So many losses and the memories of unrealized hopes come to me at this time of year. I can understand Scrooge’s divorce from humanity, George Bailey’s thoughts of suicide, Charlie Brown’s disenchantment with his friends and their relationship with holiday commercialism, even Rudolph’s misfit feelings and attempt to run away from everyone.

All of these traditions that call us together, and still we feel alone and apart.

Yet, Scrooge gets scared into redemption, George is forgiven, Charlie Brown realizes his dream of inclusion, and Rudolph becomes a hero because of his defect.

Redemption, forgiveness, inclusion, and realized value — pretty much the message of the Gospel itself.

Peace and love to all this season and for the New Year.

- ZithRob

“Miracle on 34th Street” is a nice movie, and I recommend it to you, but it’s not my favorite.

I know the Alistair Sim version of Christmas Carol (properly, “Scrooge”) fairly well, thanks to TLO’s ardent advocacy, and I think the delay in Scrooge’s conversion revolves around the twofold idea of having to first renounce his old behavior, and second renounce despair (which is basically his excuse until he meets the ghost of Christmas Future).

Having never seen the Carrey Grinch, the original cartoon remains pristine in my mind.

The Rankin/Bass collection contains some nearly unwatchable stinkers (“The Little Drummer Boy,” though charming, is so insanely depressing I declare it the official Christmas special by which to slit your wrists; “Nestor the Long-Eared Donkey,” is, incredibly, even sadder). But they also have one really odd one: The title “The Leprechaun’s Christmas Gold” should give you a hint as to how odd.

But my favorite Rankin/Bass, just for the music, is “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town.” It’s got a great (if completely ahistoric) plot, but it also has some first-rate tunes. Recommended.

The Snowman is my very favorite Christmas special, and will definitely repay your attention, and is almost unruinable. Bug TLO to borrow her copy.

Finally, the Star Wars Holiday Special, I can assure you, has not been rendered worse by modern cynicism. It would be impossible to make it worse…

I think the ‘Sorry, but you are looking for something that isn’t here.’ message is from WordPress, since the link in Google Reader was for something that actually didn’t exist (but may some time, although I doubt I’ll keep the same title). Pretty accurate, but also a bit existential, I agree.

Thanks for the heads-up. Glad that the blog actually provided a little amusement, even when it was merely a glitch.

While checking out the “test post” on my GoogleReader this is what appeared:

Sorry, but you are looking for something that isn’t here.

This amused me as it so accurately explains a large portion of my — and I daresay other’s — lives.

Thanks for a great end to the day .…