Went and cleared the vestibule and found a whole bunch of mail I didn't know we had.

We've been slightly lax about checking it these past few months, (bill avoidance and exclusively going into the house via the back door will do that) something not helped by the kind gesture of the downstairs neighbors carefully bringing it in and leaving it in the entryway instead of on the porch where a quick glance will tell us if we have mail or packages.

So thank you for the cat food, guys, and I found a Christmas card, anonymous, with another $25 gift certificate to the Western Beef. Just like last year. No idea who sent it, but I know what I can do with the money saved on groceries! I can walk over to my local food bank and hand them $25 cash, because when it comes to charity, cash is king. I actually have several local food banks, but I'm thinking the secular one that doesn't ask for scads of financial info first. (I understand the principle, but I think putting a huge sign on the entry that basically says you believe your clients are scammers is just not in the spirit of giving.)

On that note, I'm going to set it up so our bills email us instead of coming in the mail mail. This is ridiculous. I think we've amassed a small forest in my living room, and that's not counting the books!

********

Afghanistan polio: First case in Kabul since 2001

The article mentions that Islamic extremists have hindered aid workers who try to give vaccinations, but it doesn't mention that the CIA has used "polio vaccinations" as a ruse to track down suspected terrorists. It worked, but it was not worth the cost.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-26121732

Health of oceans 'declining fast'

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-24369244

At 7-foot-4, Freddy the Great Dane is Britain’s tallest dog

OMG, it's just like Clifford! But a little less red.

http://bit.ly/1gkxtgm

The magical world where McDonalds pays $15 an hour?

http://bit.ly/KlO9IN

Americans love pizza

http://bitly.com/1gib8jI

A metafilter post, with worthwhile comments, on the NYTimes minimum wage calculator

http://bitly.com/1dD0iA8

The European Union's antitrust watchdog on Wednesday accepted “far-reaching” concessions offered by Google to settle allegations it is abusing its dominant position in Internet searches, bringing the three-year-old case close to an end.

http://alj.am/1jt3cj7

The rapid rise of mixed-race Britain is changing neighbourhoods—and perplexing the authorities

http://econ.st/MIkSt4

Archeologists’ Camel-Bones Discovery Challenges Bible’s Historicity; Christian Blogger Challenges Them Right Back

http://bit.ly/1dgmKDI

Since we grownups have a Bucket List comprising things we must do before we kick the bucket, so too should our kids have a Bubble List of things they must do before they leave the bubble of our home and protection.

http://mothersofbrothers.com/the-bubble-list/

Coincidentally, I just got an email from JustFood

Exhorting me to donate as little as $25 so that low income families can afford a CSA. I love my CSA not so much for the food itself as for the security of knowing that no matter how the budget might get fucked, we always have food coming. To me, that alone is worth the upfront cost. So that's where the saved cash can go.

http://www.crowdrise.com/CSAForEveryone2014