Happy New Year! This is the time of year when people everywhere enjoy the pleasures of giving and of doing good unto others. The tradition of giving in connection with religious or social benchmarks seems to transcend culture, faith, geography, social strata, and even political party. Annually, at "the holidays," people become more empathetic, more understanding, more helpful to each other. We become more generous. We even give hefty tips to letter carriers and trash collectors and other people who serve us well all year long, whether or not we even see them. It has been said that the pleasure of giving can be intoxicating.