I have just spent three consecutive evenings watching classic movies at the Cinematheque: Thursday 12-27: "An American in Paris" and "Gigi". Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron...and the scene-stealing Oscar Levant. Friday 12-28: "Lawrence of Arabia" in 70mm. This was a brand new print to celebrate the 50th anniversary of its opening in 1962. The kind of epic that seems impossible to make today. My god, Peter O'Toole is so young...and those blue eyes burn the screen as intensely as the Arabian sun. Saturday 12-29: "It Happened One Night" and "Holiday". Both of these films are in my list of top 10 or 20 comedies of all-time. The trouble with most romantic comedies today is that the purported leads rarely have the chemistry exhibited by Clarke Gable and Claudette Colbert in the first film, and Cary Grant and Katherine Hepburn in the second.

Put on Side 1 of Led Zeppelin IV.

Maybe Fox news is right...there's a War on Christmas!

Spot on, Nutrocker! You pretty much encapsulated my felings about the 'trading community' vs. 'bootleg companies' debate perfectly. I've always felt the bootleggers, whether TMoQ and Rubber Dubber in the old days or Godfatherecords and EVSD today, were a necessary evil. This idea that all tapers/traders are benevolent peace and love hippies that want to share the music and the bootleggers are evil is simplistic poppycock. All you got to do is think about the Freezer Fiasco and the hissy fit that Freezer threw and refused to share his New Orleans audience tape, and you can see that the taping community is not as Pollyanna-ish as they would like you to believe. There are some real psychos you have to deal with sometimes.

Can you hear me now?

Haha...Here's photographic evidence such a thing exists:

Christmas dinner at Grandma's(sister-in-law's side) was nothing short of spectacular: Baked Ham w/ glaze Vegan ham with apricot-plum glaze Pureed yams w/marshmallows...half with Bourbon, half without Green bean casserole...vegan and regular Asparagus Roasted zucchini and squash Brussels sprouts Pureed squash with cranberries Stuffing with stuffed mushrooms Mashed potatoes and gravy Corn muffins Crescent rolls Wine, beer, tequila, cider, juices, sodas, water. Grandma handled most of the cooking, so my contribution was minimal...I just made a few things to nibble on before and after dinner: 1. Strawberry Santas 2. Fudge 3. Pumpkin-sherry bread 4. Rum balls Other sweet treats and desserts other people provided were peanut butter fudge, coconut-lemon bars, cherry cordials, pumpkin pie, key lime pie.

Christmas being over. I'm sorry, but as much fun as it is getting together with friends and family and exchanging gifts and eating and drinking...I am so happy it only comes once a year. Especially this year, when I was working two jobs. Right now, I'm completely spent. I'm an exhausted empty shell of a man. For the next three days, I'm doing absolutely NOTHING but sleeping and watching the Kennedy Center Honors.

Is that broomstick or boomstick?

^^^ Sounds like hubby took Marilyn's advice... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ndSDeIH2yw&feature=youtube_gdata_player

OH NOOOOOOOOOOOO!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GIGI! Must have been a bummer having your birthday fall right before Christmas. I wish you a very special day with friends and family, without Christmas butting in. The same goes for all of you celebrating birthdays today. Happy birthday and many happy returns of the day. Cheers!

Alastair Sim owns the role of Scrooge. This is my favourite version of "A Christmas Carol".

Bring your umbrella, it's raining.

A great choice! First animated Christmas TV special in history. Jim Backus was terrific as Mr. Magoo!

Relax...I've got plenty of wine for everybody.

You had my curiosity...now you have my attention.

Cheer up, LZG! Don't let a few people take away from the fact that the majority of people here are friendly and pleasant company.

Nuthin' fancy...tuna salad sandwich with butter chip pickles and avocado on dark wheat bread and a bowl of Campbell's Tomato soup. Glass of milk.

The official start of the Christmas season for me: Darlene Love on Late Night with David Letterman: Let the joy begin!

Ditto! Definitely seeing "Django Unchained" opening day 12-26! Tonight, though, I'm out with some friends going to see two classic Charlie Chaplin movies at the Egyptian. http://www.americancinemathequecalendar.com/content/modern-times-city-lights

Why does that make you unhappy?

Snow?!? Where? And did somebody mention scotch?

Thank you Walter. That was right gentlemanly of you; a quality sometimes in short supply here. Oh, and if it's any consolation, it's freaking cold here in L.A., too. More hot cocoa please!

^^^WOOHOO indeed! What a great Christmas surprise for you, Stryder. Hope you put those miles to good use. I'm very happy today...now that I've finally sent out the last of my Christmas packages, I won't have to deal with the P.O. for awhile. Some of my friends in foreign lands probably won't get theirs in time for Christmas, unfortunately.