Damn Do-Gooders

This is the season that, your heart is legally required to grow three sizes at least. No matter what you do or don't celebrate this season, it's pretty hard not to get caught up in all the astoundingly cynicism-free cheer and benevolence.

Recently, there's been quite a bit of this do-gooding around the blogworld. Come to think of it, I don't think it's in the spirit of the season at all. I think there are just some awesome people out there who just make the world a little brighter any time they get a chance. Also, they put the rest of us to shame. Bastards.

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Kristen of Motherhood Uncensored and Julie of Mothergoosemouse have created "Her Bad Auction," a series of raffles to raise money for muscular distrophy research. The name of the event refers to awesome Canuck blogmistress and one of my favorite human beings on this planet, Catherine of Her Bad Mother, whose nephew Tanner, is living with the disease. And while I haven't met him yet, from what I know about him, I think he'd be one of my favorite human beings on this planet too.

For tickets as little as $1 or $5 you can enter to win truly wonderful items-- high-end diaper bags, a custom Christmas stocking, handmade kids tees, books and cds, a full blog makeover, and hello...an ipod shuffle. All just in time to make someone's Christmas.

Most of all, Tanner's.

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I'm pleased that the blogHer ad network, of which I'm a part of--you know, because I'm a filthy, capitalist money-grubbing ad whore who pimps my daughter out for the millions of dollars I earn from the 100 square pixel ad in my right sidebar--is doing something rather unmoney-grubbing like. They're partnering with TheFind.com to help raise up to $10,000 for Doctors Without Borders, one of the greatest charitable organizations ever in existence. And bleeding heart that I am (yes, a bleeding heart capitalist ad whore, shut up), I am equipped to make such a statement.

Here's what you do: Very little.

Just go to TheFind.com and search for a term including the word "red": Red wines under $20. Red Red Wine lyrics. Clifford the Big Red Dog book. Photo of George Bush in lacy red garters. For every day you do this, they'll donate a dollar to Doctors Without Borders. So if you do it ten days in a row...wham, ten more bucks in the coffers.

By the way, each dollar raised? Equals one vaccination against measles or meningitis. So this is tangible stuff here. It takes you about 4 seconds and it literally can save a life.

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I don't know anyone who hasn't been touched by the story of the Kims, who lost their heroic, amazing patriarch, James, this week. I've read a lot of eloquent essays about the tragedy, online and off, but the ones that really wrapped around my heart and bullied their way up through my tear ducts came from dads Dutch of Sweet Juniper and Henri of Rice Daddies. Once you read what they've said, you'll see why I have nothing here to add, though I wish I could.

Consider taking a moment and making a contribution to the James Kim Memorial Fund, or simply sending a short note of condolence to the families.

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Dutch is definitely racking up the karmic points this week. He's put together his 2006 Holiday Shopping Guide for the Indie Sonofabitch Parent, an unbelievable array of indie artists, small businesses and e-shops that can keep you out of the big scary stores this season, while supporting the little guy and gal.

The insanely comprehensive (does this guy ever sleep?) list includes quite a few of our faves from Cool Mom Picks, which I can personally vouch for.

You don't even have to be a sonofabitch parent to check it out. Or all that indie, come to think of it. Although I still stand behind Dutch and his indie sonofabitch right to make jabs at Walmart at any given time.

(Okay, so I can't get through the season with absolutely no cyncism. But still, I think I did pretty well here.)