Pulled up and re-read Call of Cthulu today. Took me back to my RPG days where we played both Call of Cthulhu and Cthulhu Now. Never got very far in those sessions. We always turned mad before we could tackle the adventure.

Have you guys read Neil Gaiman's short story "A Study in Emerald"? It's a fantastic read.
A Study in Emerald (pdf)

The food descriptions in the A Song of Ice and Fire books border on pornographic at times. Can't say the Balrog burger did not pop up in my mind few times reading the last book in the series. Stay away from the honeyed locusts though if you do not have the constitution of Strong Belwas.

Yeah this was the time to hang with the kids.

My boys!

This is the insanity that is Icelandic new year fireworks. It's so extreme that tourists travel here just to watch this craziness (and the northern lights).

Few year ago Kiefer Sutherlandwas here over the new years.

"I saw probably the most extraordinary firework display in my life. There's no laws in Iceland with regard to fireworks, which makes New Year's Eve very interesting. It's a small population but they spend over $15 million for fireworks for that night.

It's like a warzone. There's no organisation to it... I saw a six-year-old carrying a 30-pound mortar with another six-year-old following behind with a match.

I filmed it because I didn't think anyone back home would believe it." Kiefer Sutherland

Happy new year everybody!

It's one way to use the medium for sure. It reminds me of the trivia that the "video" portion of Pulp Fiction with Mia was shot on digital video and blown up to match. Turned out pretty nice.

~ Gleðileg Jól og Farsælt Komandi Ár ~ क्रस्मसको शुभकामना तथा नयाँ वर्षको शुभकामना ~ Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year ~ Joyeux Noël et bonne année ~ Glædelig jul og godt nytår ~ God jul och gott nytt år ~  Wesołych świąt i szczęśliwego Nowego Roku ~

Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Although the year as a whole has been a nightmare things are getting better in the last few months and her condition is so, so much better than the doctors dared to hope. We are looking at years of recovery but she she hails from the same stock as the Gurkhas which are pretty much the toughest people you will ever find. Going from life support and looking at possible death to her current condition in a span of months not years is nothing short of a miracle (Christmas miracle?).

Pack of 24 AA batteries??? In a single packet without context? It got to be one of the strangest Christmas present I've ever heard of this year.

Do you post those images publicly anywhere?

Gleðileg Jól Öllsömul - Merry Christmas Everybody

I also want to wish everyone a happy, and safe Christmas.

The year 2012 will go down for me as annus horribilis.
These last 12 months have been been particularly difficult for me and my family.
Early this year my wife was hospitalized with a life threatening virus which left her paralyzed from shoulders down for a long time. Her recovery has been long and difficult and there are at least 18 months more before we can begin to say how much of her strength will come back. She is doing much better and she can now walk unsupported at home and most of her coming and goings are with the aid of crutches which is a miracle when you look at worst case scenario. My younger son has been living with my parents for this difficult time only visiting on weekends. He just returned home for good late October. Most of my time has been spent in hospitals and DIF and the forums have saved my sanity many long sleepless nights.

I have nothing but utmost respect for the members and the intellect of the discussion here. I love reading your words and sometimes the best posts are the one's I don't agree with. The variety of opinions are a food for thought.

To the DIF community I thank you from the bottom of my heart for saving my sanity on many occasions, both on the live chat and with your insightful, witty and intelligent posts. Merry Christmas everybody!

From Iceland with love - Eiríkur Jónsson

p.s. Here is a Christmas song from Iceland. The song is by a band my friend is the drummer in. This version is only with the singer of the band, Magni. You might (or not) remember the singer from a horrible "reality" TV show called RockStar Supernova.