Ship of Fools: Ho Ho Bloody Ho

Thread: Ho Ho Bloody Ho Board: Oblivion / Ship of Fools.

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Posted by Sipech (# 16870) on :

This is for all the Scrooges out there.

I hate this time of year.

One of the thing that irks me is deciding what the time of year is called. Most places you look it's Christmas, yet there are legions of conservative nitpickers who think they're being helpful when they go: "It's not Christmas, it's Advent." Just get your head out of your liturgical arse!

And there are so many more things to make you cringe. The tallest folks on my office are running the risk of getting garroted by low-hanging decorations. My desk has bits of tinsel falling on it, others who insist on having a real tree will be doing the same with pine needles.

It's just all so unnecessary.

There are the nativity plays which are almost invariably unfaithful to the texts and embellish the details (show me where there's a bloody stable mentioned in Matthew or Luke) to the extent that what enters into the collective consciousness as the nativity story is little more than a sanitised parody.

When you just want to go and hide or complain about something you get told to "get into the Christmas spirit" which is really unhelpful if you have S.A.D. and find the dark months really tough. Getting into the spirit of things is not like a light switch you can turn on and off.

What else makes you irritable about this time of year?

Posted by Caissa (# 16710) on :

There's a fuckin' tree in my hallway at work. I can't stand the commercialism of the season. Capitalism has taken a nice, cute Chritian holiday and created a Frankenstein's monster out of it. Lucy was correct; Christmas is run by an Eastern syndicate.

Posted by orfeo (# 13878) on :

Oh well done. In one part you tell people to stop nitpicking and describe arses as liturgical, but in another part you complain about inaccuracy in nativity plays.

I sense one of those irregular verb forms. "You are a nitpicker, I have a legitimate concern about accuracy".

What irritates me about this time of year is the obligatory appearance on the Ship of complaints about this time of year. Though at least you waited until December. Refreshingly late for this sort of thing.

Posted by orfeo (# 13878) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Caissa:
There's a fuckin' tree in my hallway at work. I can't stand the commercialism of the season. Capitalism has taken a nice, cute Chritian holiday and created a Frankenstein's monster out of it. Lucy was correct; Christmas is run by an Eastern syndicate.

You resent trees making money and know someone called Lucy?

Lay off the eggnog.

Posted by Spike (# 36) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Sipech:

What else makes you irritable about this time of year?

The knowledge that every year somebody will start a thread like this [Snore]

Posted by Lord Jestocost (# 12909) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Sipech:
What else makes you irritable about this time of year?

Christmas I can handle, but the commercial sector's delusion - and the media's sharing in it - that we have such a thing as Black Friday in the UK immediately before Advent was deeply annoying. I sense it will only get worse in years to come.

Posted by Tubbs (# 440) on :

The endless meme's on social media that claim that being wished "Happy Holidays" or whatever is taking the Christ out of CHRISTmas. That this stops people celebrating as they wish. And that this is yet another example of how Christians are being being discriminated against / persecuted.

Tubbs

Posted by Jemima the 9th (# 15106) on :

Well I like the run up to Christmas. But I suspect this is because a) rarely for me, I'm sort of on track with the shopping and b) unlike last year, I'm making it round said shopping without dissolving into tears every 5 minutes at the things that remind me of my Mum.

If that wasn't the case, I'd probably be right with you.

Posted by Stejjie (# 13941) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Tubbs:
The endless meme's on social media that claim that being wished "Happy Holidays" or whatever is taking the Christ out of CHRISTmas. That this stops people celebrating as they wish. And that this is yet another example of how Christians are being being discriminated against / persecuted.

Tubbs

All the "bah, humbug" from Christians that turn what should be the most joyous times of year, because it celebrates one of the greatest things to happen in the universe ever, into a season of nit-picking, joylessness and condemnation.

And yes, I include sermon against the commercialisation of Christmas in that - not because I'm in favour of it (I'm not!), but because we should be proclaiming good news from God, not a miserable God who's fed up of us all.

Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :

Shopping becomes totally unbearable [Mad]

Posted by mousethief (# 953) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Sipech:
It's just all so unnecessary.

Unnecessary to achieve what aim? "Necessary" suggests necessary for something. What is it unnecessary for?

quote:
Originally posted by Tubbs:
The endless meme's on social media that claim that being wished "Happy Holidays" or whatever is taking the Christ out of CHRISTmas. That this stops people celebrating as they wish.

Actually it probably stops very few people from doing much of anything -- except maybe consider Christianity as a valid belief choice.

quote:
Originally posted by orfeo:
What irritates me about this time of year is the obligatory appearance on the Ship of complaints about this time of year. Though at least you waited until December. Refreshingly late for this sort of thing.

Although in some ways it's better than Gordon Cheng's old annual screed about the evils of Lent.

Posted by Uncle Pete (# 10422) on :

I celebrate Christmas as a religious feast. Like a Hindu. Worship and prayers, and FOOD, gloriously food, as the workhouse orphans used to sing in that parody of Dickens.

Do as you like. Grant other people the same courtesy.

Ignore what you don't like

Not difficult at all!

Posted by Uncle Pete (# 10422) on :

Agree wirh Mousethief regarding those late, not lamented Lenten screeches.

Posted by Barefoot Friar (# 13100) on :

I get irritated with self-righteous people who go on and on and on about it being CHRISTmas and that using Xmas or "Happy Holidays" is the epitome of a godless culture. Grow up.

I also get irritated when people get irritated with my celebration of Advent and my attempt to stave off Christmas until, you know, Christmas. I won't berate you if you don't berate me, and if you can't take a smile and warm "A blessed Advent to you, too!" when you wish me a merry Christmas earlier in the season than I like, then you've got bigger problems. I could come unglued on the merry Christmas wishers and yammer on about it being Advent, but I don't. So don't do it to me.

Posted by LeRoc (# 3216) on :

I am very much on track with shopping. Haven't bought a thing.

Posted by Baptist Trainfan (# 15128) on :

I get irritated by members of the church - or, worse, people who come but once a year - who complain because I didn't choose their particular favourite carol.

Especially if I did have it at a service when they weren't present!

[ 04. December 2014, 14:33: Message edited by: Baptist Trainfan ]

Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on :

Once a year drinkers.

