[icopyright one button toolbar] Santa Claus and service members bow their heads in prayer during the Joint Forces Command United Assistance holiday tree lighting event on Barclay Training Center in Monrovia, Liberia. (Photo DOD) Merry Christmas, All. … [Read more...] about The Christmas Spirit Knows No Borders
La Posada: Happy Holidays to One and All From All of Us at TMV
A little storycito about La Posada, a 'go away/ come closer' ritual in dead winter where madwomen and madmen go out in the night in order to be rejected on purpose Posada is done by many a Latino, in many different ways depending on where you live. It is the ritual we play out going door to door amongst our neighbors and friends, asking for shelter for the Holy Family who … [Read more...] about La Posada: Happy Holidays to One and All From All of Us at TMV
Two Robins Wish You a Very Happy Christmas
I arrived in England yesterday from my home in the States and the jet-lag had the better of me this morning by 4.45 am. Dad, whom I have traveled across the Atlantic to spend Christmas with, is still in bed as I write this, and I am sitting alone on his couch in a silent house. Nevertheless, I have already received my biggest Christmas greeting of the day. A little … [Read more...] about Two Robins Wish You a Very Happy Christmas
My Tenth Annual Christmas Podcast
NOTE: THIS WILL ONLY REMAIN UP UNTIL JANUARY 1, 2015. This is the last podcast. Welcome to his vorpal sword's TENTH annual podcast of our original old time radio drama, performed live (in front of an invisible audience of, potentially, trillions.) I used to be a radio pundit on the old Air America affiliate here in Eugene, Oregon. But, for a change, I wrote, produced … [Read more...] about My Tenth Annual Christmas Podcast
IRS Scandal Joins Other Republican-Created Scandals In Being Debunked When Investigated
As I noted at the start of the year, the Obama administration has been remarkably free of scandals–or at least real scandals as opposed to scandals manufactured by Republicans. Investigations of faux scandals ranging from Benghazi to Grubergate all failed to show any truth to right wing accusations and conspiracy theories. Now we find that not even Darrell Issa, despite often … [Read more...] about IRS Scandal Joins Other Republican-Created Scandals In Being Debunked When Investigated
The Economic Argument For Peace On Earth
"Peace On Earth." We repeat the phrase often at this time of year. It's standard boilerplate -- a postive suggestion, but not very likely. However, Paul Krugman wrote this week that there are realistic reasons to support the suggestion. Those reasons have been around for awhile: More than a century has passed since Norman Angell, a British journalist and politician, … [Read more...] about The Economic Argument For Peace On Earth
Putin Ruled 2014, But 2015 Will Be Different
He may not have made the cut with Time magazine, but in terms of international relations -- and according to Russian polls -- President Vladimir Putin was certainly the man of the year. His surprise annexation of Crimea and involvement in the protracted eastern Ukraine conflict threatened to realign the world order in 2014, at once… … [Read more...] about Putin Ruled 2014, But 2015 Will Be Different
Few People Truly Understand Hanukkah
Few People Truly Understand Hanukkah By Joseph Cotto The time for America's other winter holiday has arrived. Most people have heard of Hanukkah, which in America is often seen as another gift-giving, end-of-year celebration to go with Christmas and Kwanzaa. Relatively few truly understand it. Hanukkah isn't important to Jews as a religious holiday. Despite not being … [Read more...] about Few People Truly Understand Hanukkah
This Is Why We’re Scared Of Spiders [VIDEO]
\For a while, psychologists assumed that we’re so afraid of creepy crawlers like spiders and other bugs because of their association with a “disgust” level. Humans actually developed a sense of disgust as a form of self-protection: to recognize slimy, rotten foods or other items like vomit or feces that might be highly-infectious or diseased. Sensitivity… … [Read more...] about This Is Why We’re Scared Of Spiders [VIDEO]
It’s a Wonderful Life, Comrade (Guest Voice)
