Bonus! Song o' New Year's Eve

The Lonesome Travelers, "Auld Lange Syne" from the iTunes Holiday Sampler compilation (Mike Papa Whiskey)

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the 7th Day o' Christmas

The Seventh Day within the Octave of the Nativity of the Lord
Séan McCann, "Merry Christmas, Everyone" from the Happy Holidays, from Séan! single (Saint Mike Papa Whiskey)

Commentary:

"Merry Christmas, everyone!
One more circle 'round the Sun,
Some days we lost, some days we won,
Merry Christmas everyone!

"A Child is born for ever,
A Child is born for everyone,
Lift up your hearts and hear His laughter,
A new year has begun…"

Bonus! Song o' the Day: Go Blue!

Team 145, Game 13: Michigan v. Alabama | Hall of Fame Bowl*
The University of Michigan Marching Band, "I Can't Turn You Loose (from The Blues Brothers)" from Forever Valiant (Mike Papa Wolverine)

Commentary: Unranked Michigan & (№ 11) Alabama face each other for the second time this calendar year. (№ 1) Michigan squared off against (№ 4) Alabama in the Rose Bowl Game on 1 January 2024, in the semifinal round of the final four-team College Football Playoff. There is poetry in facing Alabama on both the first & last days of the year.

Also of note: The valiant Wolverines are also facing a team coached by Alabama's Kalen DeBoer for the second time this calendar year. (№ 1) Michigan squared off against (№ 2) Washington, then coached by DeBoer, in the National Championship Game on 8 January 2024.

*This bowl game hasn't been called the Hall of Fame Bowl since 1995, but I'm not being paid by the title sponsor; so, I'm not going to give them free advertising.

Go Blue!

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the 6th Day o' Christmas

The Sixth Day within the Octave of the Nativity of the Lord
The Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra, "What Child Is This?" from Toys for Tots: 25 All-Time Christmas Favorites (Saint Mike Papa Whiskey)

Saints + Scripture: Feast of the Holy Family of J.M.J.

Simplex Edition | Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa!

'Tis the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, & Joseph.

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

'Tis the Fifth Day in the Octave of the Nativity of the Lord within the Christmastide: Wikipedia-link Octave, Wikipedia-link Christmastide, & Wikipedia-link Twelve Days of Christmas.

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' Holy Family Sunday

The Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, & Joseph
Daniel Schmit, "Joseph's Song" from Christmas Hope (Saint Mike Papa Whiskey)

Saints + Scripture: Feast of the Holy Innocents

Simplex Edition | Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa!

'Tis the Feast of the Holy Innocents, Martyrs (c. 1 B.C., A.K.A. the Massacre of the Innocents).

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

'Tis the Fourth Day in the Octave of the Nativity of the Lord within the Christmastide: Wikipedia-link Octave, Wikipedia-link Christmastide, & Wikipedia-link Twelve Days of Christmas.

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the 4th Day o' Christmas

The Feast of the Holy Innocents, Martyrs
Sufjan Stevens featuring Marla Hansen, "Coventry Carol" from the Silver & Gold compilation (Saint Mike Papa Whiskey)

Commentary: It's an emotional wringer, the Octave of the Nativity: First, the unrivaled joy of the Savior's birth; second, the martyrdom of Saint Stephen; third, Saint John, the only apostle not martyred; & fourth, the horror of the Massacre of the Innocents.

Saints + Scripture: Feast of Saint John

Simplex Edition | Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa!

'Tis the Feast of Saint John, Apostle & Evangelist (circa 6-101, the "Beloved Disciple" or "the Disciple whom Jesus loved;" A.K.A. of Patmos, the Divine, the Theologian, the Revelator, the Presbyter, the Elder).

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

'Tis the Third Day in the Octave of the Nativity of the Lord within the Christmastide: Wikipedia-link Octave, Wikipedia-link Christmastide, & Wikipedia-link Twelve Days of Christmas.

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the 3rd Day o' Christmas

The Feast of Saint John, Apostle & Evangelist
Taj Mahal, Sam Moore, & Cab Blues, "John the Revelator" from Blues Brother 2000: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Saint Mike Papa Whiskey)

Commentary: Cab Blues was played by Joe Morton.

Saints + Scripture: Feast of Saint Stephen

Simplex Edition | Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa!

'Tis the Feast of Saint Stephen, the First Martyr (circa 5-34), martyed in the reign of the Roman emperor Tiberius, one of the first Seven Deacons.

