Computers are stupid

Ok, why if I tell my system that I have 0 pieces of something, it thinks I mean I have -1028?
Argh.

Colds

Coughing is a good ab workout.

The Cost of the 12 Days Of Christmas for 2006.

* One Partridge in a Pear Tree: $144.99 ($15.00 Partridge, $129.99 Pear Tree)

* Two Turtle Doves: $40.00 ($20.00 each)

* Three French Hens: $45.00 ($15.00 each)

* Four Calling Birds: $479.96 ($119.99 each)

* Five Gold Rings: $325.00 ($65.00 each)

* Six Geese-a-Laying: $300.00 ($50.00 each)

* Seven Swans-a-Swimming: $4,200.00 ($600.00 each)

* Eight Maids-a-Milking: $41.20 ($5.15 each)

* Nine Ladies Dancing: $4,759.19 ($528.80 each)

* Ten Lords-a-Leaping: $4,160.25 ($416.02 each)

* Eleven Pipers Piping: $2,124.00 ($186.66 each)

* Twelve Drummers Drumming: $2,224.30 ($193.09 each)

The grand total of the song for 2006 - $18,920.59 USD

That's one exceedingly expensive year!

World Oil vs Gas Prices

Ok, I've ranted about this before, but just thought I'd bring it up again:

In the past week, gas prices at the pumps in Hamilton are up by about 8%-10%, while world oil realistically is only up a marginal 4%, and commodity gasoline has been steady for the past few days. The weather has been unseasonably warm, which is bringing down demands on fuel oils and natural gas, which is why they're down from this time last week.

So, why is gasoline up so much? Market analysts will argue that it is the result of the OPEC production cut to bring up the price of crude since there will be higher demand for less oil. However, with the draw down in demand for fuel oil, more non-OPEC markets coming online, and as commodity gasoline prices remaining steady, this argument just doesn't hold much weight for me.

Coincidence that the Christmas & New Year's travel season is less then a week away? I think not.

On the previous post . . .

Maybe the materialist aspect is why Christmas often leaves me feeling empty and unfulfilled. It seems like there is a huge build up to the "big day," and then . . . bam! Where'd it go? I feel like there should be some great feeling of completion and satisfaction, yet the day after in reality is just like any other day, aside from feeling bloated and gassy from eating too much.

We have this huge build up to Christmas that starts right after Halloween (in Canada anyway), with decorations and flyers and the Wish Book all hitting us in the face . . . and it lingers like a . . ., well, a bad fart.

The material aspect of Christmas (and the increasing secularization of Christmas) completely robs us of the true joy of what Christmas is: celebrating the joy of the Birth of Christ who ultimately gave His life to save ALL of us. The only true joy I seem to find at Christmas is in worship, or when I have the opportunity to attend a concert that celebrates Jesus (rather then Christmas fluff like some rouge santa running down Grandma).

So, my New Year's resolution for this year: to remember and hold the true Joy of Christmas through the whole year.

What is Christmas?

I found this while just flipping through some random blogs. I think there's some truth to both sides. (Aside: it's amazing how many useless blogs are out there . . . oh wait, this is one of them).


Insight of the Day
Upon passing a church sign that read "Christmas without Christ equals materialism" a 17-year-old "guy I know" said: "Uhhh, NO... Christmas without is just 'mass'."
Asked to explain what he meant, he said, "Christmas empty of Jesus leaves you with an empty ritual, completely unsatifying to anyone, like church without real worship."

So there, he said it.

Tim Horton's Breakfast Sandwich

I just had a Tim Horton's Breakfast Sandwich and urge everyone to go out and get one right now! They're just so good! MMMMMMMMMMMMMM!

But let's have a look at the nutritional information:




If you can't read that, the most tasty one has 500 calories and 20g of saturated fat. Not very good for you. The average moderatly active male should consume around 2000 calories a day, 1500 if he is trying to lose weight. This means I could eat 3-4 sandwiches a day provided I only drink water and don't eat anything else. A fair trade off? I think so.

Christmas Music

Christmas is one of my most favourite times of the year. Why? I love the music that celebrates the birth of our Lord and Saviour. This is some of the greatest music ever written, except for maybe Easter music.

But one of the things that drives me nuts is some of the "fluff" Christmas music. You know what I mean. The overplayed sap that just gets on your nerves every time you hear it.

So I've come up with two lists. First, the Top Four Christmas songs I hate the most (I'm sure I could come up with more), and then a listing of some of my favourite Christmas Songs.


Top 4 Worst Christmas Songs:
#4: The Little Drummer Boy
#3: Old Toy Trains (Old toy trains, little toy tracks, little boys toys . . . etc)
#2: The Christmas Shoes
#1: So This is Christmas.

Favourite Christmas Songs (in no particular order):
Joseph's Lullaby - Mercy Me
The First Noel
O Holy Night
O Come All Ye Faithful
Worthy is the Lamb & Amen from Handel's Messiah (I know those parts are for Easter, but it's most often performed at Christmas)
Joy to the World
My Heart Would be Your Bethlehem - the Gaither Vocal Band
Praetorius' Mass for Christmas Morning
Magnificat - Bach or Buxtehude
In Dulci Ubilo - Praetorius
Grown Up Christmas List

Additions:
I Heard the Bells - Mercy Me (12/5/06)

anything to add?