Note to retailers:

I know you people are desperate. But advertising for Christmas 6 weeks in advance will result in the same kind of sickening response the avalanche of political commercials caused.

So, I'm making a list and checking it twice:

If you advertise for Christmas items before Thanksgiving, I ain't buyin' a damned thing from you. And I'm thinking that I won't be alone in that decision.

Retail sales are going to suck. There's really nothing you can do about it, so save your money (and our sanity) and hold off until after Thanksgiving.