Well, it happened. Someone finally got killed by shoppers on Black Friday. A young man who worked at a Long Island Wal-Mart was trampled to death by people trying to get into the store. The "customers" (read: savages) pushed so hard on the glass doors that they collapsed inward crushing the man and then these same "people" trampled the doors and the poor man underneath in their frenzy to get to the merchandise. In fact, several other employees were trampled trying to get to their injured colleague. Great way to start the holidays, huh??
Addendum (late afternoon): The young man who was killed in the shopping frenzy was not a small man by any means. According to the paper, he was 247 lbs, a gentle giant. The pressure from the exertion of over-eager shoppers on the door of the store caused them to shatter inwards. How does this kind of thing happen in our world???
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Friday, November 28, 2008
Black Friday
Welcome to the official first day of the holiday shopping season. As you can see, I am sitting in front of my computer and blogging. Do I have plans to shop today??? Are you out of you flipping mind???
Today is the day that Americans colors really show through. It is a day of greed when people will push, shove, hit, kick, punch, bite and throw tantrums just to get a few drastically reduced items. Part of the blame lies with the stores themselves for only putting a few out to encourage this awful behavior. The other part of the blame belongs to us humans. We act like animals when we know that there will only be a few of those speciality items today, but come next week, the stores will be begging us to take them off their hands.
I do realize that the economy is in the toilet and that people are trying to save money, but here's a little tip- buy gift cards. This is what we are planning on doing because we figure that come January the stores will be trying to dump all that merchandise as fast as they can so they don't have to inventory it and the prices will be even lower than they are today. I'm going back to bed now.
Today is the day that Americans colors really show through. It is a day of greed when people will push, shove, hit, kick, punch, bite and throw tantrums just to get a few drastically reduced items. Part of the blame lies with the stores themselves for only putting a few out to encourage this awful behavior. The other part of the blame belongs to us humans. We act like animals when we know that there will only be a few of those speciality items today, but come next week, the stores will be begging us to take them off their hands.
I do realize that the economy is in the toilet and that people are trying to save money, but here's a little tip- buy gift cards. This is what we are planning on doing because we figure that come January the stores will be trying to dump all that merchandise as fast as they can so they don't have to inventory it and the prices will be even lower than they are today. I'm going back to bed now.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Countdown to Thanksgiving
And you thought I was going to say Christmas- huh??? A few more days before the family eats too much and then fights over the TV. So, instead of gloomy thoughts, I'd thought I'd share a holiday memory. To my dad, who passed away in 1979. I miss him terribly this time of year.
My dad was a fantastic cook and every year at Thanksgiving, he'd make a huge turkey and all the fixings- stuffing, mashed potatoes, spinach casserole, corn. The only thing he would "allow" my mother to do was to bake the pies. My mouth is watering just thinking about her apple pie. Anyway, every year, dad would get up before the crack of dawn and start cooking. My dad was a large man with a colorful vocabulary. We all knew to avoid him when he started cussing and Thanksgiving was one of those days you knew there would be cussing. But, I also knew that I was the only one who could go in the kitchen first thing in the morning. Dad would have mini bagels and grape juice waiting for me and I would eat them while he worked his magic. After I ate, my mom would would go into the kitchen to get breakfast for my sister and brother. She always got yelled at for disturbing dad. It wasn't until around 1:00 pm that dad would emerge and go and shower and change. By then, the turkey was in the oven and everything was simmering in various pots and pans, or was just waiting it's turn in the oven. The guest would arrive around 5ish and dinner would be served shortly after 6. Everyone always exclaimed over how moist and tender dad's turkey was, and they asked his secret. He always told him that he cussed at the bird and the more he cussed, the tenderer it was. Gotta love a man like that.
1979 was the first year mom made Thanksgiving for us. Dad hap carefully typed out all his recipes before he died. Mom's turkey that first year was extremely dry. We figured she hadn't cussed at the bird enough to tenderize it!!
