Christmas
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Printed Date: February 22 2025 at 10:59
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Topic: Christmas
Posted By: Vibrationbaby
Subject: Christmas
Date Posted: November 02 2008 at 06:12
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There's Chistmas decorations going up everywhere. They started doing this a few days ago. It's sickening. ------------- |
Replies:
Posted By: Visitor13
Date Posted: November 02 2008 at 06:15
| As long as no Santas went trick-or-treating, it's tolerable ;) |
Posted By: micky
Date Posted: November 02 2008 at 06:21
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ehhhh... the good thing I can say about the world today... enough bad sh*t going on around us so stupid stuff like that sort of isn't worth the time to even care about I guess. Put up in the decorations in July for I care.. just vote Tuesday.....
------------- The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip |
Posted By: Ricochet
Date Posted: November 02 2008 at 06:22
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One month and a half, plus two contests till Christmas, so I'm not feeling it yet.
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Posted By: JayDee
Date Posted: November 02 2008 at 06:23
Relax. It won't last long. Well, unless you live here in the Philippines, you'll have to bear with it for 4 months where Christmas season starts as early as September.  ------------- 
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Vibrationbaby wrote:Posted By: JayDee
Date Posted: November 02 2008 at 06:24
Good call. -------------
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Posted By: Visitor13
Date Posted: November 02 2008 at 06:25
| Damn those Christians with their economic and educational systems and their festivities, stealing my autumn :P |
Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: November 02 2008 at 06:36
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http://www.garnertedarmstrong.org/pubs/christmas.htm - http://www.garnertedarmstrong.org/pubs/christmas.htm ------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened... 
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Posted By: limeyrob
Date Posted: November 02 2008 at 07:21
Couldn't agree more. It's far too early. You could always do what I do. When I see first Christmas advert on the TV I don't shop there for the following year. This year - Argos.
I doubt very much that Argos will loose much sleep over my lack of custom but it is my reaction to the over commercialisation of this festival.
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Posted By: aapatsos
Date Posted: November 02 2008 at 07:24
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Posted By: Raff
Date Posted: November 02 2008 at 07:34
| I tend to agree with you. The Xmas season starts way too early, even this year when people will have far less money (if any at all) to spend on useless presents and truckloads of food. I do like the decorations and the atmosphere, but not in mid-October. Even though I am not religious, I think this is really sickening. |
Posted By: Jared
Date Posted: November 02 2008 at 07:38
If there was any danger Of Barack losing on Tuesday Micky, I'd get you to smuggle me in for voting purposes, Micky...as it is, I think he's got a pretty safe lead...  ------------- Music has always been a matter of energy to me. On some nights I believe that a car with the needle on empty can run 50 more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio. Hunter S Thompson |
Posted By: Blacksword
Date Posted: November 02 2008 at 07:38
I know, It's sh!t isn't it.
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Posted By: Jared
Date Posted: November 02 2008 at 07:46
eloquently put, Professor Porksword....
 ------------- Music has always been a matter of energy to me. On some nights I believe that a car with the needle on empty can run 50 more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio. Hunter S Thompson |
Posted By: Epignosis
Date Posted: November 02 2008 at 07:59
Has the 2000 election taught you nothing? |
Posted By: Epignosis
Date Posted: November 02 2008 at 07:59
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Oh, and about the Christmas decorations... In NC, where I spent most of my life, those didn't go up until the day after Thanksgiving. They stayed up until Easter, though.  |
Posted By: Jared
Date Posted: November 02 2008 at 08:42
does it need to teach me anything? I'm British...
besides, we have enough uncounted chavs of our own, thank you very much...  ------------- Music has always been a matter of energy to me. On some nights I believe that a car with the needle on empty can run 50 more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio. Hunter S Thompson |
Posted By: Dean
Date Posted: November 02 2008 at 10:28
good article. When I was a "born-again" Christian we never celebrated Christmas, but would sing carols at any time of the year as long as those carols were not overtly pagan. Later as a non-Christian I became fascinated by folk-lore and ancient pagan traditions, especially of Britain and their relationship to Christian traditions. It is evident that Christmas is piggy-backing on older non-Christian traditions and has little relationship to any biblical event or tradition.
