Merry Christmas to you and your family ... second thought ... Merry Christmas to you, your family and EVERYONE that reads your substack posts too! Your Dispatches from a Scamdemic were so helpful to me, especially during the darkest period of the Scam. They continue to remind everyone of what happened and to never forget the craziness. I can't thank you enough for your great insight and dedication. One of these days, I need to meet up with you!
Merry Christmas to you and your family!! 2025 is going to be much better than the last 4-5 years....I can feel it in my bones. So grateful to have "found" you and your writings. Devine intervention for sure! :-)
Thank you Mark, for another year of bringing light & reason to the corners of darkness & ignorance, that good men & women must always strive to keep at bay.
A Merry Christmas & a Happy Hannukah to you, yours, & to all your readers!
While we are shunned as pariahs by our families, we are very lucky to have a wonderful group of like minded, mostly Pureblood, & very close friends. I wrote & sent this out last night to them, & thought I'd share it with y'all here, as I think of you as kindred spirits, & friends.
Fair Warning!!
Long screed by me ahead.... I'd turn back if I were you! 🤦🏻♂️😂
I've always enjoyed A Christmas Carol by C. Dickens, ever since I first watched the old, 1938 B&W flick on the telly, some time near a Christmas in the mid 1960's. Within the next year, I had read the book, & that cemented this wild & fanciful "Ghost" story, replete with life lessons, as a favorite..... for the ever so slightly socialist tinged messages were ones which acknowledged that life could be hard & wasn't always fair, yet also impressed upon you that kindness & good deeds were good to share, precisely because they were good, that even simple acts could lift people up, & that one is never too old, to strive to become a better person, no matter your station in life.
Our youngest son & I watched that 1938 movie again in early December, & then he noticed that our local, non-profit Theatre group, was putting on a "Radio Play" of A Christmas Carol, complete with sound effects, a trio of musicians, & an absolutely delicious meal, prepared by one of the chefs from a very highly regarded restaurant in Columbus (40 mi South) called Epic.
Our neighbor Tony, also went with us - the show was great, & fun was had by all. The Theatre folks recorded the show, to be played over the local, LaGrange, GA radio station @ 20:00 hrs on Christmas Eve. (FM 102.3 - The Eagle!)
This finally brings me round to why I started this screed - Our son found online, a movie from 2017 called "The Man Who Invented Christmas", (with an 87 yr old Christopher Plummer as Scrooge!). It was a well acted & highly enjoyable flight of facts, & fanciful fantasy, about the struggles Dickens was going thru when he wrote the book. The movie made free use of some of the exact lines you read in the book, are heard in the movies, & of course, in the Radio Play we just attended. Who can ever forget just these two, among the many - "Bah, humbug!" & "G-d bless us, everyone!" How they wove those, & several other lines into the story was seamless, & unless you were "in the know", many of these gems would've passed you right by, & so would the smiles of mirth they brought with them.
So, read A Christmas Carol, or watch the movie, & then watch "The Man Who Invented Christmas"!
Totally family friendly, & heartwarming for all.....& all of this, comes from a Jew! 😂
(BTW, we also love & watch Frank Capra's 1946 gem: "It's a Wonderful Life"!)
Thanks, again. My daughter-in-law found the movie (The Man Who Invented Christmas) on prime and we watched it. Such a good movie. Can’t believe I never heard of it before this
Mark, Merry Christmas and peace to all men of goodwill. You’ve been a very good friend, though we’ve not met. Thank you for sharing yourself so generously. See you on the other side: 2025, that is!
Perhaps the most insidious aspect of the actions taken by those perpetuating fear during the pandemic (the covidiots)is their successful attempt to isolate much of the Western world from the vital connections that we, as humans, so desperately need.
As I reflect on this, I am reminded of the poignant words of Paulo Coelho: “The light you seek is not in the stars but in your own heart.” This quote serves as a powerful reminder that true illumination and understanding come from within. It encourages us to look inward for strength and guidance, especially in challenging times.
