It is not possible
to have too much happiness.
Grab all you
can, wherever you can, especially on a Happy Friday!
Dec 22, 2017
Christmas Carol Origins
Phillip Brooks was an Episcopalian preacher, he
earned a Doctorate of Divinity from the University of Oxford,
and taught at Yale University. During 1865, he rode on horseback
from Jerusalem to Bethlehem, where he participated in the Church
of the Nativity's five-hour long Christmas Eve celebration.
After returning home he wrote "O
Little Town of Bethlehem." Its first public
performance was held three years later, performed by the
children's choir of his church.
Clement Clark Moore was a professor of Divinity and Literature at a New York Episcopal college when, in 1822, he sat down to write a Christmas poem for his family. Moore never intended for the poem to be published. It was only at his family’s begging that it was published a year later. "The Night Before Christmas", poem became an immediate success. Moore created much of our Christmas mythology. He named the reindeer, was the first to call St. Nicolas an “elf,” the idea of Santa going from rooftop to rooftop, and codified most every concept about Santa entering your home to leave gifts. Much about the current legend of Santa was influenced by his poem.
Clement Clark Moore was a professor of Divinity and Literature at a New York Episcopal college when, in 1822, he sat down to write a Christmas poem for his family. Moore never intended for the poem to be published. It was only at his family’s begging that it was published a year later. "The Night Before Christmas", poem became an immediate success. Moore created much of our Christmas mythology. He named the reindeer, was the first to call St. Nicolas an “elf,” the idea of Santa going from rooftop to rooftop, and codified most every concept about Santa entering your home to leave gifts. Much about the current legend of Santa was influenced by his poem.
Christmas Banned
Christmas was banned in England
between about 1644 and 1660 by Oliver Cromwell, the Lord
Protector of England. Oliver Cromwell, along with Puritan
members of parliament, believed the merrymaking and festivities
observed during Christmastime were acts of sin and insults to
God. Celebrating Christmas became a punishable offense, and
consumption of Christmas foods was forbidden. The ban in England remained in place for
almost 20 years, during which people secretly celebrated
Christmas. When the British monarchy returned to power in
1660, it overruled all laws passed since 1642, and lifting the
ban on Christmas.
Christmas was, until recent times a purely religious festival and New Year was and still is the main holiday for Scots. Christmas was not traditionally celebrated in Scotland, because it was banned for nearly 400 years until the 1950's. Christmas was not even a public holiday until 1958. Hogmanay was the real traditional celebration. LINK
Similar laws were passed in Puritan colonies in America. Christmas was banned in Boston and Plymouth Colony from 1659 to 1681. In 1659 the Puritan General Court of the Massachusetts Bay Colony made it a criminal offense to publicly celebrate Christmas and declared that “whosoever shall be found observing any such day as Christmas or the like, either by forbearing of labor, feasting, or any other way” was subject to a 5-shilling fine. In New England, Christmas did not become a legal holiday until 1856.
Although outlawed in public, the celebration of Christmas endured in private homes, particularly away from the Puritans in Boston. December 25 was declared a US federal holiday in the United States in 1870.
Christmas was, until recent times a purely religious festival and New Year was and still is the main holiday for Scots. Christmas was not traditionally celebrated in Scotland, because it was banned for nearly 400 years until the 1950's. Christmas was not even a public holiday until 1958. Hogmanay was the real traditional celebration. LINK
Similar laws were passed in Puritan colonies in America. Christmas was banned in Boston and Plymouth Colony from 1659 to 1681. In 1659 the Puritan General Court of the Massachusetts Bay Colony made it a criminal offense to publicly celebrate Christmas and declared that “whosoever shall be found observing any such day as Christmas or the like, either by forbearing of labor, feasting, or any other way” was subject to a 5-shilling fine. In New England, Christmas did not become a legal holiday until 1856.
Although outlawed in public, the celebration of Christmas endured in private homes, particularly away from the Puritans in Boston. December 25 was declared a US federal holiday in the United States in 1870.
Silver Bells
The song Silver Bells was originally titled Tinkle Bells, and
first appeared in “The Lemon Drop Kid,” a 1951 film starring
Bob Hope.
The co-composer Ray Evans said, “We never thought that tinkle had a double meaning until Jay, his partner went home and his wife said, ‘Are you out of your mind? Do you know what the word tinkle is?’” Referring to the fact that it is another word for urination often used with children. If that happened today, they would put him in jail, ban the song, delete any reference to it on Google, and Congress would vote to expunge the word from all dictionaries.