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

'Tis the Second Day in the Octave of the Nativity of the Lord within the Christmastide: Wikipedia-link Octave, Wikipedia-link Christmastide, & Wikipedia-link Twelve Days of Christmas.

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the 2nd Day o' Christmas

The Feast of Saint Stephen, the First Martyr
The Klezmonauts, "Good King Wenceslas" from Oy to the World: A Klezmer Christmas (Saint Mike Papa Whiskey)

Commentary:

"Good King Wenceslas looked out on the Feast of Stephen,
When the snow lay round about, deep and crisp and even,
Brightly shone the Moon that night, though the frost was cruel,
When a poor man came in sight, gathering winter fuel…"

Bonus! Song o' the First Day o' Hanukkah

Barenaked Ladies, "Hanukkah, O Hanukkah" from Barenaked for the Holidays (Mike Papa Whiskey)

Commentary: Hanukkah commences at sunset, 5:05 P.M. here in sacred Michigan. 'Tis a charming coincidence that in the Year of Our Lord 2024, Hanukkah begins on Christmas Day.

Saints + Scripture: Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord

Simplex Edition | Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa!

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' Christmas Day

The Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord (Christmas)
Duvall, "Joy to the World" from O Holy Night (Saint Mike Papa Whiskey)

Commentary: Duvall's is the bitchin' guitar rendition of "Joy to the World."

Bonus! Song o' Midnight Mass at Christmas

The Mighty Mighty Bosstones (featuring too many guest stars to name), "The Final Parade" from the The Final Parade single (Rude Boy Mike Papa Whiskey)

Skammentary:

"The Church was hoping that the Midnight Mass
Would be full from the front to the back…"

Bonus! Moonshot Songs o' the Day: Apollo 8

Operation AXIOM: Destination Moon—The 56th Anniversary of Apollo 8
Public Service Broadcasting, "The Other Side" from The Race for Space (Space Cadet Mike Papa DSKY)

&

National Aeronautics & Space Administration, "Apollo 8 Excerpt 9" from The Apollo Missions (Space Cadet Mike Papa DSKY)

Commentary:

"And from the crew of Apollo 8, we close with good night, good luck, a merry Christmas, & God bless all of you, all of you on the good Earth."

Saints + Scripture: Adventus / Christmas Eve

Simplex Edition | Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa!

Commentary: To the best of my knowledge, Advent concludes & Christmastide begins at 4:00 P.M., when Vigil Masses will begin to be celebrated.

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' Christmas Eve

The Puppini Sisters, "O Holy Night" from Christmas with the Puppini Sisters (Mike Papa Whiskey)

Commentary:

"Fall on your knees! O hear the angels' voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born,
O night divine, O night, O night divine!…

"Christ is the Lord! O praise His Name forever!
His power and glory ever more proclaim,
His power and glory ever more proclaim!

The Rebel Black Dot Christmas Song o' the Day

Brian d'Arcy James, "Michigan Christmas" from From Christmas Eve to Christmas Morn (Mike Papa Whiskey)

Commentary:

"And I want to be home with my family,
A Michigan Christmas is all that I'm asking for, please…"

Saints + Scripture: Adventus

Simplex Edition | Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa!

The Explorers' Club, № MLXV

Operation AXIOM: Between the Wars—The Beer Hall Putsch, Part III
20 December 1924: Adolf Hitler was released from Landsberg Prison after serving nine months of a five-year sentence (plus four months between the putsch & the trial); he wasn't released individually, but as part of a general amnesty for political prisoners; while in Landsberg, Hitler wrote Mein Kampf ("My Struggle"); the book sold slowly, not becoming a bestseller until Hitler's rise to power in 1933.

The Wayback Machine Tour of the Beer Hall Putsch
"The Explorers' Club," № CMXC: The Beer Hall Putsch (8-9 November 1923, Part I)
"The Explorers' Club," № MXIX: The Beer Hall Putsch Trial (1 April 1924, Part II)

Lest we forget.

Saints + Scripture: Adventus

Simplex Edition | Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa!

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the IV Sunday o' Advent

The Fourth Sunday of Advent
The Civil Wars, "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" from Tracks in the Snow (Saint Mike Papa Whiskey)

Saints + Scripture: Adventus

Simplex Edition | Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa!

Saints of the Day
'Tis the Optional Memorial of Saint Peter Canisius, Priest & Doctor of the Church, S.J. (1521-1597, the "Hammer of the Protestants" & "Second Apostle of Germany").

Commentary: Wayback Machine '20 & Wayback Machine '18.

