Did you know that Advent Calendars are not about consumerist chocolate, but graphic reminders of some tribal seasonal story? I don't believe it either, but it's as pretty a story as Father Christmas, and deserves to be left alone.
How about a geek advent calendar that features non-fictional historical events?
Eg: Ala Lovelace, the first programmer, born 10 December 1815 Charles Babbage, inventor of the computer, born 26 December 1791 Linus Torvalds, creator of Linux, born December 28, 1969 (ok I know advent calendars normally stop at xmas, but most people celebrate New Year more these days anyway)
"(ok I know advent calendars normally stop at xmas, but most people celebrate New Year more these days anyway)"
I hadn't noticed that. How did I miss all the New Year TV specials, the radio stations playing New Year music 24/7, the throngs of New Year shoppers, etc?
I hadn't noticed that. How did I miss all the New Year TV specials, the radio stations playing New Year music 24/7, the throngs of New Year shoppers, etc?
Not any more, of course. When I was growing up, there were all these New Year celebrations. I remember the booze, the pointy hats, the grand public displays featuring dioramas of Father Time and Baby New Year. Good times...
Then, some time during the 2020's I think, the protests began. The Chinese were first, of course, complaining that January 1 wasn't their new year, bitching about how offended they were whenever anybody wished them a "Happy New Year!" in the beginning of January. "America is a diverse country," they would say, "and we should respect and honor ALL new year's celebrations equally. And besides, we built your fuckin' railroads, it's the least you could do, right?" The ACLU got involved when the Pagans starting acting up, noting that "The New Year begins November 1. In fact, you wouldn't even have ANY new year if it wasn't for our sun god! Goddam Christians just co-opted our New Year like they did everything else of ours!" The floodgates were opened then. Muslims, Hindus, 7th Day Adventists -- who even *knew* their were enough census-registered Klingons to get tlhIngan Qummem declared a National Bank Holiday every tenth month?
Yeah, "Happy New Year," those were the days. Egg nog and Guy Lombardo, and the ball dropping in Time Square. Back when you could drop balls in Times Square, without the cubes and rhomboids challenging it in the courts...
You must have been asleep on December 31st at 23:59 in the year 1999, when computer programmers averted a world-wide apocalypse. January 1st was henceforward declared a national holiday in their honour, as you will find it is this year if you check your diary.
Whereas Christmas has slowly died along with its associated religion, apart from strong poultry sales, the New Year and the fresh start it symbolises is still celebrated strongly to this day.
"You must have been asleep on December 31st at 23:59 in the year 1999..."
I was awake in my local time zone. Due to early-onset middle age, I was not "partying like it was 1999", however.
"the New Year and the fresh start it symbolises is still celebrated strongly to this day."
Don't get me wrong: New Year's Day is pretty much the only annual holiday that I observe personally (i.e. in private, not public motion-goings-thru) in any way, as a fresh-start event. But I know that I'm atypical, and more-observed t
FORTUNE'S FUN FACTS TO KNOW AND TELL:
A firefly is not a fly, but a beetle.
Advent of what? (Score:1)
Re: (Score:2)
How about a geek advent calendar that features non-fictional historical events?
Eg:
Ala Lovelace, the first programmer, born 10 December 1815
Charles Babbage, inventor of the computer, born 26 December 1791
Linus Torvalds, creator of Linux, born December 28, 1969
(ok I know advent calendars normally stop at xmas, but most people celebrate New Year more these days anyway)
I'm sure others can fill in the gaps...
Phillip.
Re:Advent of what? (Score:1)
"(ok I know advent calendars normally stop at xmas, but most people celebrate New Year more these days anyway)"
I hadn't noticed that. How did I miss all the New Year TV specials, the radio stations playing New Year music 24/7, the throngs of New Year shoppers, etc?
Re:Advent of what? (Score:5, Funny)
I hadn't noticed that. How did I miss all the New Year TV specials, the radio stations playing New Year music 24/7, the throngs of New Year shoppers, etc?
Not any more, of course. When I was growing up, there were all these New Year celebrations. I remember the booze, the pointy hats, the grand public displays featuring dioramas of Father Time and Baby New Year. Good times...
Then, some time during the 2020's I think, the protests began. The Chinese were first, of course, complaining that January 1 wasn't their new year, bitching about how offended they were whenever anybody wished them a "Happy New Year!" in the beginning of January. "America is a diverse country," they would say, "and we should respect and honor ALL new year's celebrations equally. And besides, we built your fuckin' railroads, it's the least you could do, right?" The ACLU got involved when the Pagans starting acting up, noting that "The New Year begins November 1. In fact, you wouldn't even have ANY new year if it wasn't for our sun god! Goddam Christians just co-opted our New Year like they did everything else of ours!" The floodgates were opened then. Muslims, Hindus, 7th Day Adventists -- who even *knew* their were enough census-registered Klingons to get tlhIngan Qummem declared a National Bank Holiday every tenth month?
Yeah, "Happy New Year," those were the days. Egg nog and Guy Lombardo, and the ball dropping in Time Square. Back when you could drop balls in Times Square, without the cubes and rhomboids challenging it in the courts...
Re: (Score:2)
You must have been asleep on December 31st at 23:59 in the year 1999, when computer programmers averted a world-wide apocalypse. January 1st was henceforward declared a national holiday in their honour, as you will find it is this year if you check your diary.
Whereas Christmas has slowly died along with its associated religion, apart from strong poultry sales, the New Year and the fresh start it symbolises is still celebrated strongly to this day.
Phillip.
Re: (Score:1)
"You must have been asleep on December 31st at 23:59 in the year 1999..."
I was awake in my local time zone. Due to early-onset middle age, I was not "partying like it was 1999", however.
"the New Year and the fresh start it symbolises is still celebrated strongly to this day."
Don't get me wrong: New Year's Day is pretty much the only annual holiday that I observe personally (i.e. in private, not public motion-goings-thru) in any way, as a fresh-start event. But I know that I'm atypical, and more-observed t