And so, the holidays are once again upon us.

ARRRGHHH!!!

Today is Black Friday.

I’m hunkered down here at home, watching a light misty rain fall. My doors are locked and the alarm is ON!

My email is being inundated with offers of Black Friday sales and specials.

Violence has already been done at Walmarts and Targets. That started last night before the Turkey was even cold.

We are a psychotic people.

A large number of my fellow citizens would denigrate corporate America for greed & corruption. Likewise these people would gladly carry signs in protest of pollution and misuse of resources. They would drive manufacturing right out of the state if they found it too stinky or whatever.

And Yet… 

These same people will crawl over each other clawing, kicking, and screaming to get at the latest bit of consumer crap made in China. 

These folks will engage in near riotous behavior for a lousy 15% off an overpriced toy that will last 3 weeks, then make it’s way to the back of their child’s closet never to be seen again.

But the parents are just as bad.

The latest model cell phone, the newest computer, the latest game console, all of which will be replaced next year, and the year after that.

Don’t get me wrong. I can’t claim the high ground here either. I replaced my cell phone this September with the latest and greatest from Apple. My old phone was 3 years old and had completely failed. I could have purchased something a little less ostentatious. 

In Feb of this year I replaced my Generation 1 iPad with and iPad Mini. The gen 1 uint had finally failed. In Jul of last year I replaced my 5 year old Macbook with a new Air. The common thread here is that I try to replace stuff ONLY when it finally fails. Not because it’s the newest shiny bit of electronic fluff.

I like knowing a piece of equipment. I like easy familiarity and I don’t like necessarily having to learn something new. That’s why the iPod in my car is 5 years old. It works, it’s in fine shape and the connector works with the iPod interface in the car. Everybody is happy!

I’m amazed watching the news reports of people fighting in line outside stores.

One of the news reports showed an interview with a policeman. He related that the fighting had started because of some people cutting in line.

These are the same people that will cut in line on a Freeway exit, or take the emergency or exit lanes to get 5 car lengths ahead of everyone else and endanger all of us in the process. 

Are we surprised that these people will try to do the same thing in a line of people waiting to get into a store?

The policeman was sadly resigned to this being the state of the world, he did mention that two people had been arrested.

As has become my custom… I’m staying home and boycotting shopping altogether. Of course that’s easy to do when money is tight! But in recent years when I had lots of income I still couldn’t bring myself to engage in the consumer orgy.

Now days… 

I’m content to stay home, curled up and comfy watching my favorite movies.

In all not a bad way to spend a day. Sure as heck better than wandering in the rain and crowds. The only think I’d like from the outside is a Cafe Mocha

DANG!

No, I’ll stick with hot chocolate I don’t need to go to a Starbucks! 

I don’t, I don’t, I don’t…