I don't know about you, but I am a sucker for the holidays. I'm not as much into the crass commercialization of it all as I used to be back in my dizay, but I'm definitely all about the general excitement of hanging out with friends & family, chowing down on killer food, taking in at least a few of the classic movies & tv specials and listening to the sounds of the season.

Over the past 4 X-mas holidays I've been getting my fill of festive tunes not from a weak collection of watered down Christmas CDs, but rather from my favorite (and possibly not coincidentally, main/only) regular streaming music website, SomaFM. What's SomaFM, you ask? Well let's just say it's the numero uno, listener-supported, commercial-free, underground/alternative, web broadcasting station from San Francisco available on all of the interweb. (Wow, that's a mouthful.) SomaFM hosts 11 channels (which cranks up to 13 during the holidayz) of mainly electronic-flavored music that suits most all my moods. My absolute favorite of their offerings is Groove Salad, which I often crank up and just let roll for hours on end. It's a great chilled out, downtempo station that has taken me and So! through the beginning and end to many a day. Highly recommended.

Xmas in Frisko

Christmas Lounge

As far as their holiday channels go, they've got two up and running right now. Ye olde standby of years past, Xmas in Frisko, is back in full effect, and there's a new addition to the roster, Christmas Lounge. Xmas in Frisko is definitely all over the place, and is at times completely inappropriate (which is friggin' awesome). I've experienced Bing Crosby, followed by the Muppets, followed by Ella Fitzgerald, followed by Mr. Hanky, followed by Snoop Dogg. As for Christmas Lounge, it's pretty much what it sounds like it's gonna be. Chilled out PG-rated seasonal smoothness. Both have their place, and I'm sure I'm gonna be flipping back and forth between the two stations until they're retired for the season and I'm forced to move back into reality. If you find yourself doing the same, then may I suggest that you take out that wallet and show them some love? After all, your SomaFM's don't come along every day. Dig?

Happy Holdays.

Today is the 2nd annual Day of the Ninja, the one day of the year when any ol' nonja can be a ninja. I stumbled upon this holiday a bit late this time 'round, but it's on my calendar now, so you know I'll be doin' it up next year. Happy Day of the Ninja, everyone.