[Tis the season]

PALM DESERT, Calif. – The shooting occurred in a crowded toy store on the traditional start of the holiday shopping season, but authorities say it wasn't related to the bargain-hunting frenzy. Instead, two men pulled guns and killed each other after the women with them erupted into a bloody brawl, witnesses said.

 

Authorities released few details about the mayhem that broke out at the Toys "R" Us store around 11:30 a.m. Friday, sending scared shoppers fleeing. Riverside County sheriff's Sgt. Dennis Gutierrez said the fight was not over a toy and that handguns were found by the men's bodies. He refused to say whether the shooting was gang-related.

 

The victims were identified as Alejandro Moreno, 39, of Desert Hot Springs, and Juan Meza, 28, of Cathedral City. No one else was hurt.

 

Witnesses Scott and Joan Barrick said they were checking out of the store when the brawl began between two women, each with a man. The women were near the checkout area, but the Barricks did not think the women had purchases.

 

One woman suddenly started punching the other woman, who fought back as blood flowed from her nose, said Scott Barrick, 41. The man who was with the woman being punched pulled a gun halfway out of his pocket, then shoved it back in, he said.

 

"He pulled his gun right next to me. I turned to look for my wife, and she was already hiding," Scott Barrick said.

 

"I was scared," said Joan Barrick, 40. "I didn't want to die today. I really didn't want to die today, and I think that's what we were all thinking."

 

The other man pulled a gun and pointed it at the first man but forgot to cock it, Scott Barrick said. The first man tried to run but was blocked by the line of people, then ran back toward the store's electronics section as the other man fired his gun, he said.

 

The first man reached a dead-end in electronics, turned around and ran toward an exit, pulling his gun and firing back, Scott Barrick said.

 

"He went up to the cash register, he went to put his hand on the thing and he just went phoomp," he said, indicating the man fell.

 

He said he did not see what happened to the other man.

 

Palm Desert Councilman Jim Ferguson said police told him two men with handguns shot and killed each other.

 

"I think the obvious question everyone has is who takes loaded weapons into a Toys "R" Us?" he said. "I doubt it was the casual holiday shopper."

 

Ray Turner, 20, said he was two aisles away when two women began shouting and screaming at each other and he had a clear view of the fight until a crowd clustered around them. Both women had children, he said.

 

"We thought it was just a fight and then someone yelled: `He's got a gun! He's got a gun!' You really couldn't see nothing because there was a crowd," Turner said.

 

Rafael Gomez, 11, said he and his father had been in the store about 20 minutes before the shooting but were in a nearby Pizza Hut when they saw people pouring out of the store screaming.

 

"We just saw them running and crying. I was kind of scared," Rafael said. "We got lucky."

 

Toys "R" Us issued a statement expressing outrage over the violence.

 

"We are working closely with local law enforcement officials to determine the specific details of what occurred," the statement said. "Our understanding is that this act seems to have been the result of a personal dispute between the individuals involved. Therefore, it would be inaccurate to associate the events of today with Black Friday."

 

Palm Desert is a resort town about 120 miles east of Los Angeles.

 

 

[Foreigners Get Break]

Again. point being ...American companies are more concerned about the 'bottom line' regardless of what they have to do to get there which means making inferior products, hiring substandard workers, whatever it takes to make the 'bottom line'. We have lost all meaning of the words Value and Ethics when it comes to business here.

[Some Things The Economic Slowdown has taught me]

One thing it has taught me:

 

It doesn't matter who gets in office or positions of power all they care about is themselves and their pockets!

( I was going to say we always have morons running out country but I think most that )

[Foreigners Get Break]

It's the ...... American way

[Auto Industry Bailout]

Lee Iacoca and Warren Buffet are my bets. They know how to bring in industry, make money, and keep companies alive and doing well. Yes, they are very rich ,but they kept many of Americans on the payroll .

[The auto industry issue]

Another point : How do the Big 3 and the union, because the union has a large stake in this, going to payback the taxpayer?

 

Do all taxpaying, AMERICAN citizens get a FREE car/ truck of their choice by the end of next year ?

