Seasons Greetings and Happy Holidays, More than just PC

The holidays are approaching and holiday commercials are beginning to invading television, radio, and the Internet.  Over the years I have noticed the trend of referring to the the day after Thanksgiving, known in the retail industry as Black Friday, as the first day of the holiday season, rather than the Christmas season.  Some people find this trend upsetting, and you will hear them say things like “Don’t take Christ out of Christmas!”

Why is it that companies host holiday parties rather than Christmas parties?  Why is it that you hear “season’s greetings” more often then “merry Christmas” these days?  Why are there more greeting cards with Santa on them than Jesus?

It’s actually very simple.  While there certainly are a lot of Christians in the world, there are actually more people who are not.  Why would retailers risk alienating non-Christian paying customers when they can approach the season with a more neutral yet equally festive marketing campaign?  Retailers are in the business of making money, not spreading peace on Earth or good will towards wo/man.

I say we live and let live.  Turn the other cheek.  Love our neighbors.  If you are Christian, then have a Merry Christmas if you want to.  If you are not, then I say Happy Holidays.  It isn’t about taking Christ out of Christmas, it’s about respecting people of all faiths.  It’s about treating others how we expect to be treated.

Black Friday is Racist??

The retail holiday shopping season is rapidly approaching with Thanksgiving right around the corner.  Traditionally, the Friday after Thanksgiving markes the first official day of the shopping frenzy.  And traditionally, that day has been known as “Black Friday.”

I’ve heard stories of people being offended by the day being referred to as Black Friday, somehow associating it with a racial slur.  Perhaps people don’t understand where the term Black Friday comes from.  You see, the color reference in the term Black Friday has absolutely nothing to do with race at all.  It is a reference to the color ink used by an accountant to reflect a positive number when maintaining a company’s financial records.

When a company receives money, the amount is written in the company’s “books” in black ink.  When a company spends money, the amount is written in red ink.  If a company makes more money in a year than it spends, the final balance at the end of the year is black… a GOOD thing.  If the company spends or loses more money in a year than it earns, then the balance at the end of the year is red… a BAD thing.

Black Friday is called Black Friday, because many retailers earn most of their profits in the holiday season and Black Friday is the biggest shopping day of the year.  This term is symbolic of success, hard work, and profitability.  How in the hell did it get associated with skin color and racism?

Caylee Anthony (update)

Bags of bones and toys found during a search of the Little Econ River are not those of Caylee Anthony, says Sgt. John Allen of the Orange County Sherrif’s Department.  After examining the contents of the bags, investigators determined the contents were not human remains, and left the area.

For more information, visit:  Fox News or the Associated Press.

Caylee Anthony

Being a parent is both wonderful and terrifying at the same time.  There is nothing in the world more amazing than being a father, and nothing more horrifying than the possibility that harm could come to your child.  Unless you are a cold, heartless monster.

The disappearance of Caylee Anthony

Caylee Anthony is an adorable American girl who was born August 9, 2005 in Orlando, Florida.  Her grandmother, Cindy Anthony reported her missing on July 15, 2008 when Caylee’s mother Casey Anthony would not produce the child.  Cindy Anthony was concerned that she had not seen Caylee for some time, and became very concerned when she detected what she thought was the smell of a decomposing body coming from the trunk of Casey Anthony’s car.

Caylee’s mother claimed the last time she saw her daughter was on June 9, 2008, more than a month before police were notified of the disappearance  Casey Anthony claimed her daughter was with a babysitter named Zenaida “Zanie” Fernandez-Gonzalez, but Zanaida denied knowing Caylee or her mother Casey.  Casey Anthony indicated that she did not contact the police because she was investigating the disappearance of her daughter on her own.

Caylee Anthony - Missing, presumed dead

Evidence which supports the original claim made by the grandmother that the smell of decomposition was coming from Casey Anthony’s car was discovered during the investigation.  Hair and dark stains which resembled blood were found.  The hair led investigators to conclude that Caylee had indeed been in the trunk.  Forensic testing determined that a dead body had been in the trunk as well, pointing to the increasing likelihood that Caylee Anthony was deceased.  Chloroform was discovered in the vehicle, and evidence was found that Caylee’s mother had searched for information about the chemical on the Internet.

