Slouching Towards Oblivion

Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts

Sunday, December 24, 2023

A Carol

The Atheist Christmas Carol --Vienna Teng


It's the season of grace coming out of the void
Where a man is saved by a voice in the distance
It's the season of possible miracle cures
Where hope is currency and death is not the last unknown
Where time begins to fade
And age is welcome home

It's the season of eyes meeting over the noise
And holding fast with sharp realization
It's the season of cold making warmth a divine intervention
You are safe here you know

Don't forget
Don't forget I love, I love
I love you

It's the season of scars and of wounds in the heart
Of feeling the full weight of our burdens
It's the season of bowing our heads in the wind
And knowing we are not alone in fear
Not alone in the dark

Don't forget
Don't forget I love, I love
I love you

Don't forget
Don't forget I love, I love
I love you

Friday, December 22, 2023

That Song About Christmas


Maybe it's a little cynical, but it's also hard to disagree - and impossible for me not to laugh.

Wednesday, December 20, 2023

Today's Trae



The common man thinks religion is true.
The wise man understands religion is false.
The powerful man knows religion to be useful.

Saturday, December 16, 2023

Today's Tune


Allison Young - Writing, vocals
Joshua Lee Turner - Vocals, guitar
Josh Harmon - Drums 
Sebastian Rios - Bass  
Damon Smith - Piano
Mike Davis - Trumpet 
Kelly Oden - Video and color

Wednesday, December 21, 2022

Tuesday, December 20, 2022

Today's Joyful Noise

There will never be a tune that brings Christmas to me better than this one.

Four guitar ladies (guitArtistas) playing Tchaikovsky's Waltz Of The Flowers

Friday, December 16, 2022

Today's Tune

Joshua Lee Turner with
Gabe Terracciano
Zach Brown
William Carrigan
Katie Martucci
Caroline Kuhn
Allie Chipkin

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

Thursday, December 15, 2022

'Tis The Season

... to get hold of something normal - after they've kicked so much Russian ass, and before they start kicking Russian ass some more.

Слава Україні

🌎🌏🌍❤️🇺🇦




Hope After Heartache: Christmas Tree Erected in Bucha

“One thing I’m not is surprised. Ukrainians have pulled together like no other.”

In a display of hope and defiance after a year of brutality and trauma, a Christmas tree has been erected in the center of the city of Bucha, Ukraine.

“A Christmas tree was set up in Bucha, Kyiv suburb that survived the horrors of Russian occupation this year,” Anton Gerashchenko, an advisor to the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, tweeted on Dec. 12.

“Before installing it, Bucha residents were polled about this,” he added. “Most of them were in favor of the tree. They deserve it!”

The Christmas tree has since had its lights switched on, and was installed on the same day that Kremlin critic Ilya Yashin was sentenced to 8.5 years imprisonment by Moscow after condemning Russia for committing war crimes in Bucha – accusations the Kremlin, despite a wealth of evidence, continues to deny.

After Russian forces withdrew from the city in April, mass graves accompanied by video and photographic evidence emerged, with 458 bodies so far recovered, including nine children.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights documented a series of unlawful killings and summary executions of innocent civilians, with forensic evidence proving that many had been lined up with their hands tied behind their backs before being shot at point-blank range.

Talking to Human Rights Watch (HRW) following the retreat of Russian troops, Bucha residents recounted widespread rape, torture, and other human rights abuses carried out by Russian soldiers.

“Russian soldiers went door to door, questioning people, destroying their possessions and looting their clothes to wear for themselves,” HRW reported. “Civilians were fired upon when leaving their homes for food and water and would be ordered back into their homes by Russian troops, despite a lack of basic necessities such as water and heat due to the destruction of local infrastructure.

“There were also reports that Russian armed vehicles would arbitrarily fire into buildings in the city and that Russian troops refused medical aid to injured civilians. A mass grave was dug for local victims, and the troops carried out extrajudicial executions.”

Eight months since the horrors they were forced to endure, the citizens of Bucha are still repairing their homes and trying to return to normality, with the city’s new Christmas tree a small yet symbolic gesture of resilience about a more hopeful future.

“It’s an amazing tree,” one Twitter user commented. “I wish them a peaceful, loving and healing Christmas.”

“I don’t know what I love most about this,” wrote another, “that it was offered, that residents were polled first, that resident’ spirits have healed enough to accept, or that it was delivered and decorated. One thing I’m not is surprised. Ukrainians have pulled together like no other.”

Friday, December 24, 2021

Because World Peace Always Seems Outa Reach


I hope you can find some time in the next week or so to get really quiet. To curl up in a favorite spot and watch a movie you've seen 2 or 3 dozen times. To hug the people you love - and the ones you don't. To put a soft warm blanket around your shoulders and read a good book or get lost in some music. To drink something hot and chocolatey from a Christmas mug. To stand outside in the cold crisp air and just marvel at the night sky. To give someone a gift that makes them smile - or one that makes them cry in a good way. I hope you find some time to stand still and silent in front of your life, and to contemplate the magic of it - before we turn the page to a new year and start this crazy trip all over again.

MERRY CHRISTMAS, KNUCKLEHEADS!

Thursday, December 23, 2021