The Holly & The Ivy, The First Noel etc are Christianised songs of pagan celebration - even the British tradition of Father Christmas (rather than Saint Nicolas, Chris Kringle or Santa Claus) is based on the pagan Green Man and the celebration of Winter turning to Spring over the Winter Solstice.
...So even from a Pagan view-point - celebrations starting as early as October are just as meaningless. ------------- What? |
Posted By: The Doctor
Date Posted: November 02 2008 at 10:33
Jesus, Christmas is supposed to be a time of good cheer and festivity. Now, stop your b**ching and enjoy the damn holiday! 
 ------------- I can understand your anger at me, but what did the horse I rode in on ever do to you? |
Posted By: Ricochet
Date Posted: November 02 2008 at 10:53
Hm...You mean to say Jesus is unsatisfied about his own celebration day or what?   -------------
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Posted By: The Doctor
Date Posted: November 02 2008 at 10:57
 ------------- I can understand your anger at me, but what did the horse I rode in on ever do to you? |
Posted By: Garion81
Date Posted: November 02 2008 at 13:29
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I think most tradition holds that Jesus would have born in September. When Constantine declared Christianity as the state religion of Rome many of the Roman customs were incorporated into Christianity's events to make the move more palatable. For instance declaring Christ's Birth to be in the general vicinity of the Winter Solstice.
As for me I going to see Trans-Siberian Orchestra the weekend before Thanksgiving and that will be the start to our season. If Christmas does nothing else it should give us all a heart for charity and giving. Of course we should be that way all the time.
What interferes with that is the size and number of presents we EXPECT. That is what damages the season. Gifts are just tokens of our affections and should be given freely with no return expected.
That being said let me be the first in this thread to delcare:
I hope everyone has a wonderful Holiday season no matter where you are or what your circumstances
 Oh and in the spirit of the thread I saw Halloween decorations up the day after Labor Day.
 ------------- 
"What are you going to do when that damn thing rusts?" |
Posted By: Bern
Date Posted: November 02 2008 at 13:53
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I was thinking the same thing this morning when my neighbour woke me up for help with his decorations...
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RIP in bossa nova heaven. |
Posted By: zappaholic
Date Posted: November 02 2008 at 14:03
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Ah yes, Christmas. And with it, the now-annual War On Christmas [TM].
Bluh.
------------- "Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want, and deserve to get it good and hard." -- H.L. Mencken |
Posted By: TGM: Orb
Date Posted: November 02 2008 at 14:22
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Things I want this Christmas: 1. Shops having the good taste to not turn their entire store into a mass of red and white with price labels. Regular Turkish Delight is delicious. You couldn't give away Tesco Special Christmas Presenty Funfun Turkish Delight to any discerning customer who knew what it tasted like. 2. Shops to advertise two weeks before. Not two months before. Grrrr... 3. Parents not to want to get me into the village church just because it's nice and villagy and has mulled wine. |
Posted By: Queen By-Tor
Date Posted: November 02 2008 at 14:33
I want a pony. Seriously though, I've seen decorations in stores since September. I just ignore them |
Posted By: Raff
Date Posted: November 02 2008 at 14:39
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I actually make my own Xmas decorations... Last year I made a batch and took them to the US in order to decorate a spectacular tree (which, I was told, stayed in place until a couple of weeks before Easter). Needless to say, though, I didn't start making them in September.
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Posted By: Atkingani
Date Posted: November 02 2008 at 14:52
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When I was a kid Christmas decoration appeared only in December but now they start to be shown soon after 12th October (Children's Day here)...
The matter is that every working people have the 13th salary (equal to a common salary) whose half is paid in November and the other half until 15th December and so dealers/traders/merchants are eager to take possesion of this money that injects more than USD 100 billion in the economy at once.  ------------- Guigo ~~~~~~ |
Posted By: Vibrationbaby
Date Posted: November 02 2008 at 23:44
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I grew up in the countryside north of Montreal, Quebec, Canada and it was only two weeks before the big day that we would go out into the forest with my dad to kill the tree. It came down two days after New Year's Day. he saved it and used it for compost in one of his bizarre gardens.Then we prepared for Robbie Burns Day and looked forward to that delicious I'm currently organizing a vigilante group called Black December. We're going to cam up and go on special forces style missions throwing molotov cocktails and bricks through any storefront displaying any form of Christmas decorations before Dec. 11. ( Seriously, I hope no one believes this ). ------------- |
haggis. http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haggis - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haggis .Posted By: BroSpence
Date Posted: November 03 2008 at 02:24
| People in my neighborhood haven't taken down their Halloween decorations yet, but the grocery stores have already put up the xmas candy. Come Thanksgiving we will have christmas movies in the theaters. |
Posted By: Neil
Date Posted: November 03 2008 at 02:46
Very interesting. I was aware of quite a lot of that but there is some new info for me. Basically the modern Christmas has nothing to do with celebrating anything apart from the inproving bank balance of retailers; hence the adverts starting about now.
