Holiday Specials? Yes...?

So it occurs to me that if I do all my shopping in January, I'm just going to miss out on the great 2008 holiday deals. And then I'll just have everything 21 days later at a higher price. And that's a little upsetting considering how much I hate paying full price for anything. SO, the way I see it, if I'm allowed to buy these items in January, it doesn't really make sense for me to just pay more in 20 days, RIGHT? Plus all those grubby holiday shoppers will have bought up all the best stuff in the size I need.

So... close....

I've been doing a lot of online window shopping lately, gearing up for the big 1-1-09. My plan is to make a list before January 1st of things I may buy the coming year, and then stick to buying those items only. I think I started a list a while back; gonna have to update it soon. New items include:

-a swimsuit that allows me to be taken seriously at the pool

-swim cap and maybe goggles (other people seem bothered I'm not wearing goggles, not sure why. Swim cap, I can understand, but goggles seem like personal preference...)

-winter coat that reaches past my knees and doesn't make me look 18

-some base layer shirts/camisoles

-elliptical machine (used from Craigslist)

-maybe a Wii and Wii Fit, but current owners seem to be in consensus that you don't use it once you actually own it... (also ideally from Craigslist)

Black Friday Indeed

The New York Times has this piece on Jdimytai Damour, the temp worker who was trampled to death at a Wal-Mart in Long Island. It's just crazy and senseless...

On Thursday as we were driving back from Thanksgiving I asked Elliott "what would happen if America didn't have Christmas?" It's such an odd atmosphere that is supposed to be of peace, goodwill, blah blah blah. Even non-Christians have fond childhood memories. We had a tree up every year. I mean, what would America look like without Christmas? Would our economy be the same? What would kids sing in music class? It's so ingrained in us, this bizarre creation of a holiday. I can't think of anything about Christmas that isn't manufactured, from the date of December 25 (to co-opt existing pagan rituals), to Santa Claus, to those crazy carols that now start after Halloween, to "Black Friday."

Sarah Palin Single-handedly Jumpstarting the Economy

The AP reports that in September alone, the GOP spent $150,000 on "clothing, hair styling, makeup and other 'campaign accessories.'" I wonder how much those hooker boots cost...



And this crazy getup:

This is why Obama can afford to spend so much more on TV ads. He's not confusing the presidential election with a beauty pageant.

Why I'm Voting for Obama

This is a partial list:

* Obama won't have to "have my staff get to you" on how many homes he owns (Obama owns one, valued at $1.6M). McCain, so far, owns at least EIGHT homes valued at around $13M. Take a tour of them:


* Obama's wife didn't introduce him at his convention wearing a $300,000 outfit. I was about to type and $30,000 and still be outraged. Then I double-checked. It's $300,000. 3 followed by 5 zero's. Vanity Fair notes:

To most Americans, $300,000 buys ...

... one and a half houses, given the national median home price of $206,500.

... a year's worth of health care for 750 people.

... the full array of back-to-school supplies and clothes for 500 kids.

... enough gas to drive cross-country 543 times.

... 365 round-trip flights from Washington, D.C., to Anchorage, Alaska. (John McCain should have splurged on at least one.)

... a three-course steak dinner (at Mat-su Resort) and a movie ticket (for the Mat-su Cinema) for every man, woman, and child in Wasilla, Alaska.

... enough money for three Troopergate investigations.

Michelle Obama's convention outfit cost $1,500 and was created by an up-and-coming local Chicago designer.

* The Obamas own one car, a 2008 Ford Escape hybrid. The McCains own 13, and he lied about his fleet, saying, "I've bought American literally all my life and I'm proud." Actually he also owns a 2005 Volkswagen convertible and a 2001 Honda sedan, and he seriously can't remember whether or not they bought Meghan McCain's foreign made Prius. (Source.)

* Obama doesn't consider $250,000 annual income as middle class, whether you are a plumber or a fake plumber.

The great cork debate

We are still here, and more or less sticking with the plan (see last post).

Here is an article on corks for wines. Like many 'green,' issues, there is no simple answer.

"Traditionally, wines that come with a screw-top have carried the stigma of being cheap and inferior -- probably because most of them were freakin' terrible. These days, more respectable wine-makers are turning their back on the cork. While their marketing departments say that the screw-top protects both taste and the environment, many green-types think the switch is little more than a greenwashed cost-cutting measure.

According to Treehugger, corks allow a tiny amount of air to seep into most bottles. Up to 10% of these bottles get 'corked' (i.e. go sour) because to the inconsistency of the old-school method. Losing 1/10th of your product due to faulty packaging seems pretty wasteful. Others contend that amount of wine lost is more like 1-2%, and that the renewable cork forests of Europe contain one of the world's highest levels of forest biodiversity -- like the Spanish wolf. Restrict their usefulness, they say, and these forests will get plowed under by developers."
- Green Daily

Half Way

Just a quick update at the half way point. Have not bought anything.

For the most part we have stuck with the rules, though occasionally the food purchases have, um, well perhaps not fit into the rules. Part of the problem is the lack of information on the packaging (yeah, that's it, it is not our fault). So far it has not been too bad, though there have certainly been some things (CDs and clothes) that I would have bought on impulse.

We may used the 'auto replacement' exception, which has become a bit of an issue. It does not help that AWD cars get poor mileage, but living in Maine (100 inches of snow last winter), I feel it is a requirement. And there is the new vs. used issue.

To be continued...