 

Still many unanswered questions and many more questions to be asked and reasonable, timely repsonses needed!

 

No one like Chapter 11 , but it is there for a reason !

 

You don't hear of any autoworker, union rep, or Big 3 management making , or suggesting, consessions, other than the Big 3 will be taking a 'pay cut' and 'no bonuses accepted, ,I feel for these poor bastards.... when they scale back and close factories the they put people out of work..Americans..... The jobs go overseas, to foreign nations...to Communist countries, nonetheless...what a freakin' joke ...WE let this happen ..... The Chinese and the Arabs are laughing their butts off at us .

We should be upset, pissed, nonetheless ...so let's do something creative...not putting ONE man in charge of BILIIONS, because look how well that went ..... Americans need to get fired up and start this wheel turning. Write to your Senators, Congress person , House Reps....let them know .... hell , a revolution worked in 1776 , why not today

[The auto industry issue]

Just realized something! If the Big 3 fold, so will NASCAR! And, if NASCAR folds, Budweiser won't be far behind. Talk about a trickle down effect.

 

I know the issue is serious, and I was serious about NASCAR. Just thought I'd throw in the Bud comment. This really is bigger that folks realize. Paulding County would lose their new car dealerships.

 

NASCAR could survive with Toyota and maybe a few other foreign manufacturers MIGHT get involved.

Watching the Senate hearings is a joke. I think it is an insult to the hard working American taxpayer. One talk show said it was a 'big show' of the big 3 to come before Congress and get a ' tongue lashing' I would love to give them a butt whopping for running their business to the ground and putting their employees out of work . The union is much to blame also. THey are a major player to the cause of this problem. Let me ask this ..When Ford decided to close their plants in Georgia how many UAW workers lost their homes ? ....How many walked away with a very excellent severance package?

I've owned American cars. It was a fifty-fifty split on them being excellent cars and pieces of $hit. Why would an auto worker allow, or the manufacturer allow a peice of $hit to come off the assembly line ? Because NO ONE cares..it's all about the money. Trust me , autoworkers are not overworked or stressed out on their jobs.

 

Here's something else to ponder. The big 3 want this money so they can pay the workers pension fund as dictated by law and the union. WHY should the taxpayer pay for someone else's retirement ? After 9/11 401Ks took a 40-50 % dump/ Has anyone made back WHAT they lost AND WHAT they would have earned during that time ? Now, within the pase few months 401Ks take another dump..so here is the dilema..now the taxpayer has lost everything they had going back to almost 7 years ago. How long will it take YOU to make that back in time for your retirement. The answer is YOU WON"T. Anyone remember ENRON ????? Anyone bail out those thousands of people who lost BILLIONS ? ..ANYONE ???? There is way too much coruption in our government and large corporations that everyon turns a blind eye too.

 

Our country does not have the ethics,drive,values and admiration it had about 15 -20 years ago. Each year is worse than the previous.

 

I would love for the government to put back the losses and potential calculated gains back into everyones' 401K and retirement plans.What a neat proposal to enter into the 'bailout handout line'. I want them to buid up the social security system. It was made for a purpose. If social security is no longer needed then stop takining it out of my paycheck.

 

Our country needs to get off it's butt and revert back to what it used to be, a powerful, thriving country with thriving , honest , hardworking business and people behind it.

 

Lastly, any CEO not doing an effective job in their position should be held accountable, fired and perks & parachutes removed. They should be grateful they don't live in China because they probably would be taken out back and shot. On second thought THAT may not be such a bad idea .

[Big Three CEOs Flew Private Jets to Plead for Public Funds]

But they are SUCCESSFUL......and not asking for a hand OUT from us...the tax payers!

[/quote

 

 

Touche' ..... point well made .

[Big Three CEOs Flew Private Jets to Plead for Public Funds]

No, I'm not taking up for the auto exec's excesses. Nor am I taking up for the UAW either.

 

But the corporate jets is a different matter. The companies have those jets to move the execs around. Sure, they have to buy the plane. But it is cheaper than buying airline tix & being on an airline schedule, going to major airports, ground transportation, etc.

