In our town, we have a choice of shopping at either Wal-Mart or Target. I usually avoid Wal-Mart (for many reasons) and do a fair amount of shopping at Target.
On the one hand, I’m rather fond of Target’s clearance sales.
On the other hand, Target sells some annoyingy idiotic products. The latest of these is – as PZ Myers points out – your own, personal Talking Jesus doll.
I think I’ve finally sorted this out. Target has a pharmacy department that sells medicine. They also have homeopathic remedies. Finally, they have Talking Jesus dolls. What’s the link?
A suffering customer comes to Target to buy some medicine. If, for some reason, the medicine is ineffective, he comes back to Target to buy a homeopathic remedy. When that fails (it will), the customer comes back again to buy a Talking Jesus, hoping that will cure him!
And that’s money in the bank for Target!
Now, I’ve gotta put my serious hat on and get back to teaching class!
The secrets of Target clearance pricing were unveiled a while ago here:
http://www.boingboing.net/2007/01/08/howto-hack-targets-s.html
Also, it’s nice to find your blog linked from both Derek Lowe and Not Very Bright. You must be famous.
i bet target beats puppies, too.
but i still have to blame it on wal-mart.