This week we discuss the cancellation of the ARG, speculate on Ajira Airways, and go over several of the producer's comments from the recent screenwriter's expo.

LC_009: The Producers Speak
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Today is Black Friday in the United States. The day after our Thanksgiving holiday. The day retailers often offer the best sales of the year.

Today at a Wal-Mart in Long Island, NY, a crowd of shoppers literally broke open the doors, taking them off their hinges, and trampled a Wal-Mart employee to death. Another employee was also knocked down and had to battle people to get them off of his back.

A few feet away from the dying employee, a pregnant woman was knocked to the ground. When the paramedics arrived, they explained, "there's nothing we can do. The baby is gone." [UPDATE: I'm happy to report that according to this CNN article, the mother did not miscarry.]

All the while, people kept pouring into the store. [UPDATE: People were even knocking into the police trying to render first aid.]

People... Is there really anything so important at Wal-Mart that you just have to be one of the first people through the doors? Is saving $35 on a digital picture frame worth killing someone over?

It seems absolutely disgusting when you're sitting at your computer reading a blog entry about it. But I'm sure you've all been there. You've all had a time when you've been so focused on what you wanted that you were completely ignorant of what was going on around you.

Chances are, you're part of the problem. Shame on you.

Don't get me wrong -- those directly involved with today's trampling are pathetic excuses for human beings. They don't get a free pass by blaming their actions on society.

Those shoppers today ended two lives a life so they could save a few bucks. And every year the victim's family will spend two months getting constantly bombarded with media hype, posters, ads, and commercials reminding them of what it was that killed their loved ones -- people's greed. Long after today's purchases today are outdated, discarded and forgotten, that man and that child will still be dead.

The greatest gift of all is life. An expecting mother was about to bring that miracle into the world. Shoppers robbed her of that. Shoppers robbed the employee of that gift just so they could save a few bucks.

And yes, shame on them. But how many of you got out early this morning and packed yourselves into stores like sardines? How many of you avoided shopping today due to crowds? This could have just as easily happened where you live.

The problem is that we're a society of hypocrites -- we tell our children that Thanksgiving and Christmas are about taking care of one another, and yet once money's involved, we're all out for ourselves.

That's greedy, and it's selfish. Sorry if hearing it makes you uncomfortable, but perhaps it's time you took a look at your own attitudes while you're out shopping this year.

See, attitudes are contagious. If only we had enough people looking at how they treat others, this frantic mob shopping mentality we seem to have developed might give way to something that's more in line with what we say we're like during the holidays.

So I challenge you to do the following from now on:

• Give up a parking spot to someone else. Just because you can.
• If you see two parking spots available, take the one furthest from the store. The extra walk will do you some good, and the reduced stress of not fighting over a spot will lower your blood pressure.
• If you have many purchases and the person behind you has only one, let them go in front of you.
• Find some way to let someone in retail know that you appreciate them. Retail at Christmas is a nightmare, and all of them would rather be out doing what you're doing, regardless of how stressful you might think you have it.
• Get the door for someone. Smile while you're doing it.
• Thank someone who gets the door for you. Smile while you're doing it.
• If you're somewhere with a cart, be mindful of where you're leaving it in an aisle while you browse.
• Step aside and let someone go past you if you're blocking their way through an aisle.
• Be mindful of the behavior you're demonstrating for your kids and for the other children around you. Children emulate adults. Set an example you can be proud of.

ATTITUDES ARE CONTAGIOUS.

Some of you may already be doing this. That's great. But as a whole, we're not doing it enough. Here's the catch -- If you have to stop and think before you do this, you're not doing this enough. This should be second nature. It should be natural. It shouldn't require thought.

People, this isn't hard. It doesn't take much to change the world we live in. It takes a very, very small amount of action by a large number of people. It's a simple concept. Don't refuse to do your part just because nobody else is -- that's the problem. Have the integrity to do the right thing, even when others don't. They'll catch on.

Let's put the jerks, the cretins, and the monsters back in the minority. Let's take our happiness back.

We'll be doing a podcast review of Transporter 3 this weekend, but this movie is so horrible that I felt obligated to post something sooner.

Please, for the love of all that is holy, do not ruin your holiday weekend by going to see this movie. Even if you get in for free, you'll never get those two hours of your life back.

Yes, it's that bad. I mean, it's no 2001, but it's easily the worst mainstream movie of 2008.

It's "Attack of the Chick Flicks" week here at MovieChatter. Morgan saw Rachel Getting Married, Andrew saw Twilight, and Erik saw Bolt. Unfortunately, Erik's a bit under the weather, so he's sitting this episode out (we'll have a Bolt review later this week). But be sure to check out this review of Twilight and Rachel Getting Married!

MC_028: Twilight, Rachel Getting Married
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Nathan officially joins the crew this week, as he, Joe, and Erik take a look at Charles Widmore, ramble a bit about the Via Domus game, and ask questions about "the button".

LC_008: The Button
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This week on TechChatter:

Order pizza from your TiVo, no more Blackberry for Barak, and Erik's conspiracy theory on Google vs. Apple.

TC_017: It's All Your Fault
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Given the state of the world these days, we figured now's the perfect time to recommend some good comedies. Ren, Morgan, Andrew, and Erik pick several comedies ranging from 80's to now, from slapstick to witty, and from crude to clean.

And if you act now, we'll even throw in a bonus rant! Yes, Erik has finally seen the overrated atrocity that is 2001: A Space Odyssey. He swears he'll never complain about pacing in a film again (though we all know that's not true). His is a story of tragedy and pain, but those around him find it highly entertaining.

RC_025: Comedies (and Erik's 2001 Rant)
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Cool new Bond flick, or Bourne rip-off? In this episode, we talk about Quantum of Solace, the sequel to Casino Royale. Morgan hated it, Erik loved it, and Andrew was wishy-washy (he's not writing this post, so I can say whatever I want to about him. Nyah!). Come listen to Morgan, Erik, and Andrew try to school each other on what makes a good Bond film.

MC_027: Quantum of Solace
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Join Andrew, Morgan, Ren, and me (Erik) as we discuss Role Models -- easily the best comedy we've seen since Forgetting Sarah Marshall. Danny (Paul Rudd) and Wheeler (Sean Michael Scott) are sentenced to community service, in which they have to be a mentor to a child (one of which is Superbad's "McLovin").

MC_026: Role Models
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