Month: December 2013

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to All! (2013 edition)

(cross-posted at sswslitinmotion.tumblr.com)

Some stuff to read and food for thought:

The Christmas spirit, as part of Pope Francis’ 1st Christmas mass as pope.  Pope Francis noted in his homily: “There are both bright and dark moments, lights and shadows. If our heart is closed, if we are dominated by pride, deceit, self-seeking, then darkness falls within us and around us.”

From NPR: “Writing ‘Rudolph: The Original Red-Nosed Manuscript” – how fascinating to learn about the origins of Rudolph!

Here it is from WNBC 4: Christmas extravaganza in Dyker Heights, Brooklyn, NY.

Another NYC classic: Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus, retold by WNBC 4’s Gabe Pressman.

And WNBC’s annual Christmas Sing Along at Rockefeller Center (NBC Headquarters):

Some thoughts

I never quite like year end reviews in the middle of December, because even though there are only two weeks left in the year, I’d hate to think the reviews miss the year’s end stuff.

The passing of Nelson Mandela earlier this month came almost timely – as we reflected history and current events.  The inspiration, and that hard balance of freedom, change, stability, and equality; idealism and reality; and everything else in between. We can only learn and apply what we learn from him and others; let’s not fail that inspiration and keep trying to meet those ideals.  Maybe aim for something better next year and going forward.  Check out the NPR links – some coverage from earlier this month and how Mandela was able to be both a statesman and a liberator.

The passing of 1010 WINS News’ own legendary Stan Brooks. He was there even before it was 1010 WINS all news, all the time. They really won’t make an NYC news media fixture like him anymore. It’s sad that he passed away right after they had named a room after him at City Hall; but it’s amazing how he covered so many city stories, and his voice had such a rich and youthful timbre to it – it took me a long while to realize that he was a senior citizen.  See here for the 1010 WINS obituary, and here for the NY Times’ obituary.

Change is coming, as NYC has the first mayoral transition in 12 years.   Things are going to be interesting.  We live in interesting times.  Let’s have a Merry Christmas in the meantime…