Resolutions

Now that Christmas is over it is time to make all those resolutions for the year that we will never keep. Here are mine:

1) Stay debt free.
2) Play outside more.
3) Waste less time online and watching tv.
4) Enjoy what I do to earn money.
5) Continue to learn about investing.

There's lots more I can think of but I'd rather just not fulfill 5 resolutions...

The minimalist's Christmas gift guide:

It's Christmas.

Celebrate the birth of Jesus.
Go to church.
Enjoy the company of friends and family.
Remember loved ones.
Get a tree, decorate it, have your kitten dive under it, swat at ornaments, climb it.
Decorate your house.
Wear a gaudy Christmas sweater.
Shop for junk, wrap it and give them to people.
Shop for thoughtful presents, wrap it, and give them to people.
Make some presents, wrap it, and give them to people.
Donate money or time to those in need.
Send Christmas cards.
Drive around and look at decorations.
Cook lots of food.
Eat lots of food.
Sing carols.
Go to parties, office or otherwise.
Go sit on Santa's lap.
Count down with an advent calendar.
Leave milk and cookies for Santa.

Or don't. Like Burger King, have it your way.

Thrift or theft

In these tough financial times, everyone is looking for ways to save a
few bucks. Many do not know the difference between thrift or theft.
There is an actual morality to saving money. Some people get a thrill taking
advantage of the system, or feel like no one is hurt because only the
faceless corporation loses money. All you end up doing is make the
price go up for paying customers. Here are a few things NOT to do to
save money. Feel free to add more suggestions in the comments.

1) Don't bring your old drink cup back to the fast food joint on
another day. Also don't ask for a water cup then put soda in it. Like
the sign says, refills are for same day visits. Either drink water or
buy the smallest cup and refill it as many times as your stomach can
handle.

2) hotel visits - don't STEAL (yes it's stealing) toilet paper,
towels, light bulbs, irons, bathrobes, linens, batteries out of the tv
remote and whatever else isn't nailed down and fits in your suitcase.
If the free toiletries are lovely and you will actually use it, go for
it, but don't try to take more off the housekeeping cart.

3) hotel visits, part 2 - the continental breakfast is only for those who
pay to stay in that hotel that day. Don't walk in and grab something
just because you once stayed at that chain. And for goodness sakes
just because you are staying in a hotel don't bring every freaking
friend and relative to join you for breakfast!

4) restaurant utensils - the plastic dining utensils, paper napkins,
and condiments are for you to eat your purchased meal, not to supply
your kitchen at home.

5) office supplies - don't supply your home office with supplies from
work. Ok, I understand a pen or two but if you have a stack of post
it's and a stapler from work there's a problem. Also don't take home
coffee or cider mix to make it at home.

6) samples from Costco - having lunch at Costco does not mean making
the rounds at the food samples until you are full. I don't have a
problem with you trying everything, but more than one visit to a booth
without any intention of buying anything is too much. There's a
difference between scoring a few free calories and having a meal.

7) eternal browsing at Barnes and Noble - buy something once in
awhile. It's not a library. I go there and read magazines all the time
but I also occasionally buy a book, magazine or drink.

If you have a funny feeling when you're doing something THAT is your
brain telling you it's wrong.

Stop Smoking, Ruth Brinkley

At this time of year for many of us the weather has been biting cold! This in addition to the weak economy leaves some unable to heat their home. This can be very dangerous, especially for the elderly. I am very sympathetic to their plight, except in the following case. Let's go to the link! http://tinyurl.com/2688mch

Did you watch the video? Did you notice something? Now I don't know these people but while Ruth cannot afford to fix her home heater, she is smoking a cigarette! You know, there is a good chance that was her first cigarette in ages, bummed off one of the news guys interviewing her, right? However, if Ruth is buying her cigarettes, she needs to get her priorities straight! A pack of cigarettes may cost about $20 so depending on how much you smoke the cost adds up. At the very least, Ruth has committed a marketing error. She is going to seek help at the Salvation Army, but everyone who watched the video will notice her smoking and come to the same assumptions I have.

What else did you notice? They have a wood stove! The reporter says "but wood costs money". This is only true to a certain extent. There is a lot of free wood to be had, IF you plan ahead. They knew at least a month ago, probably more, that their house had a wood stove. They most likely had some awareness of their financial situation, even if they tried to ignore it. There are a lot of places to get free wood, Craigslist for example. Yes you probably will have to split it yourself (buy a splitter maul with your saved cigarette money) and some may not be seasoned. Then again, why plan ahead when you can get someone to bail you out?

I hope these people do not freeze and find some way to stay warm. But my people* have a saying...

"Give a man some firewood and he will be warm for a day. Teach a man how to split wood and he will be warm for life."

*apparently "my people" are lumberjacks.

Third Eye Behind

Ok the big hyped up news today is this NYU Professor Wafaa Bilal who supposedly implanted a camera in his head to take photos for a year. Here is a link: http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2010-12/professor-installs-headcam-starts-tracking-world-behind-him

This is so lame for two major reasons:

1) Technically, a camera is not implanted in his head. It's supposedly a titanium disc that the camera magnetically attaches to. WAIT! is titanium even magnetic? Nope! Publicity hype. So he gets on the news for implanting an accessory mount in the back of his head. wowee.

2) THE MOUNTING POINT IS IN THE BACK OF HIS HEAD! So he's gonna get shots for a year of stuff in back of him. Wow, that is not interesting at all, except for people that follow him and make faces at him.

If he really had the guts he would implant, well first an actual wireless camera or a mount on his forehead between his eyes, where the true third eye is located. Plus pictures would be more interesting.

Wafaa, we already have built in mounting points for cameras on our head. They are called ears. Hmm, even better, I predict that you will be one-upped by a blind person with an eye socket camera mount...