On second thought...

So many stores offered sales on Thanksgiving this year that people have begun referring to the holiday as Black Thursday. I say, call the merchants' bluff. Move Thanksgiving to Wednesday.

Yes, I know this might set off a war between commercialism and a sacred holiday. Where would it end? Well, you could always barbecue turkey on the Fourth of July, but a summer Christmas sale might lose some of its appeal.

What does it say about a nation that can't pause to give thanks because it has to rush out and elbow its way through stores in honor of another sacred religious holiday?

Oh no! The supercommittee failed! That means we're in for drastic cuts ... er ... from growth, that is, not actual budgets ... and not until 2013. Oh, the agony!

The supercommittee never really had much on the line. Here's an idea: Change it so the 12 committee members are automatically be booted from office if they can't reach a compromise within a week. If they fail, replace them with 12 more, and so on. Either we'll get rid of the deficit, or we'll get a new Congress.

If nothing else, the supercommittee proved that Washington's leadership deficit is larger than its fiscal deficit.

Novell Inc. is suing Bill Gates, saying he violated antitrust laws when he released Windows 95. Public reaction has been unanimous: "Windows 95? Oh yeah, our grandparents told us about that one."

Police last week were led on a chase of up to 110 mph by four people in a stolen car possessing stolen beer. The 23-year-old driver has a record that includes pleading guilty to reckless burning and attempting to damage a jail cell in 2009, as well as felony attempted escape and possession of a dangerous weapon and drugs in 2010. It's good to know he'll be off the streets again for a few hours.

Police in Alabama arrested a German executive with Mercedes-Benz because he didn't have the proper papers under the state's new anti-illegal immigrant law. Finally, someone is cracking down on all those wealthy job-creating executives sneaking into this country from Europe.

Jay Evensen is associate editor of the Deseret News editorial page. Follow him on Twitter @jayevensen