NCAA Outrage. Joe Nocera of the N Y Times writes about a college basketball player suspended because his mother took a plane ticket and then may have accepted money from family friends to support Christmas. So let me get this straight, Cameron Newton’s father can accept a large check to steer his son to a school without repercussions to the son or the school, BUT a single mother of four accepting a plane ticket and help from family friends is suspect. It’s time for the people who buy tickets and donate money to stand up to this outrageous behavior. This young man, it looks like, did not accept any of this assistance and he is being punished by an arbitrary and capricious bureaucracy which chews up hope and dreams in the name of “justice.” Shame on you, NCAA!

Long memory. Salman Rushdie’s appearance by video at a Literary Festival in India has been cancelled due to protests and threats of violence by Muslims. Rushdie cancelled his scheduled live appearance due to death threats. While I understand that “Satanic Verses” had some very offensive chapters, the rest of it was incomprehensible. No one would have read the book, least of all me, if Ayatollah Khomeini had not issued the fatwa for Rushdie’s execution. It’s been more than 20 years. Stop talking about, you’re only making him more “famous.”

Careful what you Occupy. Occupy Wall Street Protesters traveling to the King Memorial in Atlanta, passed through Danielsville, Georgia yesterday. Apparently, someone felt “harassed” and called the police. Two protesters were arrested when they failed to provide identification. Really? Yes, folks, really. Fortunately, the judge released them. Hopefully, those charges will just go away. They should.

Leaving Baghdad. U.S. troops leave Iraq.

College entrepreneurs. Students arrested in Athens for making and selling quality fake i.d.s.

Truancy. Seriously. Atlanta will start enforcing Truancy laws. Kids go to school or parents get a fine and jail. Yes, folks state law permits this.

Occupy Your Personal Space? Occupy Wall Street is now attempting to Occupy New York City? If only these folks had a real cohesive message and could work together to create change. Disruption is fine, but at some point, a message must follow.

Interview with Michael Stipe. New York Times Magazine interview with Michael Stipe for you R.E.M. fans.

A man of principle. Vaclav Havel died. He brought about change in Eastern Europe.

John Lennon’s “So This is Christmas” sounded very maudlin to me. (Taken from here. )

So this is Christmas, And what have you done, Another year over, And a new one just begun
And so this is Christmas, I hope you have fun, The near and the dear one, The old and the young

A very merry Christmas, And a happy New Year, Let’s hope it’s a good one, Without any fear, And so this is Christmas
For weak and for strong, For rich and the poor ones, The world is so wrong, And so happy Christmas
For black and for white, For yellow and red ones, Let’s stop all the fight, A very merry Christmas, And a happy New Year
Let’s hope it’s a good one, Without any fear, And so this is Christmas, And what have we done
Another year over, And a new one just begun, And so this is Christmas, I hope you have fun
The near and the dear one, The old and the young, A very merry Christmas, And a happy New Year,
Let’s hope it’s a good one, Without any fear, War is over over, If you want it, War is over, Now… 

Next: “We Need A Little Christmas” provides almost frantic desperation for the feeling of Christmas. (Taken from here.)

Haul out the holly; Put up the tree before my spirit falls again. Fill up the stocking,
I may be rushing things, but deck the halls again now. For we need a little Christmas Right this very minute,
Candles in the window, Carols at the spinet. Yes, we need a little Christmas
Right this very minute. It hasn’t snowed a single flurry, But Santa, dear, we’re in a hurry;
So climb down the chimney; Put up the brightest string of lights I’ve ever seen.
Slice up the fruitcake; It’s time we hung some tinsel on that evergreen bough.
For I’ve grown a little leaner, Grown a little colder, Grown a little sadder, Grown a little older,
All:
And I need a little angel Sitting on my shoulder, Need a little Christmas now.
Mame:
Haul out the holly; Well, once I taught you all to live each living day.
All:
Fill up the stocking,
Young Patrick:
But Auntie Man, it’s one week from Thanksgiving Day now.
All:
But we need a little Christmas Right this very minute, Candles in the window, Carols at the spinet.
Yes, we need a little Christmas Right this very minute.
Agnes:
It hasn’t snowed a single flurry, But Santa, dear, we’re in a hurry;
Ito:
So climb down the chimney; Put up the brightest string of lights I’ve ever seen.
All:
Slice up the fruitcake; It’s time we hung some tinsel on that evergreen bough. For we need a little music,
Need a little laughter, Need a little singing Ringing through the rafter, And we need a little snappy
“Happy ever after,” Need a little Christmas now. Need a little Christmas now.

