Out with the old

This year I've had more, and more extreme, ups and downs in life than usual.  In fact, the past few years have been like that.  Certainly not boring.  Here's hoping the new year has more ups, and still isn't boring.  Let's ring this one out with some goofiness.

Dr. Demento is a legend, and has introduced many many songs and performers to the world.  It's hard to pick favorites, or most important/ most influential ones.  Here are a few of my favorites, just the tip of the iceberg.


Bob Dylan- er, Bowser and Blue- Polka Dot Undies


Weird Al Yankovic- Another One Rides The Bus


Kip Addotta- Wet Dream


National Lampoon- Deteriorata


Ozzy Fudd- Kill The Wabbit


The Arrogant Worms- Carrot Juice is Murder



The Vestibules- Bulbous Bouffant

War Is Over, If You Want It

I had hoped things would calm down this year about "The War On Christmas."  But of course not.  Sigh.

I hear about it, much as I try to ignore it.  I see articles mentioning it, people saying dumb things about it.  At least there was this.  I found this interesting too.  People can be reasonable sometimes, though it doesn't always seem like it.

But then I hear dumb shit.  And see things like this.  No trees for anyone who can't prove they're Christian?  I suppose next no one who isn't a member of a church can celebrate Easter.  And, of course, no one without an Irish passport can celebrate St. Patrick's Day, right?

I read an editorial by a guy who said he's not going to say "Happy Holidays" or "Happy Hanukkah," or shop at stores that don't "promote Christmas."  First, do you really, in your heart of hearts, believe Jesus would approve of the mass spending binge that we call Christmas?  Would he want to be associated with it at all?  Do you think he would actively oppose others celebrating other holidays? Don't belittle him by assuming he would support your pettiness.

Second, are you that much of a jerk?  You want people to wish you the best on your holiday, but refuse to do it on theirs?  What an ass.

I often say Merry Christmas.  I just posted Christmas songs.  I will wish you a happy whatever, if I know what you celebrate, or just say Happy Holidays or "have a great vacation," whatever seems appropriate.

And really, to me "happy holidays" is just short for "Merry Christmas and Happy New Year," and all the other holidays.  It's efficient; it saves time.  Or how about "season's greetings?"  We used to say that.  Is it offensive?   Both sayings are inclusive, and not rude to everyone who happens to be of a different faith, or no faith.  And that's what all this is really about, isn't it?  Some people think that because they're Christian, everyone else ought to be too.  And, of course, to follow their own particular subsect of the thousands that call themselves Christian.  No Catholics, right?  No Mormons, or Quakers, or Christian Scientists, or whatever else you don't like.   It's megalomaniac to say "everyone ought to celebrate things my way."  Celebrate how you want.  Let others celebrate how they want.  I shorten it to Happy Holidays, since there are, you know, more than one...  There's Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, etc.  I have friends who celebrate those, and more.  I'd rather be nice to them, include them, than say "Fuck you, do things my way!"  But I guess that's just me...

It looks to me that this whole "say Merry Christmas or else" mindset is full of hate, not good cheer.  Again, do you really think Jesus would act as you are?  With an attitude-filled orgy of consumerism, and insistence on everyone doing what you do?  Or do you think that, just maybe, he would welcome everyone, and have a quiet night of peace? Just sayin'.

And there's a sorta civil war (not that there's any real war here besides made-up stuff on Fox News,) because it seems most Christians celebrate quietly, worshipfully, and others say "celebrate loudly, with materialism and pagan symbols.  Or else!" So it's a war between "WWJD" and "do what I say!"  How about acting Jesus-like, since you call yourself a Christian?  I'm thinking he would be accepting, not attacking.

Once again, as with so many "culture war" issues, it's a ginned-up war.  "You're attacking our religion!"  Bullshit.  You're making yourself look foolish.  It's a repurposed pagan holiday.  Put the Christ in Xmas?  Fine.  Go home, go to church, don't get gifts, don't decorate trees, etc.  All of that is the secular holiday of Christmas, more about giving to family and friends than celebrating Jesus' birth. And really, though, what is wrong with being nice to each other?

Meanings change.  The holiday is, indeed, evolving.  It's not much of a religious holiday anymore, to most.  Neither is Halloween- it's not what it started as, and that's fine.  Celebrate however you want.  Don't make others celebrate your way.  Openness to assorted views is not the same as imposing a view on you.  It's maybe interfering with your view that everyone ought to do it your way... And rightfully so. It's not an attack on your religion.  It's an embracing of all religions.  Okay, if your religion includes imposing your views on others, insisting everyone worship the way you do, then maybe it is an attack.  But if your religion includes your relationship with God, worshipping as you see fit, then it's not.