I believe that this group intuitively understood how to manipulate our fear, which is why many of us refused to succumb to their narrative. Recalling my own childhood and the lessons I instilled in my children, I am reminded of the importance of finding happiness within ourselves. Despite the pain and devastation that their actions have unleashed on the world, they could never take away my inner peace or the understanding that there is indeed a place for righteous anger. What they did to the Western world is something I will never forgive or forget, and I believe it is essential for all of us to remember that.
Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and happy holidays to those who celebrate differently. Thank you, Mark, for your insightful Substack writings; I always look forward to your articles.
Happy Christmas to you and your family Mark. I loved the Christmas story you shared both times / indeed it’s a beautiful testament to the unexpected goodness of strangers.
I have looked forward to your Thursday dispatches for years now. You were one of my first Substack discoveries. I also felt a kinship with you and our fellow sane humans immediately. I thanked God for those who weren’t blinded by the fear mongering. I thanked him extra hard for the actual warriors who stood up, spoke out loud and tried to help others see the truth.
The feelings of shared values, observations, frustrations AND hope with strangers can be like a balm when times are rough. It can make strangers feel like friends. Thank you friend!
I have plans to attend the festivities in DC on the 20th next month - an event I never imagined I would want to attend what with the crowds, but I desperately want to remain hopeful, especially in this season, for better days on the horizon.
Thank you, Mark, for your consistent voice of reason over the last several years. I always look forward to reading your beautifully crafted essays and I greatly appreciate this community and the oasis of sanity it provides amidst all the craziness. May you and your family have a peaceful X-mas and a happy new year!
Happy Christmas Mark to you and all those you love and to everyone here. Thank you for the encouragement, companionship, and solidarity - again to you and to all of us who share stories here in your space. Keep holding the light and speaking out the truth. We need not agree with everyone all the time, but it’s important we speak up. Lest we forget that’s a birthright.
Nice Holiday Greetings, and back at you and all "of good cheer."
We have turned the corner, it seems, on the dark start to the 21st Century. Personally, I'm looking forward to a couple of decades of light, and I believe it has begun.
Here's Tolkien's take, via Samwise, about the "new day" we all hope for:
<< It’s like in the great stories, Mr. Frodo. The ones that really mattered, full of darkness and danger, they were. And sometimes you didn't want to know the end, because how could the end be happy? … But in the end, it’s only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines, it will shine out the clearer. Those were the stories that stayed with you… Folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back, only they didn't. They kept going, because they were holding on to something. … That there’s some good in this world, Mr. Frodo… and it’s worth fighting for. >> Tolkien, The Two Towers
For about 4 years all of us conspiracy theorists and misinformation conveyors gathered around the fire and read with a great thirst--at least I know I did--the few who basically said, "Hey, hold on a minute" and then got rational for 10-15 minutes: El Gato Malo, the 2 Martys (Kulldorff, Makary), Ioaniddes, McCullough, Kirsch, Jessica, Tucker and a bunch of others and some guy out of Jersey named Oshinskie.
It was a lifeline and it's nice not to need it so much. The Woke War may not be over but an armistice is in sight. We just have to finish the battles, hold a few folks accountable, and begin to enjoy a string of new days.
Merry Christmas, Mark and family! Thank you for being mindful that this is a difficult and bittersweet time for many struggling in life. You're the best! Big love from NH.
Merry Christmas to you and your family ... second thought ... Merry Christmas to you, your family and EVERYONE that reads your substack posts too! Your Dispatches from a Scamdemic were so helpful to me, especially during the darkest period of the Scam. They continue to remind everyone of what happened and to never forget the craziness. I can't thank you enough for your great insight and dedication. One of these days, I need to meet up with you!
Merry Christmas to you and your family!! 2025 is going to be much better than the last 4-5 years....I can feel it in my bones. So grateful to have "found" you and your writings. Devine intervention for sure! :-)
Thank you Mark, for another year of bringing light & reason to the corners of darkness & ignorance, that good men & women must always strive to keep at bay.
