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Friday Open Thread : You Better Shop Around

By Jeralyn, Section Blog Related
Posted on Fri Nov 25, 2011 at 08:18:00 AM EST
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You better shop around.

Tell us all the great deals you got today. And anything else that's on your mind. This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

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    Friday Open Thread : You Better Shop Around | 70 comments (70 topical)
    If you're an investment banker (5.00 / 1) (#1)
    by Edger on Fri Nov 25, 2011 at 09:15:41 AM EST
    or say, a health insurance company ceo or oil baron, or even just a lowly bomb manufacturer reading here, you must be giving thanks for and very happy with the deal you got on the last president you bought, yes?

    Leftover turkey sandwich. (5.00 / 1) (#7)
    by jeffinalabama on Fri Nov 25, 2011 at 12:56:44 PM EST
    What A Bargain!

    I can no longer insult the fryer of turkeys (5.00 / 2) (#8)
    by Militarytracy on Fri Nov 25, 2011 at 01:06:11 PM EST
    Someone brought us one yesterday.  It is fabulous.

    Parent
    Tried a recipe today (none / 0) (#12)
    by Towanda on Fri Nov 25, 2011 at 02:14:45 PM EST
    that I had read early this week:  A sandwich with a layer of turkey leftover, sliced thin, then some cranberry chutney and a bit of mustard -- topped by the piece de resistance.  That is leftover stuffing shaped into a patty and fried.

    Let me tell you, a fried stuffing patty is mmmmmmm good.

    Parent

    I think Paula Deen (none / 0) (#80)
    by Amiss on Sat Nov 26, 2011 at 11:01:16 PM EST
    had the fried stuffing on her show one day this week.

    Parent
    Any opinion on the new George Clooney (none / 0) (#34)
    by MKS on Fri Nov 25, 2011 at 09:02:52 PM EST
    movie, Descendants?

    I liked the deglarmorized Hawaii and characters, but had to leave halfway through as it was too close to home for my wife.....

    Parent

    meh (none / 0) (#42)
    by The Addams Family on Sat Nov 26, 2011 at 02:13:57 AM EST
    i love george clooney, & the acting in this movie was good, for the most part

    the movie is easy on the eyes, too

    but it suffers from insufficient editing

    & the screenwriting is truly bad - the need for so much voiceover is a dead giveaway, both of fundamental screenwriting badness & of faulty adaptation from the novel on which the script is based

    as for the story, it's sentimental & hackneyed but also has an eeww factor (regarding emotional incest) of which the characters are unconscious because the novelist &/or screenwriter is/are also blind to it

    i would have liked to give this movie a B- but the best i can do is a C

    my considered opinion

    Parent

    The characters weren't the (none / 0) (#51)
    by oculus on Sat Nov 26, 2011 at 11:35:31 AM EST
    only ones not aware of the "emotional incest."  Me too.  

    Parent
    definition (none / 0) (#57)
    by The Addams Family on Sat Nov 26, 2011 at 01:56:17 PM EST
    in emotional incest, a parent (or parental figure) uses his/her child to meet his/her needs, especially emotional needs

    emotional incest, also called "covert incest,"  does not include sexual intercourse but involves interpersonal dynamics similar to those between sexual partners

    as one notorious example, emotional incest is blatantly evident in the "purity balls" so beloved of some Christianist fathers

    but it also exists in more secular families, where it may take the form of confiding in one's child things that should be shared with another adult; treating one's child as a partner, best friend, or therapist; and using one's child to run interference with the adult world

    in addition, a parent engaging in emotional incest often uses the child against the other parent

    the key is that this form of emotional enmeshment violates the child's boundaries by coercing the child to take responsibility for the parent's emotional well-being

    from your comment, i can't tell whether you simply didn't see any of this in the movie or are also dismissing the concept out of hand - if the latter, you're certainly not alone

    Parent

    Hadn't encountered the term b/4. (none / 0) (#58)
    by oculus on Sat Nov 26, 2011 at 02:00:43 PM EST
    Yes, the father certainly did lean on oldest daughter and used her to further his goals.  Shielded the younger daughter.  

