I don't like the sound of that

Do you?

It sickens me to think that department stores keep pushing up their hours of operation for the day.

For example, I can remember when the stores didn't open until 5 a.m., Friday.

The day after Thanksgiving.

Apparently, this is no longer acceptable.

Some stores were open all day on Thanksgiving. Others began opening up at 8 p.m.

Is it really necessary?

This was the scene in Sacramento, Calif., on Thursday (which, I may remind you, has no Friday in it).

A man spewed obscenities at others in a Kmart line, threatening to stab someone if they pushed his children.

In Indianapolis, at another Kmart, there was a "scuffle" between people after it was learned some were selling vouchers they had received from the store.

Thankfully, there were no injuries.

According to statistics, it is estimated sales for the biggest shopping day of the year (keep in mind, it is called Black Friday, not Black Thursday and Friday) will be more than $11 billion.

I've got two words for this: Who cares?

I have never shopped on Black Friday, nor do I intend to in the near or distant future for that matter.

Getting that magical deal isn't worth as much as spending time with family I don't get to see as often as I would like.

Again, the day has traditionally been called "Black Friday," not "Black Thursday."

In the future, perhaps these department stores can keep that in mind.