DarkStar Spouts Off

Comments R Me: Venting On Michael Steele

Comments I wrote elsewhere when a Black Republican challenged me for being a Republican and writing "bad" about the Republican party, or rather, not "good enough" about the Republican party:

For anyone else who cares, besides folks trying to make all Black people think like them...

When Ellen Sauerbry lost her last race for governor of Maryland, the Maryland GOP asked her to head the party. She refused and said the party should choose Michael Steele. Sauerbry got her head handed to her in Baltimore City, Howard, and Montgomery Counties. Part of the reason why she was trounced in Baltimore is because of the Black vote, but most of the reason is she ran her race pitting the state against Baltimore City. When she ran 2nd time, she was trounced even worse than the first time. However, during the race, Paris Glendenning (Spend-dening) called her a racist. Kurt Schmoke and the PG County executive Wayne Curry, both Black Dems, said Sauerby is not racist and called on Glendenning to stop. She said the MD GOP needed Steele because the GOP doesn't get Black votes.

While Steele was head of the Maryland GOP, he approached WOLB, a Black talk radio station that is part of Radio One and sister station of WOL, the station that started it all for Kathy Hughes, about hosting a talk show. They gave him a weekly show where he addressed Black callers and pulled no shots. I listened to the show when I could and he made sense most of the time, but he was coming from the Old School that I grew up with, the Old School that I live, the Old School that I'm trying hard to pass on. And he admitted the GOP shortcomings.

Robert Ehrlich ran for govenor of Maryland and selected Steele as his running mate, and Ehrlich won. Unlike the current MIA Lt. Gov, Ehrlich gave Steele many high profile tasks and Steele made his presence known in the Black community, as did Ehrlich. In fact, Ehrlich laid out his plans for addressing concerns of Blacks and they both signed their names. Dude kept most promises, including increasing funding to the Maryland HBCUs which have been historically underfunded by the state.

Steele got big props from me for attempting to address education issues in Baltimore city

So, race forward to Steele running for Senator of Maryland. Steele said that Mfume was his friend and if it turned out he would face Mfume, the race would be about issues, no racial politics. Of course, later, Steele was quoted as saying if Mfume was his opponent, race would be on the table and he, Steele, would bring it up by pointing to Mfume leading the NAACP. Of course, this ignores that Steele knew that Mfume and Juilan Bond didn't see eye to eye, or that Mfume made overtures to the GOP and was publicly spurned, but addressed in private.

That ticked me off but one day on WOLB, Steele was whining about the treatment some were giving him and he said, "Black voters need to develop an insult level about the insults being thrown towards Black politicians."

That hit the target with me. I was someone who defended the man when I thought he was correct in what he said. But it always irked me when he used the "Blacks on the plantation" slur, so from that point on, I decided to challenge him on it.

When I received mailers asking for donations, I wrote back saying he needs to stop using "stuck on the Dem plantation" and why. I stopped receiving the mailers. I emailed his campaign stating the same thing.

After he got in trouble with the Jewish "leadership" in Maryland for comments he made, I called into a talk show that he was on and said that I thought his use of "Blacks are stuck on the Democrat plantation" is foul and brought up his earlier comments about insult level. I finished it off by saying that he wouldn't dare say that Jewish voters were stuck wandering in the Democrat wilderness or that Jewish voters were stuck in the Democrat concentration camp. He said he thought there was nothing wrong with what he had said.

After some thought, when the election rolled around, I voted for the Libertarian/Green candidate, Keven Zeese.

If you are a Republican and don't like my "talking bad" about the Republican party, that's your problem. Learn to think for yourself.

Congrats Michael Steele

Michael Steele is the new RNC chair!

Mr. Steele, given your comments about dialog with groups like the NAACP and your desire to bring more "minorities" into the party, will you continue to say Blacks are on the Democrat plantation?

I Get Edgy Around This Time, II

When O'Malley obtained the governor's office, he increased spending on a few pet projects, drained the rainy day fund to pay for it, and proclaimed no need to raise taxes.

Then, he called for a special session to address gambling PLUS raise taxes and they did that as well as increase spending. This was even though EVERYONE was saying the housing market was tanking and that economic storms were forming.

