I came across this article today, and it struck a cord with me. It is titled ” Fed-Up Parents Reject Elaborate Birthdays” and discusses the growing trend in this country to “one up” the children’s birthday parties and how it is becoming a real problem. It goes on to recount some real horror stories of parties gone wrong, but the overall message of the article is that this is a growing problem and there is an organization that has been founded to counter this problem. The organization is called Birthdays Without Pressure, and it is worth checking out. They offer up a lot of advice on stress free parties and alternatives to the expensive parties that are taking place at a break neck pace in this country.
If you have children, this article is well worth reading and the web site is well worth a look as well.

I consider myself an avid reader of all things news related, and I have recently gotten into reading a variety of blogs that are more industry related (Internet that is) as well as a handful of VC blogs as well. Below is a list of the blogs I keep tabs on an a thought or two on each:

1. Venture Beat - Pretty good overall industry report. Focuses on providing news and information about private companies and the venture capital that fuels them.
2. Mashable - Focuses exclusively on Social Networking companies. Great source for finding out what is going on in that space.
3. PaidContent.Org - covers all things digital media, focusing on where media and entertainment companies operate: online, wireless, desktop and off-desktop applications, products and services.
4. TechCrunch - Good review site for all the new Internet companies and products. If you have an Internet company you want to get the word out on, I suggest starting here. Go here and post a write up on the forum about your company. They get a ton of PVs, so it will definitely get you the exposure. TechCrunch’s editor is Michael Arrington, if you are in the industry, you know who he is!
5. ValleyWag - Great resource for the “dirt” on all things valley related. It is “the” tech gossip rag!
6. A VC - This is Fred Wilson’s personal blog. He is a VC and is a partner at Union Square Ventures. He discusses an array of topics, from product / company reviews to entrepreneurial advice, to his travels to Italy (he spent 2 weeks there with his fam over the holidays).
7. How to Change the World - This is Guy Kawasaki’s personal blog. He describes his blog as a pratical blog for impractical people. Guy is a wonderful guy (no pun intended). He is well respected in the industry and has written several books. He started out with Apple and is is currently a managing director at Garage Technology Ventures.
8. Blog Maverick - OK, I know what you are going to say, do you really read this? I just started reading it, and it is worth it. Mark Cuban can be a bit boisterous at times, but he does have a lot of good points on a variety of subjects.

OK, so that just about sums it up. If you get a chance, take a look at these. There is some good reading to be found!

I bought this book back before Christmas, and have not gotten too far into it. It is titled “Getting Stoned with Savages” (available here from Amazon) by J. Maarten Troost. I would classify it as a travel memoir, comical at times, dry and hard to read at others. I thought it was going to be similar to “Driving over Lemons” by Chris Stewart (another travel memoir writer), but it is not. I read Stewart’s book back in the summertime, and it was a pretty good read. I will continue on with this one, but at the rate I am reading, it may be next Christmas before I finish it!