Mass Shooting In El Paso Leaves At Least 20 Dead

Another mass shooting has taken place, this time at a Walmart store in El Paso, Texas.

CNN reports:

Multiple people were killed Saturday in a shooting in El Paso, Texas, according to local police.

Authorities do not believe there is an ongoing threat, El Paso Police Sgt. Enrique Castillo told reporters.

Three suspects were in custody, El Paso Mayor Dee Margo told CNN's Wolf Blitzer.

Castillo previously said there was one person in custody.

At least 11 people have been transported to Del Sol Medical Center, according to hospital spokesman Victor Guerrero.

The AP reports the suspect taken into custody is a 21-year-old Dallas-area man named Patrick Crusius.

A Twitter account in the suspect's name “Patrick Crusius,” using the handle @outsider609 included several tweets supporting President Donald Trump.

A January 2017 tweet said, “#BuildTheWall is the best way that @POTUS has worked to secure our country so far!”

Police say they found what appears to be a manifesto on the shooter's computer. The first two lines read, "In general, I support the Christchurch shooter and his manifesto. This attack is in response to the Hispanic invasion of Texas."

This was the shooters letter on his computer. the reason for the shooting in El Paso was because of racism. this doesn’t come as a surprise and I’m extremely disgusted. #ElPasoShooting pic.twitter.com/CyvSUXEp0L

— 𝖎𝖘𝖆𝖎𝖆𝖍 (@WokeTheFuckUp) August 3, 2019

Note - the shooter was not Muslim, he was not Black. He is a home-grown domestic terrorist. No wall or Muslim ban would have stopped this shooting.

Earlier this week, three people were shot and killed at the Gilroy Garlic Festival in California and two employees were fatally shot at a Walmart store in Southaven, Mississippi.

I'm certain 'thoughts and prayers' are on their way.

As many as 20 are dead. 21-year-old man is in custody. We cannot lose our capacity to be shocked and care about this issue. Demand more from our politicians.https://t.co/lTB8ATeeYf

— Amy Siskind 🏳️‍🌈 (@Amy_Siskind) August 3, 2019

Patrick Crusius is a White Supremacist in custody for the #walmartshooting that took 19 lives and injured 40 others in El Paso, TX.

Yet ANOTHER example of a mass shooting that a damn wall can't stop.

The "president" STILL refuses to call White Supremacists a terror threat.

— BrooklynDad_Defiant! (@mmpadellan) August 3, 2019

Patrick Crusius, 21

From Allen, Texas

White supremacist

Trump supporter

Murdered 20 at Walmart, El Paso, TX

Used an AK47

No wall or muslim ban would’ve keep him out.

Where was he radicalized?#WalmartShooting#VanillaISIS pic.twitter.com/dL2ufbwExH

— Bishop Talbert Swan (@TalbertSwan) August 3, 2019

Walmart Announces Free One-Day Delivery Service

(image via Wikipedia)

It looks like Walmart is trying to one-up Amazon by offering free one day delivery service.

The Verge is reporting that you will soon be able to order online from a list of over 220,000 items, and an order of $35 or more gets your order to you in a day with no delivery fee.

The service is currently available in my town, Las Vegas, as well as Phoenix, Arizona, before rolling out in Southern California.

It will be interesting to see how the competition breaks down between Amazon and Walmart. While Amazon doesn't have a minimum spend limit for each free delivery, you do have to pony up $119 a year for Amazon Prime membership.

Which I've done for years, by the way...

Amazon recently announced plans to get items ordered by Amazon Prime members to customers in one day, rather than the current two-day window.

Now, I don't do Walmart for a number of reasons.

A study done by the Northwest Community group estimates that a Walmart opening up in a local town will actually decrease the community’s economic output over 20 years by an estimated $13 million.

Plus, folks in Wisconsin looked at the wages Walmart employees there made and the news wasn't good. Walmart workers in the state rely on at least $9.5 million a year to subsidize medicaid for workers.

