How to be Politically Inept this Christmas

There, now it’s out there; the “C” word, Christmas. Somehow it’s become politically incorrect to wish others Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa or anything that suggests a belief system. Well, I’ve decided to forgo political correctness at the risk of being labeled “politically inept” this holiday season.

Be Different in December

I choose to celebrate in December because Christmas is in it. You may celebrate in December for a different reason. I not only respect but cherish that diversity among us. Yet that diversity is discounted and stripped away from us when the Politically Correct (P.C.) Police force all to be the same by restricting us to Happy Holidays and Seasons Greetings. Can we Americans afford any more loss of our identities? Can we afford to lose the meanings behind our traditions, actions and feelings?

The advent and proliferation of social media encourage us to “live in the open.” Tools like LinkedIn, Facebook and YouTube enable us to share what makes us human. In theory, our humanity should make us more desirable as a business associate. When you defy the P.C. Police and offer a greeting with more flavor than Seasons Greetings, we learn you are a person of character and courage as well as spirited and thoughtful. Much is shared in less than 2 seconds!

Speak Your Peace of Mind

We’re entitled to all speak our own “language” of the season. Consider that, as an example, if one of us speaks Spanish, another French and the third Italian, none of us can be accused of being wrong. Background, upbringing and, sometimes, life choices enable each of us to express ourselves in a preferred way. I prefer to offer Merry Christmas because it has meaning in its language that I understand best and represents the best expression I’ve got to give. The P.C. Police stand ready to chastise us for choosing the “wrong” form of expression. I’m giving others a gift of my heartfelt wishes; Merry Christmas enables me to present those wishes with the clearest and strongest meaning I know. By watering the message down to Happy Holidays, I feel like I’m cheating you, giving you less than the best I have to offer.

I can accept that not everyone will be happy with my gift of Merry Christmas. Some will take offense, but that’s because they choose to be offended. They’re so concerned with their own selfish perspective of the way things ought to be, they can’t see my gift for what it is. Let’s face it; some people are looking for reasons to be offended.

Give Your Gift Any Way

You must be willing to get into trouble now and then if you’re ever going to be comfortable using your preferred greeting at every opportunity. When you occasionally find someone who takes exception, is offended and won’t accept your gift, don’t blame yourself for their problem. I refuse to walk on eggshells because someone might want to pick a fight over my choice of words. Saying Merry Christmas doesn’t mean I’m pushing religion; I don’t expect anyone will convert to Christianity because I offered them a Merry Christmas!

I encourage you to join The League of the Politically Inept and give your greeting gifts at every opportunity during December. I’m convinced most people appreciate it, and your encouragement emboldens them to do the same. When December is over the politically inept will have had a lot more fun than the politically correct. Don’t forget the reason you celebrate this season, and continue to be generous with your gift of your favorite greeting.

Copyright 2007 Paul Johnson

For Celebrate the Christmas,some Bonus for You

Christmas is coming,by way of thanks for the consumers,our ePathChina will give some bonus for you.Let’s have a look what is it.
Welcome worldwide wholesalers and retailers for Christmas purchasing. During such a hot marketing season, Our ePathChina have started our Special Bonus to make our customers benefit from our business cooperation at most. What will you benefit from our Special Bonus? OK, the details of our bonus in Christmas Season are presented as following:

1. Buying our MP3, MP4 and MP5 Players, we will send you silicon covers for each Player. With silicon covers, the players can be protected well and new MP3, MP4 or MP5 Player will belong to you for a long time. As a wholesaler, such a free accessory will certainly prompt your business.

2. For big orders, stylish Christmas gifts will come with order packages. Obviously, the gifts are really additional surprise to your purchasing. It saves an extra expense in this festival. In addition, you can surely enjoy with more benefit by larger orders.

3. Consumers who have purchased from us for many times are the main group that entitles to enjoy super discount from our online shop. Here, the discount which is only provided to drop shippers, at this special festival, is also available to consumers who purchase in our online shop many times. What’s the drop shipper discount? You may ask. Drop shipper discount – the same product you purchase as others, but you will be charged at a much low price. For instance, if you want to buy, a MP5 Player from us, you will see the different price breaks on the product page for different quantities. Suppose you order a sample and the single price is 53.72 USD and the price for 5 pcs is 51.18 USD. You will only need to pay 51.18 USD, the 5 pcs price, for the sample. More detailed, please refer to our drop shipping policy here: http://www.epathchina.com/drop_ship.php.

With the above discount policy, you can surely buy the cheapest electronic products with high quality and fashion elements.

