In this spirited Christmas episode ASP discuss a diverse set of topics that will surely kindle your intellect as well as help you relax from the madness of the holiday crunch, such as the origins of the Christmas stocking, and whether there was a time when Christmas was simply “magical” and not just about capitalism and consumption.  In addition, Alberotle reveals the intriguingly bizarre word origin of pumpernickel and the recent scientific discovery of an interstellar asteroid-like object called Oumuamua (meaning “scout”) and whether it might be an artificially designed, super duper alien spacecraft.

Hold onto your spiked eggnog because ASP also debate whether parents should “talk” to their kids about controversial moral issues such as abortion.  And, more importantly, whether parents should lie to their kids about Santa Clause.  Sticking with the theme of lying, the episode concludes with a game called Funniest Christmas Presents where Albertotle, Steveocrates and Paulato each share three distinct Christmas gifts that they have received in the past, one of which is a blatant sham. Can you guess which one is not the correct gift?

Enjoy our Christmas special, and thanks for listening to ASP Stuff Radio this 2017th year of the Common Era!  Happy Hanukkah, Joyous Kwanzaa, Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Happy Festivus or whichever phrase suits your religious/political beliefs!

Download and listen to episode #51!

Credits:

Music: “The Christmas is in Another Castle” by Badgerland
From the Free Music Archive
Attribution CC BY

“Anon – Medieval Dance Tunes Sequence” by Maria Girbiat https://musopen.org/music/period/medieval/ (Royalty free music. Public domain and copyright free classical music)

Music: “O Tannenbaum” Badgerland
From the Free Music Archive
Attribution CC BY

Music: “Goblins” by Dee Yan-Key
From the Free Music Archive
Attribution CC BY

Adolph Gluck’s “Wihnachten Am Klavier 1929 (Christmas Medley for Piano)” (Royalty free music. Public domain and copyright free classical music)

Music: “Silent Night” by Mystery Mammal
From the Free Music Archive
Attribution CC BY

“Space Travel” https://www.dl-sounds.com/royalty-free/space-travel/

“We Wish You a Merry Christmas” by Andy Rhode

Music: “This is Christmas” by Scott Holmes
From the Free Music Archive
Attribution CC BY

Music: “O Holy Night” Badgerland
From the Free Music Archive
Attribution CC BY

Pyotr Il’yich Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker Suite – Act I, No.3. Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy (Royalty free music. Public domain and copyright free classical music)

Pyotr Il’yich Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker Suite – Act II, No.12. Pas de Deux variations (Royalty free music. Public domain and copyright free classical music)

Links:  

(1) Marketplace – Christmas and consumption

(2) Word origin of ‘pumpernickel’ 

(3) Mysterious interstellar-object from another solar system