Discussion

• December 14, 2006

  10:20 AM

  james writes:

  Like the current state of Christmas itself, it's matierialistic and consumptive. Fortunately my community and neigbhors don't share this vulgar sentiment, and my Congress Park area is dotted by simple wreaths, lights, and the occasional tasteful proportioned Christmas display.

  I'll be doing nothing more to celebrate than having turkey and wine with my family, in addition to some dinners with my neigbhors and friends.

  If you're going to blow money, donate it to your favorite charity, rather than spending it on cheap plastic holiday crap. (Especially INFLATABLE crap)

  james http://www.futuregringo.com

• December 14, 2006

  10:51 AM

  Anonymous writes:

  james, aka Grinch,
  You are what you eat, turkey with whine!

• December 14, 2006

  11:01 AM

  alek writes:

  As someone featured in the Rocky Holiday Lights Guide, some folks (even the Grinches) may enjoy this letter I wrote:

  
  November/2006: A letter was published in the Boulder Daily Camera. I sent a response, but it didn't get published - both are attached below.

  Published in BDC Open Forum on November 21st, 2006
  *LIGHTS* - *This Christmas, less can be more*

  Every year, the Daily Camera does a story honoring the beautiful displays of holiday lights in our community.

  In the 2006 Season of Light, I'd like to make a plea that the Camera seek out the most /imaginative/ displays, not the most extravagant and energy-intensive. In a year that's seen global warming established as a fact in most minds, as well as a threat to our kids and theirs, it seems to me wrong-headed to pile on the lights (unless solar powered!) or to praise anyone for doing so.

  With a little imagination, and encouragement from community leaders (such as yourself), we can do more with less and be the better for it.

  
  Here was my response to that ...

  An Open Forum letter a week ago encouraged Boulder residents to be more imaginative (rather than just have more lights) with their Christmas Displays in order to reduce the impact on Global Warming. As someone who is often called Clark Griswold this time of the year, here's what I'm doing along those lines - may also provide ideas for others:

  1. Less Lights - "only" 15,000 this year - down from 26,000 in 2005.
  2. Xcel Wind Power - Will be the 3rd year I've been in this program.
  3. Carbon Offset - even though I'm using "clean" energy, I made a contribution to CarbonFund.Org for twice last year's 2 Megawatt-Hours of electrical power consumption.
  4. For the second year in a row, you can (really) view the display on the Internet via live webcams. I.e. you don't need to burn fossil fuels by driving to see it in person.
  5. Just like 2005 (but not 2004), environmentally inclined Internet surfers can go to the website and turn the lights OFF. Be forewarned that people from around the world (119 countries so far) enjoy seeing 'em ON ... so you will have to "battle" for control.
  6. Lights off after 10:00 - I use a master timer so the display is typically only active between 5:00-10:00MST nightly. The overseas web surfers would like 'em left on all night, but I have great neighbors and figure they deserve a rest from the blinking lights.

  Being an open-minded Republic of Boulder resident, I respect that some people still may not feel that is enough. However, many folks don't realize that the cost to run the 26,000 Christmas Lights in 2005 was $5/day . i.e. one Double Peppermint Latte.

  And for me, that.s plenty well worth it for the joy it brings to people and especially the kids when they see the display in person and/or on the web. "Imaginative" additions this year are giant Inflatable Elmo and Homer Simpson - D'OH! So while my Christmas Lights might be a bit tacky, they make an effort to be environmentally conscious; plus they are just a darn lotta fun. ;-)

  Finally, the Internet site has garnered thousands of dollars in donations to charity to help find a cure for Celiac Disease - something my kids have. So you better believe that komar.org is lit up again for 2006!

  Merry Christmas and HO-HO-HO, Alek Komarnitsky

• December 14, 2006

  11:18 AM

  james writes:

  Ah yes - even in jest, anyone that doesn't conform to "The Holidays" by patriotically spending at the mall and dancing the social circles at office parties is by default labeled a miserable misanthrope.

