Hard to believe people would “trade in” some of their Christmas gifts but, every year, many do just that. I find it somehow sad. Oh, I understand exchanging a size medium for a size large, but trading a gift that a friend or relative put thought into selecting seems, well, just wrong.

Yet the lines at department store gift return counters remain long as people trade in toasters for barbecues and barbecues for toasters. But what will they tell Aunt Tilly when she asks why they never wear that lovely wool sweater she gave them? You know, the one with the reindeer on the front?

Remember your Shakespeare? “What a wicked web we weave…”

A new year means, among other things, cleaning out the old and starting fresh. And so it is with my desktop. I have scads of links scattered about that I intended to post but never got “a round tuit.” So before I drag them all to the trash and into virtual oblivion, I thought I might post a couple I thought were worthy but somehow slipped through the cracks:

Holiday Mixer

My mother-in-law, Pat, sent me this AP photo of the S.T. Griswold & Co. “Holiday Mixer.” Seems Griswold decorates one of its cement mixers every year and drives it around the town of Montpelier, Vermont, through New Year’s Eve churning up a unique mix of holiday cheer for local residents. It takes a crew of six a week to decorate the truck with more than 30,000 lights and, yes, the cement drum still turns! More info

Airstream Holiday Light Show

I don’t know how I missed this, but Denny Wilson didn’t. I know you’ve all seen the original video of the house that was decorated with lights and synched to Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s Wizards In Winter. There have been a few copies - other houses with lights synched to other TSO songs - but nothing as unique as this one:

There. My desktop is clean. I think I’ll take the rest of the day off.

One reason so many people fail to keep, or even start, their New Year resolutions is procrastination. Most of us, myself included, are procrastinators to one degree or another. I’d venture to say that some of the most accomplished people I know are procrastinators. So is procrastination really such a bad thing?

There’s certainly no shortage of articles published on how to cure the problem of procrastination. But I would argue that, except in extreme cases, curing procrastination may be undesirable if not impossible. Think about it. At any given moment, there are any number of things we could be working on. And no matter which we choose, it will be to the exclusion of all the others. So the question becomes not how to avoid procrastination, but how to procrastinate well. With me so far?

Expanding on this concept, let’s postulate there are three types of procrastination depending on what you choose to work on. You could either work on (a) nothing, (b) something less important, or (c) something more important. The last type, I’d argue, is good procrastination.

Consider the absent-minded professor who forgets to shave, eat or perhaps even notice where he’s going because he’s thinking about something more important. His mind is absent from the everyday world because it’s hard at work in another. That’s the sense in which I referred to accomplished people being procrastinators. I’ll call them Type-C procrastinators. They put off working on small things in order to work on more important things.

What are small things? Well, sometimes it’s hard to say at the time, but a list might include things like doing the laundry or cleaning the house, things that would more correctly be classified as errands. Good procrastination is avoiding errands in favor of more important work. Errands interrupt creative productivity. Still with me?

The most dangerous form of procrastination is unacknowledged Type-B because it doesn’t feel like procrastination. You’re getting things done, just the wrong things. In fact, any advice about procrastination that concentrates on crossing things off your to-do list is not only incomplete, but positively misleading if it doesn’t consider the possibility that the to-do list is itself a form of Type-B procrastination. In fact, possibility is too timid a word. Unless you’re working on the biggest things you could be working on, you’re Type-B procrastinating no matter how much you’re getting done.

Here’s the bottom line. People who’ve managed to make themselves work on big things all blow off errands and, surprisingly, all feel guilty about it. I don’t think they should feel guilty; there’s more to do than anyone possibly could. But realistically, someone doing the best work they can is inevitably going to leave a lot of errands undone. It seems a mistake to feel bad about that, don’t you agree? Instead, let delight pull you instead of letting a to-do list push you. Work on an ambitious project you really enjoy, sail as close to the wind as you can and you’ll leave the right things undone.

You can read more about procrastination here, here and here. You may also find it interesting to take this short quiz to evaluate whether you’re a procrastinator and, if so, why you procrastinate and what areas of your life are most affected. 