On October 24, 2008, the charges of child neglect against Casey Anthony was dropped in light of her indictment on charges of first-degree murder, aggravated child abuse, aggravated manslaughter of a child, and four counts of providing false information to law enforcement.

UPDATE!

Massachusetts Questions 2 & 3 Explained

Since the election, I have received quite a few inquiries about the two Massachusetts Ballot Questions which passed, so I have decided to throw a quick overview together here.

Question 2 - Possession of Marijuana

The passing of Question 2 has replaced criminal penalties for possession of one ounce or less of marijuana with civil penalties.  Basically, if you are caught with an ounce or less of marijuana, it will be confiscated and you will receive a citation (ticket) with a fine of $100.00.  Information regarding such a civil penalty will be excluded from the Massachusetts criminal record information system.  Individuals under the age of 18 will be required to participate in a drug awareness program within one year of if offense, however, if the individual is under the age of 17, possession of marijuana may be grounds for “delinquency proceedings.”  If the offender fails to file a certificate that the offender has completed the required drug awareness program with a Clerk of the appropriate Court, than a hearing will be held to determine if the fine should be increased from $100.00 to $1,000.00.

City and towns are not permitted to impose any form of penalty, sanction, or disqualification on an offender for possessing one ounce or less of marijuana.  Possession of one ounce or less of marijuana may not be used as an excuse to deny you student financial aid, public housing, or any form of public financial assistance including unemployment benefits, to deny the right to operate a motor vehicle, or to disqualify the offender from serving as a foster or adoptive parent.

It is important to note the definition of possession, so I shall quote directly from the text of Question 2:

“As used herein, “possession of one ounce or less of marihuana” includes possession of one ounce or less of marihuana or tetrahydrocannabinol and having cannabinoids or cannibinoid metabolites in the urine, blood, saliva, sweat, hair, fingernails, toe nails or other tissue or fluid of the human body.”

While possession of one ounce or less of marijuana is no longer a criminal offense, driving under the influence still is.  Selling, manufacturing, or trafficking marijuana or tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) also remains within the realm of criminal offense.  While somewhat ambiguously written, I believe that employers are free to enforce “drug free” policies, so clarification of this point should be made before putting one’s employment at risk.  Unlawful possession of prescription forms of marijuana or THC such as Marinol is still a criminal offense.

Cities and towns WILL be able to enact ordinances which ban the public use of marijuana or THC, and additional penalties for violating such a ban if one exists.

The new law will go into effect 30 days after the Secretary of the Commonwealth certifies the election results with the Governor’s Council, which ordinarily meets in late November.  Happy New Year everyone!

Question 3 - Dog Racing

The passing of Question 3 imposes a ban on dog racing or racing meeting upon which betting or wagering occurs, and becomes effective on January 1, 2010.  The State Racing Commission will be prohibited from accepting or approving any application or request for racing dates for dog racing.  Any person who violates the ban could be required to pay a civil penalty (fine) of no less than $20,000.00.  The fine could end up being higher.

OBAMA DECLARED WINNER

That’s right folks, Barack Obama has achieved enough electoral votes, 338 to be exact, to claim victory in this historic election.  Will Obama’s promised change give our Great Nation the new direction it so desperately deserves?  Let us hope so.

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In a historic campaign dominated by economic concerns, Obama defeated Senator John McCain in key battleground states including New Hampshire, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia while holding on to Democratic-leaning states. And once the polls closed at 11 p.m. in California and other West Coast states, Obama reached the 270 electoral votes needed to win the presidency, according to the Associated Press tally.

A giant crowd gathered to hear Obama in Chicago’s Grant Park, growing more animated as each state was called by television networks for their candidate. The audience erupted when he won Pennsylvania, and exploded not long after when the networks projected he would carry Ohio. Supporters waved giant American flags, rang cowbells, and pumped their fists in the air.

- By Michael Kranish and Scott Helman, Globe Staff, November 4, 2008 11:00 PM

The end of this election season has been a long time coming, and I am glad it is finally over.  Both campaigns have been divisive, and it will take some time to heal the rift between parties.  Things are definitely not going to be the same as they have been these 8 years past, so I hope you have your seatbelts buckled ladies and gentlemen.  We are in unknown territory now.

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