RETAIL SUPPORT BRIGADE SITREP: Went to the mall today. It seemed quite crowded, quite early, for this stage of the shopping season, and judging by the packages and the lines people were buying things. I don’t think we’re headed for a recession.

Also went to Target, notwithstanding Hugh Hewitt’s objections. (What was I going to do — order my cat litter over the Internet? That’s so 1999.) They seemed busy, too, though they’ve licked the cashier-shortage problem. Yeah, they ought to let the Salvation Army ring the bells out front, but I just can’t get myself into a world-beating snit over it. I think I’ll have to side with Lileks and the Turkeyblog on this one. Nonetheless, I welcome Hugh’s protests as proof that, contrary to rumor, the Dayton Hudson conspiracy doesn’t really control the blogosphere.

Besides, if you really want to hurt Target, don’t call for a boycott. Just open up a Samuel’s across the street. Mmmm, Hebrew National and free wi-fi . . . .