Recession?

Shoppers spent $10.6 Billion(with a B) on black Friday. That is up 3% from last year. So are we in an "economic downturn" or not? Well, I never believed we were to begin with and based on the amount of cash Americans laid down on Friday I'd say many agree. I mean, I'm glad that shoppers have recovered enough financially over the last several months to be able to go out and spend the way they did. On the other hand, it saddens me that we've become so obsessed with the material aspect of Christmas that we will go to any length to "buy stuff" for family and friends. For me personally, some of the best gifts I've ever recieved were not things purchased at the local Wal-Mart but made from love.