Sound familiar? Here’s a miracle cure for procrastination! Simply print out this token and keep it in your pocket. You’ll be able to take care of all those things you’ve been putting off because you’ve finally got a Round Tuit!

Having trouble rounding out your list of New Year resolutions? Perhaps this resolution generator created by Jim Hoffman will help. Simply select whether you want to start or stop something, click “What’s my New Year’s Resolution?” and there you have it.

Hmmm… Looks like Jim’s generator gave me a toughie… Wait… Maybe not…

It also gave me “Stop dancing on tables right now.” Now, that’s going to be a challenge!

It looks like David Watanabe’s accidental discovery (see my September 12 post) a few months ago was right on the money. Three weeks before Steve Jobs’ annual keynote address at Macworld, someone - perhaps Rupert Murdoch - just stole his thunder. If reports this morning in Financial Times and the Wall Street Journal are true, Apple and News Corp have struck a deal for a new video-on-demand service that could change the way digital movies are distributed, viewed and paid for.

According to this morning’s Wall Street Journal, the two companies signed an agreement that would allow customers to download the latest 20th Century Fox movies through the iTunes store and watch them for a limited time. No pricing details were available, but earlier reports suggested that Fox and Apple were talking about charging $2.99 for 30 days viewing. That’s considerably cheaper than competing services from BlockBuster and NetFlix, neither of which work with iTunes, Macs or iPods.

Disney is the only other studio that makes new releases available on iTunes, but only to buy, not to rent. Paramount, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and Lionsgate sell older library titles. But the tide may be turning, and Apple is reported to be in talks with Sony, Paramount and Warner Brothers

In a related move, Fox also plans to release DVDs that use Apple’s digital rights management system, a move that would allow consumers to make legal copies of the disc that could be played on an iPod or other device, such as a computer. The moves were reported by the Web site of the Financial Times ….More

This is good news for everyone. Now, before you X-box and Zune users start chirping how you can do some of this already, recognize that the iTunes Store rules (legal) entertainment downloading and the iPod/iPhone devises are used by more people for mobile entertainment listening/viewing than others. This will ultimately benefit everyone, especially if/when other movie studios climb aboard.

There’s lots of change going on out there; new Web widgets, new biotech, new eco-friendly dirt bikes that can jump over your head. Here’s a rundown of what and whom to keep an eye on in 2008:

“There is nothing in the world more beautiful than the forest clothed to its very hollows in snow. It is the still ecstasy of nature, wherein every spray, every blade of grass, every spire of reed, every intricacy of twig, is clad with radiance.” - William Sharp

“Lights please…

‘And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them; and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.’

That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.” - Linus Van Pelt

Jeff Dunham’s Achmed the Dead Terrorist sings “Jingle Bombs”…

Via

A tradition Dawn and I look forward to each Christmas season is “The Singing Christmas Tree” at our church. We went Saturday night a week ago and agreed it was the best performance we’ve seen. Of course, having seats in the 6th row helped, but the theme this year - Christmas celebrated around the world - was especially enjoyable. It’s the Tree’s 51st year in production and more than 25,000 people see and hear it each year. The church membership includes so many talented performers, and the production is done so professionally, we’re always amazed. We’ve already bought our tickets for next year.

Another traditional holiday event for us is attending “A Peter White Christmas” in the Gazetta Grand Ballroom. We went last Thursday night, enjoyed fifth row seats and heard some great Christmas music performed by Peter White, Rick Braun and Mindy Abair. It’s always a nice evening this time of year and helps keep us in the holiday spirit. We forgot a camera, so we grabbed a couple shots with Dawn’s iPhone. I’ll post them if they’re decent. The iPhone is great, but the camera is “iffy” when hand held in low light.

I say every year that you won’t catch me near a shopping mall during the holidays, and most years I’ve managed to steer clear of mall crowds. But despite my resolve, Dawn and I found ourselves in the “crunch” of it this season. I’d thought we were pretty much finished with Christmas shopping - we started well before Black Friday - but there were still a few straggler items we needed to procure so, much to my chagrin, we were out “in it” last night.

