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Sunday, December 21, 2014

Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)



Welcome to the twenty-first day of THE POP CULTURE ADDICT'S ADVENT CALENDAR, and for today, I am going to keep this short, yet sweet.

Mainly because today happens to be the seventh day of a seven day stretch at work, and well, let's face it.  We all know what stores are like around the holidays.

Anyway, one of the key elements of any holiday celebration is the annual traditions that all of us have.  Maybe you enjoy decorating the Christmas tree as a family.  If you celebrate Hanukkah, maybe you each designate a candle on the menorah to be lit by one individual family member.  Or, maybe you gather around the karaoke machine to watch your 94-year-old grandmother singing a rousing chorus of "Santa Baby".

Okay, that last one was a little bit disturbing.

The point is that we all have our own holiday traditions that we hold true and dear.  And, it sort of makes me sad to know that this past Friday, one holiday tradition that people got used to for almost thirty years just ended.



"The Late Show with David Letterman" is slated to end its run on CBS in May 2015, as David Letterman has decided to retire after being a talk show host for three decades.

(Remember, he started off on NBC in 1983 before moving to CBS ten years later.)

Well, on December 19, 2014, Letterman hosted his annual Christmas episode, and it was pretty much like any other holiday show he has hosted.  He's had a few guests on, shared a few laughs, read out a Top 10 list, and always concluded the show with a rousing performance of this Christmas classic.



That's the song "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)", as performed by Darlene Love.  She has been a guest on David Letterman's show every year since 1986 (minus 2007, as the writer's strike was still in full swing, and no new episodes of any television program were filmed until it was resolved), and each time she performed that song, it brought the audience to their feet.  It certainly is a great song, and Darlene Love certainly knew how to belt it out.

David Letterman must have thought so too.  One of the reasons why Love was always requested to play on the last show before Christmas was because Letterman had always said that her singing on his show was the highlight of his Christmas celebration.

It is unclear as to what Darlene Love is going to do on future Christmases.  I suppose when Stephen Colbert takes over Letterman's time slot in 2015, he could continue the tradition if he wanted to.  But I don't believe that will happen for the sole reason that Darlene Love singing that song will forever be a Letterman tradition.  One that will definitely be missed as the years pass by.

But do you know how that song first came to be?  And do you know when Darlene Love first recorded it?



Well, the answer to the second question is 1963.  That's right.  "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" was first released on November 22, 1963 (eerily the same date as the assassination of John F. Kennedy), and was included as one of the songs featured on "A Christmas Gift for You from Phillies Records".  The compilation also included selected favourites from other artists such as The Crystals and The Ronettes.

But I suppose one could argue that a then twenty-two year old Darlene Love was the star of the album.  In addition to "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)", Love also contributed versions of "White Christmas", "Marshmallow World", and "Winter Wonderland" to the compilation.

But the story behind the recording of "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" is an interesting one because initially Darlene Love was not intended to sing it.

When record producer Phil Spector was recording the material that would be used for the holiday album, he wanted his then girlfriend (who later became his wife) Ronnie Spector of The Ronettes to do the lead vocals. 

But a funny thing happened at the recording studio when it came down to Ronnie recording the vocals.  They were okay, but something wasn't quite right.  Ronnie tried to put in as much emotion into singing the song as possible, but it didn't seem like it was enough.

With the album deadline running close, the decision was made for Darlene Love to take over the main vocals for "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)".  And as we well know, the decision ended up being a good one.  Darlene Love's version quickly became very popular over the decades, and it is easily considered to be one of Love's signature songs.

And, of course, while Love's version is the original one, several artists have come up with their own versions over the last five decades.  U2 released their own version as part of the compilation for "A Very Special Christmas" in 1987.



And, Mariah Carey released a version as well for her second Christmas album.



But, I don't think that anyone could even comparably come close to Darlene Love's own version.  Rolling Stone Magazine listed the song at the top of their list of "The Greatest Rock 'n Roll Christmas Songs", saying that "nobody could ever match Love's emotion and sheer vocal power".

And sadly, this Christmas, a tradition ended.  For what it was worth though, her final performance on Letterman was absolutely wonderful.

And coming up on Day #22, I hope to make you laugh with another FUNNY MONDAY posting.

Saturday, December 20, 2014

Prancer

I know it seems hard to believe, but we are just five days away from Christmas Day!  Where the heck did the month of December disappear to?



