RandySF
RandySF's JournalNBC paints rosy picture of Black Friday
It's Black Friday. Let the madness begin.
The holiday shopping season kicked off officially Friday after retailers tested the mood of consumers by offering discounts and opening their doors earlier than ever.
Many of the nation's top retailers began door-buster sales even before the turkey left the table and the stuffing went cold Thursday. Venerable Macy's broke a 155-year tradition by opening on Thanksgiving.
So far it was worth it, according to Macy's CEO Terry Lundgren. "Everything is just all good," Lundgren told CNBC in an interview from the retailer's flagship Manhattan store.
Macy’s said about 15,000 people waited in line outside the Herald Square store for the doors to open at 8 p.m. Thursday, up from 11,000 in 2012 when the store opened at midnight. Wal-Mart, the world’s largest retailer, said shoppers were snapping up gadgets, while rival retail Target boasted of strong traffic in stores and online.
http://www.nbcnews.com/business/black-friday-begins-crowds-some-shopping-some-mayhem-2D11673314
Shopper Claims He Was Kicked Out Of Walmart For Filming Black Friday Fight
ELKINS, N.C. (CBS Charlotte) – A shopper at Walmart documented a fight between other customers. He said that, after store officials caught him doing so, he was asked to leave – even though those fighting were allowed to stay and shop.
Using the Twitter handle “soidecidedto,” the man – who, according to the website listed in his profile on the social networking and micro-blogging website, is named Brian Spain - shared the video he had taken after leaving the premises.
“I went to the Walmart in my parent’s town on Thanksgiving around 8pm. I was driving back to the hotel and I saw it PACKED!” Spain wrote in the video’s description. “Therefore I went in, and expected to interview people about why they are there.”
It continued, “Instead I saw this, videoed [sic] it, and was promptly kicked out of the store.”
http://charlotte.cbslocal.com/2013/11/29/shopper-claims-he-was-kicked-out-of-walmart-for-filming-black-friday-fight/
Two Arrested After Stabbing Over Parking Space At Walmart
CLAYPOOL HILL, Va. (CBSDC) - Two men were arrested following a Thursday night stabbing over a parking space at Walmart.
The two parties involved – 35-year-old Christopher Jackson and 61-year-old Ronnie Sharp – got into the fight around 6:30 p.m. yesterday after arriving at the store for holiday shopping, WVVA is reporting.
What began as a verbal argument turned physical when one of the men threatened the other with a rifle, which was later confiscated by police.
The station learned that Sharp then cut Jackson on his arm. The wound was reportedly deep enough to reach his bone, officials with the Tazewell County Sheriff’s Office said.
http://washington.cbslocal.com/2013/11/29/two-arrested-after-stabbing-over-parking-space-at-walmart/
Suspected shoplifter shot after dragging cop through KOHL's parking lot...
Debbie Turner was leaving a Kohl's store in Romeoville with her daughter when she saw a police officer, his shirt off and his shoulder bandaged, getting into an ambulance. Other officers were taking a man into custody.
Then she saw her car, surrounded by crime tape and not far from a black Pontiac Sunfire with a side window shot out.
Turner had been inside the store with her 26-year-old daughter Meghan Thursday night, getting a jump on holiday deals with a crowd of other shoppers, when a suspected shoplifter was shot by police after dragging an officer in the parking lot, authorities said.
"I didn't hear a thing," said Turner, of Lockport.
The crime scene caused a spectacle in the bustling parking lot but did not halt shopping at the department store at 261 South Weber Road. People stared and took photos before walking around the yellow tape blocking one of the store's entrances.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-black-friday-kohls-shooting-20131128,0,3522858.story
Officer injured while stopping Black Friday brawl
RIALTO, Calif. (AP) — Authorities say a police officer suffered a broken wrist as he broke up a brawl between two men waiting in line for Black Friday shopping deals at a Southern California Walmart store.
The San Bernardino Sun says (http://bit.ly/1fO2E5C ) the fight occurred about 7 p.m. Thanksgiving night when store managers decided to open the doors early to accommodate more than 3,000 waiting people. The doors were originally scheduled to open at 8 p.m.
Police say there were three fights total at the store, two of which were inside over merchandise and the third outside that injured the officer.
