ThinkingSkull.com

And what will you spend an extra second doing? It’s called a “leap second,” and the clock keepers in Boulder, Colorado are going to be adding a whole second to the end of 2005 in order to ensure that the world-wide time keeping system remains constant. And due to a slowing of the Earth’s rotation, and extra second has been deemed necessary. Enjoy!

Is this the biggest pointless rivalry since “Tastes Great, Less Filling?” Answer: yes, and even without a product endorsment (unless you consider the entire retail holiday an endorsement).

First of all, during “the holidays,” there are TWO here for Christians: Christmas and New Year’s. Count ‘em, one and two. So, in and of itself, saying “Happy Holidays” doesn’t necessarily NOT mean “Merry Christmas” by default. And even if it does, there ARE other holidays going on this late in the year.

That said, I’ve also heard the following arguement. “If it wasn’t for the birth of Christ, there would be no celebration this time of year.” Actually, the imposement of Christianity in converting Pagan religions were deliberately timed to coincide with existing celebrations such as the Winter Solstice (Birth of Christ) and Spring Equinox (The Resurrection). Clever, huh? Remember, folks, if you’re going to impose your religion on the native people of the land you’re conquering, it never hurts to keep the celebrations around the same time of year even if they’re for different reasons (see last year’s King Arthur for fun facts and details).

Finally, lighten up, ever’body! Even Christmas wasn’t that widely celebrated until after the Civil War, and only then because retailers played up the spirit of giving (and lining their pockets). See this bit of interest referenced on The Consumerist. The moral of the story is that no one religion or group should be imposing their moniker on what has collectively become an excuse to get together and be together (and if that means giving and getting loot, so be it).

Hope you have a happy haul this year, and if you don’t get totally smashed on New Year’s, may the wrath of Father Time be upon you (or that creepy kid wearing the diaper). All right, just kidding on that last part. But seriously, he’ll get you!

I really tried to come up with ten of these (end of year tradition, and all) but it just wasn’t in the cards. Still, if anyone else can think of anything else I’ve missed, add it down in the comments below.

1. Airports collecting “deadly” things. They got my manicure set, so they should get yours, too. It’s only fair.
2. The celebrity self-destruction of Tom Cruise. Isn’t it nice to know that someone so rich and famous can still muster up this much excitement for his THIRD wife (each one being 5-10 years younger than the first, right?)
3. The Patriot Act. Well, it’s set to expire and they’re voting for a continuance, but the only thing “patriotic” about a spy bill designed to look internally are McCarthy-era politics. Watch Good Night, and Good Luck for details.
4. Small minimum credit card payments. Americans are horribly dependant on keeping up with their neighbors’ indebted lifestyles, so with minimum payments set to double after December 31st, 2006, you’ll have no choice but to keep up and pay ‘em off.
5. My Thanksgiving vacation. You know, the one where everyone pretends they’re being nice to one another so they can be a family? It appears scheduling will prevent our appearance next year, so we’ll have to visit as we can and only a few at a time. And finally…
6. Those Subway stamps and cards for free product. I hear they’re trying to implement something new now, but why fix what wasn’t broke?

Wanna clue as to how twisted MY imagination can be? Pretty much as bizarre as whomever came up with this overseas car commercial. Of course, one can only wonder how many of these things Toyota intends to sell if this is how they view their customer base, but oh well, enjoy.