Christmas has gotten entirely out of hand, as the consumer feeding frenzy begins on the hells of the Thanksgiving feast. These people are insane -- the news did a puff piece on four sisters who divide and conquer on the day after T-Day, gloating over their efforts -- one sister to two Best Buys and a Walmart, one to Circuit City and CostCo, etc.

But I wonder, wouldn't the time, effort and money be better spent actually doing something for or with your friends and family? The stuff isn't important. It wears out, it breaks, it suddenly isn't the latest, greatest model. The people in our lives are going to be around for a lot longer.

I've seen people reduced to tears over a thwarted Christmas purchase and I just want to smack them and say "get a life." The film Jingle All the Way wasn't all that far off in portraying the insanity.

Americans are pigs at the trough who don't realize that it isn't the stuff that you buy that makes your life complete. It's the stuff you create.

PS... in response Wal-Mart offered to put the DVD player she was out for on hold for the woman. Excuse me... on hold? Hell, not only should they give her the best DVD player they sell for free, they should open the store for her alone for a private sale, everything she can haul to the front in a cart in half an hour, no charge.

Hm. On second thought... she should just be banned from Wal-Mart for life.