Welcome to this week's selection of Picks, where we've been reading the U.S. Department of Energy Computer Incident Advisory Capability (CIAC) bulletin on Internet Hoaxes. Do your pals and colleagues forward you warnings about the "Good Times" email virus? Have you been told to stay away from Irina and Deeyenda? Afraid of using the words "ghost" and "execute" in the same sentence? Well, read this bulletin then. It should set your mind at rest and explain the facts from the fiction. Good times had by all.
Speaking of fact and fiction, we've done our own painstakingly honest (and timely) investigation of the online "Christmas Hoax" and after several seconds of deliberation have determined that, well, this ain't no hoax. So, break out the baubles, dust off the decorations, it's not too late to admit that Santa Claus (aka Father Christmas, St. Nicholas, Sinterklaas, Pere Noel, Julemanden, et al) is absolutely, without a doubt coming to town.
"Coming to town" is of course a relative term, as Christmas.com shows us in their very cool Christmas Around the World pages. As the title suggests, here yule learn how the holiday season is celebrated around the world - from Asia to Latin America, from the Middle East to France, and then some. For instance? Well, in Sweden, "a certain Christmas gnome, known as the tomte, emerges from his home under the floor of the house or the barn. He carries a sack over his shoulder and leaves gifts for all." Furthermore, "the people of Northern Brazil, as in Mexico, enjoy a version of the folk play Los Pastores ("The Shepherds.") In the Brazilian version, there are shepherdesses rather than shepherds and a gypsy who attempts to kidnap the Christ Child." Hmm. Did not know that.
For more on the global holiday spirit, see Yule in Iceland, a veritable smorgasbord of related history, facts and fun - covering everything from origins (a celebration of the winter solstice) to food (enjoy mutton?), with a few songs, stories, symbols and sundry subjects thrown in for good cheer. Yule log onto (get it?) a thorough look at the Icelandic holiday tradition, which includes, amongst other things, the Yule Cat. Dating back to the Nineteenth Century, this ferocious feline is something like the modern day lump of coal - only, with attitude. Ah, the good old days.
We don't mean to stir up matters and suggest new traditions or nothin', but while on the subject of "puddy tats" and Christmas a thought does come to mind. See, it turns out that a certain Big Bad Bob entertains the notion of eating cat food. (Yes, we know.) In fact Bob revels in the idea at Cat Food: The Other White Meat. So, don't paws, point your mouse here now, purr-use this site and by all means meow-nder around. (Puns very much intended!) Our thought: how about this Christmas you make your festive fancy feast Cat Food Meat Loaf? Yum.
Cat food doesn't tickle your taste buds? More interested in egg-nog, elves' fudge, peanut clusters, fruit cake (the good kind) and Santa's Punch? In that case, you'll want to head on over to the collection of desserts, candies and drinks gathered together at the rather aptly titled Christmas Recipes. Or, you could try Mary Mahar's Christmas Recipes, which include Divinity, gravy tips and, of all things, Christmas Soup. As if that weren't enough, the Vegetarian Society of the UK offers a handful of meatless holiday concoctions. On the menu: "Broccoli Cream Cheese & Pear and Almond Soup." Sound good? We thought you'd like it.
Let's face it, this season is also very much about the decadent pleasure of receiving, receiving, receiving. With this in mind, we'd like to drop a hint: rhymes with Godiva.
Finally, a question. Brief, to the point, but a question nonetheless. Just exactly who is this Carol person, anyway? Guesses? Make your way under the Mistletoe. Take your pick(s).