It’s a Wonderful Life, Comrade The Hollywood Christmas classic was once accused of hiding a subversive Communist message. by Michael Winship A number of years ago, I was telling a longtime city dweller friend of mine yet another story about the small, upstate New York town in which I grew up. Simultaneously baffled and captivated, he said, “I think you were born … [Read more...] about It’s a Wonderful Life, Comrade (Guest Voice)
CNN/ORC Poll: Obama ends year on an upswing
When the new Republican controlled Congress takes office next month, it now sounds like they will have to deal with a fact that didn't seem to be something they'd have to deal with when the Democratic Party suffered its whopping defeat last November: A new poll finds that President Barack Obama is not only not irrelevant. His poll numbers are on the upswing. Improving … [Read more...] about CNN/ORC Poll: Obama ends year on an upswing
The Man Who Saved Christmas
Even if you never played with an erector set you were certainly familiar with the product. The set was the invention of a man named Alfred Carlton (A.C) Gilbert. It would take pages to list all of the toys that he helped to invent but they include virtually every type of educational toy from chemistry sets to some of the most popular versions of model trains. He was also a … [Read more...] about The Man Who Saved Christmas
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 back … [Read more...] about A Christmas Carol
Former President George HW Bush Hospitalized With Shortness Of Breath
Just breaking this evening that the former President has been taken to the hospital as a precaution. I trust we all join in wishing for a prompt recovery … [Read more...] about Former President George HW Bush Hospitalized With Shortness Of Breath
Issa: That ‘Icky Feeling’ Just Before Christmas
[icopyright one button toolbar] Two days before Christmas, when the eyes and ears of all Americans, young and old, are focused on Congress, in particular on the outgoing chairman of the House Oversight Committee, Darrell Issa dropped the bombshell that will change our Christmases forever more. After 18 months of investigations, millions of documents, scores of subpoenas … [Read more...] about Issa: That ‘Icky Feeling’ Just Before Christmas
Larry Klayman’s legal massacre
Larry Klayman's legal massacre by Dana Milbank Washington Post Writers Group WASHINGTON -- Larry Klayman is losing again. The conservative gadfly, who has been suing presidents for years with little success, was back in court Monday morning, this time representing Joe Arpaio, the Arizona sheriff famous for his immigration crackdowns, who wants President Obama's … [Read more...] about Larry Klayman’s legal massacre
Cartoon: Hackers Christmas Gifts
See great cartoons by all the top political cartoonists at http://cagle.com. To license this cartoon for your own site, visit http://politicalcartoons.com … [Read more...] about Cartoon: Hackers Christmas Gifts
Why we may have to negotiate with Islamic State: An expert Q&A (Guest Voice)
Why we may have to negotiate with Islamic State: An expert Q&A One of the Europe’s top experts in terrorism financing thinks the next few months will be crucial for the survival of the Islamic State. If U.S. President Barack Obama’s coalition of nations against the IS, including Canada, fails to stop the terrorist group’s push through the heart of Syria and Iraq, the world may … [Read more...] about Why we may have to negotiate with Islamic State: An expert Q&A (Guest Voice)
Sony, U.S. Theaters, Finally Show Some Spine
After first succumbing to threats and fear mongering by North Korea and cyber terrorists, Sony Pictures and certain theaters will be releasing and showing “The Interview” on Christmas Day, after all. The Movie industry: Michael Lynton, Chairman and CEO of Sony Entertainment: "We have never given up on releasing The Interview and we're excited our movie will be in a … [Read more...] about Sony, U.S. Theaters, Finally Show Some Spine
Remembering Our Troops on Christmas Day
Our “Big Wars” are finally winding down, yet our men and women in uniform continue to serve in harm’s way in various “conflicts,” operations and in other dangerous and risky assignments. While many are coming home this Christmas from Afghanistan, others are spending Christmas helping in the Ebola fight in West Africa, fighting ISIL in Iraq and Syria, engaging those who would … [Read more...] about Remembering Our Troops on Christmas Day