NAME CHANGES: This is one of the biggest shame our parents have acquired, to the fact that they have adopted outsiders names. I mean, there’s nothing wrong with you naming your child a name that you find beautiful, no matter where it’s from… but if a whole community, country and or continent (majority) start naming their kids, Mohammed, Mariam, Aicha, John, Paul, Michael, Rosa etc… is just sad. These are not original African names.

What happen to African names?

why using another culture to blend within yours?…

They (outsiders) never uses African names to name their kids, nor you will see a white person with a Chinese name etc… and vice versa (though Chinese people fit this shame also). You’re not gonna see an Arab kid with the name Omokwe or Samba.

Some Africans don’t even have African last names (which is even sad).

And many (the ones who actually have African names in their birth certificates) are ashamed of their African names, therefore many changes it when they grow up.

-Now some of you (Muslim Africans to be exact) will come with the attack: “but we’re giving our kids Muslim names from the Quran…” well, “those muslim names” you’re talking about predates Islam (that is when the Quran was revealed to the prophet Mohammed [pbuh]), Christianity, and Judaism. You have Arab Christians with the names Mohammed, Ibrahim, Aicha etc… these names are nothing but cultural (hint: they are names of respected people within Islam whom happened to be Arabs).

Another attack will be: “oh those names are blessed and have great meanings…” then it’s really ignorant because as an Example the name Ibrahim means “Father of many”. If that is the meaning, I’m sure every language in earth is understood by god, therefore why don’t you name your kids Ibrahim (father of many) in your own language. If the term “father of many” is equivalent to “iniminimanimo” in your language, then why not use that word (iniminimanimo) instead of using the arabic word Ibrahim; i mean at the end they all have the same meanings right? Enlighten me.

-Furthermore, any person with a brain will of-course understand where all this have derived from. Colonization have fathered the killings of African cultures.

When the outsiders came; we opened our arms, closed our eyes and put on a smile welcoming a stealthy destruction.

The Europeans came with guns and a religion, left with land and slaves.

The Arabs came with swords and a religion, left with land and slaves.

Although they left, part of them stayed… their cultures stayed with us.

Now, don’t get me wrong because there’s nothing wrong with an African being a Christian or a Muslim, having faith in a given religious belief have nothing to do with adopting an outsiders culture. God is universal. I always use the term “Be a Muslim, not an Arab.”

Every designer with the dream of starting her own brand has dreamed of the day she sees her name on a runway, in lights, or on a monogrammed handbag.

As fun and rewarding as this can be, its not all flashing lights-sometimes it’s a pounding gavel. Sheppard Mullin, a New York based cosmetics and fashion law firm, has written a piece that explains how Joseph Abboud was sued for using his own name in an ad after he sold his company. Read on to learn from his mistake…

Este truco realmente no es de muy utilidad, pero es un truco que quien sabe si puedas necesitarlo un día.

En cualquier version de Messenger al tratar de poner como apodo o nickname nada, este no nos lo permitira.

Pero si mantenemos presionado  ” Alt ” mientras tecleas 0160 y sueltas “Alt” se creara un espacio blanco que este si nos permitira poner como nickname.

Playing Ace King

Ace King, also called Big Slick or Anna Kournikova, is one of the most overrated hands in the history of no limit holdem. It’s exactly as the pityful sidename Anna Kournikova refers too: She looks good but doesn’t win alot. Playing Ace King is very hard. How in hells name do you play this hand? How in gods name can you make sure you always win Ace King?

AK ?! When you get it in a cash game or tournament of whatever it is you are playing, you get a little bit of goosebumps. Serious research has pointed out that most people go broke or die at a tournament because ofoverplaying Ace King, especially Ace King suited.

Before we go further with the analysis of AK, please hold in mind that not only with Ace King, but with all suited cards, against unsuited cards the increased winning percentage that comes with suited cards is only a percent!

Ok, so if most people loose more than they win with Ace King, and loose at especially crucial times, then what is it that they are doing wrong playing AK? First of all we are going to take a look at the potential of AK, after that we will follow up with how Ace King, in conclusion, actually should be played and how it should not be played.

AK is the best drawing hand. AK can beat EVERY HAND, it is only a big underdog against AA and KK.

The rest of the hands is either just as strong or slighty stronger or a lot worse than AK. Hence you would say, AK is one of the best hands. This is, mathmatically said, true. But it is one of the most complicated and tricky hands too. AK is no

favourite against 22. 33 is. But then again, it is not much more of an underdog against QQ, one of the strongest hand in NL Holdem.