This year what does that putz do? He gives raises to his staff, spends more money to pay over inflated prices for land, plans to cut government workers, cuts education requirements (Thorton) and then says his budget includes the ONE YEAR "stimulus" package aide to states. (Hey! If you think you are going to win the election, you too can create your household budget based on that hope!)

BTW, when the previous governor didn't provide funding FOR THE OPTIONAL part of Thorton funding, the Black Democrats in the state assembly went nuts. Now? Just like good little subservient weenies, they say nothing.

I Get Edgy Around This Time

Around this time of year, I get very edgy. And it gets worse the closer it gets to April 15. There are two reasons why I get very edgy. The first is brought to you by California:

Starting in February, state Controller John Chiang plans to suspend some $3.7 billion in scheduled payments for at least 30 days. Among those not getting paid: taxpayers who file early awaiting their refunds, programs that help the poor and disabled and college students who rely on grants for tuition, housing and textbooks.

If the impasse stretches into March, Chiang would have to delay another, presumably larger batch of payments. Sometime after that — Chiang and others aren't ready to predict when — the state may have to issue IOUs to vendors, taxpayers and other recipients of state funds. And should the standoff last until May or June, even payments to schools and holders of state debt, which receive a higher priority because they're mandated by law, could be put at risk.

That is the reason why I try to calculate with holdings and such so that I get nothing back or owe very little. That is a reason to riot if you ask me.

The second is brought to you by the state of Maryland.

Symbolism of President Obama

On this blog I've written quick posts about having problems with the symbolism of President Obama as far as it regards to a "positive image" for young Black people. While I understand the point, and at times agree that the symbolism matters, I still have heart burn over it because tere are many other "public" and "semi-public" Black men and women who are good examples, from what we can see, for Black children to emulate. Of course, what's best is if they know people, personally, and have active parents/guardians/mentors in their lives. And, of course, I've stated that a few times and it's soft of one reason why I did Black Self Help Information here is

With that being stated, over the weekend my friend who is a fireman told me, in Baltimore, some drug pushers are pushing a new product named, ....
"Barack Obama"

Black Star Project Joins Open Society Institute’s Campaign for Black Male Achievement

Black Star Project Joins Open Society Institute’s Campaign for Black Male Achievement

The Black Star Project will receive $50,000 from the Open Society Institute to support the Million Father March and a school-based program that engages Black men as mentors and tutors in the Chicago Public School System. The grant was awarded through OSI’s Campaign for Black Male Achievement, a three-year grantmaking initiative to address, and help reverse, the ways in which African-American boys and men are stigmatized, criminalized, and excluded from the U.S. economic and political mainstream.

Even as Americans elected their first Black president, the end of 2008 saw an onslaught of dire reports on the educational, social and economic outcomes for Black males in America. Sky-high dropout rates for high-school students, an out-of-control murder rate for 14- to 17-year olds and a 72 percent unemployment rate for high-school dropouts paint a bleak forecast for young Black men.

The Black Star Project has joined with the Open Society Institute’s Campaign for Black Male Achievement to address these issues. With the support of the Campaign, Black Star will expand its successful Million Father March and also launch an initiative that uses school-based strategies to recruit Black male tutors and mentors. Research by the National Fatherhood Initiative shows that children, male and female, perform better in school, at home and in life when their father takes an active and positive role in their lives. Additionally, Black male tutors and mentors provide measurable guidance for Black boys and young Black males in America.

More at the link provided.

Housing Black Hole

I don't know why I titled this post the way I did, but it is the first thing that came to mind after reading this:

There is probably even more excess housing inventory gumming up the market than current statistics indicate, thanks to a wave of foreclosures that has yet to hit the market.

The problem: Many foreclosed homes and other distressed properties that are now owned by banks have yet to be listed for sale. The volume of this so-called 'ghost inventory' could be substantial enough to depress already steeply falling prices when it does go on the market.

"That's not good news," said Pat Newport, an analyst with IHS Global Insight. "[Excess] inventory is the biggest problem in housing these days, and it leads to lower housing prices, which leads to more foreclosures."

RealtyTrac, the online marketer of foreclosed properties, recently discovered that it has far more foreclosed properties listed in its database, which the company compiles using courthouse records, than there are listed in the multiple listing services (MLS) maintained by real estate agents.

RealtyTrac looked at listings in four states, California, Maryland, Florida and Wisconsin, and found that they contained only a third of the foreclosures it has in its database.

