Who knew that those who celebrated the Solstice were "pinko." I'm noting this for future reference.

Posted by: Tom | Dec 15, 2005 4:00:24 PM

re: moonwatch... gonna be hard to see the moon tonight with the rain/sleet/snow forecast...

Posted by: jo | Dec 15, 2005 4:07:13 PM

hey Barista... what's the skinny on the NYE festivities in Baristaville? We usually go to the city, but we decided to stay closer to home this year.

We are looking for something interesting for a a group of about 6-8 adults in their 30's and early 40's, i.e. not a smoky bar full of 20-somethings making goo-goo eyes at each other, but not a family event full of delightful little baristaville-spawn screaming their lungs out.

You know, something fun and grown up...

how 'bout it, Barista-we need your expertise???

Posted by: daniella | Dec 15, 2005 4:19:06 PM

I will state the obvious....

There is no war on Christmas.

The "War on Chirstmas" is an ultra right jerk screaming at you, "EAT IT! ITS CHIRSTMAS! EEEAAATTT IIITTT!!!."

Posted by: lasermike026 | Dec 15, 2005 6:09:51 PM

Funny thing is, the true uber-christians are waging their own war on Christmas, insisting that it (gasp!) be celebrated in church and involve nothing having to do with presents or trees or what music gets played on the radio.

Check this out - but turn your speakers down! http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/Basics/god_hates_christmas.htm

Posted by: Alison Meyer | Dec 15, 2005 10:13:32 PM

In a world where students cannot wear red or green to a "holiday" celebration at their grade school and where a library allows a nativity scene but only with the "lead players" removed so that it's down to figurines of sheep and shepherds, there is certainly nervous-nellyism out there about Christian practice or display at this time of year. There are so many examples one could list here, too

If not a "war," exactly, on Christmas, then, certainly obvious and frequent skirmishing. Yet to what purpose? To make a few of the constantly aggrieved in our culture feel better? And one doesn't have to be an "ultra-right jerk" to be concerned about this. Interestingly, too, so many of those who come to this nation lately to expand on our "diversity" (legally or illegally, too) do so with the belief that public displays of devotion and religious culture are quite okay.

It is also EXTREMELY unfair to characterize partisanship re such displays as mere harumphing from the "ultra right." One might even see that as a bigoted observation, since it assumes that concerns about holiday displays are limited to such a small segment of Christians. That may well not be the case.

But even if it is so, so what, in a sense? Shouldn't evangelical Christians be counted as fellow Americans by others? Should their concerns be so dismissed? Howard Dean and his sorry ilk may pull this sort of crap on a regular basis, but I doubt that any Dems out there serious about recapturing the House and Senate should be thinking along similar lines. Those who dump on evangelicals so readily should really be ahsamed of themselves, if only because they remain your fellow Americans, with some understandable concerns behind their own (lengthening) list of grievances.

Posted by: cathar | Dec 15, 2005 11:52:24 PM

Any word of delayed opening for Montclair Schools manana?

Posted by: wanna know | Dec 15, 2005 11:57:03 PM

Look, my own personal "war on Christmas" started last year, when we thought a nice vacation would be better than presents. Alas, it was not to be. And this year, because the kids were upset about moving, we promised tree and stockings and so forth. Believe you me, though, next year, we will not be filling retail pockets with holiday joy. You want a real war on christmas? Celebrate it by going to church and not buying a darned thing.

Posted by: Alison Meyer | Dec 17, 2005 11:17:15 PM