Where are all of the holiday commercials?

 

In recent years there has been a chorus of complaints, mine included, about Christmas commercials starting even before Halloween. The buy now, shop early was really annoying. This year, holiday commercials are almost non-existent, relatively speaking. The most I've seen so far are from car dealers, the little else. Why? Have companies seen the light? Have they decided to not annoy people?

Even more interesting is the total lack or new products--new fads to attract the weak minded, weak willed, the keeping up with the Jones', and the gullible. No really new gadgets-just old models made bigger or slightly modified. Star Wars-boring, been there, done that.

Yeah, there are Black Friday and pre-Black Friday and post Black Friday emails advertising sales, but it's all just same old stuff. What is going on? Are companies just trying to save on expenses? Are they concerned that wanton consumerism is a thing of the past? Do they know something about the economy that we don't? For an economy that has rebounded this lack advertising is disconcerting. The lack of anything new is bothersome.

On the one hand I was happy not to be inundated with ads in October. But here we are, the week of Thanksgiving, and I'm still not seeing what has become the normal bombardment of jingle bell ads.

When Wall Street doesn't act in their normal greedy way, it is worth taking notice; it is worth wondering why.

How to Spend (or not spend) Your Holiday Dollars

 
Most of you will be spending extra money on the holidays as spending has trumped the message. Be that as it may, where and on what you spend can be used as a social, environmental, political, and economic statement.

Here's my list on how to spend your hard earned money:

-Don't buy junk. If you know it will hit the landfills in a few short weeks, don't buy it.
-Buy quality and not quantity.
-Buy local. Avoid the chain stores if at all possible. If you must buy from the chains, buy only what you really need and what will last. Avoid trends and what's hot as they will be quickly tossed. Local may well be more expensive for the same item, so search for unique local items of high quality. Who wants to receive what every one else gets.
-Buy green. Yes, it's hard to tell these days what that means. Read labels carefully and pass on those that are a clear environmental threat. Beware of the "all natural" label. Mercury and lead are all natural. There are gifts that can be had from environmental organizations. Buy things of lasting value that won't soon hit the trash bins.

As a consumer, you have the power to determine what products will be offered in the future. Buy crap, and crap is what you'll continue to get. Use your dollars to help protect the environment; to tell businesses that you no longer buy all the hype of useless products; that you'll no longer support products built by child labor or workers subject to intolerable conditions; that quality, durable and useful items will attract your attention, not the junk.

You have the power, use it.

BLACK FRIDAY: ALL THAT'S WRONG

If you want to know why the world is in such a mess, just consider Black Friday. Have you ever heard a an ad like this:

We know it's the holidays and that you all would like to give gifts to loved ones and friends.  The look on a child's face on Christmas morning is priceless. However, please don't buy something that won't last. Don't buy clothing filled with toxic chemicals, or toys laced with lead paint. Just because something is 0.5 seconds faster than the item you already have doesn't mean it's better. Don't buy products that have contributed to global warming, rainforest destruction, or that has been made on the backs of slave labor. Buy natural, buy green. Our landfills are overflowing with the junk from past holidays. Find presents that will get your child to think, that will get them outside the home. And above all, try not to use credit cards. Those bills come due and at a high rate of interest. Can you afford it. Return to the joys of family and being together and not just the idea that you have to spend lots of money for items no one really needs or wants.

No, you will never see such an ad, at least not now. But let's face it, this constant pressure to spend, spend, spend, is not about the spirit of the holidays, it is about corporate profits. It is about rampant consumerism that is destroying the planet and wreaking personal economic havoc.

Give gifts that matter, that will last, that will change the direction of buying patterns forever. Just don't buy crap that does nothing but make the rich even richer. Support the small business that sells quality products. Support the craftsmen and women that put their heart and soul into the things they make.

Above, fill your holiday with gifts that you can't buy: LOVE, PEACE, AND LIGHT. Those are gifts that simply never end up in the trash heap.

A MODERN VERSION OF THE FAIRY TALE

Wednesday, October 13, 2010
A Maine Christmas Carol - a modern version of the fairy tale


Philip Harris' A Christmas Carol Maine, a modern take on the story of Charles Dickens' 'Christmas past, present and future in a middle class setting is a New England vacation experience for readers of all ages. The spirit of the original story is refined into a story the best, but also unravels the sad experiences of a contemporary Scrooge destroyed the name of Thomas, as he "sees" Christmas with his spirit guide.

