True confession: I intensely dislike giving presents on traditional occasions and holidays. I'm an enthusiastic spontaneous gift-giver, but have little patience for the social pressure and consumerist hysteria that build up around the current season. I'd rather not give or receive pointless trinkets.
But I do like meaningful gifts!
That's why I'm so enthusiastic about the new web-based project called "Changing The Present." If you'd like to give or receive the gift of positive social change, you might consider visiting the web site.
You can create a donation wish list for yourself (such as "peace," "human rights," "cancer research," "digital divide," or "civil society," et cetera) - or encourage your loved ones to stipulate the causes or nonprofit organizations that are closest to their hearts.
The web site also features a Stupid Gifts Hall of Shame that will probably make you feel twice as good about spending $6.00 USD to to fund one day of tech training through the Committee for Democracy in Information Technology rather than spending an equivalent amount on Sea Monkeys for someone on your list.
Full disclosure of financial relationship: I'm just a fan of Changing The Present. They don't pay me to promote their web site, or to do anything else!