The worst part for me is always the standing in line; I’m a particularly poor “line stander,” especially if I’m alone. But Dawn was with me last night and it wasn’t bad at all. We got in, grabbed what we needed, and got out. And now we’re finished!

After wrapping up the shopping, we drove through some of the neighborhoods known for elaborate Christmas lights and decorations. We haven’t done that the last couple years and we’ve missed it. The homes in the “Fab 40’s” were especially well done. It was a wonderful way to tie off holiday shopping. After a relaxing dinner at Tahoe Joe’s, we drove home to watch “White Christmas” but fell asleep before it even started.

With money tight this year, we made a lot of gifts and, quite surprisingly, found that despite the work involved, we really enjoyed it. It helped us regain some of the true spirit of Christmas that we sometimes misplace when it’s all about shopping. Sure, most of what we’ll be giving the grandkids is “retail”, but much of what we’re giving the adults in our family are things we made ourselves. Dawn especially outdid herself this year, making several gifts that reminded me how truly amazing and talented she really is. She worked hard on them but was proud of what she’d accomplished when she finally finished.

We’ll be having our Christmas Eve dinner and family tree at Steve and Lori’s home again this year and we’re really looking forward to spending the evening surrounded by the kids and grandkids. Our family gets together with some regularity and it’s always fun, but Christmas is our favorite time to be with those we love.

It’s like Linus says: “That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.”

Looking for a children’s book as a last minute stocking stuffer for conservative little Billy this Christmas? Well, here’s a novel idea: Help! Mom! There are Liberals Under My Bed! Yes, it’s a real children’s book apparently aimed at teaching youngsters the value of hard work and the evil of taxes. I’m serious. No, really.

Dawn pointed me to this. She’d heard the song on one of our local country stations (I’d re-programmed the radio in her car) and told me I had to hear it. It was written and produced by The Song Trust (Rory Feek and Tim Johnson) and sung by a six-year-old in Nashville who says she doesn’t want to be famous. It’s a poignant reminder that there are still troops serving away from home and that they and their families are sacrificing much this Christmas.

You can purchase a copy of the song and know that half of all profits goes to St. Judes Children’s Hospital.

…several times, in fact. I wasn’t going to say anything about the experience, but I have to tell someone so I can get on with my life!

First it was my cousin, Mike. Then Frank. Teddy hit me the same day. And then Kerri and Gary! And Candy and her friend. Even my brudda-from-anudda-mudda, Michael, and his missus, Sisko, elfed both Dawn and me!

I’m sure Office Max is getting a nice ride from the viral advertising. Pretty clever campaign.

Click on any elf and watch our “elfing” by Michael and Sisko. They even elfed themselves! That’s Dawn and me in the #2 and #4 slots.

My favorite illustrator, John Cox, came up with this illustration that echoes, I think, public sentiment. Many believe we are abandoning our nation’s manufacturing roots in favor of becoming a country that makes nothing and buys everything from abroad but likes to think we’ll be dominant in the development of technology (with any related manufacturing, of course, being outsourced offshore.) Whew! Long sentence!

I think we’re deluding ourselves. We could regain our dominance in manufacturer if we simply uncoupled ourselves from trade unions. Why can’t we compete in auto manufacturing, even against Japanese auto makers who manufacture cars right here in the U.S.A.? Because the Japanese car makers are exempt from our trade unions. Not a level playing field, is it. But what are we doing about it? Nothing.

Anyway, I thought John’s illustration was particularly poignant at this time of year when we’re concerned about unsafe toys from China. Fisher-Price, Mattel - many of this country’s major toy manufacturers - have outsourced the manufacturing of their toys to China, and quality and safety have suffered. Not too many years ago, Americans wouldn’t have accepted poor quality. But we’ve become “sheeple,” too lazy to control our own government. I hope we come to our senses.