Daily 12/12/2007

The Bible According To Google Earth Annotated

Scenes from the Bible have been imagined by countless artists over the centuries, but never quite like this. God’s Eye View portrays four key Biblical events as if captured by Google Earth.

“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” by James Taylor Annotated

• From 2001, hear James Taylor’s beautiful rendition of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” and read commentary on why he choose to stick with the original lyrics instead of Sinatra’s “jollied up” version.
  – post by revjim

In the past, other singers have done more upbeat versions: In the ’50s, Sinatra had the line “Hang a shining star upon the highest bow” inserted in place of the darker, original line “Until then, we’ll have to muddle through somehow.” Taylor, though, wanted to stay faithful to the Meet Me in St. Louis tone: “I always sort of thought of this song with these lyrics from the movie,” he said. “And it resonates more with me this way, with the sort of sadder, more melancholy lyrics. I like it better.”

An Old Child’s Letter to Santa — by Christopher Moore Annotated

• Brilliant author Christopher Moore’s first letter to Santa since he was 5.
  – post by revjim

someone who can fly a sleigh beyond the speed of light, and manipulate matter so he can get his big ass down multifarious chimneys, should probably have e-mail by now. I’m just sayin’.