Something extra before the Doom

[Loppan Torkel]

Since the world may end at December 21st - Is there something special you'd be willing to commit yourself to before the end?
Something extra for yourself, someone you care about or something for a stranger.

I'll probably be working to the very end, but I'll buy a bottle of red wine that's little more expensive than usual, for myself

 

[hobbsyoyo]

I might have to buy that puppy my wife has been begging me for since I won't have to take care of it.

 

[Loppan Torkel]

That's a great idea!

 

[Synobun]

There is no point in committing to anything if the world was going to end.

Also, it's not going to end. So really all this is, is just an excuse to do something nice for yourself or for another without attributing it to "I'm a nice person."

 

[Borachio]

It probably won't end then, you're right.

But what if it's something cataclysmic? And, say, 90% of the human population is whisked away?

(Not that I think that's likely either.)

 

[Loppan Torkel]

There is no point in committing to anything if the world was going to end.

Also, it's not going to end. So really all this is, is just an excuse to do something nice for yourself or for another without attributing it to "I'm a nice person."

What? Does it have to be because you're a nice person? Is that why Santa gives you presents?

 

[Synobun]

What? Does it have to be because you're a nice person? Is that why Santa gives you presents?

Santa doesn't give me presents. The hard work of human beings does.

 

[hobbsyoyo]

Santa doesn't give me presents. The hard work of human beings does.

Someone got coal last year.

 

[Borachio]

Oh wow! Does coal mean something different in the US, then?

In the UK, a lump of coal, in certain parts, is given as a token at New Year. At midnight on New Year's Eve. In exchange for a kiss, naturally.

 

[Joecoolyo]

Oh wow! Does coal mean something different in the US, then?

In the UK, a lump of coal, in certain parts, is given as a token at New Year. At midnight on New Year's Eve. In exchange for a kiss, naturally.

Yeah, part of the Santa story here in the U.S. is that if you're naughty, you'll get a lump of coal instead of presents in your stocking.

The U.K. tradition just sounds strange

 

[Borachio]

Does it? The idea is keeping warm is a good thing. So a lump of coal as a gift is wishing someone well, tokenwise. It makes perfect sense to me. Especially when very drunk in a pub.

My grandmother used to say, if she had to choose, she'd choose a fire instead of food.

 

[hobbsyoyo]

Does it? The idea is keeping warm is a good thing. So a lump of coal as a gift is wishing someone well, tokenwise. It makes perfect sense to me. Especially when very drunk in a pub.

My grandmother used to say, if she had to choose, she'd choose a fire instead of food.

So is jet then seen as an extension of this tradition? Like, instead of giving coal you can give someone jet as a present and it would have extra meaning?

 

[Joecoolyo]

I guess the warmth angle makes a bit more sense. A lump of coal by itself just doesn't sound very romantic.

 

[Borachio]

So is jet then seen as an extension of this tradition? Like, instead of giving coal you can give someone jet as a present and it would have extra meaning?

Golly! Jet is that Victorian thing. And something to do with death, iirc??? Hell, I don't know. I've never been in the sort of circles where people do anything more than give each other small pieces of coal (and I haven't seen that in years, either) and get drunk.

"Lang may yer lum reek", as the Scots say. But they say a lot of stuff.

 

[hobbsyoyo]

Golly! Jet is that Victorian thing. And something to do with death, iirc??? Hell, I don't know. I've never been in the sort of circles where people do anything more than give each other small pieces of coal (and I haven't seen that in years, either) and get drunk.

"Lang may yer lum reek", as the Scots say. But they say a lot of stuff.

I didn't know it had an association with death. I do know it used to be more popular than now. I just thought that because jet is polished coal (much prettier than it sounds) that jet jewelry gifts might have an extra special meaning instead of just plain coal.

 

[Tee Kay]

If the world's really going to end, I'd fly to Perth and ask my boyfriend back.

 

[Old Hippy]

on the 21st, I'll be at the local Carols by candle light, so at the first shaking of the ground or first flash of lighting, I might just give God and baby Jesus a little "G'day, remember me, been a long time, but..."

 

[Borachio]

I didn't know it had an association with death. I do know it used to be more popular than now. I just thought that because jet is polished coal (much prettier than it sounds) that jet jewelry gifts might have an extra special meaning instead of just plain coal.

Polished lignite, really. But yeah, coal.

Jet as a gemstone was fashionable during the reign of Queen Victoria, during which the Queen wore Whitby jet as part of her mourning dress. Jet was associated with mourning jewellery in the 19th century because of its sombre colour and modest appearance, and it has been traditionally fashioned into rosaries for monks. In the United States, long necklaces of jet beads were very popular during the Roaring Twenties, when women and young flappers would wear multiple strands of jet beads stretching from the neckline to the waistline.

I've always found jewelry in general to be rather strange. But I suppose it's just me that's strange.

 

[mayor]

Well, I like to get married before I die... but since my relationship is rather young (2,5 months) I think that I'll pass asking her

 

[hobbsyoyo]

Polished lignite, really. But yeah, coal.

I've always found jewelry in general to be rather strange. But I suppose it's just me that's strange.

Thank god it doesn't have the death association in the US. I'd like to get it for my wife some day, I like to get her jewelry with stones you don't see often.

Maybe that's what I'll get her before the world ends.

'See darling, it's made of dinosaurs, it's all we have left of them. Maybe someday you too will be a precious stone for the next species that arises after we're gone.'