Oi! To The World: Dixie's Christmas Playlist (Part 1)

Dixie

I love Christmas songs. As soon as Advent starts, I start playing Christmas music non-stop on my car radio, iPod, Pandora, WHATEVER. I love it. Except for the stupid boy band Christmas songs, humbug to them. This Christmas, I give you my boy band-free playlist. No matter what your taste, I have a song for you.

Little Drummer Boy (Peace On Earth) - David Bowie and Bing Crosby

The David Bowie song appears at the top of my list because of course it does. But besides my bias towards anything Bowie, this is a beautiful song. In light of recent events in America, wanting peace for this generation and the next is something we can all ask the Three Wisemen to bring us for Christmas. 

O Holy Night - The Mormon Tabernacle Choir with soloist JoAnn Ottley
O Holy Night is hands-down my favorite Christmas song and this version tops all other versions. It's not even possible to talk or do anything else when you hear this song. You will find yourself stopping whatever it is you're doing and just listening. Ottley's solo is amazing. A-friggin-mazing. AMAZING. Her voice soars up into the highest registers and threatens to shake your speakers apart. It's a little tough to find online so here is the link to listen. 

Christmas in Killearny - Bing Crosby

This song is so cheery and peppy and Christmasy, I want to put on my kilt and dance an Irish jig while drinking egg nog. If you don't like Bing Crosby Christmas songs, then I just can't with you. I'm sorry, but I am unable to can.

Blue Christmas - Elvis

Oh, Elvis. I'm glad you never enunciated your songs. No one mumbles and jives their way through as Christmas song as well as you did. 

Silent Night  - The Dickies

The whole concept of this version amuses me. Silent Night...sung by a loud punk band. Glorious! (Also, how would you like to have this in your neighborhood? I'd be amused for, like, three nights.)

Oi! To The World - No Doubt

What I love most about this song is the surprisingly heartfelt and, I think, true sentiment in the middle of a ska beat - "If God came down on Christmas day, I know exactly what He'd say. He'd say "Oi!" to the punks and "Oi!" to the skins but "Oi!" to the world and everybody wins." Amen to that.

Stay tuned for Part 2!

It's The End of The World As We Know It And I Feel, Well, Pretty Indifferent Actually

Park                                                                                  

Well according to a bunch of weirdo nuts, this is our last day on earth.  We better really enjoy it, because apocalypse crazies have never been wrong before, right?

Well, what better way to go out then with LINKS? Ha! Trick question.  There is no better way to go out.

Here's some tips to deal with the upcoming end of days.  Or more accurately a bunch of reasons why you aren't going to deal and instead will, like, blow up or something (Pleated Jeans)

You know when there's an emergency and 9 months later there's a bunch of babies.  Well what if there were some kind of nerd emergency?  Like not enough Vulcan ears for the premiere of the new Star Trek movie or something?  Well it would probably be something like this: literary nerdiness meets crafty nerdiness and they have a bunch of cool paper sculpture babies. (io9)

Martha Would NOT Approve: Weird Holiday Decor

MelBivDevoe

I love elaborate holiday decor as much as the next person.  But sometimes, driven the desire to impress, people go a little overboard.  I'm not talking about excesses of Griswold proportions.  I'm talking about the ones who stray from the usual decor and end up with the weird stuff.  Like the deer hanging from the tree over there.  Such festive blood!

I scoured the internet for some of the strangest holiday decor out there.  These decorations are all a little odd, and unfortunately, they're all available right now via the links I've provided.  If, you know, you're into that kind of thing.

The 5 Best "Other" Christmas Movies

MelBivDevoe

I love Christmas movies. A Christmas Story, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Elf and so on and so forth - all favorites of mine this time of year.  However, there comes a time when you just can't watch them again - usually around the 30th time TBS or TNT is airing them - without wishing you could shoot your eye out.  You're still in the mood for something festive, but you want something different.  

Well, fear not - I'm here to recommend the best of the other Christmas movies for you!  These are the ones that might not make the typical top ten lists, but they're Christmas films all the same.  Just pick one of the suggestions below, pour another glass of egg nog, and let the holiday cheer wash over you.  Before you know it, you'll be having the best Christmas since Bing Crosby tap-danced with Danny Kaye!

Are You Making Your Lists and Checking Them Twice?

MelBivDevoe

Is There a S.P.E.W. for North Pole Elves?

Today marks exactly two weeks until Christmas Eve!  Are you surviving the crowds and whittling down that list?  Here's an idea for your Lego-lovin', Whedon-worshipping friends.  (io9)

If you're trying to find the perfect presents for your foodie friends, Food & Wine has you covered.  Love the mason jar shaker!  (Food & Wine)

Meanwhile, Barbra Streisand is considering gifting the world with her plans to cast Lady Gaga in her  upcoming film production of "Gypsy."  I just want to know if Babs is going to play mama Rose.  That'd be a hell of a double bill!  (AV Club)  (h/t Case)

See you in Hell, November!