    Parent
    my gripe (none / 0) (#59)
    by The Addams Family on Sat Nov 26, 2011 at 02:40:21 PM EST
    with this movie (apart from its cr@ppy screenplay) is its unconscious presentation of a textbook case of emotional incest

    as such, this self-unconscious film places the viewer in a position analogous to that of the protagonist's elder daughter

    the viewer, like the daughter, is not only expected to identify & sympathize with the emotionally incestuous protagonist but is expected to do so within a sentimentalized "universe of discourse" that offers no recognition of the covertly incestuous content, & thus offers no way to engage it from within the discourse where it occurs

    i would have welcomed an honest movie that didn't sugarcoat this content - an honest version of the movie wouldn't have had to be "about" emotional incest, but it would have acknowledged its presence (compare, for example, The Manchurian Candidate, with its understated but present subtext of emotional incest between mother & son)

    but The Descendants is a profoundly dishonest movie, an act of artistic bad faith

    it's like a box-office idol who gets all dolled up for the Oscars & steps out of his limo & heads down the red carpet with a long piece of toilet paper trailing from his well-shined shoe

    Parent

    I'm pretty curious about the novel now. (none / 0) (#63)
    by oculus on Sat Nov 26, 2011 at 03:22:15 PM EST


    Parent
    I enjoyed seeing the movie. Although (none / 0) (#50)
    by oculus on Sat Nov 26, 2011 at 11:33:45 AM EST
    very tear inducing for me, but not my friend.  Situational I guess.

    Parent
    Re author of the book on which the film (none / 0) (#61)
    by oculus on Sat Nov 26, 2011 at 03:20:44 PM EST
    is based:  Kaui Hart Hemmings

    She is a Wallace Stenger fellow (Stanford).

    Parent

    yes (none / 0) (#64)
    by The Addams Family on Sat Nov 26, 2011 at 03:22:33 PM EST
    She is a Wallace Stenger fellow (Stanford).

    & that is no surprise

    Parent

    Although it's "Stegner." My goof. (none / 0) (#65)
    by oculus on Sat Nov 26, 2011 at 03:24:49 PM EST


    Parent
    the movie is (none / 0) (#62)
    by The Addams Family on Sat Nov 26, 2011 at 03:21:44 PM EST
    luscious to look at

    as for the film's screenwriters, i've rendered my verdict on literary grounds - i & will await yours, with sentencing, on stereotyping of Teh Natives

    btw, it will come as no surprise to me if The Descendants garners multiple Academy Award nominations & even wins a few Oscars - when it does, i will recall what Borges said in another context: if a book wins a prize, that's not necessarily proof it's a bad book

    Parent

    Oh man. "Kramer vs. Kramer" hit me (5.00 / 1) (#72)
    by oculus on Sat Nov 26, 2011 at 04:15:27 PM EST
    in the gut.  And spouse sd., oh s*it!

    Parent
    I have mixed feelings (5.00 / 1) (#76)
    by Zorba on Sat Nov 26, 2011 at 05:16:39 PM EST
    about Rain Man.  When I was still teaching in special education, I had a number of autistic students, and I am endlessly fascinated by any portrayals of people on the autism spectrum.  I think that Dustin Hoffman did a great job at portraying Raymond.  But it also served in many ways to perpetuate the false stereotype that autistic people are all some kind of savants, which is far from the truth.  (Although there are unexpected depths and abilities in so very many of them, if you can find a way to reach those.)  In the end, I found Rain Man to be a bit kitschy.  I did enjoy Mozart and the Whale, about two people with Asperger Syndrome who found love (again, a bit kitschy, but very interesting), and I especially liked the HBO film Temple Grandin, staring Claire Danes.  Danes did a spectacular job portraying Grandin's struggles and triumphs.  I have heard Grandin speak- an amazing story, and an amazing person.  The human brain is just so complex and so intricate.  

