Friday, December 25, 2015

But Once A Year....


Christmas comes but once a year
So you'd better make hay while the spirit lingers
It's slipping through your fingers, boy
Don't you realize?
Christmas can be such a monetary joy....

Stan Freberg

Ah, yes! "The most wonderful time of the year" according to the late Andy Williams anyway. To be honest with you, this Christmas jazz has me more perplexed (and at times more thoroughly disgusted) with the passing of each year. It isn't you, dear and gentle reader, it's the whole consumer culture thing. Stan Freberg passed away on April 7 of this year - an indisputable legend of comedy. He was right on the mark when he recorded Green Christmas in  1958. God rest his lovely and zany soul.

I guess I'm just not in the spirit this year. My mom passed away two weeks ago tomorrow which might have something to do with it; but last year was just as bad - and the year before that was the worst Christmas of my life. Maybe one of these years I'll get with the whole Christmas program. I'm working on it.
This is just to hope and pray that you don't use this insufferable curmudgeon as an example and that you all have a grand holiday and new year. There really is so much to be thankful for that I have no right to complain about anything. My only request would be that if you know any people who might be spending this Christmas alone, stop by and see them if you're able to. Be safe, healthy - AND FOR PETE'S SAKE, GO EASY ON THE FREAKIN' FIGGY PUDDING, OKAY?
In the meantime, instead of cursing the darkness I just might light a candle or two tonight. What the heck....

Happy Christmas everyone!

Tom Degan
Goshen, NY

SUGGESTED LISTENING

Green Chri$tma$
by Stan Freberg

There'll never be another Stan. Stop waiting.

57 Comments:

At 10:14 AM, Blogger Unknown said...

Happy Christmas to you Tom as well.

 
At 10:35 AM, Blogger Tom Degan said...

Thank you, Chuck. And a happy one to you as well!

 
At 11:56 AM, Blogger Dave Dubya said...

Loss of family or friends is never easy. It seems to cast an even darker cloud this time of year. I lost a good friend two weeks ago. He died unexpectedly. It was extra sad because he was uninsured and had just signed up for Obamacare.

How many more have died for lack of health coverage? This American tragedy must end.

We know their love doesn't die. It is part of us. One thing we can hold to our hearts is their wishes for us to carry on and be happy as possible.

May the blessings of love, life and joy find you and comfort you.

 
At 1:17 PM, Blogger Tom Degan said...

Nicely said, Dave.

 
At 1:42 PM, Blogger Tom Degan said...

Oh, my goodness. Happy Christmas!

 
At 1:42 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anonymous 1:18 PM, if you want to shut out the idiots and assholes of the world, why do you torture yourself with this blog? You could always watch football, or a comedy, or play video games.

Merry Christmas to Tom and his commenters, and to one special commenter's multiple aliases...

 
At 1:45 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

"Life is a narrow vale between the cold and barren peaks of two eternities. We strive in vain to look beyond the heights. We cry aloud, and the only answer is the echo of our wailing cry. From the voiceless lips of the unreplying dead there comes no word; but in the night of death hope sees a star, and listening love can hear the rustle of a wing."

- Col Robert G Ingersoll (1833-1899) remarks on the death of his brother.

http://www.bartleby.com/268/10/9.html

 
At 1:59 PM, Anonymous James Hansen said...

On a positive note Tom you have had your mother around for a very long time, I went through this over 40 years ago. Hopefully this will spur you on to live life to the fullest because it is a reminder of our own mortality. James

 
At 2:24 PM, Anonymous James Hansen said...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Is0hXP5Vr08&list=RDIs0hXP5Vr08

A great video that I hope everybody can enjoy.

 
At 6:07 PM, Blogger Rain Trueax said...

Sorry for your loss. I think this is the season that makes a person most aware of what has been and is no longer. I don't know a good way to celebrate it but will be thinking of that for next year.

 
At 8:49 PM, Blogger Unknown said...

just another fan...saying four one five five nine two five Happy Christmas 24/7

 
At 9:25 PM, Blogger Tom Degan said...

