Black Friday

Now that Black Wednesday and Friday have passed. I read a few stories of injuries and deaths, yes DEATHS from Black Wednesday and Friday Shopping. Then while scrolling my Facebook Newsfeed I came across a link that sparked my interest.

You can check the link out yourself here at blackfridaydeathcount.com.

Black Friday Death Count

Deaths Injuries

Know Your Death Count: The New York Daily News has recently republished an article from 2008 leading many to believe it happened this year.

		Deaths	Injuries
2013	Shopper Pepper Sprayed, Arrested in Argument Over TV at New Jersey Walmart	-	1
2013	Thanksgiving Day bargain shoppers send 11 year-old to hospital	-	2
2013	Teen returning home from Black Friday shopping fell asleep at wheel, killed in wreck	1	4
2013	Man Stabbed During Black Friday Event at Carlsbad Mall	-	1
2013	Newport, Arkansas Walmart employee injured during Black Friday sales	-	1
2013	Scenes of chaos during chain store's Black Friday sales in Ireland	-	1
2013	Several injured in Black Friday-related shooting outside Kohl's in Illinois	-	2
2013	Black Friday: Virginia Man Stabbed In Walmart Parking Lot Over Space	-	1
2013	Rialto Walmart brawl sends one police officer to hospital	-	1
2013	Shopper carrying TV home from Target shot in Las Vegas	-	1
2012	Father charged in crash that killed daughters after Black Friday shopping	2	5
2012	Two People Shot at Tallahassee Walmart Over Parking Space	-	2
2012	Black Friday Shoppers Hit By Suspected Drunk Driver In Walmart Parking Lot	-	2
2011	Black Friday Worker Rescued From Canal After Losing Control Of Car Due To Exhaustion	-	1
2011	Black Friday: Target Shoppers Step Over Walter Vance As He Collapses, Dies	1	-
2011	Fights break out at Rome Walmart during Black Friday shopping	-	2
2011	Woman Wounded in S.C. Black Friday Robbery Attempt	-	1
2011	Off-duty police pepper spray NC shoppers	-	20
2011	Shooting outside Calif. Walmart, 1 wounded	-	1
2011	Black Friday pepper-spray attack at Walmart injures 20	-	20
2010	Former Marine stabbed in Best Buy store by violent customer	-	1
2009	Clarksville Woman Trampled During Black Friday Shopping	-	1
2008	SoCal Toys 'R' Us Shooting Leaves Two Dead	2	2
2008	Worker dies at Long Island Wal-Mart after being trampled in Black Friday stampede	1	4
2006	10 Injured in SoCal Black Friday Mall Stampede	-	10
2006	Salt Lake Tribune, The : Red-hot on Black Friday‎	-	1

Corrections, Comments: info@blackfridaydeathcount.com © 2008 – 2013 blackfridaydeathcount.com

Not affiliated with a certain site, with a strikingly similar layout, touting Cyber Monday death counts. Spoiler: there aren't any!

I understand that people want their deals, but seriously though at what cost? The fact that some people in society are more jubilant to push and shove each other for a flat screen TV rather than sit with family calmly and peacefully is disturbing. This year some stores opened on Thanksgiving Day! In some cases shortly after most people are finishing Thanksgiving Dinner. I digress, the important issue here is that there is a death count for shopping, Family Shopping.

The chaotic mess and waves of people shopping for deals on "stuff" and "things" directly after giving thanks for what you already have and being thankful. Maybe we like being a hypocritical society it seems. Now an internet big board keeping count of how many people die from fatigue or trampling from Black Wednesday Shopping. This video: 

Not affiliated with a certain site, with a strikingly similar layout, touting Cyber Monday death counts. Spoiler: there aren't any!

 

Why do we feel this is okay? Being arrested over a television, or dying even for items that are basically crap, yes crap. The doorbuster deals are for items that are made by cheaper parts and less features. 