Finally, the simple joy of “Silver Bells“

City sidewalks busy sidewalks. Dressed in holiday styleIn the air, There’s a feelingof Christmas, Children laughing, People passing, Meeting smile after smile, And on ev’ry street corner you’ll hear

Silver bells silver bells, It’s Christmas time in the city, Ring a ling hear them sing, Soon it will be Christmas day
Strings of street lights, Even stop lights, Blink a bright red and green, As the shoppers rush home with their treasures
Hear the snow crunch, See the kids bunch, This is Santa’s big scene, And above all this bustle, You’ll hear Silver bells, silver bells It’s Christmas time in the city, Ring-a-ling, hear them sing, Soon it will be Christmas day

And so I wonder…whether the continuous Christmas music is to be cheerful or just make us ponder the origins of the lyrics and feelings and emotions.

Put away the Garlic and silver bullets. Stockholders meetings take on a different tone these days. In the Murdochs’ case, the family controls the vote. Rupert Murdoch, to his credit, spoke to the issues at hand and addressed the angry stokeholders. How to get rid of the man? Dump your stock, don’t buy his papers.

Alternative medicine. The myth busters at the NYTimes health blog report turmeric may aid joint pain. All I can say is it has helped me. Check with a doctor.

What’s the draw? Herman Cain offers a new tax plan, 9-9-9: 9%income tax, 9% sales tax, 9% corporate tax. NPR reports this analysis, which now includes 0% income tax for those below the poverty line. Why the fascination with this tax plan? Simplicity. Easy to understand. Easy to apply. Easy to enforce. For people outside the Beltway (and on the out side of the political game), simple, easy and self explanatory will sell more quickly than complicated, complex and jargon laden. Make a note politicos: The businessman talks sense and speaks to the common man. You might learn something.

On Qaddafi’s death. Apparently the UN and the US want an investigation into the death of Qaddafi. Personally, I’m glad that whatever happened to Qaddafi occurred at the hands of his fellow countrymen, i.e. not at the hand of Seal Team 6 or the CIA. This story won’t be piled onto the U.S. bonfire burning in the Middle East.

Be careful what you demand. Obama ordered the pull out of ALL U.S. troops from Iraq once negotiations fell apart. Iraq is happy about this. Here’s hoping the U.S. didn’t create an impossible situation for the Iraqis.

Space invaders? Humans invaded space previously occupied by wildlife in North Georgia. Now, the wildlife maybe moving back into the neighborhood. Here’s hoping it’s not a bear-eat-human world.

Occupy Movement Meeting Resistance? After weeks of reportedly peaceful protests, the Occupy movement may meet resistance in Oakland. NPR reports that the protesters defied an order to abandon their post. How to handle the protest? This question puzzles cities all over the country. Wondering how it will unfold.

BP returns to the Gulf. British Petroleum is cleared to return to search for oil in the Gulf of Mexico. Perhaps a safety regulator could participate as well.

Mark Bittman strikes again. Aptly put, “Is Junk Food Really Cheaper” provides a succinct analysis of fast food versus healthy home cooked meals.

Cain takes it. Still too early to tell. Still too many variables. Herman Cain defeated front runner Rick Perry in the Florida Republican Straw Poll.

Can a Judge order one to go to church? One Alabama judge is providing a sentencing alternative: jail or church? You choose. One wonders about the legality of church and state separation on this one.

Slight of hand? Or willful blindness? The LA Times investigates Solyndra.

Not sure I’d be this nice. This burglary victim has more compassion than I would. After being gone 10 days, he comes home to find some one had a party in his home and left the back doors open.

Poor Planning? Dumb Idea. The robbers clearly had no idea what they were doing. Course, if they were smart, I would never have any work.

Party Crashers Saga Continues. The Salahis are in the news again. She’s left him. He reported her missing. She’s touring with the band Journey. He’s now banned from Journey concerts. Stay tuned, I’m guessing this isn’t over. “When dumb reality goes viral.”

Wrongful Death Suit Yields Details. A wrongful death lawsuit against United Airlines and the Logan Airport Security provides interesting tidbits that help us see the failures that may have contributed to terrorists and their weapons gaining access to a plane at Logan.

Children are Resilient and Resourceful. Parents who trusted their instincts in the face of children who were facing extreme challenges report the benefits to their children. Children are capable of a great many tasks when given support and opportunity. Our society would do well to remember that.

Keeping Up Camaraderie. The soldiers found a way to maintain friendships and deal with their experiences in an old Irish sport. Worth the listen.

Who’s Picking on Mickey Rooney? It’s always sad to hear someone is taking advantage of an older person. Mickey Rooney’s case sounds like an episode of soap opera. Just know that this happens to people who are worth far less than Mickey Rooney. Take care of those who took care of you.

Secret to Success? NYTimes Magazine article. Just read it.

Planet of the Rising Suns. Very cool discovery out in the universe. A planet with two suns.

Medal of Honor & Navy Cross. These two marines saved many lives. They deserve the admiration of their country. Listen to their story of courage and sacrifice here.

