Christmas day, 2024. All quiet (well mostly) on the brick-and-mortar retail front. The idea of gift-giving (and getting), gathering with family or friends, is driven home now as much as ever. “Ever” starting sometime in the mid-19th century, with the rise of department stores and mass marketing strategies heavily promoting the gift giving element of what was once mostly–way back in the day–the celebration of the birth of one Jesus Christ. Leaving that questionable religious narrative aside (like all religions and their varying “gods,” there has never been any way of proving one faith being more credible than any other), Christmas is a commercial behemoth here in the USA. The religious angle is still involved. But this Christmas observance with its JC story being framework and foundation is alive and well enough. And we all try to get along, if just for this one day. Supposedly. Not sure how much religion matters, though. It’s the thought that counts, right? But try telling that to any “true believer” in any religious narrative. Many are the systems of belief in some higher power. And differences as to whose higher power is the only true answer can lead to conflict. Religious wars are a significant historical aspect of humans killing other humans. Kind of hypocritical, yes? Remind me again of why Jesus Christ was crucified. Oh, never mind. It’s a simple answer: that’s what religious fanaticism does.

Not all religious beliefs are about a possible supreme being, invisible but never mind that. One might be a “religious” true believer in, say, physical fitness. Or religiously following the Adkins Diet. Or gardening. Or religiously following a particular sports team. Hooray for our side! Or buying Apple electronics. But wait, the Apple devotees qualify as a cult in my world. Can you imagine how many Apple products were given as gifts? Talk about marketing and advertising! Android or Apple? Coke or Pepsi. Tastes great. Less filling. Domestic or foreign car officienados. Intense adherence to a product or service or lifestyle can apparently become a religious pursuit.

Caveat emptor, though, right? Smart choices? Right? Informed consumerism? Uh, sure. Or maybe. Well, now and then. More then than now, I’d say. Who believes in informed, credible analysis before parting with one’s time, energy and dollars, or return on investment in whatever choice has been made? Tomorrow, millions of consumers will be getting a refund or replacement on what was obtained on this day of giving, Things. Stuff. Yes, make sure you get a receipt just in case. We tend to lead with our emotions, while logical reasoning becomes a neglected part of using our brains. The frontal lobe handles many abilities, including simple and complex processing of information. Logic, reasoning, judgement. Look around. Seems like the frontal lobe is pretty static, collecting cerebral cobwebs. If the frontal lobe was a species, it would be on the endangered list. For some, it clearly has gone extinct. Again, just look around.

It would seem as though the frontal lobe is atrophying while the limbic system is working overtime. The limbic area of our brains regulates emotions. Like fear. Anger. Anxiety. Love is an emotion but love for what? I already mentioned how the concept of religion can initially be used to live a peaceful, collaborative existence. Or not. The word love has many connotations as well. Do you love sweets, candy, pastries, red meat, creamy toppings, fast food? Bad choices based on loving something.. Rolling the genetic dice. Love brings couples together. Then the limbic system’s wiring goes bad. Friction ensues. Emotions get heated up. We seem unable to be collaborative as a species. See, above, religion and bloodshed. The neglected frontal lobe will be as risky a choice as neglecting to occasionally exercise and eat healthy food. At least once in a while. Emotions are easily preyed upon. Yes, look around, and find someone else to blame besides yourself. Scapegoating is so much easier than rationally examining cause and effect. Love is so much harder to sustain than–let’s face it–hate. Just look around. Again.

A week from today is the New Year holiday. 2025 is upon us. And here in the US of A, the limbic dominated brain is evident in a most dangerous, imbecilic way based on some very bad, very not well thought out decision making by the average John and Jane Doe. These limp-limbic brined members of the body politic have given us an incredulously imbecilic, very dangerous person the keys to our kingdom. For a second time! The limp-limbic brains also include countless office holders, too. The question of how this can happen is not easily explained. The incoming government has no intention of governing. It advertised that. It has spelled out how much destruction it intends to commit. But our entire System is one that also has very little pre-frontal functionality as its default operationality. And again, just look around. We did not all abandon our pre-frontal lobe’s logical steering toward well informed, credible choices. Millions used it last year to have better lives based of best, informed choices. But many more millions did not follow suit. The result is, on this Christmas day, the limbic lame brains have gifted to the US of A the apparently unavoidable hate-fest, scapegoat-fest, be careful what you say or do fest, which includes every last imbecile who literally did vote for this outcome, unable to realize that they, too, will be victimized by what is coming this way.

If only we could return this grotesque “gift” for something of a better emotional and logical blend of consumerism. Well, that can happen. But it will take at least two years, maybe four to put the brakes on the train that is a wreck-in-waiting. That’s two more Christmases. Four more New Years.

In that spirit, I announce I am running for Fearless Leader of the Pre-Frontal/Limbic Party. Donations are welcome. Call 800-867-5309. I promise this is not a scam. It is straight from the heart, and the head. But even if it is a steaming pile of bullshit, I figure I might be able to get people to not notice. Seems to work on a regular basis, huh? Look around. So, happy holiday! Peace, love and all that good limbic mojo to one and all.