"This Christmas!"

Well, if you have followed Break It Down for a while, you have figured out by now, more than likely, since it’s a holiday, this will not be an exercise in heavy lifting. I am not going to delude my self into taxing my brain, or wasting time trying to develop some deeply thought-provoking theme, when we know most of your time will likely be spent traveling, being entertained, entertaining, or vegging out, if you actually get a break from traveling and entertaining. In other words, keep it light!

To that end, let address the important stuff. It is Christmas Eve, so Merry Christmas, Joyous Noel (Noel is Leon spelled backward, by the way), and Feliz Navidad! In addition, for those whose faith tradition is Judaism, Happy Hanukkah! This year, Hanukkah began the evening of December 21st, and runs through December 29th. What about practitioners of Islam, you may ask? In 2008, Ramadan began in North America on September 2nd, and rand through October 1st.

To complete the current cycle of ethnic, cultural and holiday events, even though they are not religious observances, Happy Kwanzaa, and Happy New Year’s Day, as well. And yes, before you ask, I did omit Hindu (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduism) and Buddhist (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhism) Holidays. But feel free to research the enclosed links.

This week has been as eventful as most, and there are any number of news worthy items that could be discussed. Under the rubric of full disclosure, I admit I have had spirited encouragement to sift through Bernard Madoff’s Ponzi Scheme shenanigans, the Auto Bailout fallout, and of course, Governor Blagojevich’s blue language infused rants on the sale of President-elect Obama’s Senate seat.

Tempting as all that is you will recall my starting premise, which is still my guiding mantra; keep it light. To do that, I have integrated a different medium into this week’s post. In honor of the Twelve Days of Christmas, the twelve months of the year, and maybe even the Twelve-Step Program, in case you need one after all your celebrating, I have pulled together a twelve-song “youtube” Christmas Collection for your listening pleasure. Go forth and enjoy. I’ done; holla back!

Read my blog anytime by clicking the link: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com. A new post is published each Wednesday.

To listen to your concert, check out the twelve youtube links below. For more detailed information on a variety of aspects relating to this post, consult the ten links that follow.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJO_kdkrj1g (This Christmas - Donnie Hathaway)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ga-qd5FYUjA&feature=related (Stevie Wonder – What Christmas Means To Me)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rf6fTRTQrG4&feature=related (Natalie Cole – The First Noel)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tht9KD_pB0U (Nat King Cole – Silent Night)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jk34lUQoyQ (Kem - The Christmas Song)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxv88-euQtE (Lauryn Hill – Little Drummer Boy)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhVvB0r5l7E (Brian McKnight & Christina Aguilera – Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jG8abNRsabk&feature=related (Dianne Reeves – Christmas Time Is Here)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_9JJc2zNhI (Boney James – Let It Snow)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWQzmb3xjn8 (Mariah Carey – Hark The Herald)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_n-gRS_wdI (John Coltrane – My Favorite Things)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzd6oCP3FKk Eartha Kitt – Santa Baby)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judaism

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanukkah

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramadan

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kwanzaa

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Year's_Day

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rod_Blagojevich

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernard_Madoff