December 25, 2017

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Merry Christmas! The old Pod Piper was not about to skimp on delivering a special holiday edition of the newsletter, although admittedly it's a bit shorter than usual. If you're about to travel and need something seasonally appropriate to fill your ears, read on!

THE CHRISTMAS LIST

If the holidays are a little less woke than you'd prefer, this is the perfect way to celebrate. It's a good way to remember the breadth of human experience wrapped up into the holiday season. Repeat after me: "My reality is not universal reality."

Mariah Carey's Christmas classic gets more attention than has likely ever been paid to it, thanks to the Switched on Pop crew. Stick around afterwards and listen as the co-hosts extol the virtues of their favorite music from 2017. (and if that doesn't satiate your music cravings, check out my own year-end list)

3. The Allusionist - "How the Dickens Stole Christmas"
In the mood for something a tad more retro? Journey with intrepid Allusionist correspondents Avery Trufelman and Katie Mingle as they canvas a California-based Dickens festival whilst connecting the literary lore to a preponderance of modern traditions.

This is the place for the sort of sardonic fluff pieces you've been craving as the inlaws circle ominously, with a joyful Christmas bent. Come for the humorous Satan-centered essay, stay for the comforting cheer of E.B. White.

Merry Christmas, full stop. New Year's greetings to follow. STAY. WITH US.

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