Experience has always shown, and reason also, that affairs which depend on many seldom succeed. -- Francesco Guicciardini (1483-1540)

Late on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, and I actually braved a mall, and did my part to help the American economy. Here in Mpls, it was not so crowded, although there was nary a bored cash register operator in sight. Saw video of a pre-dawn line of some 200 people at a Best Buy in Denver, but I'm unaware of anything like that here. But I did run into my cousin, Sue S., with her mother (Lucille H.) and our aunt the nun (Sr. Marci B.). They had been shopping since 6:30 a.m.! I guess that's what you do early mornings in the suburbs.