 

What I'm saying is that many, many --- yeah, even =MOST= --- large companies have their own jets because it is more economical & saves time than flying on the airlines. They can fly in to the smaller airports, closer to their destination, with less cost & less waste of time, finish up, & get back on a moments notice. Can't do that with airlines. Much more efficient to use private jets.

 

And let's not forget about them whisking off their family and friends to exoctic places for vacation. These poor guys ......what a same what they have tp go through for a measley 25 billion to save their a$$es ....

[Auto Industry Bailout]

Let me ask this question,

 

If you could save their jobs by just cutting the taxes of those in and associated with the domestic auto industry, would you?

 

Consider we're talking 3.5 million folks. Consider also that they also pay taxes and will continue to pay taxes through this time.

 

Consider the American automobile industry, by its concentration on SUV's and trucks, was meeting the demand of the American public as proven by their purchase behaviors ... until the Oil industry decided to screw everyone and charge us 4.00/gallon and up.

 

So we got 3.5 million folks and they earn really good money ... so we'll say that those in this industry on average pay $10,000/per employed person in taxes annually including the ones that make the big bucks.

 

10,000 x 3,500,000 = 35,000,000,000 ... which if my eyes don't deceive me ... is a bit more than the $25 billion they're asking for.

 

So, we could give them tax relief for a year or we could kill the jobs and figure that we can extract a few more things and still keep the industry.

 

As far as the assertion that we need to have them cut the pay of these folks because we don't like it that they make $75/hr is really kind of chicken sheeze.

 

Are we going to go to the local law firms and tell them they can bill $450/hr?

 

Are you going to want to cut them to 50 percent of their pay? Would you volunteer to take a 50 percent pay cut yourself?

 

The point is that if you just bonus them their taxes paid, they'll more than pay back the assistance the year they get it ... and that is a hell of lot more than all the Japanese companies and their employees pay .... and because of that they deserve a hell of a lot more support than the workers who put together nissans and bimmers.

 

PS: I think now that the public owns the banks they should insist on the elimination of userous 20 and 30 percent credit card interest rates. That is nothing short of highway robbery, particularly when the money they banks are loaning from are costing them less than 1 percent.

 

pubby

 

CONSIDER : If a plant shuts down for retooling, that employee STILL gets paid 90-95% of their salary for doing NOTHING ! If the auto industry was vital to national security don't ya' think they might be contributing to the war efforts today?And, what is their plan to 'payback' the taxpayer ? With all the tax breaks they get for bringing jobs into an area do they deserve more...my thoughts..let 'em sink ..

 

[Big Three CEOs Flew Private Jets to Plead for Public Funds]

The CEOs of the big three automakers flew to the nation's capital yesterday in

private luxurious jets to make their case to Washington that the auto industry is

running out of cash and needs $25 billion in taxpayer money to avoid bankruptcy.

ABC News reports that Wagoner's private jet trip to Washington cost the ailing GM

an estimated $20,000 roundtrip.

In comparison, seats on Northwest Airlines flight 2364 from Detroit to Washington were

going online for $288 coach and $837 first class.

 

 

Click here for more info

 

 

 

The Ford CEO told Congress that he's cut expenses, laid-off workers and closed 17 plants.

Ford continues to operate a fleet of eight private jets for its executives!!!!

 

Thoughts......

 

 

Here's a thought ...Why not drive there in one of their 'fine' products ?????

[Store Closings ?]

Good to know if you are holding on to any gift cards. This may not be

the year to give or receive gifts cards:

Watch those store money cards and gift cards.. and credit slips! Stores

that informed the Security Exchange of closing plans between October

2008 and January 2009. PLEASE PASS THIS ON TO ALL YOUR FAMILY AND

FRIENDS.

