Tom Danehy: Tom ponders the season and wonders about those who claim to believe in God, but with a hard core approach he just doesn't understand (Tucson Weekly)
It's Christmas Eve and there's some serious holiness going on. I've always been fascinated by the overtly religious-the Hari Krishnas at the airport, the Saturday morning doorbell ringers with their pamphlets, the guy who holds the note just one little beat longer in church. When I was growing up, I went with friends to their traditional black churches, and a college teammate of mine took me to a revival meeting in a tent one summer, but I've never come close to feeling the spirit the way some people do.
David Bruce: Wise Up! Christmas (Athens News)
"One of the most glorious messes in the world is the mess created in the living room on Christmas day. Don't clean it up too quickly." - Andy Rooney
Frosty the Snowman is an American animated Christmas family television special based on the song "Frosty the Snowman". The program, which first aired on December 7, 1969 on CBS, was produced for television by Rankin/Bass and featured the voices of comedians Jimmy Durante as the film's narrator (Durante's final performance in a film) and Jackie Vernon as the titular character.
Source
Gene replied:
My no-google answer is Jimmy Durante.
Marian responded:
Jimmy Durante
Full house for dinner tonight and even more for dinner tomorrow night. Merry Christmas!!
Dale of Almost Snowy Diamond Springs, Norwintercali, where we're at about 112% of normal rainfall, said:
Jimmy Durante. Loved the Schnoz. Off now to cook a feast of wild game! Happy whatever you fucking want to celebrate!
Back Monday
Lois Of the North Pole answered:
I didn't research this because I'm pretty sure the voice of Frosty was none other than that savory sack of man meat, Burl Ives! And if I'm wrong, I don't want to be right! More snow in the forecast which totally justifies the embarrassing amount of beer I've stockpiled in my kitchen area. Wouldn't want to get snowed in, run out of beer, and be forced to eat my own foot!
Murry Crustness to all, and to all a Groot Night!
MAM wrote:
Jimmy Durante ~ In 1969, the Rankin-Bass company produced a thirty-minute animated television special of Frosty the Snowman. The song was first recorded by Gene Autry and the Cass County Boys in 1950.
Joe S responded:
OMG! It's Jimmy Durante! Had I ever watched that show I would have known that. I love Jimmy Durante. When I was a kid, probably about 11 or so, I sent him a fan letter and told him I was the President of his fan club. I was the only member so it was true, but I didn't tell him that. He sent me and autographed photo. Good night Mrs. Calabash, wherever you are...
Happy Holidays
Winter Wonderland What Child Is This?
Patriot Act NSA Spying Unconstitutional Section 215 National Security Letters Must End
My name is Marc Perkel and I have decided to announce that I will not comply with the so called "Patriot Act" laws requiring me to disclose information about my customers. If I receive a national security letter I will immediately photograph it, post it online everywhere I can, and then make a video of me burning it. I will then await my arrest. If you want to put me in jail then come get me mother fucker.
CBS begins the night with the FRESH'The Andy Griffith Show Christmas Special', followed by a RERUN'Blue Bloods', then another RERUN'Blue Bloods'.
On a RERUNStephen Colbert (from 11/19/15) are Jane Fonda, Andrew Lloyd Webber, and Brandon Niederauer.
On a RERUNJames Corden, OBE, (from 12/17/15) are Seth MacFarlane and Lily Tomlin.
NBC starts the night with a FRESH'Truth Be Told', followed by another FRESH'Truth Be Told', then the made-for-TV-movie 'Dolly Parton's Coat Of Many Colors'.
On a RERUNJimmy Fallon (from 11/26/15) are Queen Latifah, Rashida Jones, Chef Daniel Humm, and Kool Keith.
On a RERUNSeth Meyers (from 12/15/15) are Jennifer Lawrence, Kurt Russell, Fred Noe, and Ilan Rubin.
On a RERUNCarson 'The Scab' Daly (from 12/3/15) are Anthony Jeselnik, A Place to Bury Strangers, and Starlee Kine.
