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Old 16-08-2005   #1
Rive Gauche. Rive Droite.

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Icon2 Virginia Laptop Sale Turns Into a Stampede

It's not fashion related news, but it's pretty interesting...it got my attention!

from Yahoo! News

By KRISTEN GELINEAU, Associated Press Writer 28 minutes ago

RICHMOND, Va. - A rush to purchase $50 used laptops turned into a violent stampede Tuesday, with people getting thrown to the pavement, beaten with a folding chair and nearly driven over. One woman went so far as to wet herself rather than surrender her place in line.

"This is total, total chaos," said Latoya Jones, 19, who lost one of her flip-flops in the ordeal and later limped around on the sizzling blacktop with one foot bare.

An estimated 5,500 people turned out at the Richmond International Raceway in hopes of getting their hands on one of the 4-year-old Apple iBooks. The Henrico County school system was selling 1,000 of the computers to county residents. New iBooks cost between $999 and $1,299.

Officials opened the gates at 7 a.m., but some already had been waiting since 1:30 a.m. When the gates opened, it became a terrifying mob scene.

People threw themselves forward, screaming and pushing each other. A little girl's stroller was crushed in the stampede. Witnesses said an elderly man was thrown to the pavement, and someone in a car tried to drive his way through the crowd.

Seventeen people suffered minor injuries, with four requiring hospital treatment, Henrico County Battalion Chief Steve Wood said. There were no arrests and the iBooks sold out by 1 p.m.

"It's rather strange that we would have such a tremendous response for the purchase of a laptop computer — and laptop computers that probably have less-than- desirable attributes," said Paul Proto, director of general services for Henrico County. "But I think that people tend to get caught up in the excitement of the event — it almost has an entertainment value."

Blandine Alexander, 33, said one woman standing in front of her was so desperate to retain her place in line that she urinated on herself.

"I've never been in something like that before, and I never again will," said Alexander, who brought her 14-year-old twin boys to the complex at 4:30 a.m. to wait in line. "No matter what the kids want, I already told them I'm not doing that again."

Jesse Sandler said he was one of the people pushing forward, using a folding chair he had brought with him to beat back people who tried to cut in front of him.

"I took my chair here and I threw it over my shoulder and I went, 'Bam,'" the 20-year-old said nonchalantly, his eyes glued to the screen of his new iBook, as he tapped away on the keyboard at a testing station.

"They were getting in front of me and I was there a lot earlier than them, so I thought that it was just," he said.
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Last edited by LostInNJ : 16-08-2005 at 08:36 PM.
 

Old 16-08-2005   #2
trendsetter

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That kind of you makes you think about how materistic (spelling?) Americans really are.
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Old 16-08-2005   #3
yes

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gotta love the americas!

i love hearing these kind of stories, makes my day
 

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Old 16-08-2005   #4
yes

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Quote:
Originally Posted by LostInNJ

"I took my chair here and I threw it over my shoulder and I went, 'Bam,'" the 20-year-old said nonchalantly, his eyes glued to the screen of his new iBook, as he tapped away on the keyboard at a testing station.
that is genius!
 
Old 16-08-2005   #5
Le style est éternel ...

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Quote:
Originally Posted by LostInNJ
Jesse Sandler said he was one of the people pushing forward, using a folding chair he had brought with him to beat back people who tried to cut in front of him.

"I took my chair here and I threw it over my shoulder and I went, 'Bam,'" the 20-year-old said nonchalantly, his eyes glued to the screen of his new iBook, as he tapped away on the keyboard at a testing station.

"They were getting in front of me and I was there a lot earlier than them, so I thought that it was just," he said.
Is this a joke or what?!
 
Old 16-08-2005   #6
who watches the..??

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^ Oh my!!!
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Old 16-08-2005   #7
____chaste____

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Not to sound totally defensive, but America is hardly the only country that's had mob scenes over ridiculous situations....nor is America the only materialistic society.

Reminds me of the Tickle Me Elmo/Cabbage Patch Kids crazes.

As for the folding chair dude, that's just insane.
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Old 16-08-2005   #8
Emptrix nata svm!

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You should be at any SALE in Japan .. that's amateur!


http://ceicher.homeunix.com/archives..._japan_on.html


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Last edited by ultramarine : 16-08-2005 at 09:28 PM.
 
Old 16-08-2005   #9
tfs star

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Yeah I saw that on the news.

It was like that scene in Titanic where the guy is saying, "Women and children first!"

Some little girl was balling and the police officer let her and some other kids go in.

Really makes you appreciate what you have in life.
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Old 16-08-2005   #10
Fierce Flava

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Some people


I can't believed a lady urinated herself to hold her place in line....

and I thought the Harry Potter Barnes and Noble midnight party was bad
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Old 16-08-2005   #11
User Friendly

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is it wrong that I laughed out loud three times while reading this?
 
Old 16-08-2005   #12
fashion elite

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Quote:
Originally Posted by LostInNJ
"But I think that people tend to get caught up in the excitement of the event — it almost has an entertainment value."
WHAT!?
The excitement!? That whole thing is retarded.
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Old 16-08-2005   #13
over the rainbow...

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Way to go, Virginia!! Sheesh! I was NOT in Richmond today btw
 
Old 16-08-2005   #14
sexy can i

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Some pics from the scene...this is psyco.....






Source: http://home.hamptonroads.com/stories...0740&ran=43468
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Last edited by jssy4eva : 16-08-2005 at 11:20 PM.
 
Old 17-08-2005   #15
my loves a pony.

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$20 laptops!? Where was I!?!
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