In order to shop for everyone on their Christmas lists, many people go to the malls. But how will they get their holiday shopping finished if they are too afraid to go this year?
After a gunman shot 13 people, killing eight and injuring five, and then himself at Westroads Mall in Omaha, Nebraska last Wednesday, people are worried about their safety while shopping.
Meagan Brightwell, a frequent shopper at Arden Fair Mall in Sacramento, Calif., said she does not feel safe anymore when she goes to the mall.
"After the shooting, I’m kind of scared to go back because I know there are copycats out there who might do the same thing," Brightwell, 21, said.
While this is a valid point, there is no reason that we should live in fear of what is to come because, sadly, there are too many crazy people in the world to try to avoid them all. Plus, someone’s next door neighbor could be the crazy one and wind up killing him at his own home.
In efforts to prevent and protect shoppers against occurrences such as this, mall authorities are reviewing the different options they have to tighten security, according to an article from www.CNN.com. The International Council of Shopping Centers conducted a study to find out how people feel about the implementation of magnetometers and bag checks, and found that shoppers would accept the changes if the national threat advisory system was raised to the highest level, red. Mall operators, however, wish to keep this option as a last resort.
Raising security measures at shopping centers is a good idea, considering that most only have unarmed private security, but to the level of a red advisory warning seems a bit extreme.
Although this airport-style of security would lessen the chances of violence in malls, it also opens up a larger issue. If these measures were to be implemented in malls, then wouldn’t it also be necessary to put them in at schools, after the Virginia State massacre earlier this year? Then, wouldn’t they be needed at banks since those get robbed all the time? Let’s not forget about grocery stores because there have been store shootings in the past.
While it is scary to imagine that virtually everywhere we go, we are in danger of being in the wrong place at the wrong time, it is the reality of the world today and there doesn’t seem to be much we can do to prevent it. However, small changes may be able to bring down the frequency of these horrific events.
The article from www.cnn.com reported that mall security at the time of the shooting, noticed the shooter Robert Hawkins’ odd behavior from the cameras when he entered the building. He was said to have entered, exited immediately and then reentered about six minutes later with an odd-looking sweatshirt wrapped up under his arm. Security said there was not enough time to act on their suspicions because he immediately began shooting.
From the report, it does appear that there was not adequate time for mall security to make a difference because they only had someone watching from the cameras. But a good way to expand on this type of surveillance would be to have a guard at each entrance that could be contacted and warned of any suspicious activity. That way, once the workers in the surveillance room saw Hawkins enter, they could have radioed to warn the guard in the area.
It is too late to make a difference in the Hawkins case, but there is time to work towards change for the future. The best way would be to tighten up loose ends in security, instead of going "balls-to the-wall" and strip-searching everyone that walks through mall doors.
Monday, December 10, 2007
Monday, December 3, 2007
Keep it behind closed doors
PDA.
Three letters that stand for public displays of affection
Three letters that carry much more weight than the space they take up.
Three letters that when put into action, make most people say, “Gross” or “Get a room.”
Almost everyone who has been to a mall, has seen at least one couple making out right in the middle of all the action. That one couple who thought it would be a good idea to let the rest of society know exactly how they feel about each other. Maybe even a couple who are not only kissing, but are also having a public groping session.
What makes them think anyone wants to watch that?
People go to the mall expecting to shop, eat, enjoy themselves and go home, so when they encounter this type of behavior, it is understandable that they get a bit frustrated.
Martha Douglas, 57, told the story of when she found herself in this very situation at Arden Fair Mall in Sacramento, Calif.
She and her grandchildren, aged three, four and nine, were headed to the food court after a long day of shopping, when they came across a teenage couple, kissing heavily.
Douglas, who was disgusted and upset at the sight, said the scene was not only equipped with graphics, but audio as well because the two were moaning and smacking.
After considering her options for a moment, she said she walked right up to them, tapped the female participant on the shoulder and said loudly, “There are hundreds of people at the mall today who want to see you making out about as much as I do, which is not at all; not to mention the children here who have no business seeing this. If any of us wanted to watch strangers kissing, we’d rent a movie.”
Douglas said, being the rebellious teens that they were, the male started to say something, but she was two steps ahead. So just as he opened his mouth to speak, she asked a question that sent them packing, “Do your parents know you‘re here and what you‘re doing?”
The couple got up and walked away.
“They were holding hands as they left,” she said, “But that I can handle.”
Too bad there isn’t a big, bad Martha Douglas at every mall to throw down and rid the world of PDA. Although, many people who make-out in public probably aren’t as easily discouraged as these two were.
But maybe there is a happy medium to solve everything.
A good rule of thumb when it comes to PDA is keep it G-rated.
There is nothing wrong with showing affection by holding hands, giving one another a quick peck on the lips or some other non-tongue related activity, but that’s where the line should be drawn.
People in favor of PDA may present the valid “It’s a free country” argument, which means they can do whatever they want. However, instead of being selfish and looking at it this way, these people should consider the feelings of others and how comfortable their PDA is going make everyone else feel.
Plus, it seems like having hundreds of strangers watch while you and your express your love, just might be a mood-killer.
But maybe some people are into that. Who knows?
What everyone should know though, but surprisingly does not, is that the mall is not the time nor place for PDA, which raises a great question:
Is there a place for PDA?
Three letters that stand for public displays of affection
Three letters that carry much more weight than the space they take up.
Three letters that when put into action, make most people say, “Gross” or “Get a room.”
Almost everyone who has been to a mall, has seen at least one couple making out right in the middle of all the action. That one couple who thought it would be a good idea to let the rest of society know exactly how they feel about each other. Maybe even a couple who are not only kissing, but are also having a public groping session.
What makes them think anyone wants to watch that?
People go to the mall expecting to shop, eat, enjoy themselves and go home, so when they encounter this type of behavior, it is understandable that they get a bit frustrated.
Martha Douglas, 57, told the story of when she found herself in this very situation at Arden Fair Mall in Sacramento, Calif.
She and her grandchildren, aged three, four and nine, were headed to the food court after a long day of shopping, when they came across a teenage couple, kissing heavily.
Douglas, who was disgusted and upset at the sight, said the scene was not only equipped with graphics, but audio as well because the two were moaning and smacking.
After considering her options for a moment, she said she walked right up to them, tapped the female participant on the shoulder and said loudly, “There are hundreds of people at the mall today who want to see you making out about as much as I do, which is not at all; not to mention the children here who have no business seeing this. If any of us wanted to watch strangers kissing, we’d rent a movie.”
Douglas said, being the rebellious teens that they were, the male started to say something, but she was two steps ahead. So just as he opened his mouth to speak, she asked a question that sent them packing, “Do your parents know you‘re here and what you‘re doing?”
The couple got up and walked away.
“They were holding hands as they left,” she said, “But that I can handle.”
Too bad there isn’t a big, bad Martha Douglas at every mall to throw down and rid the world of PDA. Although, many people who make-out in public probably aren’t as easily discouraged as these two were.
But maybe there is a happy medium to solve everything.
A good rule of thumb when it comes to PDA is keep it G-rated.
There is nothing wrong with showing affection by holding hands, giving one another a quick peck on the lips or some other non-tongue related activity, but that’s where the line should be drawn.
People in favor of PDA may present the valid “It’s a free country” argument, which means they can do whatever they want. However, instead of being selfish and looking at it this way, these people should consider the feelings of others and how comfortable their PDA is going make everyone else feel.
Plus, it seems like having hundreds of strangers watch while you and your express your love, just might be a mood-killer.
But maybe some people are into that. Who knows?
What everyone should know though, but surprisingly does not, is that the mall is not the time nor place for PDA, which raises a great question:
Is there a place for PDA?
Sunday, November 25, 2007
'Tis the season...
It’s the holiday season again and we all know what that means: Christmas trees, family gatherings and gift exchanges.
But unfortunately it also means crowded malls, frantic shoppers and empty sales racks; which add up to be a slightly frightening combination.
On “Black Friday“ (the day after Thanksgiving), the Westfield Solano Mall in Fairfield, Calif. was overcrowded and loud.
