god money why don't we go dancing on the backs of the bruised / god money's not one to choose

[erf_]

Okay, I am sick of talking about money and you are probably sick of hearing me talk about money but this is more important than all the money bullshit I have previously written put together

Comments

[asimovfan]

You must really like that soapbox to be spending so much time standing on it.

That being said- your last post on killing gatsby' was a lot more informative and interesting. If you want to talk about something like that, that you know better than the rest of us, sure say it. I read it, liked it.

But this one talking down to people who are the same age as you and telling us about how to spend our money like we're five is just insulting.... what new insight or knowledge are you giving us that we haven't all heard before?

[erf_]

My feet are glued to it, is the problem.

How am I talking down to you guys here? I'm just telling you that your money has more influence that it did before the recession, and exhorting you to take advantage of that. I certainly don't think I'm being condescending. If you're already aware that money is worth more in a recession, then yeah, this entry has nothing new to tell you, but it wasn't obvious to me.

[asimovfan]

Don't worry about it, really. In retrospect, while your writing style grates on me a little sometimes, mostly I was just annoyed at the terrible situations charities are in kinda related, not your fault. I wrote a long detailed response, and then my browser glitched and ate it. (aside, you might use less redundant detail, I think it makes it look like you think your audience is dumb)

[erf_]

It's cool.

Redundant detail is what separates a fiction writer from a nonfiction writer. Fuck efficiency! :D

[aesvir]

I thought you made some great points about supporting your local businesses and charities, rather than just buying yourself something at Gap.

Which is why I still shell out dollars for tickets to the Boston Symphony and sometimes go to family-owned grocery store on the corner rather than Shaw's. It's worth doing, esp. if you live within your budget.

[erf_]

Yeah...as hard as the Gap is going to be hit in the recession, it's the local clothing stores that are at greater risk of closing down permanently.

Kudos to you!

[user_undefined]

Oxfam
The Nature Conservancy
Mercy Corps
Heifer International (you can buy BEES for smalltime beekeepers, among other things - BEES ARE PRETTY IMPORTANT RIGHT NOW)
National Organization for Women
Avaaz

You already got Amnesty International, which is a good one. After Katrina, I wouldn't give a dime to the Red Cross, though.

[erf_]

Katrina gave me very mixed feelings about the Red Cross. On one hand, yeah, they were stupidly inefficient and totally did not have their shit together. With their resources, they should have saved so many more lives and gotten so many more people back on their feet. On the other hand, they drove around the Ninth Ward in rented ice cream trucks and gave free chips and hot dogs to anyone who wanted them. I don't think that was useful for rebuilding NOLA in the long run but it was nice that someone at the organization had the heart to do it.

I've started thinking of them as the second line of defense in a crisis--they're good at supporting whatever aid programs are already there, but are not sufficient in themselves.

[erf_]

And thanks for the links! I hadn't even thought of Oxfam--good call there.

Let us COVER THE WORLD IN BEES.

[user_undefined]

I LIKE MY EARTH LIKE I LIKE MY COFFEE AND ALSO MY WOMEN