ABC opens the night with the RERUN'CMA Country Christmas', followed by '20/20'.
On a RERUNJimmy Kimmel (from 12/3/15) are Maya Rudolph, Adam Scott, and Andrea Bocelli.
The CW offers the RERUN'iHeartRadio (formerly Clear Channel) Jingle Ball 2015'.
Faux has a RERUN'MasterChef Junior', followed by the RERUN'American Country Countdown's Top 10 Stories Of 2015'.
MY has 'TMZ (Not So) Live', followed by 'Hollywood Today (Not So) Live'.
AMC offers the movie 'Rio Bravo', followed by the movie 'Cahill: US Marshal'.
BBC -
[6:00AM] DOCTOR WHO - SEASON 8, Ep 12 - Death in Heaven
[7:15AM] DOCTOR WHO: LAST CHRISTMAS
[8:30AM] DOCTOR WHO - SEASON 9, Ep 1 - The Magician's Apprentice-Part 1.
[9:30AM] DOCTOR WHO - SEASON 9, Ep 2 - The Witch's Familiar-Part 2.
[10:30AM] DOCTOR WHO - SEASON 9, Ep 3 - Under The Lake-Part 1.
[11:30AM] DOCTOR WHO - SEASON 9, Ep 4 - Before The Flood-Part 2.
[12:30PM] DOCTOR WHO - SEASON 9, Ep 5 - The Girl Who Died-Part 1.
[1:30PM] DOCTOR WHO - SEASON 9, Ep 6 - The Woman Who Lived-Part 2. ALL
[2:30PM] DOCTOR WHO - SEASON 9, Ep 7 - The Zygon Invasion-Part 1.
[3:30PM] DOCTOR WHO - SEASON 9, Ep 8 - The Zygon Inversion-Part 2.
[4:30PM] DOCTOR WHO - SEASON 9, Ep 9 - Sleep No More
[5:30PM] DOCTOR WHO - SEASON 9, Ep 10 - Face The Raven
[6:30PM] DOCTOR WHO - SEASON 9, Ep 11 - Heaven Sent-Part 1.
[7:45PM] DOCTOR WHO - SEASON 9, Ep 12 - Hell Bent-Part 2.
[9:00PM] DOCTOR WHO: THE HUSBANDS OF RIVER SONG
[10:15PM] DOCTOR WHO: THE SNOWMEN - Doctor Who: The Time Of The Doctor
[12:00AM] DOCTOR WHO: THE HUSBANDS OF RIVER SONG
[1:15AM] DOCTOR WHO: A CHRISTMAS CAROL
[2:15AM] DOCTOR WHO: THE SNOWMEN - Doctor Who: The Time Of The Doctor
[4:00AM] DOCTOR WHO - SEASON 9, Ep 1 - The Magician's Apprentice-Part 1.
[5:00AM] DOCTOR WHO - SEASON 9, Ep 2 - The Witch's Familiar-Part 2. (ALL TIMES EST)
Bravo has the movie 'Jingle All The Way 2', followed by the movie 'Superbad'.
Comedy Central has the movie 'Step Brothers', followed by the movie 'The Campaign', then the movie 'Step Brothers'.
FX has the movie 'Turbo', followed by the movie 'Kung Fu Panda 2'.
IFC -
[6:00AM] THAT '70S SHOW-Roller Disco
[6:30AM] THAT '70S SHOW-Eric's Panties
[7:00AM] THAT '70S SHOW-Baby Fever
[7:30AM] THAT '70S SHOW-Jackie Bags Hyde
[8:00AM] THAT '70S SHOW-Hyde's Christmas Rager
[8:30AM] THAT '70S SHOW-The Best Christmas Ever
[9:00AM] THAT '70S SHOW-An Eric Forman Christmas
[9:30AM] THAT '70S SHOW-Christmas
[10:00AM] THAT '70S SHOW-1Winter
[10:30AM] THAT '70S SHOW-Ice Shack
[11:00AM] THAT '70S SHOW-Who Wants It More?