    Parent
    I just reserved "House of Thieves" (none / 0) (#66)
    by oculus on Sat Nov 26, 2011 at 03:25:58 PM EST
    from libs.  Short stories about upper class Hawaiians, family conflict, etc.

    Parent
    i think you said (none / 0) (#67)
    by The Addams Family on Sat Nov 26, 2011 at 03:44:39 PM EST
    you were listening to the audiobook of A Single Man

    loved loved loved that movie, which also offers an example of a beautifully adapted screenplay

    Parent

    The movie is in my "queue" (none / 0) (#68)
    by oculus on Sat Nov 26, 2011 at 03:47:39 PM EST
    at library.  I wanted to finish listening to the book b/4 seeing the film.  

    Parent
    Which makes me curious to find out if (none / 0) (#71)
    by oculus on Sat Nov 26, 2011 at 04:14:18 PM EST
    book and film ended the same way.  

    Parent
    totally agree with you (none / 0) (#73)
    by The Addams Family on Sat Nov 26, 2011 at 04:21:31 PM EST
    on every one of these films

    There are several past Oscar winners that have left me absolutely ice cold (see Kramer vs. Kramer, Chariots of Fire and Rain Man). There are other winners, like Forrest Gump and Titanic, whose initial effusive reviews I found to be terribly overblown when I saw the films.

    As for Ordinary People, it blew me away when i first saw it (at age 31)

    false, sentimental screenplay + big-name star + competent cinematography and/or expensive special effects = OSCAR! BEST PICTURE!

    Parent

    I'd rather take my chances (5.00 / 3) (#17)
    by jondee on Fri Nov 25, 2011 at 03:54:00 PM EST
    near the front of the stage at Altamont than at a Black Friday sale..

    Funny ... (none / 0) (#29)
    by Robot Porter on Fri Nov 25, 2011 at 07:58:16 PM EST
    And I noticed that all the Black Friday ads had a similar take, painting the shoppers as crazy women with a penchant for murderous forms of violence.

    Parent
    well (5.00 / 1) (#56)
    by jondee on Sat Nov 26, 2011 at 12:15:49 PM EST
    if it bleeds in Aisle 11 at Walmart, it leads..

    Parent
    The day after Thanksgiving is for (5.00 / 2) (#24)
    by Anne on Fri Nov 25, 2011 at 07:28:05 PM EST
    recovering from the marathon that is having 15 people for Thanksgiving dinner, and this year included the Ravens playing the 49ers in the Harbaugh Bowl in a game that wasn't over until around 11:30 pm.  I truly thought I would be lights-out long before half-time, and while I think I had a little moment where I could have just nodded off, the moment passed, and that was that: I was up for the duration (and even had trouble falling asleep after - body tired, brain not ready to give it up).

    Dinner was excellent, there was lots of noise and laughter, it was beautifully mild out, and the Ravens won: can't imagine how the day could have been better!

    I do enjoy Thanksgiving, because it's all about family and food and football, but man is it a lot of work.  Even starting on Tuesday with the preparations, and even with people making their own contributions, it still seems like there's a mad rush at the end to get all the food to the table reasonably hot...

    But the best part about Thanksgiving is the day-after turkey sandwich with plenty of mayo, a layer of cold stuffing and, on the side, plenty of green and black olives.  Yum.

    As for Black Friday shopping, I may be passing up some great deals, but I have an unblemished record of years of sleeping in, taking it easy and finding something mindless on the TV, and I'm not about to go against tradition now!

    My take on the leftover sandwich (5.00 / 2) (#28)
    by Robot Porter on Fri Nov 25, 2011 at 07:44:44 PM EST
    But the best part about Thanksgiving is the day-after turkey sandwich with plenty of mayo, a layer of cold stuffing and, on the side, plenty of green and black olives.  Yum.

