$99 iPhones at Wal-Mart?

As a power user of the iPhone, I found my 1st generation device with 8GB of memory was quickly filled to capacity with songs and videos. I still struggle sometimes to manage the content on my iPhone 3G with its relatively robust 16 GB of memory. But I know a few people who bought 4 GB iPhone when they were out there, and are plenty happy with their devices to this day.

Now, rumors are out there that Wal-Mart is preparing to sell 4 GB iPhone 3G devices starting December 28. As an Apple shareholder, this gets me very excited as it brings the iPhone into the range of a whole new class of buyer, who may be flush with store credit from returning presents. This may be Apple's attempt toward an "iPhone Nano" or "iPhone Shuffle".

The question is, would a shopper who balks at a $199 iPhone, be willing to commit to $80 a month for data and voice? Or will this phone also be on a pay-as-you-go or cheaper voice-only plan?

The Value of Life In a "Me First" Society

I was disturbed over the report of a temporary worker, Jdimytai Damour, at Wal-Mart who was trampled to death on Black Friday. I did not get a chance to blog about it at the time, but with more stories coming out, it appears to be even worse than I imagined. For anyone who has not heard about the incident, a temporary worker at Wal-Mart who was posted at the front door was trampled to death by a crowd that broke down the doors in order to get into the store for the Black Friday bargains.

So, Damour must have been older and smaller for this to happen, right? In fact, he was 34 years old, 6'5", weighing 270 pounds. Quoting Nassau County Police Commissioner Lawrence Mulvey, "Literally anyone, those hundreds of people who did make their way into the store, literally had to step over or around him or unfortunately on him to get into the Wal-Mart store." Estimates were that the crowd was about 2,000 people. [see Wal-Mart Worker Trampled to Death Lacked Training, Attorney Says] Now, when a crowd of 2,000 people is all pushing in the same direction it is very hard to stop or you risk getting trampled yourself. If this had been 2,000 people running out of the store for their life, I would understand. Two thousand people pushing and shoving to get into a store? That's evidence of a "Me First" society and it cost a man his life.

Damour's coworker, Jimmy Overby, describes the account first hand. "They took the doors off the hinges. He was trampled and killed in front of me. They took me down too ... I literally had to fight people off my back." [See Wal-Mart Worker Dies When Shoppers Break Down Doors]

And if that's not enough of, "Other workers were trampled as they tried to rescue the man, and customers stepped over him and became irate when officials said the store was closing because of the death, police and witnesses said." [See Police Reviewing Video to Identify Shoppers in Wal-Mart Stampede That Killed Worker] So let me get this straight, a man is TRAMPLED TO DEATH and you're upset because you're not getting your bargain?

While police are trying to review any video surveillance, it is difficult to not only identify people, but also figure out who is liable. [See Police Try to ID Shoppers in Wal-Mart Trampling Death Surveillance Tape]

Damour's biggest crime? "[He was] trying to shield a pregnant shopper from the throngs of bargain hunters pushing their way in." [See Lawyer: Family of Trampled Worker Sues Wal-Mart Over Death] That's right, Jdimytai Damour a 34 year old, 6'5", 270 pound man was crushed to death because he was trying to protect a pregnant woman from a crowd who had to have their bargain no matter what the cost.

Damour's siblings are suing different groups that they feel were responsible including Wal-Mart (Damour had no crowd control training). Sadly, the people who are really responsible will probably not even get caught.

To the family of Jdimytai Damour, we offer our condolences. The greed and "Me First" attitude that has taken over our culture is appalling.

I hope that this incident will serve as a wake-up to our society; however, I fear that stories like this will only become more and more common.