That's just one little tidbit from this video from buzzfeedvideo below:

 

I know some will say, "It didn't happen like that where I am from..." However with Black Wednesday and Friday inching closer and closer into Thanksgiving, people trading more and more of what has become very precious time with loved one's for waiting in long lines for cheap prices and even cheaper products. Turkey Day begins a day before the actual holiday with much preparation in most cases. Families preparing for large groups of people to eat a hearty meal with all the trimmings. When the okay is giving to dive in, the feeding frenzy begins. We consume and overindulge not caring about the potential negative and damaging consequences of overindulgence, We like how good it feels. We do it the same way every year. What the hell happened to Black Friday? We treat it like Thanksgiving. As always follow me on Twitter and like us on Facebook at Our Neighborhood Times.

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With Drug Testing?

Now, I have seen this particular photo floating around on Facebook:

What a headline right? Welfare drug testing saves money in the state of Utah. Here's a video from +The Young Turks  on that very story:

 

Here's the kicker however, according to a report from the Associated Press the whole whopping twelve people being confirmed drug users does not mean they will be denied benefits. They will be required to enter substance abuse treatment. So despite being confirmed users these people will still get benefits anyway.

Why is society insistent on trying to frame the poor as lazy do-nothing American Citizens because of drug use? Don't believe me? Here's one post from Facebook after seeing the headline:

Post by Delia Payne.

So here's the context according to the people who believe this is so very important: Drug users get benefits to buy drugs, this law stops that (or so they think). However substance abusers still need drugs, because they are addicted. Do you think they will stop finding ways to get drugs even without benefits? Don't you think they would probably go about doing illegal things to get those very substances, potentially increasing the crime rate, and filling up prisons even more. That is within the context of what some people believe the intention of the law is. How do you the solve problem if you are so worried about drug abusers receiving benefits? My opinion, legalize drugs and regulate them. End this non-sense War on Drugs. With over 45 million people in poverty according to Reuters. 22 million "abusers" and about 18 million are smoking marijuana according to drugabuse.gov. What drug is being used by such a large  part of the population that using drug testing is a must? I digress, back to this headline in Utah.
Not pushing in the headline that even if you are a confirmed substance abuser you can still receive benefits is entirely misleading. Why would you want to misguide your readers into thinking they won't get help from the state? They just might use that money to buy your news publication. Instead of encouraging people who need help to receive benefits from the state, the press bought right into the scare tactics trying to be used when lawmakers put the provision into their law. What the hell happened drug testing? Despite what the headlines try to do, it does nothing. People can still get help...for now.

Alternatives

Looking back at yet another mass shooting in this country got me thinking, then a few days later on the local news channels in Chicago they interviewed a child shortly after being shot in the face to ask him "Do you know what happened?" To which the child replied, "Yea, I got shot." He was four.
All the talks are about pro-gun or anti-gun. I thought about something that hopefully will appease both sides, non-lethal against lethal. I understand first the 2nd amendment right to bare arms, however that right is not restricted to just lethal firearms. "Arms" is honestly loosely defined. I digress, non-lethal weapons are a form of protection for the average citizen that isn't hit on hard enough ever. That nature to kill should not be nurtured. What the hell happen to Alternatives? For example this non-lethal alternative is legal in all 50 states it's called the ARMA100 here's a nice picture of it:

 

 Also here's a fancy little video explaining what you are looking at.

What's important to note here are a few things:

1. It doesn't kill anyone. No one has to die, immobilizing and running away from your aggressor is a smart thing. Self-defense doesn't mean kill someone.

2. Running away to find a safe place to call the police. Yes, Call the police. Trusting the very people you pay with your tax dollars to protect you is a good thing. Before we can strengthen a community you have to gain the faith back that law enforcement officers uphold the oath, and protect the citizens.

3. This can make you feel safe without the dangers of having a weapon that can cause lethal, devastating damage to a home or community.

Stun Devices are legal in 44 of our states and at www.beststungun.com you can purchase an array of different types of devices to immobilize your aggressor. In most cases it comes with training and how to handle them. There are alternatives to handled heightened stress situations that don't have to result in death. What's most alarming of this gun culture we as a nation have become drowned in is the instilled distrust of each other just as citizens. We are weary of the idea of someone having a gun so the reaction is to get one to protect yourself from other people who have them. Which leads to a better alternative than any non-lethal or lethal force option: Community, looking to our neighbors for help when needed. Not just our neighbors, our local law enforcement. They aren't to be feared, they are meant to be respected. They are trained to handle high stress situations. One of my closest friends is a police officer.