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Posted By: Jim Garten
Date Posted: November 03 2008 at 03:24
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And you don't even need to see the TV ads, just hear them - they always use those appalling Phil Spector produced Christmas songs... 'wall of sound'? Wall of arse!
One of our local supermarkets began selling Christmas cards at the beginning of September - go figure... ------------- 
Jon Lord 1941 - 2012 |
Posted By: Dean
Date Posted: November 03 2008 at 03:46
On the bright side Jim, Sainsbury's will be selling hot cross buns soon.  ------------- What? |
Posted By: Jim Garten
Date Posted: November 03 2008 at 03:49
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No doubt - it was them who started on the cards... -------------
Jon Lord 1941 - 2012 |
Posted By: Vibrationbaby
Date Posted: November 03 2008 at 08:02
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They won't even let the veterans sell their poppies in the malls in downtown Montreal. Ain't getting my business that's for ding dang. Fortunately I didn't go to war but I put in 9 years. Shame on them. ------------- |
Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: November 03 2008 at 08:33
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Did someone say "war on Christmas"?
Update, double pasted, oops. All part of my devious war on Christmas. ------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...
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Posted By: Ricochet
Date Posted: November 03 2008 at 11:25
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You can show that again!
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Posted By: Neil
Date Posted: November 03 2008 at 13:51
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And on Dec 26th Woolworths will have Cadbury's Cream Eggs on sale.
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Posted By: Epignosis
Date Posted: November 03 2008 at 15:56
There used to be a store in my hometown that sold Easter and Christmas candy year round. We bought to give out on Halloween. Saved a few bucks. |
Posted By: Epignosis
Date Posted: November 03 2008 at 15:56
Well, to kick off the holidays, I'm getting in the spirit with a little egg nog right now.  |
Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: November 03 2008 at 22:29
I'm pretty sure it was/is called the Christmas Store, I have or have had seen at least one billboard for it traveling on the interstate through parts of Florida. ------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...
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Posted By: Vibrationbaby
Date Posted: November 04 2008 at 23:51
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More Christmas crimes. I'm doing daily checks on HMV. Apart from that revolting Celine Christmas trash CD they have to bring poor Elvis into all this Christmas blashphemy. Now I love the King's music, but this CD they have has the dead King doing duets with various female artists. A dead guy doing Christmas duets with songstresses who are still alive. Is there something wrong here? What sort of demographic are they shooting for? At least Celine the queen of excrement is not on this one it already botched Elvis' If I Can Dream last year. I tried to get the manager to pull this one. She actually agrees with me with my point that it's too freakin' early and there's just too much Christmas camp but all this is from up the ladder at the executive level. What happened to classics like the Vince Guaraldi Trio's Charlie Brown Christmas. I wish I could go into stasis until Robbie Burns Day.