Happy Christmas to you as well! Zip code?

 
At 10:20 PM, Blogger Unknown said...

" Weeping may endureth for a night, but joy cometh in the morning." May morning come for you soon,Tom.

 
At 11:10 AM, Blogger Unknown said...

so many fans you get us confused with zipcodes!? bah!!!

 
At 1:54 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

You don't get it Tom, not surprising coming from a typical Liberal who claims to know best about what people should do, or be, then force it on all. That's dictatorship.

 
At 2:26 PM, Blogger Dave Dubya said...

who claims to know best about what people should do, or be, then force it on all. That's dictatorship.

Right, unless it's cons who turn away refugees and asylum seekers.

Right, unless it's cons who tell you weed is worse than heroin and fire users from jobs and send people to jail for a harmless substance that is non-toxic and less dangerous than aspirin.

Right. Unless its when cons dictate that women must bear the child of their rapist. That's "values", amirite?

Idiots and hypocrites who don't get it. Project much?

 
At 5:44 PM, Blogger Brick1101 said...

My condolences to you Tom in your time of need. Perhaps one the most profound things I have ever read was recorded in an interview in the book "Let Us Build Us A City" written by Donald Harington. Susie Rodgers of Y City, Arkansas ended her conversation with the simple words, "I want to believe that years later on you'll still think about me."

In the grand scheme of things that is the best we can hope for, to be remembered when we are gone. Susie was born in 1909. The copyright of that book is 1986, which would have made her 75 years old when the book was published. Susie's memory still lives on. I know her simple words have affected in how I look at life.

Remember your mother, write about her, and tell stories to your family so her memory will live on.

 
At 1:15 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Christmas peace and love?? Christians have been pushing that crap for centuries, yet they keep killing and violence as the main character in their societies. I agree with anon, keep it to yourselves and maybe the world would be a better place.

 
At 4:32 PM, Blogger Mozart1220 said...

Happy Holidays all.

 
At 10:28 PM, Blogger Unknown said...

Well Tom, the Christmas spirit lasted almost 24 hours. Nice try.
Have a Happy new year'!

 
At 7:17 AM, Blogger Mozart1220 said...

What "Christmas spirit" Chucky? The people clawing and fighting for the last playstation or the redneck "Christians" that burned down a mosque on Christmas day?

 
At 8:16 AM, Anonymous James Hansen said...

Tom,

Next year could you say Merry Xmas or Happy Festivus instead to be PC for soulless atheists like Mozart?

 
At 8:52 AM, Anonymous Jefferson's Accordian said...

I've been such a fool, Dave Dubya.

Man will always be a man. There is no new man.

We tried so hard to create a society that was equal, where there'd be nothing to envy your neighbor.

But there's always something to envy. A smile, a friendship, something you don't have and want to appropriate.

In this world, even a leaning forward progressive one, there will always be rich and poor. Rich in gifts, poor in gifts. Rich in love, poor in love.

 
At 10:45 AM, Blogger Dave Dubya said...

Chuckie plagiarizes a movie script after hiding behind a fake names.

Honesty. Class. Brains. Amirite?

I've been such a fool, Dave Dubya.

At least he got the first sentence right.

 
At 11:32 AM, Blogger Dave Dubya said...

Mozart nailed it with the Radical Right Republican terrorists "Christmas spirit". Burning mosques is just more of their terrorism.

But unlike "soulless atheists" at least they have "souls", amirite?

I wonder what copy and paste plagiarism he will use to distract from his cult of hate?

 
At 4:24 PM, Blogger Unknown said...

Mozart,

You are the gift that just keeps on giving.

LOL

 
At 5:36 PM, Blogger Mozart1220 said...

James, Maybe you should study some history before being a dick.

http://www.whychristmas.com/customs/christmas_or_xmas.shtml

And Chuckie, I noticed you had no facts to refute what I said. AS USUAL.