Poker Rules …. Poker Position …. Poker Strategy …. Poker Bonuses

How should one play this complicated hand then?

Ace King should be played with caution, but also with aggression. Being aggressive in poker is a good overall strategy anyhow, but especially when you hold AK. In tournaments you can be ultra aggressive with AK. But only as long as YOU push. NEVER call an all in with AK in tournaments as you are no favourite against all pairs and only a slightly favourite against other drawing hands like QJ and 10J. But if you are the one that is raising or … read the full article at PokerBG.Net

Check out also articles … How to play QQs and JJs and How to play pocket pairs

File extension is a suffix to the computer file name right after the (.) period which indicates the format of the file and the associated application that can open it. Sometimes it is helpful to show the file extensions especially if you need to rename them to a different extension.

Read more…

Obi und ich wollen etwas besonderes in Angriff nehmen: Wir entwickeln unsere erste Anwendung speziell für den Mac.

XCode ist wahrlich keine einfache Programmiersprache, aber wir werden uns einarbeiten (müssen) und bald entsteht ein neues Projekt: Der YouTube-Manager.

Ich hatte schon vor langer Zeit eine Idee. Wie wäre es, wenn man mit einer Anwendung YouTube organisieren und verwalten kann und seine wichtigsten Videos immer mit dabei hat, auch wenn man mal nicht online ist? Dies und viel mehr soll das Programm können. Es soll Videos in einer ganz neuen Art präsentieren, anzeigen und verwalten können. Selbstverständlich mit Login und allem was dazugehört.

Das Programm wird nicht gerade eine leichte Anwendung die man so eben in 2 Stunden programmiert. Unser erstes Ziel wird es sein, alle Funktionen des regulären YouTubes zu implementieren. Doch wir gehen einen Schritt weiter. Wir werden die Geschwindigkeit erhöhen und die kleinen Mankos ausarbeiten, die die Onlineversion von YouTube besitzt. Außerdem werden wir umfangreiche Organisations- und Archivierungsfunktionen implementieren, die so zuvor noch nicht bekannt waren. Features, die wir planen, sind (unter anderem):

• Revolutionäre, geschwindigkeitsbringende Benutzeroberfläche mit Drag&Drop Features und exzellentem Design
• Archivierungsfunktion, um alle seine Favoriten, Abbonements, einzelne Videos oder sogar alle angeschauten Videos immer dabei zu haben
• Bessere Tagging- und Suchfunktion
• Mehrere Favoritenlisten und verbesserte Playlistfunktionen
• Umfangreiche Verwaltung von Abonnements
• Neuartige Kommentarfunktion mit History und vielem mehr
• Verbesserte Administration des eigenen Kanals
• und vieles mehr…

Das alles hört sich ziemlich theoretisch an, und das ist es auch. Es wird allerdings das nächste Projekt werden. Wir werden zusammen daran arbeiten. Das Programm wird mit XCode programmiert und ist nur auf OSX lauffähig. Eine Windows- und Linuxversion wird es nicht geben! Ich habe mich dazu entschieden, regelmäßig den genauen Projektverlauf auf meinem Blog zu veröffentlichen. Sobald das Programm lauffähig ist, wird es höchstwahrscheinlich Weekly Builds geben.

Und jetzt das Wichtige: Das Programm wird komplett Freeware und OpenSource (Lizenz ist noch nicht entschieden)!

Und zum Schluss noch eine wichtige Aufforderung an meine Leser. Wie ihr sicherlich gemerkt habt, sprach ich vom “Programm”, denn das Projekt hat bislang noch keinen Namen. Es wäre nett, wenn ihr ein paar Namensvorschläge als Kommentar hinterlasst. Vielen Dank und schönen Sonntag noch!

Jax has been wanting a pet for a while now. He has asked numerous times for a dog (particularly a “big dog” as he explains), amongst a whole long list of other animals, including hermit crabs.

In the last several weeks, with the big move to into Asheville (after living in this area my whole life living in the counties, and small towns surrounding the city we are finally in the city) Yippee! And Jax recovering from his surgery last week, which was very successful and uneventful- It was decided that he deserved something extra special this week.