The co-composer Ray Evans said, “We never thought that tinkle had a double meaning until Jay, his partner went home and his wife said, ‘Are you out of your mind? Do you know what the word tinkle is?’” Referring to the fact that it is another word for urination often used with children. If that happened today, they would put him in jail, ban the song, delete any reference to it on Google, and Congress would vote to expunge the word from all dictionaries.
Alternate Reindeer Names
Dunder is variously
spelled Donder and Donner. Blixem is variously spelled Blixen
and Blitzen. The
names Dunder and Blixem derive from Dutch words for
thunder and lightning, respectively.
Finally More Sun
On a brighter note, yesterday we celebrated the Winter Solstice Thursday, December 21, 2017 at 10:27 am in Dallas. Beginning today, Dec 22 we begin to gain more sunlight, 1 extra second to be exact. Tomorrow we get 3 more seconds and each day after that more seconds of sunlight.
At risk of starting a Twitter frenzy, THE END IS NEAR. Winter officially began yesterday, so we are now counting down to the end of winter. It will get colder before it gets warmer, but we get to enjoy more sunlight each day and that is a good thing.
By the end of December, we will be enjoying 10 hours and 2 minutes of sunshine. Yea! I can feel the seasonal stress disorder slipping away already. Now I understand why Christmas and New Year's are such festive occasions, more sunshine.
At risk of starting a Twitter frenzy, THE END IS NEAR. Winter officially began yesterday, so we are now counting down to the end of winter. It will get colder before it gets warmer, but we get to enjoy more sunlight each day and that is a good thing.
By the end of December, we will be enjoying 10 hours and 2 minutes of sunshine. Yea! I can feel the seasonal stress disorder slipping away already. Now I understand why Christmas and New Year's are such festive occasions, more sunshine.
Thurl Arthur Ravenscroft
He was an American voice actor and bass
singer. He died May 22, 2005 at
age 91. Although most do not recognize his name, almost
everyone recognizes his voice - as Tony the Tiger in the
Frosted Flake commercials.
He was the narrator for "The Glory of Christmas" at the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, California, from the early 1980s through the late 1990s.
He began his career as a singer, performing with The Johnny Mann Singers, and many major stars, including Elvis Presley. Ravenscroft sang bass on Rosemary Clooney's "This Ole House", which went to No. 1 in both the United States and Britain in 1954.
Other voice credits include, “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” in the classic cartoon adaptation of Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Ravenscroft also lent his vocals to such films as Dumbo, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, Lady and the Tramp, Sleeping Beauty, 101 Dalmatians, The Sword in the Stone, Mary Poppins, The Jungle Book, Horton Hears a Who!, The Hobbit (cartoon), The Brave Little Toaster, and many more. He also can be heard on numerous rides in Disney Land and Disney World, such as the Haunted Mansion, Country Bear Jamboree, Mark Twain Riverboat, Pirates of the Caribbean, Disneyland Railroad, and Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room.
He was the narrator for "The Glory of Christmas" at the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, California, from the early 1980s through the late 1990s.
He began his career as a singer, performing with The Johnny Mann Singers, and many major stars, including Elvis Presley. Ravenscroft sang bass on Rosemary Clooney's "This Ole House", which went to No. 1 in both the United States and Britain in 1954.
Other voice credits include, “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” in the classic cartoon adaptation of Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Ravenscroft also lent his vocals to such films as Dumbo, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, Lady and the Tramp, Sleeping Beauty, 101 Dalmatians, The Sword in the Stone, Mary Poppins, The Jungle Book, Horton Hears a Who!, The Hobbit (cartoon), The Brave Little Toaster, and many more. He also can be heard on numerous rides in Disney Land and Disney World, such as the Haunted Mansion, Country Bear Jamboree, Mark Twain Riverboat, Pirates of the Caribbean, Disneyland Railroad, and Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room.
Christmas Child Car Seat Gifting
When giving or receiving a
child car seat it is good to know that many fire departments
will install it the correct way for free. Call first as some
fire stations do not provide the service. Also, the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration's maintains a listing of child passenger
safety seat inspection locations. There is no
charge, but if you do go, cookies, doughnuts, or pizza are
always welcome. Make sure the person is a certified child car
seat technician. You are welcome.
Roller Coaster Facts
Since 2017 has been such a roller coaster year, thought I
would look up some coaster facts.
Missouri is home to the steepest wooden roller coaster, according to the Guinness Book of World Records. 'Outlaw Run' has a drop at an 81-degree angle.
Kingda Ka at Six Flags Great Adventure near Jackson, New Jersey includes a drop of 418 ft (127 meters). It is also the world's tallest roller coaster at 456 ft (139 m).
The GateKeeper roller coaster at Cedar Point amusement park is the longest wing coaster at 4,164 feet (1269 m). It also has the tallest inversion of any roller coaster 170 feet (51.8 m), has the most inversions on a wing coaster (6) and is the fastest non-launched wing coaster.
