12/30/2007

Best Present of All...

This was my best Christmas present!

There are many kinds of presents that one can receive over the holidays, and I'll touch on this in a journal later, but the best present that I received this year was the look on my son's face when he opened his "big present" from me this year, one that he had really wanted.

He had already received a bunch of presents, including a very cool multi-function watch that he had really wanted, and thought that it had been his big present. But then I told him to open an unwrapped plain cardboard box.

Do you remember the movie "A Christmas Story" where Ralphie's dad told told him to check behind the couch for another present?

Could this be it?

This bewcame a Featured Photo on Buzznet! Looking in the box... could it be?

This was something that he really wanted, but I held back on it, saving it for last... a new FujiFilm FinePix S700 digital camera.

I had already figured out that he would be right out the door, taking photos of everything in sight... and that's exactly what happened, as you can see in the sequence of photos in the link.

As noted before, it was the best present that I received this year!

12/24/2007

Have a Splendid Holiday!

Wishing you Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

  • Afrikaans - Geseende Kerfees en 'n gelukkige nuwe jaar
  • Albanian - Gëzuar Krishlindjet Vitin e Ri!
  • Aleut - Kamgan Ukudigaa
  • Alsatian - E gueti Wïnâchte & E glecklichs Nej Johr!
  • Andalusian - Felíce Pahjcua y Felí Año, or Felí Navidá y Próhjpero Año Nuevo
  • Apache (Western) - Gozhqq Keshmish
  • Arabic - I'D Miilad Said ous Sana Saida
  • Aramaic - Edo bri'cho o rish d'shato brich'to!
  • Arawak - Aba satho niw jari da'wisida bon
  • Armenian - Shenoraavor Nor Dari yev Soorp Janunt
  • Bafut - Mboni Chrismen & Mboni Alooyefee
  • Bahasa/Malaysia - Selamat Hari Natal dan Tahun Baru
  • Bandang - Mbung Mbung Krismie & Mbung Mbung Ngouh Suiie
  • Basque - Zorionak eta Urte Berri On!
  • Belorussian - Winshuyu sa Svyatkami i z Novym godam!
  • Bengali - Shuvo Baro Din - Shuvo Nabo Barsho
  • Blackfoot - I'Taamomohkatoyiiksistsikomi
  • Bohemian/Czech - Prejeme Vam Vesele Vanoce a Stastny
    novy rok
  • Breton - Nedeleg laouen na bloav ezh mat
  • Bulgarian - Chestita Koleda i Shtastliva Nova Godina
  • Catalan - Bon Nadal i feliç any nou!
  • Cantonese - Seng Dan Fai Lok, Sang Nian Fai Lok
  • Carib - Sirito kypoton ra'a
  • Carolinian - Ameseighil ubwutiiwel Layi Luugh me raagh fee
  • Cebuano - Malipayong Pasko ug Bulahang Bag-ong Tuig!
  • Chavacano - Felices Pascua y Prospero Anyo Nuevo
  • Cherokee - Danistayohihv & Aliheli'sdi Itse Udetiyvsadisv
  • Cheyenne - Hoesenestotse & Aa'e Emona'e
  • Choctaw - Yukpa, Nitak Hollo Chito
  • Cornish - Nadelik looan na looan blethen noweth
  • Corsican - Bon Natale e Bon capu d' annu
  • Cree - Mitho Makosi Kesikansi
  • Creek - Afvcke Nettvcakorakko
  • Creole/Seychelles - Bonn e Erez Ane
  • Croatian - Sretan Bozic
  • Danish - Glædelig Jul og godt nytår
  • Dutch - Vrolijk Kerstfeest en een Gelukkig Nieuwjaar!
  • Egyptian - Colo sana wintom tiebeen
    English - Merry Christmas & Happy New Year
  • Eritrean - Rehus-Beal-Ledeat
  • Esperanto - Gajan Kristnaskon & Bonan Novjaron
  • Estonian - Rõõmsaid Jõulupühi ja Head uut aastat
  • Ethiopian - enkuan le berhane ledtu adrswo
  • Éwé - Blunya na wo
  • Ewondo - Mbemde abog abyali nti! Mbembe Mbu!
  • Faroese - gleðilig jól og eydnuríkt nýggjár!
  • Farsi - Sal-e no mubarak
  • Fijian - Me Nomuni na marau ni siga ni sucu dei na yabaki vou
  • Finnish - Hyvää Joulua or Hauskaa Joulua - 0nnellista uutta vuotta
  • Flemish - Zalig Kerstfeest en Gelukkig nieuw jaar
  • French - Joyeux Noël et Bonne Année!
  • Frisian - Noflike Krystdagen en in protte Lok en Seine yn it Nije Jier!
  • Gaddang - Mangamgam Bawa a dawun sikua diaw amin
  • Galician - Bon Nadal e Bo Ani Novo
  • Georgian - Gilotsavt Krist'es Shobas & Gilosavt akhal ts'els
  • German - Fröhliche Weihnachten und ein glückliches Neues Jahr!
