Every year, as Christmas approaches, I think again of A Christmas Carol. The world has always been opposed to the idea of Christmas -- unless it can be turned into a money making proposition. If Christmas can serve the ends of business, by all means, it should be celebrated. But, as Marley's exasperated ghost reminded Scrooge: "BUSINESS? Mankind was my business! Their common … [Read more...] about Dickens For the 21st Century
Music to Gear Up to Christmas By
Tomorrow's the big day. If you're not totally psyched up, this music may help: 96 If that doesn't quite work, how about this number from a mid-1960s original TV musical from a 1960s TV musical about Red Riding Hood: Or how about this? … [Read more...] about Music to Gear Up to Christmas By
They Are Ours
"Spirit, are they yours?" Scrooge could say no more. "They are Man's," said the Spirit, looking down upon them. "And they cling to me, appealing from their fathers. This boy is Ignorance. This girl is Want. Beware them both, and all of their degree, but most of all beware this boy, for on his brow I see that written which is Doom, unless the writing be erased. Deny it!" … [Read more...] about They Are Ours
Super Tuesday Countdown Begins And Perry Flunks Virginia
Updated: The Virginia GOP announced on Twitter that Texas Governor Rick Perry failed to submit enough signatures to make the ballot for the Virginia primary on March 4, 2012. After verification, RPV has determined that Rick Perry did not submit the required 10k signatures and has not qualified for the VA primary. Republican officials confirmed that former … [Read more...] about Super Tuesday Countdown Begins And Perry Flunks Virginia
George H.W. Bush Backs Mitt Romney
He didn't quite make a formal endorsement but it's the closest thing to it. For months I've predicted that the Bush family would be backing former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. One sign: Republican political maven Karl Rove has clearly been critical of candidates giving Romney serious competition. But now The Act (endorsement) is (at least) partly done: Former President … [Read more...] about George H.W. Bush Backs Mitt Romney
Do Nothing Santa
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to appear on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Do Nothing Santa
Trump Ditches GOP: Registers as Independent and Dangles Independent Party Run
One of the most fascinating spectacles of 2011 has been watching Republicans' love affair with Donald Trump, which blossomed as grandly as the flowers in Spring when he suddenly became the nation's most famous birther. Suddenly, some conservative talkers who had dissed The Donald seemingly worshiped him. Suddenly, he had another network home besides NBC: Fox News, which loves … [Read more...] about Trump Ditches GOP: Registers as Independent and Dangles Independent Party Run
Gov. Perry’s Anti-Gay Christianity Is Not My Christianity (Guest Voice)
Gov. Perry’s Anti- Gay Christianity Is Not My Christianity by Shay Dawkins Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s anti-gay “Strong” TV advertisement has been getting a lot of air time in Iowa in the run up to the Jan. 3 Republican caucus. It’s also getting some surprising reaction among his fellow conservatives. I, for one, am happy to see that his ad failed to win the endorsements of … [Read more...] about Gov. Perry’s Anti-Gay Christianity Is Not My Christianity (Guest Voice)
Visualizing The World’s Calorie Consumption (GREAT Infographic
This seems fitting for Christmas: via foodservicewarehouse.com a GREAT Infographic "Visualizing The World’s Calorie Consumption": Source: Food Service Warehouse … [Read more...] about Visualizing The World’s Calorie Consumption (GREAT Infographic
Merry Christmas & Happy 2012
I really cannot compete with the many recent and excellent TMV posts on this subject. I particularly enjoyed Walter Brasch’s post from yesterday confirming that anyone can guiltlessly embrace the many versions of this ancient holiday to which many cultures, religions, and people have contributed. I appreciate all the religious and secular aspects of Christmas. I feel sorry … [Read more...] about Merry Christmas & Happy 2012
Prince Phillip Hospitalized
The 90 year old husband of Queen Elizabeth was hospitalized with chest pains earlier today and was given a stent to repair a blocked coronary artery. He is likely to spend Christmas in the hospital but is expect to make a full recovery. … [Read more...] about Prince Phillip Hospitalized
The Seventh Annual Christmas Radio Show!
