Happy Thanksgiving! November 24, 2008

This has been a tough year.  The stock market, job cuts, business closures, government bailouts—the list goes on and on.  So I wanted to take time and highlight some good things; blessings in life for which I am thankful this holiday season.

 

My family…We’ve gone through our own hard times this year, and I don’t think anything makes me more appreciative of family than when a problem has resolved itself, leaving us stronger than before.  I am thousands of miles away from my family, and all I can say is I can’t wait to celebrate the holidays with them.

 

My boyfriend…He drives me crazy when he can’t seem to put his clothes in the hamper or when he leaves his wet towel on the bed.  But he loves me, and he would do anything (within reason) to make me happy. 

 

My dog…I rescued him from an animal shelter a little over a year ago, and he became part of my new family here in Montana .  He came to me scared, lonely, sad and untrusting.  Now, although he doesn’t listen quite as well as I would like, he is a playful, loving, happy pup who I swear perfected the puppy dog face while spending his first year in that shelter.

 

My job…It is the reason that my ticket home for Christmas is not one-way.  I’ll leave it at that.

 

My friends…They helped me when I was homeless (yes, I was, for a month or so, due to circumstances too complicated to delve into here); they have been ridiculously nice to my dog, which is why he actually trusts people now; they make me laugh; they got me through the toughest days of my first job; and they make me feel like Missoula is actually my home.  They’re some of the best people I’ve ever met in my life.

 

BookMooch…I love to read and hate to re-read.  I also read very quickly.  This site helps me trade books so that I don’t have to spend money buying something that will only hold my attention for a week at the most.  They have most of the books that I’ve searched for, and most of the members are very responsive.

 

Facebook…Yes, I spend way too much time on it, but Facebook has put me back in touch with people that I probably would never have seen again, and it helps me stay in touch with the friends I made in school who are now spread all over the country.

 

Margaritas…On the rocks with salt make a Friday afternoon even better.  My personal recipe has been a hit (and I must thank my college roommate, Julie, for that).

Ice Cream…I used to live within walking distance to the Big Dipper, prior to my homeless stint.  I used to justify my trips by claiming that the 3 block walk between my apartment and that little corner of heaven burned enough calories for a double scoop.  Now, I have to make sure my freezer is stocked in preparation for a nighttime craving.  This time of year is even better for the ice cream lover, as Dreyer’s Limited Edition peppermint, pumpkin and eggnog flavors make their yearly appearance.

 

Marshall Mountain , Waterworks Hill, Mount Sentinel …and all of the other hikes that are just minutes from my front door.  There is nothing better than watching the sun set from Mount Sentinel , or to stand up on Waterworks Hill and look out over all of Missoula .  It is unbelievably easy to get above it all and out of the fray, even if just for a short time after work.

 

These are just a few examples of what I am thankful for this year.  What about you?

 

Feeling left out this holiday season? November 17, 2008

Then apparently, you can just create your own meaning to the holidays.  The American Humanist Association is doing just that with their godless holiday messages.  The tagline, “Why believe in a God?  Just be good for goodness’ sake,” will run on DC metro buses this season. 

I’m a little late jumping on this train, as this story made news last week, but I just felt like I had to say something about this ridiculous

“Humanists have always understood that you don’t need a god to be good,” said Roy Speckhardt, who is the executive director of the association. 

Fred Edwords, a spokesman for the group, stated that the reason behind the timing of the campaign lies in the fact that “there are an awful lot of agnostics, athiests, and other types of nontheists who feel a little along during the holidays because of its association with traditional religion.”

Wow, that’s news.  Shout it from the rooftops–Christmas is associated with a religion?!?  Of course nontheists will feel left out–the point of Christmas is to celebrate Christ’s birth.  There are celebrations all over this country that target a certain religion, race, gender, sexual orientation–the list goes on and on.  Christmas is a holiday for Christians.  The holiday season is a time for people to celebrate what they believe in, not an opportunity to twist an existing celebration into something that fits their special interests.

Holiday cards for a cause November 7, 2008

Like to send out holiday cards?  Choose something from the Humane Society, and make a difference!

Is marketing really to blame? Or is it being used as a scapegoat? November 6, 2008

Food and cigarettes are causing quite the stir this week.  Philip Morris is under fire for releasing pink “Purse Packs” and a Nielsen Consumer Insight survey highlights the consumer belief that food companies should take more responsibility for the food that they produce.  Of course, marketing and advertising are the bad guys in both situations.

To which I say, “Come on!”  Take a look at the Philip Morris website.  There are numerous informational tabs highlighting the effects of smoking, discouraging teen cigarette use and quitting.  If you Google “cigarette effects”, you can get over 7 million results outlining the effects of cigarette smoking.  There are also additional searches that can inform you of the chemicals in cigarettes and what will happen to your body long-term if you smoke. 

Not a smoker?  OK, let’s take a look at consumer reflections on food companies.  Apparently, 75% of consumers believe that “people are encouraged to eat less-healthy food by advertising, and that these companies should provide healthier food.”  Now, let’s take the first part of this statement–people are encouraged to eat less-healthy food by advertising.  Is that really news?  Of course they’re encouraged to eat less healthy foods; that’s the point of advertising.  The brains behind those commercials and print ads would be out of a job if they didn’t persuade you to buy their product.  Now, the second part of that statement gets the same response as the Philip Morris ad. 

The point of marketing and advertising is to draw the consumer in.  It does not, however, brainwash.  We live in a time where every person knows that smoking can lead to lung cancer; that pregnant women who smoke are endangering their babies; that over-consumption of food will lead to weight gain; and that fruits and vegetables are good for you…ice cream, not so much.  It’s the marketer’s job to sell the product.  It’s the consumer’s job to make the educated decision.