And this atrocity : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZ_Glj_JVuM - www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZ_Glj_JVuM Time to call in the air strike here. Can you believe this guy. I wonder what Greg Lake would think of this abomination. I'm just waiting for the moron down the street to put up his tacky reindeer display. I mean every nieghbourhood seems to have this sort of visual pollution every year. ------------- |
Posted By: Petrovsk Mizinski
Date Posted: November 05 2008 at 04:56
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There is something I really hate about Christmas. It just seems, too many people are obsessed with the materialistic side of things and forgetting the fact it marks the birth date of Jesus. This is coming from someone that has always been (and most likely always will be) an atheist, so that's saying something. |
Posted By: Plankowner
Date Posted: November 05 2008 at 05:50
| Working in a grocery store it's really, really, hard to keep any christmas spirit.. especially when you run out of yams. |
Posted By: Passionist
Date Posted: November 05 2008 at 06:54
| Hmm, I haven't seen anything christmas related yet, except for this tread. There's no christmas lights, no nothing anywhere yet :S |
Posted By: Vibrationbaby
Date Posted: November 05 2008 at 07:52
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LET"S ALL GO TO FINLAND ! ------------- |
Posted By: The Pessimist
Date Posted: November 05 2008 at 16:44
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Ah man, I know what you mean... (referring to original post) About two weeks ago they started playing a Christmas Collection album by various artists in Asda (which I visit quite regularly to accumilate my enourmous stash of yoghurt). Over and  ing over again! It's sickening and highly irritating at the same time.------------- "Market value is irrelevant to intrinsic value." Arnold Schoenberg |
Posted By: Nightfly
Date Posted: November 05 2008 at 16:52
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It's not just the shops that are starting way too early. I couldn't believe it when last week, whilst we were still in October, I saw a house not far from where I live with all it's decorations up, both outdoors and the Xmas tree indoors.....unbelievable!!!
They'll be sick of the site of them by the end of November!
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Posted By: Vibrationbaby
Date Posted: November 06 2008 at 00:51
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Where's this guy when you need him http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPBS7dVrE1U - www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPBS7dVrE1U ------------- |
Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: November 06 2008 at 08:04
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Oh, no, I'm starting to hear Chrismas music in my head, aaaggghh. Oh that's better I just willed it to go into the Charlie Brown Christmas soundtrack. Probably the coolest Christmas music ever devised. Anyone want to comment on Christmas music? I don't have a lot in my collection, though. I added the Charlie Brown soundtrack two years ago along with Sarah McLachlan's Wintersong. They kind of serve as an antidote to the stuff they pipe out in the stores. I also have Kitaro's Peace On Earth and my favorite antidote: Mr. Hankey's Christmas Classics. "Mr. Hankey the Christmas Poo..." Tull and XTC have done at least a couple of good songs each. ELP, too. ------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...
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Posted By: sleeper
Date Posted: November 06 2008 at 14:54
Christmas? Dont get me started on christmas, I work in a shop and as of November 1st we've been playing a lot of christmas songs. I wonder if that's an acceptable excuse for homicide?  ------------- Spending more than I should on Prog since 2005 
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Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: November 06 2008 at 19:16
Probably not, but certainly a justifiable excuse for losing your mind. And I do hope that after the shopping season you can locate it again. ------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...
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Posted By: June
Date Posted: November 06 2008 at 20:34
Hehe, I gotta a friend who's taking a week off right now to put a light display of that nature. That reminds me I gotta give his songs a look before he picks something I wouldn't aprove of
 Someone in my province who hates Celine as much as I do! I'm tearing up again. I didn't think that existedBut about Xmas...
My family decided this year that the age of gift exchange was finally over, that means only only gifts for the kids (a 3 and a 5 years old, as well as 2 Emo tween girls who'll get gift certificates) so it's really great!
More time to focus on the important stuff. Like gloegg.
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Posted By: Epignosis
Date Posted: November 06 2008 at 21:43
No, I spent most of my life in North Carolina. The place was called Erby's, and it was a discount store. |
Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: November 07 2008 at 07:25
I stand corrected.  Just googled it (the Christmas Store) and there is one in Oklahoma that does charity work for low income people. http://www.ou.edu/oupd/cstore1.htm - http://www.ou.edu/oupd/cstore1.htm ------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...
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Posted By: Vibrationbaby
Date Posted: November 07 2008 at 07:44
I'll take the Christmas decorations any day. I think the guy on my street is getting ready to put up that Reindeer display this weekend . I can feel it. ------------- |
Posted By: Vibrationbaby
Date Posted: November 11 2008 at 06:22
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Well the guy went ahead and did it. I swear I was ready to go and see a lawyer about this before a more rational voice spoke to me. Another thing which really peaves me is all these corrupt charities that all of a sudden surface during the Christmas season which now encompasses roughlt 15 % of the whole freakin' bloody year if you count boxing "month". I'm not even going to get into the Salvation Army which is a borderline crimminal organization except to say that a few years ago I helped a friend carry a used but perfect couch a good mile and a half to the Salvation Army Store only to see it in the window for sale for $300 a few days later. My buddy flipped out and we got the couch back after the cops had to show up. It was then donated to a church who made sure someone who really needed it bloody well got it without having to pay for it. All that said one thing that leaves me scratching my head is all these charities such as food banks, newspaper Cristmas funds etc. that want money and non-perishables to help people. I have nothing against helping my fellow man and I often do unconditionally. So why is it only at this time of year when everyone is strapped trying to take care of themselves that these organizations crawl out of the woodwork like they're starting to already here in my hometown of Montreal? Why not in the middle of the summer or for that matter, all year round. It completely baffles the hell out of me. It's like some sort of guilt trip that is layed on us every year. Then we go out and kill a tree, kill another bird as if one of God's creatures wasn't enough at Thanksgiving. ------------- |
Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: November 12 2008 at 12:21
http://www.gocomics.com/nonsequitur/#">
------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...
