In face of forces beyond our control, an instinct of survival is triggered. Cohesion within family and close friends becomes important. Digital education for kids and parents at work from home, opens for many a new world. Character counts.

Thank you and for so many to keep ET alive and running ... still a Place to Meet and discuss today's issues in a broad perspective.

Christmas is for me personally a theme of peace and connection between people. Looking forward and not to past disappointments. There is still a large majority who care and offer support to families in need. The pandemic placed inequality in stark contrast with the very wealthy and triumph of narcissism.

'Sapere aude'

There is nothing like a crisis of this magnitude to make clear whose job is really no "bullshit job", and yet, tend to be, all too often, at the lower end of our social scale.

Equally revealing, as you mentioned, those who do not feel any responsibility not to propagate a potentially deadly virus, or easily subscribe to any theory from some "video on the Internet". They say that wars do highlight both the best and the worst in human nature; this pandemic has done the same, apparently.

Happy holidays to all and keep safe.

It matters little whether Jesus was born at Nazareth or Bethlehem. The accounts conflict, but the point is of no consequence.

It is of consequence, however, that He was born in a stable and cradled in a manger. This fact of itself, about which there is no question, certifies conclusively the proletarian character of Jesus Christ. Had His parents been other than poor working people -- money changers, usurers, merchants, lawyers, scribes, priests, or other parasites -- He would not have been delivered from His mother's womb on a bed of straw in a stable among asses and other animals.

(By Eugene Debs)

Why is Japan obsessed with KFC on Christmas?
"By 1974, the company's Christmas campaign had gone nationwide under the slogan 'Kentucky for Christmas.'"

A little linguistic tidbit: In english "Yule" is used to reference the pagan, pre-christian midwinter holiday. In many north germanic (and some not so germanic) languages, versions of the word "Yule" - like the Swedish "Jul" - references the christian midwinter holiday, while other terms are used to reference the previous holiday, like in Swedish midvinterblot, the midwinter sacrifice.

So, have a good Jul, no matter what it means to you!