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Holiday Season Commentary

Why Would Progressives Make "War" on Christmas? It is a Celebration of Progressive Values

Robert Creamer | Posted 01.25.2009 | Politics

Read More: Jared Diamond, Rahm Emanuel, Afghanistan, Progressive Values, Christmas, War on Christmas, Bill O'Reilly War on Christmas, Wall Street Journal, David Grinspoon, Holiday Season Commentary, Politics News
Robert Creamer

Christmas celebrates the central premise of the progressive ethical system, "love they neighbor as thyself," and rejects the tribalism and radical individualism that lie at the heart of right wing ideology.

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Stranger On A Snowy Train

Kim Morgan | Posted 01.24.2009 | Entertainment

Read More: Charles McGraw, The Narrow Margin, O. Winston Link, The Major and the Minor, Strangers on a Train, Amtrak, North by Northwest, Some Like It Hot, Robert Walker, Ray Milland, Holiday Season Commentary, Oregon, Entertainment News
Kim Morgan

I'm heading north for the holidays, and I loathe flying, so I'm on the train. Traveling by train got me thinking (again) of some of my favorite train movies.

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Ho, Ho, Ho: What You Told Us to Stuff Into the Stockings of 2008's Naughty and Nice

Arianna Huffington | Posted 01.24.2009 | Politics

Read More: Huffington Post Commenters, Huffpost Stocking Stuffers, Huffington Post Community, Holiday Season, Christmas Gifts, Holiday Season Commentary, Christmas, Politics News
Arianna Huffington

Merry Christmas, HuffPosters. I hope you are all touched by the grace of this day. We have a special gift for you tucked under our Featured Blog Posts tree: a line-up of holiday-inspired offerings. Remember: every time you click on a post, a blogger gets his wings! Earlier this week, I asked for your suggestions on what gifts we should give to some of our favorite -- and not so favorite -- public figures. You responded with a flying sleigh's worth of great gift ideas. Even Santa's elves couldn't have been more industrious. Now it's time to unwrap the presents. Click here to check out our favorite suggestions for what should be stuffed into the stockings of some of 2008's naughty and nice.

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Menorah Musubi

Francesca Biller-Safran | Posted 01.24.2009 | Living

Read More: Milton Berle, Mel Brookes, Jesus, Woody Allen, Christmas, T.S. Elliot, Buddhist, Menorah, Spirituality, Jewish, Shikseh, Judaism, Buddhism, Holiday Season Commentary, Living News
Francesca Biller-Safran

Let's just say that I grew up thinking that while Jesus was a suffering member of my tribe I was not supposed to worship; Buddha taught us that "Life as we know it ultimately leads to suffering." You see, I couldn't win.

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Scrooge Nation: Can We Change?

Richard (RJ) Eskow | Posted 01.24.2009 | Living

Read More: Micro-Giving, Twitter, Craig Newmark, John Borthwick, Beth Kanter, Spirituality, Kenneth Lerer, Holiday Season Commentary, Living News
Richard (RJ) Eskow

Every Christmas Americans indulge in their many book, stage, and screen versions of Dickens' Christmas Carol. Then the nation that sighs over the Cratchit family goes back to acting like Ebenezer Scrooge.

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Mr. Claus Goes To Washington

Chris Weigant | Posted 01.24.2009 | Politics

Read More: Humor, Washington, Christmas, Sit on Santa's Lap, Elf, Elf Incident, Santa, Politics, Elf Security, Chris Weigant, Satire, Santa Claus, Political Satire, Politician, Mr. Claus Goes to Washington, Political-Humor, Holiday Season Commentary, Politics News
Chris Weigant

I would rather be at home now than covering the annual "sit on Santa's lap" photo-op for politicians, but I seem to have annoyed my editor, so here I am -- your intrepid holiday reporter.

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Recession Resulting in Crappiest Presents Ever

Andy Borowitz | Posted 12.24.2008 | Business

Read More: Andy Borowitz, Economy, Recession, Christmas, Holiday Season, Holiday Season Commentary, Business News
Andy Borowitz

With fewer holiday dollars in their wallets, cash-strapped consumers are resorting to giving such unwanted holiday gifts as shoddy homemade crafts and crumbling baked goods.

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DVDs: The Rest Of The Year

Michael Giltz | Posted 01.24.2009 | Entertainment

Read More: Hbo, The Wire, Murnau, Dvds, TV Shows, Movies, Animation, Holiday Season Commentary, Entertainment News
Michael Giltz

Here are the top releases from December. Most of them are in the stores now but a few hit shelves in the next week. They saved some great stuff for the end of the year.

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Here Comes Santa Claus

Trey Ellis | Posted 01.24.2009 | Living

Read More: Santa Claus, Kids, Christmas, Holiday Season Commentary, Santa, Living News
Trey Ellis

I'd rather hurt my son's feelings about Santa Claus but tell him the truth because I want him to trust me later and tell me when the other kids in school are trying to ply him with crystal meth.

