First: Submit content to the newsletter and have your name entered for a chance to win 6 months of free Gold! It's that easy! Have a question for our Mice? An entry for SingSnap Idle? An idea for an article? A shout-out or testimony for I Love Snap?
Every person who submits something will have their name entered into a draw, which will be done - LIVE - in the SingSnap Chat Room! (1 entry per active user)
Everyone is welcome, so please join us at 8:00 PM December 22, 2008 by entering the "Gold Give Away" room in the Chat Room!
Second: Dig with us for Gold and be the first to correctly identify the "secret location" and you will be awarded 6 months of free Gold!
How Does it Work?
The News Team has "buried the gold" in a "secret" location here on earth.
Each Day, commencing December 8th, through until December 15th, a video clue will be released on the News_Team Profile.
Watch the video, compile the clues and submit your answers to the News_Team.
The first person to correctly identify the secret location will be awarded 6 months of free Gold.
Here is your chance Snappers! Play along with us and give yourself an opportunity to dig for gold! You never know what you might find! Click here to check out the first clue!
Winning Eligibility Requirements: Winners will be announced at the LIVE event on December 22, 2008 in the SingSnap Chat Room. If not present, the winner will be notified by the Editor. Winners must be 13 years or older and must be active SingSnap members. Winners must redeem their free Gold by January 31, 2008. Gold cannot be added-on to an existing membership unless it expires by that date. In the event winners cannot redeem gold by December 31, 2008 then Gold may be donated to an eligible member.
SingSnap Idle Competition
The talent competition that is wide open to singing and listening members of all ages and stages anywhere in the world! No entry-fees - no security-checks - you don't even need to be able to sing a note!
Now, we all know how devilishly addictive this online singing business can be - especially on SingSnap, with all its cool features and the best community on the planet, right?
That's all well and good - and the best thing since sliced bread - BUT, what about when you wake up one morning and realize your song-count has crept up to 3,800 and you can't remember when you last saw the kids - well, last saw anything much really, because the curtains have been drawn for weeks and the piles of half-eaten 'Surf 'n Turf' snacks and Mountain Dew cans are getting to waist-level? This may be your first hint that things are getting the teensiest bit out of control!
The good news is that YOU ARE NOT ALONE! We all know how easy it is to slip into this time-warped chaotic state when you are wired to SingSnap 24/7. We want to hear the depths you have sunk to - and have a good giggle in the process!
Send us the funniest and most graphic story of how karaoke-related domestic neglect has affected your life - and, if possible, a link to a photograph of it all. If we are touched to the core by your story (and laugh ourselves silly!) then YOU could be one of the first to receive the much-coveted 'Golden Vacuum Cleaner' Award PLUS a 1-month FREE Gold Membership!!
Just send your entries to the News Team SingSnap account by December 21, 2008!
The winner will be announced *Live* in the SingSnap Chat Room at 8:00 PM EST, December 22! Everyone is welcome, so come on in and join the fun!
Good Luck!!
Check out the tabs below!
Most Attractive SingSnap Poll Winner by Novella
The SingSnap nation has weighed in and cast their votes for the most attractive SingSnap Staff member! Without further ado allow us to introduce the victor with a whopping 42% of the votes...
7 Seconds With Per! What is your actual title at SingSnap.com?
VP of raw sexual energy (as of today).
How does it feel to be victorious?
Like thinking you've stepped in a pile dog poop and looking under your shoe and realizing you did not step in it after all!
What was your secret to success?
All my competition was from Canada! Not to mention my campaign manager Jacqui, who spent her entire annual salary in bribing the members to vote for me. Thanks Jacqui, I owe you!
Do you feel that resorting to cute kitten avatars, fake celebrity endorsements, and your obvious support of child labor workers was really a 'fair and just' campaign?
Yes. Absolutely!
Who did you feel was your biggest competition?
What competition?
Any words to your fellow losing competitors?
PWNED!
And lastly, Are you going to fulfill your promise and sing the SingSnap nation a song?
Not a chance. :)
What's Snappenin' by Jacqui News
This year has seen such growth at SingSnap.com, with the addition of so many features for our increased enjoyment. Heeding the call from the membership base to see what the fuss was about, Gold Rush was introduced.
Gold Rush!! What a high!! With 36 hours to record and experiment, Blue members rushed to take advantage of the Gold features. While it is obvious that many embraced these features and enjoyed this offer, BlackRain summed it up in a nutshell: "Thanks to everyone at SingSnap, it's great to be able to test run the Gold features. I'm enjoying myself." We certainly hope that test driving these features were enough to convince you of the incredible value of the Gold subscription. Remember, if you cannot subscribe for a whole year, there's also the option to go one month at a time as your pocketbook allows.
