevniuk, Stalin: New Biography of a Dictator.

What It's Like to Be the Only Trump Fan at Thanksgiving

You gotta read this. The best, heh.

From Mark Bauerlein, at Politico:

Heh. This Is What It's Like to Be the Only #Trump Fan at Thanksgiving Dinner. https://t.co/iBBTsZ9Sxu pic.twitter.com/yw3i483L5D

— Donald Douglas (@AmPowerBlog) November 23, 2017

Thanksgiving Shopping

Well, time to get going on your holiday shopping.

It's a great time of year! Tomorrow's Black Friday. There'll be all kinds of sales.

So get crackin', lol.

At Amazon, Today's Deals.

And see especially, ILIFE A4s Robot Vacuum Cleaner.

Also, GOOLOO 800A Peak 18000mAh Car Jump Starter (Up to 7.0L Gas or 5.5L Diesel Engine) Portable Power Pack Auto Battery Booster Phone Charger Built-in LED Light and Smart Protection.

More, Craftsman 9-31794 Slotted Phillips Screwdriver Set, 17 Piece, and Craftsman 56-piece Universal Mechanics Tool Set.

Plus, Pyramex Cap Style 4 Point Snap Lock Suspension Hard Hat.

And, AmazonBasics AA Performance Alkaline Batteries (48 Count) - Packaging May Vary.

Here, Samsung UN65MU6300FXZA 65" 4K Ultra HD Smart LED TV (2017 Model) Plus Terk Cut-the-Cord HD Digital TV Tuner and Recorder 16GB Hook-Up Bundle.

BONUS: Oleg V. Khlevniuk, Stalin: New Biography of a Dictator.

Robert Dallek, Franklin D. Roosevelt

Just out this month, at Amazon, Robert Dallek, Franklin D. Roosevelt: A Political Life.

Los Angeles 'Travel Crunch' (VIDEO)

Wasn't too bad driving home this afternoon from work, but these videos of the L.A. traffic are murder.

At CBS News 2 Los Angeles:

Pre-Thanksgiving Shopping

It's that time of year again.

It'll be "Black Friday" day after tomorrow, which officially kicks off the scrambling holiday shopping season. I don't blog for money, but I'd be lying if I didn't say how much I appreciate the reader support over this last year or so of my Amazon book blogging. I'm having a lot of fun. I'm reading more these days than I have since graduate school. Reader purchases help finance my book addiction. It's healthy for me, since I don't get bogged down in all the political and ideological hatred online. I don't watch the news anymore, in any case, as I've noted many times now. So, thanks again. I hope everyone has a fabulous Thanksgiving and a relaxing weekend. Shoot, you might as well watch a little NFL football. All of those Colin Kaepernick protests have hammered the league, so the boycott message has definitely gotten through. Just enjoy. Don't watch the anthem, though, lol. Tune in after the kickoff.

In any case, at Amazon, Today's Deals.

See especially, Atlin Snorkel Mask [Full Face] for Adults, Teens and Kids, GoPro Compatible Snorkeling Swimming & Underwater Mask with 180° Panoramic View Anti-Fog, Anti-Leak with Adjustable Head Straps.

And, Buck Knives 0863BRS SELKIRK Fixed Blade Survival Knife with Fire Striker and Sheath.

More, Car Concealed Seat Back Gun Rack to Hold 3 Rifles. (In stock on November 25, 2017 - Order it now!)

Still more, AmazonBasics AA Performance Alkaline Batteries (48 Count) - Packaging May Vary.

Plus, AmazonBasics Lightning to USB A Cable - Apple MFi Certified - Black - 6 Feet /1.8 Meters.

Also, Samsung UN65MU6300FXZA 65" 4K Ultra HD Smart LED TV (2017 Model) Plus Terk Cut-the-Cord HD Digital TV Tuner and Recorder 16GB Hook-Up Bundle.

BONUS: C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity.

Amazon Fire 7" Tablet Hot Discount Today: $33.33

Here, Amazon Black Friday 2016 Tablet Deals and Discounts.

This is it, Fire Tablet, 7" Display, Wi-Fi, 8 GB - Includes Special Offers, Black.

More, Amazon Basics - Electronics.

Also, Deals in Computer Accessories.

And, Save on Camera Cases and Bags.

BONUS: Shop Carhartt Jackets.

Black Friday Deals at Amazon

Okay, I'm back online.

I've got some blog posts coming up here shortly.

Meanwhile, shop Amazon, "Don't Miss Your Black Friday Deals.

Shop the Thanksgiving Store

More shopping opportunities, at Amazon, Thanksgiving Store.

BONUS: John Bunyan, The Pilgrim's Progress (Dover Thrift Editions).

Deal of the Day: Samsung 23.6-Inch Screen Monitor

Great deals.