Anyway, we are about ready to kick off Day #20 of THE POP CULTURE ADDICT'S ADVENT CALENDAR!  And since today is Saturday, we're going to be featuring another holiday film.

And since this happens to be the final Saturday before the Christmas season, I thought that I would choose a very special holiday movie.

Now, for many of you reading this, this day will likely be the first day of your Christmas vacation.  For kids, it will be two weeks off from school.  And for adults like me, I hope that your holiday schedules allow you to have plenty of time to spend with the people you love most in the world.

But one thing I always remembered about my own school days was that the last day of school before Christmas vacation was almost always considered to be a fun day.  Very rarely did we partake in any geometry lessons, social science studies, or spelling dictations.  We would have holiday treats, special Christmas assemblies, and if time allowed, we were allowed to watch holiday movies in class.

I don't know if schools still do this now, but when I was little it was a lot of fun.

In fact, today's holiday film feature happens to be one of the movies that we watched on the last day of school before Christmas vacation.  If memory serves me, it was fifth grade when I first watched this movie.  Our teacher, Mr. Haskin, rented out the television and VCR (remember those things?), and he played this movie which I admit was a rather whimsical, but sweet film about a little girl who believed in all things Christmas.

Now, everyone knows about the story of Santa Claus.  How he flies around the entire world every December 24 to deliver gifts to every boy and girl in just twenty-four hours.  Well, naturally, Santa Claus has to have help in delivering all of those gifts and keeping his schedule on par, so he has to rely on his team of nine reindeer to guide him on his way.  Naturally, Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer is the leader of the pack with his beacon of ruby bathed light showing Santa the way across seven different continents.  But we can't forget all about the other reindeer who pull their weight as well.

Why, where would Santa be without Dasher and Dancer, Prancer and Vixen, Comet and Cupid, Donner and Blitzen?

Wait.  Why is Prancer bolded and coloured?  Could it be that the movie is all about the third reindeer in Santa's command?



Well, I can't really reveal too much right now, but Prancer most definitely is the name of today's film discussion.  And Prancer happens to be celebrating its silver anniversary this year, having been originally released on November 17, 1989.  The film starred Sam Elliott, Rebecca Harrell, Cloris Leachman, Abe Vigoda, Ariana Richards, Rutanya Alda, and John Duda.



And this guy.

Now, whether this reindeer is the real Prancer, or a deer pretending to be Prancer...well, that's up to you to decide.  But as the film begins, we learn a lot about the Riggs family, who happen to be struggling this particular holiday season.  The patriarch of the Riggs family, John (Elliott) is in financial and emotional distress.  His wife recently succumbed to a fatal illness a few months ago, and he is in danger of losing his entire farm. 

John has two children.  Steve (Duda) and Jessica (Harrell).  While Sam seems to be adjusting to things as well as he could, Jessica is noticeably having a more difficult time of it.  She thinks about her deceased mother often, thinking about her in Heaven, hoping that one day she will be able to see her again.  In the meantime, Jessica has developed an obsession with Christmas, even going so far as listening to Christmas music in the middle of the summer!

Of course, because "Prancer" is a Christmas film, the film is mostly set during the month of December, and Jessica is walking home after playing an angel in her school play when she witnesses something happen. 

Hanging above her is a Christmas decoration that features Santa on a sled being pulled by his reindeer.  Somehow, the reindeer in the third position falls off of the display and crashes to the street below.  Nobody is hurt thankfully, but Jessica concludes that the reindeer that falls is Prancer, and Prancer falling from the sky symbolizes something very special.  But of course, she doesn't quite know what that is.

She tries to tell her family about what happened, but John is not amused by her stories.  He is worried enough about losing his home and not having the means necessary to continue taking care of his children.  He even discusses sending the children away with his sister-in-law Sarah (Alda). 

Unfortunately, Jessica overhears this conversation and takes off into the woods for distance away from the family.  And it is in these woods that she happens upon a magical sight.

Yes, the reindeer that she had dubbed Prancer suddenly appears to her in the middle of the woods!  The reindeer is forced to flee after hearing a gunshot, but the gunshot also helps alert John to Jessica's whereabouts.

Interestingly enough, the reindeer appears again as John is taking Jessica home.  The reindeer is visibly wounded, as there appears to be a bullet wound on him.  John feels the right thing to do is put the creature out of his misery, which Jessica absolutely protests.  But before John can get out his gun, the reindeer takes off into the woods again.

Now, the whole film is essentially a cat and mouse game, in which Jessica happens to find "Prancer" and vows to nurse him back to health.  She has help from her friend Carol (Richards) in keeping the reindeer a secret, and she guilt trips veterinarian Orel Benton (Vigoda) into helping with treating the reindeer's wounds.  Jessica also befriends an elderly woman, Mrs. McFarlane (Leachman) when she takes on a job cleaning her house to pay for feed for Prancer.

And the only thing on Jessica's Christmas list this year when she goes to visit Santa Claus at the mall is simple.  She hands him a note to give to the real Santa, explaining that he needs to come and collect Prancer before Christmas Eve, as he will need to be there to help Santa deliver toys to all of the girls and boys.

But when the Santa Claus decides to give the letter to the editor of the newspaper, and the letter gets printed in the local paper, it causes everything to go pear-shaped, and what follows in the aftermath forces Jessica and her family to come to some home truths, as well as forces Jessica to try to protect Prancer from harm.



All in all, it happens to be a Christmas film, so you can pretty much guarantee that the ending will be a happy one.  But how it all plays out...it is well worth watching.


And, coming up on Day #21...the end of an era.  Musically speaking.

Friday, December 19, 2014

Stocking Stuffers



Hello, everyone!  And, welcome to Day #19 of A POP CULTURE ADDICT'S ADVENT CALENDAR!  We're really getting down to the wire when it comes to Christmas, and I hope that most of you are prepared.  Whether it comes down to buying last minute gifts, mailing out last minute Christmas cards, or picking up last minute groceries for your Christmas feasts, you had better get moving!  After all, it is only six days away!

Oh, and the stockings!  You must not forget the stockings!



In fact, that's what this blog entry is all about!  Stockings and stocking stuffers!

How many of you had a stocking when you were little?  I know I did.  In fact, I actually had two different stockings during my childhood.

I should probably explain.  I don't know where my parents picked up the stockings, but they have probably been in my family for ages.  My mom's stocking was really the only normal looking stocking in the bunch.  My sisters had twin stockings that looked exactly the same, only one had gold trim, and the other one had silver.  Dad's was really unique.  I bet he was the only one whose stocking looked like a cowboy boot!

(Seriously, I kid you not.  He has a cowboy boot stocking.  I wish I had a picture to show you, but I don't have the stocking handy on me.)

My first stocking was kind of unique as well.  You know those bright red longjohns that people wore at the turn of the century with the trap door on the caboose?  Mine was like that, only toddler sized.  And it worked out well for the first seven years of my life or so, as it was child sized, and I was the youngest in the family for fifteen years before my niece was born.  But while the stocking was very cute, it was also very impractical, as it could only hold one or two items as opposed to the twelve or thirteen that the stockings of my sisters could hold.  Eventually, when my sister got married when I was eight years old, she gave me her old stocking, which allowed for more stocking stuffers.

(Not that I really needed the extra stuff - it was more or less an excuse for my parents to wrap fewer gifts.  Truth be told, aside from gifts given to me, I am the designated gift wrapper in my immediate family!)

But it got me thinking about all of the various gifts that I received in my Christmas stocking.  Most of them were beautiful and well thought out, but others were sort of duds. 

Mind you, the duds weren't too horrible.  It wasn't like Santa filled my stocking with Stove Top stuffing like Amelia Bedelia did in one of her books.  They were just...interesting.

And, I thought I would make a list of some of the things that I used to get in my stocking when I was a little boy (and...ahem...as a thirty-something adult).  Some stuff you might have also gotten, and some stuff you will wonder why I even got them in the first place.  But nevertheless, here are my stocking stuffer stories!



FRUIT

Every kid in our family always got at least two pieces of fruit in our stockings every year.  My sisters would often get Asian Pears (or "Snow Pears" as they called them), but I was happy with my oversized orange and Red Delicious Apple.  I suppose it was Santa's way of trying to offset the amount of sweets that he would leave us.

Speaking of which...



ICY SQUARES

It is really hard to describe an Icy Square to all of you who have never had one, but these things are so addictive, creamy, and good!  They are smooth and silky, and melt in your mouth.  They aren't quite minty, but they definitely feel cold on the tongue.  I suppose that is where they get their name.  Anyway, if you haven't tried these things, get them.  Absolutely worth it.



