We at Commentarama want to wish everyone a wonderful holiday season. We will be taking the next week off (barring major breaking events) to be with our loved ones. We hope that all of you will be able to do the same. We invite you to add your holiday wishes, and during the hiatus, feel free to post anything you find interesting whether it relates to the holidays or not. Happy New Year, and we'll be back with you on January 2. Like Santa, we'll be watching you, and we'll know if you've been naughty or nice.
Friday, December 23, 2011
Merry Christmas And Happy Hanukkah
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You guys have made a hard year more bearable. I sleep well at night knowing so many are up for the good fight. For that, I thank you.
May this holy season of Christmas and Hanukkah bring us closer to our Lord and God.
I Love You Guys!
Hope everybody is able to at this time of year reflect on things and enjoy the holidays. As people have been saying, and you know, I've never been a commenter, blogger, or whatever one wants to call it, but have enjoyed kincking things around with the folks here.
On a different note, I found out I can now purchase a legitimate DVD-R of Gordon Scott's "Tarzan's Greatest Adventure." The film isn't important itself. Rather, it is the fact studios are taking films that would normally not cause enough sales to justify, and burning copies for people who are interested. Cost is low, and apparently quality good. An interesting and positive development, I'd say.
Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukkah! Happy New Year! …too all Commentarians.
Thank God! 2012 is finally getting here - - only eleven short months to fix the mistake of ’08!
I would be interested in knowing what Christmas music people most enjoy. As a kid, my mom always played the Johnny Mathis and Perry Como albums along with Robert Shaw chorale's album of carols.
Now, I enjoy a 3 set CD called "With Joyful Voice" by Boston Camerata, and the first part of Handel's Messiah. That orininallywas the Eugen Ormandy and Philadelphia Orchestra version from Columbia. Now, I have Christopher Hogwood's Academy of Ancient Music which uses original period instruments. On lighter side, I've come to enjoy a bargain CD picked up a decade ago titled a Scottish Christmas which utilizes ulean pipes and other unusual instruments.
The best story of the season is in Luke chapter 2:1 thru 49.
I encourage any and all to read it.and reflect on it.
Merry Christmas
TJ - I personally collect modern Christmas rock, '70s and post.
BBC News says the holidays are the time to tell your loved ones they are fat. It's a little unclear whether they think you should do that between passing the stuffing and the mashed potatoes, or if you should just write it in a card and share it at gift-giving time.
Speaking as a circumferally enhanced individual, the one thing that BBC forgets is that most of us already know we're fat.
Have a Merry Christmas!
Before my niece and nephew take complete possession of my IPad for the weekend, I want to wish everyone a wonderful and very merry Christmas and joyful New Year!
may Peace, Love, and Harmony grace your holidays.
Oh and, expect a very vigorous defense of "Gone With The Wind" in the coming year!!
Bev, I look forward to that! :)
Merry Christmas everyone!
Patti: Thank you for the kind words. Love ya back.
Tennessee: Your input has been welcome and valuable. Thanks for helping us in keeping things interesting.
I saw that film on TCM's Tarzan series, but I didn't know it was out on DVD.
Stan: It will be a banner year. I don't include politics much in my prayers, but you can bet I will be doing so this coming year.
Tennessee: I love Christmas carols and holiday songs in general. On Christmas Eve, The Messiah is an absolute requirement.
Tehachapi Tom: I agree. And I still prefer the King James Version to all the others.
tryanmax: I prefer the Christmas pop from the 40s and 50s, but there are plenty of good ones from later periods. Maybe I'm just prejudiced since I was a kid when Jingle Bell Rock was a brand-new song.
tryanmax: What's wrong with a little extra girth? After all, Santa's belly shakes when he laughs like a bowlful of jelly.
ACG: And the same to you and your loved ones.
Bev: Unlike last year where I had my kids and grandkids showing up from early December through mid-January, a few last minute changes made it possible for them all to be here at the same time. I'm preparing the turkey and the ham, and my younger daughter is doing everything else. It's going to be a very full house. First time I've had them all together in one place at one time since there were only two grandkids fifteen years ago.
