Merry Christmas

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire,
Jack Frost nipping at your nose,
Yuletide carols being sung by a choir
and folks dressed up like eskimos.

Doesn't feel like Christmas this year, does it? Actually, it hasn't felt like Christmas for quite some while. From terrorist threats, to SARS, to the gloomy economy, to war and more war.. I have no idea what the world is coming to.

Everybody knows a turkey and some mistletoe
help to make the season bright.
Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow
will find it hard to sleep tonight.

Gave a quick glance at the clock as i skipped into the train, jeez, i'm late again, as usual. I looked around the train as i slowly put on my earphones- sadden face after sadden face. Good griefs, it's Christmas Day guys. Cheer up already. I jacked up the volume of my mp3 player.

They know that Santa's on his way -
He's loaded lots of toys and goodies on his sleigh
and everymother's child is gonna spy
to see if reindeer really know how to fly.

My body started to sway to the charming voice of Nat King Cole. Eyes swerve in my direction as two kids let out a little chuckle. I winked, as mouthed the words, "Merry Christmas~". Their Mom smiled back while the kids wailed, "Merrrrrry X'masssy!". Now, that's the spirit people.

And so I'm offering this simple phrase
to kids from one to ninety-two
Although its been said many times,
many ways- Merry Christmas to you.

Happy holidays, everyone. Me, i'll be hanging around the mistletoe tonight, hoping to be kissed.*winks*

Whatever Happened to Christmas

Whatever happened to christmas?
It's gone and left no traces.
Whatever happened to the faces, or the glow?
Whatever happened to christmas, to christmas way of living?
Whatever happened to the giving, the magic in the snow?
Remember the sight and the smell and the sound,
And remember hearing the call.
Remember how love was all around,
whatever happened to it all?

Whatever happened to christmas,
bells in the streets were ringing,
Whatever happened to the singing,
the songs we used to know.
Whatever happened to this christmas,
and when did it disappeared from view.
Where was i, and whatever happened to you?
Whatever happened to christmas and you?

Why is it dark at night?

You might think that this is a rather trivial, even silly, question to ask. After all, even a child 'knows' that this is because the Sun sets below the horizon, and since there is nothing else in the sky anywhere near as bright as the Sun we have to make do with the feeble reflected light from the Moon and even more feeble light from the distant stars. Well, guess what? It's not as simple as that!

We have good reason to believe that even if the Universe is not infinite in size, it is probably so enormous that, for all intents and purposes, it is infinite. If so, then we come up against something known as Olbers' paradox. Simply stated, this says that the night sky has no right being dark at all. It should be even brighter than it normally gets during the day. In fact, the sky should be so bright, all the time, that it should not even matter whether the Sun is up in the sky or not.

Now consider a simple model universe that is infinite, static and with stars evenly spread out. It does not matter where we look in the sky, if the Universe is infinite we should always see a star in our line or sight. So there would not be any gaps in the sky where we do not see a star and the whole sky should be as bright as the surface of the Sun, all the time!

So why then, is it then that it is dark at night? (To be continued..)

Note: These are extracts from the book "Black Holes, Wormholes & Time Machines" by Jim Al-Khalili.

Love Actually



[On sheets of poster board.]
Mark: With any luck by next year
Mark: I'll be going out with one of these girls.
[Pictures of beautiful supermodels.]
Mark: But for now, let me say
Mark: Without hope or agenda
Mark: Just because it's Christmas
Mark: (And at Christmas you tell the truth.)
Mark: To me, you are perfect
Mark: And my wasted heart will love you
Mark: Untill you look like this
[Picture of mummy.]
Mark: Merry Christmas

I feel it in my fingers. I feel it in my toes. Love is all around me. And so the feeling grows.
Call it chessy, call it corny, in fact, call it anything you want. But i really dig Love Actually. It's such Christmas-y, mushy, cuddly films like this that gets me into the mood for Christmas all over again.
*Gives a soft aww* My favourite time of the year, ever.
Oh, did i mention that Kiera Knightley is THE most gorgeous girl.

Jamie: It's my favorite time of the day, driving you.
Aurelia: [In portuguese] It is the saddest part of my day, leaving you.