Around noon, patrons sported looks of excitement and panic as they hurried from store to store. But the most common look was one of fatigue, since shoppers arrived early for the sales. Some people had even been there since 2 a.m. to get a head-start on the stores that opened at 4 a.m.
“I’m going crazy right now,” said Tonmar Johnson, a shopper and father of two. “I got here around two because I knew the stores were going to be crowded, but I just had to get all the presents from my children’s ‘Wish List.’”
He looked both tired and determined as he walked away with his shopping list in-hand to join the many others whom had similar expressions and pieces of paper.
Jonathan Shorter, 21, a college student at University of California, San Diego said he arrived early because he needed a new laptop, but he never does his Christmas shopping on “Black Friday.”
“I knew that Best Buy would be having killer deals since it’s ‘Black Friday,’ so I decided to suck it up and deal with all the people,” Shorter said. “It ended up being a good choice because I got in and got out with a great laptop for cheap.”
Not everyone had such a positive outlook on the situation.
Dozens of parents dragged screaming children, people bumped into each other to get to their desired stores, some even jumped in front of others in order to snatch items off the shelves, all to obtain presents for Christmas.
I watched a woman run through the door of JC Penney as a man and a teenager prepared to walk in. Right when he opened the door to let his teenage companion go ahead of him, the woman pushed her way in front of them.
But this type of behavior is to be expected on “Black Friday” and once the infamous day ends, the mall won’t be so hectic, right?
Wrong.
In the same mall two days later, there wasn’t much change. Stores were still crowded, the lines were still long and people still knocked each other over. Yet more and more people kept arriving for the holiday savings.
Has Christmas shopping converted to an “only the strong survive” method?
Sadly, it seems as though it has.
To make matters even worse, the tense mall atmosphere won’t disappear until the Season is over. The period between “Black Friday” and Dec. 25, maybe even a bit after, means the “Christmas Spirit” we have with our family, friends and occasional stranger, will be a faint memory inside mall walls.
So for those of you who are about to tackle your local mall, get ready for the crowds and be prepared to fight for that last Transformers action figure that an old lady in a pea coat is about to take.
But unfortunately it also means crowded malls, frantic shoppers and empty sales racks; which add up to be a slightly frightening combination.
On “Black Friday“ (the day after Thanksgiving), the Westfield Solano Mall in Fairfield, Calif. was overcrowded and loud.
Around noon, patrons sported looks of excitement and panic as they hurried from store to store. But the most common look was one of fatigue, since shoppers arrived early for the sales. Some people had even been there since 2 a.m. to get a head-start on the stores that opened at 4 a.m.
“I’m going crazy right now,” said Tonmar Johnson, a shopper and father of two. “I got here around two because I knew the stores were going to be crowded, but I just had to get all the presents from my children’s ‘Wish List.’”
He looked both tired and determined as he walked away with his shopping list in-hand to join the many others whom had similar expressions and pieces of paper.
Jonathan Shorter, 21, a college student at University of California, San Diego said he arrived early because he needed a new laptop, but he never does his Christmas shopping on “Black Friday.”
“I knew that Best Buy would be having killer deals since it’s ‘Black Friday,’ so I decided to suck it up and deal with all the people,” Shorter said. “It ended up being a good choice because I got in and got out with a great laptop for cheap.”
Not everyone had such a positive outlook on the situation.
Dozens of parents dragged screaming children, people bumped into each other to get to their desired stores, some even jumped in front of others in order to snatch items off the shelves, all to obtain presents for Christmas.
I watched a woman run through the door of JC Penney as a man and a teenager prepared to walk in. Right when he opened the door to let his teenage companion go ahead of him, the woman pushed her way in front of them.
But this type of behavior is to be expected on “Black Friday” and once the infamous day ends, the mall won’t be so hectic, right?
Wrong.
In the same mall two days later, there wasn’t much change. Stores were still crowded, the lines were still long and people still knocked each other over. Yet more and more people kept arriving for the holiday savings.
Has Christmas shopping converted to an “only the strong survive” method?
Sadly, it seems as though it has.
To make matters even worse, the tense mall atmosphere won’t disappear until the Season is over. The period between “Black Friday” and Dec. 25, maybe even a bit after, means the “Christmas Spirit” we have with our family, friends and occasional stranger, will be a faint memory inside mall walls.
