Did you know they're naming winter storms now just as they do hurricanes and tropical storms?
A newspaper uses its First Amendment rights to sneer at the 2nd Amendment and gets the sharp criticism it deserves:
The Journal News in White Plains, N.Y., used the Freedom of Information Act to obtain information on registered handgun owners in the area. Many owners and other critics are outraged that criminals now know where the guns are – and aren't.
[. . .]
Live Free or Die -- Literally:
When Patrick Henry said, "Give me liberty, or give me death," it was a revolutionary cry for freedom from British rule. Little did he know at the time that his words were prophetic because there is a strong relationship between economic freedom and life expectancy.
What First Familes Eat on Christmas. George Washington set a standard that's seldom been equalled:
He was 90. I was a big fan of "The Odd Couple," especially because I identified with the slovenly Oscar. The secret of life is that Oscars and Felixes need each other because their opposite traits create a weird sort of harmony. I also liked the early years of "Quincy, M.E." (before the protagonist started giving long, preachy speeches). But the best thing Klugman ever did was get the stalled Orphan Drug Act through Congress with the use of his star power:
Sometimes it seems as if there's just no justice in this world, eh, ladies?
Anybody else find this kind of nonsense distasteful?
According to NORAD, Santa Claus was last spotted over the Philippines on his travels delivering toys around the world. This location was reported at about 9:15 CST.
Al.com will update his position every two hours starting at 11 a.m.
In case you're not quite in the holiday mood yet, take this poll of favorite Christmas movies and compare the results to these earlier pols:
Goodbye and good riddance to Government Motors:
You may recall that during the presidential election, the Treasury Department refused requests by General Motors to unload the government's stake in the giant automaker.
Zero tolerance goes off the deep end:
It's not something you can joke about anymore: guns. And the Tamaqua Area School District in Schuylkill County is proving that.
Anyone want to tell me why this isn't a good idea?
HARROLD, Texas (AP) - In this tiny Texas town, children and their parents don't give much thought to safety at the community's lone school - mostly because some of the teachers are carrying concealed weapons.
In remote Harrold, the nearest sheriff's office is 30 minutes away, and people tend to know - and trust - one another. So the school board voted to let teachers bring guns to school.
"Bah, humbug" department:
Maj. Harold Poff of the Salvation Army said Red Kettle donations are slow to come in this year. As of Monday the agency was at a little over $178,000, which is not even halfway to its goal of $500,000 for the campaign. Last year by Dec. 14 the agency had collected 58 percent of its goal.
Indiana education officials think they have a good reason for not claiming about $12 million the U.S. Department of Education wanted to give it in 2010 and 2011 to help make sure the children of migrant workers get a good education:
Here's a new malady for you -- cheeseburger rage:
DECEMBER 19--A Pennsylvania man has been charged with assault and disorderly conduct for his alleged rampage last month at McDonald’s, a meltdown reportedly triggered when his drive-thru order contained a hamburger with an unwanted piece of cheese.
Metaphysical conundrum of the day: Should parents lie about Santa?
. . . most psychologists believe that lying to the kids about Santa Claus is harmless, and may even have benefits.
Well, it's dark as a dungeon, way down in . . . oh, never mind. Now, this is irony:
When a famous coal museum wanted to save some money on its electricity bill, it turned to the obvious power source. Yes, Wales' Big Pit National Coal Mining Museum has installed 200 solar panels on its roof.
President Obama on Monday began the first serious push of his administration to attempt to reduce gun violence, directing Cabinet members to formulate a set of proposals that could include reinstating a ban on assault rifles.
It's not often a single review can make me want to see a movie I previously had no interest in, but this critique of "Zero Dark Thirty" by Reason magazine's Kurt Loder does:
Tom Crean seems to be channeling Bobby Knight:
On the first Monday of the college basketball season with his team no longer the best in all of the land, Indiana coach Tom Crean seemed to get a little testy with the tone of his tweets.
[. . .]
Then came this tweet:
