Subject: Christmas 2011 - Birth of a New Tradition

As the holidays approach, the giant Asian factories are kicking into
high gear to provide Americans with monstrous piles of cheaply
produced goods -- merchandise that has been produced at the expense of
American labor. This year will be different. This year Americans will
give the gift of genuine concern for other Americans. There is no
longer an excuse that, at gift giving time, nothing can be found that
is produced by American hands. Yes there is!

It's time to think outside the box, people. Who says a gift needs to
fit in a shirt box, wrapped in Chinese produced wrapping paper?
Everyone -- yes EVERYONE gets their hair cut. How about gift
certificates from your local American hair salon or barber? Gym
membership? It's appropriate for all ages who are thinking about some
health improvement.

Who wouldn't appreciate getting their car detailed? Small, American
owned detail shops and car washes would love to sell you a gift
certificate or a book of gift certificates.

Are you one of those extravagant givers who think nothing of plunking
down the Benjamins on a Chinese made flat-screen? Perhaps that
grateful gift receiver would like his driveway sealed, or lawn mowed
for the summer, or driveway plowed all winter, or games at the local
golf course.

There are a bazillion owner-run restaurants -- all offering gift
certificates. And, if your intended isn't the fancy eatery sort, what
about a half dozen breakfasts at the local breakfast joint. Remember,
folks this isn't about big National chains -- this is about supporting
your home town Americans with their financial lives on the line to
keep their doors open.

How many people couldn't use an oil change for their car, truck or
motorcycle, done at a shop run by the American working guy?

Thinking about a heartfelt gift for mom? Mom would LOVE the services
of a local cleaning lady for a day.

My computer could use a tune-up, and I KNOW I can find some young guy
who is struggling to get his repair business up and running.

OK, you were looking for something more personal. Local crafts people
spin their own wool and knit them into scarves. They make jewelry, and
pottery and beautiful wooden boxes.

Plan your holiday outings at local, owner operated restaurants and
leave your server a nice tip. And, how about going out to see a play
or ballet at your hometown theatre? Musicians need love too, so find a
venue showcasing local bands.

Honestly, people, do you REALLY need to buy another ten thousand
Chinese lights for the house? When you buy a five dollar string of
light, about fifty cents stays in the community. If you have those
kinds of bucks to burn, leave the mailman, trash guy or babysitter a
nice BIG tip.

You see, Christmas is no longer about draining American pockets so
that China can build another glittering city. Christmas is now about
caring about US, encouraging American small businesses to keep
plugging away to follow their dreams. And, when we care about other
Americans, we care about our communities, and the benefits come back
to us in ways we couldn't imagine. THIS is the new American Christmas
tradition.

Forward this to everyone on your mailing list -- post it to discussion
groups -- throw up a post on Craigslist in the Rants and Raves section
in your city -- send it to the editor of your local paper and radio
stations, and TV news departments. This is a revolution of caring
about each other, and isn't that what Christmas is about?

My hat is off to you John. Thank you for posting this.

How about taking the whole family to CHURCH.

CHRISTmas is for religous beliefs!!!! Your idea should be done every day,and so should CHRISTmas. Good for you.

P.S. Is not the silverwing "made in JAPAN ???"

You were doing sort of okay until the post script Pancho!

Cheers,

tarmacburner2
(British and Atheist - so nearly perfect!)

For the past several years, my wife and I have given each other a goat, or other animal through World Vision.

We have enough material possessions and I've felt our society has lost the true meaning of Christmas. Giving a goat, or some chickens or ducks, helps a family much more than buying myself something I really don't need.

We've also been giving to Angel Tree ministries. There's usually a package deal at a certain gift level that includes a Christmas CD and a showing at the Tap Root Theater. It makes a nice date for my wife and I. But the biggest part of it, is knowing that you've helped bring some love and joy into the heart of a little child whose father or mother is in prison.

My wife and I had a "date" yesterday, going to the local dollar store to fill some shoeboxes for Samaritan's Purse, Operation Christmas Child. Many of the children who get these boxes for Christmas have never received a gift in their lives.

The best part of Christmas this year, will be in having our two daughters home.

This is just where our own Christmas tradition has evolved to.

Chris

From one of Tom Lehrer's albums (Link is to a youtube audio):

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=a+christmas+carol+tom+lerher&view=detail&mid=6B332CC63C19455B07396B332CC63C19455B0739&first=0&FORM=LKVR2

One very familiar type of song is the Christmas carol, although it is perhaps a bit out of season at this time. However, I'm informed by my "disk jockey" friends - of whom I have none, in order to get a song popular by Christmas time, you have to start plugging it well in advance. So here goes.

It has always seemed to me after all, that Christmas, with it's spirit of giving, afford us all a wonderful opportunity each year to reflect on what we all most sincerely and deeply believe in. I refer of course, to money. And yet none of the Christmas carols that you hear on the radio or in the street, even attempt to capture the true spirit of Christmas as we celebrate it in the US of A., that is to say the commercial spirit. So I should like to offer the following Christmas carol for next year, as being perhaps a bit more appropriate.
Lyrics:

"Christmas time is here, by golly,
Disapproval would be folly,
Deck the halls with hunks of holly,
Fill the cup and don't say "when."
Kill the turkeys, ducks and chickens,
Mix the punch, drag out the dickens,
Even though the prospect sickens,
Brother, here we go again.

On christmas day you can't get sore,
Your fellow man you must adore,
There's time to rob him all the more
The other three hundred and sixty-four.

Relations, sparing no expense'll
Send some useless old utensil,
Or a matching pen and pencil.
"just the thing I need! how nice!"
It doesn't matter how sincere it
Is, nor how heartfelt the spirit,
Sentiment will not endear it,
What's important is the price.

Hark the herald tribune sings,
Advertising wondrous things.
God rest ye merry, merchants,
May you make the yuletide pay.
Angels we have heard on high
Tell us to go out and buy!

So let the raucous sleigh bells jingle,
Hail our dear old friend kris kringle,
Driving his reindeer across the sky.
Don't stand underneath when they fly by."

Actually I did rather well myself, this last christmas. the nicest present I received was a gift certificate "good at any hospital for a lobotomy". rather thoughtful.

I thought this was a Silver Wing forum, tis getting more like a pulpit!!!

Can we get back to riding bikes!

Hey Doug... I kinda took your advice... I did get back to riding... rode my scoot to town bought some food for a local family that lost their house this past Thursday. The first thing out of her mouth was "Thank you Jesus'... her words, not mine.

It is so gorgeous outside here now. Trees have turned. Too pretty to stay inside now. I am going for another ride... (third one today).

I will be very happy if the weather is good on Christmas Day and I can go for a ride.

Cheers,

Didn't take either of the scoots today as I had to collect two new wheels for the 911. Dropped them off at my local tyre supplier and ordered four tyres for it. Getting them fitted tomorrow and then it is on to my private test track for a road test.

Cheers,

p.s. (Private test track also known as the M55 Motorway)

I went out yesterday wearing my new Scorpion Exo900 Transformer flip front helmet instead of my usual Schuberth J1 open face. The Scorpion is comfortable, quiet, and in bright direct sun with the grey sun visor down...downright bloody useless! I'm going to change the sun visor for an amber visor once I can get the damn thing off. Then I'm not wearing it again until I've fitted a Super-Visor.

Doug... Bigbird is right... move it...

My bad in the first place for putting it here and not in the general chat area.
And you are right boss man. Why didn't you move my mistake? Just kidding, and thanks for all that you do do. Ha Ha