After thinking.. I am not sure yet we are at a point in our lives where a dog or large animal of high maintenance would be a good idea. However, some responsibilty would be great for him to start learning in his size amounts.

So today we adopted Koko & Pelli the hermit crabs.  He is totally excited, loves them, and he feels very proud of the extra responsibility. Zander thinks they are pretty funny, and seems quite amused by them.

This is Koko, he is the larger of the two. He is quite fast and was not up for much photography unlike his mate. When pictures were attempted he ran from the camera with incredible speed, and preferred to sleep when in his crabitat.

This is Pelli, he is active and definately the charmer don’t ya think? He thinks so anyway.

 He thinks so anyway. He loves checking out his crabself.

 Every morning and evening we will be showing and helping Jax care for the new members by feeding them, cleaning and tidying up their home, wetting their sponge, playing with them, and once a week bathing them. We will also be helping him to collect fun toys for them to climb and play, as well as new shells to grow into.

From McSweeney’s, a list of cruel names for overweight vampires:

Snackula
Undead Weight
Count Chocoholic
Vampire the Buffet Slayer
Cholesteratu
The Vampurgler
The Vampire Lestop For Some Tacos
Vlad the Inhaler
Child Of Candy Cain
Quiche Lilith
Ghoulash
Queen of the Hammed
Taco Bela
Bela Obesi
Transylvania 6-5000 Calories
Dick Cheney
Das Vhoppyr

Cruel Names for Overweight Vampires [McSweeney's]

I’m feeling baffled and lonesome today.  Not only did my car break down so I couldn’t go to any trans sympathetic events today, but all of my friends seem to be busy.  But if I have to light a candle all by myself today in remembrance, I’ll do it.  This day is weighing heavier on me than I thought it would.

I couldn’t sleep this morning.  I got up before 6 and started writing my coming out letter to my dad.  It’s now probably around five or six pages, and from here it’s just paring it down into something he can process.  I needed to start working on it today, even though I’m planning on not coming out until shortly before my 21st birthday next month.  I want to have time to let it sit and ruminate, decide what to share and what to keep.  Even now I feel I’ve left a ridiculous amount out, but I don’t think it’s the kind of thing he can take in one sitting, anyway.  I want to provide him with so much so that he can understand it- I just don’t know how much he can get his head around in one letter, and if he can’t, what the most important thing is to include on his first experience with this, just in case he won’t want to listen to any more of it.  I may post my rough draft next time I post.

…

I’m on a quest to find other trans people in the county, because I’ve heard rumors through a friend of a friend about a friend or two they may have.  I don’t really have enough information to go on, but I’m pretty good at internet sleuthing, so I feel that if I dig around with just the right nugget of information, I may uncover something.  I just feel like I’m on the coattails of finding someone around here who’s like me.  I don’t find much support in the queer community, that’s for sure- I’m tired of hanging around with people who either need to be educated, or don’t want to hear it.  I need to get to know someone who already knows.

But, of course, there’s the whole problem of said possibly-existant person being the sort who loves their stealth and doesn’t want it uncovered by anyone, even other trans people.  I don’t know how to broach that line.  All I know is, I don’t want to be alone in this anymore.

…

One of my old friends from high school- one of the first friends I made, in fact, in Math- I just came out to him.  He sort of figured it out on his own.  I was never actually too incredibly close with him, he was just more of a fun guy to be around but not listed among my top friends.  But the funny thing is, he’s taking this trans thing like a regular pro, treating me just like one of the guys- just the way he’s always treated me, really- and trying harder than anyone to get my name right.  It’s great, he’s like a brother.  We got in an arm punching contest yesterday- I think he stopped pulling his punches when I punched his arm with such force that he stumbled back into his porch door.  It was awesome.  Now I have some bruises that feel just great.  No, I mean that.  I’ve never actually been in a fight before, and I don’t count slugging contests either.  I don’t think I have nearly enough battle scars.  It feels good to get some aggression out once in a while and I’m thinking about getting into some kind of combat class, maybe a martial art, maybe boxing.  I know for a FACT I want to start working out at a gym of some sort- I wish I could afford a membership, but I think the community college equipment is available with permission.  But I’m really getting off track here.

It’s just awesome to have a guy friend who I can joke around with and be a guy with- a straight guy friend, no sexual tension, I’d like to emphasize- and one who really knows what I’m about.  I think this is a major uplift in my life right now.

