As the festive season approaches, the MoS team can look back on quite a year: we started off as two incompetent and world-weary middle-aged geezers (good word for you, if you are out there, Tim B) and ended as -- well, two incompetent and world-weary middle-aged geezers who have been joined by a bird named...well, Byrd.   And, of course, Todd began the show as a baptist but has since swum Lake Geneva. I have had the indignity of being unfriended by the Beautiful People all over Facebook, even though I am not even on Facebook -- orders from the Top Men, I guess.  And Aimee Byrd was finally caught by the police and sentenced to two hundred hours community service --- on our program. Her loss was our gain, as they say.   Finally, despite massive popular demand for the contrary, the Puppetmaster is nevertheless allowing us to continue into the new year.    Now there is a serious theodicy question for you..

Meanwhile, in this episode we think Christmassy thoughts.  Todd wonders if Santa will bring him a Dunill pipe.  Aimee dreams of a set of golden nunchucks.  And I reflect that  Christmas is a poor excuse for picking a man's pocket every twenty-fifth of December.  Are there no workhouses?  Bah.  Humbug.