[11:30AM] THAT '70S SHOW-Fez Gets the Girl
[12:00PM] THAT '70S SHOW-Dine and Dash
[12:30PM] THAT '70S SHOW-Radio Daze
[1:00PM] THAT '70S SHOW-Donna's Panties
[1:30PM] THAT '70S SHOW-Romantic Weekend
[2:00PM] THAT '70S SHOW-Kitty's Birthday (That's Today?!)
[2:30PM] THAT '70S SHOW-The Trials of Michael Kelso
[3:00PM] THAT '70S SHOW-Eric's Naughty No-No
[3:30PM] THAT '70S SHOW-Holy Craps!
[4:00PM] THAT '70S SHOW-1Fez Dates Donna
[4:30PM] THAT '70S SHOW-Eric's Drunken Tattoo
[5:00PM] THAT '70S SHOW-Canadian Road Trip
[5:30PM] THAT '70S SHOW-Backstage Pass
[6:00PM] THAT '70S SHOW-The Promise Ring
[6:30PM] THAT '70S SHOW-It's a Wonderful Life
[7:00PM] THAT '70S SHOW-Eric's Depression
[7:30PM] THAT '70S SHOW-Pinciotti vs. Forman
[8:00PM] THAT '70S SHOW-The Best Christmas Ever
[8:30PM] THAT '70S SHOW-Hyde's Christmas Rager
[9:00PM] THAT '70S SHOW-An Eric Forman Christmas
[9:30PM] THAT '70S SHOW-Christmas
[10:00PM] THAT '70S SHOW-Winter
[10:30PM] THAT '70S SHOW-Hyde Gets the Girl
[11:00PM] THAT '70S SHOW-Bye-Bye Basement
[11:30PM] THAT '70S SHOW-The Relapse
[12:00AM] THAT '70S SHOW-Uncomfortable Ball Stuff
[12:30AM] THAT '70S SHOW-Donna's Story
[1:00AM] THAT '70S SHOW-The Forgotten Son
[1:30AM] THAT '70S SHOW-Red and Stacey
[2:00AM] THAT '70S SHOW-The Third Wheel
[2:30AM] THAT '70S SHOW-An Eric Forman Christmas
[3:00AM] THAT '70S SHOW-Jackie Says Cheese
[3:30AM] THAT '70S SHOW-Eric's Hot Cousin
[4:00AM] THAT '70S SHOW-Tornado Prom
[4:30AM] THAT '70S SHOW-Donna Dates a Kelso
[5:00AM] THAT '70S SHOW-Kelso's Career
[5:30AM] THAT '70S SHOW-Leo Loves Kitty (ALL TIMES EST)
Sundance -
[6:00AM] Miracle on 34th Street
[7:36AM] White Christmas
[9:36AM] A Christmas Carol
[11:16AM] Miracle on 34th Street
[1:30PM] A Christmas Carol
[4:00PM] Law & Order-Humiliation
[5:00PM] Law & Order-Remand
[6:00PM] Law & Order-Trophy
[7:00PM] Law & Order-Charm City
[8:00PM] Law & Order-Custody
[9:00PM] Law & Order-Encore
[10:00PM] Law & Order-Deceit
[11:00PM] Law & Order-Slave
[12:00AM] Law & Order-Homesick
[1:00AM] The Returned-The Returned
[2:20AM] White Christmas
[5:01AM] The Writers' Room-Pretty Little Liars
[5:30AM] Spies Like Us (ALL TIMES EST)
SyFy has the movie 'King Kong', followed by the movie 'Hellboy'.
A documentary based on the benefits of invading other countries sounds like an unlikely premise for Michael Moore, the controversial filmmaker and antiwar activist who slammed the U.S. invasion of Iraq a decade ago in Fahrenheit 9/11. But his latest movie, Where to Invade Next, relies on the concept of a metaphorical, not a physical, attack.