  Is a bit of healthy cycicism a bad thing?. I find nothing enjoyable about struggling families oglibated to run up their already high credit cards providing their kids with the latest toys as the Joneses. Or the manufactured merriment of retail and advertising.

  My sentiment meter doesn't go up just because it's December. I'm content all year round - the outside factors don't change my satisfaction with my life, family, job, and travel.

  If I'm a grinch for preferring to spend quiet nights sipping eggnog at home watching movies with family as opposed to honing in on a Luxor beam in Highlands Ranch, then I'm a pretty content and satisfied grinch :)

  And again - donate some food or TIME, rather than buying cheap plastic garbage. I think even Santa agrees plastic blow up monstrosities that are bigger than your house have no place at Christmas.

  james... (aka the grink)

• December 14, 2006

  11:26 AM

  Bart Simpson writes:

  It's craptacular!

• December 14, 2006

  11:28 AM

  james writes:

  Alek please tell me you are joking:

  QUOTE: "Imaginative" additions this year are giant Inflatable Elmo and Homer Simpson - D'OH!

  What in the the three wise men's names does HOMER SIMPSON have to do with Christmas??? You actually consider this creative? Surely you jest.

  Ok I'll bite. Growing up in Michigan a nearby neigbhorhood did "Christmas Card Lane". Large plywood cards that had painted messages, goodwishes, and were CREATED with the FAMILIES by the community, no doubt with their kids help on cold October Saturdays. They were adorned by a discreet spotlight and other proportioned light displays. Nothing more than TIME and THOUGHT was invested, yet I remember driving around seeing them in the parent's station wagon with hot chocolate.

  A GIANT INFLATABLE ELMO? You've got to be joking. Again my point that filling up your car with Wal-Mart junk is not Christmas.

• December 14, 2006

  11:37 AM

  Anonymous writes:

  This certainly qualifies as a perfect example of what happens when your Christmas display goes redneck.

• December 14, 2006

  12:53 PM

  alek writes:

  For me, Christmas is just FUN ... so my Three Wise Men are Elmo, the HULK, and Homer Simpson - D'OH! ;-)

  P.S. Bart: Loved your "craptacular" comment.

• December 14, 2006

  1:02 PM

  fiesty writes:

  I love doing the decorating thing, because it's family time with my son. We spend time doing that and charity work, instead of the insane shopping. (He's only asking for one PS2 game this year, that costs $15. That's it, and he's asked us. His letter to Santa asked that Santa not bring him presents but to give them to needy kids instead. I almost cried.)

  That said, there is a big difference between a bright, tastefully done display, and a bright, TACKY display. There are two homes in our neighborhood that they literally can't walk around in their front yard because it is so filled- worse yet, with a menagerie of mismatched plastic crap and inflatable flops. On the other hand, there is one very bright house, but they did it tastefully with green wreaths, white icicle lights, etc. I think it's all in how you do it.

  For the second part of the question, no I normally don't drive around looking at houses. However, after reading the article about Xcel installing two transformers to support that guy's house in Northglenn, I might drive out to see that... That is going way over board!

• December 14, 2006

  1:11 PM

  james writes:

  There you go. Fiesty's middle paragraph says it quite succinctly.

• December 14, 2006

  1:23 PM

  Anonymous writes:

  If you aint burning 200amps on xmas lights you aint shit!!! Ricky Bobby would never stand for your blasphemy!! Go fast, or go home you homos

• December 14, 2006

  2:02 PM

  Anonymous writes:

  Feisty, I want to thank you for an articulate, sensitive and well written post, not just here, but also on the immigration thread earlier.

  To quote Hannibal Lecter "I think it would be quite something to know you in private life"...

• December 14, 2006

  2:04 PM

  x mas KING writes:

  What I want to know is where are the environmentalist during christmas. You always hear these fringe groups, such as PEATA, whinning about the slaugtering of cows that are grown for a specfic purpose, how come you don't hear the tree huggers bitch about the millions of trees which are chopped down, decorated with tacky ornaments, and slowly murdered in a persons living room until it is kicked to the curb like some cheap hooker after you have your way with it.