There is a house in my area that falls into this category. I know the house has been foreclosed on, but the house is not yet for sale, although there is a Realtor's lock on the door from when it was on sale.

Gitmo Query

Gitmo houses terrorists who are targeting Americans in their Jihad.

A number of people formerly held at Gitmo, have been recaptured on the battle field and/or killed on the battle field.

My question is, why were they released in the first place?

Acting White, Yet One More Agin

OK, here's another piece that misstates the so-called "acting white" issue.

First, lets tackle a big lie:

Just like her husband, the first lady avoided the 50-percent black high-school dropout rate,

The drop out rate isn't 50% for Blacks, country-wide. It's 50% for some urban areas.

Now, to this:

Obama’s daily presence in the White House finally may repel this foul tide. He also may unravel the “Acting White Syndrome,” wherein young black students who do homework and speak proper English are mocked for “acting white.” Light years more than white racism, this is the biggest cancer facing black Americans.

Obama himself told the 2004 Democratic National Convention that America must “eradicate the slander that says a black youth with a book is acting white.”

The "acting white" charge, according to a Cook and Ludwig, is overblown. According to Roland Fryer, the "acting white" charge doesn't exist in private schools and --- NOW GET THIS --- in majority Black schools. Check out the "Acting White" category for the details about both of the things I mentioned.

I often state that people don't go deeper into the reasons why an "acting white" charge is thrown. For example, is it universal or only from certain students and how are the students who are saying it performing in school? My thought on this is when it is used, chances are it's thrown by students who aren't doing well in school and they are mocking the students performing well out of jealousy.

Or, it's being thrown because of mannerisms and/or likes of the person being called?

“Why you actin’ white?” I heard more times than I care to recall, usually uttered by pint-sized hoodlums who spoke exquisite jive and seemed destined for middle-management in the Crips or Bloods.

I think the above quote hints at mannerisms more so than academic efforts.

Personal Responsibility

One more agin...

If conservatives believe in the mantra of "personal responsibility"...

Will Obama’s erudition and elegance finally eclipse the corrosive, often deadly scourge of hip-hop culture and the ghetto mentality that gnaw away like termites beneath black America’s floorboards?

Why are they pushing President Obama as the "savior" of Black people because he is presenting an image that many other Black people present?

H/T: Booker Rising

Thoughts On Gitmo

The core of the problem, as I see it, is that congress is full of pansies who don't want to define the dead zone area that exists.

If war is declared, the people caught on the battlefield are POWs.

If they are individuals inside of our borders, they get the rights our Constitution demands and are criminals.

Terrorists aren't fighting us because they are aligned with a country. They are fighting us because they are aligned with an ideal. In our borders, the Constitution gives them rights.

Outside our borders?

What defines a "battlefield"?

What is "terrorism"?

What defines a "war"? After all, Vietnam was not a war under our Constitution because Congress never declared it, but was a "military action." And the people captured were covered by the Geneva Convention.

This is a gray area that, if defined, the "LEGAL" problem would "go away."

I'm Not Saying It's Right, But...

I understand the symbolism involved with Barack Obama now being President of the United States Barack Obama. But, as I wrote in November, 2008:

I have a problem with pundits saying President-elect Obama provides a new/game changing/different positive image of Black possibilities of a man in America.

Granted, Obama becoming President IS a game changing event, but commentary saying his election means "no more excuses," to me, ignores and insults all of the Black men in the United States who can be said to be "positive images" especially for Black youth.

...

This isn't meant negate the accomplishment of Obama. By definition, being President of the United States, is an exceptional accomplishment. But can't other brothers of accomplishment get their shine as well? And for the public writers/commentators/talking heads who haven't been providing that light on the other brothers, why not?

So, I guess "I'm not saying it's right, but I understand."

When I was looking at the inauguration day coverage, after awhile I thought the coverage was over the top. I understand, appreciate, and agree that it was a day in our political history like no other since the election and first inauguration of a President of the United States. From that standpoint, the all day coverage up to, and including, the inaugural balls, was coverage, I guess, fit the day. Still, I think it went too far. They didn't need to cover the balls. But, again, "I'm not saying it's right, but I understand."

