[PeppyGPhiB]

Santa came early for me. Today I bought myself a new HP laptop...online...on sale and with my EPP discount it was about $450 off.

Tomorrow I'm going to upgrade my phone, but just at the Sprint store.

I am watching the news today and am again disgusted that retailers PROMOTE the chaos that gets people seriously injured and/or killed. I haven't heard about people getting killed this year, yet - unlike last year - but I've already seen stories of people getting crushed in Buffalo, NY and a woman threatening to shoot other people in line at a Best Buy in Wisconsin. I will not support retailers that encourage that type of behavior through marketing practices such as opening earlier every year (driving a false sense of urgency) and even building an ad campaign that glorifies it (I'm looking at you, Target!). It's completely irresponsible.

ETA: Might I add that this also summarizes exactly what I think is at the core of our economic crisis. All we care about is getting a bunch of shit for cheap. Go ahead and buy that sketchy off-brand flat screen for $50, or that waffle iron for $5, but then don't complain when we have no manufacturing jobs here, or when our government is so indebted to China/India that we can't afford to pay you social security when you retire. IF you can ever afford to retire.