© 2025 Connecticut Public

FCC Public Inspection Files:
WEDH · WEDN · WEDW · WEDY
WEDW-FM · WNPR · WPKT · WRLI-FM
Public Files Contact · ATSC 3.0 FAQ
Donate
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

The Nose: An Elf On The Shelf Is Watching You

Connecticut Public Radio | By Colin McEnroe
Published December 7, 2012 at 3:31 PM EST
1 of 4
Flickr Creative Commons, jondejong
2 of 4
Chion Wolf
3 of 4
Chion Wolf
4 of 4
Chion Wolf

http://cptv.vo.llnwd.net/o2/ypmwebcontent/Commodore%20Skahill/Colin%20McEnroe%20Show%2012-07-2012.mp3

One of our themes today is the iron fist in the velvet glove. Or maybe, sometimes, it's the other way around.

We're all fascinated by the Elf on the Shelf craze. For those of you who don't know, this is a Christmas elf figurine with accompanying audio-visual materials. The idea is that the elf moves around your house in the days preceding Christmas, popping up here and there. Part of the fun for the kids is finding the elf each day, but the subtext is that the elf is Santa's eyes and ears on this particular Christmas crime scene. So you better watch out. 
 
We're also talking about a short Atlantic piece detailing the vogue for ending emails and texts with XOXO. News anchor Diane Sawyer does it so consistently with her staff that emails failing to end with simulated hugs and kisses are read with mounting alarm.
 
Iron fist in velvet glove. Whether it's elf or XO, somebody's trying to make you cooperate.
 
You can join the conversation. E-mail colin@wnpr.org or Tweet us @wnprcolin.
Tags
The Nose
Colin McEnroe
Colin McEnroe is a radio host, newspaper columnist, magazine writer, author, playwright, lecturer, moderator, college instructor and occasional singer. Colin can be reached at colin@ctpublic.org.
See stories by Colin McEnroe

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.

Protect Connecticut Public

SOMOS CONNECTICUT is an initiative from Connecticut Public, the state’s local NPR and PBS station, to elevate Latino stories and expand programming that uplifts and informs our Latino communities. Visit CTPublic.org/latino for more stories and resources. For updates, sign up for the SOMOS CONNECTICUT newsletter at ctpublic.org/newsletters.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de Connecticut Public, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.

Protect Connecticut Public

Related Content