Christmas in the Trenches, written and performed by John McCutcheon, as Christians around the world contemplate the birth of the Prince of Peace, in a barn.
[youtube=http://youtu.be/sJi41RWaTCs]
“Each Christmas come since World War II’ve learned its lessons well
That the ones who call the shots won’t be among the dead and lame
And on each end of the rifle we’re the same.”
Thanks to my sister in law Jennifer for bringing this song to my attention.
[youtube=http://youtu.be/QdoTdG_VNV4]
I know tomorrow is the first Sunday of Advent in the Christian calendar (as well as the first day of December), but I can’t resist posting this today. I confess I’ve been listening to carols for a week now, since the snow blanketed my part of the world winter wonderland white.
[youtube=http://youtu.be/qJ_MGWio-vc]
Christmas isn’t quite over yet – here’s Sean Quigley from Winnipeg, drumming and singing his heart out in this video that went viral last Christmas:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrNcD34KFhM]
Bill Maher’s 2001 Christmas message is just as timely and wise now as it was 11 years ago. For the second year in a row, I will allow Maher, an agnostic who is highly critical of organized religion, to have the last word on Christmas Day here on 350orbust.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFOgRInI5xY]
If you celebrate Christmas, as my family and I do, I wish you one filled with the love of friends and family, and lots of good (non-GMO) food! If you don’t celebrate Christmas, I wish for you a relaxing and renewing holiday season.
Christine
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHioIlbnS_A]
The U.S. National Oceanic And Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) released its updated Arctic Report card earlier this week. Like many other recent reports about the condition of the north, the canary in climate change coal mine, the news is sobering; new records have been set for snow extent, sea ice extent and ice sheet surface melting. The report summarizes the findings in this unemotional and scientific way:
Multiple observations provide strong evidence of widespread, sustained change driving Arctic environmental system into new state.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5h02Yc6lfA&feature=player_embedded]
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Meanwhile in the rest of the world, the insanity continues. Luckily there are people like Marcy Shaffer over at Versus to parody our disconnect from reality, and help us laugh rather than run to the hills screaming (although I’m still keeping that option open for myself). In keeping with the season, here’s Oil To The World, which came to my attention via FireDogLake.com.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgzMZSmCDfs&feature=youtu.be]
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The lyrics are available on versusplus.com.
For the full NOAA Arctic report card, click here.