I am not a friend to a very energetic government. It is always oppressive.
Thomas Jefferson
Tweet of the Day
Obama occasionally does something right; it took nearly 8 years for him to do it, but he finally killed NSEERS, an anti-liberty Bush legacy.— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) December 24, 2016
It was a wonderful life. #RuinAHolidayFilm— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) December 24, 2016
A fatal car crash on 34th St. #RuinAHolidayFilm— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) December 24, 2016
A Christmas Nightmare #RuinAHolidayFilm— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) December 24, 2016
Organic food is not worth the extra cost. #PostAnUnpopularFoodOpinion— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) December 24, 2016
Psycho at the Holiday Inn #RuinAHolidayFilm— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) December 24, 2016
The Funeral of Tiny Tim #RuinAHolidayFilm— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) December 24, 2016
Eating locally-grown produce will make you fat #PostAnUnpopularFoodOpinion— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) December 24, 2016
The Santa Tariff: Trump slaps a tax on all gifts from the North Pole, arguing that Santa steals jobs from US toymakers. #RuinAHolidayFilm— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) December 24, 2016
Carrot cake and fruitcake are good, healthy ways of getting more veggies and fruit into your diet. #PostAnUnpopularFoodOpinion— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) December 24, 2016
Image of the Day
Humor: The "Lost" Ending To "It's a Wonderful Life"
To be honest, Potter's theft of Uncle Billy's bank deposit was an unresolved plot line that never made sense.
The Historic Christmas Eve Truce 1914 On the Western Front
This is a clip of the 2005 film "Joyeux Noel". At the time, I was a Netflix subscriber who put it on my DVD list. I was so blown away I bought my own copy. I have been troubled to hear Trump call for insanely resuming the nuclear arms race; let's us remember that it's not the politicians and the generals who suffer in unnecessary war, but the soldiers, civilians in warzones, and the taxpayers. Make trade, not war!Political Cartoon
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| Courtesy of Henry Payne via Townhall |
Musical Interlude: Christmas Favorites
A bonus selection for Christmas, including three different versions, including the final version, a tribute to my French-Canadian roots. Familiar readers may recall my personal story with the song. In seventh-grade French, we did a performance of "Le Jongleur de Notre Dame" and sang Cantique de Noel at the climax. The miracle play of the juggler involves a juggler/monk who has no gift to present the statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary except a demonstration of his juggling skills. His fellow monks are shocked by his blasphemy until the status comes to life and blesses him. ("The Little Drummer Boy" is clearly a variation of this story.) There are multiple versions on Youtube; I provide a briefer cartoon variation at the end of the song clips.
Bing Crosby, "Silent Night"
Josh Groban, "O Holy Night"
Trans-Siberian Orchestra.
Luciano Pavarotti, "Cantique de Noël (Minuit Chretiens)"
Minuit, chrétiens, c'est l'heure solennelle,
Où l'Homme Dieu descendit jusqu'à nous
Pour effacer la tache originelle
Et de Son Père arrêter le courroux.
Le monde entier tressaille d'espérance
En cette nuit qui lui donne un Sauveur.
Peuple à genoux, attends ta délivrance.
Noël, Noël, voici le Rédempteur,
Noël, Noël, voici le Rédempteur!
De notre foi que la lumière ardente
Nous guide tous au berceau de l'Enfant,
Comme autrefois une étoile brillante
Y conduisit les chefs de l'Orient.
Le Roi des rois naît dans une humble crèche:
Puissants du jour, fiers de votre grandeur,
A votre orgueil, c'est de là que Dieu prêche.
Courbez vos fronts devant le Rédempteur.
Courbez vos fronts devant le Rédempteur.
Le Rédempteur a brisé toute entrave:
La terre est libre, et le ciel est ouvert.
Il voit un frère où n'était qu'un esclave,
L'amour unit ceux qu'enchaînait le fer.
Qui lui dira notre reconnaissance,
C'est pour nous tous qu'il naît, qu'il souffre et meurt.
Peuple debout! Chante ta délivrance,
Noël, Noël, chantons le Rédempteur,
Noël, Noël, chantons le Rédempteur!
