Forget Christmas . . . Kmart Has Already Moved On to Valentine's Day:
Every year, the stores put out their Christmas stuff earlier and earlier . . . and step on other holidays like Halloween and Thanksgiving in the process. But now Christmas ITSELF is a victim of the precedent it started.
The "Consumer Reports" website Consumerist.com just posted a photo sent in by a reader from Ohio . . . who found her local Kmart has already moved out the Christmas stuff, and put out their VALENTINE'S DAY merchandise.
There are 58 days until Valentine's Day. But also 372 until next Christmas, if any stores want to get a jump on THAT.
Cops Report to a Domestic Fight . . . Caused By a Woman Spraying Her Husband With Lysol Over His Horrible Flatulence:
On Sunday, 46-year-old Michael Manatis of Spartanburg, South Carolina was apparently producing some pretty horrific flatulence. And it infuriated his wife, 41-year-old Shannon Manatis.
She ended up grabbing a can of vanilla-scented LYSOL . . . and SPRAYED her husband with it.
But it got in his eyes. And he responded by throwing something at Shannon. He says it was a plastic water bottle . . . she says it was a glass of iced tea.
Anyway, the cops came to sort it out. Michael explained he had an upset stomach and told them the story. The cops thought the liquid splashed on the wall from Michael's throw looked clear like water, not tea.
They consulted with a local judge and ended up deciding there wasn't enough probable cause for any arrests.
The Top Five Job Skills for 2013:
If you're planning to look for a better-paying job next year, "Forbes" magazine just put out a list of the most in-demand job skills for 2013.
Some are pretty specific, like programming skills and sales skills. But the top five are pretty general. Here's what they came up with by looking at Career Builder's recent list of the top jobs for 2013, and the skill-sets you need for them.
#1.) Critical Thinking. Meaning you're able to identify the strengths and weaknesses of other people's ideas, AND your own. "Forbes" says it'll pretty much be a requirement for nine out of ten good-paying jobs next year.
#2.) Complex Problem Solving. It's kind of like the last one, but it means you're not just good at IDENTIFYING problems. You're able to come up with solutions too. Again, nine out of ten of the most in-demand jobs require it.
#3.) Good Judgment. Specifically, you need to be able to understand the costs and benefits of the decisions being made on a day-to-day basis, and how they'll affect the company.
#4.) Active Listening. That means you're a good listener, and you absorb what people say. But you also ask good questions without interrupting.
#5.) Computer Skills. And that's doesn't just mean you know how to type and use the Internet. Eight out of ten good-paying jobs next year will require solid know-how when it comes to software and/or hardware.
(You can check out the full top 10 list at Forbes.com.)
