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Charb blogGerry Charbonneau (1,405)    Gerry Charbonneau   http://nibblednewsbyte.typepad.com Santa's Got To Be Squeaky Clean This Christmas SeasonPosted Saturday, November 14, 2009 (6 days 22 hours ago.) Viewed 467 times. "He knows if you've been sneezing He knows when you've been sick
He knows if you have had the flu
So, don't try to fool Saint Nick."
The movie classic "Miracle on 34th Street" , a 1947 film starring Maureen O'Hara, John Payne, Natalie Wood and Edmund Gwenn, is the story of what takes place in New York City following Macy's Department Store Thanksgiving Day Parade.
People are left wondering whether or not a department store Santa might be the real thing. Because of its Christmas theme this film has become a perennial favorite.
In the movie an aspiring and struggling attorney (John Payne) tries to convince a skeptical , single mother (Maureen O'Hara) and her young and impressionable daughter (Natalie Wood) that a "nice bearded old man" (Edmund Gwenn) is the one and only Santa Claus.
The movie offers its viewers the opportunity to suspend their non belief in a Santa Claus and once again become inncoent children and enjoy the lights, sights and sounds of the holiday season.
These days however owners of many Santa Claus training academies are instructing their aspiring trainees to take extra precautions with the hordes of youngsters who will be visiting them this holiday season especially with the H1N1 virus running rampant and unchecked across the nation.
Santa Calus school graduates are being vigorously encouraged and instructed to change their gloves frequently and wash their traditional Santa beard and long white hair daily as these could be a source of infection. Their familiar red and white Santa outit is to be cleaned and sanitized frequently for safety concerns.
The parting Santa Cluas gift to many youngsters this year in addition to the candy will include a tube of Purell or other similar hand sanitizer to protect them from harm. Some Santas are also being encouraged from hugging and receiving kiss of affection from the little ones.
Many Santa Claus portrayers are also being asked to be especially sanitary about their own personal habits. A number of seasoned veterans reported that they have already had their regular seasonal flu and H1N1flu shots as an added precautionary measures to protect the children.
Some Santas suggest they might even go so far as to place a large sign near Santa's North Pole throne to let the public know that they are following safe and sanitary personal habits and to encourage the public to wash or sanitize their hands frequently while shopping.
The Santa schools this year have issued a number of Do's and Don'ts for their graduates to follow. Hand cleaning stations will also be available to assure parents that everthing is being done to protect their children from contracting the virus.
In the simpler time portrayed in the movie the public needed to be convinced that an amicable old man with a white beard and friendly disposition was the one and the only Santa Claus.
These days, however, a very cynical and fearful public needs to be equally assured that the man in the red and whire suit chatting animatedly with their children is not a potential source of a highly contagious and deadly virus.
Permalink Comments (0) H1N1 --- The Newest Media DarlingPosted Wednesday, November 04, 2009 (16 days 18 hours ago.) Viewed 1,254 times. "Anxiety is a thin stream of fear trickling through the mind. If encouraged, it cuts a channel into which all other thoughts are drained." Arthur Somers Roche Newspapers, television and even radio commentators these days seem to relish an on going relationship and love affair with the H1N1 virus. Each and every day a new human tragedy, deception, revelation or insight is offered a panicking and much concerned public. Medical professionals and those folks responsible for producing the much touted vaccine admit that, yes, they goofed and had overestimated their ability to produce the much needed vaccine. They also readily admit that they seriously miscalculated the virus' ability to conform to the standard and norms they had set for it. The second wave strain of the virus keeps mutating while the scientists continue to be bogged down with events and circumstances they cannot control. Public apprehension and disgust increase daily. The medical professionals whom the public expect to keep them healthy and safe have let them own big time. A national state of emergency has mutated itself into a classic medical fiasco. The experts have assumed the cartoon persona of an Elmer Fudd valiantly yet comically trying to pursue and outsmart Bugs Bunny but know deep down that their attempts are in vain. Reliable sources, such as the CBS news magazine 60 Minutes is also guilty of adding its bit to the media hype and hoopla. A recent Sunday night newscast informed an anxious viewing audience that the chicken farm that houses these wonder hens is classified as a government security installation. I am sure that a family with young children or loved ones in the high risk category for the virus will rest assured that Uncle Sam and tax dollars are working hard to protect these birds from the clutches of Colonel Sanders or other sinister types of malcontents. It is commendable that the scientists and the pharmaceutical company gurus who produce the vaccine admitted that they goofed. We can all breathe a little easier knowing that they are now valiantly attempting to correct the problem. It is reprehensible that the news hungry media outlets continue to fan the flames of fear and pubic apprehension this virus has produced. I think we are all sick and tired of the sensationalizing the media news sources are providing to merely increase their viewing numbers and advertising revenues. The H1N1 virus is a serious medical issue. We can only hope the news outlets get their acts together and start reporting this crisis responsibly.