So for those of you who are about to tackle your local mall, get ready for the crowds and be prepared to fight for that last Transformers action figure that an old lady in a pea coat is about to take.
Thursday, November 8, 2007
To college or not to college, that is the question
If you believe that a college education is designed to completely prepare you for a future in the professional world, then you are mistaken.
Many of the most relevant life experiences are learned by doing, not by sitting in a classroom or reading a book.
So why then do many careers require degrees?
There are two main reasons.
The first is the discipline it takes to graduate from college. Not only will employers value the fact that someone has a degree qualifying him for a position, but they appreciate the fact that he chose to continue with school even though it is no longer required after the twelfth grade. Graduating from college tells employers that the graduate is not only knowledgeable, but also patient, dedicated and willing to learn.
Why else would schools require general education?
The second reason is the more obvious of the two. If Sally Sue spent roughly four years studying for the job she wants, she just might be more qualified than the guy who didn’t bother to go to college.
While sitting in class, listening to professors talk about their specialty field sometimes seems boring and irrelevant, it is beneficial. Professors actually know what they are talking about, despite what students want to believe after they are graded lower than expected on an assignment. Instructors also know other informed people and can use them as teaching aids.
In addition to the knowledge educators share in class, the homework assignments and tests they give are helpful in developing students’ skills, not just forms of torture. Then once these skills are acquired, internships serve as practice before the big game (or a career).
However relevant both of these points may seem though, numerous students will always question why they are in school.
In a YouTube video titled “A Vision of Students Today,” it documents how 200 Kansas State University students feel about college.
It starts by asking exactly what students are learning in the classroom when they learn by doing. It then shows students in a classroom giving statistics about their college experience.
They hold up papers and laptops reading “18 percent of my teachers know my name,” “I complete 49 percent of the readings assigned to me. Only 26 percent are relevant to my life,” and “I buy 100 dollar textbooks that I never open.”
The other information given is about the average number of books and emails read, the number of times students visit sites like Facebook and even the fact that they tend to use class time to surf the web on their laptops. The students share the number of hours a day they spend in class, sleeping, eating, studying and other normal daily activities. They then talk about the poverty of many people and how jobs of the future may not even exist now.
But what does all of this mean?
It means that some students will always find ways around doing the assigned readings, not pay attention in class and believe that what they are doing in school is not related to real life. They will continue to question why they go to college and the relevance of the homework assignments.
It also means that technology designed to aid in schoolwork will continue to be abused in class, people will most likely be more interested in what is going on with their friends than what the teacher is saying, and that most human beings are naturally more attracted to doing than listening.
But somehow people will continue to apply for college and student loans despite the debt after graduation. There will always be students walking the line and accepting their diplomas. And at the end of the day, it’s all because that college degree is going to get you closer to where you want to be.
Many of the most relevant life experiences are learned by doing, not by sitting in a classroom or reading a book.
So why then do many careers require degrees?
There are two main reasons.
The first is the discipline it takes to graduate from college. Not only will employers value the fact that someone has a degree qualifying him for a position, but they appreciate the fact that he chose to continue with school even though it is no longer required after the twelfth grade. Graduating from college tells employers that the graduate is not only knowledgeable, but also patient, dedicated and willing to learn.
Why else would schools require general education?
The second reason is the more obvious of the two. If Sally Sue spent roughly four years studying for the job she wants, she just might be more qualified than the guy who didn’t bother to go to college.
While sitting in class, listening to professors talk about their specialty field sometimes seems boring and irrelevant, it is beneficial. Professors actually know what they are talking about, despite what students want to believe after they are graded lower than expected on an assignment. Instructors also know other informed people and can use them as teaching aids.
In addition to the knowledge educators share in class, the homework assignments and tests they give are helpful in developing students’ skills, not just forms of torture. Then once these skills are acquired, internships serve as practice before the big game (or a career).
However relevant both of these points may seem though, numerous students will always question why they are in school.
In a YouTube video titled “A Vision of Students Today,” it documents how 200 Kansas State University students feel about college.
