Saturday, November 29, 2008

Black Friday Indeed.

You may have already heard of this story, about a temporary worker who died after being trampled at a Wal-Mart on so-called "Black Friday." But here's what leapt out to me:

The employee was "stepped on by hundreds of people" as other workers attempted to fight their way through the crowd, said Nassau County police Detective Lt. Michael Fleming.

"Several minutes" passed before others were able to clear space around the man and attempt to render aid. Police arrived, and "as they were giving first aid, those police officers were also jostled and pushed," he said.

"Shoppers ... were on a full-out run into the store," he said.

Yes. As they attempted to administer aid, the police were "jostled and pushed." In light of this, I recommend we all just take a deep breath, step back, collect ourselves, and read what I'm currently reading, Hot, Flat, and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution--And How It Can Renew America by Thomas Friedman. But before that, crack open Matthew 6:19-24.

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Radio Time.

I did some radio interviews today to promote The High School Survival Guide, and while it's always fun to go on the radio to talk about my books, I always find it nerve-wracking. Or perhaps I should say, NERVE-WRACKING!

I always find myself rambling and rambling to make a point, and I start pacing back and forth, and the whole time my mouth is talking, my brain is thinking, Why did you say it like that, Dumbo, when you could've said it much more clearly this way? And when are you going to stop talking? Because now you're rambling, and you're getting farther away from the point you're trying to make, and you just need to go ahead and shut up now.

Except my brain isn't nearly as nice.

Anyway, when all was said and done, I feel like I represented myself and the book fairly well. And I probably walked off a good 500 calories.