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Posted By: Vibrationbaby
Date Posted: November 12 2008 at 14:00
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Couldn`t find anything about Christmas there ^. But here in Montréal everything is completely out of control. I think we have to call in a few air strikes to get rid of all this visual pollution. They`ve got Santa Claus in one of the malls already I`ve been told.Next week is the Santa Claus parade. I feel like pouring axle grease all over the parade route. When will the madness end ?
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Posted By: Vibrationbaby
Date Posted: December 04 2008 at 15:43
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Posted By: Jim Garten
Date Posted: December 05 2008 at 02:25
I know exactly what you mean - I used to work in a bank many years ago & from 1st december, we'd have a video loop tape playing Christmas carols in the banking hall - repetitively - ALL DAY; the customers would come in, say "how lovely" & go all dewy eyed, completely ignoring the fact all the staff were becoming more & more borderline psychotic as the days went past.
Eeerm - maybe not... -------------
Jon Lord 1941 - 2012 |
Posted By: Vibrationbaby
Date Posted: December 05 2008 at 05:34
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Seriously this stupid holiday is outdated. Has been for eons.Fortunately I work for myself and avoid having to go to office Christmas parties and socialize with people you hate. As for this Christmas music it's perhaps the most depressing music. And artists like Ozzy, Judas Priest and Marylin Manson have had to put up with stupid lawsuits from stupid parents of stupid kids who have committed suicide because of their music. What about this Christmas music? And all the decorations that make it even more superficial and dreary. Where I live in Montreal, Canada before all this global warming there used to be at least a couple of feet of snow on the ground by this time that at least gave some spirit. This morning it's raining . Soaked Christmas decorations hanging everywhere. Sometimes it looks like Whoville here after the Grinch was finished with it.
And all the sales. It used to be boxing day and that was it! I remember lining up at Sam The Record Man on the 26th because EVERYTHING was half price. Now it's boxing month which starts about a week BEFORE the big day and there aren't really any good deals. It's all about money which nobody has like they used to. Welcome to the new era. ------------- |
Posted By: someone_else
Date Posted: December 05 2008 at 06:03
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Being blessed with a native dislike of any commercial utterance, Christmas does not mean that much to me. To me Christmas is for the religious (and for some people commerce may be a religion) whereas Easter is for the true believers. But I gave up the major part of my resistance to Christmas because it feels like kicking against a mammoth with my mice feet. I've taken my due place as a familyman who celebrates Christmas with his family. Besides this, I like a few days-off now and then.
And I never buy christmas albums for my own pleasure, neither from a christian artist like Neal Morse, nor from a heathen like Ian Anderson. There's lots of good muic for all seasons...
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Posted By: Jim Garten
Date Posted: December 05 2008 at 06:15
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OK - coming out of the closet moment:
I love Christmas - I hate all the run-up to it, the tacky adverts on TV, the hopelessly crammed shops, but once all the organisation & buying is over and done with, I love it - I fully intend, gods willing, for the Christmas period to be spent with as many of my family and friends as possible, and yes, there will probably be an element of over-indulgence too; possibly a tad too much watching rubbish TV in a post port haze as well. Of course we see our friends & family all through the year as much as possible, but not to the soundtrack of Bing Crosby & The Sound Of Music. If you all want to hate public holidays, go ahead & good luck to you - personally I shall wend my hypocritical way through the back end of December with all the grace I can muster & do my level best to enjoy myself as 2008 draws to a close. +++ahem+++ HAPPY CHRISTMAS ALL! 
