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Continuing our space theme from yesterday (you ARE still playing on a continuous loop the Darth Vader Burning Corpse Yule Log, aren't you?), Blaze sent me this updated and colorized Christmas photo of the Robinsons from LOST IN SPACE. The original was in black and white and didn't have either the Robot or Dr. Smith - I like this one better! And since it's the 50th anniversary of the show, I thought I would mention (again) what a stellar job 20th Century Fox did with the Blu-ray box set of the entire series - if you haven't gotten it yet and want a piece of true 1960s nostalgia, get it!
http://www.amazon.com/Lost-Space-Complete-Adventures-Blu-ray/dp/B011QLB4B0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1450376784&sr=8-1&keywords=lost+in+space+blu-ray
Speaking of the Sith Lord, perhaps you would like to remember him from happier times, like when he was decked out in a jolly holiday sweater and cap. That never happened, you say? Hmmm ... then why is there an ornament commemorating it? It's just the first of the '12 Most Disturbing Hallmark Ornaments of All Time' (and you'll get NO argument from me about putting that Kirk and Spock ornament on your tree)!
http://io9.gizmodo.com/the-12-most-disturbing-hallmark-ornaments-of-all-time-1748148428
Two years ago, I featured this book at left featuring Santa bringing Christmas to the astronauts on the moon. Since then, I've learned some more information about it. Entitled The Moon Christmas Coloring Book, it was put out by Lord & Taylor in 1970. That part always confused me until I did some further digging and realized this was the department store's giveaway for kids who came to see Santa at Lord & Taylor! Then it made perfect sense! When my Mom would take me, usually kids got a small toy or candy cane or some such, but I also remember getting a generic coloring book and crayons some years, too (although not the Moon one pictured here). If YOU have young ones driving you up the wall yet trying so hard to be good until Christmas, go to the link below and print off the whole book for them to color!
http://dreamsofspace.blogspot.com/2012/01/moon-christmas-coloring-book-1970.html
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Coming Tomorrow: How do you sell the public on a Christmas mascot that nobody loves? Plus the most clever ads of the year - see you soon!
Our final week begins AND the new Star Wars movie opens today ... soooo why don't we combine the two in a holiday setting? How? May we present the Five Hour loop of Darth Vader's (aka Anakin Skywalker's) Burning Corpse Yule Log? Imagine the surprise when you combine this video with the traditional Christmas tunes at your holiday party? Here you go!
http://gizmodo.com/curl-up-this-winter-with-five-straight-hours-of-a-burni-1748183283
And speaking of traditional holiday tunes, this may be the strangest segue I've ever made in this column, but it's December 18th and long-time readers of the K.A.C. know what that means! Make the hyperspace leap with me and click on the link as we jump from Darth Vaders' blazing funeral pyre to the cool snowfall and earwig song featuring Hardrock, Coco and Joe!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6G2uRfYQSVw
Not all parts of Christmas are joyous - take the dreaded holiday office party. Want to chew your own leg off rather than attend? Feel like you're in some horrible science experiment where TIME STANDS STILL? Then we've got the solution for you! The Christmas Party Escape Suit! The life (and sanity) you save may be your own!
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/weird-news/looking-out-christmas-party-company-7029325
It's been a long time since we've covered Ugly Christmas Sweaters here at the K.A.C. - mainly because we haven't seen any TRULY heinous ones in a while! I did like the one at right, where an unsuspecting Mom sent her son to school in this festive fleece and the teacher 'had a word with her' when she picked him up after school. The problem with the sweater isn't readily apparent until you look closely at it. Click on the picture for a closer look!
Our 2011 K.A.C. Image of the Year involved a sweater and a breast dressed as Rudolph (yes, you read that right) - to see it in all its glory, go here:
http://www.conjurecinema.com/2011/12/kac-2011-t-19.html
Fast forward to 2015 and the Rudolph Breast Sweater is now a fashion statement! What was once the exclusive domain of only a brave few has now become the garb of the exhibitionistic masses! For more of this latest trend, read on:
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/weird-news/christmas-jumper-day-festive-breast-7033848
I know what you're thinking - "Hey, why should women and kids have all the fun? Where's the awful Christmas sweaters for men?" Well, you have to be a certain type of man to wear OUR Ugly Christmas Sweater ... a man with a lot of ... er ... BALLS. If you're that kind of guy, look no further, here's the sweater for you!
And with that, we're done - even I know when to admit defeat on an article - I can't top (or bottom, as the case may be) this! :)
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Coming Tomorrow: Burning Darth has inspired us! Strap yourself in for some holiday cheer that is out of this world as we look at Christmas In Space!
STILL searching for that very last-minute holiday gift? Want it to be something memorable, nay, something in the middle of a freaking controversy? Then let me introduce you to Elfie, the Boston Terrier who is on the line of Primark pajamas and clothes out of the UK. What's the problem, you ask? At first glance, nothing - a cute pup all dressed up in holiday finery. Until you let your gaze linger ... especially at the pup's markings between his eyes and follow it to his suspiciously-looking 'Jimmy Hat' topping. Oh, dear ...
