Um, the point here is?

The advertisement. But... I'm also seeing an ad for tea, so, friends, would you care for a spot of tea with your baby?

Cindy - obviously you're not getting smacked in the face with a baby ad as soon as you open RP - it takes up the whole screen and ages to get rid of (sorry bout grammar)

I'm not seeing it either. I have Foxfire (browser) and AVG (protection). Since I started using this combination my screen is remarkably reduced in ads. But you sound at your wits' end. I remember a particularly annoying ad on this forum for a heavily sweetened breakfast cereal. I haven't eaten sugar-coated gucky-yuckies (childhood nickname)since I was about eight years old. Annoying me with a brash, in-your-face ad isn't very likely to change my mind.

My 'baby' just got a job working in the office of a veterinary hospital and now lives 700 miles away from me. I would love to have a spot of tea with her. I miss her dreadfully. Maybe over the Christmas holiday. I'll have a cup of Good Earth or maybe Republic of Tea's Assam. She'll have her favorite chai tea (shudder). What will you folks have?

Rosefolly

Hee, sorry jankin; no, that particular 'in your face' ad hasn't come up (popped up....) on my computer. Get it now :)

rose, at my 40th bday party, I noticed my mom sitting on the couch, looking forlorn. Went up to her to see what was wrong. She said that her baby just turned 40 and she felt old! (She was 77 at this time!) So I hate to tell you this but it doesn't get easier. Hope you get to see her this season.

Mmmm, my current fav is Celestial Seasons Lemon Zinger - not too sweet, just strong enough to have a good taste, not so strong that it tastes bitter, with no caffienc. I also enjoy Border's holiday mix - smells and tastes delightful. I used to love Good Earth but it just got too sweet for me.

Ok jankin, you're a jinx. It just popped up for me too! Ah well, at least I'm in good company.

My tea preference is Republic of Tea Ginger Peach.

My baby is 52.

We have always been taught from Bible stories, school etc that Herod was a thoroughly bad chap. But isn't it correct that the 'massacre of the innocents' never took place?
I read a book a few years ago where the main character was Joseph of Arimathea (I think) who became a pal of Herod, travelled widely including to Britain . . . to fit in with the Glastonbury Thorn legend.
Can anyone remember the title please?

Here is a link that might be useful: Glastonbury Thorn

VeeR, I really do not know. But your question reminds me that I took a class once in literary and historical analysis of the Bible (absolutely fascinating class, BTW). We spent most of the semester on the Old Testament. We did spend just enough on the New Testament for me to learn that there really are Roman records documenting the existence of Jesus. However, what details of his life are historical fact and what were stories that gathered around him, I do not know.

I once had a professor who wrote a book about General Custer and Little Big Horn. He analyzed the Custer story as generally believed, compared it to contemporary documentary record and discovered that it had changed radically to something like the present form in a matter of months. He then compared it to several other stories of a defeated and betrayed martyr (including Roland, King Arthur, and I think President Kennedy), finding a number of common motifs. It was his conclusion that certain kinds of stories just attach themselves to convenient historical figures. I can supply author and title if anyone is interested.

Rosefolly

> ...at my 40th bday party, I noticed my mom sitting on the couch, looking forlorn.

Cindy, that reminds me of what my father said when I was lamenting the approach of my 50th birthday. He said (jokingly), "Well how do you think I feel? No one wants a 50-year-old kid hanging around."

No herbal or flavored teas for me, thanks. I'll have a cuppa good ol' black tea - very hot and straight up, please.

Aaaaahhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!! I was assaulted by the baby ad. I'm going to skip the tea and go straight to G & T's.

If you're moving on to G&T, perhaps you'd like the handsome young gentleman modeling boxer shorts (can't remember if it's CK or RL)?

I might take the site up on that tastey looking candy bar that frequently pops up. Or, maybe I'll just stick with my pumpkin pie.

I would much prefer the young man - if I don't get the baby ad, I get the Just For Men ad! Geez, what a combination!

Whether or not one is in the baby business, that ad is completely tasteless. Hope I don't see it again!

Paula, an interesting book written as though by Judas Iscariot and putting an entirely different angle on the traditional 'story' of JI as a baddy is My Name Was Judas by the NZ writer CK Stead.
We too had similar lectures at college which I found very interesting.
Unlike the US, here in the UK where we have a very low % of church attendance, all school children have to attend a school assembly each morning which always had some elements of prayer/hymns (an Act of Worship) plus regular lessons in scripture/religious studies. Parents are allowed to withdraw their children if they feel strongly about this, but usually the only kids outside the school hall are the J Witnesses and the Catholics. Of course at schools run by Catholics, religious education (Doctrine as it used to be called) was taught every day.
At my non-denominational college where the above course was taught some Catholic and Jewish students said they could not attend so were given very long and difficult essays on obscure religious themes to write instead. Many found it preferable to attend the lectures.

I haven't seen the baby ad....yet. Hopefully it won't show up. Ads that show up in my face like that definitely annoy me so much that I refuse to even consider purchasing their products.

Rosefolly, I'm glad to hear that your youngest found a job, even if she is 700 miles away. (Is it really that far? I hadn't realized it). I do have to say though, I'd go for that chai tea (latte only) too, although there are other teas that I like as well.

It hit me again when I opened up - and actually got caught in the registration process - infuriating!

Only because of Herod and because I love Causley

Innocent's Song

Who's that knocking on the window,
Who's that standing at the door,
What are all those presents
Laying on the kitchen floor?

Who is the smiling stranger
With hair as white as gin,
What is he doing with the children
And who could have let him in?

Why has he rubies on his fingers,
A cold, cold crown on his head,
Why, when he caws his carol,
Does the salty snow run red?

Why does he ferry my fireside
As a spider on a thread,
His fingers made of fuses
And his tongue of gingerbread?

Why does the world before him
Melt in a million suns,
Why do his yellow, yearning eyes
Burn like saffron buns?

Watch where he comes walking
Out of the Christmas flame,
Dancing, double-talking:

Herod is his name.

Charles Causley

Jankin, thanks for posting this. I almost missed this wonderful poem because it was posted here under "Babies" instead of on the other thread which has poetry of Causley. ;-)

Only saw one baby so far, usually I get cereal and a screechy voice....