 
At 5:59 PM, Anonymous James Hansen said...

Mozart, I hardly post here anymore and you should know by now that if a post has my name on it and it is written as if by a moron then Sore Loser is the author.

 
At 6:52 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Sore Loser? You mean the one who volunteers at the USO? Six hours, just like Chuck Morre?

Someone should introduce them if they've never met.

 
At 7:07 PM, Blogger Unknown said...

My facts like wishing Tom a Merry Christmas?

You are a laugh a minute, Mozart, when's your next show on Comedy Central

Get grip, oh great dull pencil of the internet.

 
At 10:20 PM, Blogger Mozart1220 said...

Just answering the post.

Tom, you REALLY need to ban the IP address of the Boy troll.

And Chuckie, I noticed you provided no facts to refute what I said. But you DID quote the Boy Troll. Maybe another tactic for you if you want credibility.

Your heores are burning mosques on Christmas day, and shooting innocent people in women's clinics in the name of "Jeebus"

Defend that.

 
At 11:57 PM, Blogger Unknown said...

My "heores"?

LOL, Mozart you're killing me. LOTFLMAO Who does your writing?

Surely you not getting this material from one of the 6 newspapers you try to read each day, that I notice you have never given us their names.

LOL

Here's to you Mozart, wishing you a Happy and Prosperous New Year, try to lighten up once in a while.

 
At 12:40 AM, Blogger Mozart1220 said...

Hey CHuckie, if you want to avoid the subject by obsessing on typos that's YOUR problem. I noticed you avoided answering about YOUR HEROES burning mosques on Christmas day and shooting innocent people in womens clinics.

But that's typical of you isn't it?

 
At 10:08 AM, Blogger Unknown said...

Hey Mozart, you are a laugh a minute.

It's typical of you

Bwahahahaa

 
At 1:41 PM, Blogger Mozart1220 said...

Hey Chuckie? WHat about your heroes burning mosques on Christmas? What about them killing innocent people in the name of Jeebus in womens clinics?

So much for "pro LIFE" eh?

You want to have an adult discussion now, or are you just going to do your "boy troll" act again? ?

 
At 3:45 PM, Blogger Unknown said...

Adult discussion? With you Mozart, you have got to be joking!!

Isn't about time you start calling me names and swearing at me, so very adult like of you.

LOL

Happy New Year to all!

 
At 5:07 PM, Blogger Mozart1220 said...

So Chuckie, I assume by your response that you agree that conservatives are hypocritical ASSHOLES that, when confronted with facts, refuse to admit they are wrong.

If you want to be treated like an adult, act like one.

Until then, you are just an asshole. Not MY rules.

 
At 5:10 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Mozart, why do you insist on wrestling with a pig? SoreLoser/Chuck/Six-Hour USO squeals with delight every time you engage with him. It's why he's here. He loves the attention.

 
At 6:06 PM, Blogger Unknown said...

Mozart, you are the gift that just keeps on giving.

As I predicted, you start with he swearing and name calling

Happy New Year to you Mozart!!

 
At 9:06 PM, Blogger Mozart1220 said...

Yes, and I enjoy making a fool out of ol Chuckie /boy troll.

Of course that doesn't take much effort, he does 99% of the work himself.

 
At 9:12 PM, Anonymous James Hansen said...

Here's to 2016 hopefully without sore loser posting any more on the Rant. Would't that be nice?

 
At 11:43 PM, Blogger Unknown said...

I wish both James and Mozart the best 2016 possible
May all their endeavors in life reach total success.
May they be happy in their employment.
May they or any of their loved ones darken the door of a Dr.

Have a good one!

 
At 8:42 AM, Blogger Mozart1220 said...

"I wish both James and Mozart the best 2016 possible
May all their endeavors in life reach total success."


So that means Chuckie/boy troll is going to give up and stop posting?

 
At 3:37 PM, Blogger Mozart1220 said...