ARCHIE COMIC DIGESTS

Okay, when I was a kid, I used to always get at least a couple of these in my stocking.  I mean, the cost was quite reasonable at the time, and you used to get 256 pages of Archie goodness in a double digest - well, at least until 1992 when they shrank to 192 pages.  At any rate, these compact books fit perfectly in stockings, and to avoid getting bent covers, these books were always placed at the very top of the stocking.  What can I say?  Santa was clever.



TOOTHBRUSH AND TOOTHPASTE

Well, I suppose to offset the sugar rush that stocking stuffers could bring, Santa would have to have something to prevent cavities.  Not the most exciting gift, but I understood why we got them.  See also shampoo, conditioner, razor blades, and deodorant.

"DRIZZLE" THE BATHTUB HAND PUPPET

Uh...yeah.  This was a stocking stuffer that I got probably sometime in the late 1980's (we will say 1989 for argument's sake), and it looked EXACTLY like this one.  I don't know where the name Drizzle came from.  Maybe the name was on the package, or maybe I came up with the name myself.  But I will admit, Drizzle did make bathtime a lot more fun...well, at least until he disintegrated after a few months of use.  And, here I thought that sea dragons loved the water...



R.I.P. Drizzle the Dragon  1989-1990

MAGELLAN - THE DRAGON FROM EUREEKA'S CASTLE

I have no idea how they got this in the first place, as I hated Pizza Hut, and these finger puppets were sold exclusively at Pizza Hut restaurants (what was the obsession with puppets at Christmas about anyway?)



Anyway, as someone who used to watch Eureeka's Castle and loved it, I was happy to get this one.  Truth be told, I kind of liked the big green guy.



BATH BEADS

Yes.  I did get these in my stocking.  And, yes, I truly do believe that Santa made a mistake, and gave these to me instead of my sister.  Or, maybe Santa thought I smelled bad and needed them anyway.  Yeah, let's go with that.  And that isn't even the worst thing I ever got in a Christmas stocking!



A GEOMETRY SET

Really, Santa?  A geometry set?  You are giving a geometry set to someone who admittedly hated math class?  On second thought, the bath beads don't sound so bad after all.

Okay, so I shared some of my stocking stuffer memories.  Now I turn it over to you.

What did your stocking look like?  And what were some of the treats that could be found inside of it?

I will let you mull over that for a bit while I work on Day #20 - another Christmas feature presentation.

Thursday, December 18, 2014

Arthur's Perfect Christmas

What?  How can there be only one week left until Christmas morning?  Where did the time go?  Whatever will we do?

(Oh.  Wait.  I have my holiday stuff completed.  Nevermind.)



That being said, if you do have time today, why not give Day #18 of A POP CULTURE ADDICT'S ADVENT CALENDAR a try?

In fact, I promise you that this TUBE TALK THURSDAY blog entry will not only celebrate Christmas, but a couple of other holidays as well!  I thought that the cartoon Rugrats did a phenomenal job with taking two holidays and merging them together as the Pickles family celebrates both Christmas and Hanukkah.  But believe it or not, I found another example of people celebrating different holidays coming together to understand each other's celebrations and traditions.

Would you believe that I happened to come across this special on PBS of all places?  Very intriguing, isn't it?

Anyway, the reason why I wanted to talk about a special that incorporated all holidays is simple.  Yes, there are seven days left until Christmas.  But there are also eight days left until Kwanzaa kicks off on December 26.  And Hanukkah is already in full swing with festivities beginning on December 16.  Even though my family traditions are always centered around Christmas, I would actually love to take part in other holiday celebrations, just so I could learn more about them.

And that's one thing I will say about this holiday special.  The writers did a brilliant job researching all of the different holidays and writing a one-hour holiday special that is intelligent, heartwarming, and most importantly, entertaining.



I'm sure that most of you from a younger demographic than I have seen at least one episode of "Arthur".  The television series debuted in 1996 on PBS and is still going strong today!  The series, of course, was based on the long-running children's book series penned by author Mark Brown that kicked off in 1976 with "Arthur's Nose".

Wait.  Arthur is 38 years old?  Wow, he looks good.  Still has his baby face and everything!

I know.  I josh.  Arthur ages about as slowly as "The Simpsons".  But really, the show is one of PBS' huge success stories.  I wouldn't be surprised if it were one of the most watched shows on PBS alongside "Sesame Street" and "Downton Abbey".