If you're going to have more than two glasses of sherry, then for goodness sake get into some form before you make a total arse of yourself at the work's do or in a pub on December 24th.

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Sipech:
My desk has bits of tinsel falling on it, others who insist on having a real tree will be doing the same with pine needles.

It's just all so unnecessary.

...

When you just want to go and hide or complain about something you get told to "get into the Christmas spirit" which is really unhelpful if you have S.A.D. and find the dark months really tough.

Well, this is precisely why we have a midwinter festival, during these short, dark, cold, dismal days. We need a bit of glitz, glamour, light in the darkness, frivolity and colour.

OK the commercialism is hard to stand, but an unrelieved stretch of miserable weather from November to February would be difficult to take.

Posted by moron (# 206) on :

The lack of proper recognition given Don Imus.

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Sipech:
... show me where there's a bloody stable mentioned in Matthew or Luke ...

OK, there isn't a stable as such, but there is a manger, which might have been in a stable.

quote:
Originally posted by Sipech:
... if you have S.A.D. and find the dark months really tough ...

... you could always festoon your house/office with as many lights as possible - it might make you feel better.

I'll get my coat. [Devil]

Posted by Steve Langton (# 17601) on :

I think for me the big problem of the season is that Santa business.

I wouldn't have much problem with people celebrating the actual St Nicholas on the proper 'Saint's Day' (which I believe is December 6th) as a kind of patron saint of giving, especially to those in actual need.

But the modern "Father Christmas" has no connection with St Nicholas, he's got a whole new legend which is nothing to do with the Incarnation, indeed is positively pagan,and he has basically taken Christmas over.

Worse, 'Santa' has become virtually the only religion on behalf of which you are allowed, almost encouraged, to persecute people. Declaring unbelief in Santa can really get your life damaged, and people will go to pretty incredible lengths to sustain children's belief in Santa. And that's people who would find it politically incorrect or something to teach about Jesus....

I don't think anybody would be allowed nowadays to invent such a commercialist figure and foist it on any other religion, let alone be allowed to really persecute unbelievers.

Posted by Bishops Finger (# 5430) on :

What is this thing called shop-ping of which you speak?

Ian J.

Posted by Firenze (# 619) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Sipech:
My desk has bits of tinsel falling on it, others who insist on having a real tree will be doing the same with pine needles.

You want to try getting the smell of beer out of the carpet and the horse blood off the wallpaper. Chances are the log is green and sets off the smoke alarm and you're lucky if you can get the waissailers to go home by February, never mind all the standing about in wet grass hailing the Return of the Sun when the only light in the sky is the reflection of the sodium strip down the motorway on the cloud cover.

Posted by Baptist Trainfan (# 15128) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Bishops Finger:
What is this thing called shop-ping of which you speak?

Ian J.

A strangely addictive activity involving small rectangles of embossed plastic, paper and metal tokens, plastic bags and cries of "Oh, my poor feet!" and "The crowds this year are terrible".

[ 04. December 2014, 15:35: Message edited by: Baptist Trainfan ]

Posted by Adeodatus (# 4992) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Sipech:
... your liturgical arse! ...

Oh great. Now I have a grotesque image stuck in my head of spending the next three weeks with a purple arse.

Posted by lilBuddha (# 14333) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Steve Langton:

I don't think anybody would be allowed nowadays to invent such a commercialist figure and foist it on any other religion, let alone be allowed to really persecute unbelievers.

Read this last line first and though you you talking about Jesus.

Posted by Starbug (# 15917) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Baptist Trainfan:
A strangely addictive activity involving small rectangles of embossed plastic, paper and metal tokens, plastic bags and cries of "Oh, my poor feet!" and "The crowds this year are terrible".

Or lots of online clicking, followed by an impatient wait for the postman/woman's poor feet to reach your house. And then, in January, the less welcome arrival of several sheets of paper demanding payment for using said plastic rectangle.

Posted by Baptist Trainfan (# 15128) on :

Ah, but that's not real shopping!

Posted by Ariston (# 10894) on :

Okay, I cop to pulling the whole Advent liturgical jackassery thing—but mostly on my annoying holier-than-thou relatives who post incessant "it's CHRISTmas, not the holidays! Remind people to say CHRISTmas!" shit almost constantly, and will mention it in their CHRISTmas cards.

We Get It. Happy feast of St. Nicholas to you too. May Krampus visit your house and never leave.

Posted by Pigwidgeon (# 10192) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Adeodatus:

quote:
Originally posted by Sipech:
... your liturgical arse! ...
Oh great. Now I have a grotesque image stuck in my head of spending the next three weeks with a purple arse.

Shouldn't it be rose for the third Sunday?

Posted by no prophet's flag is set so... (# 15560) on :

Whiners. Is this because no one likes you and no-one gives you presents? or egg nog? Do people flee from the mistletoe because you lack personal hygiene? Are you a loser? You probably prefer to celebrate his death you effing Christly Christians.

Posted by Sipech (# 16870) on :

quote:
Originally posted by no prophet's flag is set so...:
Is this because no one likes you and no-one gives you presents? or egg nog? Are you a loser?

Yes. And?

Posted by Yorick (# 12169) on :

[Big Grin]

Firenze

Posted by anoesis (# 14189) on :

Christmas is different down here in upside-down land, of course - but not necessarily better. On the one hand, all the tinsel and baubles and lights and roasted turkey and plum pudding and such just seem like a pointless sideshow when the sun is bright, the days are long, and there is a beach nearby. On the other hand, because Christmas tends to fall at the beginning of the summer holiday period, there is a mad rush to get a whole load of projects all wrapped up at work at the same time as the pressure ramps up and up in terms of obtaining presents for one's many, many, nieces and nephews, and doing relevant seasonal cooking duties.

However, my big gripe about the 'Christmas season', which so far as I can tell begins where Halloween ends, is that the rest of the world enters into some peculiar mental/emotional state where they lose absolutely all of their musical taste, and listen to the most appalling shite imaginable, 'because it's Christmassy'. Mariah Carey seems to be a big offender in this regard - if I don't want to listen to her for the other ten months of the year, why would I want to listen to her warbling Christmas songs? And 'Little Drummer Boy' is the worst earworm Of. All. Time. My father-in-law had some CD of dreadful stuff (including the obligatory drumming boy...) on repeat play at Christmas last year, and at about 3pm I had to ask him if we could change it, it was getting like nails on a blackboard. He put some instrumental Christmas music on instead. It had panpipes.