                            Park                                                             

I don’t know about you but I am over November. OVER IT.  Gray skies, short days, people making boring small talk about how it's almost winter and how they have to put snow tires on the car and blah, blah, blah. Seriously, why does no one ever get inspired by crappy weather to talk about the super powers they would have if they could or which Doctor Who is the best? (the most recent, duh! well unless the toad in a child's toy from the picture to the left is cast) Even listening to Drake on repeat isn't helping (What? I'm from Toronto.  It's pretty much the law). 

Well it looks like I’m not the only one who's over November.  The animal world is totally on my side (Buzzfeed)

Hot Links: Holiday Hangover Edition

Kolby

Afternoon, Ladies and Gents.  I hope everyone had a lovely and stress-free Christmas. Here are your bright and shiny Monday links.  Feel free to exchange them.

It's Giftcard Exchange Day!  Here's everything you need to know about this most glorious of holidays.  (BlogHer)

Here we have the 10 Most Hated Movies of 2011 - according to the staff at Wired.  (Wired)

You really could shoot your eye out with the guns featured in these retro Christmas ads.  Yikes.  (BoingBoing)

Figgy is Wrong: Christmas Edition

MelodyLane

Figgy compiled her list of the ten worst Christmas Songs of all Time. I think she's wrong about one of those songs ("Last Christmas" is a delight of schmaltzy cheese and bad 80's fashion) and has one of those songs ranked far lower than it should be (WHY did you have to write "Wonderful Christmastime" Paul???? WHYYYY?). She's also missing a few songs that I feel are chief auditory offenders during the Christmas season. Here are my additions.

Hot Links: Only Three Days Left Until That Big Family Screamfest You've Been Planning All Year.

Kolby

So, um, Adam Lambert got picked up by the po-po for beating up his boyfriend.  In Finland. Also, I have to thank dlisted for giving Adam Lambert the amazing new nickname of Glamberace.  It's beyond perfect.  (dlisted)

North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Il died on a train last Saturday.  Or did he?  Dun dun dun.  (Gawker)

I couldn't help but smile at this adorable letter to Santa Claus, written in 1911 and found decades later in a Dublin chimney.  (BoingBoing)

I may not be having casual sex right now.  Or ever.  But for those of you who are, here's Awkwardette's Ill-Advised Guide to Getting It On: Intuitive Sexing to hold your hand as you venture down that (dirty, dirty) path.  (Persephone Magazine)

Hot Links: Is That A Blaster in Your Pocket, Or...You Know

Kolby

If you have someone in your life who's just starting out, or maybe is just starting out in the kitchen, here are some great gift ideas for the beginning cooks out there.  (The New York Times)


Thinking of heading to the theater to see Tintin, but aren't quite familiar with the character's history?   Here's a bit of reading you might be interested in.  (Neatorama)

These digital portraits, in which the model appears "shredded," are delightfully creepy.  Or maybe just creepy.  You decide.  (Flavorwire)

Have you got a little Dr. Who fan with a birthday coming up?  Here's everything you need to throw a Who-themed birthday party, complete with a Dalek smash cake.  (Craftzine)

I always knew the old girl had skills - here's Kim Jon-Il dropping the bass with a few famous DJs.  (KimJonIlDroppingTheBass)

Hot Links: Merry Khristmas!

Kolby

Behold, the 2011 Kardashian Kristmas Kard.  Who thought it was a good idea to dress Lamar in skinny pants?  (Celebitchy)

Hot Links: Brad Pitt Knows What He's Wearing on New Year's Eve. Do You?

Kolby

Brad Pitt spent his 48th birthday in Las Vegas with his family. I can't even begin to wrap my head around Brad Pitt being 48 years old, so I'm just going to stop trying. (Celebitchy)

In this week's edition of their YouTube Cover Song Contest, Mashable has pitted ten covers of Gavin DeGraw's "Not Over You" against each other.  Which one do you like best (if listening to that song ten times over doesn't drive you too mad to make a choice)?  (Mashable)

Thinking of picking up a new Android phone (what, the iPhone isn't GOOD ENOUGH for you?), but not sure of which one to snatch?  Here's a list of the 5 Best Android Phones of 2011.  (Geeknaut)

Oooh, here's a lovely collection of Steampunk Disney Characters.  My favorite is Ursula.  (The Mary Sue)

Hot Links: Totally Inappropriate.