Welcome to his vorpal sword's Seventh Annual presentation of "The Saint Nick Case," a Christmas radio play of approximately one-half hour. Click for the radio play For a special treat, The KOPT Radio Theater Players in the 2005 production of “The St. Nick Case,” in wide-spectrum, full color stereo. The radio play was broadcast live on Eugene’s Air America affiliate … [Read more...] about The Seventh Annual Christmas Radio Show!
Behind The Story of A Christmas Carol
Few of us pass the holiday season without at least one viewing of a Christmas Carol. But what many do not know is that there was a story behind the story, and the influence that it had on the author. In Dickens time it was quite common for one man to support not only his own family but the families of his and/or his spouses siblings. Dickens had a great burden on his … [Read more...] about Behind The Story of A Christmas Carol
BREAKING NEWS: NORAD Goes High-Tech to Track Santa
As I wrote here: One of the most interesting and exciting assignments during my U.S. Air Force career was my tour of duty at the North American Aerospace Defense (NORAD) complex some 1,400 feet beneath granite Cheyenne Mountain, south of Colorado Springs, Colorado, at the height of the Cold War. The assignment was interesting and exciting not only because we were … [Read more...] about BREAKING NEWS: NORAD Goes High-Tech to Track Santa
The Fruitcake Chronicles
(The Following is a re-post of The Fruitcake Chronicles. I first published this six installment short story in the Auburn Reporter Newspaper. Like a good fruitcake, I regift it every year. Merry Christmas!) The Fruitcake Chronicles: An Old Fashioned Christmas (Part 1 of 6) “Sir, I’m not going to ask you again. Put the fruitcake down and step away from the Santa.” … [Read more...] about The Fruitcake Chronicles
Egypt’s Progress
Guest post by Ali Ezzatyar Approaching the one-year anniversary of the Arab spring, it's very easy to forget that the events of 2011 would have been unthinkable last Christmas. Browse through the op-ed pages of every major newspaper or foreign policy journal, or the title of any of the books that were being published on the region this time last year: not a single clear, … [Read more...] about Egypt’s Progress
A video representation of the race to be the 2012 Republican nominee for president. Why Santorum? Why not? Every other sensible prediction I and many others have made has gone down in ruins -- like the Hindenburg, if you will: It'll be Romney. Republicans like establishment types, he's got money and organization, and he's next in line for a party that likes clean … [Read more...] about
German Banks Discover ‘Freedom’ to Ditch their American Customers (Financial Times Deutschland, Germany)
Is the Internal Revenue Service suborning European Banks to keep tabs on their American customers? According to this editorial from Germany's Financial Times Deutschland, a number of German Banks have 'understandably' decided to drop their U.S. customers due to the expense of complying with IRS data provisions and for fear of being on the wrong side of the American tax … [Read more...] about German Banks Discover ‘Freedom’ to Ditch their American Customers (Financial Times Deutschland, Germany)
“Take Heaven, Take Peace, Take Joy”
I can’t gift-wrap this, but it’s the closest thing to a Christmas treasure that I have to share. Decades ago, I published it twice in different magazines. Eric Sevareid was a gifted writer who spent most of his life as a radio and TV journalist working with Edward R. Murrow during World War II as part of “a band of brothers” and later at CBS-TV in its glory days. He was a … [Read more...] about “Take Heaven, Take Peace, Take Joy”
We Bought a Zoo Review (Cameron Crowe’s Not So Family Film)
We Bought a Zoo is a film that has little to do with its title. It's not about the zany misadventures of a family trying to run their own zoo. Instead, it's about a father dealing with the recent tragic death of his dearly loved spouse. It's about heart broken kids trying to exist in a world where their mother is no longer able to comfort them. We Bought a Zoo is about … [Read more...] about We Bought a Zoo Review (Cameron Crowe’s Not So Family Film)