here in Massachusetts waited for one of the malls to open at midnight after Thanksgiving. It was hyped on the local news as a fantastic day for merchants, but as you said, the stores drew people with deep discounts.

Polls show that the mood in America is grim and that many Americans are afraid of where the economy is headed. Not exactly the right mood for extravagant Christmas shopping.

Good diary. I hope it gets the attention it deserves.