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Jon Lord 1941 - 2012 |
Posted By: Vibrationbaby
Date Posted: December 05 2008 at 06:38
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I hate most everything but I have this special vengeance for Christmas in my cold heart. ------------- |
Posted By: Jim Garten
Date Posted: December 05 2008 at 06:45
In which case Ian, I shall send a special Christmas wish couriered by a cute elf to thaw that frozen heart:
Look - she's even brought you presents - Aaaaaahhhh! -------------
Jon Lord 1941 - 2012 |
Posted By: limeyrob
Date Posted: December 05 2008 at 08:28
| Well now that it is December I am starting to think about Christmas. I do like some aspects of Christmas especially the social side but I think the whole issue of Christmas has been lost in the stampede to get the latest must-have toy. Back in my youth when brass was tight we seemed to have more enjoyable Christmases that the credit fuelled over indulgence we have these days. |
Posted By: Peter
Date Posted: December 05 2008 at 08:56
I like Christmas -- I find it in my heart, my memories, and in my home -- not in stores.
 I get a break from work, I savour tasty beer and enjoy good food with my dear family... plus, I get to hear that great Tull album (which I only hear one month per year) again: I think too many of you go out of your way to find (and dwell upon) the negative aspects of everything.Quoth Dickens' cheery Nephew Fred:
"And therefore uncle, though it has never put a scrap of gold
or silver in my pocket, I believe that it has done me good, and will do me good; and I say, God bless it!"  ------------- "And, has thou slain the Jabberwock? Come to my arms, my beamish boy! O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!' He chortled in his joy. |
Posted By: Jim Garten
Date Posted: December 05 2008 at 09:03
The first CD played every Xmas day in our house:
Gets me in the mood...  -------------
Jon Lord 1941 - 2012 |
Posted By: mystic fred
Date Posted: December 05 2008 at 09:11
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you only have to mention the 'C' word these days and people roll their eyes and make a face - the main problems seem to be -
a) the shops stock Christmas goods too early
this is a good thing, it avoids having to visit the shops when they are busy the weekend before the big day
b) we are saturated by television ads for toys, toiletries and food
simple - just watch the BBC channels
c) people think they have to get blind drunk and collapse into a pool of sick to enjoy christmas eve
i stopped going to the pub on christmas eve years ago - it took too long to get to the beer soaked bar anyway
d) everybody hates the shops being so crowded
simple - see problem a)
e) running out of money
get a credit card and pay it back next year (oops better not..
)f) boring time with relatives, when you would rather be with that smashing bird you got off with at the office party
pretend you have a cold, have a peaceful time at home then ring that smashing bird you met at the office party to come round for the evening
g) putting up decorations
don't put any up - then after christmas you won't have any to take down, the place won't look so gloomy and you won't be accursed with pine needles sticking in your foot all year
MERRRY CHRISTMAS!
-------------  Prog Archives Tour Van 
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Posted By: harmonium.ro
Date Posted: December 05 2008 at 13:29
| Several reasons for a beautiful, inspiring Christmas: http://blog.allmusic.com/2008/12/05/holiday-music-2008/ - http://blog.allmusic.com/2008/12/05/holiday-music-2008/ |
Posted By: Raff
Date Posted: December 05 2008 at 13:40
Bolded the above quote for truth... I really don't get all those people who seem to wallow in misery and/or resentment towards everything and everyone. Personally, this year I am the happiest I ever remember being in a long, long time, and intend keeping that way - even if the over-commercialization of the Xmas season gets on my nerves sometimes. Ah, and if I manage to get my stuff before the big day, we'll be sure to play JT's album too ! |
Posted By: Vibrationbaby
Date Posted: December 05 2008 at 15:49
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Posted By: Vibrationbaby
Date Posted: December 05 2008 at 15:53
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Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: December 05 2008 at 18:13
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It's beginning to look a lot like Ian is the central front in the war on Christmas, every where you go. I'm reporting you to Bill Orally (o'reilly, oh really?) Seriously, these war on christmas folks are really beginning to make me mad. "We can't have retail employees saying "happy holidays" instead of "merry christmas"" as if there isn't Thanksgiving, Chanuka, Kwanzaa, and New Years all happening this time of year. And isn't that just a big "screw you" to all the folks who have holidays this time of year who aren't Christians? Happy Holidays to all! And a bottle of scotch to Ian, it only set me back $2070.99, plus there's a discount on 12 bottles, only $23543.88 (that would be really weird drinking something three years younger than me): 
------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...