Walmart Features Gay Couple On A Blind Date "Love Is In The Aisle"

Pat and Andy go shopping on a blind date

Walmart has a new video up on Facebook featuring two gay men on a blind date at the mega-store.

Titled, "Love is in the Aisle," the short clip is one in a series by the retailer touting all the fun things to explore at Walmart.

Pat and Andy definitely have their own favorite items at the store.

Andy loves oatmeal cakes (Pat's never had one), and Pat insists that a gay man can't live without a cast iron skillet.

Ok, he's pretty much on point there.

There's also Andy's skepticism that shampoo/conditioner/body washes actually have all those ingredients in there. "How do we know?"

Of course, haters gonna hate...

The anti-LGBTQ organization, One Million Moms, are horrified. They dispatched an email to their followers complaining about "the video ad normalizing the LGBT lifestyle" and urging them write to Walmart asking them to remove the video.

Tim Wildmon, president of the virulently anti-LGBTQ American Family Association, urged his fellow-haters to sign a petition about the spot. “I honestly never thought Walmart would join the cultural revolution and reject the beliefs of its customer base,” wrote Wildmon in an email blast.

Whatever...

Check out the cute vid below to see if the blind date is a 'love connection.'

(h/t JoeMyGod)

Walmart Raises Age To Purchase Guns To 21

Via press release retail giant Walmart says they will voluntarily raise the age restriction for buying firearms and ammunition to 21 years of age.

In light of recent events, we’ve taken an opportunity to review our policy on firearm sales. Going forward, we are raising the age restriction for purchase of firearms and ammunition to 21 years of age. We will update our processes as quickly as possible to implement this change.

In 2015, Walmart ended sales of modern sporting rifles, including the AR-15. We also do not sell handguns, except in Alaska where we feel we should continue to offer them to our customers. Additionally, we do not sell bump stocks, high-capacity magazines and similar accessories. We have a process to monitor our eCommerce marketplace and ensure our policies are applied.

We take seriously our obligation to be a responsible seller of firearms and go beyond Federal law by requiring customers to pass a background check before purchasing any firearm. The law would allow the sale of a firearm if no response to a background check request has been received within three business days, but our policy prohibits the sale until an approval is given.

We are also removing items from our website resembling assault-style rifles, including nonlethal airsoft guns and toys. Our heritage as a company has always been in serving sportsmen and hunters, and we will continue to do so in a responsible way.

White House Takes Credit For Walmart Bonuses As 63 Sam's Club Stores To Be Shuttered

Team Trump is taking credit today for announced bonuses (which average $190 per employee) and starting wage increases for Walmart employees.

Not part of the White House credit grab is the news that Walmart is also closing 63 Sam's Club stores, laying off thousands.

Some folks showed up to work today to find their stores closed with no notice.

Now, which would you rather have - a job or $190?

Comcast pulled a similar bait and switch last month.

So. Much. Winning.

News Round-Up: December 2, 2016

Fitness model Nick Sandell

Some news stories you may have missed:

• Nick Sandell wishes you a calm and pec-ful weekend (via Instagram).

• New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie now wants to replace Reince Priebus as head of the Republican National Committee. Since he's not getting a plum spot in the Trump administration, why not?

• Depending on the size of your "YUUUUGE" contribution to the Trump campaign, you may be offered a whole lot of perks for your donation - luncheons, dinners, inaugural balls, access to The Donald. All this could be yours, if the price is right.

• Mad Magazine names outgoing North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory to it's annual "20 Dumbest List" over his support for the anti-LGBT legislation, HB2.

• Here's how to get a job in the Trump administration - criticize the Trumpster's "victory" over Carrier Corporation like Sarah Palin just did.

• Walmart comes out on the losing end of a lawsuit after denying same-sex spouses the same health benefits as heterosexual couples. Hurray for the good guys!

• Philadelphia-based, out singer-songwriter Aiden James released a cover of the famous Joni Mitchell tune "River," reimagined with two men at the center of the story.