Dr. Oz and the curious case of apple juice. Dr. Oz warns of arsenic levels in apple juice on national television. The FDA (a government agency) disputes that claim, faulty science was used. Summary of matter here. Will Dr. Oz be subject to a food disparagement law suit like his compadre Oprah? Certainly, it’s one way to get wider publicity.

Heart Attack Warning Sign? More science. Marks on eyelids are heart attack warning sign?

Requirements of Immigration Police. Community policing works at the street level to quell problems before they start, or catch problems before the problem escalates. A group now says that the immigration policies now in force around the county disrupt that process, community policing.

Justice is Color Blind, Right? Not for Rick Perry. Texas Governor, and Republican Presidential Hopeful, Rick Perry refused to stay an execution where the jury heard that the defendant was more likely to reoffend because he was black. The U.S. Supreme Court thankfully remembers that we are all equal under the law. How this issue was raised before this week is a question that will bother many. I don’t know. But what I do know is that jurors should NEVER have heard such a statement and no person should ever utter such a statement. No educated, credentialed person who would qualify as an expert in this modern age should make this type of statement. No science exists to support such an outrageous and damaging idiotic conclusion. Everyone is entitled to a fair trial. If you don’t like that MOVE TO CHINA.

Pat Robertson Amends Marriage Vows. Funny, the divorce is high. Pat Robertson, a Christian minister, one who presumably supports the whole “til death do us part” theory of marriage, now say Alzheimer’s disease is grounds for divorce. Wow! Crazy!

Thank you for the tax break, time for layoffs. A corporation that benefitted from Georgia’s corporate tax incentives to recruit business and jobs, announced layoffs following the corporation approval by the federal agency governing its business. Anyone else feel duped?

Nature continues to Surprise Scientists. Gray whale crosses ocean, shocks scientists. Whale migration is just fascinating.

New species of dolphins identified. Nature is just so very interesting.

Interesting Actor. I listened to this interview on “Fresh Air” yesterday. Will Arnett is an interesting guy. Don’t know that I’ll watch the show. But he was interesting.

Honors for a Cool Dude. Henry Winkler received honors from the Queen.

Will They NEVER Learn. The Athens Banner Herald provides this entertaining summary of the notable arrests from the game weekend.

Another Jacqueline Kennedy Book, this book sounds interesting. The N Y Times touts this book as her “tart” opinions on world leaders.

Gym Jones. This article provides a look into what sounds like a cult but may just be a different take on physical and mental fitness.

Is Serena that Different? I recall watching John McEnroe argue with officials during tennis matches. Is Serena’s rant any different? I do not recall the specifics. This incident doesn’t rise to the level of the last one for sure.

Jelly Batteries? BBC reports, you figure it out. Polymer Jelly Batteries.

Don’t Feed the Animals. The man charged with feeding the birds near a California airport pleads not guilty. Sounds like a trial to me.

Choosing Security Over Freedom. Bad Call. This LA Times editorial outlines how Congress continues to erode our rights in the name of security.

Dialysis to Continue. Grady Hospital closed its dialysis clinic two years ago and indigent people have been at the mercy of others for that long. The contract that provided service to these predominantly illegal immigrants expired. A deal has been struck to provide treatment again. This situation is a conundrum for me. The government should not necessarily be required to provide services to people who should provide treatment for themselves. However, the government has made it virtually impossible for healthy illegal immigrants to obtain employment. These people require dialysis three times per week and could not probably work a job that would provide health insurance. Some how the callous decision to withhold treatment to folks who without the treatment will end up at Grady in much more serious condition and require hospitalization seems illogical and just plain wrong.

Show Me the…Firepower. Apparently the credible but unsubstantiated national security threat has brought out the heavy artillery. The show of force is very nice. But it’s just that show. Now N Y and DC are police states. Having visited Berlin during the 20th Anniversary of the Wall Falling, I experienced a real and palpable show of force by what must have been German military along with Berlin’s police force. Machine guns, jackbooted thugs patrolling, controlling every area within what seemed like 10 blocks of the Brandenburg Gate. For the most part, those officers and their machine guns could not stop a 9/11 style attack. If the show makes you feel better, that’s great. Just know, that bad things do happen and government cannot prevent the bad stuff.

Earthquake in Vancouver Island. Since I know people who live close (closer than I do anyway) and on who is visiting Vancouver proper, earthquake.

Fast and Furious Goes Viral. Or I suppose that’s how the White House might feel about this extension of an investigation into the ATF’s not-so-brilliant plan to sell guns to drug dealer and then track the guns. The investigation of the facts and circumstances now extends into the White House. Tracking items sold to alleged bad guys is a tried and true strategy of law enforcement. Selling these alleged drug gangs operational firearms and attempting to “track” where the arms go seems like a very, very risky proposition. And the plan has stove-piped on the ATF and whoever else thought this was a good idea.