As the holidays approach, the giant Asian factories are kicking into high gear to provide Australians with monstrous piles of cheaply produced goods — merchandise that has been produced at the expense of Australian labor.

This year will be different. This year Australians will give the gift of genuine concern for other Australians. There is no longer an excuse that, at gift giving time, nothing can be found that is produced by Australian hands. Yes there is!

It’s time to think outside the box, people. Who says a gift needs to fit in a shirt box, wrapped in OS produced wrapping paper?

Everyone — yes EVERYONE gets their hair cut. How about gift certificates from your local Australian hair salon or barber?

Gym membership? It’s appropriate for all ages who are thinking about some health improvement.

Who wouldn’t appreciate getting their car detailed? Small, Australian-owned detail shops and car washes would love to sell you a gift certificate or a book of gift certificates.

Are you one of those extravagant givers who think nothing of plunking down many dollars on a Chinese made flat-screen?
Perhaps that grateful gift receiver would like his driveway sealed, or lawn mowed for the summer, or games at the local golf course.

There are a bazillion owner-run restaurants — all offering gift certificates. And, if your intended isn’t the fancy eatery sort, what about a half dozen breakfasts at the local breakfast joint. Remember, folks this isn’t about big National chains — this is about supporting your home town Australians with their financial lives on the line to keep their doors open.

How many people couldn’t use an oil change for their car, truck or motorcycle, done at a shop run by the Australian working guy?

Thinking about a heartfelt gift for mum? Mum would LOVE the services of a local cleaning lady for a day.

The computer could use a tune-up, by a local repair business.

OK, you were looking for something more personal. Local crafts people spin their own wool and knit them into scarves. They make jewelry, and pottery and beautiful wooden boxes.

Plan your holiday outings at local, owner operated restaurants and leave your server a nice tip. And, how about going out to see a play or ballet at your hometown theatre.

Musicians need love too, so find a venue showcasing local bands.

Christmas is no longer about draining Australians pockets so that China can build another glittering city. Christmas is now about caring about our country, encouraging Australian businesses to keep plugging away to follow their dreams. And, when we care about other Australians, we care about our communities,
and the benefits come back to us in ways we couldn’t imagine.

Start an Australian Christmas tradition.

Forward this to everyone on your mailing list — post it to discussion groups — send it to the editor of your local paper and radio stations, and TV news departments. This is a revolution of caring about each other, and isn’t that what Christmas is about?

MERRY CHRISTMAS

If anyone else is game to try their skill against my car, I dare double dare PHYSICAL CHALLENGE you!!!

As it turns out, I’m racing out to buy this album as soonas I can hit the pavement and find a record store that stocks it.  Actually, on second thoughts, I’ll probably just buy it online now

Check out Amazon and have a listen to the funky soul sounds of Tower of Power – In The Slot.

Yep, everyone of them is made of condoms!  OK, so maybe not the most practical clothes, but at least the red wine wouldn’t stain your party dress

I don’t know about anyone else, but I’d love some of these in my house.

And from all of these I can’t quite decide what is worst. Is it the fact that the kids all look so damn proud of themselves, the fact that the teachers seem not to have noticed what the projects were about to allow them to display them in the first place, the fact that the first one appears to be displayed in a shopping centre, or that the last girl seems to have won some sort of award for her work on “Aids! The Gay Plague!”

WTF??????

Whilst there are times I rue living in this century, as I love fashion from the 1920’s to 1960’s, the following proves that I just wasn’t cut out for that era.  If it’s not offensive enough that there was actually a magazine called “Housekeeping Monthly”, just take a look at this article that was published in 1955:

And remember, a good wife always knows her place!!!!  HA!

Bayer’s Heroin

A bottle of Bayer’s heroin. Between 1890 and 1910 heroin was sold as a non-addictive substitute for morphine. It was also used to treat children with strong cough.

Coca Wine

Metcalf Coca Wine was one of a huge variety of wines with cocaine on the market. Everybody used to say that it would make you happy and it would also work as a medicinal treatment.

Mariani Wine

Mariani wine (1875) was the most famous Coca wine of it’s time. Pope Leo XIII used to carry one bottle with him all the time. He awarded Angelo Mariani (the producer) with a Vatican gold medal…..hey, what’s good for the pope is good for me!

Maltine

Produced by Maltine Manufacturing Company of New York . It was suggested that you should take a full glass with or after every meal. Children should take half a glass.

A Paper Weight

A paper weight promoting C.F. Boehringer & Soehne (Mannheim , Germany). They were proud of being the biggest producers in the world of products containing Quinine and Cocaine.

Opium for Asthma

Gee, I really hope this helps you breath better.  Oh hell, who cares really?!

Cocaine tablets (1900)

All stage actors, singers teachers and preachers had to have them for a maximum performance. Great to “smooth” the voice.

Cocaine drops for toothache

Very popular for children in 1885. Not only did it relieve the pain, but it also made the children happy!  Perhaps we need this back on the market for all those “emo kids”.

Opium for babies

I’m sure this would make them sleep well (not only the Opium, but 46% alcohol!!!!!)

And to add Pete’s spin on this:

“Our grandparents and parents have tried to guilt-trip us into believing they walked a thousand miles, barefoot through the snow to buy a small loaf of bread and a potato which then had to feed their whole family of 48, who all lived in a tiny one-room cottage built out of twigs by your grandfather… but in actual fact they were really sitting in their lounge-room the whole time so doped-up, that the entire adventure only happened in their drug-filled heads. “

Happy 50th, Barbs! Why don’t you get stuck into that triple choc mud cake topped with custard-filled profiteroles and an extra dollop of cream?!
C’mon, it’ll make me feel better about myself