Leap-the-Dips is the world's oldest operating roller coaster, built in 1902 and located in Lakemont Park, Altoona. It is also North America's last surviving side friction roller coaster.
Formula Rossa is the fastest roller coaster which races up to 149.1 mph (227kph) in just 4.9 seconds. It is Located in Abu Dhabi, UA.
The thrill of riding a coaster continues and more coasters are being built each year to challenge these records.
Missouri is home to the steepest wooden roller coaster, according to the Guinness Book of World Records. 'Outlaw Run' has a drop at an 81-degree angle.
Kingda Ka at Six Flags Great Adventure near Jackson, New Jersey includes a drop of 418 ft (127 meters). It is also the world's tallest roller coaster at 456 ft (139 m).
The GateKeeper roller coaster at Cedar Point amusement park is the longest wing coaster at 4,164 feet (1269 m). It also has the tallest inversion of any roller coaster 170 feet (51.8 m), has the most inversions on a wing coaster (6) and is the fastest non-launched wing coaster.
Leap-the-Dips is the world's oldest operating roller coaster, built in 1902 and located in Lakemont Park, Altoona. It is also North America's last surviving side friction roller coaster.
Formula Rossa is the fastest roller coaster which races up to 149.1 mph (227kph) in just 4.9 seconds. It is Located in Abu Dhabi, UA.
The thrill of riding a coaster continues and more coasters are being built each year to challenge these records.
Dec 15, 2017
Web Birthday
The internet as we know it has profoundly changed all of our
lives, but many forget how young it is and how quickly it
evolved. The web, or "world wide web" turns 27 years old on
December 20. On that date in 1990, British engineer and
scientist Tim Berners-Lee, who once made a computer out of an
old television set, launched the world's first website, running
on a NeXT computer at the European Organization for Nuclear
Research (CERN) in Switzerland.
On 30 April 1993 CERN put the World Wide Web software in the public domain. CERN made the next release available with an open license, as a way to maximize its dissemination. Making the software required to run a web server freely available, along with a basic browser, and a library of code, the web quickly flourished to what it is today.
Incidentally, the web neutrality act that was overturned yesterday was just put in place during 2015. Facebook, Google, Twitter, YouTube, Netflix, Amazon, etc., grew and flourished before the government took over the web and the vote to keep the government out of it will not be the end of the world as some pundits will have us believe. Evidence of government control can be found in many other areas, such as post office, student loans, higher education, taxes, healthcare, banking, and more. The internet will not end because the government decided to not be in charge of it.
On 30 April 1993 CERN put the World Wide Web software in the public domain. CERN made the next release available with an open license, as a way to maximize its dissemination. Making the software required to run a web server freely available, along with a basic browser, and a library of code, the web quickly flourished to what it is today.
Incidentally, the web neutrality act that was overturned yesterday was just put in place during 2015. Facebook, Google, Twitter, YouTube, Netflix, Amazon, etc., grew and flourished before the government took over the web and the vote to keep the government out of it will not be the end of the world as some pundits will have us believe. Evidence of government control can be found in many other areas, such as post office, student loans, higher education, taxes, healthcare, banking, and more. The internet will not end because the government decided to not be in charge of it.
Natural Foods Myth
Foods that are labeled “natural” are better for you" is a
myth.
“Natural” is a word that evokes pleasant feelings, implying that a food is inherently good for you. However, “natural” and “all-natural” are not regulated in the same way that “organic” or “kosher” are. Natural foods can contain large amounts of high fructose corn syrup, foods treated with pesticides, or genetically engineered products.
In response to consumer concerns about this issue, during 2016 the US Food and Drug Administration asked for public comments on the use of the word “natural” in food labeling. It means the FDA may take action to regulate use of this term to prevent consumers from being misled.
Until the label “natural” is better regulated, reading nutritional labels carefully is the best way to ensure the foods you eat are healthy. Never assume that an “all-natural” food has any particular nutritional benefit or superior qualities.
“Natural” is a word that evokes pleasant feelings, implying that a food is inherently good for you. However, “natural” and “all-natural” are not regulated in the same way that “organic” or “kosher” are. Natural foods can contain large amounts of high fructose corn syrup, foods treated with pesticides, or genetically engineered products.
In response to consumer concerns about this issue, during 2016 the US Food and Drug Administration asked for public comments on the use of the word “natural” in food labeling. It means the FDA may take action to regulate use of this term to prevent consumers from being misled.
Until the label “natural” is better regulated, reading nutritional labels carefully is the best way to ensure the foods you eat are healthy. Never assume that an “all-natural” food has any particular nutritional benefit or superior qualities.
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