Well, on November 24, 2000, "Arthur's Perfect Christmas" first aired on PBS.  Since then, the show is re-aired on PBS around the holiday season, and has since been released on VHS and DVD.  And, in one word, Arthur's Perfect Christmas is as close to perfection as a children's holidays special could be.

I should probably note that I was nineteen when this special first aired, so I was quite out of the target demographic at this point.  I just happened to come across it when flipping through channels one Christmas Eve, and this happened to be on the air.  I sat and watched it and loved the whole thing.

The title of this special basically describes the main plot of the show.  Arthur wants to have the perfect Christmas celebration ever, and he even made a list of all of the things he wants to have happen for Christmas.



ARTHUR'S CHRISTMAS LIST

1.  A large amount of snow
2.  An amazing dinner - turkey and the whole works
3.  A spectacular Christmas tree - most importantly, one without tinsel
4.  Everyone will love the presents he gets for them

Wow.  Arthur's Christmas list is...how do I put this...grown-up!  Instead of asking for every toy ever found inside the Sears Wish Book, he asks for some practical things.  I especially love his fourth item on the list.  Isn't that what we all want?  For people to love the gifts that we gave them?  Oh, and on a personal note, I so agree with his third item.  I HATE tinsel on Christmas trees.  Do you know how aggravating it is to vacuum up tinsel that has fallen on the floor?

But does Arthur's Christmas go exactly as planned?  Well...not exactly.  You see, there are other subplots that are unfolding in the community of Elwood City, and these subplots may cause Arthur's Christmas to become less than perfect.



Take Arthur's little sister, D.W., for example.  D.W. only has one thing on her Christmas list this year - Tina the Talking Tabby.  Problem is, she sent her Christmas list out late in the season, and by the time Santa gets the letter, there are no more Tina the Talking Tabby dolls to be found.  Instead, D.W. is given a substitute gift of Quackers the duck, which puts her in a rather foul mood, and causes her to have a self-pity fueled temper tantrum in response.

Uncle Fred is excited to be spending the Christmas holidays in Florida, but his car breaks down in the middle of Elwood City, and he is forced to stay with the Reads family for Christmas instead, which causes his plans to be shelved.



Arthur's friends Muffy and Francine have a huge falling out just before Christmas.  Muffy is set to plan the largest holiday bash ever seen in Elwood City, as her family just happens to be the richest family in Elwood City and can afford to throw a party.  And Muffy insists on inviting the whole school to her party.  The problem is that Francine cannot go.  As Francine is Jewish, her family celebrates Hanukkah, and a key event in their family Hanukkah celebrations coincides with Muffy's party.  And when Francine declines Muffy's invitation, a furious Muffy tells her that she doesn't understand why she won't go, as she doesn't consider Hanukkah to be as important as Christmas.  This naturally ticks Francine off, and she refuses to even have anything more to do with Muffy!



And even the happy-go-lucky Baxter Bunny is having issues getting into the holiday spirit.  Since his parents got divorced, he has found it hard to deal with the new reality that his parents will be separated this Christmas.  Arthur and his friends give Baxter a rather interesting suggestion - create his own holiday and call it Baxter Day.  The idea is met with great trepidation on Baxter's part, but he agrees that it might be worth a try.  But in preparation for the event, Baxter's brain seems to be in overdrive.  And, let's just say that his scrambled egg brain causes him to bake some rather...interesting treats for the homeless shelter residents to whom he delivers goodies to every Christmas.

Elsewhere in the city, Brain's family carry out the traditions of a typical Kwanzaa celebration, and George's family observes Saint Lucia Day to pay tribute to their Swedish heritage.

So, we have a whole lot of different plots and different celebrations going on, and a lot of conflicts between Arthur and his friends.  What do you think happens?

Well, while it lasts on YouTube, why don't you click HERE?  The link will take you to the full episode of "Arthur's Perfect Christmas".  But as I said, you should probably watch it now.  Usually full length episodes don't last too long on YouTube.

Oh, and do stick around.  The final stretch of the advent calendar is fast approaching.  And I have saved the best for last!

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

I'll Ride With You



You know, it is Day #17 of A POP CULTURE ADDICT'S ADVENT CALENDAR, and I have quite a lot on my mind as I type this out.

For whatever reason, I have had a bit of a hard time trying to find my inner Christmas spirit. 

