Christmas Links #12


 Michigan high school choir belts out holiday tunes from a towering Christmas tree:
"The Mona Shores Singing Christmas Tree, which features a 180-student high school choir and stands 15 rows tall, belted out 19 holiday tunes at a Muskegon theater this week and was set to perform two more shows on Saturday. The 67-foot-tall (20-meter-tall) tree is adorned with 25,000 LED lights and loads of greenery."

"The gravestone of Ebenezer Scrooge has been reinstated, after it was smashed into piece by vandals in November."

"Keira Knightley admitted in a new interview with the Los Angeles Times that she told “Love Actually” director Richard Curtis while filming the infamous cue card scene with Andrew Lincoln that it was all “quite creepy.” Knightley was 17 years old when she was filming the Christmas romance."

"For artist Louise Coutinho, it was a "big surprise" to win a competition to invent a Christmas-themed chocolate bar."

"Hint: You can't win if you don't play."

"Our roundup of the easiest Christmas songs to play on the ukulele."

"The urban myth surrounding the tiny house in Birkenhead has been solved."

"From turkey to mince pies, these are the top-rated buys for 2024, as judged by the Good Housekeeping Institute."

"From wholesome family wonder to something a lot darker next, with Disney’s One Magic Christmas from 1985. This one starts out well enough then goes absolute batshit crazy, turning proper dark about halfway through."

"#RetroTimes It's all about rekindling cherished memories—whether they revolve around people, special places, or even just the classic programmes. The magazine and video are both below, I hope you enjoy them!"
on Saturday, December 07, 2024 0 comments

Christmas Links #11


"A man has been eating one of his late mother's mince pies every Christmas for more than two decades."

"Scientists have various theories about resurgence of once scarce plant popular at Christmas in Victorian era."

"Quail, chicken, duck? All good, and then a mysterious line is drawn." [via]

"Exclusive: Steven Soderbergh has made some of the most iconic films of the past 35 years, and now the prolific director is returning to his indie roots with experimental horror Presence. We sit down with Hollywood’s most versatile auteur."

"From decorations across the city centre to lost shops and people."

"Albert Heijn, the Netherlands' biggest supermarket chain, is celebrating the 40th anniversary of Last Christmas, the globally beloved holiday anthem by Wham!. In its 2024 Christmas campaign, the brand reimagines scenes from the iconic music video."

"Dec. 6. My family Christmas card has been an annual burden since 2005, when The Mother of Dragons and I got married and sent out our first holiday card because she wanted to start sending holiday cards."

"From the Rockefeller Center in New York City to the Cathedral Square in Vilnius, Lithuania, check out the Christmas trees and festive decorations in public squares, department stores and more that look their most magical at night."

"Proving that the rock doesn't have to stop for Christmas, Radio X Classic Rock picks a stack of seasonal creations from your favourite artists: everyone from Bob Dylan and The Beach Boys to Billy Idol and Twisted Sister."

"Goldie the Gritter made a festive entrance at an Alloa primary school sporting a giant Christmas jumper."
on Friday, December 06, 2024 0 comments Labels:

Christmas Links #10



"Russell Hall said he hopes the idea brings about "a few more smiles over the seasonal period"."

"As Lapland basks in mild winter temperatures, the lack of snow leaves travel plans in tatters."

"This exhibition tells the story of what happened next, exploring the work of our conservation team to make the First Folio accessible again. Visit to see a rare and important cultural artefact and experience a book as you’ve never seen one before."

"The stage has a short memory, print a long one: 400 years since its first publication, Shakespeare’s First Folio is the reason we remember him."

"The history of carol singing may go back as far as the medieval era, and has appeared in literature for many years, but it was during Victorian times it became really popular."

"From cookies to crafts, Germany is home to a host of charming seasonal traditions."

"The build-up to Christmas has long been associated with tiny chocolates behind cardboard doors."

"Whatever you're up to over the festive period our team of experts have you covered with tips and tricks. Whether it's how to save on Christmas trips away, find the best deals on your festive food or even how to avoid travel chaos at home and abroad, they are here to help."

"The holiday season kicked off on Capitol Hill this week with the official Christmas tree lighting ceremony and the unveiling of a gingerbread replica of the U.S. Capitol — complete with sugar flowers representing all 50 states."
on Thursday, December 05, 2024 0 comments Labels:

Christmas Links #9


"For nearly 50 years a tiny village has become home to a massive Christmas extravaganza that sees about 110,000 people descend on the otherwise quiet part of Norfolk. But what does it take to put on a multi-million pound variety show in the countryside?"

"This year's Doctor Who festive special, Joy to the World, will be broadcast on BBC1 on Christmas Day at 5:10pm. Written by Steven Moffat, the episode features Ncuti Gatwa in his second Christmas outting, and also introduces Joy, played by Nicola Coughlan."