Posted by Pearl B4 Swine (# 11451) on :

quote:
Originally posted by moron:
The lack of proper recognition given Don Imus.

What? You wanna "unpack" this, please?

Posted by Kelly Alves (# 2522) on :

Took me a minute, too. He is making a screamingly funny joke about ho's. Golf- clap for the little dear and carry on.

Posted by luvanddaisies (# 5761) on :

Imagine my smiling little face when I opened an email from w*rk today, to find that December 12th is Festive-Wear Day, when we are 'encouraged' to come to w*rk wearing something 'festive', like a Christmas jumper, or reindeer antlers, or a full-on Christmas outfit, so that London can see how christmassy and festive we are.
Ho-fuckin'-ho-bloody-ho-ho-ho.

My flatmate said wrapping myself in chains with moneyboxes, keys and padlocks hanging off them, binding my jaw shut, and covering myself in talcum powder wouldn't be appropriate. Apparently Marley's Ghost isn't exactly 'festive'.

Apparently painting myself green and going as the Grinch wouldn't be the right thing to do either.

Imagine, though, my joy unfettered when I checked my rota, and realised I'm not working that day. Hooray! [Big Grin]

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Sipech:
What else makes you irritable about this time of year?

Aggressive secular/atheist types who tell you in no uncertain terms religion is a load of bollocks, Jesus was a twat, and the whole thing is bilge, and express contempt for the imagery used in carols, cards, etc etc, but insist on their right to celebrate Christmas. Wtf are you celebrating, exactly? The getting of gifts?

Posted by CuppaT (# 10523) on :

Actually, I think a guy going naked as the Baby Jesus might get some attention.

Posted by Ariston (# 10894) on :

There's a very good reason why, when I was working the floor on Black Friday, I joined in the "no fucking Christmas music!" vote with everybody else. After listening to the same mass-produced awful autotune all day, a bit of Ella Fitzgerald does a body good.

Posted by balaam (# 4543) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Boogie:
Shopping becomes totally unbearable

No different to any other time of year then.

Posted by orfeo (# 13878) on :

I love Christmas.

It's Advent I can't stand.

Posted by Fr Weber (# 13472) on :

quote:
Originally posted by orfeo:

quote:
Originally posted by Caissa:
There's a fuckin' tree in my hallway at work. I can't stand the commercialism of the season. Capitalism has taken a nice, cute Chritian holiday and created a Frankenstein's monster out of it. Lucy was correct; Christmas is run by an Eastern syndicate.
You resent trees making money

Looks more to me like he resents trees fucking. I assume he's envious.

Posted by luvanddaisies (# 5761) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Fr Weber:
Looks more to me like he resents trees fucking. I assume he's envious.

Posted by Doublethink. (# 1984) on :

We are doing family Christmas meal at the weekend - as the 'rents are going to the otherside of the world for Christmas.

Just thought I would annoy the too-soon tendency by going the whole hog [Big Grin]

Posted by Doublethink. (# 1984) on :

quote:
Originally posted by luvanddaisies:

quote:
Originally posted by Fr Weber:
Looks more to me like he resents trees fucking. I assume he's envious.
<tears up old school biology textbooks>

You know you can buy bits of turned tree to fuck yourself with, I believe they claim the varnish stops them going manky ...

Possibly not the best Xmas pressie though [Two face]

Posted by marzipan (# 9442) on :

What's so nice about eggnog? Have I only had the horrible version? It basically tasted like alcoholic egg, as I recall. I much prefer sherry.

Once it's December, I like Christmas/advent. It's when it creeps into November that I get annoyed. Our landlord decorates the outside of our building with Christmas lights the first week in November. It does make up for coming home in the dark though (normally it's the week after the clocks have gone back)
It's tradition in my family that Mince Pies Shall Not Be Eaten Before December 1st. Mr Marzipan actually went along with it this year (normally he's wolfing them down as soon as they're in the shops)

Edit/crosspost: a fucking tree, is that one covered in mistletoe?

[ 04. December 2014, 19:52: Message edited by: marzipan ]

Posted by luvanddaisies (# 5761) on :

quote:
Originally posted by marzipan:
a fucking tree, is that one covered in mistletoe?

BIG mistletoe. With knobs on.

Posted by orfeo (# 13878) on :

quote:
Originally posted by marzipan:
Once it's December, I like Christmas/advent. It's when it creeps into November that I get annoyed.

Get used to it. Global warming is making all the seasons shift.

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :

quote:
Originally posted by marzipan:
What's so nice about eggnog? Have I only had the horrible version? It basically tasted like alcoholic egg, as I recall.

It is alcoholic egg. Which is fine if that's how you like your eggs. Give me a glass of good mulled wine any day.

quote:
Originally posted by luvanddaisies:
Imagine my smiling little face when I opened an email from w*rk today, to find that December 12th is Festive-Wear Day, when we are 'encouraged' to come to w*rk wearing something 'festive', like a Christmas jumper, or reindeer antlers, or a full-on Christmas outfit, so that London can see how christmassy and festive we are.

I've just realized, of course 12 December is Christmas Jumper Day, when people are encouraged to wear a jumper with a Christmas theme and donate money to charity. The "donate money to charity" bit sometimes seems to get a bit lost in the general competitiveness of who's got the most themey of themed sweaters.

Posted by luvanddaisies (# 5761) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Ariel:

quote:
Originally posted by luvanddaisies:
Imagine my smiling little face when I opened an email from w*rk today, to find that December 12th is Festive-Wear Day, when we are 'encouraged' to come to w*rk wearing something 'festive', like a Christmas jumper, or reindeer antlers, or a full-on Christmas outfit, so that London can see how christmassy and festive we are.
I've just realized, of course 12 December is Christmas Jumper Day, when people are encouraged to wear a jumper with a Christmas theme and donate money to charity. The "donate money to charity" bit sometimes seems to get a bit lost in the general competitiveness of who's got the most themey of themed sweaters.