The Rebel Black Dot Christmas Song o' the Day

Dance Hall Crashers, "North Pole" from the The Old Record (1989-1992) compilation (Rude Boy Mike Papa Whiskey)

Commentary:

"But I'm still waiting for you…"

Bonus! Song o' the First Day o' Winter

"The cruel, hot summer
led into the long, hard fall,
becoming the dark, killing winter
until spring replenished us all."
—Bill Willingham, Fables

Sufjan Stevens, "The Winter Solstice" from Songs for Christmas (Mike Papa Whiskey)

Saints + Scripture: Adventus

Simplex Edition | Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa!

The Rebel Black Dot Christmas Song o' the Day

The Kleznomauts, "Deck the Halls" from Oy to the World" A Klezmer Christmas (Mike Papa Whiskey)

Commentary: Today, my fellow parishioners & I are scheduled to deck the halls of Saint Matthew, Flint, for Christmas. Monday, 23 December, after the last Mass of Advent, would have been the ideal day, but we have Eucharistic Adoration scheduled for the afternoon; so, that wasn't an option. Decking the halls on Christmas Eve, before the 4:30 P.M. Mass, wasn't seriously considered.

Saints + Scripture: Adventus

Simplex Edition | Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa!

The Rebel Black Dot Christmas Song o' the Day!

The Aquabats!, "Santa Claus's Party!" from the I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas, Too! E.P. (Captain Thumbs Up!)

Saints + Scripture: Adventus

Simplex Edition | Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa!

The Rebel Black Dot Christmas Song o' the Day

Bite Me Bambi, "Holiday Cheer" from the Holiday Cheer single (Rude Boy Mike Papa Whiskey)

Skammentary:

"Some people hate Christmas and I think thats so sad,
'Cause if they knew the secret then it wouldn't seem so bad,
So if you're feeling anxious then there's nothing more to fear,
Just take a sip from this festive cup,
Forget your cares, you're all effed up,
All effed up!

"So, pass me some more of that holiday cheer,
That holiday cheer, that holiday cheer,
Pass me some more of that holiday cheer,
Let's all go get—…

"To the top of the shelf, we'll drink 'til we fall,
Now dash away, dash away, dash away all!…"

Bonus! Song o' the Wright Flyer

Foo Fighters, "Learn to Fly" from There Is Nothing Left to Lose Mike Papa Whiskey)

Operation AXIOM
One hundred twenty-one years ago to the day, 17 December 1903, Wilbur & Orville Wright made the first four controlled, powered flights in the sand dunes near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. The first flight, by Orville, covered a total distance of one hundred twenty feet, less than the wingspan of a Boeing 747 jumbo jet; the fourth flight, by Wilbur, covered eight hundred fifty-two feet, lasting nearly a minute. The Wright Flyer was damaged shortly after the fourth flight when overturned by a gust of wind, & would never fly again. The Wright brothers returned with the Wright Flyer II in 1904 & the much improved Wright Flyer III in 1905.

The Wright brothers made the first aeroplane flights, 17 December 1903, one hundred twenty-one years ago today.

Saints + Scripture: Adventus

Simplex Edition | Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa!

The Rebel Black Dot Christmas Song o' the Day

She & Him, "I'll Be Home for Christmas" from A Very She & Him Christmas (Mike Papa Whiskey)

Commentary:

"I'll be home for Christmas,
If only in my dreams…"

The Rebel Black Dot Christmas Song o' the Day

Bob Dylan, "Must Be Santa" from Christmas in the Heart (Mike Papa Whiskey)

The Explorers' Club, № MLXIV

The Space Race—Astronaut Group 3 (the "Fourteen"), Part XII
Theodore Cordy Freeman (18 February 1930-31 October 1964), Captain, U.S. Air Force—He died after ejecting from his T-38 Talon due to a bird strike; he was the first fatality among the Astronaut Corps, dying just over a year after his selection in Astronaut Group 3, before he was assigned to a space flight; during his crash, he veered away from housing, potentially saving lives on the ground.

Bonus! Space Race Song o' the Day: The Fourteen—Ted Freeman
The University of Michigan Marching Band, "M Fanfare" from Forever Valiant (Space Cadet Mike Papa Wolverine)

Commentary: Captain Freeman held a Master of Science degree in aeronautical engineering from the University of Michigan.

The Wayback Machine Tour of Ted Freeman
"The Explorers' Club," № DCCLXXX: In Memoriam Ted Freeman

Requiescat in pace.

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the III Sunday o' Advent

The Third Sunday of Advent (Gaudete Sunday)
Daniel Schmit, "Rejoice" from Advent: A Season of Hope (Saint Mike Papa Whiskey)