Coronavirus Pandemic

[Little stoned kiwi]

Religions dilute the real meaning of Christmas for me.

The feast of Sol Invictus is the best part for me.

[KlaxonCow]

Religions dilute the real meaning of Christmas for me.

The feast of Sol Invictus is the best part for me.

Aye, put some "blubber" on your bones to fortify yourself for the coming Winter.

Though the Winter Solstice is the shortest and darkest day, the coldest days of Winter tend to follow. Simply because, like, it's an accumulation over time - we're losing heat every day, and the Winter Sun is not up long enough to make up the difference, so we're just accumulating heat loss over the season. Until, eventually, the Sun's back in our skies long enough to eventually pump enough energy onto the Earth, that we're no longer making a loss on heat, and then, eventually, we're actually making a heat gain (from Spring to Summer).

Plus, the real meaning of Christmas is that it's a celebration of survival, by the survivors, of one more year. That we've dragged our arses through the darkest day once more. A degree of hedonism to the celebration is entirely appropriate.

Hold friends and family close by. Fortify yourself around the fire, "blubbering up" for the cold to come. Show some appreciation for those in your life with a thoughtful gift exchange and celebrate those who're still with us.

Some of this no longer holds in the modern age. In that people of the past lead much more active lives - more physical hard labour, more walking everywhere - so it was actually a good idea to "blubber up" with a big feast, as you'd easy lose that weight again from the physical exercise going forward. These days, being more physically lazy, it might prove a little harder to shed that "blubber" after the Winter's passed.

And, thankfully, even in this time of pandemic, Winter in the modern age is not so much "the culling season" as it once was. Though, you know, the Winter viruses and the cold really does mean that this remains the worst season, even with our modern lives, but it's nothing on how the Winter once was. A bad harvest, a bitterly cold Winter, the annual colds and 'flus being worse this mutation, and not being in possession of things like, you know, central heating and double-glazing and an annual 'flu jab from the NHS - the Winter really used to be "culling season" something awful in the past. It's not amazing today, even with all our technologies and advancements, but we're totally pampered compared to the past. It used to be utterly brutal, and so entirely worthy of celebration for having managed to survive through it all, at least one more time.

The real "reason for the season", a 23.4 degree axial tilt of the Earth. And the true "meaning of Christmas": gather friends and family, and appreciate and celebrate that "we're not dead yet" (because, unfortunately, one day, that won't be true, so take the day to appreciate what you have while you've still got it).


p.s. though "Sol Invictus" would still be religious, of course, it's closer to the mark and, therefore, not as objectionable. I still feel it's a dilution, though. The message doesn't need to be wrapped up in any metaphors, I feel. We're all human, we all suffer the Human Condition, and we all get the concept of a hedonistic celebration of the survivors toasting their survival. Holding our friends and family close, while we still have them. You don't need metaphor or symbolism to understand that, surely?

[k345y]

Religions dilute the real meaning of Christmas for me.

The feast of Sol Invictus is the best part for me.

Aye, put some "blubber" on your bones to fortify yourself for the coming Winter.

Though the Winter Solstice is the shortest and darkest day, the coldest days of Winter tend to follow. Simply because, like, it's an accumulation over time - we're losing heat every day, and the Winter Sun is not up long enough to make up the difference, so we're just accumulating heat loss over the season. Until, eventually, the Sun's back in our skies long enough to eventually pump enough energy onto the Earth, that we're no longer making a loss on heat, and then, eventually, we're actually making a heat gain (from Spring to Summer).

Plus, the real meaning of Christmas is that it's a celebration of survival, by the survivors, of one more year. That we've dragged our arses through the darkest day once more. A degree of hedonism to the celebration is entirely appropriate.

Hold friends and family close by. Fortify yourself around the fire, "blubbering up" for the cold to come. Show some appreciation for those in your life with a thoughtful gift exchange and celebrate those who're still with us.