What’s more? There is a heavy demand for outstanding consumer electronics. Then such an increasing demand will surely bring a thriving business for this Christmas. Welcome to wholesale Christmas gifts and other consumer electronics. We provide all our consumer electronics with high quality, low price and best service,
Finally, Christmas is a significant time for all wholesalers;we have prepared well to do something which aims at enhancing your business, are you ready?

Christmas Lights Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer – 2007

Grandma Got Run over by a Reindeer – 2007 Animated to 25000 Lights in Kenosha Wisconsin. Gotta Love Dr Elmo.

What’s for Dessert Christmas Day ?

That seems to be a frequent question people keep asking me about Christmas dinner. When even my hair stylist and my husband asked me what I was going to serve for dessert for Christmas dinner, I realized that it is a popular question.

Personally, I like to serve a striking dessert—flambé or flaming. It is so fun and adds to the excitement of the event. For flaming, I think the traditional Cherries Jubilee is hard to beat. It is so simple, with very little advance preparation and has Christmas colors—red and white—and green if you add a mint leaf.

I’m including my favorite preparation, which can be used on bananas for Bananas Foster or on Raspberries, Peaches or any combination of fruits. Making the sauce tableside in a chafing dish is quite spectacular and fun to watch.

Here in New Mexico, Flan is a favorite and very practical too, as it can be made ahead of time—up to one week in advance…great for the busy holiday preparations. The flan can be flamed too.

Just remember the following tips for flambé and you will always be successful.

1) Have warm food. (The cherry sauce or the flan need to be warm.)

2) Have a few Tablespoons of sugar ready in a small bowl to scatter on the food to be flamed just before igniting.

3.) Barely warm 50% alcohol liquor, such as brandy or rum—can be done in a ladle with a long wooden match or lighter held under it. When it catches aflame, pour the liquor over the food to be flamed. Or warm in small pan and when first bubbles come, pour over warm food and ignite.

4.) For safety, have a lid handy for snuffing the flame, if it is needed.

Cherries Jubilee

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This basic recipe can be used to create other fruit for flambéing, such as bananas, raspberries, peaches or any combination. Prior to the meal, place the balls of ice cream in sherbets or small bowls and place in the freezer. The sauce is great made tableside in a chafing dish, if available or it can be made ahead for reheating and flambéing just before serving.

Yield: 4 to 6 servings

1/3 cup unsalted butter 5 Tablespoons sugar or to taste, divided—tart cherries will require up to 6 Tablespoons (light brown sugar is also good) 1 ½ pounds dark sweet cherries, fresh, frozen or canned (pie cherries are all right, just need more sugar)

1. Measure and prepare the ingredients and have each ready for immediate preparation. Using a chafing dish or heavy skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the sugar and stir, then add the fruit. Cook quickly until fruit is cooked—three to five minutes.

2. In the meantime, when the fruit is done, sprinkle 2 Tablespoon sugar over the top. Then heat the liquor over low heat—either in a small pan or in a ladle. When the first bubble forms, add to the fruit. It will flame up. As the flame dies, spoon sauce over the ice cream.

FLAN CARAMELISADO (Custard with Caramel Topping)

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Years ago, my Mexican aunt shared this, her favorite flan recipe. It is fool proof if you carefully follow the instructions and it is so delicious.

Yield: 4 – 6 servings

1 ½ cups sugar, divided 6 eggs 3 ½ cups milk 1 cinnamon stick, preferably canela or Mexican cinnamon 1 teaspoon Mexican vanilla Cold unsalted butter, for buttering custard cups

1. Caramelize ½ cup sugar in a small skillet over medium high heat, stirring constantly until sugar is melted and browned. Pour immediately into the bottoms of 10 to 12 well buttered 4 ounce custard cups.

2. Beat eggs until well mixed with a simple whisk. Gradually add the remaining cup of sugar, beating after each addition to dissolve the sugar. Do not beat until foamy.

3. Heat the milk with the cinnamon stick until warm. Add milk to egg flan mixture, stirring to combine well. Add vanilla and stir to combine.

4. Pour into the caramel-lined custard cups. Set cups on a cloth towel in a 10 x 14 pan(or one large enough to hold the custards) of hot water and bake in a 350 F oven for 35 minutes, or until they are slightly bubbled up and barely jiggle when the water bath pan is shaken a bit. (I prefer to not insert a knife, as it will make a hole. However an inserted knife should come out clean when done.) Overbaking is a popular problem. Do not bake past the point of doneness. Allow to cool for at least three to four hours. To serve, warm slightly in the microwave (about three minutes) or in a moderate oven for about 20 minutes or until the liquid in the bottom has softened and they slide out easily. Then using a table knife, insert it against the side of each bowl and invert onto a small dessert plate.

