Ingenuous Age once more essays to find/A proper Gift for Youth’s sophistic Mind/Well tho’ he know how bootless ’tis to send/Aught that his own Head can comprehend.

Of Wit and Beauty keeps discreetly chary,/And forfeits Sense to the contemporary.

Devoid of Pomp as Woolworth’s or McCrory’s/And cerebral as Vogue or Snappy-Stories.

-H.P. Lovecraft, accompanying a volume of Proust sent as a gift to Frank Belknap Long for Christmas, 1928.

“Santa” opens fire at a California party, 3 dead. That’s what I woke up to this morning.

He-Man and She-Ra: A Christmas Special.

Ill child gets a White Christmas.

Mom insists that hot daughters continue Christmas traditions and sit on Santa’s lap. Santa doesn’t mind.

You’re only making it worse on yourself.

Scientists warn that Christmas lights harm the planet.

Iran leader’s Christmas message decries bullies (like us).

The guy who translated “Silent Night” from German to English is buried in Jacksonville, Florida. You’re welcome for that update.

Americans still choose “Merry Christmas” over “Happy Holidays.” I think I prefer to say “Happy Holidays” because it’s not X-mas for everyone (nor is it necessarily merry), but I tend to go with the “Merry Christmas” just out of habit, sadly.

“However – I am not quite such a solemn prig as you probably assume from my letters.” -Lovecraft, in a letter to a Mr. Harris, February 25 to March 1, 1929.

And happy New year. Let’s hope it’s a good one… without any fear.