Christmas

Rae4dmb is posting updates even as I type this:

The high school choir changed the lyrics 'jesus is king' to 'ding dong ding ding'.

7:49 update: Alright, who tripped over the Boston Common extension cord? Looks like power at the Common just went poof.

Angela's all-Patriots Christmas tree is back up.

I've noticed this week that Belmont already has their holiday decorations up across the street downtown.

Anyone up for creating a spreadsheet of the 351 municipalities of our Commonwealth with the dates that the towns first put up winter holiday decorations?

Yes, there is justice in this world! Boston Police report officers went to 5 Shepton Terrace in South Boston around 4 a.m. on Saturday in response to 911 calls about loud music:

As officers approached the location in question, officers could hear Christmas music being played at an unnecessarily loud level. When the tenant answered the door, officers instructed him to lower the music due to calls made to 9-1-1. Officers further advised the tenant that people were having difficulty sleeping due the loud Christmas music. With the music turned down, officers left the location. However, a short time later, officers were called back to the same address for the same reason (noise complaint). Upon arrival, officers were able to hear the loud Christmas music. When officers knocked on the door, the tenant answered the door and began swearing at the officers.

At which point officers arrested Kevin Foley, 54, on a charge of disturbing the peace.

Mayor Menino, captured here on Nov. 8 by 16WadeSt reading a Christmas story at the Downtown Crossing Macy's, could not be reached for comment.

Innocent, etc.

Dear Papa Gino's:

Today is Nov. 8. There is absolutely no reason why customers at your Dedham outlet (you know, the one in the same strip mall as your headquarters) should be assaulted by "Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire" and "Little Drummer Boy."

It's not like you're some department store that's desperately trying to get people to buy Christmas stuff. You don't even sell Christmas pizzas or festive holiday pasta, so you have no excuse. It's just too damn early, so please turn off the Christmas music.

In conclusion: Thanksgiving Comes First.

Bob Nelson reports that WROR beat WODS this morning for the title of "First Boston Station to Start Playing Christmas Music Way Too Early." They must be so proud.

AppleFoot reports the Halloween and Christmas decorations are facing off in the center aisle of the Malden Stop & Shop.

Alicia reports Macy's in Downtown Crossing is already decked out for Christmas; photographs a worker bring lots more balls up the escalator.

AppleFoot reports the Sears at the CambridgeSide Galleria has already put up Christmas trees - with lights and ornaments.

Or maybe they forgot to take down their displays from the '80s - because they are also selling leg warmers.

Some of you may recall how Jim Sullivan got fed up last year and started demanding action against stores and radio stations that get all Christmasy before Thanksgiving.

He's getting an earlier start on his campaign this year:

... Can you imagine how sour the pusses of some corporate execs would be if they received printed-out copies of blogs that say "Thanksgiving Comes First"? What if all of us called or wrote some radio station, telling the programming director that we decided to stop listening? If we all wrote a "letter to the editor" at our local papers, we could definitely expect some to be printed. ...

Good Lord: The Globe rubs our faces in the fact that its staffers are on better Christmas-card lists than we are:

You may not have received Christmas and other holiday cards from the likes of Caroline Kennedy, Bob Kraft, NASCAR, and the Red Sox -- but we did.

Well aren't you special? Thanks to Bostonist for pointing out this cheery slide show - and wondering if maybe Globies are trying to compensate for the fact that they aren't really on all that many cool lists (Clinique? They list a card from Clinique as something to be proud of?).

Set aside a few minutes and just read it.

WBUR reported this morning that City Councilor John Tobin will ask Gov. Patrick to require the guy with the 500,000 lights to hire a police detail.

The station quoted Tobin as saying it would be just terrible if somebody were hit by a fast-moving car on the Jamaicaway/Arborway while stopped to gawk at the brighter-by-the-year Castle. Tobin said he asked Dominic Luberto to hire a detail, but that Luberto refused, saying he's already given the city its largest Christmas display. Because the road is a state parkway, it would be up to Patrick or State Police to force the issue.

So you're playing one of Santa's elves in a store window during an Inman Square midnight-madness sales event - the night of a godawful snowstorm. You just might really get into it.

Photo after photo of the Santas in Speedos run (even more). Even posts video.

Maria Varmazis took part in a flash-mob pillow fight on the Common:

Christmas tree made of lobster traps.

Bri reports that Hood's Sugar Cookie Eggnog actually tastes like sugar cookies:

... To be specific, it tastes like one of those preservative-filled, made-in-1987, extruded-from-a-vat sugar cookies you buy in 7-11 at 2AM because you're too tired to remember just how awful they actually are. ...

Look! Boston Santa flash mob, Dec. 9! Via MetaBoston.

And for you minimalists, don't forget the Santas in Speedos run on Dec. 15.

Steve Sherlock photographs that wire dropping into a trash basket surrounded by stanchions at South Station and explains why you should remain calm: It means they're getting ready for the annual model-train installation.

Lyss files a report from the Jamaicaway, where she visited Domenic Luberto's brighter than bright Castle and yard tonight.

Earlier:
The man with the 500,000 Christmas lights.

Margaret and Rich take the kids to the Quincy Market tree lighting tonight, which featured Tom Menino, Wally and Santa Claus:

... And they threw the switch and the whole square lit up and they blew millions of white, swirling pieces of rectangular paper over the crowd. The effect was reminiscent of standing in a snow squall but it was quite pretty. ...

Jim Sullivan's campaign to put the thanks back in Thanksgiving, um, to hold off the Christmas stuff until, you know, the day after Thanksgiving, keeps attracting new backers. He says thanks.

Jim Sullivan has nothing against Christmas - except for before Thanksgiving. He begins a list of the worst offenders and explains:

... I'm a Christian, so I have more than an annoyance factor at work here. I think that cheapening the holiday, by expanding it beyond reasonable bounds, does a world of disservice to my religion. It gives people a false view of it, by making it a greed-fest. However, if you aren’t a Christian, your take on matters is still important; maybe even more so than mine. If you're Jewish, for instance, I'm sure it makes you mad to see your religion's holy days buried beneath this overkill. If you're an atheist, it must truly make you seethe. Let it out. Tell the world that you've had enough.

Oh yeah, it's Veterans Day, so what better time for Oldies 103 to go all Christmas all the time?