Also added to the mix was the Re-Mixer! Snap staff introduced yet another new tool to improve your recording experience. Ever finish a song, save it and discover that the sound levels aren't quite right? The Re-Mixer allows you the chance to go back in, re-mix and fix it!
Lastly, Could the powers at SingSnap HQ be working on yet another Gold perk? One that has regional implications for faster streaming/loading time? And less down-time? What a merry holiday gift that would be!
Weather
Now that the Politics folder has weathered the perfect storm, all eyes are turned to the Beliefs folder to view the aftermath. As predicted, fire and brimstone threatens as we await the revelation of the Antichrist. The next four years may see some warming (global warming?) trends, and one must expect to see varying degrees of hot and cold in these two folders.
Meanwhile, Off Topic folder should start having intermittent blips on SingSnap's radar as we start the North Pole Tracker. For tranquil seas and calm breezes, visit the Birthdays, Dedications and Tributes folder to help celebrate special events. The Events folder has been fairly quiet lately, as no activity has been showing up on the radar either. We will keep an eye on these folders for sudden changes in barometric pressure or temperature.
Gossip
Over in Karaokeland, when Alice Cooper begged Bob Seger to Be My Lover, he asked why do I Feel Like a Number? Maybe because he felt Incomplete? Or was it because The Crying Game had washed all the Lipstick, Powder and Paint from her face, and she looked like she had Wandered By A Brookside?
Meanwhile, Dolly has become The Seeker, as Tavares told her that Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel. Could it be Eloise? She's The Damned, and is rumored to have told Southside Johnny And The Asbury Jukes I Don't Want To Go Home. It's Your Life, they told her, but in any case, The Show Must Go On. I hear they're taking it to SingSnap, so let's be on the lookout!
And that, my friends, is What's Snappenin'!
SingSnap Retrospective by LoveUAlways As the year comes to a close, looking back over past events is natural. In retrospect it is amazing how much SingSnap has changed and grown in such a relatively short time. Even the original logo has metamorphosized!
SingSnap went live on the evening of September 7, 2006. The original vision of a community site built on the feedback of its members has been a running theme that holds as true today as it did on day one.
SingSnap's very first member signed up in the very early hours of September 8, 2006. Wayne recalls that he was sent an invitation to sign up for "this new karaoke site that was beta testing". He adds, "I did not really discover SingSnap, it discovered me." He acknowledges the numerous transformations made by the site since its inception. "There have been so many changes since I first arrived; it really was a bare bones site when I started. Mind you, it was a bare bone site with the most awesome song collection you could imagine."
While Wayne was the first official SingSnap member, his recording of Little Ole Wine Drinker Me was not the very first recording. That distinction is held by Charlene, whose rendition of Invincible was recorded in the very early hours of September 8, 2006. Even then, insomniacs wandered Snapland. Not long after Charlene's recording of the first song, the first video was created by afcpjs for the song Riders on the Storm.
Wayne says that from the perspective of Trevor's vision to build a community the "introduction of the Message Board was the most significant change." The advent of the Message Board pulled people together in the spirit of community. The very first thread was begun by OldPioneerParrot on October 17, 2006. Recording Tips is focused on how to get the best sound on a recording.
Many would assume that as prolific a thread starter that donnyxxx is, that he would have been the first. However, Donny didn't grace the boards until April 19, 2007 when he posted his very first thread simply entitled "Help". He actually didn't start a second thread for three whole months. "Truthful Comments" marked the beginning of his ongoing battle for constructive feedback over cut and paste comments. Speaking of which, what retrospective would be complete without mentioning that the very first glitter graphic was dropped by Nina on the song "If I Had A Million Dollars" sung by lisamarie.
Since those early days, the "community" of SingSnap has grown and evolved. Membership is now open to all, the recorder has gone through several metamorphoses including the addition of the pitch changer, The Mixer (that allows for recording in stereo), and now The Re-Mixer providing Snappers with the opportunity to tweak an already saved recording.
In the just over 2 years since SingSnap made its debut upon the World Wide Web, this "bare bones" site has grown into a community; one united in its love for singing and blessed in its promise of things to come. One can only imagine what 2009 holds.
Tis The Season by spennington "Now Christmas comes, 'tis fit that we should feast and sing, and merry be: Keep open house, let fidlers play. A fig for cold, sing care away; And may they who thereat repine, On brown bread and on small beer dine." ---from the 1766 Virginia Almanack
"Eat, drink and be merry." This is the time of year when most of us allow ourselves a few excesses. From spicy warm Rum and Eggnog, to the traditional Champagne of New Years - it seems that a great number of us have alcohol on our shopping list this time of the year. And why not, for most, kicking up our heels with a drink or two while hanging out with friends and family doesn't hurt anyone. However, the exception to that can be if, after indulging with friends, we get behind the wheel (or handlebars) of a motor vehicle.
