28 December 2012

The Ghost of Christmas

Ooops, looks like Christmas distracted me so much I didn't get around to doing the traditional Christmas post. Well, our old friends know that for me, Christmas goes right on up through the 6th, and last year's post is much the same as what I would have posted this year, although I did find "Merry Christmas from Chiron Beta Prime" with an American Sign Language interpretation by Stephen Torrence, and Mark Evanier has posted a photo of the setting of his wonderful Mel Tormé story, for those who've never seen the Farmer's Market in Hollywood.

And thanks to Digby for digging up this old classic on the War on Christmas. (Yes, there is a war on Christmas, and Bill O'Reilly is its general.)

Michael Moore tells you everything you really need to know about economics: "Celebrating the Prince of Peace in the Land of Guns [...] Clearly, we are no longer our brother's and sister's keeper. You get sick and can't afford the operation? Not my problem. The bank has foreclosed on your home? Not my problem. Can't afford to go to college? Not my problem. And yet, it all sooner or later becomes our problem, doesn't it? Take away too many safety nets and everyone starts to feel the impact. Do you want to live in that kind of society, one where you will then have a legitimate reason to be in fear? I don't."

EU accuses Samsung of patent abuse in Apple lawsuits

The Majority Report: Sam Seder's interview with Chrystia Freeland on Plutocrats: The Rise of the New Global Super-Rich and the Fall of Everyone Else.

Ten Reasons Why the Chained CPI Is Terrible Policy

Atrios: "But They Will Always Smash It On The Floor [...] But Republicans will inevitably see a balanced budget as an opportunity to give money to rich people (tax cuts and crony capitalism). The reward for liberals for this well done very important work? Tax cuts for rich people and unpaid for disastrous wars. Liberals should spend their time in office figuring out how to implement a sticky liberal agenda, one which is hard to dislodge, not figuring out how to create a pot of money for Republicans to steal when it is their turn."
"There's Another No Work Option: Laid Off [...] This isn't really mysterious stuff. Someone is 61, has a moderate disability, and loses his/her job. There is no work option." And yet, people act like the only reason you might not get a new job is that you'd rather skive off and collect that juicy disability check.

RIP Jack Klugman, last of the 12 Angry Men, who to some of us will always be Oscar Madison, (even though the first death notice I saw for him mentioned only Quincy); actor, and hero who beat Orrin Hatch.

Snow pic from Ruth Calvo.

An Irish boy band that rocks old school - The Strypes, with their first original track, "Blue Collar Jane." Of course, they do covers, too.

Damn You All to Hell. {A letter from Tom Hanks.}

Strax the Sontaran sings Christmas songs. (I have no idea what "The Red Red Robin" is doing in there.)

Watch Sita Sings the Blues - a free gift from the creator.

Posted, of course, while listening to Brian Brink's amazing performance of "The Carol of the Bells".

3 comments:

  1. Happy twelve days!

    At least we won't have to endure a Yellow Submarine remake.

    In my admittedly limited experience disability/unemployment/Social Security payments are barely enough to keep body and soul together, but I am not operating in the world of '60s prices (we used to humor Grandma, who remembered steak being $0.59/pound, and now I remember when it was $1.99/pound) the way conservatives seem to, and they probably don't buy their own food or pay their own bills. [Yiddish imprecation.]

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  2. I didn't do my usual Christmas posts, either. Just didn't feel like it this year, with Mrs. JP down in Florida and all. But I'm getting back in the swing of things, including this post saying The NRA Has Asperger Syndrome

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  3. I didn't know that about Jack Klugman, Avedon! How cool!

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