Walmart & Sears Will No Longer Sell Confederate Flag Merchandise

According to CNN, both Walmart and Sears - two of America's largest retailers - have issued statements saying the companies will no longer sell Confederate flag merchandise in light of the recent church shooting in Charleston.

"We never want to offend anyone with the products that we offer. We have taken steps to remove all items promoting the confederate flag from our assortment -- whether in our stores or on our web site," said Walmart spokesman Brian Nick. "We have a process in place to help lead us to the right decisions when it comes to the merchandise we sell. Still, at times, items make their way into our assortment improperly -- this is one of those instances."

Walmart's statement came in response to a CNN inquiry Monday.

Sears Holdings Corporation, which operates Sears and Kmart, also said it would remove confederate flag merchandise sold by third-party vendors online. It does not currently sell confederate flags at its stores, Sears Holdings spokesman Chris Brathwaite told CNN.

Walmart Fight: "This Is White Trash At It's Finest"

A brawl breaks out at an Indiana Walmart over a crowded aisle. As one woman complains to a store employee, another defends the employee.

The two customers end up on the floor in a fight with one of the women telling her young son, "Johnny, punch her in the face! Punch her in the f*&king face!"

At several points, the boy did indeed join in as his mother wrestled on top of the second woman. He kicked the second woman in the head, and picked up cans of what look like hairspray to hit the woman in the head.

During the incident one onlooker can be heard saying, "This is white trash at it's finest."

Sad.

(h/t JMG)

Walmart Asks Arkansas Governor To Veto "License To Discriminate" Bill

Walmart has sent a message to Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson that HB1228, a bill similar to Indiana's "License To Discriminate" law, is a bad idea.

"Every day, in our stores, we see firsthand the benefits diversity and inclusion have on our associates, customers and communities we serve. It all starts with our core basic belief of respect for the individual.

"Today's passage of HB1228 threatens to undermine the spirit of inclusion present throughout the state of Arkansas and does not reflect the values we proudly uphold.

"For these reasons, we are asking Governor Hutchinson to veto this legislation." - Doung McMillon, Walmart CEO

Gov. Hutchinson has said he plans to sign the legislation.

Does Arkansas want to be the next Indiana?

News Round-Up - February 20, 2015

Eamon and Colin Farrell

Some news stories you might have missed:

• Colin Farrell used to kick the sh*t out of his gay brother's bullies. Go Colin!

• A Tennessee woman is charged with beating her son for acting "feminine and gay"

• Walmart has announced plans to raise their minimum wage to $10 an hour. In other news, hell has frozen over...

• Arkansas state Sen. Jason Rapert says the best way to deal with ISIS would be a “strategically placed nuclear weapon.” He doesn't include a plan to deal with the nuclear fallout that would affect allies like Israel.

• Sen. Marco Rubio has missed a greater percentage of votes over the course of his career than anyone else currently in the U.S. Senate

• The government of Chile has announced it will end formal opposition to marriage equality

• Newsflash - new study shows attractive guys tend to be jerks

• TLC raises over $430,000 through a Kickstarter campaign to produce their next album

Rozonda 'Chilli' Thomas and Tionne 'T-Boz' Watkins of TLC

Walmart supports NYC Gay Pride Parade

JMG points out Walmart's full page ad in this year's NYC Pride Parade Guide.

I guess this means the haters will be boycotting the uber-retailer soon? After a while, there's not going to be anyone left to boycott.

But with companies like Starbucks seeing their stock zoom while being boycotted by NOM, you can only guess it just makes sense all around to be supportive of diversity these days... :)

Costco vs Walmart

Walmart: Costumes For All Occasions - Dead Dog Prop

Seriously?

I'm horrified. And not in some kind of fun, "Halloween" way.  This is supposedly an ad for a Halloween "dead dog" costume or prop.

Here's the actual listing on Walmart's website:

"You have seen bloody road kill, this is bloody road kill, Foam filled latex prop of a skinned dog with a large tire track squished through its mid torso, Chain attached for dragging purposes, Box Dimensions (in Inches), Length : 36, 00, Width : 21, 00, Height : 10, 00 SKU: MC740043"

Wow. One more reason to drive me and my consumer dollars away from Walmart.

