around the watercooler
Black Thursday -- This year Black Friday fell on a Thursday. In years past, it was common for retailers to open their doors at 6am on the day after Thanksgiving, but several major retailers, including Macy's, JC Penney and Walmart, have opted to open their doors at 8pm on Thanksgiving with some staying open for 24 hours during this shopping event. Consumers took to social media calling for a ban on Thanksgiving Day shopping to allow employees time to be with their loved ones. And while some disagree, others have taken full advantage of the opportunity scoring big ticket items at extremely discounted prices. But who really reaps the benefits of this 1 day shopping event? Retailers! With profits into the millions and billions worldwide, retailers can easily make up for losses during this year end event. Taking their profits from being 'in the red' into the black.
Love and Marriage -- The same sex marriage debate wages on. This year alone Hawaii, Minnesota, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Illinois, Maryland & Delaware have all passed legislation bringing the count to a total of 16 states in favor of same sex union. The most controversy surrounded the state of California and the passing of the notorious Proposition 8 which was created by opponents of same sex marriage who believe that only marriage between a man and woman should be should be legally valid or recognized in the state. In February 2012, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled the anti-gay marriage initiative know as Prop 8 was unconstitutional. The case was appealed to the US Supreme Court. On June 26, 2013, the Supreme Court ruled that the defenders of Prop 8 lacked standing to represent the case and as a result, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals lifted its stay blocking same sex marriage on June 28, 2013. To date there are only 16 states, including California who have passed legislation to legalize same sex unions while 33 others have banned such legislation and 1 state, New Mexico, has no law legalizing or banning these unions.
Crime & Punishment -- George Zimmerman is in trouble yet again. Zimmerman has been arrested twice since he was acquitted in July of the fatal shooting of 17 year old Trayvon Martin. Once after a domestic dispute with his now estranged wife and most recently after another domestic dispute with is current girlfriend. Both incidents involved a firearm and resulted in an arrest. In the latter incident, Zimmerman was arrested for allegedly pointing a shotgun at his girlfriend, Samantha Scheibe and pushing her out of the house as he packed to move out. Zimmerman barricaded himself inside the house Scheibe rented and shared with Zimmerman since August. The key was given to the responding deputies who pushed aside furniture that had been piled up against the door. Zimmerman was unarmed and offered no resistance upon arrest. The arrest report said he locked the gun up before deputies arrived. A later search of the property showed he apparently possessed 5 guns and more than 100 rounds of ammunition in the home, including an AR-15 type rifle. Zimmerman was consequently arrested and booked on aggravated assault, misdemeanor battery-domestic violence and criminal mischief to which he has plead not guilty and is currently on trial. Hopefully, justice will be served.
news and current events with Nikko Murphy