NON Breaking News Stories

We’re taking about human behaviour in general, not just being a mother.

You’re missing the bigger picture, but I am going to leave it there.

1 Like

I’m not really.
But leave it there if you want.

1 Like

Great to see Notre Dame is finished and opening at the weekend. I will be in Paris next week and will visit if the queues are not too long.

Just as well they didn’t follow this advice though…

Trump, who was in office at the time, offered some advice to the French authorities.

“So horrible to watch the massive fire at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris,” he wrote on Twitter.

“Perhaps flying water tankers could be used to put it out. Must act quickly!”

French officials appeared to respond shortly after, noting that “All means” were being used to extinguish the flames, “except for water-bombing aircrafts which, if used, could lead to the collapse of the entire structure of the cathedral.”

5 Likes

I dread to think how much worse the lead pollution issues would be after that too…

Former England rugby star is feared dead in Storm Darragh floods
©David Davies/PA Wire / Instagram @tomvoyce
Former England rugby player Tom Voyce is believed to have died after apparently trying to cross a flood-swollen river in his car during Storm Darragh. Northumbria Police believe the 43-year-old attempted to cross Abberwick Ford over the River Aln near Alnwick, Northumberland, before his car was swept away with the current. Police launched a search for the England wing after receiving a report on Sunday morning that he had not returned to his home following an evening with friends.

image

1 Like

This is being discussed now in India where the laws originally created to protect women are being increasingly used by some women to take revenge etc.

I find it extremely hard to believe that any 11 year olds still believe in Santa.

Hampshire pupils 'sob' as vicar discusses existence of Santa - BBC News

2 Likes

St Nicholas was a real person as far as we know. There is more evidence of his existence than for that of Jesus. He lived in Turkey in the 4th century.
Father Christmas is a pagan mythical character who probably pre dates Christianity and thus Christmas. The history is rather sketchy, but it’s clear that pagan people celebrated the Winter Solstice.

Somehow, the two characters have become fused into one mythical person who does not exist.

The wisdom of telling lies to children is questionable.

This is non breaking news.

The first to draw something akin to the current father Christmas was Robert Weir, in 1828:
image
It was then taken over by an american caricaturist around 1860, Thomas Nast:

The current incarnation of Father Christmas however is a purely commercial thing, created by Coca Cola in 1931.

image
image

1 Like

Nah, the 1930s Coke ads may have taken it further, but the basic idea of bearded portly old man is far older. Old enough to be played with by putting him in a Star-spangled banner outfit during the American Civil War. Nast more than anyone really is responsible for that

1 Like

Yeah, Nast is the father of this figure. But Coke contributed to spreading it around the world, especially after WW2. Whenever I look at such a picture, I feel colonized. :rage: :wink:

1 Like

By colonized, do you mean liberated from Fanta and Krampus?

5 Likes

Now you know how it feels to be Australian. Welcome to the club

1 Like

That’s cultural appropriation!

Ahem.

1 Like

True. Christmas in Australia is absurd.

This

This was an open goal.

3 Likes

:crazy_face:

reported

1 Like