I see Bill COsby being charged is the biggest news story today. This speaks to the nature of Americans. Astory that no one but those involved should care about, becomes bigger than wars, bigger than terrorism, bigger than the real crimes being committed against Americans by big oil, big pharma, and the teabaggers trying to take the country down.

I think MAYBE one or two of these women have a legitimate gripe. The rest are looking for a payday and theor 15 minutes.

WHY would Cosby, in his prime, have had to drug women to get them into bed?
WHY did they wait 40 years to come forward?

Not saying he's innocent, but something about this just doesn't smell right.

 
At 5:40 PM, Anonymous James Hansen said...

I believe almost all the women are telling the truth because it is unheard of to have 40 women over decades of time all tell the same story of being raped by the same man. He has paid hush money to several women in the past and admitted to sexual offenses years ago. He even had a stand up routine about drug rape.

Many of the women are highly successful and wealthy, they have no need of a payday or added fame. When women claim they were raped they are interrogated about their sexual experiences, type of clothing worn, did they fight back hard enough, did they lead him on and so forth. Not something to do casually because of all the back lash involved.

Considering the over whelming evidence against Cosby, it is attitudes like yours Mozart that stopped the women from coming forward sooner.

Cosby obviously has a strong sexual fetish where he prefers having sex with unconscious women and drugging them satisfies him more than actively conscious women.

 
At 6:12 PM, Anonymous James Hansen said...

Mozart,

I also believe all the women are telling the truth about what a sexual predator Bill Clinton was.

Hillary, like Tammy, stood by her man and blamed the "vast right wing conspiracy" which was a lot of hot air and steamy bullshit to try to hide Bills sickness. None of Bill's sexual predator stories were true until - OOPS - the blue stained dress showed up and Paula Jones identified birth marks on Bill's little wiener after Bill dropped his pants while demanding a sexual favor!

Hillary did her best with hiring the best private investigators to dig up dirt on all of Bills sexual harassment accusers and attempting to destroy their lives if they came forward. LOL on the "War On Women"!

God bless you Mozart and Happy New Year!

 
At 6:15 PM, Anonymous James Hansen said...

The 6:12 post is from our resident pedophile Chuck.

 
At 6:38 PM, Blogger Dave Dubya said...

LOL on the "War On Women"!

Con-servative "compassion" again.


Here’s your war on women:

How pro-life is it to force a woman to bear the offspring of her rapist? Does her life count when a shattered emotional state and the pain of a forced birth are imposed upon her to remind her of the trauma of rape? What hope would a developed child have to be normal, knowing he is the unwanted, government-mandated product of violent rape of his mother?

Should a woman be forced to bear to term, and give birth to a fetus that has no brain, or other severe deformity that would make life a terrible choice for both the fetus and mother?

Are you aware of the arrest, humiliation and imprisonment of women who suffer a miscarriage in El Salvador where the same policy that Republicans Rubio and Cruz embrace is in place?

They are being charged with murder. Is this what you mean by "truly pro-life"? It is in fact anti-choice, anti-freedom and anti-equality.

Be thankful you will never suffer such inequality of rights as the loss of control of who you are, and who you choose to be.

Some things are best left between a woman, a doctor, and her God. You and I, and the Republican Party and the government are not, and should not be, in this relationship.

And you whine about the government coming between you and your doctor? Please.

How much of that hated government control over your life is anything near being forced by the government to bear the child of your rapist? Be honest. When anti-choicers whine about being "oppressed" by Obamacare, or "Socialism" or anything else, they are hypocrites wishing to impose their beliefs and choices unto others.

That last question will never be answered honestly, for they have no honest answer.


Meanwhile:

Acceptable (“not racist” comments from “Good Americans”) From FOX online:
"Report: Obama's NSA Spied on Netanyahu, Members of Congress During Iran Nuclear Deal Negotiations."

