From this video, produced by James Dobson's CitizenLink divison, you'd think Christmas was about buying buying buying. The folks over at Focus on the Family seem to take great pleasure in being outraged that "Christmas" is being mentioned less and less in retailers' greetings, catalogs and ads. In fact, we Christians are supposed to find these so-called "efforts to secularize Christmas offensive."
Watch the video now.
Me? I tend to be of the thought that Christmas is about the birth of Christ, about God's gift to humanity, about worshipping a God who has literally walked among us. While we certainly celebrate Christmas in our family by doing traditional things like exchanging gifts, baking cookies and decorating a tree, I have never for a moment tried to define this holiday by what I hear and see at the mall or on the catalogs I get. But apparently Stuart Shepherd who does these "StopLight" videos (remember: he was the same guy who did the "Would it be wrong to pray for rain at the Democratic National Convention?") defines Christmas differently than I do.
Apparently getting outraged that retailers (whose customer base goes beyond just Christians, believe it or not) use a generic holiday greeting rather than "Christmas" is enough reason to be offended and boycott businesses. (yes, there's an actual list .) Personally I get more riled up about fair trade, labor practices and treatment of employees and factory workers in developing countries and so on. But those wise people over at Focus on the Family are obviously the ones who we need to turn to for our "moral compass" and "values." Because if you value celebrating the birth of Christ, what better way than to make sure that Target is saying "Christmas" and not "Holiday"?
Sunday, December 21, 2008
How do they do it?
Imagine my surprise when I got up this morning, looked out the window at least 8 inches of snow and noticed my Sunday Oregonian lying in the driveway! I'm starting to think Santa came early and dropped the paper from his sleigh. I don't know how else the paper got to my house in the southwest hills.
School was cancelled every day this week, the garbage and recycling trucks never came but somehow the newspaper delivery and mail carriers still make it! While I don't want anyone risking their lives in order to make sure I can enjoy my paper and read my mail while I'm all cosy and snug in my house, I do send big kudos and a big thank you to them. You are appreciated!
And it does make me wonder what's up with the garbage trucks anyway? We're supposed to get our garbage picked up Thursday morning and now it's Sunday and its still here. Maybe the Oregonian and the USPS can give some lessons to the garbage collection companies about service?
School was cancelled every day this week, the garbage and recycling trucks never came but somehow the newspaper delivery and mail carriers still make it! While I don't want anyone risking their lives in order to make sure I can enjoy my paper and read my mail while I'm all cosy and snug in my house, I do send big kudos and a big thank you to them. You are appreciated!
And it does make me wonder what's up with the garbage trucks anyway? We're supposed to get our garbage picked up Thursday morning and now it's Sunday and its still here. Maybe the Oregonian and the USPS can give some lessons to the garbage collection companies about service?
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
To be shot or not
I rarely get flu shots for my kids. They're currently ages 6, 4 and 4. The last time we got the shots was maybe three years ago when there was that big shortage and that's all your heard about. You know, since we thought we maybe couldn't get them, we wanted them all the more!
But overall, I just hesitate and I wasn't quite sure why. Then, just last Tuesday, I made the decision to definitely get my kids in for their shots. Until I went to my book group annual dinner out and fellow booklover Tracy said it was her goal every year to convince at least one person to forgo getting the shots! She thinks they're not all that effective and it's mainly a ploy for the drug companies to make more money. I did a little research and found this article where this doctor, Donald W. Miller, states:
The CDC’s 15-member Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) makes recommendations each year on who should be vaccinated. Ten years ago, for the 1999–2000 season, the committee recommended that people over age 65 and children with medical conditions have a flu shot. Seventy-four million people were vaccinated.
Next season (2000–01) the committee lowered the age for universal vaccination from 65 to 50 years old, adding 41 million people to the list.
For the 2002–03 season, the ACIP added healthy children 6 months to 23 months old, and for 2004–05, children up to 5 years old.
For the 2008–09 season the committee has advised that healthy children 6 months to 18 years old have a flu shot each year. Its recommendations for influenza vaccination now covers 256 million Americans – 84 percent of the U.S. population. Only healthy people ages 19–49 not involved in some aspect of health care remain exempt. Pharmaceutical companies have made $146 million influenza vaccines for the U.S. market this flu season.
Almost all the ACIP members who make these recommendations have financial ties to the vaccine industry. The CDC therefore must grant each member a conflict-of-interest waiver."[emphasis mine]
Wow. Does make you kinda wonder--is this about staying healthy? Or creating a nice profit?
I'd love feedback. And, just to be clear, just because I'm not a gung-ho flu shot advocate, that view doesn't extend into regular vaccinations. I absolutely believe in immunizations and all my kids are up-to-date on their required shots. This is about the flu and only the flu.
