It would be better, thought, if Hong Kong and New Zealand (where I spent the last two Christmases) could claim their own kind of Christmas, but they have transplanted the Winter Christmas to a summer climate.  And it’s jarring to see shop fronts decorated with snow tinsel, and windows floating with snowflakes, and icicle lights hanging from roofs.  It doesn’t work here; no wonder they don’t buy into it.

But wouldn’t it be amazing if they didn’t have to, or choose to, adopt the Northern Hemisphere Christmas, and evolved their own customs?  Where Christmas is wholly associated with a family outing to the beach, or decorating the porch with pohutukawa blossoms instead of holly?

Do you know of any warm places that have successively created their own Christmas?

- Jean AAR

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I haven’t done much reading over the last week because I’ve discovered a new addiction: Supernatural. The show is now in its fifth season, but I’ve just never gotten around to watching it. Since I’ve been hearing good things I borrowed Season 1 on DVD from my sister. Last week I finally got around to checking it out — and was immediately hooked. I think I probably stayed up late every night last week, and watched all 22 episodes of the first season in about 5 days. Yeah, it’s that good. I’m on the waiting lists for Seasons Two through Four at the library, but I don’t know if I can last that long without a Sam and Dean fix. Is anybody else watching this show? Anybody else addicted like I am? If you’re not addicted to this show, what show are you addicted to?

-Katie Mack

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It is my untested and unscientific observation that Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” is the most covered song I’ve ever heard. It’s also one of my favorites. It’s interesting to listen to, and compare, different versions. As much as I love Regina Spektor, her version disappointed me. Rufus Wainwright’s is undeniably fabulous, and Brandi Carlile’s voice adds a unique take on it.

I recently stumbled across a new version I hadn’t heard before, in the video above. I wasn’t familiar with Kate Voegele before this song, but I think it’s made a fan out of me.

What’s your favorite rendition of “Hallelujah?”

Click here to view the embedded video.

I love spooky movies, especially old black and white films from the 1950s or earlier. Now I’m not talking about slasher films; those just aren’t for me. But give me a good old Vincent Price or Borlis Karloff flick and I’m a happy camper. I know they’re corny, but they just make me smile. And they’re so unrealistic, that they don’t make me lose any sleep.

However, for some reason, on Halloween, nothing seems quite as spooky and scary to me as Macbeth. I’ve seen the play in person several times, but love watching clips from various versions on YouTube. This clip from the Orson Welles version is one of my favorites. (I know I’ve posted this earlier at our previous site, but this just says Halloween to me.)

How about you? Do you like scary movies? If so, what are some of your favorites?

LinnieGayl

But times have changed.  And now we use whiteboards instead of blackboards. And no one has a handy little wire gadget that holds whiteboard markers instead of chalk.  Which means I have to draw them by hand because metre sticks have gone out. And it’s messy. Which offends my sensibilities.

Of course, if I had unlimited budget and a very short wishlist for next year I could look like that lady at the top and buy one of those boards that have permanent staves, except bigger.  But I don’t have unlimited budget and my priority wishlist is looooooooong and my classroom is small and that’s just not in the cards.

They need to bring those wire thingies back.  Sometimes, simple was it.

What would you bring back if you could?

- Jean AAR

We’ve all seen the signs and heard the announcements. Washing your hands is one of the best ways to avoid contacting, or passing along, all kinds of illnesses.

Many of us carry hand sanitizers at all times, ready to pull out at the first sign of germs or dirt. Hand sanitizers are also popping up in unexpected places. In recent days, I’ve seen them at the reception desk in a hotel, in a hotel’s bar, in a coffee shop next to the cash register, and next to the cash register at my local grocery store.

I work around a lot of people, many of whom seem to be coughing and sneezing on a regular basis. A couple months ago, I decided to ramp up my hand washing. I was quite pleased with my efforts to try and avoid disease, until I encountered a side-effect of frequent hand washing.

At first, my hands started itching, just a bit. Then, I noticed a few red spots  on the sides of my hands. I thought it was an allergic reaction of some kind, and started popping allergy medications. It didn’t help. In fact, the itching and redness started spreading.

Finally, I went to my dermatologist, who told me that it wasn’t an allergic reaction, it was the result of too frequent hand washing. I had a serious case of dry hands.  She commented that she was seeing a lot of similar problems this fall.  And what are you supposed to do to avoid this problem? Don’t wash your hands so frequently. Talk about mixed messages.

I’ve settled on a compromise that so far is working. I’m washing my hands just as much, but am using intensive efforts to avoid extreme dryness. I’ve purchased some really gloppy, greasy hand ointments, slather them on my hands a couple times a day, and then put on gloves. At other times, the minute I wash my hands, I use shea butter lotion to fight dry hands.

Are you washing your hands more than usual? Have you experienced any side effects?

LinnieGayl

Wait. Don’t freak out. I’m not racist.