…

I’d like to do only one thing for sure before the day is over.  I’d like to rent and watch “Boys Don’t Cry.”  I think one of my other friends is coming over to pick me up today, so I was hoping we could stop and grab it at the video rental.  It’s important to be able to watch it today, on this day, if nothing else.  I wish I could spread the word to as many of my friends as possible about the dangers of being trans, but for now all I can do is keep writing, light my candles and watch a movie.

I feel a little… useless today.

Today, I’m pondering where character names come from. I recently read a few short stories I’d written—or started to write—a few years ago. In one story, in place of the main character’s name, I’d used GIRL. I could “see” the character, I just couldn’t “hear” her name. I never finished writing that story.

In The Brevity of Roses, the novel I just finished (ahem) writing, I have three major characters. One woman I’ve named Meredith and though I saw her clearly, I had to think for her name. The younger woman I first named Kristen because of the “type” I see when I hear it, but, except for her gender, Kristen was the opposite of the character who is now Renee. I wish I had kept a book diary because now I can’t quite remember the sequence of events that led to such a radical change in my storyline. But when the character changed, so did the name.

My third, and main, character in the novel is of middle-eastern descent. He announced his name. As I’ve said in previous posts, the core idea for this story came from a dream. No one had names in the dream. When I thought about writing a short story based on this dream, I knew I would have to have a scene where the older woman met the man. As I started to craft this scene, I used WOMAN as a name placeholder for her, but when I got to the point where I wrote the line where the man introduces himself, I heard: I am Jalal. There you go. I love the sound of it. I love the way it feels in my mouth. Unfortunately, I’ve found that it’s not so easily pronounced by some people—my sister for one. She now has my permission to simple refer to him as J.

I think it’s important to have the name “fit” the character. Most of us would instantly picture Tony Randall in The Odd Couple if we read the name Felix. And none of us is likely to name a character Oprah, Madonna, or Cher without knowing the image it would evoke—not to mention probable litigation. But we also want to avoid naming a character Kaitlyn if the story takes place during the Civil War. By the way, the U.S. Census bureau has a site to help us find popular character names by decade, year, or even state of birth.

I have a superstition about using the names of family members, or even people I know well, as character names. Obviously, that limits my choices. Sometimes I resort to the open-the-book/magazine/newspaper-and-point method … though I may have to point several times before I find a name that fits. Of course, you’ll never please every reader. To me, Meredith conjures a picture of beauty and refinement, but you might know a foul-mouthed, smelly, terror of a woman with that name. If so, I can only hope you’ll succeed in wiping that image from your mind when you read my novel.

Do you have any methods to share for choosing character names?

This site needed a name change. I know this because I wanted to change the name. I don’t need the name to be recognizable to the masses, as I don’t really expect this site to reach the masses (though they are always welcome here). Rather, I need this site to be interesting to the few folks who read it and find it interesting, and I need it to be interesting to me, since I write it.

The new name is “The People’s Democratic Republic of Hardenistan.” As a political science major, I do have unrealistic aspirations. One of those is global conquest.

The others include things like qualifying for the Boston Marathon and learning to truly like cross-training.

I have already established the PDRH, as I like to call it. It currently includes my apartment, my cubicle (sorry, MDOT), my co-worker Jenn’s cubicle (via annexation), and my parents’ house. It will gradually grow over time, and as I see fit. I reached the name rather easily. My favorite country names have always been those that included something akin to the term “people’s democratic republic”; the nations so named rarely meet any of those criteria. Consider the case of North Korea, just as an example. Its formal name is the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. I rest my case. As for the name “Hardenistan,” it’s catchy.

Given that the small (but growing) territory and this site now share a name, maybe I did go for personal branding after all.

Noodle Soup
P8. Pho Chin, Gan ~ Brisket & Tendon
P9. Pho Chin, Nam ~ Brisket & Frank
P10. Pho Tai, Chin Bo Vien ~ Steak, Brisket, Meat Balls
P11. Pho Tai, Nam, Gau, Gan, Sach ~ Steak, Frank, Brisket, Tendon, Tripe

His brother was delicious.

Submitted by: MANGOPTIMUS! via Engrish Funny Submissions

moving over here from Blogger…we’ll see how it goes. So far so good.

have I ever mentioned that I hate committing to something on paper (blog)…choosing a name for this blog was AWFUL! I’m always afraid I’m going to get tired of a name in a few months…much like I get tired of the furniture layout after a few months and want to change it. (much to my husband’s dismay). maybe that’s why he leans towards really heavy furniture…so he knows I won’t move it on my own without serious injury. Anyways, this title reads A meets Z for many reasons and interpretations:
1. all encompassing…from A to Z
2. I am type A…but as always with kids and pets and husbands…and well life in general…it gets a little craZy!

So here’s hoping I don’t get tired of this title and want to change anytime soon

The Boy with No Name is the fifth studio album by Scottish Indie pop band Travis. The album was released on 7 May 2007 in the United Kingdom and on 8 May 2007 in the United States.

The name of the album came about when lead singer Fran Healy and his partner Nora were deciding on a name for their newly born son. During this time, he sent a photo of his son to friend by email and labeled the photo “The Boy with No Name”. Healy revealed this on the The Chris Moyles Show during an interview. Healy has also revealed in pre-album release performances that some tracks are influenced by his developing family status, such as “My Eyes” being about his new son or “Battleships” referring to ups and downs of relationships.

Track listing

1. “3 Times and You Lose”
2. “Selfish Jean”
3. “Closer”
4. “Big Chair”
5. “Battleships”
* Backing vocals provided by Julia Stone.
6. “Eyes Wide Open”
7. “My Eyes”
8. “One Night”
9. “Under the Moonlight”
* Backing vocals provided by KT Tunstall.
10. “Out in Space”
11. “Colder” (Healy, Dougie Payne)
12. “New Amsterdam”
13. “Sailing Away” (hidden bonus track)
* Starts at 5:52 into last track
14. “Perfect Heaven Space” (UK bonus track)
15. “Say Hello” (iTunes bonus track)

More @ Wikipedia

Scotland is well known around the world for producing excellent country clothing – and Scottish tweed is just one example.

Scottish tweed clothing is available for both men and women, and the range of products on offer will ensure that everyone can find some sort of tweed clothing that will flatter their figure and make them look their best.

association has existed for generations, making tweed a truly timeless material; one that is not affected by the fluctuating preferences of fashion. Men who want to experience the look and feel of high-quality tweed clothing has also remained. In fact, with more people looking to buy products locally, this could translate to an increase in tweed sales in Scotland. Tweed clothing will always be associated with refined country pursuits and life in the urban sprawl. There is an interesting story about how tweed gained its iconic name.

It was originally called by the fluctuating preferences of fashion. Men who want to experience the look and feel of high-quality tweed clothing is available for both men and women, and the range of products. Collections of tweed clothing can choose from a wide range of products. Collections of tweed products manufactured in Scotland. Tweed clothing will always be associated with refined country pursuits and life in the urban sprawl. There is an interesting story about how tweed gained its iconic name.

It was originally called by the fluctuating preferences of fashion. Men who want to experience the look and feel of high-quality tweed clothing can choose from a wide range of products. Collections of tweed products manufactured in Scotland. This is due, in part, to concern about the environment, but can also be attributed to the sheer excellence of tweed products manufactured in Scotland. Tweed clothing will always be associated with refined country pursuits and life in the urban sprawl. There is an interesting story about how tweed gained its iconic name.

It was originally called by the Scots name “tweele”, because the cloth was woven in a twill pattern rather than a straight one.

“that which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet;”

~ Shakespeare , Romeo and Juliet, Act II, Scene II

I get a lot of people asking me about my name and where it came from.

Amanda Elizabeth Barden

writer of “Baby Names Made Easy” (published by Simon & Schuster)

is based out of San Francisco and also asked me about my name in an interview recently.

You can read the full article by clicking the image below.

Amanda’s BLOG IS HERE

and her TWITTER IS HERE.

ENJOY!!

xxxx

]]> http://failblog.org/2009/11/19/name-fail-9/ Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:00:38 +0000 Cheezburger Network http://failblog.org/2009/11/19/name-fail-9/

Name Fail

Picture by: Wraithbone Submitted by: Wraithbone via Fail Uploader

DBS, someone always call me with this great name of the bank singapore’s, which is have a servise of limousine for the client’s, its due to this old man always forget my name and coz i always take care of his booking limosine to pick him up from the airport to the home when he got back to singapore, thats the simple reason that no body aware about. Sometimes its not so easy to do, while my bos love to change flight schedule at any time depend on working situation, even was inform before that the booking nor amendment are imposible to adhere exclude of 24 hours, we can’t accepted and must get any way to get the one even if we got a charge, oou… mammamia.. as italian said.. Yes its not easy! So how?yes find a way even he never tell me how to do, but he got many times… someday later i’ve to find how to do, how he always get it, without pay at all, Ciao dbs..