One of the men involved in the fight outside was arrested for suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon. Police say he was allegedly kicking the other man in the head when he was down on the ground.
http://www.sfgate.com/news/crime/article/Officer-injured-while-stopping-Black-Friday-brawl-5021132.php
Mitt Romney's Son Claims He Rescued Four People After Car Crash
Mitt Romney's son, Josh, posted a photo on Twitter Friday showing a car that had crashed into a home along with a note claiming he rescued four people after the accident.
"Was first on scene to big accident, see pic of car in the house. I lifted 4 people out to safety. All ok. Thankful," Josh wrote.
Lieutenant Justin Hoyal of the Unified Police of Greater Salt Lake confirmed there was an accident at a home in Holladay, Utah, Thursday evening and that Josh was present when officers arrived.
"When our officers arrived, the driver of the car was getting out of the car," Hoyal told TPM. "Romney was on the scene and was there in the house with these individuals. Our officers and Romney helped get these individuals outside and to medical attention."
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/mitt-romney-s-son-claims-he-rescued-four-people-after-car-crashed-into-home
Violence flares as shoppers slug it out for the best Black Friday deals
Shoppers eager to take advantage of early Thanksgiving deals brawled late Thursday as retailers across the country prepared for more crowds on what was expected to be a bumper Black Friday.
After buying a big screen TV, a Las Vegas shopper was shot at around 9:45 p.m. local time (12:45 a.m. ET) late Thursday as he tried to take his purchase home, Lt. David Gordon of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department told NBC News.
“As the victim was walking through his complex he was approached by a suspect who fired warning shots which caused the victim to release the television,” he said.
As the thief tried to load it into a vehicle the victim approached him to try and get it back, Gordon added.
http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/11/29/21669088-violence-flares-as-shoppers-slug-it-out-for-the-best-black-friday-deals?lite
Yeah, we actually went out on Thanksgiving.
My wife and were dead too dead tired to cook after a rough short week at work, and with no relatives in the Bay Area, it made to sense to cook a feast for just the three of us. So, we took the cable car to Fisherman's Wharf, wished the public employees of the San Francisco Metropolitan Transportation Authority a Happy Thanksgiving and ate seafood at a local owned and operated restaurant. Afterword, we left as generous a tip for the girl (yes, girl. She looked like she was still in high school) as we could. No shopping today of course, Just a nice meal and quiet time at home. Happy Thanksgiving!!!
Republicans More Offended By Vatican Embassy 'Closure' Than The Vatican
The United States announced this week that it's re-locating its Vatican embassy into a shared compound with the embassy in Italy, a move that was brushed off as no big deal by the Holy See. But for Republicans stateside, it was just the latest "anti-religion pursuit" by the Obama administration.
A webpage set up by the National Republican Senatorial Committee contains the ominous headline, "Obama Closes Vatican Embassy."
"The media is reporting that President Obama plans to close the U.S. Embassy to the Vatican," the page reads. "This is just the latest anti-religion pursuit of this Administration, a slap in the face to Catholic-Americans around the country that weakens America’s position as a global leader."
Of course, the embassy isn't really closing. It won't even downsize any of its personnel and the State Department estimates that the re-location will save $1.4 million a year.
And compare the NRSC's reaction to the response from a Vatican spokesman who told CNN that relations with the United States have not been damaged, or the unnamed Vatican official who called the move "an exception, not the ideal, but not the end of the world."
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/republicans-much-more-offended-by-vatican-embassy-closure-than-the-vatican
Michigan about to require women to buy "abortion insurance"
LANSING — A controversial initiative that would require women to buy an additional rider on their health insurance if they wanted abortion coverage is one short step away from going to the Legislature, where it is likely to easily become law.
Because no one filed a challenge by Monday’s deadline to the more than 315,000 signatures turned in to the Secretary of State, an initiative that would prohibit abortion coverage from being included in standard insurance policies will go forward.
And the Secretary of State certified Monday that Michigan Right to Life, which spearheaded the petition drive, has more than enough valid signatures to start the ball rolling on the new state law. A minimum of 258,088 valid signatures were needed. The anti-abortion activists turned in 315,477 signatures. And the Secretary of State’s elections division estimated that 299,941 of the signatures are valid.
The state Board of Canvassers will meet at 9:30 a.m. Dec. 2 to certify the signatures and then the petition moves to the state Legislature, which has 40 days to approve, reject or do nothing with the legislative ballot initiative.
http://www.freep.com/article/20131125/NEWS06/311250138/abortion-health-insurance-women-rider-rape-incest-life
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