And isn't free enterprise a conservative value?  Can't a business owner say what he wants, to welcome in ALL his customers? You're free not to shop there (stupid, but free.)  And I appreciate the heads-up you give me by letting me know you're that much of an asshole.  (Oh, and to all the secession petitioners: thanks for the census of idiots.  Now we have a better idea how many are out there.)

Look- celebrate as you wish.  And let others celebrate what they wish, as they wish.  In other words, be a decent human being.  Enjoy your holidays, whatever they may be.  Let's start the new year (ack! another holiday!) by relaxing and being nice to each other.

Rockin' around the Christmas tree

Ah.... a few more of my favorite songs of the season. There used to be a channel on XM radio called Special Xmas, which played things like this. Of course, I knew some from way back.


The Waitresses- Christmas Wrapping
 I like Save Ferris' version a little better, but this is an amusing video with the original version.

The Kinks- Father Christmas
 An oldie but a goodie.

Candye Kane- Let's Put the X back in Xmas

 Akim and Teddy Vann- Santa Claus is a Black Man

 Joan Jett- Little Drummer Boy

 Robert Early Keen- Merry Christmas From the Family

 Devo- Merry Something to You

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

I'm ready for Christmas songs, and enjoying the few I've heard (especially while decorating the tree with my sweetie.)  Here are a few more traditional ones I like; I hope to have some less-traditional ones posted soon.

Perry Como- It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas



 Frosty the Snowman.  Yeah, newer and kinda cheesy, but I liked hearing it as a kid.



 Margaret Whiting and Johnny Mercer- Baby It's Cold Outside.  I guess this one is controversial; I think of it as between two consenting adults, and so it doesn't bother me.



Johnny Cash et al- Silent Night.  One of my favorites, by a favorite singer and other greats...



Perry Como- O Little Town of Bethlehem.   Gotta have more Como.

Leftovers

I was lucky enough to be out of the country the last couple of weeks before the election.  I
didn't plan it that way on purpose, but I was exceedingly happy to avoid the ads, the dumbass
comments, just the general mess.  Also I missed the hurricane.  When I got back, I had enough
other stuff going on that, though it was hard to avoid any time I was near a TV, in general I
didn't notice much about the last few days.  Here are a few thoughts I had then and just
afterward.

Republicans said Obama's campaign was just personal attacks on Romney, not discussing issues.
There was certainly an element of that, though of course you had it from both sides, and there
were plenty of issues brought up by Democrats.  And I'm reminded of a couple of lines from
Black Adder: "We at the Adder Party are determined to fight this election on issues, not
personality."  "Why is that?" "Because our candidate doesn't have a personality."  Romney's
personality is ill-defined, as are his stands on issues.  Republicans may indeed have defined
the issues- and so much the worse for them.  Their positions on many issues are indefensible.

Romney's campaign at one point asked "Are you better off than 4 years ago?" To which the
obvious answer, for most individuals and for the country as a whole, is YES!  There is still
unemployment, but it is lower than it was.  The economy is gradually improving.  We wish things
were better, but we're clearly better off than we were in the middle of that mess.  So, good
job coming up with a slogan that helped Obama...

They also used the slogan "Believe in America."  I believe in America.  I just don't believe in
discrimination, in trying to control people's bedrooms, in lying.  Though I am somewhat
conservative on some issues, I am disgusted with conservatives in general.  Their use of fear,
of distortion, of lies to win pushes me away instead of drawing me in.  And their overall
platform seems to be "Back to the '50s!"

I hope we can make more progress during the next four years.  I hope both sides will
compromise, and do what's best for the country.  I saw Obama leaning over (too far) to work
with Republicans in this term; I hope they have the sense to lean a bit this time, and help
make things better instead of just doing whatever they can to block everything.

Women of the '80s

Some female singers from the '80s have been in my head the past few days.  Here are a few of them, I guess the ones I liked the most.  Well, Pat Benatar and Joan Jett will have to have their own posts eventually, and there were plenty of others I liked, but these stick out, in a pretty hot-catchy songs-representative of the era-new wavey kinda way...

Rachel Sweet- Voodoo



Nena- 99 Luftballoons


Kim Wilde- Kids in America


Scandal with Patty Smyth- Goodbye to You


Missing Persons- Words