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Glenn Beck's Christmas Message: 'The Real Meaning Of Christmas' (VIDEO)
Glenn Beck says the "real meaning of Christmas" is a chance for a fresh start. The Fox News host, along with several of his colleagues, recorded a Christmas message for Fox News Insider (via TVNewser). "The real meaning of Christmas, just a chance to start over again," Beck said. "Which I think is the ultimate Christmas message." Geraldo Rivera said the Holiday Season signifies "when the people who have remember the people who don't have. It's the time of compassion, it's the time of giving," ...

Mike Ragogna: "My Christmas Card To You," Plus Conversations With Thala and Flo Rida
A Conversation with Thalía Mike Ragogna : Hi, Thalía. Thanks so much for taking time out for this interview. Thalía : How are you Mike. MR : Thalía, much like Elvis, you're a huge international superstar. Recently, you participated in the Viva Elvis recordings associated with the Cirque du Soleil show in Las Vegas, recording a duet with The King on his classic "Love Me Tender." And I believe, even though it's years after he passed away, you're the first Latin artist to have been inclu

Stranger Than Fiction: Tony Perkins' Christmas Card
For a few quiet days, Christians everywhere can humbly reflect on the greatest miracle in the history of mankind . In no other religion does the Creator of the universe come down to earth and live among us, His own creatures. Huh? Perkins ignores a lot of religions here. Of course, he's never been one to quote scholars accurately. In ancient times there were over twenty dying-and-rising gods to which people prayed, several having virgin births! His revisionist historian, David Barton, ...

Joy Behar's Bill O'Reilly Christmas Card (PHOTO)
Joy Behar commemorated her walk-off from "The View" during Bill O'Reilly's appearance in her 2010 Christmas Card. The front of the card features a Photoshop of the two with the phrase "Peace on Earth." Inside, a special message from Joy appears (written out below): Joy's Christmas message; Good will toward Men and Women and Muslims and Jews and Catholics and Atheists (not agnostics - too wishy washy) and Mama Grizzlies and Democrats and Republicans and Tea Partiers and One of the Kardashian gi...

Scientists produce 'world's smallest Christmas card'
Scientists have produced what they believe is the world's smallest Christmas Card. It was created by nantotechnologists at the University of Glasgow and is so small it could fit on to the surface of a postage stamp 8,276 times. The image, which measures 200x290 micro-metres, features a Christmas Tree and is etched on a tiny piece of glass. The team behind the project said the technology could eventually be used in products such as TVs and cameras. The university's school of engineering...

Google Wont Drop Wikileaks Apps, Apple Does
(Reuters) - Apple Inc has joined a growing number of U.S. companies that have severed ties with Wikileaks, removing an application from its online store that gave users access to the Controversial website’s content. But Google Inc, which operates the second-largest online Mobile Applications store, has kept more than half a dozen apps available on its Android Marketplace that make it easier to access the confidential U.S. government documents WikiLeaks had released on its site. The...

Obama, GOP give a Christmas Day salute to troops
(CNN) - The presidential and GOP weekly web and radio addresses traded partisan Rhetoric for holiday cheer and praise for the service members protecting America. President and Mrs. Obama spoke to members of the Armed Forces, lauding their volunteer service and encouraging Americans to support the Troops. "As long as that service keeps the rest of us safe, their sacrifice should also be our own, even heroes can use a hand, especially during the holidays," First Lady Michelle Obama said. Presiden...

Christmas, Congress and the Times That Try Men's Souls
It would appear that several conservative Republican senators missed the reading from the Book of Matthew that goes: “Judge not, that ye be not judged.” John Nichols, a pioneering political blogger, has written the Beat since 1999. His posts have been circulated... Plans to hold Cheney to account for a Nigerian Bribery Scandal have been scrapped, following the payment of $35 million to Nigerian authorities by the company that the former vice president used to head: Halliburton. In a ...