"Harbour Master James Radcliffe talks to BBC Radio Solent's Steve Harris about what's different about their 2024 Christmas tree."

"The setlist included renditions of iconic songs such as Merry Christmas Everyone and Does This Train Stop on Merseyside?"

"The company’s nostalgia-filled commercials are a holiday tradition, but this year’s ads are facing backlash for dipping into the uncanny valley."

"They capture how things used to be in the city centre."

"The theatre chain says it will save $60 million in interest expense as it anticipates continued box office growth after “Moana 2,” “Wicked” and “Gladiator II” broke records."

"Let's face it: the best Christmas movies aren't complete without a good villain."

"As deep-cuts in the Archive go, these staff-recommended resources are ones you won’t want to miss!"

"Between 2009 and 2012, iPhones had a built-in "Send to YouTube" button in the Photos app. Many of these uploads kept their default IMG_XXXX filenames, creating a time capsule of raw, unedited moments from random lives.  Inspired by Ben Wallace, I made a bot that crawled YouTube and found 5 million of these videos! Watch them below, ordered randomly."
on Wednesday, December 04, 2024 0 comments Labels:

Christmas Links #8


Here’s which Christmas song you are based on your Bournemouth University degree:
"Do not panic, no Michael Buble is featured within this article."

"A Christmas spectacular described as “just terrible” by “really upset” families has been compared to a disappointing Willy Wonka-inspired event that became a viral sensation."

"People are being urged to post early to guarantee getting cards to their destination in time for Christmas - here's the final dates to send your cards home and abroad."

"Three-quarters of young people who usually celebrate Christmas won’t be drinking alcohol this year. Their parents, however, won’t be joining them in sobriety."

"“I know you’re a criminal, but maybe just do something nice because it’s Christmas,” said British chef Tommy Banks, after thieves stole a van full of pies."

"After losing his seat in parliament in the last general election, the controversial politician is diving into reality TV, but will his opinions be challenged?"

"Whether it's presents, food or decorations, it all adds up! David Smith reports."

"To be or not to be … a railfan."


"The Twelve Days of Christmas was published by The Society for Visual Education (SVE) and is catalog number A 860-24. This filmstrip was very faded and reddened; color correction is approximate. While the filmstrip itself shows a copyright date of 1963, the accompanying soundtrack cassette shows a copyright of 1972, so it is unclear when this version was published."
on Tuesday, December 03, 2024 0 comments Labels:

Christmas Links #7


"One victim of spiking said she felt like she had 'been hit by a bus'"


"​Count down to Christmas with favourites selected by Sean Baker, Gillian Anderson, John Waters, Mike Leigh, Gurinder Chadha, Will Sharpe and more."
[Editor's warning: contains Love Actually.]

"Christmas Day was big news for William the Conqueror - and Washington."

"As is traditional on the blog the first festive post after the Christmas introduction is the next volume in the Big Comic Book series from Fleetway, collecting together more classic strips from their flagship title Buster, as well as Whizzer and Chips and Whoopee, the latter of which had already ceased publication by the time this series began. This hardback 256-page whopper pretty much keeps to the same formula as before, which is no bad thing."

"Selected by the Wallpaper* style team, a gleaming array of Christmas baubles for fashion fans featuring fantastical designs from Bottega Veneta, Loewe, Prada and more."

From Mumsnet: "That's near £50 in the next 2 weeks, I could honestly cry."

"All the festive drama from Albert Square in one place."

"I used to work as a receptionist and I'd watch these companies come in, charging more than a thousand quid to decorate a 15ft Christmas tree... I thought I could do a better job."

"Lemony turmeric, gingery cheesecake, boozy almond: This year’s Cookie Week has something for everyone." [$]
on Monday, December 02, 2024 0 comments Labels:

Christmas Links #6

 
Dogs in Christmas jumpers parade in London:
"More than a hundred dogs dressed in Christmas jumpers have joined a festive parade in central London in support of rescue charities."

"Read on to discover our pick of the best classical Christmas TV and Radio this December on BBC radio and television, iPlayer and BBC Sounds..."

"From Christmas traditions to day to day life."

"Classic condiments combine for a delicious vegan main that will more than hold its own on the Christmas table."

"Sugababes have lots of lost media."

"Peter Macann looks at the bleeping musical cards of the future in this clip from the classic BBC show."


"I know I’m not the only one who feels like this."

"Unlike nearly all coastal stations where crew are summoned from home by pagers, Chiswick is crewed 24/7."

"Once a rarity, It Happened One Christmas, the 1977 television remake of It’s a Wonderful Life with Orson Welles as the conniving “Old Man” Potter, is seemingly everywhere this holiday season."
on Sunday, December 01, 2024 0 comments Labels:
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