Moore, parading as a one-man army representing the United States, goes on a quest to gather the most effective ideas and policies from nations around the world. From the factories of Italy to the public schools of Finland and the prisons of Norway, Moore uses his so-called invasions to show how America might learn from the success and efficiency of others. After each visit with business leaders, law enforcement officers, and politicians, the Oscar-winning auteur plants the American flag on foreign soil and declares liberation.
There's a scene in Where to Invade Next where Moore sits down for lunch with a group of elementary school students in France and shows them what a typical American cafeteria meal looks like. The students gasp in revulsion, and wonder whether the mess of sloppy goop in the photo is actually edible. Their reaction makes more sense when you see the four-course, chef-prepared fine dining they're accustomed to being served-yes, delivered by a waitstaff-at their public schools in a working-class neighborhood in France. A school administrator explains to Moore that the leisurely lunch period is intended to teach kids lifelong lessons about nutrition, right down to the choice of green salads and artisanal cheese plates. Despite how indulgent they may seem, the lunch plans appear to be working: France's childhood obesity rate is one of the lowest in the developed world.
While "invading" the small Southern European country of Portugal, Moore tells a law enforcement officer that he's carrying cocaine. He's bluffing-or at least trying to get a rise out of the cop, but the officer doesn't so much as blink. That's because drugs have been decriminalized in Portugal since 2001, and those found carrying small quantities of substances considered illicit in America-opioids, hallucinogens, amphetamines, you name it-aren't treated as criminals. Instead, they might be charged a fine or referred to a voluntary drug rehabilitation program to help break the addiction. As a result, the country has seen a dramatic decrease not only in its prison population but also in its numbers of drug users and its drug-related mortality rate. Portugal boasts the second-lowest rate of drug overdose deaths in the European Union, according to the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction.
Melissa Yassini and her 8-year-old daughter, Sofia, spend some time every evening reading messages from the thousands of people who have told Sofia not to be afraid just because she's Muslim.
Sofia's story of terror that she would be forced to leave America inspired a social media campaign with a hashtag, "#IWillProtectYou," that has generated posts from soldiers, veterans and others supporting her.
Melissa Yassini originally shared her daughter's response to Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump (R-Pendejo) calling for a ban all Muslim immigration into the United States.
Sofia heard about Trump's proposal while the family was watching the evening news. While Trump has said he isn't targeting American Muslims, her mother said Sofia didn't make that distinction.
She packed a bag with Barbie dolls, a tub of peanut butter and a toothbrush. And she checked the locks of her family's home because she thought soldiers were coming to take her away.
US actor Robert Downey Jr. has been pardoned by the governor of California for a 1996 drug conviction that landed him in prison.
He "has paid his debt to society and earned a full and unconditional pardon," Governor Jerry Brown said in his Christmas Eve pardon, which has become an annual tradition.
The "Iron Man" star, who was among 91 people pardoned for various offenses, was convicted of drug possession after he was arrested in Los Angeles and police found heroin, cocaine and a gun in his vehicle.
He was initially placed on probation but repeatedly violated the terms and was sent to prison in 1999; after serving for less than a year, he was placed on two years' parole.
The pardon does not expunge his record but restores his rights as a citizen, including the right to vote.
Tourists in ancient Pompeii have freshly-restored marvels to admire, including a merchant's luxuriously decorated home and a more modest middle-class dwelling.
A business where Pompeii residents brought fabrics to be cared for and a structure with thermal bathing areas are also among the six buildings opened to the public Thursday.
Pompeii in recent years has been plagued by labor disputes that locked out tourists and the collapse of some ruins, with funding chronically short for maintenance.
Well-preserved mosaic tiles and vividly-hued frescoes are in the restored sites in the sprawling ruins near Naples.
A Utah contracting company frequently used kids from a polygamous group as unpaid workers on a pecan farm during school hours, according to federal labor lawyers pushing back against the company's contention that the hours were legal because the kids were home-schooled.
The U.S. Labor Department attorneys argue in new court documents that children worked long days harvesting nuts for years, and also did pruning, trimming and watering of the trees and cleaning of the fields.