Notes: One large flan can be made if preferred. It will take longer to cool and must be made one day in advance.

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Jane Butel, the first to write about Southwestern cooking, has published 18 cookbooks, several being best sellers. She operates a full-participation weekend and week long vacation cooking school, an on-line school, a mail-order spice, cookbook, Southwestern product business and conducts culinary tours and team-building classes. http://www.janebutel.com

Trying to Spot Some Fascinating Christmas Gifts

Christmas is near and everybody is trying to purchase Christmas gifts for baby. You can run from one shop into another looking for an appropriate gift. But first thing you have to consider is what kind of present will be good to please the recipient. Some people prefer to receive practical gifts where others like to be amused by a frolicsome and original present. You have to know somehow the recipient’s likes and dislikes to guess what gift will be perfect for him or her. The purpose of giving any gift is to show your love and respect to the recipient while also impressing them.

You can get good ideas
If you have no idea what gift idea to follow there are special companies which can offer you a great number of unusual Christmas gift ideas for all ages and matching ones personality. They can also offer adventure-oriented and fascinating gift ideas for kids, teenagers and adults. If you want to amuse your beloved who loves spending time in kitchen then consider the chocolate delight workshop, food smoking courses etc. This course can be a perfect gift for food connoisseur. The participant can taste smoked food and learn the art of making lots of different delicious dishes. Many new recipes will open for the participant giving them additional possibilities to express themselves.

Sports fans are vulnerable.
What can be more significant and important for a football fan but something which unites him or her with their favourite football team? It is not very difficult to make happy football aficionados. You can buy an item which is somehow connected with his or her favourite football team or get them football ticket where the team is going to participate. That will surely be a super gift for the season.

A handy way out
There are some unexpected situations which might lead to some unforeseen expenses. There is always a chance to be invited by your friends to visit them over Christmas. You won’t have much time to ponder over a special Christmas gift for them and have much time to go shopping. So it will be the best way out to purchase some small tokens and have them wrapped in a special gift tag ready for every occasion. The token can be a book, a beautiful bottle of nice wine or even New Year Tree decorations. You will then be dressed, booted and “gifted” for any visit.

What can help you?
Buying Christmas gifts you must always have some planning taking into consideration the number of the recipients and your budget. This season will cause you enough money spending, that is why you have to be aware about the price of things that you are going to purchase. It is far far better thing in such a situation to surf the Internet. It gives you the advantage to shop at competitive prices with home delivery. When considering the Internet you have a wonderful possibility to look through plenty of different products and ideas which will make your Christmas time more enlightening and merry.

Creative Christmas Gift Ideas for Her & Him

Tired of endless mall walking in search of a perfect Christmas gift that is nowhere to be found? Hate giving gift cards or gift certificates and cash just because it seems impossible to come up with anything better?

This holiday season, find unique ways to let the people in your life know that you care. Get creative, get personal and get fun; get a gift that will bring joy to her or him you love this Christmas.

Projects to Do and Make

Instead of toys that quickly lose their appeal, projects to make and do entertain during the process of creation and then become all the more special because they were made by the recipient. A craft set for making beaded jewelry, a T-shirt or canvas bag and special fabric crayons and pens for decorating, or a small set of wood working tools and pieces of cut wood can provide hours of entertainment. These gifts also often teach useful skills and encourage artistic abilities. Some kits can be purchased with the supplies and tools included. For a more personalized gift or to monitor the quality of the tools included a gift giver might choose the supplies and tools and pick a useful bag or box that could serve as storage later.

Homemade Items that Everyone Needs

Sometimes a gift item of a usable, consumable product with a personalized touch can be both affordable and appreciated. Children’s artwork can be scanned and made into calendars or greeting cards. Lip balm, bath salts, or bath oil can be made with items from the grocery and craft store. For kids simple recipes abound for play dough, homemade bath crayons, and homemade sidewalk chalk.

Since everyone needs to eat, ready-to-make meal mixes such as soup in a jar or muffin and bread mix can be great gifts as well. The gift of something useful need not be boring. It can be a playful twist on the usual or something a bit more extravagant than expected. But the element of usefulness ensures the gift will be appreciated rather than stored away.