• December 14, 2006

  2:08 PM

  fiesty writes:

  December 14, 2006 02:02 PM -

  Thanks! It's a bit wierd to be complimented since Jay, JW, and crowd usually jump down my throat whenever I post anything. :-)

• December 14, 2006

  2:08 PM

  james writes:

  King you mean PETA, not PEATA, which is hardly a fringe grou ala ELF. I agree with you, but your point would be better illustrated if accompanied by correct spelling and grammar.

• December 14, 2006

  2:10 PM

  x mas King writes:

  Sorry I was educated in the public school system

• December 14, 2006

  2:10 PM

  fiesty writes:

  x mas KING - don't give them ideas! LOL

  Though, that's part of the reason I use a realistic artificial christmas tree. It can be used for years, vs chopping down a tree every year. It may not seem like a lot, but every little bit helps.

• December 14, 2006

  2:12 PM

  gr8fuldude writes:

  King - That's what I've believed forever. That's why I prefer artificial trees (Not to mention that my cat would be trying to climb the real thing...:)

  BTW - Feisty, sounds like you have a great son. Nice to see parents like you still exist.

• December 14, 2006

  2:16 PM

  x mas KING writes:

  Since you all argee with me about the tree thing.. perhaps you will jump on board to tax those who use outdoor lights. For those people are using an excessive amount of energy, which in turn affects total energy demand and consumption, which in turn is how the electric companies determine the prices for billing. Thus, those who display lights are costing us all more in energy bills. TRUE !

• December 14, 2006

  2:23 PM

  gr8fuldude writes:

  King - Actually my last Xcel bill was $42 last month, including my windsource adjustment. But then again, I am so seldom home, which also helps...

• December 14, 2006

  2:25 PM

  fiesty writes:

  gr8fuldude-

  "BTW - Feisty, sounds like you have a great son. Nice to see parents like you still exist. "

  I think he's a great kid, but if you remember the blog on evolution, according to Jay, you should feel sorry for my son because he has me for a parent. (All because I believe he should question what he's told rather than to swallow everything like a zombie.)

  I think parenting is becoming a lost art in this country, using the excuse of overworked parents. That's a crock. Where there's a will, there's a way. When I was active duty, I worked 12 hours a day, while taking 3+ college classes, and I STILL found time to be a parent. I work early hours now, so that I can drive straight home about the time my son gets off from school. I then spend 4 hours with him, despite being exhausted and in pain. After he's in bed, I start my second job. You should see the number of kids in my neighborhood going home to an completely empty house. Then you have the parents blaming teachers during parent-teacher conferences, because they expect the teacher to do EVERYTHING.

  Lastly, have you seen the way kids are talking to their parents? I was home early one day, and picked my son up from school. There were children (and don't forget, this is an elementary school) using fould language and being completely disrespectful. And the parents let them! My son uses "sir", "ma'am", "excuse me", etc. Yet, the other day, we were in a grocery store, and he got excited, forgot to say "excuse me" and ran past an elderly lady. I called him back and told him to apologize, since he hadn't said excuse me, and particularly to an elder deserving of respect. Well, she turned around and told me I was too hard on him! Sheesh.

  Sorry, just realized I was ranting. But the last month, the manners of everyone in stores has become a pet peeve. It's the holiday season, yet folks are RUDE. No wonder the children are!

• December 14, 2006

  2:39 PM

  fiesty writes:

  great... http://cfapp2.rockymountainnews.com/holidaylights/hl2006.cfm

• December 14, 2006

  2:51 PM

  history buff writes:

  The environmentalists aren't upset about the Christmas tree slaughter because most live trees are harvested from tree farms. They are grown to be sold by private individuals.

  An uncle of mine was in the business. He was also a farmer and worked for a factory as well. Tight as a Scottsman, so it is not surprising that he grew Sottish pine, or fir?

