I asked the forum AI (which we are calling D84, by the way) to explain this:
In this context, the term “IKEA-köttbullar är jättebra” translates from Swedish to “IKEA meatballs are very good” in English. It’s a positive expression often used by customers who enjoy the taste and quality of Swedish meatballs served at IKEA stores. These meatballs, known as “köttbullar” in Swedish, are a signature dish offered at IKEA’s in-store restaurants and have gained popularity worldwide, partly due to their convenience and affordability. In many IKEA stores, these meatballs are a popular menu item, appreciated for their flavour and as a quintessential part of the IKEA shopping experience.
You answered your own question there, mate. November is known as the “it’s December soon, which means Christmas, so we have to prepare by getting out all the Christmas junk and playing all the Christmas songs so that we are very tired of the real thing once it finally arrives” month.
Whilst I understand the frustration of shops going straight into Christmas immediately after Halloween — and that reminds me of this Maria gif where she smashes the pumpkins to announce it’s Christmastime
— I also get that shops have “seasonal” sections that they need to fill up, and there is nothing else going on between those two dates, in the UK.
It’s all just a business thing.
And I really like Christmas - I’m not religious (and can talk the hind legs off a donkey how it’s impossible that Jesus was born in December - the month was chosen to co-opt a pagan holiday) - I just think it’s a warm and cosy way to see out the dark and dreary winter months.
I think you’ll find most Christians - the sane ones at least - are fully aware of this fact. He wasn’t crucified in March or April either, probably. (There are even some of us who even question whether the world was created in 7 days and whether Genesis is more metaphorical than factual bearing in mind, you know, facts like dinosaurs). Proper Christians question and discuss. They don’t follow words blindly.
My favourite carol is ‘In the Bleak Midwinter’ which, lyrically, is absolute nonsense but by goodness I love than melody.
I disagree about “most” thought. Especially in America. So many people believe every word of the bible is literal truth.
(Edit: I know it doesn’t say December in the bible. Talking about Genesis now)
That’s the cause of things like them thinking being gay is a sin (although they miss out the fact that in the same section it says eating shellfish or wearing blended fabric clothes are also sins).
Yeah, when I said ‘the sane ones’ I meant any Christian not from the US…
Oh don’t even get me started on that. The using Biblical quotes out of context to defend bigotry makes me so angry. And those people are completely defying one of Jesus’s defining characteristics - embracing the ‘unclean’, loving the unloved, basically he spent most of his time ministering to minorities and defying those that thought they knew what ‘ptoper religious people of God’ should say and do.
I’m here as well! Or will I be replaced with AI after killing Kandyman?
Holy moly! I thought Americans had trouble with European geography, but British children??? Fortunately, they have a wise teacher, who will hopefully teach them right!
I’m now working on two new reviews, Remembrance of the Daleks (struggling to express how good this story is), and Kerblam! (enjoying defending this story)