    Mine is:

    Seedless Rye bread
    Leftover salad (with vinaigrette dressing)
    turkey (dark and white meat)
    stuffing
    cranberry sauce

    It's like cold Thanksgiving between two slices of bread.  My dad thinks the cranberry sauce is unnecessary.  But I think it's essential!

    Parent

    I agree. Cranberry sauce is an (5.00 / 2) (#35)
    by caseyOR on Fri Nov 25, 2011 at 09:24:14 PM EST
    essential component of the turkey sandwich. I would just add spicy mustard to your sandwich ( really do not like mayo). The salad is a nice touch, sort of balances out the stuffing  BTW, my family calls it dressing, maybe because we don't stuff the turkey, but instead cook the dressing on its own.

    Do you toast the bread?

    Parent

    Didn't shop at all (5.00 / 1) (#27)
    by sj on Fri Nov 25, 2011 at 07:37:38 PM EST
    The weather here was so beautiful, and the fall has been spectacular.  I've been harvesting leaves and twigs and berries and weeds like crazy to preserve for some future mixed media art projects.  Nearly every book in reach has leaves and vines being pressed and I've gone through a jar of decoupage medium preserving them all with lots more to go.

    My dog hasn't got the hang of settling down when I pull out the craft scissors, though.  I'd like to see a video of me trying to snag some of this stuff.  On the other hand, maybe not.  But I got lots of good stuff today.  It might be the last chance this year.

    But I feel just as satisfied as if I went shopping.  

    Perhaps you could advise me re (none / 0) (#31)
    by oculus on Fri Nov 25, 2011 at 08:07:33 PM EST
    preserving Chinese lantern branch w/lanterns on it. I want to put at least one in my prize hanging vase from Kyoto.  

    Parent
    I'm trying to picture this (none / 0) (#32)
    by sj on Fri Nov 25, 2011 at 08:48:23 PM EST
    Do you mean this plant?  

    But if you're working with branches, you can just let them dry naturally and leave them as is.  I don't leave anything "as is" (wonderful as nature is, I just like playing with it).  If you want to seal the branches you can use an acrylic spray coat in either a matte or gloss finish.

    If you decide to seal the branch, make sure that it's already completely dry all the way through or it can rot with internal moisture.  Some people recommend shellac, but I haven't used it.  I think you can get that in spray form now, too.  Because obviously, you can't brush it on something like that.

    If I have the right plant and it still has leaves, I don't know how you would do that.  I would just strip off the leaves when they dry, because they'll curl, right?  I think it would still be beautiful.

    Try the spray on a small sample lantern before you find the perfect branch, though...

    Parent

    That's the plant. Thank you. (none / 0) (#55)
    by oculus on Sat Nov 26, 2011 at 12:11:11 PM EST


    Parent
    Hai5r Spray (none / 0) (#81)
    by Amiss on Sun Nov 27, 2011 at 03:13:57 PM EST
    works well and is very cheap.

    Parent
    I've never tried that (none / 0) (#82)
    by sj on Sun Nov 27, 2011 at 06:03:45 PM EST
    It seems it would stay tacky or a little rough and collect dust.  Or does it dry well?  It's definitely cheaper than the acrylic spray.  The other thing decoupage medium and acrylic do is strengthen the stems where leave and blossoms are attached.  Does the hairspray do the same?

    Most of what I do is on canvas or wood so I don't need much 3 dimensionality.  But flowers can be particularly difficult to preserve for use later, so I'm very interested...


    Parent

    I tried to preserve some acorns (none / 0) (#45)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Nov 26, 2011 at 07:50:42 AM EST
    I thought I would add them to Christmas bows. But they quickly lose their beauty and tops pop off and I had a big mess.  Doing things with real holly at least reaps better rewards.  Maybe I need to learn how to make acorn beer.  Josh and I watched 'How Beer Saved the World' yesterday, that was pretty cool.