You won't be getting any arguments from me about GWTW.
Andrew: Same to you. Looks like you're definitely going to have a White Christmas from what I've seen on the national weather forecasts.
"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."
As Linus put it, "That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown." Merry Christmas everyone!
T-Rav: I just recently saw the back story on the Charlie Brown Christmas special. It seems like it was thrown together in a hurry, they weren't sure how the actual Christmas story would fit, and figured they were probably going to get low ratings. Instead, it got tremendous viewership, and has become a Christmas classic.
Thanks for the true Christmas message.
LawHawk: you mean Santa's belly shakes like a myocardial infarction.
I like to collect the newer Christmas rock because that's the only way I get to hear it. It seldom gets played on the radio and I've just haven't gotten into internet radio yet. Probably because my employer doesn't allow streaming.
I remember when I was a kid, the local hits station would turn some current Christmas releases into the mix, Tom Petty, Joan Jett, that abysmal number by Wham!, etc. Now, the only local station that plays Christmas switches over to an all-holiday format after Thanksgiving, but they mainly play standards-style stuff. That's okay by me, but it's so ubiquitous. I need to hear something different now and then.
tryanmax: Where I live, almost every station is either country and western or Latino. There is only one oldies station, but it does intersperse its holiday playlist with "contemporary" Christmas tunes that range from the 60s to the 80s. Much as I like a great deal of Michael Jackson's work, I think my least favorite of all his songs is his screeching rendition of Santa Claus Is Coming To Town (along with the Jackson Five). It sets my teeth on edge.
LawHawk, you're very welcome. Yeah, A Charlie Brown Christmas was the first of many specials from the Peanuts gang, and it almost didn't happen. Schulz and the TV writers dashed off one triple-spaced page containing the plot the weekend before the deadline, and then CBS execs almost nixed the whole thing because of Linus quoting Scripture. And today it's hard to imagine the holidays without that half-hour program showing on TV. Funny how things work out.
T-Rav: Probably because there's more goodness in the American people than the commercializers and the anti-religionists would have us believe.
Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah and Happy Healthy New Year to Commentarama!
I refer to you guys as "I heard that on 'you know, my blog' that I go to". You are essential whether understanding Harrison Ford or Bogie and when discussing why the Supreme Court will come down a certain way!
All the comments here are so informative and entertaining. Most of all this is a classy oasis on the internet!
May 2012 be great for this site and for the coservative hearts out there!
CrisD: Thanks a million for the boost. That is a Christmas gift in itself. We really appreciate having such loyal readers, and more importantly, such intelligent commenters. As I look around the blogosphere, I rarely see comments as apt, pithy and well thought-out as those we receive every day. Much appreciated.
CrisD, Thanks! That's very nice! I'm glad you like the site and I'm thrilled you think of our little home here as an oasis! :)
I'm glad you like the variety too because I think it's important that conservatives remember that there is more to life than just straight up politics. Plus it's fun to talk about the other stuff.
So Merry Christmas and best wishes to you and your family in the New Year!
Just watched Ronald Reagan's first Christmas address as President. A real President, and a real Christian who ended the address with Dickens's words from A Christmas Carol: "God bless us everyone." Fox then followed the excerpt with Christmas from West Point. Love it.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Enjoy some well-deserved time off and thank you all for writing such exceptional posts.
I'm looking forward to a better 2012.
Since there's still political stuff happening--Gingrich and Perry have both been disqualified from the Virginia primary ballot due to a failure to collect enough signatures. Bachmann, Santorum, and Huntsman also failed to make the cut, which means the state's ballot will consist of Mitt Romney, Ron Paul!, and no one else. Things I'm thankful for this Christmas--that I don't live in Virginia.
WriterX: Thanks, and a wonderful holiday to you. I'm cautiously optimistic about 2012, and I'm praying that it's the year we bring constitutional republican government back to America.
