tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16659850.post6160132143532059942..comments2024-03-17T03:42:21.277-05:00Comments on LEARNING CURVE ON THE ECLIPTIC: Seasonal ThoughtsTwilighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14138621610593773784noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16659850.post-68835278375545452682013-12-15T09:36:06.265-06:002013-12-15T09:36:06.265-06:00David Macadam ~ Thanks. :-) I was trying to do tha...David Macadam ~ Thanks. :-) I was trying to do that for my self too! Almost.........<br />Twilighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14138621610593773784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16659850.post-90478414007747944312013-12-15T09:32:39.826-06:002013-12-15T09:32:39.826-06:00Clotee ~ Thanks and good wishes to you too. I rea...Clotee ~ Thanks and good wishes to you too. I realise your post is primarily an exercise in advertising, aka spam, but as it is the season of goodwill - I'll not treat it as "spam". :-)<br />Twilighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14138621610593773784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16659850.post-49302597355983516662013-12-15T09:30:42.945-06:002013-12-15T09:30:42.945-06:00mike ~ Thanks for the link. Making "charity&...mike ~ Thanks for the link. Making "charity" and "philanthropy" into profitable "big business" eh? I guess it was inevitable. :-/<br /><br />I've sadly read adverse articles and comment about Goodwill and the Salvation Army recently (the former due to high salary of CEO; the latter because of their alleged stance against LGBT - though this is disputed in some places). I bear these things in mind, but find them secondary to the fact that both organisations do good, and can be seen to be doing good at the "business" end.<br />Twilighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14138621610593773784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16659850.post-61534393568031068342013-12-15T06:02:15.356-06:002013-12-15T06:02:15.356-06:00Lovely post. Almost restores my faith in humanity...Lovely post. Almost restores my faith in humanity!David Macadamhttp://www.theoligarchkings.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16659850.post-83128829247214776712013-12-14T22:31:18.162-06:002013-12-14T22:31:18.162-06:00I've read several articles about the wealthy c...I've read several articles about the wealthy contributions that ultimately butter wealth's bread. Or the charities that utilize the majority of contributions for "administrative" costs. Uh huh. There is also a trend for companies to become non-profit by reorganizing the profitable portions as subcontractors...particularly in hospitals and health care. Deviousness abounds, Twilight.<br /><br />Here's an interesting link (and comments!)...philanthropists now have a lobbyist at their disposal: The Charity Defense Council. Don't expect reform anytime soon.<br /><br />http://philanthropy.com/article/Charities-Must-Battle-Myths/134340mike (again)noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16659850.post-89355240093532003502013-12-14T13:42:23.094-06:002013-12-14T13:42:23.094-06:00mike ~ The UK isn't far behind in capitalism a...mike ~ The UK isn't far behind in capitalism and consumerism at Christmas - just on a smaller scale, but the atmosphere is much the same in stores and TV ads, if I recall correctly....Some of it apes the USA some is home grown.<br /><br />I haven't seen the Ford commercials you mentioned. I did see a similarly annoying one the other night which had me swearing loudly at the TV - can't remember the detail now, I think it involved smartphones.<br /><br />I've just read a piece by Robert Reich highlighting the way charity by the wealthy classes nowadays does little for the needy. When philanthropy met entropy? <br /><br /><i>Rich people’s idea of charity: Giving to elite schools and operas </i><br /><br />http://www.salon.com/2013/12/14/the_wealthy_give_to_charity_elite_schools_and_operas_partner/<br /><br />Twilighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14138621610593773784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16659850.post-53607361579466016622013-12-14T12:49:24.038-06:002013-12-14T12:49:24.038-06:00It's very sad that Xmas here in the USA is rul...It's very sad that Xmas here in the USA is ruled by capitalism...all about sales, as far as retailers are concerned. And, of course, we consumers are the other side of the equation, too...can't have one without the other. There are too many reasons a child may not receive gifts at Xmas, whether from friends, family, or Santa. The commercials on TV and in-store displays must be extremely confusing to the no-Xmas-gifts-child...or even the child that receives minimal.<br /><br />Many nationalities and cultures around the world celebrate Xmas in a very different manner than the USA. I appreciate Mexico's tradition of visiting family, friends, music and drink, spiritually inclined, food, and glad tidings...a down-play of capitalism-consumerism. At least, that's what my Latino friends convey to me, when they reminisce about their Xmases south of the border.<br /><br />I'm particularly annoyed this year with a series of Ford commercials...a child sitting on Santa's lap requesting a truck or car...the child is very flip, aggressive, and creepy. Ugh...and not "cute"...and I'm sure there are creepy kids just like that out there...I've met a few and the parents that produce the darlings.mikenoreply@blogger.com