    Parent
    If they're dry (none / 0) (#54)
    by sj on Sat Nov 26, 2011 at 11:59:47 AM EST
    they preserve nicely with decoupage medium (I loves me some Mod Podge) which also shines them up.  I've never tried to preserve green ones -- I think they might rot, but I'm going to give it a try.  Next year, now.  Too late for this year.

    Parent
    I hate to disappoint the forces of consumerism (5.00 / 2) (#38)
    by Mr Natural on Fri Nov 25, 2011 at 11:04:53 PM EST
    Today I didn't buy much more than celery, parsley, a lemon, and some dried traverse city cherries to make a celery salad tomorrow.  Oh yeah, and some cream cheese frosting-ed cinnamon rolls for tomorrow's breakfast.

    RIP Anne McCaffery (5.00 / 2) (#39)
    by sj on Fri Nov 25, 2011 at 11:53:34 PM EST
    I just read that she died this week.  I think I'll reread Dragonflight.

    That is sad news (5.00 / 1) (#43)
    by jimakaPPJ on Sat Nov 26, 2011 at 07:28:58 AM EST


    Parent
    I think so, too (5.00 / 0) (#52)
    by sj on Sat Nov 26, 2011 at 11:40:45 AM EST
    When I was a kid, I desperately wanted to be a Dragon Rider when I grew up.

    Parent
    My first Black Friday moring experience (5.00 / 1) (#41)
    by xanamanax on Sat Nov 26, 2011 at 01:48:14 AM EST
    I've never wanted to be around with the hardcore shoppers but since they were starting at midnight this year, I figured things would be settled down in the morning and it was. I got to pick over the leftovers and still found the TV I wanted at 35% off.

    Naomi Wolf (5.00 / 2) (#44)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Nov 26, 2011 at 07:44:32 AM EST
    on the organized OWS crackdown.  Really depressing, wish I understood more about exactly how our politicians go about "making" their real money and leave their elected posts filthy rich these days.  She claims that OWS wanting that brought to a halt is what has political forces now lined up against them and the DHS holding conference calls on how to best bust open all of their heads.

    Los Angeles Mayor has epiphany? (none / 0) (#46)
    by Edger on Sat Nov 26, 2011 at 07:54:58 AM EST
    "Occupy LA has brought needed attention to the growing disparities in our country and I look forward to its ongoing efforts to build an economy that works for everyone," Villaraigosa said at a press conference with police chief Charlie Beck.

    "The City of Los Angeles cannot maintain the public safety of a long-term encampment," Villaraigosa explained almost two months after demonstrations started October 1.

    It's obviously getting harder and harder in cities all across the country to keep sadistic rogue goon cops from attacking Americans exercising their constitutional rights of free speech and assembly.

    It's becoming a major problem and could spark a revolution in the streets.

    And there are probably America companies supplying them with tear gas, rubber bullets, pepper spray and clubs, too.

    Something has to be done about this.

    It's beginning to look like there will need to be hundreds of thousands of people in the streets by springtime to counter these attacks if authorities don't start arresting these troublemakers.

    Parent

    Everything I read concerning our economy (5.00 / 3) (#47)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Nov 26, 2011 at 08:05:25 AM EST
    and 2012 has the year getting worse and worse for middle and lower class families.  How can OWS die down or die out?  More hurting people will be seeking the answers.  When you really really are hurting from something, you automatically seek out information on why this is happening to you.  When Joshua was born and I began to get denials from Tricare on his medical needs, I of course wanted to understand why because it was destroying him and me in the process.  And my child isn't going to be cured, that isn't possible so I'm on this road for as long as I live and on this road I learn things.  Sometimes shocking horrific things about what is a priority in our healthcare system and what is not.  Many people, hard working people, lost everything last year and next year will be harder?  OWS isn't going away and with police forces organizing to fight them, I think we have only just begun witnessing the violence.  I don't fear for my country.  I do fear for some of the OWS activists though.

    Parent
    Lets' see their reaction (5.00 / 1) (#48)
    by Edger on Sat Nov 26, 2011 at 08:10:09 AM EST
    when their are millions of people in the streets.