  • Greek - Kala Christougenna Ki'eftihismenos O Kenourios Chronos
  • Greenlandic - Juullimi Ukiortaassamilu Pilluarit
  • Guarani - Avyaitete ahi ko Tupa ray arape qyrai Yy Kapyryin rira
  • Han - Drin tsul zhit sho ahlay & Drin Cho zhit sho ahlay
  • Hausa - Barka da Kirsimatikuma Barka da Sabuwar Shekara!
  • Hawaiian - Mele Kalikimaka & Hauoli Makahiki Hou
  • Hebrew - Mo'adim Lesimkha. Shanah Tova
  • Hindi - Shubh Naya Baras
  • Hungarian - Kellemes karácsonyi ünnepeket és Boldog újévet!
  • Icelandic - Gleðileg Jól og Farsaelt Komandi ár!
  • Indonesian - Selamat Hari Natal & Selamat Tahun Baru
  • Iraqi - Idah Saidan Wa Sanah Jadidah
  • Irish - Nollaig Shona Dhuit
  • Iroquois - Ojenyunyat Sungwiyadeson homungradon nagwutut & Ojenyunyat osrasay
  • Italian - Buon Natale e Felice Anno Nuovo
  • Japanese - Shinnen omedeto. Kurisumasu Omedeto
  • Javanese - Sugeng Natal lan warsa enggal
  • Kashmiri - Christmas Id Mubarak
  • Kom - Isangle Krismen & Isangle beng i fue
  • Korean - Sung Tan Chuk Ha
  • Kurdish - Seva piroz sahibe u sersala te piroz be
  • Kwangali - Kerekemisa zongwa & Erago moMumvho gomupe
  • Ladin - Bon Nadel y Bon Ann Nuef
  • Lakota - Wanikiya tonpi wowiyuskin & Omaka teca oiyokipi
  • Latin - Pax hominibus bonae voluntatis
  • Latvian - Prieci'gus Ziemsve'tkus un Laimi'gu Jauno Gadu!
  • Lausitzian - Wjesole hody a strowe nowe leto
  • Lebanese - Milad Saeed wa Sanaa Mubarakah
  • Lithuanian - Linksmu Kaledu ir laimingu Nauju metu
  • Luxembourgeois - Schéi Krëschtdeeg an e Schéint Néi Joer
  • Macedonian - Srekan Bozik I Nova Godina
  • Malagasy - Arahaba tratry ny Krismasy
  • Malayan - Selamat Hari Natal
  • Maltese - Nixtieqlek Milied Tajjeb u Sena Tajba
  • Mandarin - Kung His Hsin Nien bing Chu Shen Tan
  • Manx - Nollick ghennal as blein vie noa
  • Maya/Yucateco - Utzul mank'inal
  • Mongolian - Zul saryn bolon shine ony mend devshuulye
  • Moro - Nidli pred naborete nano
  • Norweigan/Nynorsk - eg ynskjer hermed dykk alle ein god jul og godt nyttår 
  • Norweigan/Bokmål -  God Jul og Godt Nyttår
  • Ojibwe (Chippewa) - Niibaa' anami'egiizhigad & Aabita Biboon
  • Pompangan - Malugud Pascu at saca Masayang Bayung Banua!
  • Pennsylvania German - En frehlicher Grischtdaag unen hallich Nei Yaahr!
  • Polish - Wesolych Swiat i Szczesliwego Nowego Roku.
  • Portuguese - Boas Festas e um feliz Ano Novo
  • Punjabi - Nave sal di mubaraka
  • Q'anjob'al - chi woche swatx'ilal hak'ul yet yalji Komami'
  • Quiche' - Dioa kkje' awuk'
  • Romani - Bachtalo krecunu Thaj Bachtalo Nevo Bers
  • Romanian - Craciun fericit si un An Nou fericit!
  • Russian - Pozdrevlyayu s prazdnikom Rozhdestva i s Novim Godom
  • Samoan - Ia manuia le Kilisimasi ma le tausaga fou
  • Sardinian -  Bonu nadale e prosperu annu nou
  • Scots Gaelic - Nollaig chridheil agus Bliadhna mhath ur!
  • Serbian -  Sretan Bozic. Vesela Nova Godine
  • Sicilian - Bon Natali e Prosperu Annu Novu!
  • Sorbian - Wjesole hody a strowe Nowe leto.
  • Slovakian - Vesele Vianoce a stastny novy rok
  • Slovene - Vesele bozicne praznike in srecno novo leto
  • Spanish - Feliz Navidad y Próspero Año Nuevo
  • Sudanese - Wilujeng Natal Sareng Warsa Enggal
  • Swedish - God Jul och Gott Nytt År
  • Tagalog - Maligayang Pasko at Manigong Bagong Taon
    Tahitian - Ia ora i te Noere e ia ora na i te matahiti 'api
  • Tamil - Nathar Puthu Varuda Valthukkal
  • Thai - Suksan Wan Christmas lae Sawadee Pee Mai
  • Tlingit - Xristos Khuwdziti kax sh kaxtoolxetl
  • Tonga - Kristo abe anduwe muciindo ca Christmas
  • Turkish - Noeliniz Ve Yeni Yiliniz Kutlu Olsun
  • Ukrainian - Veseloho Vam Rizdva i Shchastlyvoho Novoho Roku!
  • Urdu - Naya Saal Mubarak Ho
  • Valencian - Bon Nadal i millor any nou
  • Welsh - Nadolig LLawen a Blwyddyn Newydd Dda
  • Xhosa - Siniqwenelela Ikrisimesi EmnandI Nonyaka Omtsha Ozele Iintsikelelo Namathamsanqa
  • Yiddish - Gute Vaynakhtn un a Gut Nay Yor
  • Yoruba - E ku odun, e ku iye' dun!
  • Zulu - Sinifesela Ukhisimusi Omuhle Nonyaka Omusha Onempumelelo

