Memes

  • Christmas,  Memes

    The Christmas meme

    Soob (using a Christmas picture I used a while back) has tagged me with the Christmas meme, here we go…

    1. Wrapping or gift bags? – An even mix of both
    2. Real or artificial tree? – Real, no question, it’s just not Christmas without a fire hazard somewhere
    3. When do you put up the tree? – Actually I haven’t had a tree in years. I do have a Festivus pole.
    4. When do you take the tree down? – It used to be new years day, not it’s not that relevant
    5. Do you like egg nog? – a little bit on Christmas Eve and Day
    6. Favorite gift received as a child? – Probably an erector set. That was a long time ago though.
    7. Do you have a nativity scene? – Hah, no.
    8. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? – There are no bad gifts, but “Poisonous Plans, the book” comes closest. The Hustler trading card set I got one year was probably the most inappropriate. Fortunately I was advised to open that early.
    9. Mail or email Christmas cards? – Neither. I ‘ve never sent those out
    10. Favorite Christmas Movie? – The Wild Strawberries, I don’t know why, but it gives everything a sense of contrast.
    11. When do you start shopping for Christmas? – Usually the last day I can get free shipping on things.
    12. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? – Corn pudding and broccoli casserole, by a substantial margin
    13. Clear lights or colored on the tree? – Colored
    14. Favorite Christmas song(s)? – This one – also the Tom Lehrer Christmas Carol and Sorriest Christmas by the Diggers
    15. Travel at Christmas or stay home? – I usually travel about 20 miles to be with family.
    16. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer? – Probably, but I choose not to.
    17. Angel on the tree top or a star? – Star
    18. Open the presents Christmas Eve or Christmas Morning? – Morning
    19. Most annoying thing about this time of year? – Hearing baby boom generation pundits talk about a “War on Christmas” because the holiday isn’t exactly how they remember it when they were twelve.
    20. Do you decorate your tree in any specific theme or color? – Invisible!
    21. What do you leave for Santa? – A copy of Atlas Shrugged
    22. Least favorite holiday song? – No idea
    23. Favorite ornament? – One that doesn’t fall
    24. Family tradition? – The weird round robin phone calls with distant relatives. And the togetherness.
    25. Ever been to Midnight Mass or late-night Christmas Eve services? – Every Christmas actually.

    I think everyone else has been tagged.

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  • History,  Memes

    An interesting thought experiment

    PurpleSlog has an interesting thought experiment of What Five Places/Events Would You Visit With A Time Machine? They are

    1. Israel at the start of Christianity (the same as PurpleSlogs)
    2. The Kennedy Assassination – I’m partial to the Oswald acted alone theory, but it would be nice to know for sure.
    3. The Russian revolution
    4. The writing of the US Declaration of Independence and Constitution
    5. The White House with Lincoln during the Civil War
  • Economics,  Memes

    A vanishing meme

    One pleasantly departed meme is “War is good for the economy”. While never true (you can’t destroy human and physical capital and have a net increase in the economy) I haven’t heard it that much in the past few years.

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