T-Rav: The other campaigns should have known not to take anything for granted. They should have gotten all the signatures necessary, and then a healthy buffer. Although it produces a very strange primary, so far Virginia hasn't decided to waive or modify its long-standing electoral rules because "it's the fair thing to do." Good for Virginia. If established law produces an odd result, so be it. The other campaigns have nobody to blame but themselves. Now the question becomes "which one of the two candidates will win?"
LawHawk, it seems like a strange law to me, but Romney and Paul don't seem to have had any trouble meeting its requirements, so yeah. If I had to guess, though, I'd say Virginia officials will probably fudge this before the primary rolls around--maybe not, but I have a suspicion the pressure from the excluded candidates will be too great. Especially since write-ins for the primary are apparently illegal under state law.
Oh well. It's Christmas Eve. Time to lay off the politics a bit.
T-Rav: I don't know the details of Virginia write-in electoral laws, but Gingrich has already announced he will launch a write-in campaign. So either they allow it, or Gingrich's campaign managers have made yet another mistake. I guess we'll be hearing more, and probably pretty quickly. I just hope the Virginia officials stick to their guns and don't "accommodate" public pressure by yielding on the law. Make-it-up-as-you-go-along application of the law has to stop before we become a completely lawless nation. The remedy for bad law (if this is a bad law) is to repeal it, not to ignore it.
I hope everyone is having wonderful holiday! Share your favorite moments so far.
I spent mine with my family in Texas. We all went to my brother's family church for Christmas Eve services. The service was just beautiful - very multiple media. My favorite moment was at the end when everyone started singing "Silent Night" and lighting candles. It got very quiet except for th singing and the candlelight. Just stunning.
After three days of holiday madness, the kids and I are just relaxing and enjoying our new toys.
That's a nice Christmas trip, Bev. I just watched "Home Alone" and "The Muppets' Christmas Carol," went to Christmas Eve services, and ate turkey and opened a bunch of presents. Not too shabby, all in all.
Bev: Christmas Eve at my younger daughter's, then Christmas Day at my house with the entire family. First time I've had them all together in one place at one time in many, many years. All that was missing was the white Christmas. No snow in the forecast yet.
T-Rav: We did ham this year. Then we watched Jesus of Nazareth on DVD.
We did ham, too. With scalloped potatoes and it was a big hit!
Day after was my birthday (christmas-Cris--) so it right through New Years this is a huge festival for me when dishes and laundry and politics tend to pile up. I did see Drudge is going after Newt Christmas or not!
CrisD: I wonder if scalloped potatoes go with ham like mashed potatoes go with turkey because that's the same combo we did. My mom always did a Christmas goose, but none of us know how to cook one right. The last time I tried (even with a duck press), it came out half grease and half charcoal.
My ex says she was named Carol because she was born exactly two weeks before Christmas. I always thought she should have been named Pearl because she was born four days after Pearl Harbor (not the same year, though). LOL
LawHawk - What a wonderful Christmas with all the family together. It must have been busy and loud!
CrisD - Happy Birthday!! Tomorrow is my birthday. We Christmas Capricorns have to stick together.
We had roasted duck with mashed potatoes, gingered sweet potatoes, brussel sprouts and yummy homemade bisquits. Yummmm.
Bev: And I get half of them back again today as my son stops by on his way back to Berkeley with three of the grandkids who stayed at my ex's home since late on Christmas Day. The rest went to their other grandmother's house. I think my older daughter's boys were disappointed that we didn't have snow for them to play in this year. I'm looking forward to a very quiet New Year's Eve. LOL
Cris and Bev: Happy Birthday to you both.
Bev: Send me the secret for cooking duck so it isn't greasy or burned to charcoal. I'm determined I'm going to learn how to cook goose and duck.
It's official! Ben Nelson is retiring from the Senate! LINK With this late anouncement, it's almost a fait accompli that we will get a Republican in his vacated seat.
tryanmax: Guess he couldn't take the heat over Obamacare. It's a good shot for a Republican to take the seat.
LawHawk - the key to roasting a duck - prick or slit the skin all over (be careful not to prick the meat). Roast at 325 degrees (Fahr) breast side down to start on a rack in a deep roasting pan. You want to make sure the duck does not stew in the fat that will render off. In a whole duck, you can get more than two cups of fat.
