Today is Giving Tuesday

So it goes Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday (I guess we all get Sundays off) and then? Giving Tuesday, a modern-day phenomenon started by New York City’s 92nd Street Y. Odd that it comes after we’ve all shopped our asses off, but there you are: Now we can be generous. Please consider …

Did you go shop in the wee hours?

I have family members who did. I even have some family members who pushed back from the table, skipped desserts, donned their ugly holiday sweaters, and shopped on Thanksgiving. But I can imagine nothing I’d like less than battling the crowds only to find that 75-percent-off-whatever was sold already, and I will continue to applaud …

REI is closing on Black Friday

The outdoor co-op will remain closed on Black Friday. Know of any others? And thanks, Cynical, for the link.

Black Friday madness!

And thanks, Tucker and Jeff. You actually didn’t give this to me, but I stole it from you on Facebook, which is far more fun. Now off to find the Fancy Boy Lip Glitter and the Hair Dye for Newborns.

A final meditation on Black Friday

It’s getting ugly out there

A woman used pepper spray on another Black Friday shoppers at a crowded Los Angeles Walmart on Thursday. And thanks, Cynical, for the link. Meanwhile, Sharon sends this, a funny-as-all-get-out series of Amazon reviews of pepper spray. Get yours today! (See: “Accept no substitute when casually repressing students.”) By all means, enjoy this meditation on …

Happy Black Friday

And thanks, Cynical, for the photo.

Do we really need to shop on Thanksgiving?

Creeping corporatism has oozed out of Black Friday and backed up into Thanksgiving Day. You can simply avoid the stores to let retail establishments know you’d rather not keep store employees from enjoying the holiday with their families, or you can  join change.org in asking Target to close for Thanksgiving day, rather than open stores for early-bird …