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Welcome to the Blade blog Culture Shock, a three-times-a-week riff by Pop Culture Editor Kirk Baird on pop culture news, events, and trends. The blog will appear Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings here, with the odd night or off-day posting if something is merited.

Is it just me, or are there considerably less holiday ads this time of year than normal. Usually, by mid- to late October, ads for “Christmas savings” and the “perfect holiday gift” are ubiquitous. Not so much this year in large part due to, no doubt, the economic blight affecting most of us.

With Thanksgiving and Black Friday only a mere three weeks away, it's time to get into the Christmas spirit of mass consumerism. To help with that, I bring you today's holiday-themed commercial links. Enjoy!

Really, who wouldn't want a Burger King doll or gift certificate for Christmas?

A "Kentucky Fried Christmas" ... oh my

This commercial's right: Nothing gives you the feeling of Christmas quite like a glass of ice-cold 7-Up

It wouldn't be a Holiday commercial theme without the Hershey's Kisses

There's something creepy about this Coors Christmas commercial

Norelco suggests a blood pressure monitor as a Christmas gift option ... seriously

It takes a village to raise a child, and it takes a visit from Saint Nick to settle the Fruity Pebbles feud 'tween Fred and Barney

A McDonald's Holiday commercial with a heartfelt message

Disney meets McDonald's in this heartwarming Holiday commercial classic

Please tell me this car insurance multiholiday commercial is fake. It must be. How could anyone buy insurance from this guy after seeing this?

(Update: Went to the company's Web site — http://www.vernfonk.com/ — and realized it's no joke ... just bad acting, writing, sales pitch, etc.)

Sorry C.W. McCall, THIS is a "great big convoy" ... and just in time for Christmas

Agree or disagree with a posting? Lemme know. Have a topic or suggestion? Lemme know that, too. Send an e-mail to kbaird@theblade.com or call 419-724-6734.

LINK: For all of Kirk Baird's Culture Shock riffs

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