Like you're going to do something better with that six bucks.

Powell's Bookstore in Portland, Oregon has embarked on their second Schoolbook Challenge. For each $5.95 "book pledge" contribution, good for one paperback book, Powell's will donate TEN books to Portland-area public schools--eleven books in total! This donation is tax-deductible, and it's for a great cause. (The Portland and Beaverton school districts aren't wealthy, but it they are dedicated: in 2003, Portland-area teachers were given the choice of taking a cut in pay or cutting the school year short, and they voted for the pay cut.) This would be a really nice gesture, particularly if you were thinking of buying a book to honor someone's memory this holiday season.