There are so many ways to say it, but the meaning is still the same. This wonderful season also celebrates three other holidays: Chanukah, Eid and Kwanzaa.

So to everyone, regardless of your national, ethnic or religious affiliation, please accept sincere wishes that we may all experience peace and hope during this season and throughout the coming year.

 

12/17/2007

Happy Christmas!

This is a still from my new Happy Christmas video, just in time for the holidays. I've been secretly taking singing and performing lessons from the new British Ska group Tygorz, which is headed by none other than British music and animation legend Joel Veitch, and backed up by his band 7 Seconds of Love, along with the world-famous Ninja Kittens!

They're even trying to teach me the proper accents to use to create an authentic British punk/ska sound. You're probably more familiar with Joel Veitch than you realize, as he's also the creator of the Ninja Kittens and the moon-obsessed Spongmonkeys.

This is the first public airing of this video, so please be kind with your criticism. And before I forget, let me dedicate this one to my special UK friend Kassady.

So settle back and enjoy yourselves while I make a complete effing fool of myself... and have a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays or whatever you feel like celebrating!

Click here to see my Happy Christmas video - it opens in a new window.

12/11/2007

PETA Protesting Tila Tequila?

In the News...

Hollywood – People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals on Monday announced that it is protesting and calling for a boycott of bisexual MySpace star Tila Tequila’s reality show on MTV, where she will pick a suitor from ten men and ten women. “The exclusion of animals from this show is outrageous and offensive,” said PETA spokesperson Ashley Keighley. “We won’t stand for this bigotry.”

Called “A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila,” the program has drawn huge amounts of controversy since it debuted on MTV in October. Many conservative groups have attacked MTV and Tequila for the program’s casual attitude towards “sexual deviance.”

PETA, however, is the first organization to criticize “A Shot at Love” for being too sexually timid.

“Apparently Ms. Tequila doesn’t mind if she sleeps with a man or woman, younger or older, of any ethnic background,” said Keighley at a press conference. “But you’re telling me she couldn’t find a single dog, cat, sheep, goat, or other member of the animal community potentially worthy of her affection?”

PETA has long criticized broadcast and cable TV networks for underrepresenting animals on TV, noting that while non-humans make up 91% of the nation’s population, they have only 1.5% of all television roles.

“A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila” is the first specific program PETA has gone after, however, Keighley said the group’s concern started when MTV promoted Tequila’s openness to loving “anyone and everyone” and then grew when the group found out two spin-offs are being developed, neither of which will include animals.

“All we’re asking for is one reality show in which animals are considered just as worthy of love as publicity seeking reality show whores,” said Keighley. “It would do so much to promote awareness of animal rights in this country.”

Tequila said she wanted to include animals amongst the contestants she would choose from on her show, but MTV rejected the idea due to what a memo called “cultural sensitivity and legal concerns.” A spokesperson for MTV declined to comment.

Source: Dateline Hollywood

It should be noted that Gil Cunha and Ben Fritz are the editor/writers behind Dateline Hollywood, comedy writers who have done a superb job of satirizing the insanity of the entertainment industry. Their frequently hilarious parody articles are what you might expect if you combined The Onion with Entertainment Weekly. It should be noted that The Onion has frequently written their own take on PETA's all too often inept efforts.


For those who really need to know, Tila Tequila is the stage name of Tila Nguyen, an American model, entertainer, and singer residing in West Hollywood, California. She is known for her appearances in Stuff, Maxim, Time, Penthouse, her role as host of the Fuse TV show Pants-Off Dance-Off and her position as the most popular artist on MySpace (according to page views) as of April 2006. She was raised in Houston, Texas. Her MTV show A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila premiered on October 9, 2007.

Tila's Official Website, where you can join Tila's posse, view photos and videos and see why PETA is so upset with her.