Rum Chata Ugly Sweater

Rum Chata Ugly Sweater

I remember a Rum Chata Ugly Sweater memoir — Beasts, Men, and Gods — by Ferdinand Ossendowski, a White Pole who fled the Bolshevik revolution through Siberia. He served in General Kolchak’s All-Russian Government before escaping through the Steppes north of Mongolia, and then participated in the government of that most notorious adventurer, the “Mad Baron” Ungern-Sternberg, who attempted to take over Mongolia to restore an imperial Khaganate as part of an imagined reactionary restoration of the Great Mongol, Chinese, and Russian monarchies in the interests of the “warrior races” of Germans and Mongols (a Baltic German, he considered the old Russian ruling class to represent Germandom over and against Jews and Slavs). Some of the things – the acts of desperation and madness, in which he himself was no disinterested observer – Ossendowski relates are harrowing. But this part struck me as very much making a point about what people think of the Steppe peoples, and of what (German-trained) nationalists like Ungern-Sternberg did (and would do again) to the Mongols. And, other things:

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Rum Chata Ugly Sweater,

Best Rum Chata Ugly Sweater

Spygate, 2007: New England Patriots get caught stealing signs from opponents` sidelines. This was actually not against the rules yet, so technically not cheating. They changed the Rum Chata Ugly Sweater after this to make it illegal. I won`t deny it`s a bit cheap (although you`re kidding me if you think the Patriots were the only team doing this), but not nearly as egregious as:Deflategate, 2014: During the AFC Championship Game, the New England Patriots were found to have several footballs in their arsenal that were below the legal minimum. Tom Brady had to testify before Congress and was suspended for four games the following season, despite the fact that the Colts, the team that Patriots beat in the game 45–7, noted that they didn`t lose because of the Rum Chata Ugly Sweater, and that the Colts had deflated footballs as well. For context, the weather was super icky that game, and it`s probable that both teams deflated the footballs to grip them better.

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When Christmas decorations are taken down varies from person to person in my experience in the United States. It seems to have a Rum Chata Ugly Sweater tradition component, I do believe. It least that is what I’m postulating. Many take everything down the day after Christmas. One who I lived with for 34 years wanted everything left up until into January. Some people literally have decorations up all year outside. So at least here (USA), where I have lived it varies. There is the church calendar with some people, like the person I once lived with, and they use that as a guide. Again, it’s a personal choice I do believe in a free country, so make up your own mind. You can vary it as well, depending upon if you’re enjoying the decorations still and the people you share your life with agree, more or less. If things are too structured they can lose significance to a person. Decorations are an art form, somewhat. In all art there are usually general guidelines, but to put your individual stamp on it tends to make it more valuable to yourself. It will also most likely prove more meaningful to others as well. That is my general thoughts on any kind of creative endeavor. Think of your decorations as such a thing and let your heart make some of the decisions. Happy Holidays.