December is National Drugged and Drunk Driving awareness month and the statistics are sobering (pun intended). According to MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving), someone is killed by a drunk or drugged driver every forty minutes and 52% of all motor vehicle crashes on any given weekend are alcohol or drug related. The Insurance Information Institute notes that 1.4 million people are arrested for drunk and/or drugged driving every year. For the year 2007, 8,073 drivers, 2,534 passengers, 1,620 motorcycle riders, 660 pedestrians and 87 bicyclists were killed by drunk and/or drugged drivers. Almost 13,000 lives---gone.
One of the organizations who make it their mission to fight this tragedy is SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions). For twenty-seven years, this organization has been a driving force in getting the message out to youth that drinking and driving do not mix. In 1997, after urging from the teenagers in its membership, SADD changed their name from Students Against Drunk Driving to Students Against Destructive Decisions. The influence of this group of young people is made even more important by the fact that motor vehicle accidents are the number one killer of our children.
We hear all the time that the teenagers today do not care about anything or anyone. With a membership of over 350,000, the members of SADD would disagree. With 5,000 members strong and growing OSAID (Ontario Students Against Impaired Driving) would take exception as well.
While discussing this story with the News Team, our own Chanda, brought up a scene that played out, while she was doing some shopping.
Chanda shares, "While I was out getting my groceries one day I witnessed a group of students doing a fundraiser for OSAID. It was cold and pouring rain and these girls had music blaring and were dancing around like they were enjoying a summers day. It really touched me to see how involved they were in this cause. If these students can get so worked up about this why can't we?"
From one Snapper to another - Don't be a statistic. Ensure this is a holiday season to remember - not to forget. Don't drink and drive.
Season's Greetings for a safe and happy holiday!
12 Days of SingSnap by Jacqui
Once upon a time in Cyberville, there lived a beautiful handmaiden. Although it was a fair and prosperous land, she was scared to wander too far from her house. She knew that there was a gorgeous mansion called SingSnap, ruled by the mighty Emperor Trevor, just overlooking the town square. Oh how she ached to visit that mansion!
She heard tales of how it was such a happy place where everyone was welcome, had lots of fun and sang all the time. This however broke the handmaiden's heart, because due to a curse cast upon her by the Wicked Witch of Other Karaokelands - she could not sing!
One day, as the bright winter sun's rays skipped and danced across the snow-kissed fir trees, she walked along the edge of Cyberville hoping to hear the fine arias being sung at SingSnap. She closed her eyes while the beautiful trilling voices filled her ears with absolute joy. A single tear fell and she paused to wipe her eyes. As she opened them, who stood before her than the handsome Prince Jason. She was awestruck because she had never seen a man so fair and strong. He handed her a golden microphone and bade her to come with him to SingSnap. Alas, realizing that she could never use it, she thrust it back and ran off before he could get her name.
That night, Prince Jason and his loyal subjects, Lord Tony and Lord Ryan searched high and low in Cyberville for the beautiful handmaiden. The next morning, she awoke to find a beautiful golden microphone on her front doorstep. Her thudding heart sang the words her lips could not utter. Inside her head, she imagined her voice soaring over the hills and above the clouds, until it found its way into the heart of Prince Jason and he knew that finally, he had found his perfect duet partner.
Each day, as she found yet another gift on her doorstep, she realized that the spell was being broken. Her voice was slowly coming back! On the 12th day, the Twelve Days of SingSnap came to life and she and Prince Jason were married and lived happily ever after.
The Twelve Days of Singsnap
1. A Golden Microphone
2. Two Earphones
3. Three HOF Nods
4. Four One-take Wonders
5. Five Orange Stars
6. Six Inner Circles
7. Seven Back-up Singers
8. Eight Octaves Higher
9. Nine Glitter Graphics
10. Ten Brand New Fans
11. Eleven Fancy Playlists
12. Twelve Months of Gold
Tech Tips - by LoveUAlways
With the giving season upon us, people are always searching for great gift ideas. Why not offer the Gift of Gold? For $7/USD you can provide your friends with the opportunity to record their favorite songs with all the bells and whistles that accompany a gold membership.
To sponsor a friend, follow these steps:
While on your friend's song, look for the gold "Sponsor" bar next to their name and click on it. This will redirect you to your subscription information page.
Under 'Purchase a Subscription' near the bottom of the page, select either the monthly or the yearly option.
Make sure your friend's profile name is in the 'Select Recipient' box, and then click on Proceed to PayPal.
Login to your PayPal account and complete the steps to finalize the transaction.
You will be directed back to SingSnap and as soon as your transaction clears, your friend will be GOLD!
Your friend will receive notification that you sponsored them.
Helpful hints:
If you are planning on sponsoring your friend on a monthly basis, you need not do anything more, however if you only want to provide one month of gold make sure that you go back into your PayPal Account and cancel the subscription so that it won't renew.
