When I rule the world, I will decree that Christmas carols may only be performed live in public places. People can blast muzak all they want in the privacy of their own homes and headphones, but playing tunes to death in public should be an offense punishable by public humiliation.

"I can feel it in my fingers, I can feel it in my toes…"

[opening line of the intentionally commercial crap Xmas song, by Bill Nighy as Billy Mack, the "bad grand-dad of Rock", central to the 2003 Richard Curtis satirical film "Love, Actually"]

Note that, in 2005, the first day of Hanukkah and Christmas coincide, which has not happened since 1959. That puts an extra twist in "Happy Holidays" and "The War on Christmas."

Wow, if I'd realised the Ace version of "Atrocity Archives" was out I might've given it to someone for Xmas instead of the Iain M. Banks and William Gibson volumes I picked. But then if I'd known the author was so down on the whole idea I probably wouldn't have as he'd certainly hate having his work contribute anything to the crass commercialisation and fake sentimenality of Xmas. Phew, was I lucky :-)

Totally with you on the Xmas music thing though.

Great news you're doing a sequel to Iron Sunrise, I'll look forward to that. Feel free to blow up the universe.

How I deal with Christmas:

Step 1 - move to the middle of no-where.

Step 2 - Stop watching television.

Our family has done without TV for about 10 years, which seems to help the semiotic situation... just had a visit from my Mom, who watches lots of TV. Wonderful to see her, but the culture shock is profound.

There's always Saturnalia.

Try my trick - marry a religious minority that doesn't celebrate anything. Then just kick back and enjoy the time off work.