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Posted By: Garion81
Date Posted: December 05 2008 at 18:42
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HMM I happen to like the season. In So Cal it isn't about snow or cold weather. Quite the contrary it is a beautiful sunny day with the highs in the 78 degree range. Christmas here is usually quite clear warm and sometimes a breezy. So it does look a little crazy when people put the air blown snowmen up on their houses and lawns while they are mowing around them.
On the other side I do like the feeling of Christmas and the end of the year holidays and the time spent with family and friends. It is fun watching the little ones make a mountain of ripped off wrapping paper and getting excited about the loot they have.
As for Holiday music I just went and saw Trans Siberian Orchestra (and took our girls aged 8 an 11 how many shows could you do that with?) and I am telling you it was one of the greatest spectacles I have ever seen in a live format. The special effects had special effects and the music was pretty good and played and sang very well. The play mostly traditional carols and popular classical themes with rock instruments.
You can go here for some samples:
http://www.trans-siberian.com/multimedia/index.shtml - http://www.trans-siberian.com/multimedia/index.shtml
or check them out on you tube
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"What are you going to do when that damn thing rusts?" |
Posted By: Peter
Date Posted: December 05 2008 at 21:13
^ Good luck with that positive, "look for the good" approach, Garion -- some people would rather just be miserable, alone, and bitch and moan constantly. They're such very good fun to be around -- everyone loves a cold,wet blanket! 
One day, these Debby Downers will be lying on their deathbeds, no doubt thinking "If only I hadn't had so much fun, and smiled so much. Life was too long...."
 Oh well! Nice of those gloomy, grumpy Gusses to stay home alone and wallow in self pity and cynicism, no? More beer, tasty tidbits and good fellowship for us, eh my friend? Can I crack you another nut? Ever try a Mill St. Coffee Porter? Care to pick out the next CD? I'd love to see the Trans Siberian orchestra, BTW -- hopefully my wife and I will go to a performance of Handel's Messiah, though, played by the local symphony & choir in a big church. Should be nice!
 But then again, we'll have to PAY to get in! Oh what a transparent money grab! And we're completely powerless to resist the commercialism -- helpless, unthinking sheep that we are.....!------------- "And, has thou slain the Jabberwock? Come to my arms, my beamish boy! O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!' He chortled in his joy. |
Posted By: Padraic
Date Posted: December 05 2008 at 21:15
| Sorry, I love Christmas, and it's a million times more gratifying now that I have a small child. |
Posted By: Vibrationbaby
Date Posted: December 05 2008 at 23:07
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well at least the TSO has performed with Greg Lake. I saw them do Father Christmas with him plus some other ELP stuff. What I like about that song is it's cynical approach. It's brutally frank " A veil of tears for the virgin birth " I like the way he mocks the birth of Christ calling it a "fairy story". my father was deeply religious, not a fanatic mind you, and he told me later one Christmas when I was well into my twenties that when I was very young that I said to him that, if you lied to me about Santa Claus why should I believe in this guy called Jesus. Weird that it reminded me of the ELP composition that I had come to love so much because that's exactly what Lake was saying in the song. That's got to be my favourite Christmas song because it's saying sod religion we've got to love one another unconditionally or we might as well pack it in. ------------- |
Posted By: Garion81
Date Posted: December 06 2008 at 14:48
Hey Peter! That was great post it made me laugh out loud. 
My employer is the biggest Debby Downer I have at Christmas time.
Our company seems to cram so much into December to appease the Wall Street crowd it is completely insane. (It only affects two or three departments not the whole company) Outside of Christmas Day and New Years Day I rarely get any time off including working late nights and weekends.
Even still I don't let it get me down too badly and I still love the Christmas festival for what it is. Handle's Messiah would be great. My sister, who has a masters degree in voice, introduced me into all of that kind of music when I was very young. One year I am going to see a first rate performance of it.
TSO was a great treat and the kids absolutely loved it. We may have ruined them on concerts forever as they may expect that kind of visual show everytime! It was a very positive experience without all the Disneyesque cuteness. Plus the music, while maybe being a hair short of prog, is still way better than anything they will hear on the TV or radio. They are already getting too much of that already. I think we will be making that show a holiday tradition now. I was impressed with the quality of the spectacle as well as the musicianship. It would melt the Grinch's heart I think.