  At any rate, he was a government hating democrat who didn't believe in paying taxes. His tree business offered him the opportunity to tuck away cash receipts without claiming them for income. He was so paranoid about the government finding out that he buried his lucre on his property. He didn't tell his wife or kids where he hid it either, and he was always suspicious that they might go out and look for the buried treasure.

  Then one day he had a stroke. When he came home from the hospital he couldn't remember where he buried the loot. His condition continued to disintigrate and he eventually died before he located the treasure. There is no word from the family whether they ever recovered the cash.

  Merry Christmas from a green Democrat. Keep the holiday green and bright.

• December 14, 2006

  2:55 PM

  gr8fuldude writes:

  HB - Sounds almost like he was producing meth...same characteristics.

• December 14, 2006

  3:05 PM

  history buff writes:

  8ful

  Growing trees was legal. He had to report some of the income because his business was well known. But some of it went off the books. What do you know about producing meth?

• December 14, 2006

  3:17 PM

  gr8fuldude writes:

  One of my friends in low places went down the meth route, and he became a real mess (so to speak)...quickly became paranoid, disheveled and his life just unraveled. Lost the house, wife, family, dog, etc. Did the same with hiding of money and valuables as well.

  Paranoia was the common thread, as was irritability, and behaviour that made bipolar look calm and serene.

  Bad stuff that.

• December 14, 2006

  3:42 PM

  history buff writes:

  That's a sad story. Money can corrupt but meth does something far worse. There is something ironic and funny about a tax evader who hides money that ultimately he never gets to use. But there are no funny stories I know associated with meth, not even Reverend Ted's story.

  Although, when I lived in LA, a coffee house called Highland Grounds had open mic every Monday that attracted the stars of open mic night. One guy sang a very fuuny song about geeks on tweak, seven days a week. He wore a crown of lighted candles and was a totally crowd pleasing riot.

• December 14, 2006

  3:46 PM

  x mas KING writes:

  History duff,

  That is my point. They are grown in farms, but they are still trees chopped down, i.e. one less tree that could be growing to produce oxygen, wood for houses, and many other uses other than the pointless x mas tree. The growing of tress for x mas is no different than the raising of cattle for slaughter, but you dont hear the outcry that you do for those 'poor cows'
  Give me a break, lets' ban the x mas tree business now, for a happier and better (greener) tomorrow.

• December 14, 2006

  3:58 PM

  history buff writes:

  Danger, is that you making insulting statements on this christmas thread? It sounds like your typically obtuse reasoning eminating from a bleak and opaque mind. You are one sick puppy there Queenie. But if you want a response:

  1. Pine is a terrible choice for firewood.

  2. The pine and fir grown for Christmas trees is unsuitable for houses.

  3. You really should seek professional help.

• December 14, 2006

  4:05 PM

  x mas KING writes:

  History rebuffed,

  Ok so pine is bad for firewood; I am pretty sure it is good for producing oxygen and absorbing CO2. So here is an idea.

  1. Get a life
  2. Ban the trees for an outdated icon.
  3. quick smoking pine needles, it is bad for you

• December 14, 2006

  4:25 PM

  history buff writes:

  Queenie? What's the matter? This is the time of year to be joyful. You sound like you are in a bluesy funk. Environmentalists aren't weirdos. You can be totally mainstream, Christmas loving Christian and be an environmentalist. Don't be alone this time of year, you might end up like 8ful dude's friend.

• December 14, 2006

  4:28 PM

  x mas KING writes:

  History gruff,

  dont worry about me, I am plenty cheerful. However, I do worry about people who make exceptions to behaviors simply because "its that time of year". It is always the time to be eco-friendly and consistent in our opinions of society, even if your Christian

• December 14, 2006

  4:36 PM

  Chunky Monkey writes:

  I say we burn the trees, shoot the idiots (ie. xmas king, History geek, etc, etc) and start taxing the living daylights out of this blog. How does that sound?

