On my last visit to Target I happened to pick up their magazine, Target the Family, which sits on a shelf by the door. Target has done an amazing job marketing a fresh new look with their happy go lucky Gen X Andy Warhol throw back commercials and ads. I was so impressed that a large company was trying to do something different than the Wal-Mart formula, I bought the stock. Then I bought it again.

Propaganda continues to amaze me. It is a magical occurrence that can overpower the most sane person. I'm not a mac fan-but I want an iPod. Apple is a pro at this game. Target is getting better. They seem to have me convinced that I'm looking pretty cool shopping in their store.

As I am walking down the main aisle I noticed that the condom rack is locked behind bars. I'm guessing that because I was shopping in Redwood City that they had too many people stealing contraception. This was because (A.) people were embarrassed to purchase them, (B.) all the Palo Alto teens came over so their parents didn't catch them buying condoms, or (C.) people simply couldn't afford them. In either case the slogan "Target the Family" rang in my head as I watched a very young Hispanic mom with two kids hanging on her. Target is spending millions on "family propaganda" yet half the population can't read the magazine- and locked condoms only deter safe or kid-free sex. I'm not saying they should just let people steal condoms, but it just seems strange when their spending millions on a dumb magazine, when they could write off stolen inventory that actually does the community real justice. I guess telling investors that they helped the community by writing off 10 million dollars in stolen condoms is not good Propaganda.

On a brighter note from Mom: Why are Wal-marts not doing so well in Afghanistan? Because there is a Target on every corner. Now that is Propaganda.