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Ladies and Gentlemen have your credit cards at the ready... The shopping season is upon us!

Black Friday is THIS Friday and WIB is pointing you for the third consecutive year to the best Web sites so that you can get a head start on shopping plans.

Be sure to check out:

http://bfads.net/ and http://blackfriday.gottadeal.com/

Maybe I'll see you at Best Buy, where I'll be picking up my Canon SD750 point and shoot camera for just $219.

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I need to show some love to the ladies who write over at "Bend There, Done That." Quoting me for your quote of the week and crediting me for inspiring a post? You shouldn't have.

Take a read over there about why I demand that the women in my life keep their nails well manicured. I'm serious. Ask the Wives.

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Check out the brand spankin' new Blue Scholars "Joe Metro" music video:

Unfortunately, my likeness does not appear in this video as it did in the "Back Home" video, but this video further pushes the boundaries of what homegrown bands can accomplish. This is not just a stellar music video, it's a great homage to Seattle and the 98118.

Be sure to catch the Blue Scholars headlining the five-night festival, "The Program," Dec. 18-22. Bands playing various nights include Common Market, Swollen Members, Unexpected Arrival, Can-U, Dyme Def, the Physics and more. For more information, click here. I'll be there!

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What a great weekend for football. The Huskies beat Cal without Jake Locker. The Seahawks beat the Bears.

And did anyone catch that tackle Seahawks kicker Josh Brown made on one of the league's best punt returners, the Bears' Devin Hester? Kick ass!

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Paolo Does Europe - Sept. 13

I'm kicking it from my hostel in Verona. This place is huge! It's a converted monastery up a hill and across the river from town. Time to continue the F*** You list.

F*** You:

3. Lonely Planet for not having a map or much else to offer about Verona.

I was screwed when I got off the train with no direction of where to go, but fortunately I met a friendly Polish couple my age who knew where they were going. The girl was way hot but didn't speak English or Italian.

4. Hostels located so far away from train stations that I have to take a bus or taxi to get to them.

I mean, what the hell? I don't know which stop to take. Thankfully, a woman on our bus today told the Polish couple and me that we had missed our stop.

5. Dog shit on the street. I knew I'd eventually step in it and today I did.

6. Renovations. The Duomos in Milan and Florence are under renovation, as are the Colosseum in Rome and several churches in Venice. Oh, how scaffolding can ruin a sightseeing tour.

7. Pigeons. Stop trying to steal my food when I'm trying to eat outside.

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I eventually located my hostel with the Polish couple, got settled in and went out on foot to explore Verona, the location of Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet." Verona reminds me a lot of Florence. It's very clean (except for the dog shit I stepped in) and scenic. It's not too easy to navigate, but I still managed.

Tomorrow I'm off to Venice, so long as there aren't too many stairs. I'm hoping my leg will keep up. My knee is still killing me.

Editor's note: Paolo went a little photo crazy in Verona.