Neal G. Lineback
Christmas Page

In December 1997, the traditional Neal G. Lineback Christmas Page was reintroduced with new graphics and a new poem. This year, though, something very special happened. The jolly man himself visited the page. Here is what he had to say about it:

Dear Elliot:

What a surprise to see the "Neal G. Lineback Christmas Page!" You certainly did a nice job.

...Thanks for taking time to do the homepage, and congratulations on being a good geography student.

Enjoy your holidays and have a great new year.

Sincerely,

Neal Lineback

Here is the page, just as you saw it last Christmas:

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the Earth
Not a creature was stirring, for all it was worth;
The globes were all set on the mantles with ease,
In hopes that Neal Lineback would see them and be pleased.;

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of Afghanistan danced in their heads;
I was reading of Austria, and also of Brazil
And I set down my text books atop the window sill

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my desk to see what was the matter.
I ran to my dresser and then I got dressed,
And I broke the window. Hey, I was stressed.

I looked out on the Ocean, the Atlantic or Pacific
No, it was the Indian, if you want to be specific,
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a Chevy Cargo Van, with some maps on the rear.

With a smart little driver, so learned and free,
I knew in a moment it must be Neal G.
But his little visit was not very lame,
He knew all the continents, he knew them by name!

"Now, Europe! now, Asia!" is what came from his mouth,
"On, Africa! Australia! Americas North and South!
Oh yes, and Antarctica! A place that is cold!
No one can live there, despite what you've been told."

Some people have not taken Geography II
When they look at a map, they don't have a clue,
When this problem is over, not a moment before
Will Lineback stop working, will he go home and snore.

For up in his mind is a goal he can see
To bring the world gifts of Geography.
Into my door, Mr. Lineback came today,
I guess he picked the lock. Pretty clever, eh?

The coat on his suit was all buttoned up good.
And he took off his shoes, didn't want to be rude.
Some books and a map were held under his wrist.
I must have been good this year on his list.

His eyes -- how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
You could see a slight smile displayed on his face.
And he started to walk all over the place.

He told me of nations and mountains and lakes.
As we shared a plate of Little Debbie Cakes;
He had a nice shirt and a colorful tie,
I guess you could say he was just a swell guy.

He was thin and tall, a right jolly old chum,
He was so smart that he made me feel dumb;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;

He went straight to work, he did not take a nap,
And he covered the walls with many a map,
And blowing his nose, to keep out the snot,
And giving a nod, out the door he did trot;

He sprang to his Chevy, and he turned the key,
And he drove away, much too fast to see.
I heard one more thing, as I took off my shoes,
"Merry Christmas to all, that's Geography in the News!"

Neal G. Lineback Christmas Page

In December 1997, the traditional Neal G. Lineback Christmas Page was reintroduced with new graphics and a new poem. This year, though, something very special happened. The jolly man himself visited the page. Here is what he had to say about it:

Here is the page, just as you saw it last Christmas:

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the Earth Not a creature was stirring, for all it was worth; The globes were all set on the mantles with ease, In hopes that Neal Lineback would see them and be pleased.;

The children were nestled all snug in their beds, While visions of Afghanistan danced in their heads; I was reading of Austria, and also of Brazil And I set down my text books atop the window sill

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from my desk to see what was the matter. I ran to my dresser and then I got dressed, And I broke the window. Hey, I was stressed.

I looked out on the Ocean, the Atlantic or Pacific No, it was the Indian, if you want to be specific, When, what to my wondering eyes should appear, But a Chevy Cargo Van, with some maps on the rear.

With a smart little driver, so learned and free, I knew in a moment it must be Neal G. But his little visit was not very lame, He knew all the continents, he knew them by name!

"Now, Europe! now, Asia!" is what came from his mouth, "On, Africa! Australia! Americas North and South! Oh yes, and Antarctica! A place that is cold! No one can live there, despite what you've been told."

Some people have not taken Geography II When they look at a map, they don't have a clue, When this problem is over, not a moment before Will Lineback stop working, will he go home and snore.

For up in his mind is a goal he can see To bring the world gifts of Geography. Into my door, Mr. Lineback came today, I guess he picked the lock. Pretty clever, eh?

The coat on his suit was all buttoned up good. And he took off his shoes, didn't want to be rude. Some books and a map were held under his wrist. I must have been good this year on his list.

His eyes -- how they twinkled! his dimples how merry! His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry! You could see a slight smile displayed on his face. And he started to walk all over the place.

He told me of nations and mountains and lakes. As we shared a plate of Little Debbie Cakes; He had a nice shirt and a colorful tie, I guess you could say he was just a swell guy.

He was thin and tall, a right jolly old chum, He was so smart that he made me feel dumb; A wink of his eye and a twist of his head, Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;

He went straight to work, he did not take a nap, And he covered the walls with many a map, And blowing his nose, to keep out the snot, And giving a nod, out the door he did trot;

He sprang to his Chevy, and he turned the key, And he drove away, much too fast to see. I heard one more thing, as I took off my shoes, "Merry Christmas to all, that's Geography in the News!"

Thank you, Neal Lineback!