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VIDEO: Arnold's Christmas Nightmare

Rick Jacobs | Posted 01.24.2009 | Politics

Read More: George Bush, Ronald Reagan, George W. Bush, Charles Dickens, Pete Wilson, Karen Bass, Maria Shriver, Courage Campaign, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Cheri and Naren Shankar, California, Holiday Season Commentary, Politics News
Rick Jacobs

2008-12-24-jacobs.jpgHere's a California Carol from the Courage Campaign in time for the Christmas Arnold wants to give us all.

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Alastair Sim's Scrooge, and Apologies

Chris Durang | Posted 01.24.2009 | Entertainment

Read More: A Christmas Carol, Alastair Sim, Apologies, Million Dollar Movie, Holiday Movies, Dickens, Holiday Season Commentary, Entertainment News
Chris Durang

It's easier to find nice apologies and resolution of differences in literature and movies than in life. But blessed are the peacemakers, eh? If only we can figure out how to make peace.

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Forty Years Later Still Not One Planet

Charles Karel Bouley | Posted 01.24.2009 | Living

Read More: William Anders, Nasa, Saturn, Karel, Charles Karel Bouley, Earth, Frank Borman, Gay Rights, Saturnalia, James Lovell, Racism, Moon, Apollo 8, Climate Change, Gay Marriage, Holiday Season Commentary, Solar Eclipse, Living News
Charles Karel Bouley

Maybe it's time we stop looking in our churches, in our White House or on our TV for answers and start remembering that we've got one world. Make the best of it.

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It Is a Wonderful Life

Jamie Lee Curtis | Posted 01.24.2009 | Living

Read More: Jamie Lee Curtis, Eat Less Move More, 2008 Reflections, Celebrities Talk Politics, Economy, It's a Wonderful Life, Jamie Lee Curtis Book, Christmas, Grapes of Wrath, Holiday Season Commentary, Bernard Madoff, Jamie Lee Curtis It Is a Wonderful Life, Living News
Jamie Lee Curtis

What this crisis is going to do is bring us into financial alignment. Neighbors are going to meal share and carpool and child care -- less indoor gym workouts and more family outdoor time.

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More Light, More Light

Erica Jong | Posted 01.24.2009 | Living

Read More: Chanukah, Celebrities Talk Politics, Winter Solstice, Pagan, Christmas, Holiday Season Commentary, Partying, Drinking, Living News
Erica Jong

How sober we are today. American Christmases used to be intemperate. Where are the stolen kisses, the bluesy music and the feeling of anything goes (as Cole Porter wrote)?

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Micro-Giving: A New Era in Fundraising

John Borthwick and Kenneth Lerer | Posted 01.24.2009 | Living

Read More: Microloans, Twitter, Charity, Betaworks, Lending, Microlending, Micro-Giving, Microgiving, Donations, Holiday Season Commentary, Living News
John Borthwick and Kenneth Lerer

Micro-lending has changed lives. Now a wave of friends and "loose ties" within the social media community are bringing the micro-lending concept and applying it to charitable giving. Call it "Micro-giving."

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In Defense of Snow, Sort Of

Deborah Blum | Posted 01.24.2009 | Living

Read More: Lou Dobbs, World Meterological Association, Holidays, Cnn, White Christmas, Global Warming, Snow, Holiday Season Commentary, Living News
Deborah Blum

Maybe the real message this year is that we should appreciate the snow while we've got it; value the way our fragile planet attempts to set itself right.

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Investing in Humanity this Holiday Season

Maria Cuomo Cole | Posted 01.24.2009 | Politics

Read More: Welfare, Poverty, Homelessness, Economy, Economic Crisis, Holiday Season Commentary, Obama Administration, HELP USA, Politics News
Maria Cuomo Cole

There will be far fewer chimneys for Santa to squeeze through this holiday season as there are more people are living on the streets and in homeless shelters now than since the Great Depression.

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Jason Linkins

2008: The Year In Media Highlights

HuffingtonPost.com | Jason Linkins | Posted 01.24.2009 | Media

Read More: 2008, Media Criticism, Holiday Season Commentary, Lists, Media News

It's the end of the year, and so I must answer the call for summative listicles of things. So, why not a list of stuff I liked that people in the mass media did this year? Okay!

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Last Minute Shopping

Byron Williams | Posted 01.24.2009 | Politics

Read More: George Bush, Rod Blagojevich, Sarah Palin, Christmas Gifts, Holiday Season Commentary, Political Satire, Holiday Gifts, Barack Obama, Dick Cheney, Politics News
Byron Williams

For Governor Sarah Palin, a DVD of the musical, Annie Get your Gun. Aerial wolf hunting; need I say more?