Paintings, Videos, And Christmas Trees: Artistic Inspiration To Get You In The Christmas Spirit
Sometimes all you need to get into the Christmas Spirit are some inspiring holiday images. From Christmas videos- maybe you'll use one as your digital Christmas Card- to art historical paintings, and some DIY ideas for all those last minute holiday decorators, this Christmas medley might just get you in the mood to celebrate. ...

We can be merry, knowing that Christmas is doing fine
If adversity reveals character, then the Christmas season is the TSA: Everything gets laid bare. What better measure of your soul's steel than a holiday when everyone essentially agrees to be happy for a day? Granted, there's plenty to be cynical about these days, but if your heart is two sizes too small to find more joy than despair in Christmas, you must really struggle with the other 364 days of the year. We all know the complaints: Christmas is too commercialized, too secularized, its true...

Westerners celebrate Christmas in China
BEIJING, Dec. 25 (UPI) -- Westerners celebrating Christmas in China said they are enjoying the mix of Chinese culture and holiday spirit. Eileen Karcher, who brought her two Children with her from Germany to spend the holiday with her husband, Thomas, who works as an engineer in Shanghai, said her family and their Chinese friends will be treated to a combination Christmas-Chinese feast, including roast turkey, spaghetti, rice dishes and Red Wine with green tea, Xinhua, China's official state-run...

The True Spirit of Christmas, 2010
Editor’s Note: The story that Larry tells below the fold will move you, and its origin is facsinating. I firmly believe the greatest gift of all is the ‘giving of oneself.’ In giving, the Donor receives so much in return. The beauty and grace of seeing a smile on the recipient’s face. The warmth of knowing that somebody has benefited from your generosity. The satisfaction that the world is a little better place from your giving. I hope you are able to enjoy the beauty of...

Tracy Hall, Military Spouse, Becomes Mrs. Claus For Soldiers' Families Through The Giving Tree (VIDEO)
When Tracy Hall, whose husband Jonathan is currently serving in Afghanistan, noticed that the Children of wounded or deployed Soldiers weren't getting the same attention as their parents during this Holiday Season, she decided to take action. She founded The Gift Tree, an online registry at Target and Amazon that provides clothes, books and toys for those in need. Hall, along with a team of helpers also from the Walter Reed Auxiliary, prepares and gives out hundreds of gift boxes and still fi...

Merry Christmas from the Obamas
"President Obama and the First Lady wish families across the country a "Merry Christmas" and encourage everyone to support the Troops and their families this Holiday Season. Visit www.serve.gov to find ideas for what you can do to help our servicemen and women and their families." The full transcript is here. The purpose of Blue Virginia is to cover Virginia politics from a progressive and Democratic perspective. This is a group blog and a community blog. We invite everyone to comment here, but...

Islam on Christmas: Explosions Target Churches and Christmas Eve Celebrations, MURDERING 36 CHRISTIANS IN COLD BLOOD
From Reuters: JOS/MAIDUGURI, Nigeria (Reuters) - Explosions in Nigeria's central region killed 32 people on Christmas Eve and six people died in attacks on two churches in the northeast of Africa's most populous nation, officials said on Saturday. On Friday night, a series of bombs were detonated during Christmas Eve celebrations in villages near the central city of Jos, killing at least 32 people while 74 were in a critical condition, the state Police Commissioner said. ...

Doubting Sarah
Sarah Palin is widely considered to be a leading Candidate for the 2012 GOP presidential nomination. And while an October story in Politico made a splash (and drew Palin's wrath) by quoting anonymous Republican "insiders" attacking Palin, we've noticed a different, striking pattern in recent weeks: More and more prominent Republicans are publicly voicing doubts about Palin. When you gather together, as we have below, the recent criticisms and misgivings voiced by Republican operatives, poli...

Terror Watch: Random Searches Begin in DC Subways (update)
Subway riders in the nation's capital were greeted this morning with a chilling warning that authorities will randomly search backpacks and suitcases as part of stepped-up holiday anti-terror precautions announced by federal authorities. "The program is part of the continuously changing Law Enforcement programs designed to keep the system safe. Metro Transit Police conducted the inspections in conjunction with Transportation Security Administration officials," the District of Colom...

