[item] LED Christmas lights
[purchase info] Purchased new
[time in my possession] Approximately 3 years
[last used] 3 years ago
[difficulty level in getting rid of it] Medium
[destination] Freecycle
[replacement item] None
[info] I want to use these, but if I haven’t in 3 years, what makes me think I will in the future?
December 11, 2009… I was listening to talk radio on my way to work yesterday. It was so incredibly cold I didn’t want to let go of my warm coffee mug to steer the car, much less turn on the radio. The news guy was reporting on the experiences of the fake mall Santas this year, disclosing the newest Christmas lists they’re receiving. Many of the kids sitting on Santa’s lap are not asking for the typical toys and electronics, they’re asking for basic necessities. ”Mommy really needs a job” or “Could we just have our house back?” Some others are asking for food and clothing. You know the economy is bad when kids are happy to get socks and underwear for Christmas.
Santa Claus. The historical Saint and the modern day icon of commercialized Christmas. Who is Santa? Santa has many roots in history spanning the globe, roots also ranging from Christianity to paganism. The early Christian Santa was Saint Nicholas. He was a Saint that gave generous gifts to the poor, especially to daughters of poor parents so they did not have to become prostitutes. I could go on for days here about the history of Santa, but he did have his start as a good guy that helped people.
Honestly, I’ve always struggled with the whole Santa thing. I did not want my kids believing that some overweight guy in a furry red suit is going to give them anything they want for Christmas. Their dad said that was wrong and I was awful for even thinking it. Choose your battles, right? I chose not to fight this one.
My earliest recollection of Santa is asking my parents if Santa was real. I was in kindergarten, five or six years old, and already wondering how one guy could go around the planet in one night, bringing lots of stuff to kids. And don’t get me started on the flying reindeer and sleigh. I suppose my over-analyzing of everything started at an early age. My parents told me the truth and quickly proceeded to tell me that my knowledge was a secret. I wasn’t very good at keeping secrets back then. Even with my secret knowledge, Santa continued to bring me lots of toys and stuff, and much more than he brought anyone else. Continue reading
I ran across two interesting things this week, one posted on my Facebook page and the other in a Yahoo! Groups post on Compact.
These sites, xmaswithoutchina.com and the Marie Claire Yahoo! Shopping post, when combined together, portray a picture of our consumeristic “can’t live with it, can’t live without it”, but not necessarily in that order. First, we must have it. How many times have you looked at the “made in” tag on something you purchased? I don’t do it very often, if at all. Well, not now anyway, because of the challenge. But before, when I was shopping, I rarely looked at these tags. It’s a law that the place of origin, or manufacturing place be listed on the item, or on the packaging.
I decided to pick up 50 random items in my house to see where they were made. My findings were not surprising. 60% were made in China, 38% in other countries besides the USA and 2% in the USA. The 2%, accounting for one item, is an art bowl, purchased at a local art show. Just in case you’re wondering, the items were such things as clothing, electronic games, toys, computer equipment, home decor items, alarm system, cookware, bedding, light fixtures and small appliances.
The Christmas without China is a challenge to take everything made in China out of your house and to shop for Christmas gifts, making sure none are made there. This is the start of a documentary on this subject, by a man from China.
The 19 unusual gifts nobody wants is crazy stuff, available for purchase just in time for Christmas. Let’s look at a couple of these items. Continue reading