Ignore the Black Friday Hype

Thanksgiving is but a few days away. We celebrate by the giving of thanks for whatever bounty has come our way. It is a warm and wonderful holiday full of family and tryptophan and good cheer.

Black Friday, the day after turkey day, is the official kickoff of the season I like to call "Shopmas." The news media will have blanket coverage of all things retail. The intense focus will be a potent combination of public-relations hype and wishful thinking that, if history holds, will be entirely wrong.