Think Tank
Christmas in February Edition
Issue 4
To my friends and readers:
Since I was unable to write a Christmas Edition when it would actually have made any sense, i.e. December, I decided to send out this issue. Oh, sure, I could have called it the Ground Hog’s Day Edition or the President’s Day Edition, but as you’ll read, it does make more sense to call it the Christmas in February Edition.
Besides (and here comes the lame attempt at a justification), with Christmas being so commercialized and turned into an orgy of shopping and economics, and with it beginning sometime in October, and with January being the time for after Christmas specials, and with July being the time for the clearance of this year’s car models, I thought, “What the hey! Let’s go ahead and contaminate another month.”
At least with Christmas in February and the select group that reads this little newsletter, we could concentrate on what Christmas should be about. Of course, this is where I get myself into a little trouble, but on with the statement. I’m not talking about the religious reasons for Christmas, and I’m not talking about the pagan reasons for Christmas. I’m talking about the spirit behind Christmas (which, coincidentally or not, should also be behind religion but is seldom found there).
I’m talking about the generousness of spirit, the giving mot of things but of ourselves, the family and friends and the love we should show to our fellow human beings – even the ones we don’t like. I am talking about the way we should be but seldom allow ourselves to be. I am talking about, well, you guys get the picture, but I will sum it up in two words: Be Nice.
Another reason that this issue turned out the way that it did was because I wrote during Christmas break, and during a time when I sometimes get a little more frustrated by the injustices that man perpetrates against his fellow man in the name of making a buck. Even in our college town, the Sam Goody (Musicland, Sun Coast Movie Company) closed without warning on the 27th of December. At least, five people lost their jobs for Christmas – is there a better gift you could get?
(I have personally experienced being fired [I’m sorry, the term is “laid off”] before Christmas when I worked at Kay Bee Toys. It is not pleasant to have been expecting at least some notice, and then have them drop a bomb on you, and they still expect you to work for them through the holiday.)
So here is the quandary caused by this – should I continue shopping at these places or buying their products? If I don’t, they’ll just keep firing people; if I do, there is no guarantee that they won’t continue to fire people. I don’t have an answer to this question. (I will never shop at another Kay Bee, though.)
On the brighter side, this newsletter contains two more Filtwater stories. I have received verbal praise for the first three stories and can only hope that the next two are as well written as the prior three.
Sincerely
Think Tank
c/o Shad Engkilterra next page
Since I was unable to write a Christmas Edition when it would actually have made any sense, i.e. December, I decided to send out this issue. Oh, sure, I could have called it the Ground Hog’s Day Edition or the President’s Day Edition, but as you’ll read, it does make more sense to call it the Christmas in February Edition.
Besides (and here comes the lame attempt at a justification), with Christmas being so commercialized and turned into an orgy of shopping and economics, and with it beginning sometime in October, and with January being the time for after Christmas specials, and with July being the time for the clearance of this year’s car models, I thought, “What the hey! Let’s go ahead and contaminate another month.”
At least with Christmas in February and the select group that reads this little newsletter, we could concentrate on what Christmas should be about. Of course, this is where I get myself into a little trouble, but on with the statement. I’m not talking about the religious reasons for Christmas, and I’m not talking about the pagan reasons for Christmas. I’m talking about the spirit behind Christmas (which, coincidentally or not, should also be behind religion but is seldom found there).
I’m talking about the generousness of spirit, the giving mot of things but of ourselves, the family and friends and the love we should show to our fellow human beings – even the ones we don’t like. I am talking about the way we should be but seldom allow ourselves to be. I am talking about, well, you guys get the picture, but I will sum it up in two words: Be Nice.
Another reason that this issue turned out the way that it did was because I wrote during Christmas break, and during a time when I sometimes get a little more frustrated by the injustices that man perpetrates against his fellow man in the name of making a buck. Even in our college town, the Sam Goody (Musicland, Sun Coast Movie Company) closed without warning on the 27th of December. At least, five people lost their jobs for Christmas – is there a better gift you could get?
(I have personally experienced being fired [I’m sorry, the term is “laid off”] before Christmas when I worked at Kay Bee Toys. It is not pleasant to have been expecting at least some notice, and then have them drop a bomb on you, and they still expect you to work for them through the holiday.)
So here is the quandary caused by this – should I continue shopping at these places or buying their products? If I don’t, they’ll just keep firing people; if I do, there is no guarantee that they won’t continue to fire people. I don’t have an answer to this question. (I will never shop at another Kay Bee, though.)
On the brighter side, this newsletter contains two more Filtwater stories. I have received verbal praise for the first three stories and can only hope that the next two are as well written as the prior three.
Sincerely
Think Tank
c/o Shad Engkilterra next page