My Virtual Reading Room

Received a package from an unknown sender? Experts warn of new ‘brushing’ scam — here’s how to protect yourself this Christmas, from the NY Post

Christmas To Do List

• delay • defer • equivocate
• make some tea • procrastinate
• look at phone • stroke the cat
• readjust the thermostat
• dawdle • dither • hem and haw
• eat mince pie • chew my jaw
• write one card • spin on chair
• play six games of solitaire
• take a break • make a brew
• review my list of things to do
• eat mince pie • paper scrunch
• stroke the cat • have some lunch
• prioritise new tasks to shirk
(more cups of tea + less housework)
• look at phone • spin on chair
• eat mince pie • loiter • stare
• consider shopping • have quick doze
• rest mince pie on bridge of nose
• stroke the cat • take a break
• write a card • eat some cake
• spin phone • mince cat • stroke tea • wallow
• write To Do list for tomorrow

Brian Bilston

(cross-posting from greatpoetry )

Santa Claus is coming to town, political cartoon edition

Don’t doomscroll about Trump. Do these five things instead.

Elections are important, but they’re not the only way to advance progressive policies.

Two from The Washington Post:

A 3-year-old unwrapped Christmas presents at 3 a.m. His parents covered for Santa.

Saving the magic of Santa:When Santa Claus’s magic is in jeopardy, these parents know how to save it

And the salad which gets funny looks from those who don't know... ;))

Olivier salad

Christmas trees without the dreaded needle drop? Researchers are growing them now, from The Washington Post

Something to put you in a holiday mood, perhaps...;)

(I'd posted this video here just over 2 years ago ;))

And a few seasonal links from Medscape:

Sweet Precision: A Surgeon's Masterful Gingerbread Houses (do check it out, he's very talented!)

Spreading Holiday Cheer: NICU Babies 'Sleigh-ing It' in Ugly Sweaters

Is Christmas Cost-Effective?

Bless us, Lord, this Christmas with quietness of mind;
Teach us to be patient, and always to be kind.

Helen Steiner Rice

Enjoy :)

...something nice to play in the background while finishing holiday tasks...;)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akIVhzTlli4

My mother is not surprised that her children are well-off. Her two daughters are business executives. Her oldest son is a lawyer. She predicted it all long ago. “Someday,” she used to say when we were young, “you will all grow up and all be very rich. You’ll have lots of money to buy me presents. But I’ll be a little old lady. I won’t have any teeth or hair. So you’ll have to buy me soft food and put a blue wig on my head. And you’ll buy me a big fur coat. But you’ll only be able to see my eyes.”

  Every Christmas now the floor around her feet is carpeted with red and green wrapping paper. And her feet are wreathed with gifts.
( Read more... )

A new song this season, they've been playing it quite a bit on the radio :)
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https://youtu.be/mN3rDTAdM2o

https://youtube.com/watch?v=fLM5F0u0D9E