Permalink Comments (8) The Real Trick To Halloween: Enjoying The Spirit Of The EveningPosted Sunday, October 25, 2009 (26 days 23 hours ago.) Viewed 1,311 times. "This Halloween the most popular mask is the Arnold Schwarzenegger mask. And the best part? With a mouthful of candy you will sound just like him." Conan O'Brien Beware. Halloween is almost here. It is truly the ideal night for grinches. With its roots in Celtic culture Halloween has become a national celebration and is enjoyed by children as well as adults. The imagery of Halloween is a combination of Gothic and horror literature including the Frankenstein and Dracula mystique. It is also a night to watch and enjoy your favorite monster movie. Celebrated as a holiday in many English speaking countries on the night of October 31st, it is the day children wear costumes and go to people's homes saying "trick or treat" to ask for candy. In response to this scary plea people simply give it to them. This comes from an age old threat meaning "give me a treat or I will play a trick on you". Children today usually do not do the tricks if they do not receive a treat. But some children still do mischievous deeds ( pranks or things to make fun of people like putting toilet paper in trees or writing with soap on windows or even throwing raw eggs at their house.) According to Wikipedia "people sometimes dress up as ghosts, witches, goblins and other frightening things for Halloween. It is a time for crossing borders and publicly celebrating the grotesque and eerier side of the imagination. It is a popular holiday for young adults ages 18 to 24. Some people believe the night offers the public the opportunity to take their private fantasies public. A poll conducted by the Axe Grooming Company discovered that 55 per cent of the women interviewed believed that Halloween offered an excuse to "act or dress naughty" and 33 per cent of the female respondents confessed that they had worn a "naughty costume" in the past. For those people practicing the Wicca religion Halloween is one of eight holy days throughout the year and is known as Samhain, a festival of the ancient Celts held around November 1st to celebrate the beginning of winter. It is also the night to give bats, black cats and of course pumpkins a second look.The usually innocuous pumpkin is traditionally made up for display on this day. This humble and edible fruit is magically transformed into an eerily menacing Jack-O-Lantern, a hallowed out pumpkin with openings cut to represent human eyes, nose and mouth and into which a candle or other light may be placed. When the candle is lit the pumpkin takes on a mysterious and menacing glow. Halloween is also considered to be a family night. Adults and children don costumes and visit neighbors and friends. Costume parties and other festivities are planned for the evening. Being one of the world's oldest holidays it is still celebrated today in several countries around the globe. North America helps maintain the day's highest level of popularity. It is also reportedly the holiday in which the most candy is sold.and is second only to Christmas in terms of total sales. Unlike most nations of the world, the day is not celebrated by the French in order to honor their dead and departed ancestors. In Korea, a festival similar to Halloween is know as "Chusok". Among Spanish-speaking nations it is known as "El Dias De Los Muertos". In Sweden the day is called " Alla Helgons Dag" and is celebrated from October 31 until November 6th. Halloween is a holiday celebrating death as an integral part of life. It is an important day because it is the only holiday that commemorates death, offering us a rare opportunity to face the darkness.
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