Depending on how you like your duck (I like mine on the medium rare side), turn the duck breast side up about 3/4 of the way through. For a medium rare duck that's about 1 1/2 hours. You can brush the skin with a marinade as you go. If you like it well done, the leg should pull of fairly easily.
Well, Ben really embarrassed his constituents with the "Cornhusker Kickback." I think it's turned into one of those unforgivable sins for a lot of folks.
Plus, the Dems were dumping millions into our fair state and couldn't bring Ben's approval numbers above half. I surmise the senator's internal polling showed worse. Point being, the writing on the wall was fairly clear even if the font wasn't particularly large.
Dear Ben Nelson: Don't let the door hit you on the way out. Sincerely, T-Rav.
Bev: Thanks. I'll try it for New Year. I'll get to use my new roasting pan with rack. I assume it's cooked without the cover, right? I'll let you know the result. Yum. Duck!
tryanmax: I was pretty sure the Cornhusker Kickback had a lot to do with it. It couldn't happen to a nicer sellout.
T-Rav: Ditto. L Hawk
LawHawk - No cover. Next up: all the things you can do with the rendered duck fat! Yummmmm.
Hey Everyone Happy
Holidays....
If anyone can tell me how I can send a message to blogger I would be appreciative.
I have not spent a lot of time at my powetry blog of late but I noticed it getting traffic which is weird because I don't care to advertize it. Any rate I looked at the stats and I am noticing I get a view everyday coming from links at a gambling site, porn sites etc. One is an israeli porn site which is just strange.
Anyrate I don't really care but I am assuming I should contact blogger. Not sure what it means but I am assuming thjat someone is using my site to drum up links to theirs since they think it is inactive I guess.
Anyrate, it is not that big a deal but the report abuse does not cover this and I am not sure how to report it. Thanks for any help you guyhs can give.
Bev: Cool! I'm already an expert at turkey carcass soup, and now I'll be the only one in the family who has the secrets of our web-footed friends.
Indi: Send an e-mail to Andrew at the Commentarama e-mail address. I get too angry and start to sputter, so he's had to deal with our Blogger problems. Our success getting Blogger to pay attention to us has been somewhat minimal, but we do get answers sometimes.
OK
I guess then there is not much they can do but I'll send the email.
I know that if someone links your site to porn and gambling sites it is a way to get google to drop you in a search. So I thiink I should at leasst file some kkind of complaint. Not that it will do any good.
Indi: What few contacts I have had with Blogger have not been the happiest. But you should notify them.
Happy Birthday, Bev! You are in the club- never had class sing you Happy Birthday at lunch ;)ho-ho-ho!
Keep the duck recipes coming. I shall take it on for New Years Eve! My husband and son can do the extra dishes!
CrisD: I'll serve mine with cheese so we can have quackers and cheese. Sorry, it's the Marx Brothers in me.
Thanks CrisD - Yes, and not only that, but I have never had a birthday party ON my birthday - even today. {{Boo-hoo-hoo...sniff..sniff}}. It's a big vacation week for everyone.
If you need a recipe, please feel free to ask. Stuff the duck with an orange, lemon, carrot, celery, onion and herbs. It infuses it with a citrusy, herby flavor.
Bev: We luv ya even if your birthday does interfere with the holidays. LOL My ex and three of my grandkids have birthdays within two weeks of Christmas, and I know they get unintentionally short-changed because of it.
It's your birthday (yesterday)? Happy birthday, Bev! Hope you had a good one!
happy birthday yesterday, Bev!
(we had our family C'mas on 12/27 - my brother's birthday. So, we took a moment for birthday presents before opening C'mas presents...)
All the best to all the Commentaramians as we begin another year - time flies!!!
It seems that all the best people have at least one family member born around Christmas or they know someone who is! ;-)
I knew there was something special about Commentarama!
Is Jan. 7th close enough? That's my little girl's birthday.