Oh, dear is right! While not so suggestive at first glance, when you look at the matching pants of Elfie from different angles, it is another story - one that has a number of folks up in arms. For the full story (or to order your OWN set), click on the link below!
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/weird-news/primark-pyjamas-covered-penis-shaped-7011552
There's only one thing I can think of to follow those stylin' pants and that's this BuzzFeed article of "21 Animals Who Are Totally Nailing This Whole Christmas Thing"! While I adore this photogenic fella at left, my favorite (and I can't believe I never thought of this when we have the annual 'Christmas Tree' battle in our house) photo has to be # 9 - instant tree set up, with lights! :)
http://www.buzzfeed.com/bradesposito/bark-the-herald#.pkyzmD7wpW
Let's wrap up our animal-centric edition with my vote for favorite tree of 2015 ... the Crazy Cat Lady Tree! The only tree that YOUR cats will stay away from!
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Coming Tomorrow: We hit the one-week-away mark, or as they say in THE RING, "Sev-en Days ...!!!" Since it's the 18th, that means our annual visit from our three favorite dwarves and their annual earwig song, plus LOTS MORE !!!
It's Christmas Potpourri Day here at the K.A.C. - true to the name, there's something for everyone ... and it has a distinctive smell!
First up, no matter HOW many decorations you may put up each year, they can't compete with this! Thanks, Robin, for posting it!
Next, there are numerous Christmas carol albums released this time of year, each with their own unique spin or artist. I usually don't cover the new releases unless they're TRULY extraordinary - but I think this one fits the bill! If you're looking for a new take on Christmas music or a gift for someone you don't REALLY like that much, but feel obligated to get a gift for, then look no further than the GOAT Christmas album ... does it have goats in the lyrics, you ask? Is it dedicated to goats by the artists involved? No and no - the ENTIRE album is SUNG BY GOATS !!! The album is called "All I Want For Christmas Is A Goat" and you will NEVER hear more cacophonus carols in your life!
Your ears will bleed (or is that bleat?) for a good cause, as the album is put out for charity. It also makes a GREAT wake-up alarm for recalcitrant teenagers (or anyone) who won't get out of bed ... not that I'm considering that ... :)
Here's the link, plus some sample Goat Edition carols!
http://www.today.com/popculture/goats-singing-christmas-carols-only-album-youll-want-holidays-t61186
With only nine days to go, are you still looking for that one-of-a-kind gift to give that certain special someone? Nothing says "Merry Christmas" like the gift of ... radium! This and other TRULY odd gifts (like RUBBLE ...) are explored in "The Weirdest Christmas Gifts in London's History" link below!
http://londonist.com/2014/12/the-weirdest-christmas-gifts-in-londons-history
Finally, just to show the UK is keeping their end up on weird Christmas gifts, click on the link below to see what passes for acceptable presents. From Pushy Pops (a tube that mashes up your food that you then squeeze - or as they call it, "a plunger for your mouth") to the Toilet Mug, the truly creepy Anti-Ageing Mask and the jaw-dropping Weener Kleener Soap for Men (seen at left), with the all-time BEST ad line (I TRULY hope the ad man got a bonus for this) - "Large or small or inbetweener, nothing beats a Cleaner Weener!", put these under the tree and claim your bragging rights for 'winning' Christmas! Take a look at the presents in all their infamous glory (and make sure to click on the accompanying videos)!
http://www.dontpaniconline.com/magazine/radar/bizarre-christmas-gifts
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Coming Tomorrow: Even MORE terror from across the Pond, plus other surprises!
Ten days to go! With all the stress of the last whirlwind frenzy that's happening at this time of year, you barely have time to eat. Allow us to recommend the Christmas Burger at left. It contains "sausage and stuffing patty, topped with roasted turkey, crispy bacon, (and) a drizzle of cranberry sauce.
To top it off the makers promise the gravy it comes with is as good as your nana's."
There's also the Christmas Dog (seen at right), which is "a pork sausage wrapped in bacon in a submarine roll."
Last but not least is the Christmas Garbage Plate (got to love that name!), consisting of "a sausage & stuffing patty, roast turkey and crispy stuffing piled
on a mound of fries and served with gravy and cranberry sauce."
If you're mouth is watering and you have to have these delicacies NOW, then book a trans-Atlantic flight - they're only available in England! Here's the link to their full story:
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/christmas-burger-sausage-stuffing-topped-6983194
Next, we hope you have a strong stomach for what's coming ... the Tuna Christmas Tree at left is one of the LEAST horrifying items to be found in BuzzFeed's article, "20 Truly Horrifying Vintage Holiday Recipes", which include such mouth-watering (and stomach-churning) items as the Duck Mousse En Gelee, the Noel Glazed Ham and the Shrimp Christmas Tree! Take particular care looking at the Meat Star ... does it look rather Satanic to you? The full horror awaits below!
http://www.buzzfeed.com/rachelwmiller/truly-horrifying-vintage-holiday-recipes#.igJg7YD0kq
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Coming Tomorrow: What's that smell? It's Christmas Potpourri Day, where we throw EVERYTHING at the screen and see what sticks!