It starts by asking exactly what students are learning in the classroom when they learn by doing. It then shows students in a classroom giving statistics about their college experience.
They hold up papers and laptops reading “18 percent of my teachers know my name,” “I complete 49 percent of the readings assigned to me. Only 26 percent are relevant to my life,” and “I buy 100 dollar textbooks that I never open.”
The other information given is about the average number of books and emails read, the number of times students visit sites like Facebook and even the fact that they tend to use class time to surf the web on their laptops. The students share the number of hours a day they spend in class, sleeping, eating, studying and other normal daily activities. They then talk about the poverty of many people and how jobs of the future may not even exist now.
But what does all of this mean?
It means that some students will always find ways around doing the assigned readings, not pay attention in class and believe that what they are doing in school is not related to real life. They will continue to question why they go to college and the relevance of the homework assignments.
It also means that technology designed to aid in schoolwork will continue to be abused in class, people will most likely be more interested in what is going on with their friends than what the teacher is saying, and that most human beings are naturally more attracted to doing than listening.
But somehow people will continue to apply for college and student loans despite the debt after graduation. There will always be students walking the line and accepting their diplomas. And at the end of the day, it’s all because that college degree is going to get you closer to where you want to be.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
V-Day or D-Day?
Expensive gifts hidden in secret places, dinners for two, candle-covered bedrooms, rose petals on floors, chocolates in heart-shaped boxes: all the things that should get you in the mood for the most romantic holiday around. Valentine’s Day.
Anybody else still waiting for the warm and fuzzies?
Valentine’s Day is not a day for love or romance, it is a day for spending entirely too much money.
Every year on Feb. 14, couples are pressured into showing how much they care by spending money on each other. They must make plans, buy gifts, be extra sweet and sentimental. But where exactly is all this motivation coming from?
Turn the TV on in January or February and you will find the answer.
Hallmark advertises their cards, balloons and stuffed animals. Jewelers promote their special rings, lockets and tennis bracelets. Television networks even dedicate many primetime shows and movies to the day.
It seems quite silly that normal, sane people would suddenly allow corporations to influence them to into putting so much emphasis on one day.
Or maybe this is the incorrect way to approach the holiday.
Maybe people actually do feel Valentine’s is more romantic. Maybe they feel it’s so special they have to spoil their loved ones. Maybe they realize they take each other for granted the rest of the year, so they make up for it on Feb. 14.
If this is case, V-Day does not seem as horrible. But the fact of the matter is, people should not be waiting until then to make their loved ones feel important, it should be happening year-round.
A coworker told the story of her relationship.
She and her boyfriend were dating for eight months when Valentine’s Day rolled around, and things had started out strong. The first few months could definitely be labeled as the “honeymoon period:” no arguments, just bliss. The following three months saw minor disagreements, but nothing too serious.
However, by month six, he began to ignore her phone calls, miss dinner plans, and he even forgot her birthday. She became so fed up with him that she was ready to end their one-sided relationship. Then he Valentine’s Day-ed her.
He showed up at her job with flowers and a little jewelry box. He had a card that said how much he loved and appreciated her, and that he had “something special” planned for the evening. His “something special” turned out to be less than spectacular, but she was blinded by the glow of Valentine’s Day, so she played right into his game. She felt so special that she forgot about the months of mistreatment and fell into the glamour of his gesture. Unfortunately, the very next day the glamour faded and he was back to taking her for granted. Over the next couple of days she tried getting the romantic boyfriend back, but it seemed he was gone for good so she eventually broke up with him.
Valentine’s Day is the day of love, but does that mean people do not have to say “I love you” any other day of the year? Should husbands only surprise their wives with gifts once a year? Are candlelight dinners planned by girlfriends exclusive to Valentine’s Day?
The obvious answer to these questions is no, but sadly that is not always the case because too many people use this holiday as a way to redeem themselves for 364 other days of neglect.
Wouldn’t it be nice if we could go back to the days of elementary school when we would bring a generic card and a piece of candy for everyone in class on Valentine's? There was no pressure of impressing one another, it was just an innocent gesture between friends.
Man, those were the days.
Anybody else still waiting for the warm and fuzzies?