At Amazon, Samsung S24E310HL 23.6-Inch Screen LED-Lit Monitor.

Lots more here.

BONUS: Donald Trump, The Art of the Deal.

Don't Miss Your Black Friday Deals

I'll be posting lots of book links over the long weekend.

I love Amazon, mostly for the books, lol.

And thanks to all of my readers and friends --- and occasional visitors --- for shopping through my links. It's always appreciated!

Here, "Black Friday is Here! Skip the lines and shop Black Friday deals from anywhere, even your couch. We have thousands of limited-time Lightning Deals for you to choose from, exciting Deals of the Day, and savings on your favorite electronics, toys, jewelry, and more. These limited-supply deals will go quickly, but we'll add new deals as often as every 5 minutes so you can be sure to find a great deal!"

More, Carhartt Jackets.

BONUS: Daniel Walker Howe, What Hath God Wrought: The Transformation of America, 1815-1848 (Oxford History of the United States).

Jimmy Kimmel's 'Politically Correct Thanksgiving Pageant' (VIDEO)

Jimmy Kimmel's the best, heh.

I literally lol'd at this.

Via Blazing Cat Fur, "Jimmy Kimmel Skewers SJWs with ‘Politically Correct Thanksgiving Pageant’."

Happy Thanksgiving!

Here's to all my readers and occasional visitors!

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

@YourHotBabes1 @Creeppop @vintagesnapz @SiliconEros @breastlvr @Swt_Red @nlpantyhose pic.twitter.com/g4LgIDWjOn

— Babes Paradise (@exxxcitement) November 23, 2016

Black Friday Online Sales Far Outpace Brick-and-Mortor Shopping Numbers

At IBD, "Has Black Friday Jumped the Shark? Importance Fading?":

Black Friday's importance as the key shopping day of the year is ending, observers say, as Thanksgiving Day sales zoom and easy mobile shopping makes other days just as important.

The strong trend of online sales growth far surpassing offline sales continues, though.

Cowen analyst Oliver Chen estimates that while online traffic during Black Friday weekend will rise 20% vs. a year earlier, in-store traffic will fall 2% to 4%.

Online sales have enjoyed double-digit growth rates since the dawn of the e-commerce era.

Adobe Systems' (NASDAQ: ADBE) Adobe Digital Index, which says it measures 80% of all online transactions from the top 100 U.S. retailers, said sales between midnight and 11 a.m. ET Friday rose 15% from the year-earlier period, to $822 million.

Thanksgiving Day online shopping, however, jumped 25% vs. Thanksgiving 2014, to $1.72 billion.

Third-party sales even on top site Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN) grew far greater year-over-year on Thanksgiving than they will on Black Friday, Scot Wingo, executive chairman of Channel Advisor (NYSE: ECOM), a firm that helps third parties sell on e-com sites, told IBD.

"Thanksgiving came on the scene two years ago, and it's really blown the doors off," Wingo said. Black Friday growth, on the other hand, was "OK," he said.

"This is the year we'll look back and say Black Friday jumped the shark," Stephen Baker, an analyst at NPD Group, told IBD...

Still more.

Many Families Skipped Black Friday Shopping Altogether (VIDEO)

We're seeing something of a culture shift away from this monstrosity of a shopping day.

At CBS News 2 Los Angeles:

Winter Is Coming

This one's also on my Christmas list.

I love books!

At Amazon, Winter Is Coming: Why Vladimir Putin and the Enemies of the Free World Must Be Stopped.

Don't Take Family Time for Granted — Ever!

From Michelle Malkin, "Have a Happy, Politics-Free Thanksgiving":

Many people naturally assume that since I work in political journalism, I must breathe, drink and eat politics 24/7/365 — including on the Thanksgiving holiday.

The thought of it gives me indigestion.

Self-absorbed creatures who have no life outside the Beltway world are the most tiresome ogres. White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest advised Americans “sitting around the Thanksgiving table” to talk about gun control. The left-wing National Memo published “5 Things To Tell Your Republican relatives at Thanksgiving.” And The New York Times served up its own version of “How to Talk to Your Relatives About Politics at Thanksgiving,” stuffed with poll data and hyperlinks to other liberal sources of information.

Nobody needs tryptophan when you’ve got Pundy McPundit (amateur, professional or otherwise) at the table to bore your company to death with his or her insights on “climate-proofing” your holiday feast; bombard you with details about Bernie Sanders’ latest Web ad; regurgitate John Kasich’s latest attacks on critics of his massive Medicaid expansion; or champion Jeb Bush’s latest re-re-re-reboot (two exclamation points, new talking points, a fix-it toolbox, blah, blah blah).

Zzzzzzzz.