Kolby

High school. Incest. Prank. These are three words I never again want to see near each other. EVER. (Gawker)

I updated my Facebook profile to the new Timeline, and my eyes may never recover.  Don't think it won't happen to you, too, when everyone's profile will automatically update to the new version on the 22nd.  If you'd like to stay (slightly) ahead of the game, update now.  Here's how.   (Mashable)

We always think about new, healthier, more productive things that we'd like to do after the New Year, but have we ever thought about the sheer number of things that we should STOP doing in order to improve our lives?  (Mark and Angel Hack Life)

A handful of anonymous donors have brought the meaning of Christmas to life by paying off the layaway balances of struggling strangers.  Have your tissues ready for this one.  (Yahoo Finance)

Hot Links: Let's Drink To Annie's Boobs. And Jeff's Teeny Undies.

Kolby

Put down the antifreeze! Good Magazine has a cocktail that's sure to calm even the most distraught Community fan - the Six Seasons and a Movie. (Good)

TIME Magazine has unveiled their 2011 Person of the Year, and it's "The Protestor." I'm pretty sure they're referencing me with their choice, and that time I staged a sit-in outside the Pearl Street Ben & Jerry's after they ran out of Oatmeal Cookie ice cream. (TIME)

Gawker's put together a list of creepy Christmas carols sure to warm even the Grinchiest of hearts. But, no, seriously, listen at your own risk. And maybe with the lights on. (Gawker)

Metric Jenn Deserves ALL the Gifts.

Metric Jenn

It's mid-November as I write this, and no snow has fallen here in Canada, which is almost unheard of. So when Pinky McLadybits mentioned Christmas, my reaction was along these lines:

And then I realized that the running list in my head of ALL the things that I want to buy could be compiled into the world's most expensive Christmas list. I make no bones about it. I like the finer things, and have no guilt about spending vast quantities of money on myself. Because I'm worth it, dammit. Plus, other people should start recognizing that I'm worth it, too. 

So please peruse this list I've compiled of things that you all should ask for if you have the same taste as I do, because you all are worth it, too. Or feel free to peruse and then laugh hysterically at how some people are willing to spend their hard earned cash.

Hot Links: Chicks with Trumpets. Oh, and Other Links, Too.

Kolby

Is it any wonder that so many people have no idea what to do over at Google +, when not even the fine folks at Google can agree on exactly what it is? (Business Insider)

Got $60,000 stuffed away for a rainy day? Why not spend it on a vacation cruise - to the wreck of the Titanic. Women, children and Billy Zane's toupee first! (The New York Times)

Find out what happened when an adult with multiple college degrees decided to take his state's standardized math and reading tests for 10th graders. (The Washington Post)

Hot Links: The ONE and ONLY time you'll ever see the words "Hanson" and "Orgasm" on the same page.

Kolby

An orgasm has now been imaged in 3D video in the brain as it happens - and for possibly the first time in the history of science, women came first (full disclosure: I didn't write that - Time did, and holy macaroni, it was so kickass I grabbed it). (Time Healthland)

Christmas shopping for someone who owns an iPhone? Odds are the answer is yes, so here's a list of iPhone-friendly gift ideas. (TechCrunch)

Nora's XXXmas Wishlist

Nora

I am a ridiculously easy person to shop for. Seriously. My favorite present is ALWAYS my mom's annual gift of a box of socks and underwear (we thrill easily, my family.) As much as I love socks, though, there are many expensive, unnecessary things I lust after with all my heart and tiny savings account. These are the things that if I were able to splurge on, guilt free, I would consider essential to my everyday happiness:

10 Most Ridiculous Christmas Decorations Ever

Metric Jenn

We've all seen them: Christmas decorations, ornaments, sweaters, odds and bobs that are so ugly, misplaced, or ill-conceived that you just shake your head in amazement, snap a picture on your cellphone, and then laugh hysterically with your friends about them later. Well, I scoured the internet to bring you some of my very favourite ridiculous Christmas decorations; and as an added treat, I included bonus pictures from my time spent in Seoul, South Korea. The land where Christmas and cheesy advertisements collided to create an unholy union between Santa and Jesus, which in turn created candy cane nightmares.

Pinky's Gimme List: What To Buy For The Geek Woman In Your Life

Pinky McLadybits

We thought we would put together lists of gifts we would each love to receive for Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, Ramadan, or whatever you celebrate. I'm sure you know someone like me, or like Metric Jenn, or Figgy, or Lainey, or any of us. And for that reason, we present our individual gift guides. I hope they help you out during your particular holiday season. HERE WE GO!

You know me. I'm a little cheap (but only because my husband has forced me to be), I love Batman, movies, books, and lots of other things. I love expensive things but I so rarely get them unless they are gifts. As such, I ask for expensive gifts. Mostly of the nerd/geek variety.