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.

Halloween means candy, neighboorhood interaction

There are several reasons I enjoy Halloween. The first, of course, is that for the month leading up to Halloween it's socially acceptable to eat all candy in sight.

Second, I love how the neighborhood comes alive for one night. Whether walking door to door trick-or-treating or handing out candy at home, you get to see neighbors that normally hide inside. It's the one opportunity each year you get to verify the ancient old lady down the street is indeed still alive and the chance to meet new neighbors.

The foot traffic up and down the street can only be matched when the power goes out and neighbors emerge to verify it is in fact not just their house, or when an ambulance, police car, or fire truck make a visit to the neighborhood and all the gawkers find their gawking spot.

Halloween costumes not only mask faces, but can mask inhibitions and get neighbors interacting.

High school football is Pure Michigan, especially in Manchester

Manchester JV against Clinton earlier this year.

There's nothing more Michigan than the high school football playoffs.

The season continues for the Flying Dutchmen, after posting one of the best records in Washtenaw County at 8-1. They play in a Division 6 district which contains several southern Michigan teams, including Leslie, Hillsdale (Manchester's most recent victim) and Grass Lake, which gave them their only loss of the season. Move on farther, and the possibility of playing other teams from other parts of the state emerge. Because of being in Division 6, a division with smaller schools, it opens up the geography, as many smaller schools are in more rural areas.

This is a football state, no question about it. Between two Big Ten schools, several other Division I programs (including my alma mater), Division II schools that garner national attention and we can't forget about these guys, this state loves it some football. Which is why the high school football playoffs are so special: what's a better way to celebrate Michigan than competing against some of the other best schools and regions in the state? It's a wonder the Pure Michigan campaign hasn't thought of marketing it harder.

I'm not a football writer, and I don't pretend to be. I'm no expert on stats, and I can't tell you who will win it all (of course, it'd be nice to see the Dutch play in Detroit). The closest experience I have is I played in one playoff game as a backup to the backup in high school for my now-defunct high school (We were clunked 47-7).But I do know that while everyone wants their team to win at Ford Field come Thanksgiving weekend, it's something the entire state can embrace.

Manchester's journey could be an interesting one geographically. Once it gets through districts, Manchester will play a school from southwest Michigan (Hartford, Cassopolis, Constantine or Schoolcraft)  for the regional crown. From there, they could play schools ranging from Ecorse to Vassar in the state semifinals. And it wouldn't be uncommon to see an Upper Peninsula school in the state title game.

I've seen how football is in other communities across the state. Living in mid-Michigan for several years, It wasn't hard to see that's a football-hungry area of Michigan. Schools like Mount Pleasant, Beal City and Ithaca expect to do well in the playoffs after completing 9-0, 8-1 seasons. Near Detroit, it's no secret who the teams to beat are (yes, I'm looking at you, Brother Rice), and it's best not to knock East Grand Rapids anytime. I don't know a lot about the Upper Peninsula's football hunger, but I bet it's not a bad feeling to win a title and knock off a few "trolls" (Lower Peninsula dwellers) in the process.

Manchester's hungry for a playoff victory, especially after losing in the first round last year to Willow Run. The road the Dutch could take may make for just as an exciting trip as the games themselves.

In any case, Go Dutch!

Time to run?

Forbes released a list this week of the most dangerous cities in America and Detroit was number one. Living in a suburb of Detroit, the top ranking increased my desire to move as far away from city as possible. I enjoy visiting Detroit when going to an event, like a Tigers game. I would not, however, want to live there. I appreciate those trying to bring the city back to life, and maybe I should try to make change instead of complaining.
The list also reminded me of one of the things I hate about watching Detroit sports on national television. Usually when a Tigers or Wings game is broadcast nationally, the announcers make some type of comment about the fans showing the spirit of Detroit and breathing new life into the city. Yes the fans attending the games are putting money from parking and concessions into the city, but after the game they get in their cars, lock their doors and go back to the suburbs.
Also, in now way are these people the true "spirit" of Detroit. Eight-two percent of Detroit's population is African American. Take a look at the stands, it's predominantly white.
I wish national broadcasters would call it as it is and draw attention to what Detroit is really like. Show the homeless people begging for change outside the stadium, as well as the guy with the foam Tiger paw, $8 beer and $4 hot dog texting on his smartphone.
Let's show American a full image of Detroit, the rays of sunshine emerging from the financial troubled city, along with the hardships.