On the My Account tab, click History. This will bring up a listing of all of your transactions.
Find the transaction you just entered and click on Details.
Click on Cancel Subscription and follow the instructions.
Vocal Tips - by Charli
It's obvious when we hear a song performed well, but how can this ever be achieved, aside from what has been discussed in previous tips? We know well-hydrated vocal chords, adequate sleep, good posture, diaphragmatic breathing, and practice are mainstays of the process. The foundation we build our style upon. But how do we put it altogether?
Along with vocal control, breath-control requires practice to increase stamina, carry notes, and to keep in step with song phrasing. Have you ever found yourself out of breath in the middle of a lyric, where there is no time to catch your breath? With breath-control you will breeze through with little or no effort.
Don't we gain breath-control through singing? Yes and No. Through regular singing we get better at breath-control, but only minimally. To exceed or go beyond the minimum requires more effort. Much like a bodybuilder builds his strength, we build good breath-control...a little at a time. It really doesn't take as much time or effort as one might think. Here again, consistency is always the key.
Exhale to empty your lungs of oxygen. Take a big breath and let it out through your mouth slowly...as slowly as you can, concentrating on controlling the escape of air, until your lungs are empty. With repetition, you will be able to do this for longer periods of time. A good idea would be to time yourself, to monitor how long you can control your breath. Don't worry if you can't control your breath very long at first. Through repetition and consistency you will improve your time.
The idea is to condition your voice...hone it for performance. The voice is the greatest musical instrument of all. It is always handy, doesn't require but a minimum of care and attention, in comparison to other musical instruments. It needs no strings, reeds, or tuners. It is Mother Nature's instrument, one might say, and building the voice ensures performance on demand.
Next issue, I will go more in depth regarding honing the voice, as we scale the building blocks to put it altogether. Until then, my friends, Happy Holidays and happy singing!
Surf N' Turf by Chanda1003
With the Holidays approaching that means company, festivities and the need for handy snacks for people to nibble on. However, we cannot take away time from our SingSnap family. Here are a couple of quick people pleasers with that touch of Jolly that people won't believe you made yourself!
Easy Chocolate Truffles
Prep Time: 30 min Total Time: 1 hour 30 min Amount: Approximately 40 Truffles - medium size
Directions
1. Beat cream cheese in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth.
2. Gradually add sugar, mixing until well blended.
3. Add melted chocolate and vanilla; mix well.
4. Refrigerate 1 hour or until chilled.
5. Shape into 1-inch balls and roll in walnuts, cocoa, powdered sugar or coconut.
6. Store in refrigerator.
Candy Cane Hot Chocolate
Prep Time: 3 min Total Time: 10 min
Ingredients
Cup of your favorite Hot Chocolate
Candy canes
Whipped cream
Directions
1. Add 2 candy canes and stir until candy canes are melted into the hot chocolate
2. Top with whipped cream
3. Put a candy cane in a ziploc type bag and beat with a kitchen mallet until well broken
4. Sprinkle on top and serve
Adults may enjoy a splash of Baileys Irish cream or Kahlua. :)
Mini Gift Guide - Hot Toys for 2008 by Chanda1003
The holiday season is upon us! This is a hectic time of year and for so many people shopping for children can be an absolute nightmare. The internet and toy stores have been scoured to see what children are wanting this year and we are proud to present: Mini-Gift Guide - Hot Toys for 2008!
Baby's First Christmas Candy Rock 'N Bounce Pony from Radio Flyer
Ages 9 months- 3 years (Under 60.00 USD)
Crayola Beginnings Baby TaDoodles Rainbow Tower from Crayola
Ages 6 months and up (Under 25.00 USD)
Hasbro Playskool Busy Ball Popper
Ages 3 months and up (Under 30.00 USD)
Hot Christmas Toys 13 Months to 2 Years Sesame Street(R) Elmo Live! from Fisher-Price (Under 60.00 USD)
Little people learn about town by Fisher- Price (Under 40.00 USD)
Fisher price Laugh and learn 2 in 1 kitchen (Under 60.00 USD)
Hot Christmas Toys 2-4 Years Old Barbie & The Diamond Castle Princess Liana and Princess Alexa Dolls from Mattel (Under 20.00 USD)
Black and Decker Jr Power Tools Electronic Workbench (Under 70.00USD)
V.Motion Active Learning System from Vtech (Under 60.00 USD)
Hot Christmas Toys 5-7 Years Old Biscuit, my lovin' pup from Hasbro (Under 200.00 USD)
Circus Ring from Playmobil (Under 80.00USD)
Disney Hannah Montana Dance mat with DVD and wig (Under 30.00 USD)
Tag Reading System from LeapFrog (Under 50.00 USD)
Hot Christmas Toys for 8-11 Year Olds Star Wars: The Clone Wars Trooper voice changer helmet (Under 30.00 USD)
Girl Gourmet Cupcake Maker from JAKKS Pacific (Under 30.00 USD)
EyeClops Night Vision Infrared Stealth Goggles from JAKKS Pacific (Under 70.00 USD)
Hot Christmas Toys for Big Kids Wii game console (Under 300.00 USD)
Mp4 player (Under 40.00 USD)
Cranium by Hasbro (Under 25.00 USD)
36" Player Series Acoustic Guitar from First Act (Under 60.00 USD)
Happy Holidays and Happy Shopping!