I think TSO should be in the archives btw. Compared to some things we have added....
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"What are you going to do when that damn thing rusts?" |
Posted By: harmonium.ro
Date Posted: December 06 2008 at 14:54
| ^ they already are: http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=819 - http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=819 |
Posted By: Garion81
Date Posted: December 06 2008 at 15:05
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^ So they are.
I didn't see them in the list a few days ago when I was looking. Damn eyes
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"What are you going to do when that damn thing rusts?" |
Posted By: Vibrationbaby
Date Posted: December 06 2008 at 22:19
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C'mon C'mon C'mon let's not get too too positive about this Christmas thing. Complacency will get us nowhere. It's still a mean and vicious world out there. ------------- |
Posted By: Dean
Date Posted: December 07 2008 at 03:38
Yes Ian, it is - but for one day a year it's a little bit less mean and a little bit less vicious. It is a pity that cannot be maintained for the remaining 364 days of the year, but if all it takes for people to think of others is a special holiday, then I wish it could be christmas every day. ------------- What? |
Posted By: Atavachron
Date Posted: December 07 2008 at 03:50
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everybody should watch A Christmas Carol once a year or so, always does it for me "If Christmas, with its ancient and hospitable customs, its social and charitable observances, were in danger of decay, this is the book that would give them a new lease" -- Thomas Hood http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Christmas_Carol#cite_note-hood-4 - or It's a Wonderful Life |
Posted By: Vibrationbaby
Date Posted: December 07 2008 at 04:44
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This is a very nice Christmas movie :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1_wJVhAIsA&feature=related - www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1_wJVhAIsA&feature=related ------------- |
Posted By: Atavachron
Date Posted: December 07 2008 at 04:47
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^ I saw that when it came out years ago, Wim Wenders? |
Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: December 07 2008 at 05:08
That's only because people aren't out shopping. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/11/28/walmart-stampede_n_147021.html - http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/11/28/walmart-stampede_n_147021.html http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/11/28/walmart-stampede_n_147021.html - http://www.newsday.com/news/local/crime/ny-listam045951623dec04,0,2283434.story - http://www.newsday.com/news/local/crime/ny-listam045951623dec04,0,2283434.story
Speaking of Christmas movies, anyone seen Bad Santa? ------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...
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Posted By: Vibrationbaby
Date Posted: December 07 2008 at 05:14
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Here's another festive favourite :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6AvvMdUmxnI&feature=related - www.youtube.com/watch?v=6AvvMdUmxnI&feature=related ------------- |
Posted By: Jim Garten
Date Posted: December 08 2008 at 02:49
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Jon Lord 1941 - 2012 |
Posted By: Chris S
Date Posted: December 08 2008 at 03:23
That must be some serious sh*t your taking my friend
Happy Christmas/Happy whatever just enjoy reflecting for a day and avoid that early Christmas consumerism baiting ( mind you that started in October over here) ------------- ...As I venture through the slipstream, between the viaducts in your dreams...[/COLOR] |
Posted By: Vibrationbaby
Date Posted: December 08 2008 at 06:02
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Two of my favourite movies in one ! One of my sisters won't let me show these movies to the kids. ------------- |
Posted By: Vibrationbaby
Date Posted: December 08 2008 at 06:08
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Posted By: Vibrationbaby
Date Posted: December 09 2008 at 06:39
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I ust can't resist. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVRmXc8PPqk - www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVRmXc8PPqk ------------- |
Posted By: Jim Garten
Date Posted: December 10 2008 at 06:54
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Damn you Ian -
I'll see your anti-seasonal weirdness & raise you a Christmas classic:  -------------
Jon Lord 1941 - 2012 |
Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: December 10 2008 at 07:00
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The hills are alive with the sound of mucus.
------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...
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Posted By: Jim Garten
Date Posted: December 10 2008 at 07:05
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That snot funny! -------------
Jon Lord 1941 - 2012 |
Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: December 10 2008 at 12:55
------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...
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Posted By: Padraic
Date Posted: December 10 2008 at 12:57
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Meltdown Memories
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Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: December 11 2008 at 15:26
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------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...
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