I just need the real greens, since my tree is fake. I stick my nose in the wreath!

I'm feeling in very rarified company, tv-tech-wise. We had the space, we had, for a brief window, the disposable income, and there was a sale, so we wound up with the 1080i 47" Samsung LCD, and the home theater speaker-bridge thing that matches. And, even though (blasphmemy!) we don't game, we got a PS3, on Pete's rec, to play blu-ray dvds.

We even got the black glass and "wood" stand that holds the screen up in the air and swivels. It's our room divider between the comfy seating and Outer Mongolia.

We left the artificial wreaths and lighted garland with teh son, since they've been used at the NC house for lo, these many years. We'll do something different for the new house. I doubt we do a tree this year, unless it's wee. Something, though. I have my half-basket of silk ivy for the door, if I can find real holly with berries to tuck in.

Did you read about the screenwriter that said he was tweeting from jail that got busted and actually put in jail because he was apparently just on a work furlough program? Seems Gaiman and Ebert were retweeting him. Assuming it's him, of course. I'm not sure why he thinks he'd have a First Amendment right to freaking tweet from jail. Or why Gawker thinks it has anything to do with A Clockwork Orange.

Apparently the only tree available at cut your own places in GA is the Leyland Cypress. Which may be a very nice tree, but is not (IMO) actually a Christmas Tree. Sigh. I'm looking at mail ordering a balsam fir from WVa.

Pig Farts Spark Gas Scare

Residents of Axedale, Australia called authorities when they smelled what they believed to be a gas leak. Firefighters responded to the home and found a 120 kilogram pet pig, which they believe to be the source of the gas.

“She got very excited when two trucks and 15 firies turned up and she squealed and farted and squealed and farted,” said fire chief Peter Harkins.

“I haven’t heard too many pigs fart but I would describe it as very full-on.”

Mr Harkins said the family had done the right thing by calling 000 to report a suspected gas leak: “It’s all bottled gas up here and a leaking cylinder could pose a major fire risk.

“It was because we took it so seriously that 15 volunteers still managed to attend the call out at 10.30 on Tuesday night.”

The pig’s owners are embarrassed over the incident and refused to let the pig be photographed.

Good lord -- the mystery childhood friend wrote back, and he's "retired" from financial services, and living in Shanghai. Bananas!

If he starts asking you for some help getting money out of the country, run!

Apparently the only tree available at cut your own places in GA is the Leyland Cypress.

Cypress would be nice-smelling though, right? Oh...I think I'm thinking of cedar.

It's 11:30 and I've already showered, and been to the mall and the grocery store. (Not necessarily in that order.) Watch, I will probably completely waste the rest of the day

I have to find a tree place that delivers...there's one that I know of, but their hours are erratic and the tree I bought from them two years ago was less than fresh cut.

There's someone online offering trees for delivery at an exorbitant rate, but they will give you a second tree for free. Still, if a secoond tree was foisted on me, I'd have no excuse but to decorate it...

If he starts asking you for some help getting money out of the country, run!

Heh. Remembering this guy at 13, I have no doubt he made millions in is 30s and is actually retired.

Are we absolutely sure this isn't Sunday?

Marlo Thomas

I learned Marlo Thomas was Lebanese from The Golden Girls. Sophia thought she was a lesbian. Or that Danny THomas was a lesbian, I am not sure which. But Dorothy got to say "No, Ma, she LEBANESE." which stuck with me. I always wanted to be Dorothy, but I think it is my destiny to be Rose.

The world's strongest beer and its boozy competitors

Madcap Scottish brewing maestro Brew Dog, has launched the world's strongest beer to a volley of criticism from health chiefs.

The 32% abv brew, called Tactical Nuclear Penguin (great name), takes over the mantle as the world's strongest beer from German concoction Schorschbraerm which weighs in at a measly 31% abv.

The incredible strength was attained when the beer, which started life as a 10 percent imperial stout, was aged for 16 months in two different whiskey casks before being stored in a freezer at a ball-shriveling -20°C for three weeks.

...

Tactical Nuclear Penguin will be available to buy online and from two off licenses one in London and one in Edinburgh, at £30 and £250 which also buys you a share in the company and will go towards building a £2.3m "eco-friendly, carbon neutral brewery in Aberdeen". Strong beers and green credentials.

We need some Tactical Nuclear Penguin at the next F2F....