Ah, that makes it better - there'll be a donations jar at w*rk, apparently, where anyone can pay a 'fine' (for not wearing uniform) of at least a pound. I shall put something into the jar my next shift after it, with grateful thanks for my rota's deliverance of me from fancy-dress or Christmas jumpers.
(no excuse to buy this one , with its "fun reindeer conga-line". That's not how I know the conga... [Disappointed]

Posted by deano (# 12063) on :

Oh fuck me! It looks like I came back just in time.

Grow a pair people!

WE know what Christmas is, and on Christmas Eve WE will know what the manger means.

WE will know, on Christmas Day, that today is the day that God became man.

If others choose to shop or send Christmas cards with exasperated looking santas on, or call it winterval, who fucking cares? WE know the difference!

On Christmas Eve I will be at midnight mass. On Christmas day I will say my prayers to God and Christ, and the Holy Spirit, and the Father. On the Sunday after Christmas I will be the Crucifier in our Eucharist Service.

Whatever the rest choose to do is irrelevant and not worth getting worked up about.

Except for the shopping. I have shares in Marks and Spencer and Amazon so do lots of that! I need lots of 'olidays next year! I'm thinking of a cruise.

[ 04. December 2014, 21:32: Message edited by: deano ]

Posted by Doc Tor (# 9748) on :

Sipech

My, that's a large sig. Are you compensating for something? Regulations stipulate no more than 4 lines, and yours is rather engorged. Tumescent, almost.

Doc Tor
Hell host

Posted by Athrawes (# 9594) on :

There is something seriously wrong with the radio blaring out, "Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow" when you've had a week of 38 deg and there is a massive thunder storm predicted. We have some lovely carols in this end of the world, but you never hear them. All we get is Winter Wonderland, Jingle Bells etc.

Posted by marzipan (# 9442) on :

The 'winter songs when it's sunny' thing does seem really weird, Athrawes. Surely there's enough songs that don't directly reference the weather for them to play! (Or maybe not, I've never bothered counting)

Posted by comet (# 10353) on :

Want Christmas Hell? Try shacking up with a primary school music teacher. The only thing worse than Sleigh Ride is Sleigh Ride played on a ukelele.

Posted by Kelly Alves (# 2522) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Sipech:

quote:
Originally posted by no prophet's flag is set so...:
Is this because no one likes you and no-one gives you presents? or egg nog? Are you a loser?
Yes. And?

Ahem.

Posted by balaam (# 4543) on :

quote:
Originally posted by comet:
Want Christmas Hell? Try shacking up with a primary school music teacher. The only thing worse than Sleigh Ride is Sleigh Ride played on a ukelele.

Thanks, comet. I must learn that.

Posted by Moo (# 107) on :

quote:
Originally posted by luvanddaisies:
I shall put something into the jar my next shift after it, with grateful thanks for my rota's deliverance of me from fancy-dress or Christmas jumpers.
(no excuse to buy this one , with its "fun reindeer conga-line". That's not how I know the conga...

That's a conga line? It looks like something else.

Moo

Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Baptist Trainfan:
Ah, but that's not real shopping!

That's because real shopping requires a Scotsman?

Posted by Albertus (# 13356) on :

quote:
Originally posted by comet:
Want Christmas Hell? Try shacking up with a primary school music teacher. The only thing worse than Sleigh Ride is Sleigh Ride played on a ukelele.

Sleigh Ride played by an orchestra of ukeleles , on the other hand...

Posted by L'organist (# 17338) on :

Reindeer conga-line??? [Killing me]

Anyone else old enough to remember 2 memorable 1960s/70s T-shirts: one entitled Makin' Bacon featured copulating pigs and the other, 'Fly United' mating swans.

Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on :

quote:
Originally posted by L'organist:
Reindeer conga-line???

Anyone else old enough to remember 2 memorable 1960s/70s T-shirts: one entitled Makin' Bacon featured copulating pigs and the other, 'Fly United' mating swans.

Guilty as charged. ISTR frogs playing 'leapfrog' too.

Posted by mousethief (# 953) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Athrawes:
There is something seriously wrong with the radio blaring out, "Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow" when you've had a week of 38 deg and there is a massive thunder storm predicted. We have some lovely carols in this end of the world, but you never hear them. All we get is Winter Wonderland, Jingle Bells etc.

As I understand it, Mel Torme and the other guy (whose name I never recall) wrote The Christmas Song ("Chestnuts roasting on an open fire...") because it was summer in Brooklyn and they were sweltering, and they thought that by writing a Christmas song they'd feel cooler. Alas it didn't work and now we have their #@*($@ song to suffer through every half hour anytime we're in a public place (mall, gas/petrol station, grocery store, brothel, etc.).

quote:
Originally posted by Ariel:
Aggressive secular/atheist types who tell you in no uncertain terms religion is a load of bollocks, Jesus was a twat, and the whole thing is bilge, and express contempt for the imagery used in carols, cards, etc etc, but insist on their right to celebrate Christmas. Wtf are you celebrating, exactly? The getting of gifts?

Meh. If they're that obnoxious (and I've met the type), THAT is the problem, not their celebrating a chance to be with family and get pressies. Who wouldn't want to celebrate that? Extreme hermit types maybe, although they still might enjoy getting pressies in the mail.

Posted by Adeodatus (# 4992) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Pigwidgeon:

quote:
Originally posted by Adeodatus:

quote:
Originally posted by Sipech:
... your liturgical arse! ...
Oh great. Now I have a grotesque image stuck in my head of spending the next three weeks with a purple arse.
Shouldn't it be rose for the third Sunday?

Hey, there are only so many coats of paint an arse can take. Actually, it's not so much the paint as the sandpapering between coats.

Posted by Sipech (# 16870) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Kelly Alves:

quote:
Originally posted by Sipech:

quote:
Originally posted by no prophet's flag is set so...:
Is this because no one likes you and no-one gives you presents? or egg nog? Are you a loser?
Yes. And?
Ahem.

Link doesn't work. Bit careless with the old axe are we bunnykins?

Posted by Kelly Alves (# 2522) on :

Maybe. Can you come a little closer and look it over for me?

Closer.

Posted by Doc Tor (# 9748) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Sipech:
Link doesn't work. Bit careless with the old axe are we bunnykins?