    A local police department is going attack a crowd of a million?

    Heh. LOL. Good phuqueing luck on that.

    Parent

    "Maintain the public safety" (5.00 / 3) (#53)
    by sj on Sat Nov 26, 2011 at 11:45:34 AM EST
    As if.  Things are going to get more desperate, and they're fighting fire with gasoline.  

    I, too, fear for the activists.

    Parent

    Looks like we have quietly (5.00 / 2) (#49)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Nov 26, 2011 at 10:58:50 AM EST
    told Pakistan that if they train fresh Taliban in Pakistan and send them into Afghanistan because they know we are in the process of drawing down, that we will be attacking them and blowing their border bases up at this time.

    Great Deals (none / 0) (#2)
    by koshembos on Fri Nov 25, 2011 at 11:06:53 AM EST
    Milk and Yogurt, roast beef sandwich is half price on Fridays

    I just can't seem to get into it (none / 0) (#3)
    by Militarytracy on Fri Nov 25, 2011 at 12:02:51 PM EST
    I ordered a few things online this morning from Penney's, some suede boots for the toddler grandgirls and two christmas decorations.  Just not in the mood.  I feel like I need a fixed economy, one that is based on something other than insane consumerism.  We have everything we need in this house other than affordable available healthcare for all, a housing market that isn't eventually going to sink us too, and a job future for our kids so they can feed and educate the grandchildren.  The things I really want aren't for available anywhere on Black Friday.

    I am returning a phone today, shouldn't (none / 0) (#4)
    by oculus on Fri Nov 25, 2011 at 12:09:05 PM EST
    be too much hassle for that part.  But getting different phone at different place.  Then have to go to Apple store to get sim card set up.  That may be the kicker.  

    Parent
    Let us know how the Apple store is today (none / 0) (#5)
    by Militarytracy on Fri Nov 25, 2011 at 12:10:11 PM EST


    Parent
    A friend just told me Apple is selling (none / 0) (#6)
    by oculus on Fri Nov 25, 2011 at 12:17:08 PM EST
    iPad today for under $500.  Should be bedlam.  Or maybe that's just on line.  

    Parent
    I confess I was one ... (5.00 / 1) (#14)
    by Erehwon on Fri Nov 25, 2011 at 02:26:53 PM EST
    who bought an iPad today for $458 at the local Apple store in the mall, but the crowds weren't bad, at least here. I was in and out in five minutes of the Apple store. But It took me more than five minutes to find parking at the mall though! :-(

    Parent
    Beware the IPhone4 battery (none / 0) (#13)
    by Towanda on Fri Nov 25, 2011 at 02:19:07 PM EST
    which is having all sorts of problems for users, including a few in my family who just had to have the latest thing.

    Luckily, I was fine with my IPhone3.

    The IPhone4 users in the family are having to plug in and recharge constantly. Most have been back to the store to recalibrate after upgrades that may have caused this battery drawdown, they were told -- but no, then they had to go back to get an upgrade that would fix it, they were told . . . and yesterday, they were commiserating that they will have to go back again to ask wtf, can this be fixed?  

    They were huddled in a corner, commiserating together, because they were playing with IPhone4's that all were plugged in to an outlet in the corner.  

    Parent

    I am going to to take my chances; love it do far. (none / 0) (#20)
    by oculus on Fri Nov 25, 2011 at 04:16:34 PM EST
    Still  in store  

    Parent
    Not guilty!!! (none / 0) (#15)
    by waldenpond on Fri Nov 25, 2011 at 02:30:32 PM EST
    I would have a difficult time finding against this person when it's nearly always justified when cops do it because they are annoyed, impatient and lack rudimentary communication skills.