Otherwise, we can't be among the best people. :(
It could be worse, Bev. My sister was born December 22 and married on December 27. (not the same year.) All her major celebrations fall in the same week and her husband has been known to give her "birthday-Christmas-anniversary" gifts.
Also, my Aunt Carol was born on December 19.
We had a quiet Christmas, just me, hubby, and the kid. Sometimes that is nice.
Happy new year all, may 2012 bring health, happiness and prosperity.
rlaWTX: For years, I had the Christmas get-together in January. Two of my three kids and all my grandkids lived in Southern California, so the trip to San Francisco would have fouled up all their other get-togethers if we did them on December 24 or 25. I convinced them we were big advocates of the Twelve Days of Christmas. We just had to do it before Epiphany so the pretense would hold up. So my Christmas tree is the last one to come down. Happy New Year.
Bev: You've found the common thread that holds us all together. LOL
Happy New Year to you and the entire Commentarama community.
tryanmax: Close enough! And HAPPY BIRTHDAY to your daughter.
Tam: There's nothing wrong and a great deal right with just mom, dad and the kid(s) having their own intimate Christmas. I'm still cleaning up after our family gang Christmas! I loved every minute of it, but my smaller, "serial" Christmases were a lot easier to deal with.
Happy New Year back at you.
Tryanmax - Of course, since you know us, you are part of the "in" crowd! Happy Birthday to your daughter!
Happy Birthday Bev! And Happy New Year!
P.S. I'm off to get laser surgery on my eyes in a few minutes so I can see again! Woo hoo!
Tam, that kind of stuff happens to everybody, not just those with birthdays and other celebrations close to Christmas. My birthday is June 28th, the exact furthest day from Christmas on the calendar, and I still have received birthday/Christmas presents.
Andrew: Now you'll be able to see the label on the New Year champagne bottles! Good luck.
tryanmax: Sounds like some of your relatives and friends have the same dilatory buying habits that I admit to. LOL
Andrew, I had laser surgery when I was 26. It was awesome! It still is, but my eyesight is weakening some. My optomotrist friend says it is an effect of aging (grrr)compounded by the fact that the effects start wearing off after about 10 years. If I had known that, I may have waited until I was 40 to get it done! Oh well. You will love it!
Tam, I had it about 12 years ago and loved it. But my eyes just kept getting worse. According to the doc, this is because my eyes keep growing (I think he called it progressive myopia) which he said wasn't uncommon but is annoying. So basically, I need a big time touch up every 10 years or so.... and that's in about an hour! Woo hoo.
Of course, if last time is any indication, that means I won't be able to see my computer for a couple days but it's worth it.
And in case I don't get back until Sunday or Monday, Happy New Year to everyone!
I may have to do more research...my optomotrist friend said doing more surgery would do more damage! I may get a touch up after all!
I had it done in Virginia the first time and now I'm having it done here and both doctors said they could do touchups if needed -- they're a lot cheaper too if you go with the same doc.
It depends on how much eye tissue you have left afterwards, so some people can't get the procedure done more than once, but most can.
It's definitely worth looking into.
"My birthday is June 28th, the exact furthest day from Christmas on the calendar,"
Tryanmax - that makes you the "Anti-Christ-mas" baby! Do you by chance have any strange birthmarks on your scalp?
Andrew - Good luck on your surgery! Please don't post photos though...eewww.
Andrew and Tam: I have perfect 20/20 vision, so long as I squint real hard. LOL
Bev: tryanmax has a birthmark that looks like 999, if he's standing on his head.
No, no scalp birthmarks. Though I do use special shampoo for the dry skin. Is that the same thing?
Hey, tryanmax and I have the same birthday! Represent! (And no, I don't have any weird markings on my head...anymore.)
Oh, and good luck on the laser surgery, Andrew!
♪♫ It's a small world after all ♪♫ It's a sma--
Singing is interrupted by the sounds of beating and cries of pain.