First the good news. You've corrected your sig to the authorised sized. Now the bad news. Either your computer is a pile of shit, or the person operating it is too stupid to breathe. The link works just fine.

Posted by Matt Black (# 2210) on :

Until all my Christmas cards are sent and all the presents bought and wrapped in readiness, I find the whole thing stressful and wince inwardly whenever I hear Christmas music played. I'm pacing myself with buying one present per day to cope.

Posted by Kelly Alves (# 2522) on :

Looks like it's gonna be another year when everyone gets gifts from the dollar store. I hate that so much. [Frown]

Posted by Kelly Alves (# 2522) on :

( Basically this. )

Posted by mdijon (# 8520) on :

One of my best ever Christmas presents was a whisky miniature. It looked cheap, but it had what I needed in it to get over a particular moment in the kitchen later in the day. Cheap doesn't preclude appreciated.

Posted by Kelly Alves (# 2522) on :

[Yipee]

Hooray! Whiskey for all the kids!

Yeah, I know it's the thought that counts, and Chistmas is about the heart and not the presents, and the Gift of the Maji, and blahdiblahdiflippingblah, but there is a difference between "chesp" and " shit you had to scrape out of the Dollar Store."

Posted by Pigwidgeon (# 10192) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Kelly Alves:
Hooray! Whiskey for all the kids!

They make wonderful stocking stuffers.
[Big Grin]

Posted by Lamb Chopped (# 5528) on :

Kids or whiskey?

[Two face]

In any case, if you're really skint, you can sometimes make a totally bad-for-you sweet and package it individually. Or give coupons, i.e. I will let you off piano practice / drive you to your girlfriend's house / tell you how awesome your toilet paper origami is [Devil]

. Of course, I never made coupons like this, nosireee.

Posted by Kelly Alves (# 2522) on :

Oh, the coupon thing. i've done the coupon thing. The kids give me pitying smiles, thank me profusely, and fire up the new game on the Wii. And never cash the things in. [Frown]

I know I have a crappy attitude, but That's What Hell is For.

Posted by Lamb Chopped (# 5528) on :

Hmmmmmm.....

Could rev the coupons up, maybe.

"I will rescue your sorry ass when you've been out drinking way too late and you need someone to sneak you in the house."

"I will rip strips off of you for being an idiot but I will allow X to believe you were behaving yourself in my company the next time you do Y."

"I will refrain from asking obvious but embarrassing questions the next time I catch you in a compromising situation."

and so forth.

Posted by Kelly Alves (# 2522) on :

Hm... Your reference to toilet paper origami brings out the devil in me, though... [Big Grin]

Posted by Stercus Tauri (# 16668) on :

I won't enter a shopping mall for the month of December (or most other months) any more, so I'm spared a lot of the gut-churning quasi-Christmas music, the fear of being trampled to death, and the inevitable dent in the car from someone else's door. My particular irritation is the newspaper headlines. using only the Glasgow Herald as a source. We have, for example:

- Festive railway engineering works
- Festive bug outbreak
- Festive road casualties
- Festive strike action
- Festive job cuts
- Festive warning over lorry driver shortage

I send them a grumpy letter about it every year, but it doesn't help.

Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :

I'm just trying to imagine how one would write a letter about a driver shortage that was a truly festive letter: Merry Christmas! We don't have enough people to drive the trucks. 'Tis the season to be jolly, but our customers won't be jolly if we don't get them what they bought.

Posted by Pigwidgeon (# 10192) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Stercus Tauri:
My particular irritation is the newspaper headlines. using only the Glasgow Herald as a source. We have, for example:

- Festive railway engineering works
- Festive bug outbreak
- Festive road casualties
- Festive strike action
- Festive job cuts
- Festive warning over lorry driver shortage

I send them a grumpy letter about it every year, but it doesn't help.

I thought Edinburgh was the Festival City?

Posted by orfeo (# 13878) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Stercus Tauri:
I send them a grumpy letter about it every year, but it doesn't help.

I'm sure the arrival of your letter is now seen as a traditional part of the festivities.

Posted by Barefoot Friar (# 13100) on :

The only thing that could make it worse is if Tori Amos recorded a Christmas album that featured songs about those topics. [Snigger]

Posted by orfeo (# 13878) on :

I take it this isn't sufficient, then?

Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :

But, which song is about grumpy letters to the papers?

Posted by Socratic-enigma (# 12074) on :

quote:
Originally posted by mousethief:
Although in some ways it's better than Gordon Cheng's old annual screed about the evils of Lent.

I suspect Gordo has a program which trawls the net looking for mentions of his name...

Congrats MT, you'll have given him a smile for Christmas [Smile]

S-E

Gordo - Gone... but never forgotten.

Posted by Uncle Pete (# 10422) on :

quote:
Originally posted by orfeo:
I take it this isn't sufficient, then?

Coffee cost three dollars? Not around here $1,50 is average. Haven't a clue what *$$$$$$$ costs = but then one could debate whether that is actually coffee.

Posted by orfeo (# 13878) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Socratic-enigma:
I suspect Gordo has a program which trawls the net looking for mentions of his name...

The inspiration for Voldemort?

Posted by bib (# 13074) on :

I hate all the stores getting on a pseudo charity push. They all want you to come and buy yet another fluffy toy for some little boy/girl who has none and put it under the tree at the front of the store. The businesses can then pat themselves on the back and feel good for another 12 months. And they rake in more money by the toy sales. Trouble is, the needy children don't need fluffy toys; they need food, housing, health care, education, clothes and love. And it is needed all year, not just in December. Bah, humbug!! [Mad]

Posted by mousethief (# 953) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Socratic-enigma:

quote:
Originally posted by mousethief:
Although in some ways it's better than Gordon Cheng's old annual screed about the evils of Lent.
I suspect Gordo has a program which trawls the net looking for mentions of his name...

Congrats MT, you'll have given him a smile for Christmas

If being despised makes him feel loved, well then it's my pleasure.

Posted by Karl: Liberal Backslider (# 76) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Adeodatus:

quote:
Originally posted by Pigwidgeon:

quote:
Originally posted by Adeodatus:

quote:
Originally posted by Sipech:
... your liturgical arse! ...
Oh great. Now I have a grotesque image stuck in my head of spending the next three weeks with a purple arse.
Shouldn't it be rose for the third Sunday?
Hey, there are only so many coats of paint an arse can take. Actually, it's not so much the paint as the sandpapering between coats.