Valentine’s Day is not a day for love or romance, it is a day for spending entirely too much money.
Every year on Feb. 14, couples are pressured into showing how much they care by spending money on each other. They must make plans, buy gifts, be extra sweet and sentimental. But where exactly is all this motivation coming from?
Turn the TV on in January or February and you will find the answer.
Hallmark advertises their cards, balloons and stuffed animals. Jewelers promote their special rings, lockets and tennis bracelets. Television networks even dedicate many primetime shows and movies to the day.
It seems quite silly that normal, sane people would suddenly allow corporations to influence them to into putting so much emphasis on one day.
Or maybe this is the incorrect way to approach the holiday.
Maybe people actually do feel Valentine’s is more romantic. Maybe they feel it’s so special they have to spoil their loved ones. Maybe they realize they take each other for granted the rest of the year, so they make up for it on Feb. 14.
If this is case, V-Day does not seem as horrible. But the fact of the matter is, people should not be waiting until then to make their loved ones feel important, it should be happening year-round.
A coworker told the story of her relationship.
She and her boyfriend were dating for eight months when Valentine’s Day rolled around, and things had started out strong. The first few months could definitely be labeled as the “honeymoon period:” no arguments, just bliss. The following three months saw minor disagreements, but nothing too serious.
However, by month six, he began to ignore her phone calls, miss dinner plans, and he even forgot her birthday. She became so fed up with him that she was ready to end their one-sided relationship. Then he Valentine’s Day-ed her.
He showed up at her job with flowers and a little jewelry box. He had a card that said how much he loved and appreciated her, and that he had “something special” planned for the evening. His “something special” turned out to be less than spectacular, but she was blinded by the glow of Valentine’s Day, so she played right into his game. She felt so special that she forgot about the months of mistreatment and fell into the glamour of his gesture. Unfortunately, the very next day the glamour faded and he was back to taking her for granted. Over the next couple of days she tried getting the romantic boyfriend back, but it seemed he was gone for good so she eventually broke up with him.
Valentine’s Day is the day of love, but does that mean people do not have to say “I love you” any other day of the year? Should husbands only surprise their wives with gifts once a year? Are candlelight dinners planned by girlfriends exclusive to Valentine’s Day?
The obvious answer to these questions is no, but sadly that is not always the case because too many people use this holiday as a way to redeem themselves for 364 other days of neglect.
Wouldn’t it be nice if we could go back to the days of elementary school when we would bring a generic card and a piece of candy for everyone in class on Valentine's? There was no pressure of impressing one another, it was just an innocent gesture between friends.
Man, those were the days.
Monday, October 15, 2007
Living under the radar
Ever wondered what it would be like to live at the mall?
Well eight artists in Providence, R.I. experienced it first hand when they illegally made an unused space in the Providence Place mall into an apartment.
On Sept 26, mall security took Michael J. Townsend and a companion, who was later released, into custody after the two entered the apartment. Townsend, his wife Adriana Yoto, 29, and six other artists lived in the space off-and-on for almost four years.
So why did it take so long for mall security to discover this secret?
The eight illegal mall tenants put great effort into staying under the radar. They created a wall from cinder blocks and added a door that concealed the apartment from its storage room neighbor. All that could be seen from the storage room was a ladder leading to the locked door.
The area lacked running water, a toilet and a refrigerator, but Townsend, 36, and his accomplices stayed there for up to three weeks at a time. They equipped the apartment with large amounts of water, a coffee table, lamps, a couch, love seat and dining table with four chairs, and decorated with a rug and paintings. Electricity came courtesy of an extension cord to an power outlet in the storage room. They even watched TV and played video games on a Sony Playstation2. In order to relieve themselves, they snuck out to use the mall’s restrooms.
It seems as though they were living pretty well at the mall’s expense. Without utility bills or rent, all they had to do was buy food and clean up after themselves. Not a bad deal, until they were caught and punished.
Townsend pleaded no contest to a criminal charge of trespassing, which was reduced from the original felony charge of breaking and entering in the daytime. The courts sentenced him to six months of probation and ordered him to pay restitution and court fees. He was also banned from the mall.