Stuff White People Like is the absolutely brilliant, hilarious, and politically incorrect blog and book created by Christian Lander. The 128-item list of Stuff White People Like includes Sushi, Facebook, Political Prisoners, Whole Foods and Grocery Co-ops, Making You Feel Bad About Not Going Outside, Public Radio, and Black Music that Black People Don’t Listen To Anymore. (Of course to be more accurate, replace “white people” with “the elitist young hipster liberal upper-middle class.”) If you are a bit sensitive to this kind of thing, then skip this link and forget I even mentioned it. Of course it’s all based on stereotypes. It’s a little bit offensive. It requires an ironic eye to get through an entry without being horrified. But if you get past that, it’s possibly among the funniest things I’ve ever read.

From #127, Where the Wild Things Are: “It is a guarantee that whenever it is announced that a popular book is being turned into a movie, white people will get upset. This is partly due to their fear that something they love will be made accessible to more people and thus enjoyed by more people which immediately decreases the amount of joy a white person can feel towards the original property. Yes, it’s complicated.”

From #80, The Idea of Soccer: :Most white people choose a favorite soccer team based on either a study abroad experience or a particularly long vacation to Europe or South America. When they return, they like to tell their friends about how great “football” is and that they are committed to ‘getting more into’ now that they have returned home. Some white people take this charade so far as to actually play in adult soccer leagues or attend a local professional match.”

From #2, Religions that their parents didn’t belong to: “White people will often say they are “spiritual” but not religious. Which usually means that they will believe any religion that doesn’t involve Jesus.”

Maybe it’s just where I’m from, and the fact that I go to a somewhat pretentious liberal private school, but I couldn’t tell you how many “white people” I know (and not all of them are Caucasian). Read, and enjoy.

The Good

I still find Kate Beckinsale too petulant and her voice too whiny for personal taste, but she’s definitely not as bad as I remembered, and has some good moments; I particularly like the fantasy sequences, which ring true.  I also like Mrs. Elton and Jane Fairfax, whom I find more interesting and well-rounded than their movie counterparts.

The Bad

Frank Churchill, as portrayed here, is nothing less than a dawg.  (Although his hair is better than Ewan McGregor’s.)  As this version stands, my respect for Jane goes way down.  I haven’t read Emma in a long time so I don’t know how he’s portrayed in the book, but this Frank Churchill is a rat.

The Ugly

Disclaimer: I love love love Jeremy Northam.  Any other Mr. Knightley would have to be pretty damn good to even compete.  But I don’t find Mark Strong attractive AT ALL (and that’s a large part of it, right?  I mean, come on), and his acting is too overwrought for my taste.

So all in all, I’ll still stick with the movie.  There is no chance I won’t see the 2009 Emma, but I doubt any version of Emma would receive my whole-hearted approval (because of the titular heroine).  However, Gwyneth Paltrow and Jeremy Northam (sigh) come close.

- Jean AAR

I love the weeks before Halloween. It’s so much fun to see the creative ways people decorate their yards, and all of the scary (but in a nice way) products available for purchase. And of course, I really enjoy seeing the little kids dressed up in their costumes on Halloween night.

But for me, what I love most of all, is that Halloween signals the start of the ready availability of pumpkins, both canned and fresh, in my local stores. Now some (eh, probably most) of you have year-round cravings for chocolate. Me, not so much. But the moment the air starts turning crispy, I develop cravings for everything pumpkin.

A few weeks ago, at my drive-thru Starbucks, I noticed that they once again had pumpkin bread/loaf available. Even though I knew I shouldn’t, I couldn’t resist, and bought a piece (disclosure: I bought both the pumpkin bread and my tea). It was wonderful. However, it was also pricey. Surely, if Starbucks was selling pumpkin bread, pumpkins must once again be for sale in the stores?

Within a few days, my cupboards were stocked with cans of pumpkin puree. I’ve made both pumpkin flan and pumpkin bread — both delicious — and am thinking about making pumpkin bread again this weekend. However, I’ve also started noticing recipes for savory uses for pumpkin. I’ve never tried any of them, but have read recipes using pumpkin in savory soups, chili, and stews.

Have any of you used pumpkin in savory recipes? If so, what are your favorites? And, what are your favorite uses for pumpkin in desserts?

LinnieGayl

I had originally planned to just share this video with you all as a fun TGIF time-waster, but then TIME magazine went and stole my idea. (Okay, not really. They just posted an article on the same subject at the same time.) So now I feel compelled to tell you a little more. According to TIME, Cory is not alone in his toddler-love for the song. Apparently the Single Babies phenomenon is sweeping the YouTube nation. And how can you blame the tykes? That song is totally addictive.

So, for your viewing pleasure, I present baby Cory, dancing his little heart out. Personally, I think his best move is the one at the 39-second mark. Rock on, buddy.

–Katie Mack