Home For The Holidays by Novella
Intelligence, maturity and warmth are not measured in years alone, and 15-year-old SingSnap member Fullthrottle, is a perfect example of that. Fullthrottle, affectionately known as 'little man' by his family and Sam by his friends, came into this world just as every other human has, but few have gone on to experience as much life as he has in his short fifteen years on this planet.
Born in Michigan USA, he was raised by his mother Jennifer and her life partner Amanda, and spent his youth touring around the country due to his birth-mother being in the United States Air Force. The Snappers who have come to know Sam will attest to him being incredibly articulate, intelligent and above all - caring. He credits his mother Jennifer, for building a strong foundation for him and how he treats others, "My mom taught us about life and how people can be. She taught us to respect those that are older than ourselves." She's also responsible for instilling in him a love for music; "Singing is a big part of our lives. My mom would crank up oldies as we traveled from one base to another so we got to know the oldies really well."
Sam's start in life seemed nearly picture perfect. He had caring parents who adored and showered him with love, and at the age of five, he and his twin brother Steven93, became MENSA members. Sam also had the adulation of his older brother Christian and a baby sister. Sam's mother Amanda recollects how, even at a young age, Sam had a mature and compassionate outlook on life. "Sam said to me once, 'What a person looks like is inside them and you have to get to know them to realize that.' He was 8."
However, it wasn't long after that tragedy struck this young man; "My real mom and 18 month old sister were killed in a car accident when I was 9 years old. My 'other' mom and aunt fought to keep us out of the court system by adopting us and caring for us." One can only imagine how difficult it would be to deal with that kind of grief at such a young age. But, true to Sam's character - he chose his life's direction, to become a lawyer, based on his experience. "My mom and sister were killed when a drunk driver crossed the median and hit their car head on at a high rate of speed. He got 2 years in jail. That's when I knew that our justice system needs better lawyers."
One of Sam's other passions in life is music and fulfilling his creative side. While he is adventurous and enjoys spending time in the outdoors skiing, snowboarding and riding his ATV - he still has a romantic side to him that thrives on exploring literature and poetry. Amanda sees the similarities between he and his late mother; "He's an exact replica of his real mother. He has her heart and her outlook. He looks at a tree and sees more than just the tree. Sam sees beauty in everything around him. He has always been my little romantic one."
Sam has formed several strong bonds with various SingSnap members. He's created special contests that are catered to the younger crowd and has been fervently championing the concept of SingSnap Junior - a platform that would allow those under the age of 13 a safe and reliable place to share and explore their voices. Sam is a young man who suffered a terrible loss, but has bounced back to bring so much joy and positive energy to, literally, people all over the world. Considering this, it seems incredibly unfair that he was faced with yet another obstacle to over-come. "Last year, I was diagnosed with a cancerous tumor. I had to have surgery on my head. I pulled through but afterward I had to go through treatments of radiation and chemotherapy that lasted until just recently." Enlivened by his family and friends on SingSnap, Sam has weathered the storms and is optimistic about the future. He holds close to his heart those people who reached out and supported him through his difficult times. "My friends on SingSnap got together and while I was in the hospital, they wrote notes to me every day. My brother would bring them in and read them to me. They sang songs for me and my brother would put those on my iPod so I could hear them. I have a huge SingSnap family and I wouldn't trade that for anything."
Family is no longer defined by blood-type or those who reside under the same roof. Family, are those people who you love unconditionally, because of the impact they have made in your life. There is no better time than the Holidays to celebrate and show gratitude for those you love. Sam recollects a precious Christmas story that his mother shared with him; "My mom said that the Christmas tree represents family. The branches are all of the branchings of our family members. The lights represent how our family will always shine through every storm. The decorations celebrate the new lives and the deaths. So every year we add new ornaments for every life and death. I think that's my favorite part is to remember that family is what Christmas is all about. Jesus gave his life so that I could live."
Sam plans to spend Christmas close to home, due to his low immunities, and has declared a strict work-out regime, to re-build his loss of muscle mass, as his New Year's resolution. One thing that was apparent when speaking to Sam's mother Amanda is how much love she has for her children. The warmth and pride that came through in her words was incredible and she shared that even though times are trying - she feels truly blessed. "The holidays are special to us. Christmas at the Grandparents means a packed home with tons of food, from early morning until late evening. The house is filled with song. It's a very spiritual time for us. Being without my life partner is hard, but I wouldn't trade my life with this family and these boys for all the gold in the world. They are my treasure. Their mother is looking down at them smiling knowing they will be just fine."