Don't know a police officer all that well. Some local enforcement has the availability of a ride-a-long. Where you get to ride around on his shift and see the life they have. Get to know your police force, why? Because you pay for it. It's your communities. We can no longer keep treating Guns as our only self-defense in the face of danger, as our only option.
What the hell happened to alternatives? We only know of last resorts. follow me on Twitter and like us at Our Neighborhood Times

Don Lemon

In recent weeks it's been a hot topic in the media and press, creating race issues. Now I say "creating" because it's not always there. In most cases we are baited into these issues because of the emphasis on skin color. It's a narrative we fall into almost immediately when the creation of these races issues manifest. Because of these manifestations the issue is brought up at nausea. Don Lemon an analyst for CNN on the weekends created this very issue with this video clip: 

What Don Lemon explains is that sagging pants is a contributor to crime in neighborhoods that are predominantly black. He actually has a list of things he believes the Black community should not do. It actually gives a history lesson about sagging pants origin. He also brings up the excessive use of the N-word. This is something I can agree with however it is in no way the contributor to negative affects, to be brutally honest there are rappers that make millions of dollars using it in music as a form of expression. Should certain narratives be weeded out like blaming every generation for the oppression of minorities and women? Of course. Should we learn to mature as a society together? Absolutely. However Don Lemon is explaining what most would call conformity. Become apart of the widely accepted societal expectations and pursue your chance (be it very slim) at becoming the "elite." 

Shouldn't you be judged by the content of your character? For it is not what is wrong with society, it is what's wrong with the system? These photos:

 Temar Boggs

Charles Ramsey 

 

See these two? Look at them, really take a close look. The first one saved a young girl, and the other saved a woman from a 10 year captivity and wanted no reward money in return. They do not fit the mold visually but the content of these two people's actions is a true testament to their character.  

This woman below also stopped a mass shooting without a gun or weapon of any kind:

Antoniette Tuff

Even now you are probably thinking: Bringing this up create race issues, I would

say to you that you are overlooking the most important thing: It's not about what these people look like, it's about what they valued most in the face of danger and fear of death. Humanity....not conformity. What the hell happen to Don Lemon? He bought in.

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Kanye West

It's probably more appropriate to say what didn't happen right? Kanye a few weeks ago was a felony suspect for attempted robbery. According to TMZ.
The Paparazzi being who they are followed Kanye around, and of course people were asking questions. Kanye apparently from the video had it and then this happened: 

Now according to NY Daily Times Kanye won't have felony charges put against him. The Los Angeles District Attorney's Office says there isn't enough evidence against Mr. West.

Now anyone can make their own claims, as where some say he's pretty eccentric and controversial. Other opinions of Kanye West deem him to be for lack of a better word: asshole. Now with the raw footage video alone I have to ask: What the hell happen to Kanye West?! Why did he go off the henge on the Paparazzi, dude you just had a baby with the mosted wanted behind in the world (opinion). You aren't use to being hounded by people with cameras constantly repeating questions? Even if you aren't charged with anything, come on Yeezus don't act like you are brand new to being famous. Follow me on Twitter
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Reality Checks

Like many other Americans I also was watching the case of Trayvon Martin, and the verdict that was passed down. I don't want to get into details about the night that Trayvon Martin's life was taken to much. However, I do want to talk about a few things. The Young Turks and actually in the following video there is an image of Trayvon Martin the night of his shooting. Now while many have seen many images of Zimmerman all bloodied and trying to make a case for his self-defense claim which was held up in court by the State of Florida, it seems that we have forgotten one thing. Trayvon Martin is not here to make a case for himself. There isn't anyone to dispute Zimmerman's claims, because the one person that could is no longer with us. In the days after the verdict comparisons of other  unarmed children being shot for example a story about Marley Lion, not receiving the same amount of media coverage. Here is the Meme created by Elizabeth O'Neil according to upi.com
Also another Meme that depicts another terrible crime of an unarmed Mother of Three who was shot and killed for her tip money according to reports from The Post-Tribune:

