Shopaholic Reform: Tuesday's Daily Damage

Tuesday, February 9

Tuesday's Daily Damage

$15.00 - American Cancer Society - Daffodil Days Donation
$13.86 - UPS Store - Shipping of a gift
$9.57 - CVS
$28.33 - Hess (Gas)

Today's total was higher than my average daily spending but come on I bought some daffodils for cancer research people! I will however admit that I have a weakness for CVS. I wasn't even planning on going in but it's right next to the UPS store...too tempting to resist. I went in thinking that I would just pick up a Valentine's Card for Aaron and instead walked out with three cards and a diet Pepsi.

I am completely incapable of only buying one card at a time. I love them, they speak to me...well the strange sarcastic ones do anyways, those mushy ones can just hang on their shelves, not interested. I have a small stock piling of cards for every occasion...I'm not kidding I have my grandmothers old stationary case and it's brimming with delightful cards. I am a firm believer that you should have 3-4 sympathy cards at all times. It's so hard to find a good sympathy card when you need one (and you always need one last minute...not something like a birthday that you know is coming) so when you do find one it's imperative to stock up. It's like always having a black ensemble at the ready, as my mother always says you need to be prepared.

Anyways...I caved to my weakness today, but the cards I got are hysterical if that means anything. I also enjoy e-cards, which are not only free to send but also tree friendly! Someecards is my favorite site by a landslide. Please enjoy today's selection below, in honor of the upcoming Valentine's Day.

1 comment:

Hil J said...: I also have a stockpile of Hallmark cards on hand at all times. I recently stumbled across paperlesspost.com and LOVE it. It is great when you want something a bit more formal than someecards. AND You get 25 free stamps when you sign up!; February 11, 2010 at 11:03 AM

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Something to Chew On...

The downside to Globalization

1. “The general complaint about globalization is that it has made the rich richer while making the non-rich poorer. It is wonderful for managers and investors, but hell on workers and nature.”¹

2. Multinational corporations are accused of social injustice, unfair working conditions (including slave labor wages and poor living and working conditions), as well as a lack of concern for the environment, mismanagement of natural resources, and ecological damage.

3. Multinational corporations which were previously restricted to commercial activities are increasingly influencing political decisions. Many think there is a threat of corporations ruling the world because they are gaining power due to globalization.

4. Opponents say globalization makes it easier for rich companies to act with less accountability. They also claim that countries’ individual cultures are becoming overpowered by Americanization.

5. Anti-globalists also claim that globalization is not working for the majority of the world. During the most recent period of rapid growth in global trade and investment, 1960 to 1998, inequality worsened both internationally and within countries. The UN Development Program reports that the richest 20 percent of the world's population consume 86 percent of the world's resources, while the poorest 80 percent consume just 14 percent.

6. Some experts think that globalization is also leading to the incursion of communicable diseases. Deadly diseases like HIV/AIDS are being spread by travelers to the remotest corners of the globe.

7. Globalization has led to exploitation of labor. Prisoners and child workers are used to work in inhumane conditions. Safety standards are ignored to produce cheap goods. There is also an increase in human trafficking.

8. Social welfare schemes or “safety nets” are under great pressure in developed countries because of deficits and other economic ramifications of globalization.

As manufacturing continues to decline, so does our ability to innovate. In the long term, this means fewer well-paid jobs, lower productivity, declining wages, declining living standards and low economic growth. Globalization is a big part of this decline and will affect all jobs and all sectors of the economy. From the point of view of multinational corporations and Wall Street investors, globalization is probably viewed as a wonderful phenomenon with many opportunities. But from the point of view of American manufacturers, manufacturing workers, the middle class, professional service workers and overall economic growth, I think the disadvantages far out weigh the advantages.

-Mike Collins, The Pros and Cons of Globalization (2010)