A punishment lacking jail time seems awfully generous for a man who made his home on someone else’s property. I don’t know about you, but if somebody moved onto my property without my knowledge, I would want him in a jail cell for at least a few months. I mean, it wouldn’t be that harsh of a punishment since I would still be partially funding it, right?
Although most people would assume the tenants had to force their way into the building, the concept was debated. While police and mall security reported that the unwanted residents broke in, they claim the door was either unlocked or ajar when they entered.
Townsend, who began his stay in order to observe modern mall behaviors, denied allegations of force entry by saying he is not a “lock-picker.”
Throughout the whole ordeal, Townsend and Yoto did not seem to be remorseful about the choices they made. In fact, the only disappointment mentioned was in regards to the early termination of their research.
It is probably quite easy to remain guilt-free when your only discipline for this type of crime is a six month timeout and some monthly payments. Maybe all the homeless people in the world should research the blueprints of their local malls, find the empty rooms, and have a place to stay for at least four years. Then if they were ever caught, they would be fined, miss the payments because they wouldn’t have money, and get sent to jail. The plus of this is they would still be living off the streets.
*Story details obtained from an article by Gregory Smith and Philip Marcelo in The Providence Journal.
http://www.projo.com/news/content/Mall_Dwellers_10-02-07_1F7B9KA.34baf91.html
Well eight artists in Providence, R.I. experienced it first hand when they illegally made an unused space in the Providence Place mall into an apartment.
On Sept 26, mall security took Michael J. Townsend and a companion, who was later released, into custody after the two entered the apartment. Townsend, his wife Adriana Yoto, 29, and six other artists lived in the space off-and-on for almost four years.
So why did it take so long for mall security to discover this secret?
The eight illegal mall tenants put great effort into staying under the radar. They created a wall from cinder blocks and added a door that concealed the apartment from its storage room neighbor. All that could be seen from the storage room was a ladder leading to the locked door.
The area lacked running water, a toilet and a refrigerator, but Townsend, 36, and his accomplices stayed there for up to three weeks at a time. They equipped the apartment with large amounts of water, a coffee table, lamps, a couch, love seat and dining table with four chairs, and decorated with a rug and paintings. Electricity came courtesy of an extension cord to an power outlet in the storage room. They even watched TV and played video games on a Sony Playstation2. In order to relieve themselves, they snuck out to use the mall’s restrooms.
It seems as though they were living pretty well at the mall’s expense. Without utility bills or rent, all they had to do was buy food and clean up after themselves. Not a bad deal, until they were caught and punished.
Townsend pleaded no contest to a criminal charge of trespassing, which was reduced from the original felony charge of breaking and entering in the daytime. The courts sentenced him to six months of probation and ordered him to pay restitution and court fees. He was also banned from the mall.
A punishment lacking jail time seems awfully generous for a man who made his home on someone else’s property. I don’t know about you, but if somebody moved onto my property without my knowledge, I would want him in a jail cell for at least a few months. I mean, it wouldn’t be that harsh of a punishment since I would still be partially funding it, right?
Although most people would assume the tenants had to force their way into the building, the concept was debated. While police and mall security reported that the unwanted residents broke in, they claim the door was either unlocked or ajar when they entered.
Townsend, who began his stay in order to observe modern mall behaviors, denied allegations of force entry by saying he is not a “lock-picker.”
Throughout the whole ordeal, Townsend and Yoto did not seem to be remorseful about the choices they made. In fact, the only disappointment mentioned was in regards to the early termination of their research.
It is probably quite easy to remain guilt-free when your only discipline for this type of crime is a six month timeout and some monthly payments. Maybe all the homeless people in the world should research the blueprints of their local malls, find the empty rooms, and have a place to stay for at least four years. Then if they were ever caught, they would be fined, miss the payments because they wouldn’t have money, and get sent to jail. The plus of this is they would still be living off the streets.
*Story details obtained from an article by Gregory Smith and Philip Marcelo in The Providence Journal.
http://www.projo.com/news/content/Mall_Dwellers_10-02-07_1F7B9KA.34baf91.html
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Do YouTube?
