Christmas is a scam.

You'll need real player to listen to David Sedaris' Santaland Diaries, which I heard today on NPR. Don't worry, the download is free, and the story is awesome. AWESOME. It's about his experience as Crumpet, the Macy's elf in Santaland.


Do not miss Sedaris' Billy Holiday impression, right around the 7:50 mark. It's a really good impression!


Christmas is a scam.


Also, I'm sure these kids in the video below are nice kids, but I really find this kind ecstasy over an gift to be pretty frightening. We confuse surprise and excitedness with happiness. That doesn't look like happiness to me; it looks like anxiety (think: the Dog Whisperer). Materialism is not normal, nor is it natural; it's socialized, and reinforced throuought childhood.


You want your kids to be happy? Go ahead and buy them an N64, and play it with them. Also, encourage them to study their Spanish; help them when they need help, and praise them when they do well.