Today we touch on that perennial favorite this time of year, Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. Most people have been led to believe that is the whole title of the book, but they're wrong. The complete title is A Christmas Carol. In Prose. Being A Ghost Story of Christmas, by Charles Dickens. It was first published on December 19th, 1843, was an immediate hit with audiences and is one of the few books that has never been out of print since its initial publication. There have been many adaptations of the tale in all forms of media: radio, television and feature films. The consensus for the best feature adaptation of the tale goes to the 1951 version, starring Alistair Sim as Ebenezer Scrooge (seen at left). In fact, when the film was first released in England, it went under the title of Scrooge - it was only when the film played in America that it went under the title of A Christmas Carol.
One of the more fascinating pieces of trivia about this film (and Alistair Sim, in particular) came to light just a few days ago, courtesy of the new book entitled Monster Mash: The Creepy, Kooky Monster Craze in America 1957 - 1972, by Mark Voger.
In it, Voger interviewed Russ Jones, the founding editor of Creepy (the 1960's version of the old EC Comics of the '50s, and the cornerstone of the Warren Publishing empire of the '60s and '70s (the other titles being Eerie, Vampirella and Famous Monsters of Filmland)). In the interview, Jones mentioned the magazine's host who introduced all the early terror tales, Uncle Creepy (pictured at right in a portrait by Frank Frazetta), was based on none other than ... Alistair Sim! I'm not sure I can ever watch this version of A Christmas Carol the same way again! :)
If you've ever read the original novella (and I bring it out to re-read every year about this time), one of the things that strikes you about it is just how descriptive Dickens was regarding what foods his characters were eating, from Scrooge's original gruel before Marley's ghost arrives to the feast put forth by Old Fezziwig and the roast goose with all the fixings that the Cratchit's made do with for their Christmas dinner.
The food is so memorable and detailed throughout the book that in 1851, one of the first "tie-ins" to the tale arrived. Entitled What Shall We Have For Dinner?, it was attributed to one Lady Maria Clutterbuck, which was actually a pseudonym for Catherine Thomson Dickens, Charles' wife! It's a slim volume full of menus based on the meals mentioned in the story, so if you would like to recreate the contents of the Fezziwig's groaning food board some year at your holiday soiree, here's the step-by-step way to go about it! The book is available through Amazon at the link below:
http://www.amazon.com/What-Shall-Dinner-Maria-Clutterbuck/dp/117543163X/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1449259553&sr=8-2&keywords=what+shall+we+have+for+dinner
Bon appetit!
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Coming Tomorrow: Much less appetizing Christmas food rears its ugly head ... are you brave enough to try these 'delicacies'?
After so many years of putting out the K.A.C., I always think I've seen and heard it all regarding the strangeness of the season - and something always comes along to prove me wrong.
Case in point: a lot of people will take part-time work during the autumn and winter months to raise extra money for Christmas, either for presents or trips, etc. I recently heard about a seasonal job that originally I thought was a joke until I did some more digging into it. If you're tired of your old job and have an artistic bent, here's your new career: a Professional Tree Decorator!
At first I thought they meant the outdoor trees for businesses, to make them look more festive for the holidays. There is that, as well, but the people I'm concerned with are the ones who come to your home to decorate YOUR tree. They will either use your own decorations or bring theirs - they will also plump up your tree and make it look more full (think tree hair extensions ... I am SO not making this up)! What the heck - why stop there? If you've gone this far in sheer laziness, you might as well go whole hog. You don't even have to HAVE a tree - if money's no object, they will BUY the tree, bring it to your house and decorate it for you. I imagine for a small additional fee, they would come back on Christmas morning and open your presents for you, as well. All I can think of reading this is the people in their hover chairs in WALL-E who are living life vicariously - brrrr.
If you'd like to know more about it (and see just how much a PTD makes this time of year), read on!
http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB110298008871999038
Speaking of trees, remember how we opened this year's edition with the whole Reese's Chocolate Trees kerfuffle and so many people getting upset they don't looke EXACTLY like a tree? Well, Reese's came back with a BRILLIANT response! Take a look!
http://aplus.com/a/reeses-response-tree?utm_content=inf_10_459_2&c=2547&utm_campaign=i2984&utm_source=a86232&ts_pid=600&tse_id=INF_f94802e5bc1b49da9d235a60791f683b
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how you shut up your critics! :) ****************************************************************************
Coming Tomorrow: New fascinating facts recently uncovered about A Christmas Carol - come back and see!