You walk into class while everyone is talking about the Britney Spears MTV Video Music Awards disaster and how they “cannot believe she made such a fool out of herself on national TV,” and you immediately start to panic. You missed the awards show because you had to work, but you hate being the only one that can’t give input on celebrity gossip. After pouting for a second or two, it hits you like a Mike Tyson knockout punch…YouTube.com. You pull out your laptop, watch the performance, then comment right along with everyone else.
For those of us who do not YouTube, it is a site where people post videos for their own and other people’s enjoyment. On YouTube.com, you can watch an assortment of clips ranging from a random girl singing in her living room to Beyonce’s latest music video. But what is its real purpose? Does it even have one?
Created in February 2005 by Chad Hurley, Steve Chen and Jawed Karim, YouTube quickly grew into a popular site that was purchased by Google Inc. in November of last year. Since its creation, YouTube has become a widely known and used site that allows people to share videos they feel everyone should see. By simply joining the free Web site, anyone with internet-access can view and comment on millions of videos; members can even add their own.
So if billions of people post their videos, is there a sole reason why?
Maybe YouTube is a place for people to express and share a piece of themselves. If you have a dance performance on tape that you are proud of, you can put it on YouTube and share it with the world. If your baby just took his first steps and you want everyone to know, then put it on YouTube.
Or maybe YouTube is a place to share funny mishaps. People post videos of themselves dancing around their living rooms. They put up clips of themselves acting like superheroes in homemade costumes. You might even find one of a stranger falling off a curb and rolling into a pack of school children.
Is YouTube a way for people to send a message? It was for Chris Crocker who has become semi-famous for his video where he was in tears, telling everyone to leave Britney Spears alone. The video was even shown on the Jimmy Kimmel Show.
YouTube could be entertainment for when you are bored or you and your friends are surfing the web, looking for a laugh. It could even be an exciting new tool used by an educator to give out a homework assignment. Or as sweet revenge. Maybe it’s a complete waste of time.
Perhaps it is one of the most innovative websites in the world. Time Magazine must think so since they awarded them with “Best Invention of the Year.” Entertainment Weekly might agree because they made them the first Web site to receive “Entertainer of the Year.”
Overall it seems that YouTube does not serve just one purpose. It has numerous purposes based on the user. So if you have never YouTube-ed, it couldn’t hurt to check it out, right?
For those of us who do not YouTube, it is a site where people post videos for their own and other people’s enjoyment. On YouTube.com, you can watch an assortment of clips ranging from a random girl singing in her living room to Beyonce’s latest music video. But what is its real purpose? Does it even have one?
Created in February 2005 by Chad Hurley, Steve Chen and Jawed Karim, YouTube quickly grew into a popular site that was purchased by Google Inc. in November of last year. Since its creation, YouTube has become a widely known and used site that allows people to share videos they feel everyone should see. By simply joining the free Web site, anyone with internet-access can view and comment on millions of videos; members can even add their own.
So if billions of people post their videos, is there a sole reason why?
Maybe YouTube is a place for people to express and share a piece of themselves. If you have a dance performance on tape that you are proud of, you can put it on YouTube and share it with the world. If your baby just took his first steps and you want everyone to know, then put it on YouTube.
Or maybe YouTube is a place to share funny mishaps. People post videos of themselves dancing around their living rooms. They put up clips of themselves acting like superheroes in homemade costumes. You might even find one of a stranger falling off a curb and rolling into a pack of school children.
Is YouTube a way for people to send a message? It was for Chris Crocker who has become semi-famous for his video where he was in tears, telling everyone to leave Britney Spears alone. The video was even shown on the Jimmy Kimmel Show.
YouTube could be entertainment for when you are bored or you and your friends are surfing the web, looking for a laugh. It could even be an exciting new tool used by an educator to give out a homework assignment. Or as sweet revenge. Maybe it’s a complete waste of time.
Perhaps it is one of the most innovative websites in the world. Time Magazine must think so since they awarded them with “Best Invention of the Year.” Entertainment Weekly might agree because they made them the first Web site to receive “Entertainer of the Year.”
Overall it seems that YouTube does not serve just one purpose. It has numerous purposes based on the user. So if you have never YouTube-ed, it couldn’t hurt to check it out, right?
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