What isn't right and what I don't understand, is the extended commentary of the day by people who are "hard news" people. I think it is appropriate for people to be put on television to put forth their opinion, whether it's a political professional like Donna Brazille, or whether it's just for a "right" or "left" point of view. I don't think it is appropriate for "hard news" people like Tom Brokaw to voice their opinion. I understand everyone has an opinion, but I like it when news people are "fair" and provide nothing but facts. Brokaw telling people he deems as rednecks to "take this," for a news person, is inappropriate.

But to his comment, "I UNDERSTAND!"

I understand the symbolism involved with Barack Obama now being President of the United States Barack Obama. But, as I wrote in November, 2008:

I have a problem with pundits saying President-elect Obama provides a new/game changing/different positive image of Black possibilities of a man in America.

Granted, Obama becoming President IS a game changing event, but commentary saying his election means "no more excuses," to me, ignores and insults all of the Black men in the United States who can be said to be "positive images" especially for Black youth.

...

This isn't meant negate the accomplishment of Obama. By definition, being President of the United States, is an exceptional accomplishment. But can't other brothers of accomplishment get their shine as well? And for the public writers/commentators/talking heads who haven't been providing that light on the other brothers, why not?

So, I guess "I'm not saying it's right, but I understand."

When I was looking at the inauguration day coverage, after awhile I thought the coverage was over the top. I understand, appreciate, and agree that it was a day in our political history like no other since the election and first inauguration of a President of the United States. From that standpoint, the all day coverage up to, and including, the inaugural balls, was coverage, I guess, fit the day. Still, I think it went too far. They didn't need to cover the balls. But, again, "I'm not saying it's right, but I understand."

What isn't right and what I don't understand, is the extended commentary of the day by people who are "hard news" people. I think it is appropriate for people to be put on television to put forth their opinion, whether it's a political professional like Donna Brazille, or whether it's just for a "right" or "left" point of view. I don't think it is appropriate for "hard news" people like Tom Brokaw to voice their opinion. I understand everyone has an opinion, but I like it when news people are "fair" and provide nothing but facts. Brokaw telling people he deems as rednecks to "take this," for a news person, is inappropriate.

But to his comment, "I UNDERSTAND!"

Brand New World

Welcome to your world, Mr. President.

An al Qaeda affiliate in Algeria closed a base earlier this month after an experiment with unconventional weapons went awry, a senior U.S. intelligence official said Monday.

The official, who spoke on the condition he not be named because of the sensitive nature of the issue, said he could not confirm press reports that the accident killed at least 40 al Qaeda operatives, but he said the mishap led the militant group to shut down a base in the mountains of Tizi Ouzou province in eastern Algeria.

He said authorities in the first week of January intercepted an urgent communication between the leadership of al Qaeda in the Land of the Maghreb (AQIM) and al Qaeda's leadership in the tribal region of Pakistan on the border with Afghanistan. The communication suggested that an area sealed to prevent leakage of a biological or chemical substance had been breached, according to the official.

"We don't know if this is biological or chemical," the official said.

The story was first reported by the British tabloid the Sun, which said the al Qaeda operatives died after being infected with a strain of bubonic plague, the disease that killed a third of Europe's population in the 14th century. But the intelligence official dismissed that claim.

And the beat goes on...

Fiat, Meet Chrysler

I don't know what to think about this one.

DETROIT — Chrysler has flirted with bankruptcy at several points in its 84-year history, only to come back from the brink with new management, a new owner, a hot new product or a financial lifeline from the government.

It won yet another lease on life on Tuesday, with its deal to join forces with Fiat.

The Italian car company will get a 35 percent ownership stake in Chrysler and an opportunity to bring its Fiat and Alfa Romeo brands back to the United States through Chrysler’s dealership network.

In exchange, Fiat will bring Chrysler what it needs to be a viable player in the evolving United States market, with its fuel-efficient engine technology and the engineering that goes into its small cars.

One reason Chrysler has struggled over the last year is its mix of vehicles, which tends heavily to sport utility vehicles, pickup trucks and minivans.

The question I have is, does America really want fuel efficient cars or cars that strike a "decent" balance between power and gas consumption? Think of it this way. Who REALLY wants a small car?

How Do You Buy A Company In Distress Without Looking At The Books?

