"I was surprised at how pleasant and professional the pilots of Mystic were," said Capt. 1st Rank Andrey Zvyagintsev,

"Bah, humbug!" No, that's too strong
'Cause it is my favorite holiday
But all this year's been a busy blur
Don't think I have the energy

To add to my already mad rush
Just 'cause it's 'tis the season.
The perfect gift for me would be
Completions and connections left from

Last year, ski shop,
Encounter, most interesting.
Had his number but never the time
Most of '81 passed along those lines.

So deck those halls, trim those trees
Raise up cups of Christmas cheer,
I just need to catch my breath,
Christmas by myself this year.

Calendar picture, frozen landscape,
Chilled this room for twenty-four days,
Evergreens, sparkling snow
Get this winter over with!

Flashback to springtime, saw him again,
Would've been good to go for lunch,
Couldn't agree when we were both free,
We tried, we said we'd keep in touch.

Didn't, of course, 'til summertime,
Out to the beach to his boat could I join him?
No, this time it was me,
Sunburn in the third degree.

Now the calendar's just one page
And, of course, I am excited
Tonight's the night, but I've set my mind
Not to do too much about it.

Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas!
But I think I'll miss this one this year.
Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas!
But I think I'll miss this one this year.
Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas!
But I think I'll miss this one this year.
Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas!
But I think I'll miss this one this year.
Hardly dashing through the snow
Cause I bundled up too tight
Last minute have-to-do's
A few cards a few calls
'Cause it's r-s-v-p
No thanks, no party lights
It's Christmas Eve, gonna relax
Turned down all of my invites.

Last fall I had a night to myself,
Same guy called, halloween party,
Waited all night for him to show,
This time his car wouldn't go,

Forget it, it's cold, it's getting late,
Trudge on home to celebrate
In a quiet way, unwind
Doing Christmas right this time.

A&P has provided me
With the world's smallest turkey
Already in the oven, nice and hot
Oh damn! Guess what I forgot?

So on with the boots, back out in the snow
To the only all-night grocery,
When what to my wondering eyes should appear
In the line is that guy I've been chasing all year!

"I'm spending this one alone," he said.
"Need a break; this year's been crazy."
I said, "Me too, but why are you?
You mean you forgot cranberries too?"

Then suddenly we laughed and laughed
Caught on to what was happening
That Christmas magic's brought this tale
To a very happy ending! "

Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas!
Couldn't miss this one this year!
Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas!
Couldn't miss this one this year!

The eight were tried before a Military Commission, comprised of seven U.S. Army officers appointed by President Roosevelt, from July 8, to August 4, 1942. [snip]

All eight were found guilty and sentenced to death. Attorney General Biddle and J. Edgar Hoover appealed to President Roosevelt to commute the sentences of Dasch and Burger. Dasch received a 30-year sentence, and Burger received a life sentence, both to be served in a federal penitentiary. The remaining six were executed at the District of Columbia Jail on August 8, 1942.

The eight men had been born in Germany and each had lived in the United States for substantial periods. Burger had become a naturalized American in 1933. Haupt had entered the United States as a child, gaining citizenship when his father was naturalized in 1930.

As a result, some officials familiar with the continuing operation have questioned whether the surveillance has stretched, if not crossed, constitutional limits on legal searches.

I really, really dislike public financing of stadia for professional sports.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 15 - Months after the Sept. 11 attacks, President Bush secretly authorized the National Security Agency to eavesdrop on Americans and others inside the United States to search for evidence of terrorist activity without the court-approved warrants ordinarily required for domestic spying, according to government officials.

It's official - Earthquakes are coming to Houston

The official announcement is coming tonight that the San Jose Earthquakes are moving to Houston. The city is planning a press event at 10am Friday morning at City Hall, so anyone who's able to make it, please stop by to show the support for soccer here in Houston. If anyone is interested in getting season tickets, let the HFA office know and maybe we can get a block together. More information on ticket sales to follow. The new team will be playing at University of Houston's Robertson Stadium. Here's a link to the original news story: link

20. EXECUTIVE SESSION: Pursuant to provisions of Chapter 551, Texas Government Code, the Board shall deliberate in Executive Session on the following:

[snip]

4. Discussions or deliberations regarding commercial or financial information received from a business prospect or the offer of financial or other incentives to a business prospect.

(December 15) The roller coaster ride that we have all been on for the better part of two years is, in all likelihood, about to come to an end.

Silicon Valley Sports & Entertainment (SVS&E), the group that manages the Sharks and one of the investors we have been working with for over a year, has been unable to work out a deal to keep the Earthquakes here for 2006, despite their best efforts. We understand that AEG intends to move the team and is expected to make an announcement in a press conference on Friday in Houston.

Declaring "Houston is full," Mayor Bill White said that after today, the city will cease giving hurricane evacuees vouchers for 12 months of paid rent and utilities.

San Jose's attempts to keep the Earthquakes in town have collapsed, officials announced Monday, leaving the team's fate unknown with a Thursday deadline looming for a decision on where the team will play next year.

