Category: Random

a giant straw Christmas goat

Here’s a unique Christmas tradition.  Every year in Gavle, Sweden, the city puts up a 43-foot-high goat made of straw, and almost every year it is burned down by vandals.  The straw goat is a centuries-old tradition, and the giant version has been put up annually since 1966.  Only 10 have survived beyond Christmas Day.  Most were burned, although several were beaten down and the 1976 goat was hit by a car.  The vandals are rarely caught, but in 2001 an American was caught and had to spend 18 days in jail.

There’s a webcam setup this year, so you can keep an eye on the giant straw goat.  (If anyone sees it on fire, please post a comment here immediately so we can all check it out.)

This year, authorities have doused the straw goat with flame-resistant chemicals and are sure it cannot be burned.  A spokeswoman for the committee in charge of building the goat said, “It is impossible to burn it to the ground this year.”  The company that provided the fireproof treatment said, “Not even napalm can set fire to the goat now.”

To me, the label “non-flammable” constitutes a challenge…  🙂  I imagine some others feel the same way.  The authorities are just tempting someone to try.

But I won’t be burning it down.  It’s way too far away.  But I do have an alternate plan.  Since I heard of this last year, I’ve thought about how cool it would be to build one here in central Arkansas.  I have a friend who has a couple of unused acres, and it’s just outside of city limits.  It could get really popular, drawing in tourists from around the country.  He could sell nachos and hot dogs and miniature straw goats, and setup bonfires (not too close) for all the guests.  So he’d make money, we’d get kinda famous, and it would be a good time for all.  I don’t see any problems with doing this.  Is anyone with me?

the best Christmas ever!

This is gonna be the best Christmas ever!  I’m determined to make it so!  But, if this year is the best Christmas ever, then the next year’s won’t be as good.  And I don’t want that!  I expect to make the same resolution next year, to have the best Christmas ever, but then next year’s will be the best and not this one.  And if I already know how to make next year’s Christmas even better, then why don’t I do it this year?  But then next year’s won’t be as good as this year’s…  It seems that I’ve now thought myself into a conundrum.  Hmm…  What to do?

a good idea to try in public restrooms

When you go into a multi-stall public restroom, like at work or at the mall, and there’s someone already in a stall, say this with your best big redneck voice : “MAN, IT SMELLS LIKE CRAP IN HERE!”

It’s a good time…  The people in the stalls will be amused, I’m sure…

sausage balls are good for you

This morning I was eating some sausage balls as part of a balanced breakfast, and I thought about how they’re part of 3 of the 4 main food groups (as considered by many).  It covers meats, dairy, and grains.  All I needed was fruit and vegetables, which I could’ve added by drinking some orange juice, but I opted for egg nog instead.  Who knew sausage balls were so healthy?  (FYI, if you’re not familiar with sausage balls, they’re becoming a holiday tradition in these parts; they’re made from Bisquick, sausage, and cheddar cheese.)

I was later discussing these nutritional “facts” with the “Important Doctor” that visits this site, and he suggested that mayonnaise is part of the meat group.  This seemed strange (which is normal coming from him), but he explained it thusly : Mayonnaise is made with eggs, and eggs come from chickens, which are made of meat; once a meat, always a meat; so if you make mayonnaise from meat, it’s part of the meat group.  I suppose that makes sense.  But I’ve never heard that anywhere else before.

I reckon that means my egg nog is also in the meat group… so I’ll consider it a protein shake.  🙂

You learn something every day…