"Instead of going to school, hundreds - if not over one thousand - of children were performing the duties related to Paragon's contract," federal labor lawyers say in court documents. "Some children were taken out of school to perform these duties on a year-round basis to prepare the ranch for the harvest. Other children were taken out of school for weeks at a time to perform these duties during the actual harvest."
The agency wants a judge to order Paragon Contractors to pay back wages and stop the practices described by alleged former child workers and captured by news cameras during a harvest in 2012. A hearing in the case is set for Jan. 25.
Farm work is generally exempt from child labor laws in Utah as long as it's done outside of school hours, and Paragon says the 2012 pecan harvest can't be considered a school day because children in the group are homeschooled and minors who worked on the farm were with their parents.
Canadian gaming company Amaya Inc has been ordered by a Kentucky court to pay $870 million in penalties to cover alleged losses by the state's residents who played real-money poker on PokerStars' website between 2006 and 2011.
Amaya, which got PokerStars in 2014 through the $4.9 billion takeover of Rational Group, said on Thursday said it planned to post a bond to stay the enforcement of the order and to appeal in early January.
The company said the ruling was in contrast to the same trial court's decision last month when it determined that damages should be based on the net losses of players.
Amaya argued the latest ruling calculated damages based on the players' gross losses, without accounting for their winnings, bonuses or free play.
The company said Kentucky relied on a "centuries old statute" that allowed people who incurred gaming losses to sue their opponents, rather than authorize the state to sue and collect such losses "for its own benefit".
The 53 Americans taken hostage in Iran in 1979 will finally get financial compensation that had eluded them for decades, after US lawmakers included a payment provision in sweeping spending legislation.
The men and women taken hostage by militant Iranian student groups at the US embassy and who spent 444 days in captivity will be given restitution of up to $4.4 million each, or $10,000 for each day they were held.
Their ordeal gripped fellow Americans back home, and the hostage crisis ruptured Washington-Tehran relations that had already frayed with the beginning of the Iranian revolution.
Because the agreement that freed the hostages in January 1981 barred them from collecting restitution from the Iranian government, the victims spent decades unsuccessfully pursuing claims.
But when a US judge this year ordered France's largest bank, BNP Paribas, to pay $8.9 billion in fines to settle violations of US sanctions linked to Iran, funding for terrorism victims finally became available.
Some of California's most dangerous inmates could be getting more sleep under an agreement announced Thursday that requires guards to hold down the noise.
Dozens of prisoners complained that they were being kept awake around the clock by overnight welfare checks every half-hour.
Under the agreement between attorneys representing inmates and the state, guards in Pelican Bay State Prison's notorious security housing unit will conduct the checks half as often between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. to minimize the clanging of metal doors.
Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation spokesman Jeffrey Callison said the department has asked the manufacturer to look at how the doors operate and propose ways to reduce the noise.
The checks began in August as a way to deter suicides. But attorneys say the resulting sleep deprivation was causing health problems and psychological stress.
Bristol Palin, who launched an abstinence campaign after giving birth as an unwed teenage mother, posted on Instagram Thursday that she gave birth to a girl, Sailor Grace, on Wednesday.
"Our family couldn't be more complete," she wrote beneath a photo of her and her sleeping baby in what appears to be a hospital bed.
It's the second child out of wedlock for the 25-year-old daughter of 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin. Family attorney John Tiemessen said he could confirm only that the Instagram account was Bristol Palin's.
Palin announced her second pregnancy on her blog in June. She has not publicly identified the father of that child, but announced she was pregnant shortly after her engagement to married Medal of Honor recipient Dakota Meyer was broken off last spring.
On Thursday, Meyer tweeted: "Best Christmas present ever!! I couldn't be more proud of this little blessing." He also posted a photo of a sleeping infant held by someone wearing a hospital gown with the same pattern as the one shown on Bristol Palin's Instagram post.
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has returned to semi-retired status.