When people ask the question what's the difference? I answer by saying, these men who shot Jacqueline Gardner and Marley Lion are real criminals who were out to do harm to people. Both instances started with the aggressors attempting to rob Marley Lion and Jacqueline Gardner, who ended up taking their lives. Video evidence in the case for Marley Lion and fingerprint matches for the three men who killed Jacqueline according to reports from the cities respective news stations.
Trayvon Martin was not doing anything other than leaving a store with some snacks. As images were framed of Martin by media and correspondents, this is the image that still to this day stuck with me:

And this is what Marley Lion looked like, this is what Jacqueline Gardner looked like. This is what many people in Chicago see with dead bodies from gun violence. So when I then ask myself what's the difference? There isn't one, reality check: we don't respect life. We say live as you see fit, however we as a society try to demonize races, creeds, and religions that we feel are inferior to our own. Real self-defense is an excuse to take life in any instance. There are many options to defense out there, yet we result to the ultimate resolver. We then validate violent, life taking actions by framing the aggressors as if you were given no other choice. We even have laws in place that set the precedent to make it excusable to take life. Cause we should be respecting the lives of Marley Lion, Jacqueline Gardener, Trayvon Martin, The Children of Sandy Hook, The people of Aurora, Virginia Tech, Columbine, and the list goes on. As we lay them to rest, the nation moves forward, but we don't check ourselves. We accept the outcomes, but we never ask the question: What can we do so this doesn't happen again? So that their aren't anymore Trayvon Martin's, Marley Lion's, and Jacqueline Gardner's of the world. I'll ask it, what are we going to do about Guns? We don't want to talk about that though. What hell happen to reality checks? Well it's pretty simple: we fear a better world. Please follow me on Twitter and like us on Facebook at Our Neighborhood Times

Justin Timberlake and Robin Thicke (Explicit)

I want to first start by saying I love Tunnel Vision. Great tune with amazing music and lyrics. Not to mention two of my favorite producers of all time in Timbaland and Pharrell respectively. It's not the songs themselves I am worried about as much as it is the visuals. "Blurred Lines" by Robin Thicke has an unrated video on YouTube: here it is. Again it's unrated so be warned:

What's the eye catcher? Well obviously these ladies are nude so that's the draw. As far as Blurred Lines go, there isn't anything distorted at all here. Now yes I know people will say it's "art" however the lyrics "I know you want it" and "Talkin bout getting blasted, must want to get at me" I don't see the artistic view point here. Now here is Tunnel Vision by Justin Timberlake same warning:

Again the video has the same visuals. It's a little more elegant in the ladies are dancing not as playfully I guess. Also Justin isn't shot at the same time or in the same room. However these women are naked as artistic value right? Define the value? If the answer is: It just is. I would have to say it is lacking artistic value. Justin croons "You give me that Tunnel Vision" yet you see multiple images of different naked women, so maybe they all give him that Tunnel Vision? I don't know.

Why do I pose the question of what happen to these two? Well music is all about trends. "The Sound of now" in this case the "visual of now" it sets a precedent. That precedent in turn impacts our social culture. Naked Women and Clothed Men. That's my issue. Visually it sets women again as a product or eye candy. "Admiring the female form" is still possible without these types of visuals. Objectifying probably about as simple as it can get. Robin Thicke's video at times seems uncomfortable, people will say "These girls wanted to feel sexy or be sexy." And that may be true, but stripping them down to nothing around a bunch of males who apparently aren't willing to do the same wouldn't be in my opinion the best approach. What is the obsession with women being naked? Watch Porn, no really watch porn. You want to see naked people: watch porn. That's what shouldn't be weird. Because this is weird. The men wear clothes the girls prance around or dance like toys or something. Yes, I get it is a personal choice to do what these women did. I also understand that money plays a factor. However people aren't going to go look at the most recent interview of Timberlake and Thicke's direction of the videos. According to Pitchfork.com JT's video was banned a whole day. I can see a little artistry in JT's but not by much. Pitchfork referred to the women as "props" and there lies the problem. We end up talking about women as beautiful creatures and so forth. Let's start with talking to them with respect and being beautiful isn't the only thing in the world. What the hell happen to JT and RT? (sounds like two characters from a Star Wars Movie) Not upholding a real standard to equality in my opinion. Leave comments, follow me on Twitter and like Our Neighborhood Times on Facebook