A Merry Christmas & a Happy Hannukah to you, yours, & to all your readers!
While we are shunned as pariahs by our families, we are very lucky to have a wonderful group of like minded, mostly Pureblood, & very close friends. I wrote & sent this out last night to them, & thought I'd share it with y'all here, as I think of you as kindred spirits, & friends.
Fair Warning!!
Long screed by me ahead.... I'd turn back if I were you! 🤦🏻♂️😂
I've always enjoyed A Christmas Carol by C. Dickens, ever since I first watched the old, 1938 B&W flick on the telly, some time near a Christmas in the mid 1960's. Within the next year, I had read the book, & that cemented this wild & fanciful "Ghost" story, replete with life lessons, as a favorite..... for the ever so slightly socialist tinged messages were ones which acknowledged that life could be hard & wasn't always fair, yet also impressed upon you that kindness & good deeds were good to share, precisely because they were good, that even simple acts could lift people up, & that one is never too old, to strive to become a better person, no matter your station in life.
Our youngest son & I watched that 1938 movie again in early December, & then he noticed that our local, non-profit Theatre group, was putting on a "Radio Play" of A Christmas Carol, complete with sound effects, a trio of musicians, & an absolutely delicious meal, prepared by one of the chefs from a very highly regarded restaurant in Columbus (40 mi South) called Epic.
Our neighbor Tony, also went with us - the show was great, & fun was had by all. The Theatre folks recorded the show, to be played over the local, LaGrange, GA radio station @ 20:00 hrs on Christmas Eve. (FM 102.3 - The Eagle!)
This finally brings me round to why I started this screed - Our son found online, a movie from 2017 called "The Man Who Invented Christmas", (with an 87 yr old Christopher Plummer as Scrooge!). It was a well acted & highly enjoyable flight of facts, & fanciful fantasy, about the struggles Dickens was going thru when he wrote the book. The movie made free use of some of the exact lines you read in the book, are heard in the movies, & of course, in the Radio Play we just attended. Who can ever forget just these two, among the many - "Bah, humbug!" & "G-d bless us, everyone!" How they wove those, & several other lines into the story was seamless, & unless you were "in the know", many of these gems would've passed you right by, & so would the smiles of mirth they brought with them.
So, read A Christmas Carol, or watch the movie, & then watch "The Man Who Invented Christmas"!
Totally family friendly, & heartwarming for all.....& all of this, comes from a Jew! 😂
(BTW, we also love & watch Frank Capra's 1946 gem: "It's a Wonderful Life"!)
ML
Thanks, again. My daughter-in-law found the movie (The Man Who Invented Christmas) on prime and we watched it. Such a good movie. Can’t believe I never heard of it before this
I'm glad you enjoyed it as well. You are not alone, as several of the friends I sent it to have also enjoyed it!
Thanks for the recommendation!
Merry Christmas everyone! 2025 is going to be epic!!
“Love is the light that illuminates the darkness, the warmth that melts the coldest hearts, and the force that transforms lives.”
St. Isaac of Syria
Bishop of Ninevah
And God is Love, and love is God.
Mark, Merry Christmas and peace to all men of goodwill. You’ve been a very good friend, though we’ve not met. Thank you for sharing yourself so generously. See you on the other side: 2025, that is!
I second Teresa. Mark is our unmet friend,who shares himself so generously. You’ve assembled a good tribe.
Perhaps the most insidious aspect of the actions taken by those perpetuating fear during the pandemic (the covidiots)is their successful attempt to isolate much of the Western world from the vital connections that we, as humans, so desperately need.
As I reflect on this, I am reminded of the poignant words of Paulo Coelho: “The light you seek is not in the stars but in your own heart.” This quote serves as a powerful reminder that true illumination and understanding come from within. It encourages us to look inward for strength and guidance, especially in challenging times.