Freedom and Song is that way -->

Posted by Kelly Alves (# 2522) on :

Everyone has a blistering case of the Christmas Crotcheties lately. Memo to everyone-- yes, that means you--- drink a cup of egg nog and chill the fuck out.

Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on :

Whoever had the idea of serving hot chocolate cold should be strung up, with the bells, baubles and tinsel.

Suitably illuminated, of course.

Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :

I've a bottle of that in my fridge. Labelled "Chocolate flavoured milk".

Posted by Kelly Alves (# 2522) on :

Exactly. What brand of stupid is "cold hot chocolate"? (And yes, I have heard about it before, and no, I don't want to hear anyone explain what it is. Alan is right, is what it is.)

Posted by Anselmina (# 3032) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Kelly Alves:
Everyone has a blistering case of the Christmas Crotcheties lately. Memo to everyone-- yes, that means you--- drink a cup of egg nog and chill the fuck out.

Egg nog. Does it taste as dubiously vile as it sounds?

Red wine. Lots and lots of decent red wine. Or good sherry. Or a decent port. Or a nice amontillado. Or a husky single malt. Or a high alcohol volume mulled wine. Or....

okay, you get the picture [Big Grin]

Posted by Golden Key (# 1468) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Anselmina:
Egg nog. Does it taste as dubiously vile as it sounds?

Hmmm...it's been a long time since I had any; and it was probably the kind you get in a carton from the dairy aisle, without any alcohol. But I think it was kind of like liquid dessert custard, with nutmeg.

IIRC, it wasn't awful, but might be better made from scratch.

Posted by RuthW (# 13) on :

Home-made, and with a suitably large slug of bourbon added (I can't stand rum), egg nog is wonderful.

Posted by Kelly Alves (# 2522) on :

I thought it was brandy.

Anyway, Anslemina, it's booze-- that's all you need to know.

Posted by mousethief (# 953) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Golden Key:

quote:
Originally posted by Anselmina:
Egg nog. Does it taste as dubiously vile as it sounds?
Hmmm...it's been a long time since I had any; and it was probably the kind you get in a carton from the dairy aisle, without any alcohol. But I think it was kind of like liquid dessert custard, with nutmeg.

IIRC, it wasn't awful, but might be better made from scratch.

It's awfully sweet. The booze tones down the cloyingness of the dairy product and makes it drinkable.

Posted by Palimpsest (# 16772) on :

Done properly eggnog is wonderful but dangerous.
It bears only a passing resemblance to the hellish over sweetened carrageenan thickened artificial rum flavored ultra pasteurized milk commonly sold as eggnog.

It's a combination of booze (whiskey, brandy, rum or all three), good heavy cream and half and half and eggs, separated and beaten, with sugar and topped with grated nutmeg.

If you don't skimp the booze and the sugar keep the raw eggs from being dangerous. However even habitual drinkers can have a hard time with the butter fat content. I make it every two or three years. If I bring it to work, I have to monitor people so they don't take the fatal third glass.

Posted by orfeo (# 13878) on :

Someone should use it for the basis of a seriously interesting scrambled eggs on toast.

Posted by Pigwidgeon (# 10192) on :

quote:
Originally posted by orfeo:
Someone should use it for the basis of a seriously interesting scrambled eggs on toast.

I've heard of it being used to make French toast.

Posted by Twilight (# 2832) on :

I rarely buy new clothes because they clutter up my perfectly arranged closet, but this year I did buy a new silver sweater and wore it to church yesterday. Someone told me I looked like an angel in it with my --cough-- platinum blonde hair and that caused my feet to actually hover off the ground during our Christmas play.

Today I have a huge red rash all over my upper body due to the metallic thread in it triggering my nickel allergy.

Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Palimpsest:
It's a combination of booze (whiskey, brandy, rum or all three), good heavy cream and half and half and eggs, separated and beaten, with sugar and topped with grated nutmeg.

I've had eggnog once, the Christmas we spent in Florida. It would have been the store-bought variety, and I think it was "alcohol flavored" rather than actually containing any booze. Not really my thing, far too sweet, but no worse than many of the other things we tend to produce just for Christmas (which also seem to involve a lot of sugar).

Personally, I like my alcohol straight up without adding other things to it ... except a drop of water with whisky on occasions. Though, there are some forms of whiskey that deserve to be the basis of something like eggnog.

Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Alan Cresswell:
..... there are some forms of whiskey that deserve to be the basis of something like eggnog.

Some years ago we got Eldest Son some 'Festival special' Whisky. It came in something like a giant toothpaste tube, with a screw cap, such that it could have been rigged up as an IV drip. Not only was it simply labelled 'whisky', but it had a 'Best Before' date no more than three months hence.

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Alan Cresswell:
... there are some forms of whiskey that deserve to be the basis of something like eggnog.

... and some that deserve to be the basis of something like window-cleaner. [Devil]

Posted by Tortuf (# 3784) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Pigwidgeon:
I've heard of it being used to make French toast.

Recipe

Although this recipe is better. video

Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Piglet:

quote:
Originally posted by Alan Cresswell:
... there are some forms of whiskey that deserve to be the basis of something like eggnog.
... and some that deserve to be the basis of something like window-cleaner.

Or, accelerant to get the BBQ going.

Posted by Palimpsest (# 16772) on :

As someone who tends to have a number of bottles of booze that don't get consumed often enough, the recipe is a good way to use up half full bottles that are getting old. My best batches included a mix of cognac, rum and bourbon. The harder part in the US is getting good cream. You really taste the cream and ideally unhomogenised cream is best. I haven't had the courage to do raw cream. It also gets better with a day or two of aging.
One year I made a batch for work and work was cancelled due to a snow storm. I ended up putting it in pint bottles and giving it to my favorite farmers at the weekend farmers market and telling them not to drink it before they got home. I got comments thanking me for the gift for about two years.

And yes, it makes fabulous French toast, especially the version where you take challah and put a layer of strawberry preserves between two slices before dunking in the left over eggnog. I'll stop now, I'm getting a picture of me sitting in hell toasting marshmallows.

