General Discussion, Sunday, January 5, 2025

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Music of the day – O Tannenbaum

Believe it or not, I learned one verse of this carol in German (the second one he sings here) when I was in about 2nd grade! The church we attended was founded in a German community, and many of the older members (and our minister) spoke German.

This version is interesting – he sings in Italian, German and Engish!

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It’s Caturday!

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The origins of Christmas trees

Records of using greenery to celebrate the holidays predate widespread use of the phrase “Christmas tree.” Rural English church records from the 15th and 16th centuries indicate that holly and ivy were bought in the winter — hence the British carol “The Holly and the Ivy.”

Private houses and streets were also decorated with greenery at this time, according to Judith Flanders’ Christmas: A Biography. Flanders posits that a precursor to the Christmas tree can be seen in the pole that parishes would decorate with holly and ivy, like a winter Maypole; one account describes a storm in London that knocked over a poll that’s described as “for disport of Christmas to the people.”

A lot of myths surround the origins of Christmas trees. One legend says that Martin Luther, who catalyzed the Protestant Reformation, believed that pine trees represented the goodness of God.

Another myth popular in the 15th century tells the story of St. Boniface, who in the 8th century thwarted a pagan human sacrifice under an oak tree by cutting down that tree; a fir tree grew in its place, with its branches representing Christ’s eternal truth. Some versions of this St. Boniface legend say he cut down the new fir tree and hung it upside down, which is believed to have led to the tradition of trees being hung upside down to represent the Holy Trinity — sometimes with an apple wedged at the point instead of a star. All of these stories may have helped the Christmas tradition spread.

But the real origins of Christmas trees appear to be rooted in present-day Germany during the Middle Ages.

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General Discussion, Saturday, January 4, 2025

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MOTIVE: New video and messages released in Trump Tower investigation

As noted in previous videos, this team is informative and seems thorough with their investigation.

Las Vegas officials provided a crucial update in the purposeful explosive cybertruck explosion of Matthew Livelsberger, an active-duty Green Beret who shot himself before detonating a bomb in the vehicle. Officials are now saying they know the motive of the suspect, after releasing new video and messages found. 

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Music of the day – Angels from the Realms of Glory

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General Discussion, Friday, January 3, 2025

lighthouse reflecting in harbor

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Update on Las Vegas Tesla truck explosion

Driver shot himself before the explosion. Is it just me, or is the Vegas team doing a great job and communicating well with the public?

The driver of the Tesla Cybertruck that blew up outside Trump International Hotel Las Vegas on New Year’s Day has been identified as active-duty U.S. Army soldier Matthew Livelsberger, The Associated Press is reporting, citing law enforcement officials.

The officials spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss an ongoing investigation. Livelsberger, 37, has several addresses associated with him and was on leave from Germany, where he was serving with the 10th Special Forces Group.

On Wednesday, he reportedly pulled the truck up outside the hotel at around 8:40 a.m. local time, and it exploded about 15 to 20 seconds later. The explosion killed Livelsberger and injured seven others.

Authorities say the truck contained gasoline and camp fuel containers, as well as large firework mortars. Video of the incident captures the truck exploding in a ball of fire, and fireworks can also be seen going off in all directions.A bystander can also be seen just feet from the truck as it goes up in flames.

An Army spokesperson told Fox News that Livelsberger began active duty in Army in January 2006 and reached the rank of master sergeant. Livelsberger spent time at the base formerly known as Fort Bragg, a massive Army base in North Carolina that is home to the Army Special Forces Command.

As for all the guests at the hotel, they were taken in by another hotel as the investigation into the explosion continues.

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New Year’s Resolutions 2025

best-funny-new-years-resolutions-2015-memes-5Should you, or shouldn’t you? Make resolutions, that is.

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