I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving…spending time with loved ones, eating their fill of good food, and being thankful for life’s blessings, big and small. 

And now, Happy Black Friday, all!  If you’re not familiar with it, Black Friday is not nearly as grim as it sounds…in the U.S., this refers to the Friday after Thanksgiving.  It’s the busiest shopping day of the year, and most retailers have extended hours and sales galore.  There is much speculation as to where its name comes from…a few explanations include it puts retailers in the black, profit-wise…or bargain shoppers act so unruly that their behavior besmudges them…or a well-loved retail worker named Black (who incidentally always wore a black suit) died one year on the Friday after Thanksgiving.  (For more speculation on the origin of the name “Black Friday”, see Wikipedia, The City Desk, or About.com.) (more…)