h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

>.yikes Can you imagine there being enough snow in one place that you need an actual shovel to shift it!wow <<

Yes, April this year when we, here in Cardiff were in the epicentre of the only Red Snow Alert ever here in the UK.

It was umm... interesting.

Speaking of music during wartime, didjaknow that "Deep in the Heart of Texas" was "banned" on BBC airwaves because it stopped the production lines as workers would repeatedly during the song.

~. ~

Anyway, it's strange to think that 'Jingle Bells' isn't in fact a Christmas song but was written by James Lord Pierpont to be about Thanksgiving. It was the first song broadcast to from space

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"Can you imagine there being enough snow in one place that you need an actual shovel to shift it!" [Bluebottle]

I shovel snow every. single. year.

Some years I have up to three feet of snow on my roof. I have to lean a ladder against the side of my house so I can climb high enough to remove the snow from the vicinity of my furnace pipe. If snow gets high enough to block the vents, the furnace shuts itself off and my house gets too cold.

There are some years when we don't get much snow, but there's always enough to shovel.

What about the Swiss idea put large roundish stones on the sloping roof.
Apparently the weight of the stones will dislodge the stones and the roof is automatically cleared.

At least that is what the Swiss say

PS dont put any of the stones in line with any doorways

The key is careful alignment of the roof. If it's placed on a house on the Gulf Coast, you never need to clear snow from it.

But you might have to replace it after the occasional hurricane

Yes, a hurricane is likely to carefully align one's roof three blocks away.

"What about the Swiss idea put large roundish stones on the sloping roof." [Bobstafford]

The Swiss also put holes in their cheese. Need I say more?

Are the holes to let the snow drain out their ?

Has anyone heard particularly dreadful or brilliant cover versions of Christmas songs? Michael Bubble did a cover of Catwoman's 1953 Christmas song 'Santa Baby', changing the lyrics to 'Santa Buddy'. It really is dreadful. But on the other hand Kylie Minogue's cover of the same song works really well.

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"Santa baby" had nothing to do with any Batman characters. Eartha kitt recorded it years before taking the role of Catwoman.

I've been hearing "Santa bay" a lot in the last few years. Somebody must like it now.

Another question is does a Christmas carol have to be about the Nativity to be a Christmas carol? Some would say 'Jingle Bells' or 'We Wish You a Merry Christmas' are carols 'cos they're traditional, but are they simply older secular Christmas songs instead?
Can any song be considered a carol? Does a rhapsody about a Bohemian duke walking on Boxing Day really count as a carol?

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The Agincourt Carol now regarded as English folk song written in the 15th century.Battle of Agincourt.
Dose this indicate carols were a musical form for celebration and not just for christmas?

Well 'Carol' originally meant a dance, however it is difficult now to imagine a group of revellers getting down and boogying to 'Silent Night'.

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And not necessarily Christmassy either.

Watched an interesting programme last night about Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol'which apparently inspired much of the traditions we follow today.

Carols are generally religious, and not just about Christmas.

There's a fun analysis of Christmas number ones here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/resources/idt-sh/news_christmas_songs

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Question: if you happen to travel to other countries/continents during the Christmas season, will you suffer from culture shock as you try to cope with much different music than you would have heard at home?

Would the top Christmas songs in Germany, France, Australia, Italy, etc., be pretty much unique? If so, would there be a way to select some top contenders form around the globe, for a more global Christmas music experience?