Postcards from Yo Momma

INCIDENT:
In honor of mother's day, I thought I would do a little tribute to moms. And when I came across this great website where people post hilarious emails from their moms, I thought it was pretty entertaining. It is also reassuring that we all have really awesome moms. And really awesome moms combined with all the high jinks related to learning how to use the internet machine equals a good time.

Postcards from Yo Momma

One of my favorite posts is this one:

April 30, 2008
the fun never ends

Just wanted to say hi. I know you’re probably busy getting caught up at work after last week. I hope you enjoyed the plays. Did you get the movie I sent you? Today is our 31st anniversary. We are eating leftovers for dinner, and I was bit by a dog this morning. I’m not foaming at the mouth, so far. The fun never ends. Love, Mom

MORAL:
Do you ever think that only you have crazy interactions with your mom? Well apparently you are not alone. I have to admit that while it is sometimes frustrating, it is also incredibly endearing. The little quirks about our relationships with our moms are what also make that relationship very special.

So on mother's day, I would like to thank my mom for everything she has given to my life. Despite some tense moments lately, you have filled my life with joy.

Get rid of the junk mail... please!

INCIDENT:
I sure do get a lot of junk mail. Everyday I go through my mail and end up recycling the majority it. What a waste of paper! And you can't even use it for scrap paper. So between the credit card offers, mailers, and crap from present and previous affiliations who have sold my information (I secretly hate you!), I am swimming in old growth forest in the form of glossy postcards and pre-approved credit card applications. It appears that our society might have our priorities all in a muck.

MORAL:
What can we do to stop the craziness? Well, it will take some leg work (or money if you have it to spare), but we can all cut down on the junk mail.

First up to bat is the website Green Dimes, which will pay you to get rid of your junk mail. What? Yes. They will pay you a dollar, give you a magazine subscription, or plant a tree if you join at the basic level. They claim that they can get rid of 90% of your junk mail for at least 5 years. Not too bad. If you have a little more dough you can get their Premium or Bundle service where you get a lot of extras like monthly junk mail list monitoring and more trees planted... not bad for a $20 one-time fee (protection good for 5 years).

Another option is Catalog Choice. If you are already receiving paper catalogs, then this might be a good option for you. You can opt out of receiving the paper catalogs. But you need the actual catalogs so that you can get off the proper list. This might also be helpful for those who get tempted to buy things when that new catalog arrives... you know I am talking to you.

And finally the big one is opting out of the credit card offers. So the good ole government has come through with a website to opt out of these offers. You can call toll-free 1-888-5-OPTOUT (1-888-567-8688) or visit www.optoutprescreen.com for details. You have to provide your name, telephone number, address, date of birth, and social security number. You might be wondering about providing your social security number but I assume that since it is a government website that it is legit.

So with these tools in hand you should be well on your way to reducing your junk mail and saving some trees. Next task saving the world.

Mad Magazine

INCIDENT:
Growing up did you ever read Mad Magazine? You know with Alfred E. Neumann ("Me worry?")... and Spy vs. Spy... and of course the fold-in on the back cover! That was usually the first thing that I did when I read Mad. Maybe because it was interactive... who knows. So how exciting is it that the New York Times online has made fold-ins from the 1960s to present available electronically?!


MORAL:
Seeing the fold-ins from the 1960s, I am realizing how the content of the fold-ins were really political and how that probably went over my head when I was reading it in junior high. So it is interesting to revisit the fold-ins through time to see how the political climate has also changed.

Enjoy the magic of electronic Mad Magazine and the embedded message that gives it a whole new level of meaning.