‘Twas the Blogger’s Night Before Christmas
[NOTE: This small poetic effort of mine has become somewhat of a holiday tradition at neo-neocon. So here it comes again—just like the holiday itself. Merry Christmas Eve to you all!]
‘TWAS THE BLOGGER’S NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the ”˜sphere
Bloggers were glad to see Christmas draw near.
Their laptops were turned off and all put away
The bloggers were swearing to take off the day.
Their children were nestled all snug in their beds
While visions of extra time danced in their heads
With a father or mom not distracted by writing
No posts to compose, and no links to be citing.
But we all know that vows were just meant to be broken
And the vows of a blogger can be a mere token.
There’s always a chance that some sort of temptation
Will rise up to make them of fleeting duration.
For instance, there might be found under the tree
A sleek Mac; well, what better sight could there be?
And who could neglect it and wait the whole day?
It cries to be tried out, one just can’t delay.
Or maybe somewhere there’s a fast-breaking story
Important, and possibly leading to glory.
It can’t be ignored, there’s really no choice,
So add to the din every blogger’s small voice.
And then there are some who may just like to rhyme
(I’m one who at times must confess to this crime),
And it’s been quite a while since Clement Clarke Moore
Wrote his opus (though authorship’s been claimed by Gore)””
So it seems about time it was newly updated
And here’s my attempt””aren’t you glad you all waited?
Forgive if it sounds a bit awkward to read.
In writing, I set a new record for speed.
I had to get under the wire and compose it
Before Christmas Day. Now it’s time that I close it.
But let me exclaim (or, rather, I’ll write)
Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!
Here’s a video of the original, with some 50s-type nostalgia for those who remember. There are a few odd anomalies (“safe in their beds” instead of “snug in their beds”). But it brought back memories of pincurls, and the days when parents were assumed to sleep in twin beds (even though I don’t recall that most people did).
I think I had the book on which this is based. The illustrations look very familiar:
I just bought a couple replacement batteries for my UPS via your Amazon link so there’s a little something in your stocking. Merry Christmas, Neo!
Merry Christmas, neo. Eat well and enjoy your day.
The best Christmas present I got was SpaceX’s successful landing of the Falcon 9 first stage on Monday night.
I’ve been a space buff since childhood, and I remember following Gemini and Apollo flights in the 1960s. Of course I was glued to the TV for Apollo 11 when I was 11 years old.
This was very nearly as good as that.
Reusable rockets will be a real game-changer, and will well and truly open up the Space Age in the 21st century. Where would the aviation industry be if they had to throw away airliners after every flight? How much would a plane ticket cost, and how many people could afford it? Airplane flights would be expensive and rare, just as rocket flights are today.
While SpaceX still has a long way to go to demonstrate true reusability, recovering a first stage intact was obviously a vital first step. They made history on Monday night.
Rand Simberg has an excellent roundup of articles relating to the launch and landing: Reusing Rockets
I agree with his praise for the first paragraph of the Florida Today article:
Merry Christmas Neo. You are the gift that keeps on giving. Thank you for your insights and thoughtful looks inside people and events. But most of all, thanks for sharing your biggest gift — a keen analytical mind combined with a cultured, sensitive and honest heart. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Quite a sound job with the verse and the rhymes. I admire your craft.
Shakespeare you ain’t,
But still a saint,
Enjoy all you do,
Through old and new.
You dump on Trump,
Man in your sump,
I thinks he’s won,
You hope he’s done.
Merry Christmas and Happy Hannukah.
And, if you like word games, here’s a little trinket I wrote:
http://goo.gl/3bzeYa
This is my favorite Christmas carol. Lovely rendition, and a moving accompaniment:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Zh-yR0pbmU
Merry Christmas, and God bless us, every one.
Merry Christmas Neo, and all who frequent here.