Voletron:
I would love to see Barry get shot with M79 and just loose his legs. He can crawl like the worm he is….I would love to see a M107mm explosive round vaporize Barry… I would love to see a 308 split Barry’s skull.
==
Uscgret2005:
Obama would make a great live fire target…Q-What do you call Obama hanging from a tall tree? A- Dope on a rope…Obama needs to catch a bullet in his face, the sooner the better…Obama would sure look great, freshly embalmed laid out in a pine box and six feet under next to his son Trayvon.
==
Oathkeeper10:
Where’s Lee Harvey when you really need him?
==
Gee what would the Right say if Democratic legislators had teamed up with a foreign leader to undermine Bush and Cheney’s international agreements?

Never mind that Bibi spies on the US. IOKIYAR, or if you are their “President Netanyahu”, amirite?

The American Right is a cult of hate, and racist to their core.

 
At 7:49 PM, Anonymous James Hansen said...

Dave, I was on a right wing site last year where to topic of discussion was "how to round up the Liberals and get rid of them" Pedo chuckie would have loved to been part of that!

 
At 12:04 AM, Blogger Mozart1220 said...

James, Most of these women had never said A WORD until the first couple of them came out, and Bill Clinton is only a "sexual predator" on Fox Entertainment and AM radio.

If Bill Clinton is a "sexual predator" so are 99% of all males, including Gingrick and Starr, who were having affairs WHILE persecuting the POTUS for his (which nearly ALL Presidents have had)

And isn't it intersting that Lowinski kept that "stained dress" in her closet for over a year until someone she knew "exposed" the affair?

Come on man.

 
At 12:04 AM, Blogger Mozart1220 said...

Sorry..I meant to say Chucky. Sorry James.

 
At 8:48 AM, Anonymous Just The Facts said...

Dave,

Hillary attacked all the women who came forward with stories of being sexual harassed by her sick husband Bill. How did her actions help these women who were telling the truth?

Your feeble attempt at deflecting the subject is truly sad.

It is not surprising that your foaming at the mouth pretzel logic response somehow included racism.

 
At 11:40 AM, Blogger Dave Dubya said...

Chuckie will lie about, or ignore, the identical sexual behavior from Republicans. After all we know the rule, don't we? IOKIYAR

Just the James Chuckie wrote: LOL on the "War On Women"! This was clearly part of HIS message.

When challenged, he ducks like the Chicken Chuckie he truly is. Was I deflecting? No. He is a liar obviously.

And he showed us that right wing cowards are hypocrites and unable to answer my simple question.

Once again he totally proves my point.

Thanks.

Happy New Year to Chuckie and all his imaginary friends. (They make medicine for this mental condition. The far Right just prefers madness, anger, hate, and delusion)

 
At 12:37 PM, Anonymous Smokey Legumski said...

I think the worst thing about Clinton was that he abused those women and then hired private detectives to make their lives miserable. Threatening them, IRS audits, etc. Truly disgusting disgusting behavior, which was aided and abetted by Hillary.

But the progs chug their Jim Jones Koolaid and say "Hail the Clintons, champions of women!"

 
At 12:45 PM, Blogger Dave Dubya said...

Smokey Chuckie is Right, far Right.

Republicans who want to force women to bear the child of their rapists are the true "champions of women", amirite?

Say, wasn't Newt having an affair and cheating on his what, third or fourth wife, (marriage values) at the time of Monica-gate?

Yes, but IOKIYAR.

 
At 2:48 PM, Blogger Mozart1220 said...

Smokie/Chuckie/Boy troll seems to forget that all the rubes sent by the GOP to claim "harrassment" were debunked. The GOP knewe Clinton did "stray" from time to time (Like most of them were doing as well)so they tried to set him up.

Lowinski made quite a bit of money from them over the years.

 
At 6:28 PM, Blogger Unknown said...

Pretty amazing, my last post was 8:42 wish a happy blessed new year for those who hate me so strongly.

Yet I get credit for all the posts since then that cause those haters to question their beliefs, like Bill Clinton wasn't a sexual predatory

As Davy says, living in a bubble world is grand! Right Mozart?

 

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