Susan Hill of The Guardian writes about the golden age of department stores, noting that visiting one now carries "a sense of an age gone by and offer a third way between the misery of trudging the cold, wet high street and purgatorial shopping malls." And I, like Hill, share a similar nostalgia for the grand stores of old, for as much as I loathe shopping, there is something sort of magical about an old school department store experience.

Perhaps it is a part of my childhood: my mother worked nights at a department store when I was a kid and my parents didn't have a great deal of money. It was her way of making an income and still being able to be there for us before and after school. My father would take us to see her, (we'd meet her on her dinner break) and as a child I remember being amazed by the cases of jewelry and the smell of 8 million perfumes at once (which now makes me sick, btw), and the way one department suddenly turned into another, something my favorite author, Steven Millhauser, captures in his short story, "The Dream of the Consortium."

With Macy's laying off7,000 workers and Wal-Mart and Target now the source for everything under the sun, the days of the department store, already in its twilight, may soon be at an end. Will you miss them if they're gone? Or will you celebrate the end of an old model and embrace the stores that have come to take their place?

In Praise Of The Department Store[Guardian]
Macy's Cuts Dividend And 7,000 Jobs [NYTimes]

Unbridled joy or opportunism? Probably a little of both. The Post mentions one shy-guy who mustered the courage to ask a stranger watching the election results, "Can I have a kiss? For Obama?" And shared optimism can hardly explain the rash of November 5th "Missed Connections" seeking to recapture the ephemeral magic of the night before the morning after.

But whereas romantic ops may have been fleeting, the merch gravy train's just pulling into the station. Street vendors are selling more Obama tees, mugs, dolls, cards and pop art than ever. Obama web sites are booming, as people all over the world scramble onboard. The Los Angeles Times cites the multitude of Obama-themed books publishers are rushing through, including "The Obama Menu: Dinners With Barack Obama" and "Deciding the Next Decider: The 2008 Presidential Race in Rhyme." As one editor tells the LAT, "It's the biggest thing for publishing since Harry Potter."

If likening the president-elect to a magical boy wizard seems both worrisome and significant, well, it makes sense: evoking middle-aged politicians doesn't normally get dorks laid. Whether this bonanza can keep up when the boring business of governing takes hold is an open question: economic policy doesn't make for great t-shirts or for much of an aphrodisiac. But people can take heart from one thing: Obama's already helping the economy, and, presumably, the population: how many baby Baracks will we be seeing come early July? (Well Newsweek's on that one!)

Remember Me? The One With the 'O' Button? [Washington Post]
Americans clamoring for all things Obama [Los Angeles Times]

Let's start with my new obsession: Betty's equestrian style. It makes me regret that I have nothing saved from my horseback riding days, because I've spent upwards of 3 hours (that's not an exaggeration) on equestrian clothing sites and realized that building this look will probably cost me about $800. Howevs, I'm totally getting one of her shirts. But I would kill for this bag:

And her winter coat goes so perfectly with all of it:

As do those gloves:

And speaking of gloves, I think it's about time that we bring back opera gloves and costume jewelry.

The accompanying dress was also awesome. Other than New Year's and maybe Halloween, I can't think of an occasion to wear those where I wouldn't look like a total tool, though. Oh, and dresses! Peggy's was adorbz:

And duh, Joan's ruled, too. Now I'm thinking about investing in some serious foundation garments this fall:

Now, on to set design. Obvs this shelf is choice:

I dug this blond wood headboard:

And the matching lamps on the nightstands:

Now I need multiple silk pillows with large buttons:

And for some reason I was really drawn to this stupid framed art of a metal dog:

I also wouldn't mind a globe in my house. I suck at geography, so it would actually serve a dual purpose. I imagine that Betty went all out to make Don's office cozy and official. And smoked the whole time. Christ, I wish I could look that glamorous while chain smoking. Instead, I'm in a muumuu and my hair and face are competing for the Greasiest Surface in Brooklyn award.

Lastly, Roger Sterling's office is all kinds of awesome. I want to have that wall art.

And I wouldn't mind having him, either.

A new website called "How I Spent My Stimulus" is devoted to people posting pictures and stories about how they spent the free government dough. A book, based on the entries received, is to come, naturally.

Michael, from Los Angeles, spent his check on a nice little vacation to a communist country (Vietnam). Apparently the spending of American dollars in communist countries was pretty popular this year.

There were also a lot of people who wisely spent their checks on bills, school tuition, tire alignment, and other things they were in need of. One woman gave her stimulus check to her granddaughter to help the poor kid start paying back all the debt the government has acquired by borrowing money from China (and using it for stimulus checks). Fun!

Of course, there were also plenty of dumb people who spent their stimulus checks on frivolous things like luxury goods and clothes (including me, sorry mom!). One guy bought a fucking sailboat. Another guy spent his check on a pair of $330 Prada sunglasses (from the Sunglass Hut, no less). Money well spent?

You decide.

Eric, an earnest guy in Seattle, decided to spend his check on "services" because he heard they would stimulate the economy better than just buying things. He went to go see Cirque de Soleil: Corteo with his family. Do you think he enjoyed it?

Hm.

What did you all spend your stimulus check on? Did you even get it? (Many on the Jezebel staff have not! Give these women their checks, government, there is wine to be bought!) Sadie spent hers on getting someone to clean her kitchen "really, really well." I was planning on saving mine but decided to "invest" (haha) it in some adult clothes (a Helmut Lang blazer on sale and some black pumps by Marc Jacobs). Now all I need an adult situation to wear them in!

[How I Spent My Stimulus]

Right there on page 198, a story called "Why Less Is More." Less is more what? You'll wonder. Less is more AIDS? Turns out, less stuff can be more, well, less annoying?

Her, briefly, is what she has been getting by on, give or take the Courreges shift circa 1968 and a stack or two of striped matelot sweaters and tees: 1. Six navy jackets, including Balenciaga and Charles Anastase and a couple of boyish vintage blazers. 2. Ten pairs of lean jeans, dark and plain, that can pass for pants when required. 3. Four bags, with not a hint of It: black Hermes Birkin, Balenciaga brown leather saddle bag, and two Chanel gilt-chain strap classics. 4. A pile of ballet flats of varying stripe and persuasian 5. Two pendants, and a ring that belonged to her mother.