I dropped off a load of stuff Saturday at a Goodwill donation center near my house -- something I do once every couple of months or so.

Thank you SO much, the guy working there said. It's been so slow, nobody's bringing us anything.

This time of year, people usually start getting their tax deductions in order, among them contributing to charities, in goods and in money. Evidently not this year. This year, I suspect more people are holding onto their stuff and selling it themselves instead of giving it away. I said as much to the Goodwill fellow.

Well, he said, at least there's a lot more people shopping in the Goodwill stores now than ever before.