OK, now, this, unfortunately, doesn't surprise me:

Then there is Bank of America’s acquisition of Merrill Lynch, a deal skating dangerously close to the definition of failure after last week’s announcement that BofA would take $24 billion more in government support from the U.S. Treasury and Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., in addition to a $118 billion backstop for bad debts. The core problem remains unexplained and inexplicable: How did Merrill’s troubled assets plummet in value so quickly that the firm posted a $15 billion loss in just three months? And why did neither BofA nor Merrill provide any word?

I'm not surprised. A company in trouble is brought out, there are generally more surprises to be found. However, THIS ONE shocks me beyond belief.

BofA advisers Christopher Flowers and investment bank Fox-Pitt Kelton say they didn’t see either company’s books after the deal was announced on Sept. 15.

Shareholders and analysts are livid. BofA is tenuously capitalized, in the opinion of Friedman Billings Ramsey analysts, going into 2009 with just $61.7 billion of pro forma tangible common equity supporting $2.4 trillion of tangible assets.

And the whole brouhaha is wrapped in an ironic ribbon: the U.S. federal government, which has for upward of 70 years urged ever more transparency for publicly traded companies, didn’t feel the urge to tell of a mid-December financing agreement that affected the future and value of two of the U.S’s biggest financial institutions. And remember, the federal government owns 35% of Bank of America’s pro forma tangible equity.

You mean the books weren't viewed? Not even BOGUS versions, but NONE?!?!?!?!

OH, we are SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO screwed.

Today

I had aunts who were maids.

I had a grandmother who "took in" wash.

I have cousins who were the 2nd Black family who moved into a white block. They had to go in groups to the store. "We fought going to the store and fought going home from the store."

I have problems with policies that President Obama has laid out and I  have problems with some of his selections for cabinet, but that comes on another day.

Today I just watch and am thankful that my mother, uncle, and cousins who went through the harshness of segregation, get to see this day.

All Hail The Crown!

In America...

... anything is possible.

President Barack Obama.

Black Parents Group Aims To Fight School Stereotype

Black Parents Group Aims To Fight School Stereotype

Nathan Stephens had heard just enough of generalizations about black parents - talk that they don’t care about their kids and claims that they don’t attend school functions.

It was time to form the Black Parents Association of Columbia Public Schools to empower and inform black parents, Stephens said. An organization that has been talked about for decades is finally having its first meeting at 7 p.m. tomorrow at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church.

"What really brought it to a head on a personal level was when I felt like black parents had been attacked in the local media," said Stephens, who has children at Parkade Elementary School and Hickman High School. "That’s the term I use - ‘attacked.’ "

Stephens said he was referring to recent news stories and online forums in which school officials and others talked about black parents not being sufficiently involved in the lives of their children. He said black parents are active, but their participation just might be not visible.

Other parents ask Stephens questions in church or at the store, he said, and he knows black parents care about their children’s education. "How dare someone say black parents aren’t involved," he said.

Among its goals, the new group will work with black parents, answering any questions or just support them in general. The association also wants to increase the visible participation of black parents, which could include having some parents fill in for others who might be working during back-to-school functions or parent-teacher conferences, Stephens said.

More at the link.

Ravens vs Steelers

Half time.

Ravens 7
Steelers 13.

Too close and the Ravens are behind with a rookie QB.

Not. Looking. Good.

[ UPDATE ]

Near the end of the 3rd quarter. Now 16 to 7. In the 4th quarter, the Ravens D tends to break down.

LETS!

GO!

RAVENS!!!!!!!

[ UPDATE 2 ]

Raves 14.

Steelers 16.

Can we get a 6 minute TD drive?

OHHHH..... I'm in knots...

[ FINAL UPDATE ]

Rookie QB, ....

Interception.

GTHOH!!!!!!!!!!!!

Say WHAT!!!!!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

Madoff's Fund May Not Have Made A Single Trade

BOSTON (Reuters) - Bernie Madoff's investment fund may never have executed a single trade, industry officials say, suggesting detailed statements mailed to investors each month may have been an elaborate mirage in a $50 billion fraud.

An industry-run regulator for brokerage firms said on Thursday there was no record of Madoff's investment fund placing trades through his brokerage operation.

That means Madoff either placed trades through other brokerage firms, a move industry officials consider unlikely, or he was not executing trades at all.

"Our exams showed no evidence of trading on behalf of the investment advisor, no evidence of any customer statements being generated by the broker-dealer," said Herb Perone, spokesman for the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.