So, quick question, should one be able to erect an American flag anywhere simply because it is an American flag? Some seem to think so. I disagree.
tryanmax: I believe I have an absolute right to raise an American flag on my own property (but I don't have a nosy homeowner's association to deal with, and this is patriot country). But I don't have a right to put one up on my neighbor's property or public property without permission. On the other hand, if that flag had stayed up for another two years, they might have developed a right under the laws of adverse possession (some states allow adverse possession to be charged against public as well as private property owners). My problem is not so much with the removal as the way it was removed. As for the "safety factor," baloney. The flag seems to be a pretty good warning that you're about to run into something that you might not see in time without the flag (and the tree). One can do a perfectly legal act (such as removal of the flag), but one can also offend everyone in sight by the way it's done.
Could you re-link the second link? It doesn't seem to work for me.
I agree with you that one does not have the right to place a flag on property that does not belong to them or without permission on public property. Except in this particular case a flag had been flying at the same spot for three years before without anyone complaining that it was a safety hazard.
However , what kind of insensitive goon throws a flag into the back of a truck? Especially one honoring a soldier currently serving?
Try this. LINK
LawHawk, I agree with everything you've said. I guess what irks me is the response that this is an attack on personal freedom and patriotism. I don't get the impression that these folks are up in arms because of the way the flag was removed but that it was removed at all. All the quotes seem to indicate that everyone felt because it was an American flag in question, no other rules apply.
Bev, that's assuming that the state worker knew what the flag was about. Having held a similar job at the municipal level, I'd say he probably didn't.
Also, you have to follow the link in the story, but a more detailed account reveals that the flag removed was not the one flying for three years. That makes a difference. The original one might not have been a hazard, but the replacement was apparently sturdier.
As to why a tree would be allowed in a right-of-way where a pole is not, they effect vehicles differently. Trust me, you'd much rather hit the tree.
tryanmax: I'm with you. I'm one of those people who gets goose-bumps at the sight of Old Glory, but we live in a free republic (for the time being) which doesn't require uniformity of thought or expression of patriotism. However lame the city's excuse may or may not have been, they have a right to determine what goes on public property and what doesn't, public safety being only one of the prerogatives. One thing is obvious, though. And that's the fact that respect for the flag, even when it is being taken down, has disappeared from many people's upbringing.
On the other hand, one can carry emotional patriotism too far, as the objectors in this case have done. They forget what the flag actually stands for. And one of those things is that if you want to fly the flag on public grounds, and the city is stupid enough to refuse, start a campaign, throw the rascals out, and use the democratic process to make your point. There are manufacturers who make collapsible flag poles which will give in the event of an automobile collision.
One irony that just hit me is that the permit process was easy enough for these people to follow in organizing their protest, but it was apparently too difficult when it came to erecting the flag to begin with.
tryanmax: Yep. Even if the city officials shared the feelings for the flag, there is still a process to go through. And it's never safe to assume that an informal waiver of legal requirements for any short period of time is a waiver forever. Those of us who do love the flag and all it stands for also believe in the rule of law. In this case, if I'm getting all the facts right, there really aren't any pure good guys. If both sides had followed the rules and dealt fairly with each other, the flag would probably still be flying.
I think a lot of what brought the event to where it is is that the family who first put up the flag believes it was run over on purpose. My guess is that if the assertion were supportable, it would have been in the article. I imagine the selection of a sturdier replacement was a bit of a backlash to the perceived slight. I'm reading between the lines a bit, but I think it fair to suggest that emotions were already running high before the state got involved.
tryanmax: It sounds like there's more to the story that what we've heard. It's beginning to sound like an entrenched bureaucracy versus patriotic fervor with both sides talking right past each other.
Having slept on it, I think I'm irritated with Todd Starnes more than anyone. Just comparing his story against the original Sun article, he put a lot of tweaks in to make it sound more like "anti-American bureaucracy vs. the little guy."
Kinda like when Counting Crows redid that Joni Mitchell song and tweaked it to make it sound a little more liberal. Because if there is one thing Joni Mitchell wasn't enough of, it was liberal. /sarc
tryanmax: Joni Mitchell not liberal enough. Good one. LOL
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