Amanda's words are so selfless and jam-packed with devotion. It's not difficult to see why Sam has developed into such an astonishing young man. Amanda concludes her thoughts about Sam and his brothers; "We are so proud of him and if his mother were here, she would be proud of all three boys for going through all the pain of losing her and being there for each other. She was their mom but also their best friend. She raised them well."
To be honest, telling this story was a challenge and only the surface has been scratched. The friendships that Sam has formed, the lives he has touched, and the strength he encompasses - goes beyond words. Whether it be starting a thread on the forum in support of a friend who lost a child, or performing spontaneous sock puppet shows in the hospital for other scared and sick children - Sam is always thinking of someone else. Even while fighting his own battles, he reaches out to others in need. This kind of strength of character is remarkable - especially in someone so young. Sam is wise beyond his years and on behalf of the News Team, we thank him for sharing his story and send him our best wishes while he is home for the holidays.
I've bought my sister the same CD for the last 10 years. It's a New Kids On the Block album. I know she loved them when she was around 12, and she has never said anything about it, so I guess she still does? Should I buy her a NKOTB t-shirt this year instead??
Signed, a Billy Idol fan!
Dear BIF,
Did your stomach disintegrate your cerebellum rendering you imbecilic? While you ponder the answer to that question for the next decade, I'll let you in on a little secret. You may not be bright but you're incredibly lucky. If I were your sister I would have disowned you years ago. Not because of your obvious disinterest in her advancement into adulthood but because you clearly lack even a hint of creativity or originality. It might be wise to take your head out of your rear long enough to realize that your sister is no longer a pimple-faced teenager and may appreciate something a little more age appropriate. Then again, considering the return of the Boys from the Block, your Christmas gift might be the perfect 'fit'.
Dear Fan,
Ok, ok, I know you done went and had a change a heart about them ole Boys on the Street fellers. They was just a little too controversial for me since they was up there thrusting their hips and such. I am glad to know you are thinking about another direction this year. It just was not right subjecting your poor sister to that newfangled, sin prevokin' stuff. My best advice to try to get her back from the dark side by introducing her to the only two real kinds of music. Country and Western! If you want to mend fences, you get her a Johnny Cash CD this year, and girl, she will love you forever. By the way, what in tarnation is a billy idol, We don't take to no goat warshipin round these parts.
Dear City & Country Mouse,
Last year for Christmas a nurse that I see all the time while working, got me a pair of edible briefs. I had no idea who sent them to me until I got word from a co-worker that she did. I still see her all the time and have yet to ask her if she really did or not. Should I ask? If so how? Or should I maybe repay the favor this year? If so with what?
Firefighter from Florida
Dear Firefighter,
Now, I think we've got to get something clarified here. Are we talking about drop-dead gorgeous romantic interest nurse here, or are we saying maiden-aunt graying-hair-tied-in-a-bun type nurse? If it is the second, then maybe consider the possibility she didn't know what she was buying and would be horrified if you brought the subject up with her. BUT, if we are looking at the first possibility, then wowee zap! You're going to have a mighty fine Christmas if you play your cards right!! Just you be wearing those briefs to work, and sidle up to her by the water-cooler. Drop in the subject of Chrissie presents, while running your fingers down your upper thighs - that should get her attention. Then you just need to say 'I hold your gift in close affection. Fancy coming round for supper some time. I do so hate dining alone!' That will either earn you the time of your life, and the start of who-knows-what OR a slap in the face and a sexual harassment lawsuit! But hey, buddy, it's Christmas!!
Dear Firefighter,
I know I am from the country and all, but I done heard about them edible under britches. I got two words for you. CORN STARCH! I don't know about you but snackin on something that has been riding someone else's crack - I don't know if I could belly it myself. I am just a sitting here thinking 'bout you running into a burning building, Mr. Firefighter, with your under britches running down your leg from the heat. That's gonna be a tough stain. HA, repay the favor, yep! Get her a fruit roll up and tell her that you expect a bikini chomped outta that sucker for her to model for ya! If she did it, y'all probably be married in a coupla months since no one else is gonna be hanging around you with ya britches rolling down yer legs. If not, you won't ever have to worry about what to get her again!
Winter Holidays Around The Worldby PinkVictoria18
Can you hear those sleigh bells ringing? It's winter time! No matter how cold it is outside, everyone feels a little bit warmer around this time of year. The season is filled with marvel, whether you are a child wide-eyed with holiday wonder or a squeaky old Scrooge. Family and friends from all parts of the world, from all backgrounds and religions, come together to share holiday cheer with one another. Every family has their own story and tradition, and while all traditions are not exactly the same, it's surprising how much alike they can also be when it comes to the Holiday Season.