    CoralGables put up the photoshopped links (5.00 / 1) (#18)
    by Militarytracy on Fri Nov 25, 2011 at 04:06:13 PM EST
    of Lt. Pike a few days ago.  That night I was showing them to Josh and my husband asked to look too.  On Wednesday at work, they had an officer's training on professionalism and he used it and confessed yesterday.  He said that he asked the officer's in his group if they had heard about U.C. Davis and he showed an image of the incident.  Two officers that he works with are pretty conservative, the Major is extremely conservative and my husband said that the Major smiled looking at the image.  Then my husband showed the photoshop of Pike spraying God on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel and everyone just shrugged.  He said he that he then told them that he was going to show them some protesters that the Brits had problems with and he put up the photoshop of Pike spraying the founding fathers and super conservative Major said outloud that what Pike did may not be illegal at this time but it was immoral.  That was pretty shocking, that even an extremely conservative person could come to understand that.

    Parent
    That's interesting, because a lot of people (5.00 / 4) (#37)
    by Mr Natural on Fri Nov 25, 2011 at 10:58:30 PM EST
    don't seem or want to understand that our nation was founded by protestors.

    Parent
    Sorry for typos (none / 0) (#19)
    by Militarytracy on Fri Nov 25, 2011 at 04:07:30 PM EST
    I really need to proofread

    Parent
    Huh? (none / 0) (#21)
    by waldenpond on Fri Nov 25, 2011 at 05:56:13 PM EST
    I was comparing the woman spraying shoppers today in a Wal-Mart to a rent-a-cop spraying shoppers in a Wal-Mart today.

    Nothing will happen to the rent a cop.  Why people tolerate individuals being treated differently under the law is beyond me.

    I was in a closed room where spray was used.  It was unpleasant but not assault as I was not hit directly and my eyes were only irritated for a few hours.

    Parent

    the tone of your earlier comment (none / 0) (#22)
    by The Addams Family on Fri Nov 25, 2011 at 06:20:02 PM EST
    is confusing

    at first i thought you were snarking, & that Donald had misread you & overreacted

    but, reading this, i wonder what your point is after all, apart from observing that the civilian shopper will get busted (if they can find her) while the rent-a-cop will likely go free

    what are you saying? that neither one should go free? or that both should, because pepper spray is irritating but no big deal?

    Parent

    Can't care (none / 0) (#25)
    by waldenpond on Fri Nov 25, 2011 at 07:30:38 PM EST
    There is a stereotype that Americans are gluttonous consumers.  There is a stereotype that Americans are rude while gluttonously consuming.  Some go so far in these beliefs that they avoid shopping on the busiest shopping days of the year.  

    There isn't enough money to prosecute and incarcerate every jerk shopper in the US.

    Donald is more upset than some of the people that were there.  One woman did not care that people were destroying displays on one side of the store and trampling goods nor that the spray went off on the other.  Her response was that is could be worse... she wanted a tv.

    Pepper spray depends on how close and the individual.  Some can have mild allergies and blister badly others won't have a severe enough reaction to give up a deal on a tv.

    Parent

    How long before insane shoppers start (none / 0) (#23)
    by caseyOR on Fri Nov 25, 2011 at 06:49:04 PM EST
    tasering each other?  If they are already deploying pepper spray, the taser cannot be far behind.

    And then, you just know someone who never leaves the house without packing heat will decide that they can surely plead self-defense for shooting that person who cut in front and grabbed the last doorbuster-priced 50 inch HDTV.

    Stop the insanity!


    Parent

    There was a shooting (none / 0) (#26)
    by waldenpond on Fri Nov 25, 2011 at 07:31:43 PM EST
    I think it was a robbery while shopping.

    Parent
    A group of males demanded a family's (none / 0) (#30)
    by oculus on Fri Nov 25, 2011 at 08:05:19 PM EST
    purchases in Walmart parkling lot.  Dad refused.  One of the robbers shot him.  In critical condition.  

    Parent
    That is the plant. Thanks. (none / 0) (#40)
    by oculus on Sat Nov 26, 2011 at 01:13:32 AM EST
    L

    Friday Open Thread : You Better Shop Around | 70 comments (70 topical)