I thought the phrase was more for a general sentiment that can be used year-round, but I was mistaken. If you don’t happen to know where the phrase originated, then let me enlighten you. Once again, my personal Internet lord and savior saves my ass with all the gory details:

Ebenezer Scrooge is the main character in Charles Dickens‘ 1843 novel, A Christmas Carol. He is a very cold-hearted, selfish man, who has no love for Christmas, children, or anything that even seems to provoke happiness. His last name has come into the English language as a byword for miserliness and misanthropy, traits displayed by Scrooge in the exaggerated manner for which Dickens is well-known. The story of his transformation by the three Ghosts of Christmas (Past, Present, and Yet to Come) has become a defining tale of the Christmas holiday in some cultures. Scrooge’s phrase, “Bah, humbug!” has been used to express disgust with Christmas traditions in modern times. The inspiration for Charles Dickens’ character was a grave marker for an Ebenezer Lennox Scroggie. The marker identified Scroggie as a “meal man” (corn merchant), but Dickens misread this as “mean man”. It has been claimed that Dickens based Scrooge’s views on the poor on those of demographer and political economist Thomas Malthus.

So, in the light of trying to pick yourself up from the Christmas holiday blues a lot of us usually go through when these times come rolling in, I’m dropping some names here that will not only distract you and make you laugh, but will also renew your faith in the human race. I apologize for the lack of insightful commentary I usually come with but I’m rather tired and my brain is drained out; you couldn’t squeeze out intelligent conversation out of it no matter how much you tried. The Internet is a beautiful muse though, and because of it here’s 3 blogs you should visit.

PostSecret.com - The image that accompanies this post comes from this website, which carries a very interesting premise. People from all over the world mail in their deepest secrets in postscards not unlike the one on display here and the administrator publishes the most intriguing ones on the website every Sunday. It’s fantastic, and I believe that this quote sums up the site’s role in the blogosphere the best:

“I don’t feel entirely alone when I go through the postcards on your website. Or rather, I still feel alone, but I feel like there are a lot more people alone with me.”

ZeFrank.com - I saw this special CNN show on how the future will be in the next 10 - 15 years or something like that around a month ago and this guy was the show’s closer. He has a show he shoots himself and he ponders on everyday things with a very hopeful outlook and razor-sharp humor. Ever since I saw his views on the future I was hooked; whenever I need a pick me up I treck on over here and it can’t help but bring out a chuckle. One of the best video blogs I’ve ever encountered in my decade-long marriage to the Internet. And speaking of “video blogs…”

Stephan G. Bucher’s “Daily Monster” - The concept is simple but the results are always fascinating; Stephan films himself as he draws a different monster everyday using nothing more than an airbrush, an ink pen and a lot of improvisation. The results are killer, always; it shows a very unique insight in not only the drawing process but the creative process as well. So far he has developed an entry every day without fail and that alone is reason enough to go pay him a visit. You won’t regret it.

Speaking of “visits,” what are you doing for New Year’s? My plans got utterly trumped; I wanted to go to Chiriquí for Patrick’s bash thingy but now it seems I’ll have to stay in the city due to work and other binding commitments I can’t shake off. Bah, humbug.

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