Hi everyone

88% of brides will take their husband’s surname once married. 3% will keep their own, while 7% of couples are combining surnames.

I have decided not to change my name and my new husband is fine with that. But, can I still call myself Mrs? The danger is if you do, people who meet you first may call your husband “Mr ‘your maiden name’” not great for him!

Any ideas?

Posted by Audiegrl

The American Family Association attacked Gap for not using the word ‘Christmas‘ in its advertising — but in fact it does, and in a big way too

Los Angeles Times/Dan Neil—The Mississippi-based American Family Assn. last week issued a fatwa against Gap Inc. — the retailing giant whose brands include Gap, Old Navy and Banana Republic — calling for a “two-month boycott over the company’s failure to use the word ‘Christmas’ in its advertising to Christmas shoppers.”

The War on Christmas season has officially begun.

Gap “does not use the word ‘Christmas’ to avoid offending those who don’t embrace its meaning,” writes Buddy Smith, executive assistant to the president of the AFA, on the organization’s website. “Christmas has historically been very good for commerce. But now Gap wants the commerce but no Christmas.”

“I interpret Gap’s decision as a warning sign to Christians to get out there and tell people about Jesus Christ,” writes Smith.

And they say nobody likes fruitcake.

It would be easy to get sidetracked into debating the merits of the War on Christmas. Why, for example, is the phrase “Happy holidays” so insufferable to Christian fundamentalists, but not the vulgar, surfeiting exploitation of Christ’s name to sell smokeless ashtrays, dessert toppings, Droid phones and trampolines? I’m not a theologian but I think the Gospels are pretty clear that Jesus was no fan of merchants.

And since China is in the news this week: Why not go after Gap and other retailers for trading in Chinese-made goods, since the Chinese government actively oppresses the Christian faith? Seems like building a case on religious tolerance would have more resonance. Oh, wait. Never mind.

But here’s the real question: Why attack Gap for not using the word “Christmas” in its advertising when in fact it does, and in a big way too?

Surf on over to YouTube and watch Gap’s latest 30-second spot, titled “Go Ho Ho” (Crispin Porter + Bogusky). The spot — which is in heavy rotation on network and cable TV — features a group of insanely athletic dancers leaping and twirling and stomp-cheering around a white log-cabin set. They chant, “Go Christmas, go Hanukkah, go Kwanzaa, go Solstice. . . . Do whatever you wannukkah and to all a cheery night.”

There it is, right up front, enjoying pride of place: the C-word.

More @

In one of the first lines of Gap’s new holiday ad, the dancers yell, “Go Christmas! Go Hanukkah! Go Kwanzaa! Go Solstice!” Check it out, its got great dancing too!

Get Ready For Holiday Cheer – visit cheerfactory.com to send some personalized digi-cheer to your friends.

IMHO, this entire drama could be avoided by simply educating people on the origins of what we know today as “Christmas“.

Several years ago a family member gave me the DVD “Christmas unWrapped- The History of Christmas“. It examines each of our holiday traditions and explains where they came from. Many people who believe we should “keep Christ in Christmas“, will be surprised to learn the historical facts. Its a very interesting documentary, that I highly recommend.

Click here to purchase

People all over the world celebrate the birth of Christ on December 25th. But why is the Nativity marked by gift giving, and was He really born on that day? And just where did the Christmas tree come from? Take an enchanting tour through the history of this beloved holiday and trace the origins of its enduring traditions. Journey back to the earliest celebrations when the infant religion embraced pagan solstice festivals like the Roman Saturnalia and turned them into a commemoration of Jesus’ birth. Learn how Prince Albert introduced the Christmas tree to the English-speaking world in 1841, and discover how British settlers in the New World transformed the patron saint of children into jolly old St. Nick.

This documentary explores the origin of Christmas and how it came to be the way we know it today. The documentary also incites the thought as to how Christmas is on one hand a result of social, cultural, and political influences (hence somewhat obscuring the apparent purpose of the festival: Christ’s Mass), and on the other hand a influence over people’s lives (particularly consumerism). Youtube links to the first three parts of the show are below.

I highly recommend purchasing this DVD.

Part One
Part Two
Part Three