Friday, Bloody Friday

Well, another Black Friday has come and gone. Thankfully no employees were trampled and killed like last year. There were several incidents of violence and idiocy though.

At a California Walmart, impatient deal hunters stormed the doors and forced their way into the store at 2 a.m., three hours before it was due to open. Police eventually had to shut down the entire store until order could be maintained.

Then in my own proud home state of Indiana, angry shoppers began fighting and cutting in line at two different Toys R Us stores, reportedly over Zhu Zhu Pets, this year's must-have toy. Police had to dispatch at least three squad cars to one of the stores to quell the unrest. Three squad cars. To handle a group of adults fighting over a toy.

When I read stories like this about human behavior, I'm reminded of a quote by the great philosopher Frank Barone, of Everybody Loves Raymond:

"Not a day goes by that I don't wish there was a comet screaming towards Earth to bring me sweet relief."

Thank you Frank. You summed up my feelings towards Black Friday perfectly.