Beyonce's Trainer Gives Holiday Season Fitness Tips
PopEater.com: During the holidays, it's easy to overindulge in all the yummy, home-cooked treats. But before you bite into that extra slice of pie, celebrity trainer Marco Borges hopes you'll take his healthy tips to heart. Borges, who is responsible for sculpting the bodacious bods of Hollywood's biggest stars, including Beyonce, Shakira and Gwen Stefani, stopped by PopEater to give us a few tips on how to stay fit during the holidays. Read the whole story: PopEater.com Get Hu...

Epic Speak Your Mind Win
Every now and then we're reminded what's really important this Holiday Season, and how a simple act of making something a great many of us take for granted into a helpful reality can change a person's world forever. Victor Pauca will have plenty of presents to unwrap on Christmas, but the 5-year-old Winston-Salem boy has already received the best gift he'll get this year: the ability to communicate. Victor has a rare Genetic Disorder that delays development of a number of skills, including speec...

China tries to keep farm prices down
BEIJING, Dec. 24 (UPI) -- The National Development and Reform Commission, China's top planning agency, says prices of farm products must remain stable during upcoming holidays. The agency issued a notice Friday to officials involved in pricing policy urging them to ensure a steady supply of produce during the New Year and Spring Festival, to provide subsidies for poor families and to guard against hoarding, Xinhua, the official government news agency, said. They were also warned to keep an eye o...

Pope urges Catholics in China to have courage
(12-25) 07:12 PST Vatican City, (AP) -- Pope Benedict XVI urged loyal Catholics in China to have courage in the face of Communist limits on Religious Freedom and conscience, a Christmas Day message highlighting the tensions between Beijing and the Vatican. In Bethlehem, the largest number of pilgrims in a decade gathered to celebrate Christmas, with tens of thousands flocking to the Church of the Nativity for prayers. Bombings in Nigeria and the Philippines left 11 dead and 11 injured, however...

Pope Urges Catholics to Take Hope From 'Comforting Message' of Christmas
Dec. 25, 2010: Pope Benedict XVI delivers 'Urbi et Orbi' (to the City and to the World) message in St. Peter's square at the Vatican. Vatican City -- Pope Benedict XVI urged loyal Catholics in China to have courage in the face of Communist limits on Religious Freedom and conscience, a Christmas Day message highlighting the tensions between Beijing and the Vatican. In Bethlehem, the largest number of pilgrims in a decade gathered to celebrate Christmas, with tens of thousands flocking to the Chur...

Ghosts of Christmas Past
A Mudville Christmas special rerun, this from December, 2003, our Christmas Card to you. And in young Greyhawk's world nothing made Christmas a more tangible reality than the annual arrival of the Sears Christmas catalog. Once you could flip those pages you could really start to plan your Christmas in earnest. You knew just what toys you wanted, just by looking at those flat, two- dimensional images. In your minds eye, of course, you were already playing with them. I was never a greedy kid; I r...

Christmas 2010: The 13 Funniest Someecards (PICTURES)
Christmas Cards are wonderful but they often feel stale. Merry Christmas and a happy new year? Is that really the best you can do? That's why we're really in to these Christmas Someecards. They get the message across with humor instead of cliches. It's already Christmas Eve, but it's not too late to send some hilarious cards to your friends and family. Check out our 13 favorite cards from this season and send away! ...

Happy Holidays!
It came yesterday afternoon. Not the semi-crass plea for cash that Rep. Charlie Rangel included in his Christmas Card. Nor the foreshadowing of non-giving Christmases yet to come that Gov.-elect Andrew Cuomo put in his. This was just straight up good cheer from a man without even a puppy in the political arena: Rick Lazio. “WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROUS SUPPORT AND SEND OUR HEARTFELT WISHES FOR A Holiday Season OF LOVE, FRIENDSHIP AND COMPASSION, AND MUCH HAPPINESS IN THE NEW YEAR!̶...