Tampa Bay Parent

Black Friday has become more dangerous and deadly this year. In New York shoppers eager to get into a Wal-Mart for the Black Friday deals had no regard for the employees and fellow shoppers and trampled a temporary employee to death. No matter how great the deal that they may have received today no one with a conscience can actually enjoy it knowing that one man making barely above minimum wage lost his life because people could not wait in line like intelligent adults.

In another incident in California, two men were shot to death inside a Toys “R” Us store after an argument. It is not known why they men had the argument and whether it was actually related to Black Friday or was from a prior disagreement.

In some areas the Black Friday shopping has gotten extremely out of control. What can stores do to remedy the situation? I just do not know. But something has to be done. I wouldn’t say to end the sales, but maybe having people wait outside for hours in the cold and early morning hours isn’t a good thing.

Source: cnn.com

Although some stores have their Black Friday deals from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m., there are still some with Black Friday deals until the afternoon or the evening. Despite the downturn in the economy people are still eager to go shopping today and battle the traffic and all the crowds. The battle is well worth it if you can save hundreds or even thousands.

For those that are just too weary to go into battle mode on Black Friday there will be some sales throughout the shopping season. Although you may not get some of the sale deals as you received today, the drop in consumer spending this past year will definitely cause some stores to produce more deals to encourage Americans to shop more.

I saw a news story that said that Michael Vick may be back in the NFL as early as next season. One sports commentator on ESPN News said that he would probably be brought in as a back-up quarterback until he gets back in the football playing swing of things. One thing we know is that he was a great player, but will the fans be forgiving of his dog fighting history and welcome him back with open arms? My guess is that there are at least half dozen teams that will take a chance on Mike Vick. Michael Vick may not have a difficult time getting a back-up role, but he will have to prove himself once he gets back into the NFL.

It isn’t even Thanksgiving and some people have already started camping out in lines for their Black Friday deals. Thanksgiving for some has come to mean the day before Black Friday. A family in Lakeland, Florida have pitched their tents and unpacked their chairs in front of their local Best Buy to get ready for Black Friday deals. Wow, is all I can say. But if that is what makes them happy then I guess more power to them. Some folks do get an adrenaline rush or kick from being one of the first if not the first person to be in the stores on Black Friday.

Stores have already placed some their Black Friday ads online for customers to take a gander at. Don’t be surprised if some of the web sites are take a little while to view. A lot of people are visiting these ads and the servers are a little busy.

Black Friday Online Ads

Department stores have their Black Friday deals posted on line for customers to view no. Servers are busy with all the traffic from these many customers going online to get a head start on their Black Friday shopping plans.

Black Friday Ads

Kmart Black Friday ad

Shop Holiday at Walmart.com!

Best Buy Black Friday Deals

Kohls Black Friday ad

Sears Black Friday ad

Even though some of the sores already have their ads posted online I’ll probably get a news paper anyway, so that I can see all the ads in front of me at one time.

If you haven’t already it is time to get the Thanksgiving Day menu together. When cooking, I find that it is a lot easier to create a list of what you are making before you do your Thanksgiving day grocery shopping. You can also look up some recipes from recipe sites and add a little extra flavor to the Thanksgiving meal.

Online Recipe Resources:

All recipes.com

Epicurious.com

Foodnetwork.com

You will also see local stores having sales on items for your Thanksgiving meals. Here are online circulars/weekly ads for some local Tampa Bay supermarkets.

Sweetbay Supermarket online circular

Publix Supermarket Weekly Ad

Winn Dixie Weekly ad

As more and more individuals have been facing financial losses the demand for food has increased while the donations have been lowered.

“It’s the current economic downturn, people are losing their jobs, they’re trying to look for ways to supplement what they put on their kitchen table,” said Duggan Cooley, President of Religious Community Services, Inc.

That’s taken its toll on this food pantry, which now has a lot of empty shelves. There’s only two to three days of food stored in the warehouse. They used to have food for a week or two.

Those that donate to the Metropolitan Ministries will have the opportunity to receive free tickets to the Ringling Bros. Circus.

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus is helping the nonprofit organization stock its shelves by providing a free ticket to the “Greatest Show on Earth” for 10 nonperishable donations. Food can be dropped off between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Friday at the St. Pete Times Forum, 401 Channelside Drive, Tampa. There is a limit of four tickets per family.

Sources: tbo.com, tampabays10.com

A study is showing some correlation between musical training and intelligence.

Tests showed the kids who practiced instruments scored much higher than their non-musical counterparts on auditory discrimination and finger dexterity, both skills closely tied with musical training.

The young musicians’ vocabulary scores were 15 percent higher, and non-verbal reasoning scores were 11 percent higher. The longer the child was musically trained, the higher the scores.

One point that was not highlighted was the amount of time each student placed on academics and other activities. It may be that a child that is disciplined in music is also a child that is disciplined in academics and it is that is why the scores are higher.

Read more about this article on msn.

Music Lessons in Tampa Bay

Our slow economy is having a negative effect on almost all industries. Daycares and preschools are no exception. Enrollment around the Tampa Bay area and the nation has seen a dramatic decrease. With parents out of work or with reduced hours the cost of daycare is one thing that parents cannot handle right now.

It’s not just low-wage earners feeling the pinch. Day care costs average between $3,380 to $10,787 a year for just one preschooler, according to the National Association of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies.

Even before this year’s economic perils, the cost had climbed 5.2 percent between 2006 and 2007, said Linda Smith, the association’s executive director. And in every state in the country, the monthly child care bill for two children is higher than median rent payments and as high or higher than a mortgage.

Parents should not be surprised if they walk into their child’s daycare and find some of the regular children missing. Parents with a limited budget have to choose between having enough groceries in the house and childcare.

Source: msn.com

The Election Day freebies just keeping on rolling in. Krispy Kreme is another establishment that likes to see democracy at work. Participating Krispy Kreme’s across the country will be giving away free star donuts to those that come in with an “I voted ” stickers.

Free Krispy Kreme Election Day Star Donuts

Ben & Jerry’s is celebrating democracy by giving away free scoops of ice cream on Election Day. If you go to a Ben & Jerry’s November 4, 2008, 5-8 p.m. you will get one free scoop of ice cream. It may be a little chilly Tuesday evening, but not too chilly for free ice cream. It is one scoop of ice cream per customer. Although you can get the free scoop if you did not vote, I’m sure it will taste a lot better if you do go out and vote.

Starbucks wants you to go and vote. On Election Day, November 4, 2008, you can get a free cup of coffee from Starbucks if you vote. Just go into any Starbucks and tell them that you have voted and you should receive your free cup of coffee.

Starbucks Free Election Day Coffee