Some of this no longer holds in the modern age. In that people of the past lead much more active lives - more physical hard labour, more walking everywhere - so it was actually a good idea to "blubber up" with a big feast, as you'd easy lose that weight again from the physical exercise going forward. These days, being more physically lazy, it might prove a little harder to shed that "blubber" after the Winter's passed.

And, thankfully, even in this time of pandemic, Winter in the modern age is not so much "the culling season" as it once was. Though, you know, the Winter viruses and the cold really does mean that this remains the worst season, even with our modern lives, but it's nothing on how the Winter once was. A bad harvest, a bitterly cold Winter, the annual colds and 'flus being worse this mutation, and not being in possession of things like, you know, central heating and double-glazing and an annual 'flu jab from the NHS - the Winter really used to be "culling season" something awful in the past. It's not amazing today, even with all our technologies and advancements, but we're totally pampered compared to the past. It used to be utterly brutal, and so entirely worthy of celebration for having managed to survive through it all, at least one more time.

The real "reason for the season", a 23.4 degree axial tilt of the Earth. And the true "meaning of Christmas": gather friends and family, and appreciate and celebrate that "we're not dead yet" (because, unfortunately, one day, that won't be true, so take the day to appreciate what you have while you've still got it).


p.s. though "Sol Invictus" would still be religious, of course, it's closer to the mark and, therefore, not as objectionable. I still feel it's a dilution, though. The message doesn't need to be wrapped up in any metaphors, I feel. We're all human, we all suffer the Human Condition, and we all get the concept of a hedonistic celebration of the survivors toasting their survival. Holding our friends and family close, while we still have them. You don't need metaphor or symbolism to understand that, surely?

I'd have thought the autumnal harvest was the time when folks 'blubbered up' leading up to the Christmas season.

[Little stoned kiwi]

I live in the southern hemisphere.

[KlaxonCow]

I'd have thought the autumnal harvest was the time when folks 'blubbered up' leading up to the Christmas season.

I did cover that.

It's a delayed reaction. It tends to be coldest in January, going into February.

Like it tends to be coldest just before the dawn, not at dusk. Because, at dusk, the Sun's only just gone down and the day's heat is still around. But, just before dawn, that's the point furthest away from when you last saw daylight.

It's the accumulation of heat loss over time. So Winter Solstice is the shortest and darkest day, but it's typically not the coldest. That tends to come in January, as you've had months of heat loss by then, but though the days are getting longer, they're still too short to make up the difference yet.

Perhaps an actual astrophysicist can explain it better than I can:



(He's talking mostly about a day, rather than a season, but you can see that the same concepts also apply seasonally, as the accumulation of what's happening daily. If yesterday was freezing and the Sun's not up for long enough to deliver enough energy back into the system to warm things up again, then today will be freezing too. And if we apply that logic to tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow, you can see that there's an accumulation of heat loss over time there.)

Also, Winter Solstice is when we have the big festival - to celebrate getting passed "the worst day", as it were - so it's just putting together "blubbering up" with the big party. Make it into a "blubbering up" party! The timing is also there for other reasons - astronomical ones - so might as well use that as your "time to blubber up" signal.

[Cloudane]

Moderna update: it didn't stay mild 12 or so hours later the shivers kicked in and I didn't get a wink of sleep. Still suffering it now plus headache, muscle aches etc.

Definitely one to try and make sure you have a day off afterwards just in case, but that goes for all the jabs really!

[VNVObit]

Moderna update: it didn't stay mild 12 or so hours later the shivers kicked in and I didn't get a wink of sleep. Still suffering it now plus headache, muscle aches etc.

Definitely one to try and make sure you have a day off afterwards just in case, but that goes for all the jabs really!

I was told it was moderna but the receipt said Pfizer (so I haven't a clue which it was).
shivers, aches all sound familiar. took about 2 days to get back to normal

[gilesgoat]

So so far IN WALES .. "not sure who/what handles vaccinations" but apparently it's NOT NHS ..

