While doing your Christmas shopping dear diary, keep in mind the annual appeal to support local businesses because they support you.
For example, well over $8.3 million has been raised for a new regional nursing home. Millions have been raised for the St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation, the Salvation Army food bank and United Way.
I don’t believe any of these agencies had to send out a receipt and thank you note to Facebook, Amazon, Craig’s List, Kijijii, Yahoo or Google, etc. or any of the online businesses.
You may spend thousands on these sites from the comfort of your home and wait, which is all well and good. But, be mindful of the fact none of them have spent a dime in supporting your schools, roads, churches and local causes.
Their founders and CEOs like to spend billions on world-wide causes, but we won’t be receiving a $10,000 cheque from any of them to help pay for a CT scanner in Estevan.
They are not reliable community supporters. In fact, most don’t even pay taxes in North America … or anywhere, so they can afford to be generous with the major global causes. It’s really not costing them anything.
So give it a thought as you submit your debit card number to a site with no face, no local presence and no community involvement.
On to another topic.
The printed version of the New York Times just added 10,000 new subscribers last month in what was referred to as the Trump Bump.
It seems some Americans are finally catching on to the fact there were still a few reliable news sources that were willing to raise the questions and expect some legitimate answers from Donald Trump, the Trumpets and Trumpettes.
Of course Hazy Daze Donald did what one would expect. Instead of responding, he issued threats and defied the legitimate news sources while sending out his version of the news via a Twitter account, figuring the American public would be satisfied with his one-paragraph, not so well-thought out, responses. As one former Trumpet suggested last week, that phone exchange with Taiwan that raised such a ruckus with China and the United States, is exactly what the Donald loves. Kick up a little chaos, then inform the followers he has fixed the problem, and move on to the next self-created mess for which he will have the ultimate solution. Apparently he thrives on this kind of games-playing stuff.
It seems, a few thousand more thinking Americans are seeking verifiable information through viable news sources, not fake news sites and Facebook gabbers.
Some people are finally catching on to something that has been there for them all along. They just forgot.
Finally dear diary, I am giving a sincere shout out of thanks to an instant friend.
Last Tuesday while driving to various locations to grab some pictures of snow removal efforts, I took a wide turn onto 12th Avenue to avoid another vehicle that was awkwardly stuck near the intersection. I ended up being hung up on a small windrow. Spinning tires, no traction.
Up from the bank corner, a block away, came Dylan Krupka with a shovel, smile and a lot of energy. He shovelled frantically for about 15 minutes straight. Just as he was finishing, Mike Zeleny and Dave Krunik happened along to provide additional push power and voila, I was mobile again. Ahh, I just love this Sask. spirit. No rewards expected other than a heartfelt thank you and a wave. Thanks again Dylan, great to know ya.