Posted by Twilight (# 2832) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Palimpsest:
I'll stop now,

You'd better, you're making me and my diet cry.

Posted by Autenrieth Road (# 10509) on :

As someone who doesn't like alcohol, in my opinion the fastest way to ruin a perfectly lovely eggnog is to spike it. Yuck. So I'm fully in favor of people who prefer their alcohol uncontaminated by eggnog: please convert more people to your way of thinking and keep the whiskey away from the eggnog.

Posted by Palimpsest (# 16772) on :

But the alcohol and sugar keep the raw cream and eggs from being an ideal medium for culturing bacteria. It's purely an organic medicinal preservative. [Devil]

Posted by Autenrieth Road (# 10509) on :

All the more reason to guzzle down all the eggnog quickly, before it turns. Plus no hangovers from guzzling unspiked eggnog. What's not to like?

Posted by Palimpsest (# 16772) on :

Each to their own. But if you guzzle quantities of heavy cream and eggs you may have trouble digesting it.

Posted by Ariston (# 10894) on :

Dear Everyone:

The only alcohol that may be discussed here in Hell is Fernet Branca, and that's because I need it for brain bleach after reading your drivel.

This is a holiday cheer free zone. Dare I say it, but being sick of having cheer forced on you may be responsible for both the overconsumption of eggnog and the existence of this thread.

The discussion of seasonal beverages belongs in Heaven. This ain't Heaven. Pretty far from it, actually.

Now go away.

—Ariston, Smallhearted Hellhost.

Posted by orfeo (# 13878) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Tortuf:
Although this recipe is better. video

"Video geo-restricted by owner."

Bastards.

Posted by RuthW (# 13) on :

Two guys make French toast using thicky sliced challah bread dipped in an cream/egg/cinnamon mixture then in crushed cornflakes and almonds before cooking as usual. In the follow-up video they top this with bananas carmelized in butter to which is added a squeeze of lemon juice and another of orange juice, plus maple syrup, and then powdered sugar goes on the whole thing.

I can feel my arteries seizing up just looking at it all. Granted, it might taste amazing, but it's kind of sickening to consider.

Posted by Firenze (# 619) on :

Good thing it's geo-limited: you wouldn't want stuff like that spreading.

Posted by Anselmina (# 3032) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Kelly Alves:
I thought it was brandy.

Anyway, Anslemina, it's booze-- that's all you need to know.

You see, someone gets me!

Posted by Golden Key (# 1468) on :

Definitely of the "to the devil with the whole holiday" ilk is "The 12 Days After Christmas" (YouTube), performed by Deborah Voigt and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

It's a wicked rebuttal to "The 12 Days Of Christmas".
[Snigger]

Posted by mousethief (# 953) on :

I'll see you a Deborah Voigt and raise you an Allan Sherman

Posted by Golden Key (# 1468) on :

MT--

LOL, and thanks for that link! Over on the right, there are links to Dr. Demento Christmas music, and I was planning on looking some up.
[Smile]

Posted by Ariston (# 10894) on :

And I see all of those and raise you a Fr. Jack.

Posted by Barefoot Friar (# 13100) on :

Beignets and chicory coffee.

Posted by Huia (# 3473) on :

Thanks for that Ariston. I needed a laugh.

Posted by Sipech (# 16870) on :

Bloody hate train companies on Christmas Eve. The last two years they've let me down. In 2012 it took me 8 hours to travel a net distance of about 40 miles.

Even today, I just need to get to Victoria coach station but can't get any info from national rail enquiries as to whether I can get to Victoria in the first place, even though it's only 2 stops away.

Posted by orfeo (# 13878) on :

You've waited until NOW to try to find this out?

Posted by Curiosity killed ... (# 11770) on :

UK travel you have to double check on the day to make sure there are no additional little surprises. That checking still can't cater for the person who decides to throw themselves under a tube or train as you're trying to get somewhere, but it does check for other things.

(As another person who has just checked for delays on the route to Victoria Coach station.)

Posted by orfeo (# 13878) on :

...so basically, we're checking for any announcements about unplanned delays? And complaining that we can't find an announcement confirming that nothing unusual has happened?

Yeah, I can see how hellworthy it is to blame transport companies for the fact that occasionally Shit Happens, and that they don't confirm for you on the day whether Shit Will Happen.

Here's a hint: if Victoria is 2 stops away, and transport normally runs to Victoria, assume the service IS running unless there's big signs announcing that unexpectedly it ISN'T running, and if for some reasons it ends up not running don't criticise anyone for not telling you something beforehand that wasn't planned to happen.

Or just get a taxi. Or for 2 stops, you could even try walking and working off the excess energy spent whining.

[ 24. December 2014, 06:21: Message edited by: orfeo ]

Posted by Doc Tor (# 9748) on :

quote:
Originally posted by orfeo:
Or just get a taxi. Or for 2 stops, you could even try walking and working off the excess energy spent whining.

But his bonnet will be ruined...

Posted by Macrina (# 8807) on :

And here in Christchurch Mother nature evidently couldn't wait any longer and gave us our earthquake early this year. Grr bugger off.

Posted by Sipech (# 16870) on :

I made it to Victoria (currently sat by gate 9). My complaint was that I could find no information, not just info on delays. Last year I had all my trains booked a month in advance but on Christmas Eve there were no trains heading out of London.

And taxis tend not to roam around my part of London. I think it's considered a bit rough.

Posted by Lucia (# 15201) on :

So our Christmas Eve started at 5.00am with clearing up after 10 yr old son who threw up on both his bedroom and the bathroom floor.
Thank goodness we have hard tiled floors here and not carpet...

Great start to Christmas. [Disappointed]

Let's hope the rest of us don't go down with whatever it is.

Ho bloody ho...

[ 24. December 2014, 09:41: Message edited by: Lucia ]

Posted by Tortuf (# 3784) on :

quote:
Originally posted by orfeo:
"Video geo-restricted by owner."

Bastards.

Try this link

Or, this one.

The recipe is too good to not give it a try.

Posted by orfeo (# 13878) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Tortuf:

quote:
Originally posted by orfeo:
"Video geo-restricted by owner."

Bastards.
Try this link

Or, this one.

The recipe is too good to not give it a try.

