A plea to those who enjoy giving this time of year:
Patrick posted this over at Minimal Mac and it got me thinking.
All of this stuff will generate a bunch of stuff to be thrown away or recycled. Wrapping, packaging, spent gift cards – they all have to end up somewhere. Not to mention all of the stuff we had to build and machines we run in order to make the stuff we give and receive.Then once the season is over, in fact the very next day, comes the inevitable stuff we have to return (for cash to buy stuff if you have the receipt, exchange for different stuff if not).
Last year, we pledged $50 each (half our gift budget) to a charity, and cut down on gifts. We’re doing the same thing this year, and, again, I ask friends and family to consider donating to charity or the kids’ college funds in place of more stuff.
We have enough stuff. We need less of it. I’m trying to minimize. If it’s meaningful, functional and worthwhile, awesome. If it’s frivolous or wasteful, save the money and put it to better use, please.
Think about all the good we can do! We welcome the generosity, but would like to redirect it to something more substantial, that’s all. 
Thanks in advance!
Time-Lapse of Yankees World Series Win – I hate the Yankees. They even get the coolest photography hacks. I especially like the groundskeeping sequence at about 1:15 – watch the change at home plate. (via DF)
250,000 on Facebook Find Owner of Lost Camera – one of the great things about social media is shown here, when it’s used to help people. (via Palko)
Ten Things You Need to Stop Tweeting About – (via Philip)
Laptop Steering Wheel Desk – Read the reviews…great fun (via Aaron)
10 Things You Need to Know About WordPress 2.9 – Good stuff. Improving as a CMS.
The Simplest & Most Efficient iPhone Stand – brilliant (via MinimalMac)
Microsoft Store Breaks Out in Song – First, that is pathetic retail store behavior. Two, what a horrendous song. (via DF)
Camino 2 – Try it.
I just read a very good article from the Times. There are many valuable points made about making the effort, however small – like helping a nonprofit get set up with Twitter and Facebook – to help make this world a better place. I’ve tried to work with my kids on this, and have been fairly successful.
I recently took my son (9) to the Village Learning and Achievement Center, the local nonprofit (where I volunteer) he chose back in January in lieu of presents (yes, we’re slightly tardy in our delivery).
He had an amazing experience with the director giving him a tour and meeting some of their clients. He did really well, and I was proud of him. He came out of there, and said, “that place was really cool.”
Anyhow, just wanted to share, and encourage you to talk to your kids, your friends, even your parents and coworkers, about doing something good and meaningful in this world.
Every dollar helps, every minute of time volunteering helps, in some way, to make this place better for all of us, and especially our kids.
