Oh, the weather outside is frightful ...

Shhh, an early holiday gift for you



Don't tell you know who's legal dept.


Christmas video countdown -






Today in History
December 19, 1843 -


Charles Dickens published A Christmas Carol, on this date. Dickens wrote the novel after his first commercial failure. His previous novel, Martin Chuzzlewit (1842) had flopped, and he was suddenly strapped for cash. Martin Chuzzlewit had been satirical and pessimistic, and Dickens thought he might be more successful if he wrote a heartwarming tale with a holiday theme.



He got the idea for the book in late October of 1843, the story of the heartless Ebenezer Scrooge, who has so little Christmas spirit that he wants his assistant Bob Cratchit to work on Christmas Day.



Dickens struggled to finish the book in time for Christmas. He no longer had a publisher so he published the book himself, ordering illustrations, gilt-edged pages and a lavish red bound cover. He priced the book at a mere 5 shillings, in hopes of making it affordable to everyone. It was released within a week of Christmas and was a huge success, selling six thousand copies the first few days, and the demand was so great that it quickly went to second and third editions. God bless us, everyone!!!




December 19, 1941 -
Twelve days after Pearl Harbor, Franklin D. Roosevelt under authority of Congress, created the Office of Censorship. The bureau had discretion over communications with foreign countries. Participation by domestic publishers was "voluntary".



Ah, presidential power...

December 19, 1971 -
A Clockwork Orange premieres on this date, originally with an X rating. Censors objected more to the sex scenes than the violence. Director Stanley Kubrik later earns an R by removing some of the smuttier footage.



December 19, 1972 -
Alyssa Milano, former child star and playboy centerfold, was born on this date.




December 19, 1997 -
The movie, Titanic is released in theaters. This movie would become the most financially successful movie in U.S. history, grossing approximately $1.8 billion worldwide.



The world is also forced to endure Celine Dion singing for years to come.


2 more shopping days until Hanukkah, 5 more shopping days until Christmas (3 more shopping days until Festivus). Remember, stores will be packed with late Festivus shoppers.

And so it goes.