This ad for Volkswagen in France is called “Save The Traders,” a parody of musical charity events involving lots of pop stars.

Gawker noted more recession-themed ads back in February.

Here’s a repost from EconomyStory.org on a segment from Sparrow Songs, filmmaker Alex Jablonski’s project in which he and cinematographer Michael Totten shoot a short documentary every month for one year. Here, Jablonski interviews people affected by the recession in the Echo Park neighborhood of Los Angeles.

That’s right. It’s Christmas Eve eve, er, eve. What a fine time to check out these parodies from the holiday songbook on Marcy Shaffer’s Versus web site.

“It’s Beginning to Look a Lot More Riskless”

Lyrics here

“The Cinders of Ayn Rand”

Lyrics here

“Oh CRE”

Lyrics here

“Go Tell It In Accountin’”

Lyrics here

Tough economic times can engender moral and ethical quandaries (for a cinematic illustration, see The Bicycle Thief.) If the recession has caused you to somehow stray from the scrupulous high ground, not to worry. Now, be forgiven online at the Apology Center, “where you can share the many, many, many things you’ve done wrong in your life – anonymously – and ask the Internet community if you can finally be forgiven….or not.”

Some examples:

Event – Ever since my son was born, pretty much every money gift that he’s gotten for birthdays and holidays, I’ve spent paying household bills or trips to Target (buying stuff for the family) instead of buying him toys as the gift was intented. But in my defense, he is an only child and has tons of toys that he barely plays with. Plus he never asked about the money, even as he got older.

Apology – I am sorry to all the people who thought they were buying him toys over the years. Like I said, the money did go for family expenses, but I still feel badly about it. Now, he has his own bank account, and the money will go there.
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Event – I used to steal money out of the mall fountain to buy Dairy Queen Blizzards. Sadly, it wasn’t that long ago and I’m not that young.

Apology – They’re so damn good! Still, I’m thinking I stole people’s wishes and that can’t be good for karma. I’ll start throwing money back in.
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Event – I was a waiter at a pretty nice restaurant. When I worked the night shift, sometimes I’d take some steaks out of the freezer and put them outside with the trash. Then when my shift was over I’d drive around and pick them up. Score!

Apology – Stealing is wrong. I learned that when I was like 6. It’s no better at 26. Sorry to the manager who had to count those steaks up and figure out why he was short.

But The Business Ethics blog is not impressed.

Sounds about right. I can say I’m sorry for posting this instead of looking for something better, for instance, but that doesn’t get you the three minutes back it took to read it.

Video starring the characters from the Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer Christmas special…

Short inspirational film by Anthony Ferraro.

Click on an image to see it full size.

More photos here.

Where does the thinking of some progressives and some evangelicals overlap? Perhaps in their mutual dismay at the ubiquitous commercialism surrounding Christmas. For instance, take this chat between filmmaking muckraker Morgan Spurlock (“Supersize Me“) and Portland Pastor Rick McKinley, a co-founder of The Advent Conspiracy, a movement to put the focus of Christmas back on Jesus Christ as opposed to shopping for gifts. Time magazine writes this week:

What! No presents! What’s the point, then?

Well, The Advent Conspiracy urges people to celebrate Christmas not by buying gifts but by spending time with family, exchanging home-made presents, and giving to charity. Here’s the video:

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From the Empty buildings for economic reasons photo pool:

Click on an image to see it full size.

More photos here.