It's Christmas day, so we'll be taking the rest of the day off. But for those readers in need of a venue to spout off on this Christmas holiday, we're setting up this space as an open topic thread.
Before we open it up for comments, however, we want to briefly spotlight this morning's Standard-Examiner editorial, which republishes one of the most truly classic Christmas Day newspaper pieces ever written. Written by newspaperman Francis Pharcellus Church, and first published in the New York Sun in 1897, it's a thumbnail masterpiece of the philosophy of the common man, cleverly interlaced with numerous exoteric and esoteric themes:
• Yes, VirginiaIf the piece has more than a slight ring of familiarity to it for regular Std-Ex readers, by the way, it's apparently becoming a Standard-Examiner Christmas-time tradition, in which connection we link the previous two years' Std-Ex editorials below:
• 2007 Std-Ex Christmas EditorialLet's just say the Std-Ex editorial board really likes this piece. And why not, we ask? Not only does it deal with the grand concept of mankind's place in the universe, it also emphasises the power of a newspaper as the voice of authority and reason. It's both mysticism and newspaper marketing, travelling in happy conjunction.
• 2006 Std-Ex Christmas Editorial
The floor is open. Perhaps a few of you will be able check us out on your new laptops or mobile devices, discovered this morning under the tree.
Have at it; and a Happy Holiday to all.