But overall, I just hesitate and I wasn't quite sure why. Then, just last Tuesday, I made the decision to definitely get my kids in for their shots. Until I went to my book group annual dinner out and fellow booklover Tracy said it was her goal every year to convince at least one person to forgo getting the shots! She thinks they're not all that effective and it's mainly a ploy for the drug companies to make more money. I did a little research and found this article where this doctor, Donald W. Miller, states:
The CDC’s 15-member Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) makes recommendations each year on who should be vaccinated. Ten years ago, for the 1999–2000 season, the committee recommended that people over age 65 and children with medical conditions have a flu shot. Seventy-four million people were vaccinated.
Next season (2000–01) the committee lowered the age for universal vaccination from 65 to 50 years old, adding 41 million people to the list.
For the 2002–03 season, the ACIP added healthy children 6 months to 23 months old, and for 2004–05, children up to 5 years old.
For the 2008–09 season the committee has advised that healthy children 6 months to 18 years old have a flu shot each year. Its recommendations for influenza vaccination now covers 256 million Americans – 84 percent of the U.S. population. Only healthy people ages 19–49 not involved in some aspect of health care remain exempt. Pharmaceutical companies have made $146 million influenza vaccines for the U.S. market this flu season.
Almost all the ACIP members who make these recommendations have financial ties to the vaccine industry. The CDC therefore must grant each member a conflict-of-interest waiver."[emphasis mine]
Wow. Does make you kinda wonder--is this about staying healthy? Or creating a nice profit?
I'd love feedback. And, just to be clear, just because I'm not a gung-ho flu shot advocate, that view doesn't extend into regular vaccinations. I absolutely believe in immunizations and all my kids are up-to-date on their required shots. This is about the flu and only the flu.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Along Came a Thought...and then it just kept going.
I had a great idea for a blog entry. I thought of it as I was on my way to Safeway to use the "Spend $50, get $10 off" coupon. Poignant, pithy, interesting, short. All the elements needed for the optimal blog post.
Unfortunately, $120 and 2 hours later, I have no idea what it was. D'oh! Memory is strange--I just posted on the Facebook page of my old classmate that I just got back in touch with, Jodi, that a current photo of her (admittedly, for what was called the "polyester prom") reminded me of her 8th grade school picture where she sported Farrah Fawcett hair and wore a striped cowl neck. Now she's thinking I'm going to go all Bridget Fonda on her (as is Single White Female) since I actually recall that photo that was taken over 30 years ago. I know that but, but I can't remember what I thinking about 2 hours ago. Geez, I am getting old. Or maybe I'm already there?
Unfortunately, $120 and 2 hours later, I have no idea what it was. D'oh! Memory is strange--I just posted on the Facebook page of my old classmate that I just got back in touch with, Jodi, that a current photo of her (admittedly, for what was called the "polyester prom") reminded me of her 8th grade school picture where she sported Farrah Fawcett hair and wore a striped cowl neck. Now she's thinking I'm going to go all Bridget Fonda on her (as is Single White Female) since I actually recall that photo that was taken over 30 years ago. I know that but, but I can't remember what I thinking about 2 hours ago. Geez, I am getting old. Or maybe I'm already there?
Thursday, December 4, 2008
The Great Christmas Tree Debate
We got our Christmas tree today. How is it that getting a tree on December 4th makes one feel behind? All the neighbors seem to have their trees already! I remember years ago, when I lived in NYC and I had a little tree for my studio apartment that I got on Dec 1 and I was so amazed that I got it that early and enjoyed it for over a month! I also loved looking at the tree all lit up while snuggled up all cozy in my bed--a benefit of a studio! I had a Murphy bed that transformed my living room into a bedroom and I decided I always wanted to have a Christmas tree in my bedroom. But alas, that hasn't happened since then.
But back to the tree. I had a hard time deciding this year where to get the tree. There are three main options: fake, supermarket parking lot, or U-cut. Now, I'm an Oregonian and for those of you outsiders, you may not know that Oregon is the largest producers of Christmas trees in the world with 8.2 million trees being harvested this year alone. That's a whole lotta needles there, Mabel. So, to not have a real tree is well, rather embarrassing for an Oregonian. Which is not to say we don't have a fake tree up in our attic. I'll admit it, we do. We bought it a few years ago when we were going to Minnesota for Christmas and didn't want a dead tree in the house for over a week while we were gone, and to take it down before Christmas, well, seems downright criminal! I gotta admit, fake trees with their built-in lights are sweet. Let's face it--fighting with the tangled web of lights is hardly the stuff of movies and sweet memories.
Of course we hear a lot these days about being "green" so I started to wonder what is really more green--a fake tree or a real one? I read an article in the Oregonian last week where a Christmas tree farmer said, "You'd have to be a pretty poor salesman if you couldn't make the case that one of my trees isn't a lot greener than a plastic Christmas tree from China."
