Christmas Time Is Here Again

Well, yes, it is, but that's not what I came here to talk about. I came here to talk about the Beatles.

I was flipping around on my car radio last night on the way home from a friend's house and came across a show of rock-related Christmas music on one of the stations. Apparently, the Beatles used to record albums specifically for their fan club and send them out around Christmas. Usually, they covered other Christmas songs on these albums. Once, they didn't.

And the result was the truly stultifying "Christmas Time Is Here Again", which does not quite set the record for minimal and banal lyrics, but gets frighteningly close. I can only conclude that this is one of those things that's only really interesting if you are stoned out of your mind. Possibly not then. And it goes on for what seems to be forever. I didn't actually time it, mind you, but "forever" was the definite impression that Gretchen and I had of how long the song was continuing.

At this point, I'm sure that some of you -- who have been fortunate enough to avoid ever hearing this sad beastie -- are being skeptical about the whole thing. But through the magic of the Internet, there are numerous web sites that will allow you to see the lyrics. One of them is here:

You've Been Warned

Christmas Time Is Here Again

Well, yes, it is, but that's not what I came here to talk about. I came here to talk about the Beatles.

I was flipping around on my car radio last night on the way home from a friend's house and came across a show of rock-related Christmas music on one of the stations. Apparently, the Beatles used to record albums specifically for their fan club and send them out around Christmas. Usually, they covered other Christmas songs on these albums. Once, they didn't.

And the result was the truly stultifying "Christmas Time Is Here Again", which does not quite set the record for minimal and banal lyrics, but gets frighteningly close. I can only conclude that this is one of those things that's only really interesting if you are stoned out of your mind. Possibly not then. And it goes on for what seems to be forever. I didn't actually time it, mind you, but "forever" was the definite impression that Gretchen and I had of how long the song was continuing.

At this point, I'm sure that some of you -- who have been fortunate enough to avoid ever hearing this sad beastie -- are being skeptical about the whole thing. But through the magic of the Internet, there are numerous web sites that will allow you to see the lyrics. One of them is here:

You've Been Warned

Do I Smell Plastic Burning?

After Gretchen and I had lunch on Saturday, she headed home and I headed out to do some Christmas shopping, because I pretty much hadn't. And that's just not a good position to be in at C-5 and counting.
( And he's off! )

Do I Smell Plastic Burning?

After Gretchen and I had lunch on Saturday, she headed home and I headed out to do some Christmas shopping, because I pretty much hadn't. And that's just not a good position to be in at C-5 and counting.
( And he's off! )

Dangerous Signs of Insanity

I decided to go to lunch at the food court at the nearby mall. On December 22nd. This is probably not a good sign.
( Hunger Pains )

Dangerous Signs of Insanity

I decided to go to lunch at the food court at the nearby mall. On December 22nd. This is probably not a good sign.
( Hunger Pains )

Draft Fitzgerald

In his column in today's Chicago Tribune, Dennis Byrne suggests that the best thing that could happen to Illinois politics would be to draft Sen. Peter Fitzgerald and re-elect him to the office that he currently holds. Since Fitzgerald is the only Illinois politician that I actually like -- he may sometimes be perceived as a crank, but even when I don't agree with him, I find he's my kind of crank -- this sounds like a pretty fine idea to me.

Article Inside

In other news, Gretchen and I watched the extended edition of "The Two Towers" last night and are off to see "Return of the King" tonight.

(Verbose today, ain't I?)

Draft Fitzgerald

In his column in today's Chicago Tribune, Dennis Byrne suggests that the best thing that could happen to Illinois politics would be to draft Sen. Peter Fitzgerald and re-elect him to the office that he currently holds. Since Fitzgerald is the only Illinois politician that I actually like -- he may sometimes be perceived as a crank, but even when I don't agree with him, I find he's my kind of crank -- this sounds like a pretty fine idea to me.

Article Inside

In other news, Gretchen and I watched the extended edition of "The Two Towers" last night and are off to see "Return of the King" tonight.

(Verbose today, ain't I?)