Naawwwww.....

How in the ....

Say WHAT!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

Conservative Individual Disconnect

There is a very big disconnect between the claimed belief in individualism by conservatives and the actual application of individualism. The most glaring examples of this disconnect is race based. This article is a prime example. The title of the article should be enough to make the point, but it's not so I'll point to a few things in the article.

Why do black students lag behind their peers? There are plenty of theories and debates on the topic. Some say it’s the culture. Others say it’s in the genes. Still others blame poverty.

The moment you identify people by some common characteristic, you have just grouped them and negate the idea of individualism for the people in that group. But, specifically to what is quoted, identifying people by a culture, is the grouping of the people. Identifying people by genes is still grouping people only this time by genetics. Identifying people by income level is still grouping people only this time by money.

What's even more ironic in this piece, is the following quote:

The American Civil Rights Institute’s Ward Connerly believes it’s the culture, and he disagrees with the race-based committee’s “segregated approach to educating black kids.” He added: “On the one hand it’s goofy to be doing this at this point in American history,” he said. “On the other hand, we do have a problem.”

This is the man who wanted to ban racial classification to the point that medial research in California would be impacted! For example, if you can't identify by race, then what research could be done in California on the impact of high blood pressure of Blacks vs the rest of the population?

But what gets me the ending lines:

As I see it, there must be a fundamental shift in the minds of individuals. We don’t need to convince groups of the value of learning and achieving; parents need to be convinced that both are important.

And how do you identify the parents who may be most likely fit the profile? In some manner, they have to be grouped and then targeted. Or, do you wait, which at the point of identification may be too late?

Pre-natal care affects development of babies in the womb which affects long term mental and physical ability. Reading to children every day even when the children are infants, affects cognative ability of the children being read. A brightly colored environment has a more positive effect on children than a dull colored environment. If parents most likely to benefit from this information can be identified by race, income, geographic region, then it's all grouping and you can't, logically, deny the affectiveness of targeting of groups.

All you have to do is chose a category at her site and read for awhile and you will see the "individual" vs. "group" contradiction all over the place. I'm using her as an example because it's easy. But it's all the same and it's all garbage. She is a purveyor of what she decries.

Will This Be Spoken Of By Some People?

This is deep.

Schlozman surrounded himself with like-minded officials at the Department of Justice. When he was due to meet in 2004 with John Tanner, then chief of the voting section, he asked how Tanner liked his coffee.

"Mary Frances Berry style -- black and bitter," Tanner replied by e-mail, referring to the African American woman who chaired the U.S. Civil Rights Commission from 1993 to 2004. Schlozman circulated the e-mail. "Y'all will appreciate Tanner's response," he wrote.

The inspector general concluded Schlozman violated the civil services laws while at the Justice Department. While the president's appointees are entitled to run the department and set policy, they are prohibited from considering "political affiliations" in deciding on who serves in career positions in the federal government.

"We found that Schlozman inappropriately considered political and ideological affiliations in hiring career attorneys," said the report issued jointly by Inspector General Glenn A. Fine and H. Marshall Jarrett, who heads the Office of Professional Responsibility. The report cited the abusive language as evidence of the harsh political tone.

And what happens?
Not a damn thing.

"24"

From the first show, I was able to correctly guess the plot line, so far, through the next 3 shows. During the second episode shown Monday night, I started turning to Mrs. D.S. and saying, "I told you this was
going to happen!"

I mentally shut down when I watch most television shows and movies because I realize it's just an enjoyment and distraction for a few minutes.* So, when I can give you the plot line, the show is in deep
trouble because, frankly, I just don't think hard about what I'm watching, I just watch.

* Examples of exceptions are "The Deadliest Catch," "How It's Made," "The Dirtiest Jobs", nature shows, and any of the home make over shows on TLC or HGTV. 

Quickie On Jan. Retail Figures

Saturday Mrs. D.S. gathered us males and out we went to the mall. My mother had previously told me that she went out for something and the malls looked like people were Christmas shopping and that stores were advertising sales "up to 70% off." (I'm coming back to that one in another post.) When we went out, my mother's observation was confirmed; the mall was jam packed and I was mentally unprepared for the Christmas shopping madness.

Watch the January retail sales numbers when they come out. I bet they are going to be BIG.