Gift Tickets to Local Attractions, Museums or Performances

Gifts of tickets to local attractions, museums, or performances can encourage the appreciation of the arts. Families might appreciate an annual pass to a zoo or Children’s Museum near their home. Some performing arts centers offer packets of tickets to various events. Concerts or even movie theater tickets can be great gifts especially as families cut back on the entertainment budget and such attractions become a rare treat.

Instead of focusing on things to purchase, gifts that focus on activities can bring smiles and avoid both the shopping pitfalls and the return lines.Gifts that interest and give fun to the recipient need not be expensive or even purchased. With some planning and creative ideas, thought, smart gift givers can get through Christmas with some money left in their pocket.

Create a Mistletoe Kissing Ball – Homemade Christmas Decorations

Mistletoe has been used to decorate homes during Christmas for many, many years. There has been a long held tradition of kissing underneath mistletoe hanging from a door frame. Making your own mistletoe creation is simple and inexpensive, so get ready for the holidays by making an easy mistletoe kissing ball.

You can easily and cheaply create your own mistletoe kissing balls with only a few items which can be easily purchased at almost any craft store. The items you will need for your creation are:

mistletoe

floral foam ball

floral wire

ribbon

Optional items you could also use are:

berries

additional greenery such as fir

Christmas themed cut outs

Gather the mistletoe, berries and other greenery and wrap the ends with floral wire. Stick the pieces wrapped in floral wire into the foam ball, arranging the pieces according to your preference. Add Christmas themed cut outs, if desired. Attach a loop of floral wire into the top of the ball and thread a piece of ribbon through the loop to hang the completed ball.

You can make your mistletoe kissing ball in any size you choose. Also, you can get really creative and add any other objects you think will look pleasing. Each one you make will be your own unique design. This craft can bee a good project for children with adult supervision.

Younger children would need an adult to assist with wrapping the pieces with floral wire. Most children would be able to complete the rest of the project with minimal assistance.

Because these decorations are so easy and inexpensive to make, you will be able to fill many doorways in your home and give a few away as gifts too. Try making your own mistletoe ball to easily and cheaply decorate your home for the holidays.

Christmas Lights of London Ontario

Taken over two nights, one night while it was raining. Includes the infamous Saskatoon Street display as well as the Tree lit for our troops in Afghanistan and the Angel Tree. Second night was colder and there was skating in the park.

Champion Sired AKC Golden Retriever Pups Ready for Christmas!

Born October 22, 2008 We have four males and three females available! Ready on Dec 17th. $1500.00 Live on the Eastern shore of MD! More info at www.chillybleakkennel.com

It was a Christmas Miracle!

So there we were, awkwardly staring at one another in utter disbelief that nobody could figure it out. It was a week before Christmas, and all through the house, your narrator was fuming….I could smash my mouse! We were trying to put up our Christmas tree, and we weren’t having much luck. Bah Humbug!!

My family and I went out early that morning to find the perfect tree. I filled up a thermos with hot apple cider, and got the kids ready to go. The three of them got on our big old sleigh, and my husband and I took turns pulling them through the bush. We live out in the country, and we have this majestic forest on the back of our land. Every year we go out together and find the perfect tree, and the children each have a hand in cutting it down. It has become a wonderful family tradition.

We returned home and had some lunch while the tree thawed out, and then I gathered the boxes of decorations from the basement. We finally got the tree into the stand, and started stringing the lights. My husband suggested that we test the lights first, but I didn’t see the point. I strung all of the lights, plugged them in, and nothing happened. He didn’t even bother to say “I told you so”!

I decided to remove the lights from the tree, and swore that I would find the bulb that was causing us so much trouble. I spent the next hour or so changing and replacing each and every bulb on the string. I plugged them back in, and nothing happened. I was fast becoming the Scrooge!

By this time my husband was playing on the computer, and the kids were having a snowball fight in the yard. I decided it was time for some Egg Nog. When I returned, my husband was examining each of the bulbs. He told me that the circuit was being broken somehow, and that in time he would figure it out. Five minutes later, the lights were aglow! In his hand, he held one little bulb.

Apparently the bulbs that we use today have their standard filament, but they also have a secondary shunt wire that maintains the circuit if the filament burns out. As it turns out, the shunt wire in this one little bulb was defective. A short while later we were all sipping hot cocoa under our beautiful sparkling tree. To me, it was nothing short of a Christmas miracle!

Catherine Spelling absolutely loves spending Christmas with family and friends. When she is not counting down the days until Christmas, she writes for christmaslightsanddecorations.com – an online resources for all things relating to Christmas and decorations, with information about outdoor Christmas lights, LED Christmas lights, and where you can buy Christmas lights and more.

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