Finally things are back to normal
HOO-RAH! At last it's over, my least favorite time of the year. People are back to work where they belong, that horrible period called "the holidays" has been laid to rest and January, the best month of all, is underway at last.
December has become little more than one endless commercial urging people to spend recklessly, to go into debt up to their ears to buy gifts that as often as not fall far short of meeting the recipient's desires. Now we are told that anything less than a new Mercedes or Lexus is hardly worth giving. If you are a real cheapskate and settle for a Ford or Dodge your wife will hate you and your kids will hang their heads in shame.
But now it's over. I can go ahead and send out the manuscript I feared would get lost in the shuffle a month ago. No more pretending there is even a glimmer of hope for peace on earth, no more acting like we love people we hate, no more canned Christmas music blaring over loudspeakers, no more hucksters grabbing you by the throat while screaming, "Buy this!"
HOO-RAH, January is here at last!
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My December was dominated by people searching for pictures of dead German soldiers, tiger tanks, and Carentan, France. This was because of something called Google Images that tells where you can find photos of just about anything on earth. My website has numerous pictures relating to the book "Normandy 1944 - A Young Rifleman's War." People from no less than 49 countries - 50 if you include the United States - were eager to see those unfortunate fellows who died more than 60 years ago. They came from:
Antigua, Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chili, Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dubai, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey and the United Kingdom.
A counter called Clicky tells you where each hit on the website originated and what it was that attracted the visitor. France, Germany and the UK drew the largest number. Familiar large cities are represented but they also came from such towns as Hrochuv Tynec, Nastved, Njdrand and Ponte Di Plave.
I'm pleased to have every one of them but am a little amazed by the interest in that long-ago war. I'm especially curious as to why so many people want to see dead German soldiers. Tanks I can understand and I'm sure Band of Brothers sparked the interest in Carentan, but the fascination with guys who gave their all for Hitler, well I just don't know.
December has become little more than one endless commercial urging people to spend recklessly, to go into debt up to their ears to buy gifts that as often as not fall far short of meeting the recipient's desires. Now we are told that anything less than a new Mercedes or Lexus is hardly worth giving. If you are a real cheapskate and settle for a Ford or Dodge your wife will hate you and your kids will hang their heads in shame.
But now it's over. I can go ahead and send out the manuscript I feared would get lost in the shuffle a month ago. No more pretending there is even a glimmer of hope for peace on earth, no more acting like we love people we hate, no more canned Christmas music blaring over loudspeakers, no more hucksters grabbing you by the throat while screaming, "Buy this!"
HOO-RAH, January is here at last!
### ### ###
My December was dominated by people searching for pictures of dead German soldiers, tiger tanks, and Carentan, France. This was because of something called Google Images that tells where you can find photos of just about anything on earth. My website has numerous pictures relating to the book "Normandy 1944 - A Young Rifleman's War." People from no less than 49 countries - 50 if you include the United States - were eager to see those unfortunate fellows who died more than 60 years ago. They came from:
Antigua, Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chili, Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dubai, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey and the United Kingdom.
A counter called Clicky tells you where each hit on the website originated and what it was that attracted the visitor. France, Germany and the UK drew the largest number. Familiar large cities are represented but they also came from such towns as Hrochuv Tynec, Nastved, Njdrand and Ponte Di Plave.
I'm pleased to have every one of them but am a little amazed by the interest in that long-ago war. I'm especially curious as to why so many people want to see dead German soldiers. Tanks I can understand and I'm sure Band of Brothers sparked the interest in Carentan, but the fascination with guys who gave their all for Hitler, well I just don't know.
posted by Dick Stodghill | 1/02/2008 01:40:00 PM
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