Circuit City stores... most recent (? how many)

Ann Taylor- 117 stores nationwide are to be shuttered

Lane Bryant,, Fashion Bug ,and Catherine's to close 150 store

nationwide

Eddie Bauer to close stores 27 stores and more after January

Cache will close all stores

Talbots closing down all stores

J. Jill closing all stores

GAP closing 85 stores

Footlocker closing 140 stores more to close after January

Wickes Furniture closing down

Levitz closing down remaining stores

Bombay closing remaining stores

Zales closing down 82 stores and 105 after January.

Whitehall closing all stores

Piercing Pagoda closing all stores

Disney closing 98 stores and will close more after January.

Home Depot closing 15 stores 1 in NJ ( New Brunswick )

Macys to close 9 stores after January

Linens and Things closing all stores

Movie Galley Closing all stores

Pacific Sunware closing stores

Pep Boys Closing 33 stores

Sprint/ Nextel closing 133 stores

JC Penney closing a number of stores after January

Ethan Allen closing down 12 stores.

Wilson Leather closing down all stores

Sharper Image closing down all stores

K B Toys closing 356 stores

Loews to close down some stores

Dillard's to close some stores

 

 

[Auto Industry Bailout]

And don't forget about the WOODY: GM spends $17 MILLION PER YEAR for viagra for their employees, as part of their health care plan.

 

 

 

 

April 18, 2006

 

 

 

Lifestyle drugs -- chiefly Viagra -- are costing General Motors $17 million dollars a year and the cost is passed along to car, truck and SUV consumers. The blue pill is covered under GM's labor agreement with United Auto Workers, as well as benefit plans for salaried employees

I love this one ..so if one has an erection that lasts longer than 4 hours.....just gives 'em more time to screw ya' ...

[Auto Industry Bailout]

Have you been reading my mind? I have had similar thoughts.

This money, 24 BILLION DOLLARS could possibly..very possibly , wind up in CHINA and RUSSIA ....When did we kneel to communist countries to enhance our financial stabiltiy ? We are headed down the wrong path. And to give Paulson so much control, for one person, of 700 Billion dollars .

 

The funny thing is, if the average Joe American got a one time debt forgiveness bailout, 3 years from now the people with debt would be bankrupt again and people who

are responsible with money would have all of it. Look how many lotto winners end up in Bankruptcy Court. The 700 Billion bailout has already turned into a huge joke,

to the point that the Feds aren't sure what to do with it. Hearings are to make us think they are doing something. The Government actually created this problem, and as

long as they think Government is the solution, it's going to get worse.

My point being, if you do for one you must do for all. An auto worker and his family is certainly no better than mine .I pay my bills they should do the same.

[Auto Industry Bailout]

So, none of the 3 major auto CEOs have an exact figure of what they need, don't even know the union contract. If the Congress approves this we must be the most stupid people on this planet. Why should we , as taxpayers, bailout an industry run by the union? Why is it that we , the taxpayer, pay for the auto workers pension and salaries ? The union should back up their members, not the taxpayer. Will the auto industry pay into every other Americans' 401 K plan that has suffered through this financial quagmire? I think not. The auto industry should have built energy efficient autos back in the mid '70s , not 2009 or 2010. They pay, inaccordance to union contract, their employess 90 -85 % of their wages if a plant is shutdown for retooling, etc. Is there any other industry that does this for their employees ? I think not. They did it to themselves and I could care less if they all lost their jobs. Can the average joe homeowner jump on the bailout bandwagon to get help ? I doubt it . Why do we allow these people to dictate who gets help and who doesn't. I am all for fairness, so let's be fair to ALL AMERICAN CITIZENS ....main word ..CITIZEN..Joe-taxpayer.... my suggestion is to let all homeowners be allowed to have their homes and bills paid off, completely andeveryone starts fresh..now that is fair for everyone. Everyone gets a one time debt forgiveness, after that you are on your own. Listening ot these hearings is a joke. These educated, highly paid morons cannot provide any answers to the questions without dancing around them. Next it will be the 30,000 people for Citibank to bail them out and support them. Is there no end in sight ? Oh, and the newest scare tactic, if the auto industry fails it is in the worst interest for national security ...wtf..wake up morons, we have been at war , for the sake of national security since 2001. Now they , CEOS, say that the money may not even be used here in the USA...wtf is wrong here ?