It's NOT even our local clinic that USED TO but NOT NOW ANY MORE ( and never did us , that we are on their books but vaccinated OTHER people and us "local" that are about 5 miles away from this had to go over 20 miles away to get vaccinated - but at least we got vaccinated ).

Now while there are news - IN ENGLAND - that "you can book via NHS portals" and/or "you can walk in certain vaccination centers and get an appointment/jabbed" NOT HERE IN WALES.

Apparently there's ONE phone number to call, for a "vaccine center" DO NOT ABSOLUTELY COME HERE IN PERSON WITHOUT APPOINTMENT, where you phone and " .. our phone lines are experiencing high traffic please call back later *CLICK* " ...

.. and so far .. that's ALL there is .. can't find anything better

[edit] - just called again, same message same "no reply" ...

[edit] - managed to call something .. *music music music* .. 10 MINUTES LATER .. ".. you are currently number 37 in the queue" ... .. still at the phone ...

[gilesgoat]

... after can't remember how many minutes and a FLAT EAR I managed to book for the third booster .. Monday 2PM Only "some miles" from here ...

[Cloudane]

Gone home. I know people at work will be like "what a wet blanket I didn't have to go home for any of my jabs" but fuck spending 9 1/4 hours sat at a desk shivering, aching, headache and absolutely knackered - maybe resting up will speed things along a bit...

[Rhythm]

Booster booked for next Tuesday. 4th time lucky, eh?

Interesting to see that in the space of 1 month the NHS has switched through recommending them after 6, 5, 3 and now 2 months. Also interesting to see how Boris is insisting "this is the only way to be OK for Xmas", whilst forgetting that anyone getting this booster between now and Chrimbo has already missed their window of protection.

[Harlequin]

Also, Winter Solstice is when we have the big festival - to celebrate getting passed "the worst day", as it were - so it's just putting together "blubbering up" with the big party. Make it into a "blubbering up" party! The timing is also there for other reasons - astronomical ones - so might as well use that as your "time to blubber up" signal.

Many centuries before Sol Invictus, the Romans seem to have had a week-long blubbering up during Saturnalia (ending a day or two after the solstice).

Gone home. I know people at work will be like "what a wet blanket I didn't have to go home for any of my jabs" but fuck spending 9 1/4 hours sat at a desk shivering, aching, headache and absolutely knackered - maybe resting up will speed things along a bit...

I have been hearing even worse horror stories from others, including all the above plus a day-long leaky arse.

Conversely, I have noticed no side effects in myself other than a mildly bruisy arm for perhaps half a day.

[F-ZeroOne]

Moderna update: it didn't stay mild 12 or so hours later the shivers kicked in and I didn't get a wink of sleep. Still suffering it now plus headache, muscle aches etc.

Okay, thats interesting because thats the reaction I had after the 1st dose of AZ. For me today, I have a mild whole body ache and possibly a little fatigue but otherwise fine.

[gilesgoat]

I have been hearing even worse horror stories from others, including all the above plus a day-long leaky arse.

NOTE TO SELF : "be sure to be loaded with toilet paper and the loo is filled with magazines and books" ...

[Rhythm]

Gone home. I know people at work will be like "what a wet blanket I didn't have to go home for any of my jabs" but fuck spending 9 1/4 hours sat at a desk shivering, aching, headache and absolutely knackered - maybe resting up will speed things along a bit...

I have been hearing even worse horror stories from others, including all the above plus a day-long leaky arse.

Conversely, I have noticed no side effects in myself other than a mildly bruisy arm for perhaps half a day.

Ex-wife claimed it properly hit her for 6. I popped in to hers to pick the kids up and she was laid up, sweating like mad. Reckoned it felt worse that a bad bout of proper flu that took us both down 20 years ago.

But I also know plenty who've just had the sore arm