Christmas is the holiday celebrated by Christians that recognizes the birthday of Jesus Christ. Although the exact date of Christ's birth is unknown, Christians were quite interested in choosing one particular day to celebrate the birthday. The Western Church leaders decided on December 25th. This day was already recognized in the Roman Empire as the birthday of various Pagan gods. Christmas may seem like it has been around forever, but it actually took centuries for the tradition to become universally accepted. Christians celebrate this day by decorating their homes in Holly and Mistletoe, placing presents under a Christmas Tree and exchanging the gifts. Many of these symbols and practices are of Pagan origin, including magical reindeer and Yule logs.
Families from the Wicca religion celebrate Yule, which is also known as Winter Solstice. The date of this celebration varies, but it is usually around December 21st, the longest, darkest night of the year. Winter Solstice recognizes the rebirth of the Great God and is a time for spiritual, psychic, and physiological renewal of the body, mind, and soul. The word 'Yule' means 'wheel', symbolizing a never-ending seasonal cycle. Just as Christians decorate with a Nativity set portraying Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus - Wiccans also have a Nativity set. However, this set portrays Mother Nature, Father Time and the Baby Sun-God. A Yule Log is also burned as a symbol of the rebirth of the Sun.
Another popular holiday is Kwanzaa, a week-long holiday celebrated throughout the world honoring African heritage. Kwanzaa is observed December 26th through January 1st, and each day observes one of the seven principles of Kwanzaa. This unique holiday was created by Karenga in 1966 as the very first African American holiday. Kwanzaa was established to help African Americans reconnect with their African cultural and historical heritage, and is celebrated by uniting together in meditation and the study of African traditions. Those celebrating Kwanzaa decorate their homes with colorful, African art and cloths.
Bodhi Day is a popular holiday in the Buddhist religion. This Day of Enlightenment is celebrated on December 8th, recognizing the day Buddha became enlightened under the Bodhi Tree in 596 BC. On this day of remembrance and meditation, Ficus Trees are decorated with beads that symbolize that all things are united, multi-colored lights which represent the many pathways to enlightenment and three shiny ornaments. These special ornaments represent the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha.
The Jewish religion celebrates Hanukkah as their main winter holiday. This eight-day holiday celebrates the re-dedication of the Second Temple of Jerusalem. Hanukkah is observed by the kindling of eight lights on a Menorah, one light for each night. There is a ninth light called a Shamash, which is used to light the other lights. Families gather together to have rituals each day, some of which are family-based, and some communal. The dates of Hanukkah are determined by the Hebrew Calendar. Hanukkah begins on the 25th day of Kislev and ends on the 2nd or 3rd of Tevet.
The Hindu Festival of Lights is called Diwali, which marks the victory of good over evil and the uplifting of spiritual darkness. The spiritual meaning of this holiday is an awareness of the inner light that dwells within everyone. Celebrated with fireworks, lights and flowers, this six-day festival marks the end of the harvest season in most of India and Nepal. Farmers give thanks for a good harvest, and pray for a plentiful harvest for the coming year.
SingSnappers from around the world share their holiday traditions:
Werewoof, a SingSnapper from the USA, celebrates Christmas with his family by having a fine dinner at a Chinese buffet, then spending a nice evening at an aunt's house playing games and enjoying one another's company. He plans on celebrating the holidays with his SingSnap friends by singing in the Chat Room 'till dawn!
Canadian Snapper, Spawn_Of_Kya, also celebrates Christmas, but by attending a Midnight Mass, then coming home to open presents with her family. One of her favorite holiday memories is helping with a charity that bought clothes and toys for children. Her favorite holiday song is 'Christmas Cannon Rock' by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Spawn is sending out cards to all of her SingSnap friends for the holidays.
Pagan snapper, Wiccabasket, celebrates from Yule on December 22nd through Boxing Day which is December 26th. During this busy time of year, she takes time to be with her loved ones to recollect on the past year and protect them from the darkest night of the year. Yule begins at dawn, when she awakes for the day. The whole family goes out into the woods and, with Nature's blessing, gathers Holly, Ivy and other greenery to decorate their home. Every evening of celebration, every light in the home is turned out, then she goes to every room to light a candle symbolizing the hope of Spring's return.
Mannariina, from Finland, spends Christmas Eve with her family by going to church, then reading the Christmas Gospel before eating dinner. Her mother begins cooking the ham, which is the most important Christmas dish in Finland, on Christmas Eve and it is ready for dinner on Christmas Day. One of her favorite holiday memories is playing board games with her sister on Christmas.
