In which I wish you a happy Thanksgiving

I hope that wherever you were and whoever you were with, thank this Thanksgiving found you well. Even if you hate the day, and wish we didn't celebrate it, I wish you well also. And if you're going out into the cold for Black Friday, good luck. Don't get trampled. They won't find you to New Year at this rate.

In which it's okay to shop the new Thanksgiving hours

First off, I can understand why many people are up in arms over Thanksgiving Black Friday shopping starting so early now. Personally, I think the whole Friday thing should have stayed on Friday. However, people grousing about it won't change anything. Neither will posting on Facebook or bitching to your friends. This is how retailers are going to do things now, and that's that. If you don't like it, don't go. Pretty simple, right? For a lot of people this is a social event. A nearly Olympic level challenge in  their mind. They go out as a group, tag team the deals, and come together at the end to regroup and share their hauls.
I hate when people get all up in arms about something that has little to no effect on their day to day life. There are plenty of people on Thanksgiving willing to work. Do you realize that retailers ask for volunteers? There are rarely not enough people willing to do it. Who doesn't want extra money this time of year? Many of the people who are working want it, or they may be unable or unwilling to make it to their families this year. Or they simply may not have anyone to be with. Most retailers give time and a half on Black Friday. Not bad, right?
So, what I'm trying to put out here is this is to each their own. Going, not going, either
one works. I do think that at least some of everyone's shopping should be done local and with small businesses. It benefits everyone.