Dreaming of a Black and Blue Christmas

Once the tryptophan wears off and the weather begins to turn cold, people's thoughts begin to turn to the joyous yuletide season. Actually people's minds begin turning in October, but that's the doing of over zealous retail stores. With the pressures of trying to create the perfect Norman Rockwell holiday memory the simple message of "peace on Earth and good will to men", is lost in a crimson haze of frustration, greed and frenzied materialism. Not quite the birthday "He Who Sits on the Right" would appreciate, but with all of the blood and money flowing it does explain why the holiday colors are red and green. It is truer to human nature than the sentiments espoused in Hallmark Christmas cards. I love this holiday!

The compulsion to be happy and to make others happy creates enough stress that the seams begin to show during even the most innocuous of activities, such as waiting in line to see Santa (story here). Three mothers got into a shoving match while waiting for the overweight God-substitute to parachute into the Anaheim Town Square on Friday. I guess he had to practice an emergency ejection in case the reindeer were shot down by terrorists. Anyway the tussle continued for thirty seconds without injury. I'm sure the parents then impressed upon the kids the need to be good because Santa was watching...along with the security guards.

Many tempters in the field might find it surprising that the day marking the beginning of our defeat can be an effective tool in creating mass casualties for their side. However there is truly no greater temptation needed other than the human desire to be happy. The Enemy never promised happiness in this life when people joined His side. He promised them eternal life and peace in the NEXT life. He allows pain and suffering to be the forces that sculpt believers into little versions of His son, as they learn not to rely on their own resources, but to trust in Him. But all of that is so much WORK! Instead of responding to the mercy the Enemy showed in sacrificing His son for the sins of all, it's easier to save 20% on all electronic goods. It's easier to buy people things, or cook people things, or to engage in happy fun activities...any-THING to distract a human from thinking about where they are going to go when they die.

Changing how one lives his life is tougher than changing how one spends his money or his time. Happy family memories may not be beneficial for us, but if they take priority over the actual meaning of the holiday then let them drink their nog and sing their songs. In the end WE are the ones who get what we want for Christmas.

Too bad it only comes once a year,

Brackish

If Only He Had Cash for the Laundrymat.

Now no one enjoys doing the laundry. I myself tend to put it off as long as possible, but last week my Mongolian Death Worm had digestive problems so I was liberally dipping into the clorox almost daily. Apparently though the person in my next story couldn't be bothered. He wore the same clothes he wore during a bank robbery for two days even though they were covered with the remains of a DYE PACK! (story here)

I admire his work ethic, pulling off three robberies in one week. But where is the style, the finesse? John Dillinger would have at least changed his shirt after doing a job! Those were the days, robbers wore suits, ties and had clean haircuts. Willie Sutton was an immaculate dresser, when he dressed as himself, that is. Usually he wore disguises when he robbed banks which is how he got the name "Willie the Actor" or "Slick Willie". Some fine class of robbers we have these days. We're lucky if they were a clean "hoodie". I was always told that you should dress for the the job you want. Looking at today's career criminals you'd think they'd all want to work at Good Will! Oh well, a devilish deed is a devilish deed. And a hard working devil can't be too picky. After all it's what's on the inside that counts.

Brackish

Robbing Peter to Pay...Mobil

Bringing new significance to the term "vicious cycle" a 65 year old Novi, Michigan woman robbed a gas station in order to buy gasoline (story here). Anna May Kwasny never had a criminal history before so she kept things simple. Using a toy gun she robbed one gas station and then drove three miles to another station so she could pay for gas there. She could have stolen both gas and money at her first stop but I suppose she didn't want to appear too greedy her first time out.

Baby steps, baby steps.

As prices rise for the life's blood of America's highways, I expect more exemplary behavior to blossom. Perhaps one day we will be blessed with a world in which gasoline is more precious than life, and Mel Gibson wanders the highways as fearsome road warrior. Oh sorry, I had a late night last night and I fell asleep while watching the SciFi Channel.

Sadly I know the truth. When humans are forced into a difficult situation two forces usually come into play. They can either succumb to their baser instincts and give in to panic and selfish action or they may just tap into that blasted creative problem-solving mode built into them by their Creator. They are both their best and worst while mired in a crisis. Time and time again I've seen it. Crops fail so they invent irrigation. Diseases strike and they develop medicines. Resources dwindle so they develop NEW resources and new ways to more efficiently use OLD resources. They're harder to kill off than cockroaches, and I LIKE cockroaches. So Armageddon is still on the predicted schedule, ho-hum. However if we can continue to spread the panic we may be able to cause as much harm as inhumanly possible.

Heading beyond Thunderdome,
Brackish