Bomb Patrol Afghanistan is best new TV show

Of all the new TV shows this fall season, "Bomb Patrol Afghanistan" is the only show that has garnered my attention and respect, and I only discovered it this month.

The show, which airs at 10 p.m. Tuesdays on G4, gives viewers a first-hand look at the daily activities of the U.S Navy's Ordinance Disposal Mobile Unit. The team specializes in detecting, destroying and investigating improvised explosive devices.

Cameras are on board military vehicles, on the site of IED investigations and inside the military base. Viewers get to know the military members and experience highly-stressful and dangerous situations where the soldiers risk their lives to protect fellow military members and Afghan citizens.

The show features soldiers carefully climbing out of a military vehicle, situated directly on top of an IED, and trying to cut the cord without setting it off. It also shows how the soldiers take in all their surroundings to determine IED and civilian dangers.

"Bomb Patrol" opens viewers' eyes to the reality of what's going on in Afghanistan and makes them appreciate how much members of the armed services are risking to protect others.
The unique setting and experience makes it the best new show of the season.

Employees suffer on Black Friday

I've always thought waking up at the crack of dawn to wait in line and fight for Black Friday sales was insane. But with the increasingly-popular decision to open stores either all day Friday, or in the late evening, it's gone far beyond insane.

It seems like people are embracing the change to Thanksgiving night shopping because shoppers would much rather stay up late than wake up early for 5 a.m. sales. What they don't realize, or don't care about, is how the hours will be affecting employees and their holiday celebrations.

My sister is a cashier at a department store and I also worked several years in retail. We've both suffered the wrath of Black Friday, from long hours to crabby customers.

Last year, my sister was scheduled for the 5 a.m. shift and had to be awake by 3 a.m. in order to get to work on time. We had family staying with us from out of town and going to bed at 8 p.m. definitely put a damper on her family holiday activities.

This year, she's scheduled to work 11 p.m. Thursday night to 12 p.m. Friday afternoon. Again, she will either have to try to squeeze in a Thanksgiving nap, or face a 12-hour shift with no sleep. I don't know how this can be safe or acceptable for employees and I don't think shoppers realize what employees are put through.

That brings me to my retail experience. Shoppers tend to believe you're getting paid extra to work the holiday and only work your eight-hour shift and go home. This couldn't be further from the truth.

As an assistant manager, I was required to work all day Friday and Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend. I'd start at 7 a.m. and wouldn't leave until after 10 p.m. both days. It also usually took longer to get out because the store was such a disaster and required extra cleaning.

On top of the 15-hour Friday and Saturday, I also usually put in a 14-hour day the day before Thanksgiving in order to finish setting up displays required for the day after Thanksgiving. The display changeover usually began earlier in the week, so the Monday and Tuesday before Thanksgiving were in no way short days either. And trust me, there was no special pay except for overtime after 40 hours.

In order to alleviate the pain of retail employees, Thanksgiving day sales should be online only.
Shoppers can still shop, but there will be less of a need for employees.
Until the shopping trend changes, I ask that all shoppers please be kind to your retail employees. Clean up after yourself, be patient and realize the employees have given up a great deal to make your Black Friday shopping possible.

Voting is especially important in local races, like Sharon Township and Manchester schools

Did you pick up your sticker
today?

I've always been taught that voting is just something you do as a citizen. I remember the first time I voted, and it felt kind of cool to do it. Today, voting still felt just as cool, even though it was not in the usual spot for me (I casted a ballot in Clinton this morning, the first time I've done so away from my hometown).

These local races many residents are voting on today are perhaps the most important ones they'll vote on. Presidential and gubernatorial races have all the glamour, but it's these city council and school board elections that determine more of your daily life than what Barack Obama does in the White House.

Be sure you head to the polls and vote today. There's a contested race for two seats on the Manchester school board, and there's an uncontested race in Sharon Township for two seats on the board, stemming from the recall election in August (if you think not voting in an uncontested race is an okay thing to do, reflect on what I wrote here a few months ago about that very issue. I hope you'll look at it differently).

There still is time to go to the polls today, they're open until 8 p.m. So go pick up your sticker and wear it the rest of the day.

Sharon Township impresses

I was quite impressed at the Sharon Township Board of Trustees meeting Nov. 3. First, agendas were printed and available for residents, a practice that has began taking place the last month or so.

Next, Interim Treasurer Brian Simons presented the board and audience members with a packet detailing the townships financial information. For the first time since I began covering Sharon Township in April, audience members had the financial information at their fingertips. They were also able to ask questions, which Simons competently answered, although he's been on the job a few months. His organization and willingness to engage residents was impressive.

Finally, mineral licensing board chair Jim Hopkins gave an extremely informational presentation on the MLB that far exceeded my expectations. He even said he would do additional research to try to establish a list of all the townships in Michigan that have MLBs, something he would have found helpful for his presentation.

The eagerness of Sharon Township officials to be more transparent to its residents is a welcome change that is not going unnoticed by the residents. It's what the residents hoped for after August's successful recall election. The obvious change is probably in part due to the board a facelift with it's two newest members, Simons, and interim trustee Peter Psarouthakis.

At the meeting, the audience applauded the efforts from both Simons and Hopkins and I'd like to do the same.