My dad was a fantastic cook and every year at Thanksgiving, he'd make a huge turkey and all the fixings- stuffing, mashed potatoes, spinach casserole, corn. The only thing he would "allow" my mother to do was to bake the pies. My mouth is watering just thinking about her apple pie. Anyway, every year, dad would get up before the crack of dawn and start cooking. My dad was a large man with a colorful vocabulary. We all knew to avoid him when he started cussing and Thanksgiving was one of those days you knew there would be cussing. But, I also knew that I was the only one who could go in the kitchen first thing in the morning. Dad would have mini bagels and grape juice waiting for me and I would eat them while he worked his magic. After I ate, my mom would would go into the kitchen to get breakfast for my sister and brother. She always got yelled at for disturbing dad. It wasn't until around 1:00 pm that dad would emerge and go and shower and change. By then, the turkey was in the oven and everything was simmering in various pots and pans, or was just waiting it's turn in the oven. The guest would arrive around 5ish and dinner would be served shortly after 6. Everyone always exclaimed over how moist and tender dad's turkey was, and they asked his secret. He always told him that he cussed at the bird and the more he cussed, the tenderer it was. Gotta love a man like that.
1979 was the first year mom made Thanksgiving for us. Dad hap carefully typed out all his recipes before he died. Mom's turkey that first year was extremely dry. We figured she hadn't cussed at the bird enough to tenderize it!!
Saturday, November 1, 2008
A Little Ranting 2
So, last night was Halloween and I took DD around to the neighbors' houses and my friend took her to another block. After the annual sorting of the goodies where I claim all the KitKats and we dump all the yucky ones in our handout bowl, I notice a business card on the floor. Imagine my surprise when I picked the darn thing up and it turned out to be from a local church asking us to come worship with them!! Where so I begin with the ire???
First and foremost- this is supposed to be a fun holiday for kids, not one where you proselytize to my child. Yes, I do understand that it has pagan roots, but we are not out in the backyard lighting bonfires and having sex. Let my children collect their candy peacefully. If you have a problem with the holiday, then leave your lights OFF and pray for godless souls while we traverse the neighborhood collecting candy!!
Second- As for joining you for worship- no thanks. Any church or fellowship who markets themselves so shamelessly is not worth my time or effort. This also applies to all those mega-churches that advertise on TV, send out fliers in the mail and have the school send handouts home with my kiddo advertising "fall festivals." If this is how you are using your money and tithes, then you need to have your tax-exempt status revoked and your books audited. Shouldn't that money be going to keep the church running, and helping the less fortunate???
Third- You don't know my religious beliefs and they are none of your business. You don't know if I am happy with those beliefs, either. For the record- I and my family are Jewish, and we are extremely happy with our beliefs. I could not be part of any religion that so shamelessly promotes itself in the manner in which you have.
Fourth- as for all those churches running "Houses of Horror"- leave it to the professionals like "ScreamWorld." Yours are thinly veiled proselytizing tactics. That whole abortion scene you show at the end with blood every where and the maniacal "doctor" is so untrue, now. Rest assured, though, that your vision will come true if abortion is made illegal.
Basically- I am an adult and know what is best for my child. Let them enjoy this particular holiday as a candy-filled frolic in costume. Save your proselytizing for Christmas. I would say Thanksgiving, but the Pilgrims "borrowed" our harvest holiday of Sukkot for their first Thanksgiving.
First and foremost- this is supposed to be a fun holiday for kids, not one where you proselytize to my child. Yes, I do understand that it has pagan roots, but we are not out in the backyard lighting bonfires and having sex. Let my children collect their candy peacefully. If you have a problem with the holiday, then leave your lights OFF and pray for godless souls while we traverse the neighborhood collecting candy!!
Second- As for joining you for worship- no thanks. Any church or fellowship who markets themselves so shamelessly is not worth my time or effort. This also applies to all those mega-churches that advertise on TV, send out fliers in the mail and have the school send handouts home with my kiddo advertising "fall festivals." If this is how you are using your money and tithes, then you need to have your tax-exempt status revoked and your books audited. Shouldn't that money be going to keep the church running, and helping the less fortunate???
Third- You don't know my religious beliefs and they are none of your business. You don't know if I am happy with those beliefs, either. For the record- I and my family are Jewish, and we are extremely happy with our beliefs. I could not be part of any religion that so shamelessly promotes itself in the manner in which you have.
Fourth- as for all those churches running "Houses of Horror"- leave it to the professionals like "ScreamWorld." Yours are thinly veiled proselytizing tactics. That whole abortion scene you show at the end with blood every where and the maniacal "doctor" is so untrue, now. Rest assured, though, that your vision will come true if abortion is made illegal.
Basically- I am an adult and know what is best for my child. Let them enjoy this particular holiday as a candy-filled frolic in costume. Save your proselytizing for Christmas. I would say Thanksgiving, but the Pilgrims "borrowed" our harvest holiday of Sukkot for their first Thanksgiving.
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