Sunday, December 17, 2006

One of those dreaded Next Posts

This is where we discuss rando topics and do the most wanted interview list.

1 Jason Pappas
2 Mark Alexander
3 Farmer John Part 2 on Science
4 Woan Honor Thyself
5 Urban Infidel
6 Batya Of Shiloh usings
7 Zinla
8 Elijah
9 Pim's Ghost
10 Cubed

I am kicking about a special Christas Post. What is your favorite Christmas story and why? We do not talk of Christmas stories and movies as art forms or as litterature. Maybe we will see if we can get our resident popular culture guru Rob Bayn to adress Christmas movies. It will be an interesting change of pace. Ducky, Mission to Moscow and Battleship Potemkin are not what we have in mind.

18 comments:

Freedomnow said...

Did you have to misssssspell Christmas each time? You did that on purpose!!!

Anyways, get Farmer John on the line. The guy is twisted and funny.

Always On Watch said...

As a Christian, my favorite Christmas story is the account found in the book of Luke. But I rather imagine that you are looking for a different answer.

So, my favorite Christmas story is O. Henry's "The Gift of the Magi." I've read it aloud many times with various of my classes, and I cry every time as the story limns the real meaning of giving a Christmas gift. Is that same selflessness alive today in our society?

beakerkin said...

Fredomnow I am having problems with the M on my keyboard. It only works when hid hard. The problem was fixed.

AOW I like the Gift of the Magi as well because there is a sense of irony to it. Our satire the Gift of the Ducki was excellent social critique of the Malards Marxist insanity. Mr Beamish saves the day as usual and MZ sells lunch boxes.

Anonymous said...

Okay, it's corny I know, but "It's a Wonderful Life" is a story I just have to hear at least once during the holiday season.

Anonymous said...

Ooops, forgot the Y...

Perhaps the moral... that its' the decent little things we do each day that make a real difference in the lives of those around us and raise the quality of life we all enjoy.

(((Thought Criminal))) said...

I'd have to say the new Black Christmas remake seems interesting, in a "why aren't we beheading Hollywood producers in grainy internet videos" kind of way.

Urban Infidel said...

My favorite Christmas story has to be 'A Christmas Carol'.

I love that ghostly little tale of redemption in the Victorian age.

beakerkin said...

UI

I am partial to the gift og the Magi as O'Henry added irony to the tale. O'Henry used to eat in Pete's tavern on 18th and Irving Place.

nanc said...

"a christmas story" - you'll shoot your eye out! we've watched it several times in the last week. i especially like to watch it in august when it's hot and humid out.

Always On Watch said...

O. Henry (real name William Sydney Porter) has experience with irony in his personal life. His use of surprise endings, loaded with irony, were so masterful that today they are sometimes referred to as "O. Henry endings."

Another of his stories which I particularly like is "After Twenty Years." The story is HERE. Second semester, my middle-school lit/comp class will be reading this story, which is particularly useful for teaching foreshadowing.

This year, my literature class read "The Cop and the Anthem." The story is HERE. The irony at the end of this story is excellent, and the story is quite a good satire of bureaucracy.

My favorite Christmas movie? It's a Wonderful Life--not only the version with Jimmy Stewart, but also the made-for-tv version starring Marlo Thomas.

BTW, O. Henry's pardon is still pending, I think.

Always On Watch said...

Urban Infidel,
I'm particularly fond of George C. Scott's portrayal of Scrooge.

The word "Scrooge" is synonymous with miser in Western culture. And not only in the West! The ESL Koreans I worked with knew the character quite well.

Dickens created a masterpiece when he wrote A Christmas Carol. I'm not so fond of Dickens's writing style, but in A Christmas Carol it works. I urge my students to read Dickens aloud. Beautiful use of the English language!

Urban Infidel said...

Always on Watch Two,
George C. Scott is a brilliant actor, but I was thinking more of the original film from the 30's:

http://www.theplaza.ca/moview/Films/C/christmas_carol_1951.html

There was even a silent version earlier than that:
http://www.silentera.com/PSFL/img/films/C/ChristmasCarol1910-01.jpg

Anonymous said...

A Christmas Story is my favorite Christmas film, next in line would be Home Alone and Miracle on 34th Street, both the old one and the remake.

Mad Zionist said...

Come on people...the best ever is, hands down, Miracle on 34th Street.

(((Thought Criminal))) said...

If you ain't read this here book yet, you should.

Anonymous said...

Sounds like shades of Antigone.

Urban Infidel said...

Mr. Beamish the Instablepundit:
Excellent suggestion! 'The Christmas Truce' was also a documentary. Really worthwhile!

(((Thought Criminal))) said...

World War I was the end of 2nd Generation Warfare.