Getting in the Holiday Spirit

I love Christmas music, and coming in a close second is Christmas movies.  I thank God for the technology that allows me to access both.  I'm especially grateful for them because it is a wonderful reminder of how special this time of year is.

I know you're being inundated on all sides with Christmas this and Christmas that, and have been since before Halloween, but now that I'm away from that and have been for a while (I had my fourth year anniversary here last week!), I miss it.

This is a Muslim country, and although extremely tolerant of other religions, with Christmas trees all decorated in the malls, it's not the same.

So, to bring the holiday spirit closer to home, I savor the music and the movies.

Below is one of my favorite holiday movies, with a couple of songs featured in it.

Cheers!

Clever

As seen on Pinterest - 

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/424605071099272633/?utm_campaign=6d3f93&e_t=editorial_1093_61b40300000551b&utm_content=424605071099272633&utm_source=31&utm_term=2&utm_medium=2002

22 Surprising Facts About: Albert Einstein

Einstein 100 - Theory of General Relativity

Punny Map

This interactive map gives the names of businesses all over the US that are funny or punny or both.

http://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/behold-the-ultimate-crowdsourced-map-of-punny-businesses-in-america?utm_source=Atlas+Obscura&utm_campaign=c55535058a-Newsletter_11_25_201511_25_2015&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_62ba9246c0-c55535058a-59905913&ct=t(Newsletter_11_25_201511_25_2015)&mc_cid=c55535058a&mc_eid=866176a63f

Smart Tats?

Luther

I don't think this trailer for the upcoming two-hour special does justice to the greatness that is the Luther series.  The three seasons (available on Netflix) are some of the smartest, most nuanced shows around.  If you're not interested in the acting or the premise (another cop show), watch it for Idris Elba.  He's amazing.

Empire Shopping

"What Would Cookie Do?" t-shirts -

Just in time for the holidays.

http://shop.fox.com/?v=empire

Al Green - Love and Happiness - Live Performance Video (High Quality)

Join me for this Throwback Thursday Jam -

Trailblazing Trumpeter

From The Sacramento Bee - 

Sacramento trumpeter Cynthia Robinson co-founded Sly and the Family Stone

The Family Stone, with Cynthia Robinson (center). Ross Brandes

BY CHRIS MACIAS

cmacias@sacbee.com

Cynthia Robinson, the trailblazing trumpeter who co-founded Sly and the Family Stone and later was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, died Monday in Sacramento following a battle with cancer. She was 71 years old. 

Robinson was a distinctive personality in a group known for defying musical boundaries. She was the rare female African American trumpeter to play in a chart-topping band, and her horn licks were hallmark to songs including “I Want to Take You Higher” and “Dance to the Music.”

http://www.sacbee.com/news/local/article46631655.html

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/news/local/article46631655.html#storylink=cpy

Happy Thanksgiving Wherever You Are

A New Kind of Card Game

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/forget-spades-you-need-to-play-this-fun-card-game-at-thanksgiving_565491f4e4b0258edb32fec1?utm_hp_ref=black-voices

http://www.cardsforallpeople.com/product/cards-for-all-people-original-pack

Great Thanksgiving Listen from StoryCorps & Google

For Your Viewing Pleasure

From The New Yorker -

Now Streaming: The Golden State Warriors

BY STEVE MCPHERSON

An excerpt -

After a historically dominant 2014-15 season that saw the Golden State Warriors secure the N.B.A. title and become only the tenth team in N.B.A. history to win sixty-seven or more games, it’s not entirely surprising that, this year, the squad has bolted out to a historic 15-0 record while outscoring opponents by 14.4 points per game. What is surprising is the landmark agreement the team has reached with Netflix: it will be releasing its entire season next weekend to better facilitate binge-watching.

“We try to stay abreast of current trends in media consumption,” N.B.A. commissioner Adam Silver said, at a press conference announcing the deal. “In this day and age, N.B.A. fans want to watch games when and how they like, so it just makes sense to release all sixty-seven of the Golden State Warriors’ remaining games at once.”

http://www.newyorker.com/humor/daily-shouts/now-streaming-the-golden-state-warriors?mbid=nl_151124_Daily&CNDID=27124505&spMailingID=8286786&spUserID=MTE0Mjg5NDEzNjM4S0&spJobID=802375160&spReportId=ODAyMzc1MTYwS0

Short Story Vending Machines

http://magazine.good.is/articles/short-story-vending-machines-short-edition?utm_source=thedailygood&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=dailygood

Responding With Humor

From The Guardian -

National emergency? Belgians respond to terror raids with cats

An official request for citizens to avoid tweeting anything that could inform terrorists what is going on resulted in a national outbreak of pet pics

My favorite - Super Cat!

Preach!

Jill Scott Sings "Strange Fruit"

EZSTAX Clothing Organization System

Sweet Potato vs. Yam