1) The Case Against Buying Christmas Presents by Leo Babauta
Someday, I am going to be an amazing blogger like Leo. I wish I would have written this. He writes about how advertising, shopping, and buying take away from what’s great about Christmas, which is spending time with family and giving.
Also seasonally appropriate:
Three Steps to a Simplified Holiday by Robyn Devine of Minimalist Knitter, guest posting on Be More With Less.
I love her advice. Focusing on what is actually joyful and fulfilling for you will, I think, naturally lead you to follow these three steps. At least for me, that seems to be the case.
2) The Downside of our Safety Obsession by Dave Feucht at Portlandize
How much should cyclists have to do to protect their own safety, and how much of the safety dilemma could be improved through better road planning and drivers paying attention/being better trained? A fascinating discussion of the limits of personal responsibility for cyclists.
And relatedly, bicycle fatality facts for 2009. (Hint: Less people died riding bicycles than did from driving cars)
3) We can learn so much from previous generations, especially in terms of simplicity and frugality. Here are two awesome links about what these two women learned from their grandparents:
