Thursday Open Thread | Holiday Music

Posted on December 24, 2015 by SouthernGirl2

The burning candles, balls and gold ribbons it are Christmas“Silent Night” (German: “Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht”) is a popular Christmas carol. The original lyrics of the song “Stille Nacht” were written in Oberndorf bei Salzburg, Austria, by the priest Father Joseph Mohr and the melody was composed by the Austrian headmaster Franz Xaver Gruber. In 1859, John Freeman Young (second Bishop, Episcopal Diocese of Florida) published the English translation that is most frequently sung today.[1] The version of the melody that is generally sung today differs slightly (particularly in the final strain) from Gruber’s original, which was a sprightly, dance-like tune in 6/8 time, as opposed to the slow, meditative lullaby version generally sung today. Today, the lyrics and melody are in the public domain.

About SouthernGirl2

A Native Texan who adores baby kittens, loves horses, rodeos, pomegranates, & collect Eagles. Enjoys politics, games shows, & dancing to all types of music. Loves discussing and learning about different cultures. A Phi Theta Kappa lifetime member with a passion for Social & Civil Justice.
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57 Responses to Thursday Open Thread | Holiday Music

  3. rikyrah says:
    December 24, 2015 at 9:43 pm

    TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2015

    When White Supremacists Go to See “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”

    Some final thoughts on Star Wars: The Force Awakens. I should be recording the podcast discussion of the movie with Bill the Lizard either tonight or tomorrow for inclusion in this week’s episode of the show. Mark Clark, author of the great book Star Wars FAQ also has a review of the movie that can be read here. Mark is cool folks and has also been a guest on The Chauncey DeVega Show. Joe Scalzi, super famous sci-fi author and all around interesting guy and lover of animals, has a review over at his site Whatever. He basically agrees with my thoughts on the film. It feels good to be in such esteemed company.

    I often joke about my habit of going to white supremacist websites in order to get a sense of how they read and interpret political and cultural events. I am never surprised or amazed at how white supremacy is a type of political psychopathology and the ways that it damages the cognitive, emotional, and critical thinking skills of too many white people. Reading white supremacist websites has been very helpful in other ways: Donald Trump is their spawn; they mapped out his electoral strategy years ago.

    White supremacists are obsessed with the “culture wars”. Like movement conservatives, men’s rights types, “anti-social justice warriors”, and other assorted scum on the American Right, they have a deep concern with “cultural Marxism”–of course they do not fully understand critical theory–and how popular culture does some type of secret ideological work to attack, demean, and indoctrinate “white people” into “anti-white” attitudes and beliefs.

    Star Wars is a global phenomenon. I was very curious as to how they would respond to the new Force Awakens movie. As I wrote about here, there is much going on in terms of race and gender in that text. I, and I am sure others, will be deconstructing and writing a great deal about race and gender in the new Star Wars movies.

    What follows are the thoughts of some white supremacists on Star Wars: The Force Awakens, the Star Wars films in general, and other movies as well. This is funny stuff. It should also give you pause when you realize that these attitudes and beliefs are more common than many people would like to believe in this “post racial” era.

    http://www.chaunceydevega.com/2015/12/when-white-supremacists-go-to-see-star.html

    Reply
  4. rikyrah says:
    December 24, 2015 at 9:19 pm

    Wisconsin Mayor Says ‘Muslim’ Obama Has ‘Destroyed Fabric Of Democracy’

    By CAITLIN CRUZ
    Published DECEMBER 22, 2015, 7:28 AM EST
    The mayor of a northwestern Wisconsin city came under fire Monday for his Facebook post in which he called President Barack Obama a Muslim who has “destroyed the fabric of democracy” along with his wife First Lady Michelle Obama.

    Five city council members want Superior, Wisconsin Mayor Bruce Hagen to retract the Facebook comment under a picture of First Lady Obama, which, according to WDIO, read, “Unbelievable! She and her Muslim partner have destroyed the fabric of democracy that was so very hard fought for!”

    http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/bruce-hagen-superior-wisconsin-obama-muslim

    Reply
  7. rikyrah says:
    December 24, 2015 at 8:31 pm

    So,

    one of the presents I bought for myself was a cellphone case. the ones that are supposed to be indestructable..

    well, I can’t fit the phone in the damn thing!

    ugh.

    It’s the right one…I just don’t know how to put fit it in…
    I should have just stuck with my old 8-track phone..LOL

    Reply
  8. rikyrah says:
    December 24, 2015 at 8:04 pm

    The man who married Putin’s daughter and then made a fortune
    By Jack Stubbs, Andrey Kuzmin, Stephen Grey and Roman Anin

    Filed Dec. 17, 2015, 7:33 p.m. GMT

    The story of Kirill Shamalov, the celebration of his wedding to the Russian president’s younger daughter, and the loan from a politically well-connected bank that helped make him a billionaire

    IGORA, Russia – The wedding party dominated a ski resort nestled in the hills about an hour’s drive north of St. Petersburg. No expense was spared and everyone was sworn to secrecy. The happy couple rode in a traditional Russian sleigh drawn by three white horses, said one of the workers who described the scene to Reuters.

    The bride wore a long pearl-tinted wedding dress, the groom wore a dark overcoat, said another person who attended. The newlyweds were Katerina, younger daughter of Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Kirill Shamalov, son of an old friend of Putin.

    Their wedding celebrations took place in February 2013, at Igora, a small ski resort that combines beauty and discretion, five people who were there told Reuters. Set amid woodland with a picturesque lake, the resort is co-owned by the family of Yuri Kovalchuk, another old friend of Putin, and a Cyprus company with undisclosed shareholders.

    …………………………………………………………………..

    At the time of the wedding, Kirill – a tall, dark-haired man with rimless glasses – was a rising star of Russian business, but still only 31. His fortunes began to skyrocket soon after his wedding to the president’s daughter, a competitive acrobatic dancer who is now helping to oversee a $1.7 billion expansion of Moscow State University.

    Within 18 months, Kirill acquired a large chunk of shares in a major Russian oil and petrochemical processor called Sibur – a stake now worth an estimated $2.85 billion, based on the value of recent share deals. He also quit his job as a business manager and set up a company to run his personal investments.

    How did such a young businessman go so far, so fast? A Reuters examination of Shamalov’s career shows that in the summer of 2013, months after he married Putin’s daughter, Kirill opened discussions about buying shares in Sibur from one of the president’s wealthiest friends.

    A year later, he was able to borrow more than $1 billion, judging by the published accounts of his investment company. The loan came from a bank headed by another longtime associate of Putin, and where Shamalov’s brother holds a senior position. The money was used to make an investment in Sibur that within months proved highly profitable for Kirill.

    Reply
  10. rikyrah says:
    December 24, 2015 at 7:52 pm

    KEEP DR. BRONNER’S PEPPERMINT SOAP AWAY FROM YOUR FUCKPARTS (JUST TRUST ME)
    Alex Hardy, 12/23/15

    http://verysmartbrothas.com/keep-dr-bronners-peppermint-soap-away-from-your-fuckparts-just-trust-me/

    Reply
    • rikyrah says:
      December 24, 2015 at 7:35 pm

      FROM POU:

      nathkatun7

      I think if they had their way, the so called Conservatives (meaning white supremacists) would like to see the Fourteenth Amendment repealed and the U.S. Supreme Court’s Dred Scott decision, which emphatically said that all descendants of Africans were not and cannot be citizens of the U.S., made the law of the land. As far as I am concerned, “Birtherism” was never about where President Obama was born. “Birtherism” was all about people who had strong objections to a Black person (no matter how mixed he/she may be) being President of the United States. I am absolutely convinced that if Rafael Cruz’s father was a Black Cuban there is no way the so called Conservatives (a.k.a. white supremacists) would consider him legitimate.

      By the way, despite the initial pretenses to hide their racism, the plummeting support for Dr. Ben Carson in the polls clearly shows that the majority of the so called Conservatives-that is to say white supremacists-had absolutely no intention of supporting a black person to be president of the U.S.

      Reply
  17. rikyrah says:
    December 24, 2015 at 7:31 pm

    Watching Rev. Run in Istanbul.

    The part about the Turkish Baths was HILARIOUS!!
    Rev. looked like a kid who had just been told about Santa Claus..LOL

    He had built up the baths so much in his mind and heart..and to see the truth about them…

    BWA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA

    Reply
  20. rikyrah says:
    December 24, 2015 at 12:39 pm

    this is so sweet

    …………….

    Christmas trolley offers respite for grieving operator
    Updated: DECEMBER 24, 2015 — 3:01 AM EST
    Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/business/transportation/20151224_ThisChristmas_trolley_in_West_Philadelphia_gives_passengers_smiles_and_holiday_cheer.html#l5lwHhTQe70zM2rK.99

    Reply
  22. SouthernGirl2 says:
    December 24, 2015 at 9:36 am

    What y’all cooking today? Ametia, are you in Iowa?

    Reply
    • Liza says:
      December 24, 2015 at 12:43 pm

      It’s just going to be the two of us. So, chicken and dumplings, green beans, garden salad, and pumpkin pie (homemade.)

      I hope you’re feeling better, SG2, and that your ear doesn’t hurt anymore.

      Reply
      • SouthernGirl2 says:
        December 24, 2015 at 1:17 pm

        Liza, Chicken & Dumplings sounds so good. You must give me your recipe. I don’t know how to cook them. I’m feeling so much better. My ear doesn’t hurt, the swelling has gone down and I can hear better. Yay! Thank you all for your thoughts, good vibes and prayers.
        Enjoy and have a very Merry Christmas.

        Reply
      • Liza says:
        December 24, 2015 at 1:57 pm

        SG2, this is my first time making chicken and dumplings. I feel I can experiment because it’s just me and my husband. I am combining a couple of recipes I found from Cooking Light, Good Old Food (an awesome cookbook) and what I remember about how my mother made them. So, if this works, I’ll pass it on but it might take a couple of tries. :)

        Back in the day, folks would buy these stewing chickens, cover them with water, add onions and celery and carrots and garlic and whatever seasoning you want to flavor the broth. The chickens would have to simmer for at least an hour to get tender. Then you strain the broth and remove the bones from the chicken. Heat the chicken and the broth and drop in the dough. The dumplings cook, the broth thickens and you’re done.

        But here’s the thing that is messing up all of those old traditional recipes. The produce today seems to have about 10 percent of the flavor that it used to. I buy mostly organic, and that helps, but this is not your mother’s produce. I’ve bought so many onions with zero flavor in the past few years. You might have more locally grown produce where you live and that would be great.

        So what I’m doing is mixing commercial chicken broth with water to see if that helps the flavor, plus I’ll add vegetables. I’m also just using organic chicken thighs because they have good flavor. Anyhow, I’ll let you know what happens.

        Reply
    • Ametia says:
      December 24, 2015 at 3:36 pm

      Helloooooo! SG2 & Everyone! I’m in an undisclosed location; a witness protection program so to speak LOL If I tell you my location, I’ll have to FILL IN THE BLANK———-

      Have a Merry Christmas!!!

      Reply
    • rikyrah says:
      December 24, 2015 at 7:21 pm

      Merry Christmas, and be safe, Ametia :)

      Merry Christmas, SG2. So happy to hear that you are feeling better.

      Reply
  36. rikyrah says:
    December 24, 2015 at 7:27 am

    I love pics of him on vacation. drives the wingnuts even more nuts..LOL

    https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CW0LaEFUkAAZ2iw.jpg

    Reply
  39. rikyrah says:
    December 24, 2015 at 7:24 am

    Good Morning, Everyone :)

    Reply
  41. SouthernGirl2 says:
    December 24, 2015 at 1:41 am

    It’s 12.30 am, Christmas Eve
    I’m out w/ the gangstas & thieves
    Celebratin’, postin up w/ eggnog [head up up] in my cup

    Santa Claus…woooo…is coming straight to the ghetto…

    Reply
  43. SouthernGirl2 says:
    December 24, 2015 at 1:36 am

    Good morning, everyone!

    Merry Christmas Eve!

    Reply

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