I believe that this group intuitively understood how to manipulate our fear, which is why many of us refused to succumb to their narrative. Recalling my own childhood and the lessons I instilled in my children, I am reminded of the importance of finding happiness within ourselves. Despite the pain and devastation that their actions have unleashed on the world, they could never take away my inner peace or the understanding that there is indeed a place for righteous anger. What they did to the Western world is something I will never forgive or forget, and I believe it is essential for all of us to remember that.
Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and happy holidays to those who celebrate differently. Thank you, Mark, for your insightful Substack writings; I always look forward to your articles.
Merry Christmas to all. I hope everyone manages to have at least some joy from the day.
Here's a link to the toy store story if you haven't read it (I hadn't), and don't want to hunt for it.
https://substack.com/home/post/p-139604654
I wasn't around this stack last year and there looks to be a lot of other good stuff there.
Thank you I am hopelessly inept at tech and wanted to see what Mark was referring to but knew I’d get lost trying to find it!
Happy Christmas to you and your family Mark. I loved the Christmas story you shared both times / indeed it’s a beautiful testament to the unexpected goodness of strangers.
I have looked forward to your Thursday dispatches for years now. You were one of my first Substack discoveries. I also felt a kinship with you and our fellow sane humans immediately. I thanked God for those who weren’t blinded by the fear mongering. I thanked him extra hard for the actual warriors who stood up, spoke out loud and tried to help others see the truth.
The feelings of shared values, observations, frustrations AND hope with strangers can be like a balm when times are rough. It can make strangers feel like friends. Thank you friend!
I have plans to attend the festivities in DC on the 20th next month - an event I never imagined I would want to attend what with the crowds, but I desperately want to remain hopeful, especially in this season, for better days on the horizon.
With deep respect and appreciation,
Lisa
Thank you, Mark, for your consistent voice of reason over the last several years. I always look forward to reading your beautifully crafted essays and I greatly appreciate this community and the oasis of sanity it provides amidst all the craziness. May you and your family have a peaceful X-mas and a happy new year!
Thank you Mark and have a wonderful Christmas , filled with Our Lord’s Blessings. 🙌🏼
Thank you, Mark
More great words, we should never underestimate their impact.
These manmade hardships are hard, but create an opportunity for people to shine; from the darkness, light.
Merry Christmas to you and yours.
Happy Christmas Mark to you and all those you love and to everyone here. Thank you for the encouragement, companionship, and solidarity - again to you and to all of us who share stories here in your space. Keep holding the light and speaking out the truth. We need not agree with everyone all the time, but it’s important we speak up. Lest we forget that’s a birthright.
Warm hugs to all, especially those who need one.
Nice Holiday Greetings, and back at you and all "of good cheer."
We have turned the corner, it seems, on the dark start to the 21st Century. Personally, I'm looking forward to a couple of decades of light, and I believe it has begun.
Here's Tolkien's take, via Samwise, about the "new day" we all hope for:
<< It’s like in the great stories, Mr. Frodo. The ones that really mattered, full of darkness and danger, they were. And sometimes you didn't want to know the end, because how could the end be happy? … But in the end, it’s only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines, it will shine out the clearer. Those were the stories that stayed with you… Folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back, only they didn't. They kept going, because they were holding on to something. … That there’s some good in this world, Mr. Frodo… and it’s worth fighting for. >> Tolkien, The Two Towers
For about 4 years all of us conspiracy theorists and misinformation conveyors gathered around the fire and read with a great thirst--at least I know I did--the few who basically said, "Hey, hold on a minute" and then got rational for 10-15 minutes: El Gato Malo, the 2 Martys (Kulldorff, Makary), Ioaniddes, McCullough, Kirsch, Jessica, Tucker and a bunch of others and some guy out of Jersey named Oshinskie.
It was a lifeline and it's nice not to need it so much. The Woke War may not be over but an armistice is in sight. We just have to finish the battles, hold a few folks accountable, and begin to enjoy a string of new days.
Very well said
Merry Christmas, Mark and family! Thank you for being mindful that this is a difficult and bittersweet time for many struggling in life. You're the best! Big love from NH.