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One Christmas Later: Sgt. Neesley, Iraq -- and Saving the Dogs Of War

Greg Mitchell | Posted 01.24.2009 | Politics

Read More: Troops, Troop Fatalities, Iraq, Holiday Season, Holiday Season Commentary, Christmas, Politics News
Greg Mitchell

Last year on Christmas Eve, I wrote about Sgt. Peter Neesley, who hailed from Michigan, after he was found dead in his bed in Iraq in an unexplained incident.

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Chanukah and Christmas: When Hope Triumphs Over Cynical Realism

Rabbi Michael Lerner | Posted 01.24.2009 | Living

Read More: Chanukah, Holiday Season, Holiday Season Commentary, Christmas, Happy Chanukah, Living News
Rabbi Michael Lerner

As Christmas and Chanukah represent ideals that have been distorted over the years, it is our job to stay true to these ideals and challenge the distortions, even while celebrating the moments of hope.

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My Virtual Gift List for This Holiday Season

Mitchell Bard | Posted 01.24.2009 | Politics

Read More: New York Yankees, The Nation, Andy Pettitte, Al Franken, Facebook, Scramble, Dick Cheney, Bailout, Jorge Posada, Hillary Clinton Senate Seat, Rick Warren, Paul Krugman, Bernard Madoff, Boston Red Sox, Mark Teixeira, c.c. Sabathia, Thomas Friedman, Holiday Season, David Paterson, Espn, Reality Show, Erik Kuselias, Executive Bonuses, A.j. Burnett, Barack Obama, Elvis Presley, Iraq War, Mariano Rivera, Rod Blagojevich, Girls Gone Wild, Hillary Clinton, Saturday Night Live, Derek Jeter, Torture, Holiday Season Commentary, Politics News
Mitchell Bard

Now that you can give crap to people without actually having to give them anything in reality, here is my virtual gift list for this holiday season.

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Dog Ears Music: Holiday Playlist

Phil Ramone and Danielle Evin | Posted 06.24.2009 | Entertainment

Read More: Amos Milburn, D.J. Santa & the Dance Squad, Dave Matthews, Run-Dmc, The Beach Boys, Joe Sample, Neil Sedaka, Snow Patrol, Dolly Parton, Otis Redding, Casey Shea, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Horace Andy, Pedro the Lion, The Who, Dave Brubeck, The Klezmonauts, The Shootist, Jack Benny, Dinah Washington, Amalia De Granada, Laura Nyro, Matisyahu, Kurtis Blow, Chris Brown, St. Petersburg & Valery Gergiev, Ron Sexsmith, Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Jordan & His Tympany Five, Itzhak Perlman, Kodo & Tan Dun, Keith Richards, Elvis Presley, Maria McKee, Mandy Patinkin, Macy Gray, mp3s, Leonard Cohen, The Trammps, Joan Osborne, Christmas Symphonic Players, Jack Johnson, Phil Ramone, Justin Timberlake, Frank Sinatra, Remy Zero, Eddy Arnold, Danny Elfman, Mickey Katz, Orchestra of the Kirov Opera, The Ramones, Steve Earle, Neil Young, Music, Iain Archer, Aretha Franklin, Spike Jones, Jane Siberry, The Long Winters, Tony Bennett, The New 2 Live Crew, 2 Live Jews, Yo-Yo Ma, Bob Marley, Mahalia Jackson, Louis Armstrong & the Commanders, Mary J. Blige, Barbra Streisand, Tim Finn, Danielle Evin, José Feliciano, Bob Dylan, Tom Waits, Richard Swift, Harry James, The Raveonettes, Yoshida Brothers, The Brian Setzer Orchestra, Alison Krauss & Natalie MacMaster, Astrud Gilberto, Adam Sandler, Snoop Dogg, Woody Herman, Dog Ears, Marvin Gaye, Holiday Season Commentary, Entertainment News
Phil Ramone and Danielle Evin

A comprehensive set of holiday music recommendations from Dog Ears Music, including Otis Redding, Spike Jones, The Klezmonauts, Keith Richards, Run-DMC, Dolly Parton, The Beach Boys, and many more.

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A Wealthy Man

Laurence Leamer | Posted 01.24.2009 | Business

Read More: Friendship, Charity, Wealth, Laurence Leamer, Christmas, Bernard Madoff, Faith, Christian, Jewish, Happiness, Hanakah, Holiday Season Commentary, Business News
Laurence Leamer

This is a Christmas and Hanukah season like no other. Many people have lost money. Millions are out of work, and those who still have jobs fear for their own future. It is a bad time, but also a good time.

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You Can't Handel the Truth: A Holiday Tradition

Robert J. Elisberg | Posted 01.24.2009 | Entertainment

Read More: Classical Music, Handel, Holiday Season, Handel's Messiah, Music, Holiday Music 2008, Holiday Season Commentary, Entertainment News
Robert J. Elisberg

Last year, I wrote about new discoveries surrounding the holiday classic, Handel's "Messiah." It seems like a fine time to repeat the story, as just another of the many holiday traditions.

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