UPDATE: The item's url is no longer valid.  So either Walmart was hacked, or pressure to remove the either was applied.  Either way - good riddance to a bad joke/terrible idea.

Walmart to offer same-sex partners benefits

Well, this is a big deal.

Yesterday Walmart employees received a memo from Sally Welborn, Walmart's Senior VP of Benefits:

This week our associates will receive a pre-enrollment postcard at their homes announcing the dates for annual enrollment and providing highlights of the 2014 benefit offerings. Among the information highlighted on the postcard: We will cover domestic partners in the medical, dental, vision, life, critical illness and accident plans. This means Walmart will offer these benefits to an associate’s same- or opposite-sex spouse or unmarried partner.

The memo didn't stop there, though. Welborn's memo also made note of several other unrelated changes to the company's benefits plan and then adds this:

It’s a business decision, not a moral or political decision. We operate in 50 states, hundreds of municipalities and Puerto Rico, and as clarified under the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), each of these states are developing different definitions of marriage, domestic partner, civil union, etc. By developing a single definition for all Walmart associates in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, we are able to ensure consistency for associates across our markets.

The Affordable Care Act (commonly referred to as “ObamaCare") inextricably linked health insurance with employment. As such, for our associates for whom we offer health insurance, we want to be sure we are providing access to as many individuals and their families as possible.

Given the diverse world we live in today, a comprehensive benefit package that includes domestic partner benefits appeals to the contemporary workforce. Many companies, including most of our competitors, already offer spouse/partner benefits to their employees. Of 30 retail competitors, all but two (Publix and Stop and Shop union plan) provide either same- or opposite-sex domestic partner coverage.

Your behavior matters. The words you use also matter. We are counting on you to be thoughtful, supportive and understanding of multiple viewpoints. Your visibility can make a big difference to how associates feel.

Walmart has 1.3 million U.S. employees and is the largest employer outside the Department of Defense.

I don't shop at Walmart. For many reasons. However, I applaud this move by America's largest private employer and certainly my opinion feels a shift due to these policy shifts.

Good for Walmart.

Screen capture of memo details inclusion of domestic partners in company benefits
Click image to enlarge.

(via JMG)

Black Friday 2012 - Where you will NOT find me today

Walmart shoppers push, grab and scramble for cell phones and other "deals."

SRSLY?

Walmart "pepper spray" customer turns herself in

A southern California woman turned herself in to authorities as the person who pepper sprayed video-game shoppers in a Walmart during Black Friday's shopping frenzy, Los Angeles police said Saturday.

The woman has not been charged because detectives are continuing their investigation into the incident that required firefighters to treat 10 people for exposure to pepper spray, authorities said.

"We have her identity and we know who she is and where she is at. When appropriate action needs to be taken, we know where to find her," said Officer Bruce Borihanh, a police spokesman. "She's a suspect, but she's not booked or anything, so we're not releasing her name.

The pepper-spraying incident, which occurred in a Walmart in the nearby Los Angeles neighborhood of Porter Ranch, occurred Thursday night.

Black Friday shopping was marked by violence in at least seven states, including California.

At the Walmart in Porter Ranch, the pepper-spraying incident occurred when a woman doused fellow shoppers with the spray as people were grabbing for Xbox video game consoles, police said.

The suspect was able to pay for her purchases and leave the store before police arrived, authorities said.

One witness to the incident, Juan Castro, said he and other shoppers were hunting for "deals," when a woman began using pepper spray. He was trying to buy a Wii video game at $20, marked down from a typical $60, he said.

"I don't know if she felt threatened or she felt she had to do that to get what she wanted," Castro told CNN on Friday.

Violent incidents also occurred in South Carolina, North Carolina, Florida, New York, Alabama and Connecticut, with most of the reported incidents happening at or near Walmart stores.