On the outside, I definitely show that I have it.  I have the tree up, I have the presents bought and wrapped already, I've mailed out a few cards, and I have the advent calendar going on strong. 

But something seems to be missing.  And no, it isn't the snow - although I won't lie to you.  I do wish we had more snow for the holidays.  Of course, by January, I want the white stuff gone, but in December it is always nice.

I think it has probably taken the last few weeks for me to finally come up with an answer.  And I write about it in today's WHO AM I WEDNESDAY section.

December 17, 2014

I think that I might be burning myself out on a lot of things.  And that burnout might explain why I am not quite as gung-ho about the holiday season as I used to be when I was younger.

Let's face it.  In our youth, our perception of Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or any other religious holiday celebrated this month is a lot different than our take as adults.  I cannot speak for other children, but for myself, I know that when I was younger, the holidays were all about good things.  Holidays were about dipping gingerbread cookies in hot chocolate, or trying to guess what kind of presents we were going to get, or watching "Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer" over and over again.

The holidays were really the only time in the world in which everyone and everything took a break from all that was bad in the world, and came together in peace.

Not so much now.

Over the last couple of months, there has been so much bad news being broadcast on the news, in social media, and on global news websites.  Whether it was the hostage situation in Sydney, Australia, or the recent shootings in Pennsylvania, the news certainly put a damper on what should be one of the calmest and peaceful times of the calendar year.

I certainly am saddened to hear of so much going on in the world at once, and my heart definitely goes out to anyone who was affected by any of these world events.  Nobody deserves to lose a loved one so close to the holidays - especially in such a violent and senseless manner.

Certainly, the world has reacted to both of these incidents with rapid speed.  I suppose one of the beautiful things about the Internet is that we can find out what is going on in the world with just a click of a mouse.  But blessings can also contain hidden curses as well.

Details about the tragedy in Australia are still being released, but what we do know is that in the morning hours of December 15 (Australian time), a man well known to Australian authorities with a chequered past and reported ties to ISIS took several people inside of a cafe in Sydney's downtown core hostage.  The situation lasted for seventeen hours before police stormed the cafe.  In the end, two hostages were killed, as was the hostage taker.  Several others were injured in the melee. 

Again, a terrible situation to have to endure.  Lives forever changed, and a city in mourning.

But I will say that this situation really caused the world to take notice - not so much for the actual event itself, but for how people reacted to it.

Certainly the terrorist group ISIS is a group that shows absolutely no mercy, claiming responsibility for killing people in some of the most brutal ways possible.  And I absolutely agree that the terrorist organization should be infiltrated, dismantled, and destroyed.  Anyone who uses terrorism to gain power should be stopped.

But I think it is also important to point out that ISIS is just a fraction of the millions of people in the world who consider themselves Muslim.  And it is also important to note that as far as I am concerned - and I want to make this perfectly clear - JUST BECAUSE A PERSON IS MUSLIM DOES NOT MAKE THEM ISIS SUPPORTERS!

I would probably even hazard a guess that many people who are Muslim are quite disgusted by ISIS, and they will be the first to point out that ISIS does NOT speak for them.

I suppose that is why I get a little bit ticked off at people who seemingly judge all people by the same brush when it comes to events such as what happened in Australia.  When I see people get bent out of shape because they feel that their right to say "Merry Christmas" has been taken away from them - openly blaming other cultures that may not celebrate Christmas without actually having any fact or reason behind their argument, I'll be blunt.  I want to slap some sense into them. 

If someone wants to wish me a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Joyous Kwanzaa, Happy National Pickle Day, or simply Happy Holidays, I would actually acknowledge the greeting.  In a world that is filled with instant gratification and self-centered tendencies, it is really nice to know that someone would take the time to wish me anything.  I might not celebrate Hanukkah, but I certainly won't run down the street screaming "I CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS, YOU TOOL!" at someone if they did wish me a Happy Hanukkah.

So, why would you post messages like this on your own Facebook page or Twitter feed?  Isn't that kind of the same thing as screaming like a banshee down the street at someone else for their own beliefs?  Just think about it for a second.  Just because a person celebrates holidays a little differently than you doesn't diminish the importance of the holiday.  If anything, I think we should be more open to traditions, and try to include everyone in them.

Because the more we learn about people, the more we can understand them.  And the more that we understand people, I would like to think that we could become better people as a result of it. 