When getting ready for the holidays, Michelle123 from the USA gets a head start. She starts decorating by putting up her Christmas Tree the day after Thanksgiving. Michelle says her favorite holiday memory is her very first Christmas with her husband. They spend Christmas with both hers and his side of the family. "I'll Be Home for Christmas" is Michelle's favorite holiday song, as her brother has been serving in Iraq for the past few Christmases.
Melissa777 from the Philippines, also celebrates Christmas a little differently. On Christmas Eve, her family cooks a large dinner of special foods and then eats after attending Midnight Mass. Gifts are usually exchanged right before this meal. On December 25th, they dress up in their best clothes to visit their grandparents and godparents to receive special gifts, money, and blessings. To celebrate the New Year, on December 31st, the whole town is decorated with bright festive decorations and firecrackers are lit at midnight.
You can read more about Wiccabasket and Melissa777's stories on the News_Team's profile page.
No matter how you celebrate the Holidays, the main reason remains the same: 'tis the season to spend time with family, whether you see them everyday, or just once a year. Every part of this season is reason to be joyful like the smile on a childÕs face, the very first drop of snow, or carols around the piano. It may be cold outside, but the heart is always warm!
A Snap-Holiday Quilt From Around The World
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Family is no longer defined by blood-type or those who reside under the same roof. Family, are those people who you love unconditionally, because of the impact they have made in your life. There is no better time than the Holidays to celebrate and show gratitude for those you love. Sam recollects a precious Christmas story that his mother shared with him; "My mom said that the Christmas tree represents family. The branches are all of the branchings of our family members. The lights represent how our family will always shine through every storm. The decorations celebrate the new lives and the deaths. So every year we add new ornaments for every life and death. I think that's my favorite part is to remember that family is what Christmas is all about. Jesus gave his life so that I could live."
Dear Country and City Mouse,
Christmas is the holiday celebrated by Christians that recognizes the birthday of Jesus Christ. Although the exact date of Christ's birth is unknown, Christians were quite interested in choosing one particular day to celebrate the birthday. The Western Church leaders decided on December 25th. This day was already recognized in the Roman Empire as the birthday of various Pagan gods. Christmas may seem like it has been around forever, but it actually took centuries for the tradition to become universally accepted. Christians celebrate this day by decorating their homes in Holly and Mistletoe, placing presents under a Christmas Tree and exchanging the gifts. Many of these symbols and practices are of Pagan origin, including magical reindeer and Yule logs.
Families from the Wicca religion celebrate Yule, which is also known as Winter Solstice. The date of this celebration varies, but it is usually around December 21st, the longest, darkest night of the year. Winter Solstice recognizes the rebirth of the Great God and is a time for spiritual, psychic, and physiological renewal of the body, mind, and soul. The word 'Yule' means 'wheel', symbolizing a never-ending seasonal cycle. Just as Christians decorate with a Nativity set portraying Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus - Wiccans also have a Nativity set. However, this set portrays Mother Nature, Father Time and the Baby Sun-God. A Yule Log is also burned as a symbol of the rebirth of the Sun.
Another popular holiday is Kwanzaa, a week-long holiday celebrated throughout the world honoring African heritage. Kwanzaa is observed December 26th through January 1st, and each day observes one of the seven principles of Kwanzaa. This unique holiday was created by Karenga in 1966 as the very first African American holiday. Kwanzaa was established to help African Americans reconnect with their African cultural and historical heritage, and is celebrated by uniting together in meditation and the study of African traditions. Those celebrating Kwanzaa decorate their homes with colorful, African art and cloths.
Bodhi Day is a popular holiday in the Buddhist religion. This Day of Enlightenment is celebrated on December 8th, recognizing the day Buddha became enlightened under the Bodhi Tree in 596 BC. On this day of remembrance and meditation, Ficus Trees are decorated with beads that symbolize that all things are united, multi-colored lights which represent the many pathways to enlightenment and three shiny ornaments. These special ornaments represent the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha.
The Jewish religion celebrates Hanukkah as their main winter holiday. This eight-day holiday celebrates the re-dedication of the Second Temple of Jerusalem. Hanukkah is observed by the kindling of eight lights on a Menorah, one light for each night. There is a ninth light called a Shamash, which is used to light the other lights. Families gather together to have rituals each day, some of which are family-based, and some communal. The dates of Hanukkah are determined by the Hebrew Calendar. Hanukkah begins on the 25th day of Kislev and ends on the 2nd or 3rd of Tevet.
The Hindu Festival of Lights is called Diwali, which marks the victory of good over evil and the uplifting of spiritual darkness. The spiritual meaning of this holiday is an awareness of the inner light that dwells within everyone. Celebrated with fireworks, lights and flowers, this six-day festival marks the end of the harvest season in most of India and Nepal. Farmers give thanks for a good harvest, and pray for a plentiful harvest for the coming year.
Canadian Snapper, 
Pagan snapper, 
When getting ready for the holidays, 
