Shopaholic Reform: Happy ALMOST Birthday...to ME!

Tuesday, February 1

Happy ALMOST Birthday...to ME!

It's true...in 18 days exactly I will be celebrating my...gulp...30th birthday. Gross. Luckily I will be celebrating on a plane on my way to India for three weeks. AND my theory is that if I'm not in this country for my 30th, then it doesn't count and I get to be 29 for another year. (please keep your opinions to yourself on my theory and try not to ruin my year, would ya?)

So anyways, I have already received some of my birthday presents. People should have really learned by now that you can't give me anything early, b/c I will annoy you until you let me open it, or I will open it as soon as you leave. I don't love surprises...they're not my thing...never have been.

Here's what I got from my mom and dad...

Kitchen Aid Food Processor.

My mom is very enthusiastic about my new found interest in cooking and baking (mostly baking...let's face it the outcome is just so much tastier...mmm sugar)

Krinkles Eggplant Lady Ornament.

Krinkles Poinsettia Fairy Lady.

...from my brother,

The coolest teapot around...NUMI, organic flowering tea. It's the coolest thing maybe ever. You add hot water and this weird looking little tea pod expands into a flower. AND it's delicious.

...from my friend Hilary,

A gift card for Groupon. I didn't even know you could get a gift certificate for Groupon! Awesome!!

AND Aaron has planned an evening out in Boston for us for my birthday b/c I told him I don't need anything. So we're packing up Maggie and heading to the city for an evening. I have a feeling he's up scheming something else, but I haven't been able to dig up any additional information...and I'm trying my best not to cross any lines with my snooping. Granted that's been hard for me to refrain from, but I'm trying.

Thanks for the birthday cheer!

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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)