The development of the classic life of a beleaguered and very poor young spirit in the face of the consequences of their selfish actions is sent with messages for the socially irresponsible of our life and times are layered. A Maine Christmas Carol is a powerful parable of the evils of advanced society should not be controlled and kept inexplicable.

through the eyes of the mind, Thomas sees that he is indeed responsible for the happiness of others, his actions did not deeply affect those who come into contact with him. By the owner of the shop of her sister's eight years, his actions have a deep and lasting mark. Even more critical is to note that the influence of the wave of the tsunami, like his acts, facts, and the lack of success, he will never meet. What did with his life is as important as what he had done his first 16 years.

In Harris' A Christmas Carol Maine, a new family tradition was born. The writing style simple conversation, the logical course of history,and turn the original story, this book is a new classic that will go on the shelf right next morality original Dickens' story. Harris has done an excellent job of weaving Thomas profound experience of redemption with the underlying issues of social justice and poverty.

A Maine Christmas Carol is the explicit proof of the relationship of the privileged class in our country that fails to address the social problems of our society. Philip Harris has clearly and clearly a different and allegory that redefines the meaning of Christmas, a new generation of readers.

A Maine Christmas Carol

Philip F. Harris

Released: Cambridge Books 2007

ANYONE KNOW A GOOD FILM PRODUCER?

MY HOLIDAY THOUGHTS FOR YOU

Pain is an alarm given by the body to let you know that something is not right. A headache may be telling you that you need more sleep or need to drink more water. A heart condition may be saying you need to reduce stress or fatty foods. Cancer may be saying that you need to not keep things in that eat away at your life.

While most now accept the fact that the state of mind, past and present, have a direct effect on your physical health, many still do not understand or accept that mental states affects every other aspect of life. Spiritual leaders from all cultures and religions have proclaimed the same fundamental truth; your thoughts and beliefs are the controlling factors in your job, relationships, health, and overall well-being.

What does this mean for you? This means that you are literally the architect of your everyday life. It means that each moment, you choose what the next moment will bring. It means you have the power to choose happiness, love, prosperity and abundance. It means that despite what you read in the news, you do not have to live a life of fear, lack, loneliness or ill-health.

We discover what we are, by experiencing what we are not. People often dwell on past “errors” and are consumed by them; they let these “errors” control their thoughts and therefore their reality. There are no mistakes. When you have committed what you believe to be an error you discover an aspect about yourself that requires attention. Just like with the headache, the pain caused by so called “mistakes” tells you that you need to adjust a part of your thought process. Focus upon what you have learned about yourself from such perceived errors and you shall evolve one more notch. By focusing on the new knowledge rather than the event, the pain goes away and the new information is now a tool to help you live a better life. A lesson learned is not a mistake.

The return of the Sun on the Solstice is also symbolized by Christmas. 2009 may be a very trying year for those who get caught up with the fear and anxiety of world events. These events are just like the headaches and the so-called mistakes. If society learns, it evolves. Most of the current adults on the planet are here to usher in a new paradigm. We created a world of fear to learn that fear only leads to sadness and destruction. We created an illusion of darkness in order to better understand and appreciate the LIGHT Was it a mistake? Not if we learn the lesson. With the returning Light, armed with the knowledge gained from our recent history, we are now in the position to totally change the world’s reality. We did good! We messed things up so bad that no rational being could possibly want to “stay the course.” We have brought the people to the borders Promised Land. It is just around the bend. If “we” do not enter, rest assured, our children will.
So in this Holiday season take solace and comfort. You have not made mistakes. What you did was necessary to bring yourself, and the world, to this precious moment of change and evolution. There is truly nothing to forgive. There is nothing to regret. You have brought the world to the GREAT AWAKENING and it could not have happened without YOU!

In the BLESSING OF LIGHT AND LOVE rejoice; for the time draws near when all of your hopes, dreams and highest desires shall be manifest. YOU are the SECOND COMING and you are here, NOW!