• December 14, 2006

  4:37 PM

  history buff writes:

  Well, I don't see anything wrong with live Christmas trees. It is a great tradition and a business that replaces itself. When I was a kid, I would spend a week on my uncle's farm every summer, and part of our duties were to plant new saplings. It is a smart business. The trees are replaced as they are harvested. The net loss is minimal. But you sound like you are harboring latent hostility toward society in that you have adopted an unreasonable position regarding environmentalism to strike against Christmas. You say are joyful, but you don't sound like it.

• December 14, 2006

  4:54 PM

  The Monkey that is Chunky writes:

  History nerd,

  I know you are just trying to make your little "tree farm" sound like a happy little business, but it sounds more like a tree holocaust to me.

• December 14, 2006

  4:58 PM

  x mas KING writes:

  Well said Monkey,

  Some of these "holly jolly" christmas types (christians in particular) are so hell bent on their traditions that they completly ignore what is best for society. Funny thing is, these are the same people that rush out the day after Thanksgiving to find gifts, and then bitch about how much they spent or what an ordeal it what getting their fu*king shopping done. These traditional morons are nothing but programed robots that should be returned to the store.

• December 14, 2006

  7:43 PM

  fiesty writes:

  xmas king-
  I agreed with one of your earlier posts, but I don't think your last post (or monkey's) was fair. They may be cutting trees, but at least they're environmentally aware enough to REPLACE tree for tree. Granted, there is a net loss due to the difference in maturity. Granted, I can't stand what is happening to our forests around the world; but can you imagine how much better it would be around the world if all the loggers in the past had done the same thing in the places where they are doing nothing? But you're being completely unfair to HB.

• December 15, 2006

  7:53 AM

  gr8fuldude writes:

  History Buff -
  Just curious, how long does it take for the average tree to grow to Christmas tree height? If they are replaced as they are harvested, I think it a sound business plan. I have just never had a real tree because as I said earlier, I am so seldom home and probably wouldn't get a lot of enjoyment out, you know?

• December 15, 2006

  8:22 AM

  Anonymous writes:

  I install a 400amp and service and burn approx 50,000 watts an hour on my xmas light display. The spot lights that light the sky are really the energy burners, but they REALLY piss my neighbor off so they stay. All you enviro nuts can kiss my ass, GO BIG OR GO HOME WOO-HOO!!! WOO-HOO!! xcel loves me

• December 15, 2006

  10:26 AM

  Anonymous writes:

  Why don't you go home to Texas, redneck.

• December 15, 2006

  11:52 AM

  history buff writes:

  8dude -- I don't know how long it takes. The work was not that interesting, and I didn't ask too much about the process. But I googled Christmas Tree farm and found websites all over the world. Many of the operations are huge, much bigger than my uncle's tree farm. He actually started growing Christmas trees because he had an acreage of sandy soil that was not suitable for the usual cash crops in the midwest. I think the Christmas trees turned out to be a bigger cash crop than corn and beans.

  Also, for the ELF posters, one website I visited says they plant ten trees for everyone harvested. Cutting trees is part of our economy. I think most responsible environmentalists are more concerned about the cutting of old growth forests. But the big problem here in the Rockies is going to be pine beetle infestation. If you go up to Granby and Grand Lake, the trees are brown, and it is spreading toward Rocky Mountain National Park.

• December 16, 2006

  4:14 PM

  victoria writes:

  I know the "tenant" that Karen Vaught speaks of. (Karen Vaught, 13941 Tin Cup Circle in Broomfield).

  
  Actually he owns half the house. She is pretty rude to take all the credit for their christmas decorating show. He works his a** off putting the decorations up.

  They were engaged years ago, bought the house together, then things fell apart regarding the relationship. Be that as it may, their persoal story isn't the point.

  I just thought everyone should know that Karen is an a**hole for calling someone that owns 1/2 the house a "tenant" or "subletter" and for taking credit for the wonderful display at both Halloween and Christmas each year.

  BTW, the party they throw every year kicks butt. Anyone lucky enough to get an invite, don't pass this one up. The entire house is decorated inside and out from attic to basement. I have been to one and it was truely amazing.

• December 18, 2006

  12:24 PM

  Anonymous writes:

  Victoria are they from Texas?