Hmm. You have apparently mistook my mild irritation as a Host that you're posting links not accessible to all Shipmates as some kind of genuine interest in the subject matter.

I can see how you could make that mistake. Once.

Posted by Lucia (# 15201) on :

Oh and I now take back what I said about being glad of the hard floor as despite two rounds of cleaning it appears the the vomit has eaten into the surface of the tiles so you can continue to see the mark of where it was including every splatter, as the angle of the light coming through the window across the floor highlights it very effectively. Vomit pattern is not the best tile decoration....

Marvelous start to Christmas. I'm starting to feel ill myself but maybe that is stress. So much still needs to be done before tomorrow, not including the stuff I've already mentally jettisoned and said 'stuff it, people will just have to put up with me not doing that'.

[ 24. December 2014, 11:32: Message edited by: Lucia ]

Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Sipech:
And taxis tend not to roam around my part of London.

Open your Yellow Pages. Under something like "Taxis/Private Hire" you'll get loads of numbers. Give one of them a ring and the taxi will come to you. Usually cheaper than hailing a passing black cab too.

Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Lucia:
Vomit pattern is not the best tile decoration....

Make sure all future vomitting hits different parts of the floor. Your floor colour will change, but you won't have the pattern on the floor.

[ 24. December 2014, 11:35: Message edited by: Alan Cresswell ]

Posted by Lucia (# 15201) on :

Thank you for at least making me laugh Alan!

Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Lucia:
So our Christmas Eve started at 5.00am with clearing up after 10 yr old son who threw up on both his bedroom and the bathroom floor.
Thank goodness we have hard tiled floors here and not carpet...

Great start to Christmas. Let's hope the rest of us don't go down with whatever it is.

Ho bloody ho...

Back in the day when Mr Sioni Sr was in the RAF we lived in married quarters (sort of council houses for soldier's, sailor's and airmen's families). The furniture and fittings were 'solid'.

The prized examples were the rugs (no wall to wall carpeting until well into the 1970's) and these were in what was known as 'Fruit Salad' pattern, which had the benefit of remaining unaltered despite any amount of spillage, vomit, blood, oil, Black and Decker thingummy or anything short of a thermonuclear bomb (and we nearly had them tested for that, at the time of the Cuba crisis).

Posted by Autenrieth Road (# 10509) on :

Eggnog takes its revenge

Posted by Pigwidgeon (# 10192) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Autenrieth Road:
Eggnog takes its revenge

It's Utah -- they don't know you're supposed to chug beer.
[Disappointed]

Posted by Palimpsest (# 16772) on :

Well, the nasty stuff that comes in milk cartons is not real eggnog. Fake or real it's not something to guzzle or chug. Made properly, it's a rich drink to sip in small quantities very occasionally.

Posted by Al Eluia (# 864) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Palimpsest:
Well, the nasty stuff that comes in milk cartons is not real eggnog. Fake or real it's not something to guzzle or chug. Made properly, it's a rich drink to sip in small quantities very occasionally.

I'd love to get a good eggnog recipe. Have to confess I've never had the real stuff. Since this is Hell, I'll mention that last year I saw eggnog in the dairy case at my local Safeway on SEPTEMBER 25. I actually went and complained. The employee I talked to had a look in her eye like "This person is insane," which was probably justified. She said she'd pass my complaint on to the manager.

Posted by Al Eluia (# 864) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Pigwidgeon:

quote:
Originally posted by Autenrieth Road:
Eggnog takes its revenge
It's Utah -- they don't know you're supposed to chug beer.

We were in Utah once, decided to find the liquor store to pick up a few things, and it turned out to be closed that day due to a primary election.

Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :

They're afraid politics will drive people to drink?

Though, they may be onto something.

Posted by Pigwidgeon (# 10192) on :

It wasn't that along ago that liquor stores, bars, etc. were closed all over on Election Day. Utah is the last hold-out on many drinking laws. I learned this summer that you may not order a second glass of wine when you're almost finished with the first -- only one glass per person on the table. I believe they still have to pour drinks at the bar behind a "Zion curtain."

Posted by irish_lord99 (# 16250) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Al Eluia:
The employee I talked to had a look in her eye like "This person is insane," which was probably justified.

For some reason I'm visualizing your avatar complaining about eggnog in September. [Big Grin]

Posted by John Holding (# 158) on :

Hot cross buns went on sale a month ago at one of the big local supermarket chains.

John

Posted by Penny S (# 14768) on :

Hot cross buns have been on sale continuously for some years. At all the supermarkets I've been in. (Not the same buns - they do change the stock.)

Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :

Someone needs to be brought to task for that.

Fetch ... the comfy chair.

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :

It's only a couple of days until the chocolate bunnies and eggs are out in the local supermarket, if last year is anything to go by.

Posted by ArachnidinElmet (# 17346) on :

Too late by a couple of weeks...

Posted by Golden Key (# 1468) on :

Noo, not the comfy chair!
[Paranoid]

Posted by Doc Tor (# 9748) on :

Anyway. Merry Christmas, you bastards.

Posted by Golden Key (# 1468) on :

{Sticks a sprig of holly in Comrade Doc Tor's heart.}

There, that's better. Very festive. [Biased]

Posted by orfeo (# 13878) on :

There's a market for this stuff all year round, just as there's a market for fruit and vegetables all year round so that people are gradually losing their awareness that certain foods are naturally available at particular times of year.

If you're going to complain about fake eggnog cartons turning up at what you apparently think is the wrong time of year for fake eggnog, have the decency to also complain about the sulphur dioxide-treated grapes being shipped across hemispheres, trans-Pacific asparagus and all the other stupid things that are based on the philosophy of telling customers that yes, they can have whatever they want whenever they want it like the spoiled children we've all become.

Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :

I think it's a kind of secular sacramentalism. For the same reasons that you can't treat everywhere as most holy if you want communion and the elements to still be special, one can't have Christmas all the time.

One could also note that making a market (which they successfully are) isn't the same as there already being a market for constant holidaying.

Posted by Sober Preacher's Kid (# 12699) on :

You've never been to Frankenmuth, Michigan have you?

Posted by molopata (# 9933) on :

I was (in an October many years ago), but they weren't giving anything away for free.

UBB.classic^TM 6.5.0