I suppose one could look at Australian resident Rachael Jacobs as being a shining beacon of all good in humanity.  As the hostage crisis in Sydney was still unfolding, she noted in a Twitter post that she was on a train seated next to a Muslim woman who had removed her hijab while they were in motion.  After the train stopped, and both women got off, Rachael ran after the woman and told her that she could put her hijab back on and that she would walk with her until she felt safe. 

Well, wouldn't you know it?  That simple gesture spawned the #illridewithyou hashtag that has taken social media by storm.  It has been retweeted at least a million times by people all over the world, and it basically sends out a message of love and hope to the world.  It tells all people that they don't have to be afraid of backlash.  The Sydney siege was operated by one man who had admittedly turned his back on society years ago.  He was not a representative of an entire group of people.  Why should a whole group of people be attacked because of the callous actions of a few? 



Rachael Jacobs, I commend you for showing all of us what humanity is.  Maybe there is hope after all.

My name is Matthew - and although I am in Canada - I'll Ride With You.

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

December 16, 1983



Hello, there!  Welcome to Day #16 of THE POP CULTURE ADDICT'S ADVENT CALENDAR!

It's also time for another Tuesday Timeline entry, and this entry could not be any more Christmas themed if you tried.

In fact, this entry is sort of a two-parter, if you will.  One of them, I already talked about in this blog...but the other one will be expanded on. 

In the meantime, let us take a look at the events that took place around the world on December 16...including one recent, tragic addition to the list.

1431 - Henry VI of England is crowned King of France at Notre Dame Cathedral

1575 - Valdivia, Chile is hit with an estimated 8.5 magnitude earthquake

1707 - The last recorded eruption of Japan's Mt. Fuji

1773 - The "Boston Tea Party" takes place at Boston Harbor in opposition of the newly implemented tea tax

1775 - "Little Women" author Jane Austen (d. 1817) is born in England

1903 - The Taj Mahal Palace & Tower hotel in Bombay (now Mumbai), India opens to the public

1922 - Polish President Gabriel Narutowicz is assassinated at the Zacheta Gallery in Warsaw

1930 - The plans of bank robber Herman Lamm and his posse were foiled when he and several members of his crew are killed by a 200-strong mob in a failed robbery attempt!

1937 - Two prisoners - Theodore Cole and Ralph Roe - attempt to bust out of Alcatraz Prison; neither are seen again

1947 - The first practical point-contact transistor is invented by William Shockley, John Bardeen, and Walter Brattain

1960 - A mid-air collision between a TWA aircraft and an United Airlines flight kills 133 people near Idlewild Airport

1978 - Cleveland, Ohio becomes the first American city since the Great Depression to default on its financial obligations

1989 - Robert Smith Vance - a United States Appeals Court Judge is assassinated via mail bomb, sent by Walter Leroy Moody Jr.

2007 - Singer-songwriter Dan Fogelberg dies of cancer at age 56

2009 - Roy E. Disney - brother of Walt Disney - passes away at the age of 79

2013 - Country singer Ray Prices passes away at the age of 87

2014 - The hostage crisis at Sydney, Australia's Lindt Chocolate Cafe ends with the deaths of the hostage taker and two of his hostages

(Our thoughts definitely go out to the victims of the Sydney hostage crisis, and to the entire city of Sydney in what must be a very difficult time.)

Now, onto celebrity birthdays, and December 16 must be the day in which a celebrity baby boom took place.  The following people turn one year older today; Terry Carter, Quentin Blake, Liv Ullmann, Lesley Stahl, Eugene Robert Glazer, Steven Bochco, Patti Deutsch, Benny Andersson, Christopher Ellison, Terence Knox, Christopher Biggins, Billy Gibbons, Xander Berkeley, Prince Lorenz of Belgium, Katie Leigh, Alison LaPlaca, Larry Poindexter, Gretchen Palmer, Sam Robards, Jon Tenney, Melanie Smith, Benjamin Bratt, Georgie Parker, Paul Vogt, Todd Glass, Nancy Valen, Donovan Bailey, Miranda Otto, Peter Dante, Florencia Lozano, Daniel Cosgrove, Paul Leyden, Scott Storch, Benjamin Kowalewicz, Jonathan Scarfe, Krysten Ritter, Frankie Ballard, and Hallee Hirsh.

Whew, I am exhausted!!!

After all that, I don't know if I even have the energy to continue this blog! 

Well, okay, you know I do!



And the special date we will be looking at will be December 16, 1983!

