We're Not All Home for Christmas

The Night of the Meek

There is a fifth dimension, beyond that which is known to man. It is a dimension as vast as space and as timeless as infinity. It is the middle ground between light and shadow, between science and superstition, and it lies between the pit of man's fears and the summit of his knowledge. This is the dimension of imagination. It is an area which we call The Twilight Zone.
      — Rod Serling

The Night of the Meek, the December 23, 1960 episode of The Twilight Zone.

Part One, First of two Parts (14:30)



Part Two, Second of two Parts (10:21)

Christmas Venn Diagrams

This is from "The Santa Brand Guide", a tongue-in-cheek demo project by a British marketing shop — which explains the UK references: Alex Ferguson is coach for Man United; Tommy Cooper was a Welsh magician; The Laughing Policeman was a novel, an American film (Walter Matthau and Bruce Dern), and a UK children's series.

Social Network: Christmas 2.0

How would it go in today's world?



hat tip: Kevin

Christmas Tech Support: the Geek Who Saved Christmas

I really enjoy computers and all the geek devices. I even know the words to the "I Love Technology" song from Napoleon Dynamite. I am inclined by nature to enjoy these machines and tools.

Being a Geek is both a Blessing and a Curse. It's problematic because you're a resource to the non-digerati. Heraclitus said You can't step into the same river twice, and computers are the same way. You can't touch the same computer twice; the second time you approach it, you're working on the computer you broke last time, whether or not you actually broke it.



I love Christmas. I love the holiday spirit. I love the way that Christmas is a PowerPoint-free-zone. I love the way that work and schedules recede and family moves more to the forefront. I love giving a gift and watching for the "wow" factor in the recipient.

Christmas gifts sometimes include computers and printers and wifi a/b/g/n (oh my). A parent can spend a lot of money on Junior's computer and the immediate payback for the parent may be clarification of their ineptitude. What other consumer product presents buyers with such a frustrating experience while their family waits to play Doom Black Ops?

My personal expertise is just PCs. It's a narrow niche that's becoming smaller. I don't know an X-Box from a PlayStation. I wouldn't be of any use with a motion-sensing Kinect. But I grok PCs.

It's cool to be able to offer friends and family Christmas tech support. It's sort of a chance to be a hero; you can be The Geek That Saved Christmas. In the spirit of giving, I'd like to share the Geek Secrets of Christmas Tech Support. Here's the short version:

• First do no harm.
  (Don't break anything else while you're trying to fix the initial gremlin.)
• Turn it off, turn off the power, leave the room.
• come back, turn on the power, turn it on.

If you'd prefer a more detailed version, XKCD offers this process flow-chart:



I would offer one ironclad rule that I would ask you to accept at face value: if you're visiting somebody that's having a PC problem over the holidays, never never ever say, "Wouldn't have this issue with a Mac". Trust me on this.

Finally, I'd like to suggest this link to http://www.teachparentstech.org/, which is a Google project designed to send computer instructions to the non-geeks in your family. Ho Ho Ho.

Christmas Light Guitar Hero

If you're a person of a certain age you may need a youngster to provide the full context on this: there's a cohort of people who like to play a video game named Guitar Hero .

In a different category, there's people who are into sophisticated Christmas light displays that are synchronized with music. Usually they transmit the music on an FM signal so the neighbors don't get rocked out.

And then there are people who do both: hack Guitar Hero into their Christmas lights, play the game in conjunction with the lights, and transmit the output via FM.



Again, talented people astound me.

Christmas in Four Months

This one's just a head's up on an impending event, sure to crowd downtown, focus our attention, and have a significant economic impact: Four Months until Christmas!

In Belfast, Ireland, they're putting up Christmas lights early in the Rochdale section.

Near Edinburg, Scotland, a tavern called the Laird & Dog Inn in Lasswade, Midlothian, has got their Christmas tree up. Ever the pragmatist, the manager said the tree was a reminder for patrons to book their holiday party early.

In London, England, posh department stores Harrod's and Selfridge's have opened their Christmas departments four months early.

I'm just saying. Think we're ready?

Theft of the Magi

Holidays Christmas in the New Millenium:


XKCD is a Geek comic strip, there's a Wiki entry explaining it here. Fair warning: the content is not always safe for young children.

God Rest Ye, Merry Consumer

Something to Consider at Christmas.

There are, in fact, real people up on a wall, far from home, for our sake.

Credit: UserFriendly.org