Hmmm? Now, since we already own a fake tree (for the reason stated above), all the energy it takes is that of my husband dragging it down from the attic. Let's compare that how I got my tree this year: we drove to a Lees Farm, about 10 miles away. A worker there cut down a living tree using a chain saw. They loaded up on a flat bed pulled by a tractor and used a machine to shake it for loose needles and another to twine it up. And of course, there's all that energy that was used planting, nurturing, watering, feeding, pruning that tree for years. The tree does give back though--cleaner air for all of us!
But, the reality? A tree that just a few hours ago was live and growing, is now standing in our living room, shedding needles even as a I speak. And our fake tree is still in our attic.
Perhaps the best option is to just go to the parking lot sales--at least those trees are already dead and will be turned into mulch if they don't get bought. But where's the romance and tradition of the yearly family outing to...the parking lot at Freddies?
Oh, the conundrum! It's not easy being green. Last year we used the fake one. This year we cut our own and had a fun family outing (sans Dad who was at work--we didn't want to fight the crowds at the farms on the weekend nor did we have time to schlep out to a farm.) We bought farm-made donuts. We went through the hay mazes. Fun fun fun.
What's your tree opinion? What do you think is the greenest thing to do?
But back to the tree. I had a hard time deciding this year where to get the tree. There are three main options: fake, supermarket parking lot, or U-cut. Now, I'm an Oregonian and for those of you outsiders, you may not know that Oregon is the largest producers of Christmas trees in the world with 8.2 million trees being harvested this year alone. That's a whole lotta needles there, Mabel. So, to not have a real tree is well, rather embarrassing for an Oregonian. Which is not to say we don't have a fake tree up in our attic. I'll admit it, we do. We bought it a few years ago when we were going to Minnesota for Christmas and didn't want a dead tree in the house for over a week while we were gone, and to take it down before Christmas, well, seems downright criminal! I gotta admit, fake trees with their built-in lights are sweet. Let's face it--fighting with the tangled web of lights is hardly the stuff of movies and sweet memories.
Of course we hear a lot these days about being "green" so I started to wonder what is really more green--a fake tree or a real one? I read an article in the Oregonian last week where a Christmas tree farmer said, "You'd have to be a pretty poor salesman if you couldn't make the case that one of my trees isn't a lot greener than a plastic Christmas tree from China."
Hmmm? Now, since we already own a fake tree (for the reason stated above), all the energy it takes is that of my husband dragging it down from the attic. Let's compare that how I got my tree this year: we drove to a Lees Farm, about 10 miles away. A worker there cut down a living tree using a chain saw. They loaded up on a flat bed pulled by a tractor and used a machine to shake it for loose needles and another to twine it up. And of course, there's all that energy that was used planting, nurturing, watering, feeding, pruning that tree for years. The tree does give back though--cleaner air for all of us!
But, the reality? A tree that just a few hours ago was live and growing, is now standing in our living room, shedding needles even as a I speak. And our fake tree is still in our attic.
Perhaps the best option is to just go to the parking lot sales--at least those trees are already dead and will be turned into mulch if they don't get bought. But where's the romance and tradition of the yearly family outing to...the parking lot at Freddies?
Oh, the conundrum! It's not easy being green. Last year we used the fake one. This year we cut our own and had a fun family outing (sans Dad who was at work--we didn't want to fight the crowds at the farms on the weekend nor did we have time to schlep out to a farm.) We bought farm-made donuts. We went through the hay mazes. Fun fun fun.
What's your tree opinion? What do you think is the greenest thing to do?
I have a blog
Me--pretty far removed from being an actual Luddite, but so not a technology trendsetter, now has a blog! I hadn't really thought much about having one until my friend, Jessica, started one. Hey, if she can do it, so can I! Plus, her blog's name, Everybody's Doing It, really is almost a taunt, you know?
But what to name the blog?? Now, that's not a simple task by any means. Something catchy, funny, ironic and indicative of who I am. That's not already taken. The pressure!
So, here it is. For those of you who don't know, my company name is "Along Came Mitzi, Inc." so this is derivative of that. And no one else had it. Ha!
Thanks for reading! I promise to be more insightful/opinionated/funny on future posts, but for now, off to make dinner (spaghetti--a fall-back meal when it's 5:23 and I haven't started a thing.)
But what to name the blog?? Now, that's not a simple task by any means. Something catchy, funny, ironic and indicative of who I am. That's not already taken. The pressure!
So, here it is. For those of you who don't know, my company name is "Along Came Mitzi, Inc." so this is derivative of that. And no one else had it. Ha!
Thanks for reading! I promise to be more insightful/opinionated/funny on future posts, but for now, off to make dinner (spaghetti--a fall-back meal when it's 5:23 and I haven't started a thing.)
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