Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol
A mid-day pause: As I now do practically every Christmas, I bring you the classic 1951 version of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, starring Alastair Sim. In my opinion still by far the best adaption of the book and a truly wonderful movie.
And as I noted in a previous year:
Dickens did not demand the modern version of charity, where it is imposed by governmental force on everyone. Instead, he was advocating the older wiser concept of western civilization, that charity begins at home, that we as individuals are obliged as humans to exercise good will and generosity to others, by choice.
It is always a matter of choice. And when we take that choice away from people, we destroy the good will that makes true charity possible.
And in 2016 I said this:
I watched this again and felt like weeping, not because of the sentimentality of the story itself but because it is so seeped in a civilized world that increasingly no longer exists. There was a time when this was our culture. I fear it is no longer so. As noted by the Spirit of Christmas Present, “This boy is ignorance, this girl is want. Beware them both, but most of all beware this boy.”
It seems for the past few decades we have not heeded that warning, and are now reaping the whirlwind.
On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.
The print edition can be purchased at Amazon or from any other book seller. If you want an autographed copy the price is $60 for the hardback and $45 for the paperback, plus $8 shipping for each. Go here for purchasing details. The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.
The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.
"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News
A mid-day pause: As I now do practically every Christmas, I bring you the classic 1951 version of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, starring Alastair Sim. In my opinion still by far the best adaption of the book and a truly wonderful movie.
And as I noted in a previous year:
Dickens did not demand the modern version of charity, where it is imposed by governmental force on everyone. Instead, he was advocating the older wiser concept of western civilization, that charity begins at home, that we as individuals are obliged as humans to exercise good will and generosity to others, by choice.
It is always a matter of choice. And when we take that choice away from people, we destroy the good will that makes true charity possible.
And in 2016 I said this:
I watched this again and felt like weeping, not because of the sentimentality of the story itself but because it is so seeped in a civilized world that increasingly no longer exists. There was a time when this was our culture. I fear it is no longer so. As noted by the Spirit of Christmas Present, “This boy is ignorance, this girl is want. Beware them both, but most of all beware this boy.”
It seems for the past few decades we have not heeded that warning, and are now reaping the whirlwind.
On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.
The print edition can be purchased at Amazon or from any other book seller. If you want an autographed copy the price is $60 for the hardback and $45 for the paperback, plus $8 shipping for each. Go here for purchasing details. The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.
The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.
"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News
ah, here we go.
Seymor Hicks in “Scrooge” (1935)
Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol
Twickenham Film Studios, London
(78:00)
https://archive.org/details/Scrooge_1935
“This 1935 British import is notable for being the only adaptation of this story with an invisible Marley’s Ghost and its Expressionistic cinematography.”
Dickens’
“The Christmas Carol” (1949)
As Told by Vincent Price
(25:04)
https://archive.org/details/TheChristmasCarolastoldbyVincentPrice
“Compressing Charles Dickens’ classic 1843 story into a half-hour, it is stated to be “the oldest extant straight adaptation of the story” for television. It was originally produced as a syndicated production for airing on 22 stations across the United States on Christmas Day in 1949 (a Sunday). It was sponsored by Magnavox and represented that company’s first use of television advertising.”
“Includes an early appearance by Jill St. John, then age 9 and billed as Jill Oppenheim, who plays one of the Cratchit daughters.”
I miss Vincent
For the season
https://m.youtube.com/shorts/XqvAU69U778
I have mentioned in a previous post the kindness and goodwill of the English people… Both personally and businesses donating to the needy. I am sad there is a need for such charitable deeds, but also proud of my brother’s and sisters from my homeland for standing up and helping.
All the talk here of businesses being foolish for putting charity before profit is heartbreaking. There is a time for capitalism and a time for empathy. Especially at this time of year, the later wins.
I wish everyone here a happy and prosperous 2026, I hope no one has friends or family who are going hungry for whatever reason, and hope that a thought, or indeed a deed is saved to help those less privileged than we.
Happy new year BTB Chief and readership.
@Lee S
A successful business can donate and help. A marginal business can go under if it prioritizes charity over survival. Absent survival, a business does not exist and helps no one. Many businesses locally do some charity and gain advertising thereby. I have given food to hungry people but will very seldom give cash as it often is just supporting the problem. Giving a drunk a drink is not supportive.
I don’t have first hand knowledge of the way things work where you live and where you used to live. I choose not to judge based on my lack of that knowledge. What I have seen too much of is people without the knowledge making problems worse by assuming they do have the answers. The siloed manner that many get their news is a serious issue. I call in to radio from time to time. I have been cut off by “liberal” and “conservative” radio hosts. Neither are comfortable with independent. thought.
Most of the problems I see locally could be fairly easily solved by open minded people. Open not meaning empty of course. My division is more towards statist and non statist with a strong bias against government institutions being involved in things they are not qualified to operate. And a contradictory bias against those that knee jerk “government bad” “our group good” simplification.
The most accurate
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=s-vXgt7kOcg&time_continue=1&source_ve_path=NzY3NTg&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.secretprojects.co.uk%2F
Hospitals & Schools in capitalistic America
“Influenced by the successes of volunteer hospitals in England, Benjamin Franklin, Dr. Thomas Bond (1712–1784), and several members of the Philadelphia elite devised a plan to create a hospital that would treat the colony’s poor and incapacitated free of charge. The result of their efforts, the Pennsylvania Hospital, was established in 1751 and was one of the first hospitals in America. Its founders secured funding from the Penn family, from the colonial legislature, and from private donations, the largest of which Franklin made himself. It offered free treatment to the poor as well as pioneering efforts in the care of the mentally ill. This would become the Model for financing hospitals in America until FDR.
https://www.loc.gov/exhibitions/join-in-voluntary-associations-in-america/about-this-exhibition/a-nation-of-joiners/emergency/early-hospitals-pennsylvania-hospital/
“The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 mandated that Section #16 (1 square mile, 640 acres) of each Township created, be reserved for the “support of public schools.” In 1848, Section #36 of each new Township was also mandated for the use of public schools, in acknowledgement of the increased population. These were not intended to be the locations of public schools, but many townships sited them in these 2 sections. The land was then rented to farmers, loggers, and industry, to generate income for the schools. This would eventually be destroyed when various schoolboards simply granted themselves the power to sell the land for a one-off payment, and force future generations to pay for their short-sightedness’.
“Property Taxes” for local schools, as we know them today, did not exist. Land was taxed, but at a Uniform Capitated rate based on the amount of tax revenue required for the year and the population involved.
–this would be destroyed in part when the 16th Amendment granted the federal government the power to tax without it being apportioned amongst the States based exclusively on population.
Wayne:
I recall some elementary and junio . . . middle-school classroom time spent on local taxation: where it comes from, what it does. I do not kick about property taxes, I know they are necessary for a functioning society. The argument here is degree; not kind. As many have noticed across the political spectrum, we are not now getting anything near what we are paying for.