I feel sorry for rabid partisans on either side of the aisle who refuse to talk to family members, co-workers or friends who support a candidate they don’t like. Life’s too short — and 99 percent of all politicians are crapweasels, anyway.

I’ve encountered unhinged hotheads who yelled at me in front of my kids at IHOP over my appearances over the years on Fox News. Way to ruin a Funny Face Pancake moment, one-dimensional oafs.

And I’ve known people who shunned my left-leaning in-laws because they refused to denounce their conservative daughter-in-law. Gotta love the Tolerance Brigade.

Newsflash: Even amid a heated campaign season, global jihadist terror and economic insecurity, there is more to life than #WINNING political arguments.

It shouldn’t be a struggle to avoid yelling about Bush, Clinton or Trump as you pass the sweet-potato casserole. Don’t get mad. Get perspective. Here, let me help:

If your children are alive, free and healthy, count your blessings and say a prayer for all those parents spending the holiday week in hospitals, hospices, clinics, jails or funeral homes.

If you can’t think of something nice to say to the person sitting next of you, trade memories of the dearest, departed loved ones you share a connection with who are no longer sitting at the table at all.

Pick up an instrument and play music together or sing some old hymns of Thanksgiving (“We Gather Together” was always my favorite).

Take a walk, breathe fresh air, go out on the deck and make fire pit s’mores (or use the gas grill).
Show the young ones at your gathering how to make rubberband stars, advanced paper airplanes, origami hearts or crochet snowflakes.

Get silly. Play “Charades” or “Spoons” or “Balderdash.” Laugh at yourself and laugh with your relatives.

Don’t take family time for granted. Ever...

Well, I'm not forgetting.

I took my 14-year-old son to see "The Hunger Games" yesterday. We had fun, although those Katniss movies aren't the same without the actual "Hunger Games" in them, heh.

In any case, still more at Michelle's.

#UCLAvsUSC to Determine Line-Up for #Pac12 Championship Game — And More! (VIDEO)

Following-up from Thanksgiving, "UCLA Bruins Riding the Wave of College Football's Crosstown Rivalry in Los Angeles (VIDEO)."

See the O.C. Register, "USC-UCLA about more than bragging rights this year":

LOS ANGELES – Forget bulletin board material.

The lead-up to Saturday afternoon’s UCLA-USC rivalry game offered little as far as shots or verbal sparring between the players and coaches.

“I’m not too big into rivalries and hate for another school,” USC’s two-way star Adoree’ Jackson said. “I’ve got much love and respect for those guys over there.”

Among the Bruins, they hardly expressed love, but they avoided needling their crosstown counterparts. No one publicly said “Southern Cal,” a name unpopular among USC fans and officials, so much so that the school’s media guide explicitly requests it not be used.

During his first few years as UCLA coach, Jim Mora rarely turned down the opportunity to utter the term.

But the Bruins have moved on.

“We’re finger tips away from what we’ve worked so hard for,” UCLA sophomore linebacker Kenny Young said.

Both No.22 UCLA and USC go into this game knowing a win gives them the Pac-12 South title and a rematch with Stanford.

The winner advances to the Dec.5 conference title game in Santa Clara against the Pac-12 North champion Cardinal, which has been a thorn in the side of both programs lately. Stanford has won eight straight against the Bruins (8-3, 5-3 in the Pac-12) and five of the past seven against the Trojans (7-4, 5-3).

“It’s really not about the rivalry,” USC senior defensive tackle Antwaun Woods said. “It’s about fixing our errors. We’re not really worried about them or the rivalry.”

Clearly, much more than city bragging rights are at stake.

A win will be a narrative-shaping moment for either side, adding to USC interim coach Clay Helton’s case to take the reins on a full-time basis or putting Mora in position to win his first Pac-12 championship in his four seasons in Westwood. The former NFL coach has had little trouble putting away the Trojans, winning all three previous meetings by double-digits, but he has yet to beat either of the North Division heavyweights, Stanford and Oregon...

More.

Plus, at the Los Angeles Times, "UCLA and USC paths were filled with rocks but still could be strewn with roses."

Save 20% on Digital SLR Cameras

I don't know how well actual cameras go over these days, considering all the cellphones in use. (Frankly, I'm not all the photographer that I used to be either.)

In any case, shop for cameras at Amazon.

Plus, Canon EOS Rebel T5 Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm IS II plus EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III Bundle.

Violent Black Friday Shopping: Walmart 'Riot' (VIDEO)

I suppose I should update my last post at bit, here, "Black Friday Has Lost Its Edge."

Turns out Black Friday's been pretty violent so far, especially at Walmart. See the Syracuse Post-Standard, "Black Friday 2015 fights: Videos show Kentucky mall brawl, Walmart 'riot,' more." And at that link, "People Riot Over Black Friday Sales at Wal-Mart in El Paso, Texas."