K.A.C. 2013 - T - 1 ...

             Well, kiddies,  the old calendar says it's time to wrap things up. We've come to the end of another edition of the K.A.C. But don't be sad like this little pierrot ... we'll be back next year! Before we go, we have some final presents for you ... take a look! 

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     First up is Keith "Kez" Wilson's annual Doc Savage fantasy Christmas cover - and once again he knocks it out of the park. Now I want to read this! To see his other fun mash-ups, go here:

http://docfantasycovers.com/ 

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      Next, we dug WAY back to bring you our next item. From Christmas Eve, 1859, comes this charming print from artist Winslow Homer - a centerpiece he did for Harper's Weekly. Click on the image to see the fine details - it makes a nice wallpaper for the computer at this time of year! 

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      Finally, we leave you this year with a quote from Benjamin Franklin, who wrote: "Let no pleasure tempt thee, no profit allure thee, no ambition corrupt thee, to do anything which thou knowest to be evil; so shalt thou always live jollily; for a good conscience is a continual Christmas."

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     As always, thanks for coming along on our annual journey of the strange and bizarre. We hope we brightened your day and made you laugh along the way. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!   

K.A.C. 2013 - T - 2 ...

     Our next-to-last entry for the year begins with some hilariously inappropriate Christmas ads (seriously, who thought Santa about to off himself was a good way to sell shirts?) - read 'em and weep.

http://www.cracked.com/article_18928_the-12-most-unintentionally-disturbing-christmas-ads.html 

   













 

  But wait, there's more! Here's a follow-up article on "9 Disturbing Christmas Ads You Won't Believe". I'm rather partial to the Holiday Hell Bats and Winged Children postcard from the 1890s (below). There's also the Avalanche of Spoons, Revolvers For Christmas and so much more!

http://www.cracked.com/article_20221_9-disturbing-christmas-ads-you-wont-believe-are-real.html 

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Monica alerted me to this cute video of the "magic Christmas piano" that's up at Chicago's Union Station - guaranteed to make you smile! 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9BOTXFCpQA

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     Usually each year I have an Image of the Year to wrap up the K.A.C. - this year is different. After searching long and hard, I haven't found anything I considered outrageous enough to win that prize. So instead I'll give you two runners-up. First, our final Krampus pic. Before I show that, though, I have to say the Big K. came on like gangbusters this year and was EVERYWHERE ! Way to go, guy! Earlier I told you I had one more Krampus item to share ... well, here it is! The Krampus Sweater (modeled by yours truly!) - there's just something about this sweater - I can't take a picture with it on without sticking my tongue out! :)  Believe me, the picture doesn't BEGIN to do this bad boy justice! As soon as I heard about it, I knew I had to have one! They are individually hand-made and quite toasty (I'm hoping that's due to the fabric and not Krampus!) - should you know of that certain someone on your list who must have one, you can place your order for next year via Shredders Knit Apparel here - tell them I sent you!

http://shreddersapparel.com/ 

     Finally, if I REALLY had to pick an Outrageous Image of the Year for the K.A.C., I would have to go with this Chocolate Santa out of London that has parents in an uproar. So many of you sent this image to me (including Mark R. and Debbie), I would be remiss in not sharing it! Behold Santa in all his chocolate magnificence! Read the full story here ...

http://now-here-this.timeout.com/2013/12/20/photo-of-the-day-a-chocolate-santa-cock-up/ 

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     And with that, I'm speechless! Return tomorrow as we wrap up the K.A.C. for another year - see you then!

K.A.C. 2013 - T - 3 ...

     Three days to go ... and we take this moment to send you a very "special" Christmas greeting from Chuck Norris! This one will make you smile!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-D1KVIuvjA 

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     The following will wipe that smile right off your face and make some of you rush for the covers! It's an annual Christmas display from Wooster, Ohio called "Christmas in Motion" that folks set up at their home ... all well and good until you see the video. 'Tis the season for creepy-ass soulless DOLLS !!! Not just one or two, but hundreds ... all moving, all dead-eyed and all looking at YOU! Full screen the video and turn off the lights - extra points to the Cyclone Edition for the music that accompanies this horror show!

http://ntwproductionsnow.blogspot.com/2010/12/most-bizarre-christmas-display-ever.html  

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     And speaking of horrible, we end today with something ... well, you'll see. Cracked.com gives us the gift that keeps on giving with their article entitled "The 11 Most Unintentionally Creepy Christmas Ornaments".  I'm rather fond of number 2 here (seen at left) and would have no problem having her/it hanging on our tree! 

http://www.cracked.com/article_19631_the-11-most-unintentionally-creepy-christmas-ornaments.html 

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     Two more to go! 

K.A.C. 2013 - T - 4 ...

   We're almost through for the year, but we've still got a few more items for you! For example, this article entitled "11 Insane Things You Didn't Know About Santa Claus" (courtesy of io9) - actually, I did know most of these, but perhaps some of them will be new to you!

http://io9.com/11-insane-things-you-didnt-know-about-santa-claus-1485017907

 




 Just because ... ladies and gentlemen, the Wreath of Khan! KHAAAAAAANNN !!!!!!!!!!

http://geekologie.com/2013/12/i-see-what-you-did-there-the-wreath-of-k.php 

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     Last but not least, I'll end this entry with a little something for you GAME OF THRONES fans ... what would happen is George R.R. Martin were Santa? Hint: the results would not be pretty - take a look!

http://io9.com/this-is-exactly-what-would-happen-if-george-r-r-martin-1486777912

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     Back tomorrow with more! 

K.A.C. 2013 - T - 5 ...

      So how did you do on yesterday's quiz? The correct answers were:

# 1 - Natalie Wood

# 2 - Ava Gardner

# 3 - Esther Williams

# 4 - Rita Hayworth

# 5 - Louise Brooks

# 6 - Elizabeth Taylor

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     Laura sent along a very interesting article (via Collectors
Weekly) called "Will The Real Santa Claus Please Stand Up?" It touches on some of our older blog entries (such as the Belsnickel and the Haddon Sundblom Santa) and has some fascinating information you may not have heard of before:

http://www.collectorsweekly.com/articles/will-the-real-santa-claus-please-stand-up/

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     Continuing our historical bent is this article all about the origins and changes over time of Elves. Entitled "The Strange History of Santa's Little Helpers", it covers a lot of ground in only two pages. Go see!

https://www.seeker.com/the-strange-history-of-santas-little-helpers-1768164891.html

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     We end today with some gorgeous photos (via The Artery website) of "Amazing Christmas Celebrations Around the World." From Australia to Poland, there are exotic celebrations of all kinds going on this time of year ... and great shots to commemorate them.

http://artery.wbur.org/2013/12/17/christmas-around-the-world?google_editors_picks=true 

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     More tomorrow!

K.A.C. 2013 - T - 6 ...

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  We can't let the K.A.C. wrap up without one of our favorite pages of the year ... it's the 2013 edition of Kringle's Khristmas Kuties! You know the drill ... identify Santa's Sleighbell Sweeties by the number below the picture ... click on the individual photos to see them close-up ... 

     answers tomorrow!