http://llamabutchers.mu.nu/archives/2004_12.php#060141 (I'm leaving this post at the top of the page all week by way of a Christmas card to our readers. Scroll on down for newer fare.) Although it is generally silly to speak of transcendence and cartoons, I've always... en-us http://youcakeordeath.blogspot.com/2004/12/merry-christmas.html May all of you have a safe and happy Christmas! And to best express the spirit of the holiday season the Llama Butchers http://www.TheGlitteringEye.com/archives/000571.html Here's what's caught my eye this morning: There are a pair of interesting posts on the electoral process: Balloon Juice on stealing an election; Captain's Quarters on ending the electoral college. Chicago Boyz has an thought-provoking discussion of Tho... http://www.sixmeatbuffet.com/archives/2004/12/24/lightice-blogging/ Merry Christmas to all of our friends - blogosphere and real-world alike. Go and read the Llamabutchers’ Christmas card - it echoes my sentiments exactly. http://www.indcjournal.com/ Scrappleface has been purchased by Gawker & outsourced to a classroom of trained chimps. Other bloggers are doing the outsourcing thing... http://fistfuloffortnights.mu.nu/archives/2004/12/index.php#001152 Last night, I was looking at the LLama Butchers site, and I realized that perhaps their Christmas cheer should be reciprocated. Much to my surprise, however, the LLama work of art, which I planned to decorate with some mistletoe and... http://leatherpenguin.com/wordpress/index.php?p=716 The LLama Butchers: The Meaning of Christmas If you can read this, and you are (ahem) of a certain age, and not get a knot in your throat or a tear in your eye, then go shoot your useless fucking ass square between the cheeks. LINUS RULES. http://themusctiger.com/blog/index.php?p=336 The Pope is again warning against the materialism that has taken over Christmas. Having finally done some post-exam shopping, I was exposed to much of the same sentiment. What bothers me is not that the complaint is some what valid (Target!), but rat... http://www.colossusblog.com/mt/archives/000113.html The Llamas have a post up on The Meaning of Christmas which focuses on the moment in the old, classic Charlie Brown Christmas where Linus recites Luke 2:8-14. As usual, the Llamas have it right; this is they key moment of the cartoon, and indeed, of th... http://encyn.blogspot.com/2004/12/and-on-earth-peace-good-will-toward.html However, I believe the spirit of Christmas is real. Christmas began as the celebration of the birth of Jesus, but (new-age nutjobs point out) the winter solstice also has meaning for many centuries prior to that time. http://www.hubsandspokes.com/archives/2004/12/the_true_meanin.html Over at the Llama Butchers: I sometimes used to wonder how it was that in the midst of a rather poorly animated cartoon voiced over by a gang of child actors this moment could have come off as perfectly...