Think outside the box

It’s time to think outside the box, people. Who says a gift needs to fit in a shirt box, wrapped in mass produced wrapping paper from abroad?

• Everyone — yes EVERYONE gets their hair cut. How about gift certificates from your local 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 valet’ d? Small, South African owned 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 plonking down the cash on an overseas made flat-screen? Perhaps that grateful gift receiver would like his driveway fixed, or lawn mowed for the summer, or roof waterproofed and painted.
• There are a Gazillion 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 South African 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 motorbike, done at a shop run by a South African 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 do with an upgrade, 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 are great. They make jewellery, pottery, knitted stuff, Teddy Bears, paintings and home preserves etc.
• 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.

Keep the money in the SA community

Honestly, people, do you REALLY need to buy another ten thousand mass produced overseas lights for the house?   When you buy a R50 string of lights, about fifty cents stays in the community.  If you have those kinds of bucks to burn, leave the mail-man, trash guy or babysitter a nice BIG tip.

You see, Christmas is no longer about draining South African pockets so that foreign countries can build another glittering city. Christmas is now about caring about us, encouraging small businesses to keep plugging away to follow their dreams. And, when we care about other South Africans, we care about our communities, and the benefits come back to us in ways we couldn’t imagine. THIS should be the new South African Christmas tradition.

Let’s share this as widely and quickly as possible

Forward this to everyone on your mailing list — post it to discussion groups — throw up a post in your local newspaper in the Rants and Raves section — your radio stations, and TV news departments. [Share it on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and other social networks too. You can use the share buttons below.]

This is a revolution of caring about each other, and isn’t that what Christmas is about?

BUY SOUTH AFRICAN – BE  SOUTH AFRICAN

The job you save might be your own

Have your own Christmas prezzie ideas?

Feel free to share them in the Reply section below (no affiliate links or self-promo items please).

As everyone knows, the tsunami in Southeast Asia was devastating both in the loss of life and economically to the region.

However now that the clean up is under way in the region, deep-sea creatures that live too deep to be studied are being found scattered throughout the debris. These creatures were washed up on shore when the waves hit.

To view all images:
Click on the first image to open the photos in slide-view format. Use the Fwd button in the usual way to view the next image.

To download an image in full size:
Click on the white-on-blue Down arrow top right of the slide show window. To go back to icon view, click on the X (Close) button of the slide show window.

My thanks to Sandy in Alabama for sending these to me in e-mail.

Disclaimer: I have taken on trust that these photos are indeed what they are said to be, as I have no reason to doubt their authenticity.

Back to Blog Home

Created: 2011-3-24 ARTICLE EDITOR’S note:

THIS letter, written by Vietnamese immigrant Ha Minh Thanh working in Fukushima as a policeman to a friend in Vietnam, was posted on New America Media on March 19, 2011.

It is a testimonial to the strength of the Japanese spirit, and an interesting slice of life near the epicenter of Japan’s crisis at the Fukushima nuclear power plant. It was translated by NAM editor Andrew Lam, author of “East Eats West: Writing in Two Hemispheres.” Shanghai Daily condensed it.

Brother,

How are you and your family? These last few days, everything was in chaos. When I close my eyes, I see dead bodies. When I open my eyes, I also see dead bodies.

Each one of us must work 20 hours a day, yet I wish there were 48 hours in the day, so that we could continue helping and rescuing folks.

We are without water and electricity, and food rations are near zero. We barely manage to move refugees before there are new orders to move them elsewhere.

I am currently in Fukushima, about 25 kilometers away from the nuclear power plant. I have so much to tell you that if I could write it all down, it would surely turn into a novel about human relationships and behaviors during times of crisis.

People here remain calm – their sense of dignity and proper behavior are very good – so things aren’t as bad as they could be. But given another week, I can’t guarantee that things won’t get to a point where we can no longer provide proper protection and order.

They are humans after all, and when hunger and thirst override dignity, well, they will do whatever they have to do. The government is trying to provide supplies by air, bringing in food and medicine, but it’s like dropping a little salt into the ocean.

Brother, there was a really moving incident. It involves a little Japanese boy who taught an adult like me a lesson on how to behave like a human being.

Last night, I was sent to a little grammar school to help a charity organization distribute food to the refugees. It was a long line that snaked this way and that and I saw a little boy around 9 years old. He was wearing a T-shirt and a pair of shorts.

It was getting very cold and the boy was at the very end of the line. I was worried that by the time his turn came there wouldn’t be any food left. So I spoke to him. He said he was at school when the earthquake happened. His father worked nearby and was driving to the school. The boy was on the third floor balcony when he saw the tsunami sweep his father’s car away.

I asked him about his mother. He said his house is right by the beach and that his mother and little sister probably didn’t make it. He turned his head and wiped his tears when I asked about his relatives.

The boy was shivering so I took off my police jacket and put it on him. That’s when my bag of food ration fell out. I picked it up and gave it to him. “When it comes to your turn, they might run out of food. So here’s my portion. I already ate. Why don’t you eat it?”

The boy took my food and bowed. I thought he would eat it right away, but he didn’t. He took the bag of food, went up to where the line ended and put it where all the food was waiting to be distributed.

I was shocked. I asked him why he didn’t eat it and instead added it to the food pile. He answered: “Because I see a lot more people hungrier than I am. If I put it there, then they will distribute the food equally.”

When I heard that I turned away so that people wouldn’t see me cry.

A society that can produce a 9-year-old who understands the concept of sacrifice for the greater good must be a great society, a great people.

Well, a few lines to send you and your family my warm wishes. The hours of my shift have begun again.

Ha Minh Thanh

10 things to learn from Japan

1. THE CALM
   Not a single visual of chest-beating or wild grief. Sorrow itself has been elevated.
2. THE DIGNITY
   Disciplined queues for water and groceries. Not a rough word or a crude gesture.
3. THE ABILITY
   The incredible architects, for instance. Buildings swayed but didn’t fall.
4. THE GRACE
   People bought only what they needed for the present, so everybody could get something.
5. THE ORDER
   No looting in shops. No honking and no overtaking on the roads. Just understanding.
6. THE SACRIFICE
   Fifty workers stayed back to pump sea water in the N-reactors. How will they ever be repaid?
7. THE TENDERNESS
   Restaurants cut prices. An unguarded ATM is left alone. The strong cared for the weak.
8. THE TRAINING
   The old and the children, everyone knew exactly what to do. And they did just that.
9. THE MEDIA
   They showed magnificent restraint in the bulletins. No silly reporters. Only calm reportage.
10. THE CONSCIENCE
    When the power went off in a store, people put things back on the shelves and left quietly!

Back to Blog Home

With Cheryl’s help and guidance I am starting to learn how to manage WordPress for building a website and not just for blogging. And here I have the best of two worlds – a website and a blog. In fact, with GDI I have the best of three worlds because their package also includes an excellent income-generating affiliate programme.

So, Cheryl, a big Thank You, and a bigger HUG.

Cheryl Smith

Cheryl Smith

For more about Cheryl Smith and the books she has been involved with as co-author and illustrator, click on the image or on this link:
Really, Really, Really, Easy Step-by-Step Computer Books – The Authors