Now, as explained up above, this date is a special one because two major things took place that day.  And interestingly enough, both involve Disney!

First things first, we'll get the event that I already talked about on this blog out of the way.  Remember how a couple of weeks ago, I talked about Charles Dickens and how one of his most famous works was "A Christmas Carol"?  Well, it was on this day thirty-one years ago that the Mickey Mouse version of that classic tale first aired.



"Mickey's Christmas Carol" was first released on December 16, 1983.  It was the retelling of the classic tale starring "Uncle" Scrooge McDuck as Ebenezer Scrooge, and Mickey Mouse as Bob Cratchit.  It became a huge holiday success for Disney and at the peak of its popularity aired annually on NBC for years during "The Wonderful World of Disney" time slot.

But did you know that wasn't the only Disney related item to debut on December 16, 1983? 

For this one, we will have to think bigger.  Like, how about Walt Disney World bigger.  In fact, this event has been held annually at the Magic Kingdom for the past thirty-one years.  Anyone who has ever vacationed at Walt Disney World during the holiday season over the last three decades might have some fond memories of fun, joy, and happy memories.

(And, one day, I wouldn't mind experiencing some of that joy at Disney World myself.)

But it was on this date thirty-one years ago that a Christmas party was first held in Walt Disney World.  And it was a fine celebration to be had for sure. 

And the mouse that helped build the Disney empire was the main toastmaster.



Yes, it was back in 1983 that the very first "Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party" was held in Walt Disney World Resorts in Orlando, Florida.  And unlike most Christmas parties, this one lasted several days.  In recent years, the event has expanded to include dates in November as well, but one thing you can definitely count on.  There is always going to be some special Christmas magic held each night the Christmas party festivities are observed.

The Christmas Party events are not held each night.  Only a select few dates are chosen to host the various celebrations going on.  But if you happen to be in the park on one of these nights between the hours of 7:00pm and 12:00am, you will be able to take part!

Well, provided you have a ticket to go.  The tickets to attend the Christmas party cost extra.  I suppose that even Mickey Mouse has to keep his Christmas parties somewhat exclusive.

Of course, if you can get in, here are some of the things that you can take part in.



Every night the party is held, you will have the chance to watch a very special parade.  Mickey's Once Upon A Christmastime Parade - contrary to its name - is often held twice a night (weather permitting, of course).  The parade travels down Main Street U.S.A., and features a selection of Disney characters mixed with Christmas images.  Just looking at some of the pictures of the parade, I have to admit, it does look beautiful.

There is also a standard display of fireworks that go off during each night that the party is held.  Cinderella's castle turns the same colour as a Christmas tree, and the "Holiday Wishes" fireworks display lights up the night!



Cinderella and the Fairy Godmother used to play a very pivotal role in Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party.  They would light up the castle with nearly two hundred thousand lights so that people could see it lit up from a distance.  But in 2014, Cinderella took a back seat as Elsa, Anna, Olaf, and the other characters from "Frozen" took over the "Dream Lights" segment of the party.

If you ever dreamed of dancing to Christmas songs with some of your favourite Disney characters, you have plenty of opportunity to shake your groove thing on the dance floor.  There are a couple of nights where a dance party is held.  You can get up close and personal with your favourite characters from "Toy Story" if you like.

Of course, the park has several Disney characters wandering around the park in holiday outfits for you to meet, greet, and snap a picture with, if you like.  If you're lucky, you might even get a chance to see some characters who don't visit Disney World all that often.

Rides also stay open during the Christmas party - somewhat.  Some of the more popular attractions will remain open (but without the FastPass option), but since they change each year, it is impossible to tell what attractions will get the green light to stay open all night long.  I can tell you that in the past, the Haunted Mansion, Space Mountain, and the Jungle Cruise (renamed Jingle Cruise for the holidays) have opened up on party nights.



And, don't worry about getting hungry during the event.  Apparently vendors scattered all over the park will give you cookies and cups of hot chocolate whenever you want a sugar rush!  Hey, I wonder if the stands will be run by Taffeta Muttonfudge or Vanellope Von Schweetz this year?

Wow...after doing research on this blog, I really want to go now!  It certainly looks like a lot of fun for kids of all ages.

And this annual Disney tradition began thirty-one years ago today!

Coming up on Day #17 - a WHO AM I WEDNESDAY entry that will have some sort of Christmas reference to it.  What that will be...I still have to work on.