[Why do you care?]

Why do so many people care how others live their lives when it has no effect on them? Gay marriage, drinking on Sunday, smoking pot, the list goes on. As long as everyone is a legal consenting adult and it doesn't affect your life why do people feel the need to force their beliefs and morals on others? I just don't understand this.

 

That's right ...why should people care about other people .....about the meth lab next door ...about the spousal abuse next door ...about the child abuse next door ......about the drugs and sex rings next door .........about the rat infested dump house next door.....about the crack houses next door ........ Why should people care...... good post .... (sarcasim) ..... laws and regulations are ther for a purpose. If one doesn't like them there are ways to get them off the books. We waste so much time worrying about trivial things that we overlook the important ones.

[Japan in recession, IMF needs money]

Maybe we should 'bail' them out too !

[What do YOU think? Should the federal govn't]

My own opinion , NO , Maybe the auto workers union should step in and stand behind their dues paying workers and pitch in for retooling, etc. I know for a fact that a few years ago approximately $1000 of every car went to the health car for the auto worker , their family members and even extended family. WHile under retooling, one auto worker was bragging how he was out of work for 9 months because of a retooling project, but still was collecting eighty % of his salary..so, come on, do I feel sorry for the auto industry ,NOPE.... they brought it upon themselves , so let them fix it.

[Why So Many Bad Accidents Lately on Two Lane Roads]

Have we gotten so used to the relative safety of Interstates and major 4 lane roads with their traffic lights, guardrails, and wide shoulders that we can't drive on rural and suburban 2 lane roads??

 

Seriously people. Put down the cell phone and the Egg McMuffin, scold the kids only when stopped, slow down, and concentrate. A small mistake can be deadly on a two lane.

 

I agree with the 'getting off the cell phone' idea and texting, and ipods, and everything else that takes away from the undivided attention one needs when driving. Humans were not meant to multitask, The brain doesn't function that quickly , especially for some of the drivers I've seen lately...

[I am protesting]

I am protesting, until things change. I will not cook dinner until the kitchen is cleaned. I will not do the laundry if I have to find the dirty clothes myself. They better be in the laundry basket by the machine. I will not clean up after anyone but myself. I wonder how long until I see a change for the better? I'm just going to sit on my rear, watch tv, and see if my house gets cleaned or destroyed.

Should have started 8 year ago ....

[Colonoscopy (sp?)]

I think it is Dr. Finkleman ... everyone was excellent ...except for the pre-day prep ...

Someone said he used to give out t-shirts that said " I've seen the light" ...

[Colonoscopy (sp?)]

Call Paulding Hospital (770-445-4411)for the number, there is a Gastro group in Paulding Co and they are excellent! They can do the procedure at Paulding Hosp as an outpatient. Do them on Wednesdays but can do them other days.

The staff is excellent, anesthesiologist are great and you will get it done a lot quicker than most other places.

 

The experience is not bad (put you in a twilight sleep), but the prep the day before is unpleasant to say the least, but it is the only way to get a good prep so as you don't have to repeat it because of a poor prep.

 

I think it is Dr. Finkleman ... everyone was excellent ...except for the pre-day prep ...

[OK.. House is Going Up for Sale]

OK, seriously, this is your dream house , right ? There is a reality show on TV , and we all know how much people love reality shows, that focuses on things like ghosts, I think it may even be called GHOSTBUSTERS ,or something on that line. Make the house work for you ! There was a reason why YOU got that house. People will pay GOOD MONEY to see / hear stuff like this . If I were you I would definately check into it. I think there is a great deal of money to be made for you if it is approached in the right manner and we all know how us Americans love our money !

[What is better for a 7 yr old boy Wii or Xbox 360]

neither... get him / her a good book to read or a family game to play ...

[India's spacecraft enters lunar orbit]

Way to go India...some of our best Sh*t comes from India..or China..or Pakistan....or Cambodia...anyway , you get the drift ...Why has our county gone stale in these types of ventures?