Last week, the 1960 Sun published a front-page article, "Nixon Campaign Counters Opponents' Hypocrisy Claims" (Nov. 31), that contained several factual errors regarding State Representative Joe Nixon, and we are taking this opportunity to correct the false impression it may have created with the Sun's readers.

Despite the confusion, pain, and suffering, there was some gusty humor amidst the pathos and chaos. At one point, an exhausted swimmer, covered with a gooey film of black oil, saw me walking around with a washcloth in one hand and a bottle of booze in the other. He hollered, "Hey Doc, could I have a shot of that medicine?" I handed him the bottle of whichever medicine I had at the time. He took a hefty swig. He had no sooner swallowed the "medicine" then he spewed it out along with black mucoidal globs of oil. He lay back a minute after he stopped vomiting, then said, "Doc, I lost that medicine. How about another dose?"

Ship's Cook Third Class Doris Miller, USN

Doris Miller, known as "Dorie" to shipmates and friends, was born in Waco, Texas, on 12 October 1919, to Henrietta and Conery Miller. He had three brothers, one of which served in the Army during World War II. While attending Moore High School in Waco, he was a fullback on the football team. He worked on his father's farm before enlisting in the U.S Navy as Mess Attendant, Third Class, at Dallas, Texas, on 16 September 1939, to travel, and earn money for his family. He later was commended by the Secretary of the Navy, was advanced to Mess Attendant, Second Class and First Class, and subsequently was promoted to Ship's Cook, Third Class.

Later, the cast has a huge birthday bash for Mark. Everyone is having a good time, except for Jo, who sits out in the car and complains to her father on the phone. When she goes back into the house and discovers chocolate sauce all over her bedroom floor, Jo snaps, loudly announcing her desire to leave. What a way to welcome in the new Gauntlet!

Holt also cited his grandfather as a huge influence who taught him to conserve everything possible, he said. Holt joined the army as a cook, and became an analyst and Russian linguist at the National Security Agency after attending training at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, Calif.

McGrath followed up in a telephone interview last week, saying California law does not require the verification of allegations on the stand, just that the whistle blower was fired for whistle blowing.

Congressman Poe (via *@*.com),

I don't normally give money to candidates, I normally give my time. I blockwalked for your campaign.

Given that the GOP at the state and federal level has failed miserably at limiting the size of government, and that a GOP Congressman who was entrusted by his colleagues (you) to oversee the arming of my former comrades in the military was taking bribes, I won't be giving any of you all one dime or one minute of my time.

Except to tell you that you need to get your crap together or you'll be in the minority.

Regards,
Rob Booth
Harris County GOP Precinct Chair, 0814
Houston, Texas

--- Congressman Ted Poe <*@*.com>
wrote:

> I hope to see you at my reception tonight, December
> 1.

Why am I drawn to 'Laguna Beach'?

That's all they seem to do: date, then retreat to their respective circles of friends to discuss the date. They don't seem to go to school or have parents.

ATTENTION: DISGRUNTLED CONSERVATIVES

A reporter for a major national conservative magazine is doing a story on whether or not conservative dissatisfaction with Republicans could result in GOP electoral losses next November. My response was: Absolutely.

Just look at the results in Virginia, New Jersey, New York, Colorado and California from earlier this month. It’s obvious from those results, as well as various emails I receive on a regular basis, that an awful lot of conservatives who are unhappy with the direction this Congress and this White House have pursued on critical issues - such as illegal immigration and government spending - stayed home, voted third-party, refused to volunteer and closed up their checkbooks.

Not surprisingly, Republican Party and “establishment” pooh-bahs are spinning an entirely different tale. They’re telling this reporter that there isn’t any serious dissatisfaction in the grassroots ranks and that when push comes to shove next November, conservatives will do their duty, show up at the polls and pull the ol’ GOP lever.

This reporter would like to hear from some actual grassroots conservatives. Folks who have volunteered for the GOP in the past, but won’t now. Folks who have donated money in the past, but won’t now. Folks who generally turn out and vote for the GOP, but now might very well stay home or vote for candidates from another party.

So I offered to put a call out to my readers asking any of you who fall into the above categories to send me a brief email expressing your frustration and why - and what actions you may or may not withhold from the GOP next year if they don’t get their conservative act together.

Send any comments in this regard to me at chuck @ chuckmuth.com

And if you wouldn’t mind if the reporter wants to contact you directly if he has any questions or follow-up, please include your full name, city and state, daytime phone number and email address.

Here’s a perfect opportunity for many of you to “get it off your chest,” so let ‘er rip.

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 28 - Representative Randy Cunningham, a Republican from San Diego, resigned from Congress on Monday, hours after pleading guilty to taking at least $2.4 million in bribes to help friends and campaign contributors win military contracts.

Mr. Cunningham, a highly decorated Navy fighter pilot in Vietnam, tearfully acknowledged his guilt in a statement read outside the federal courthouse in San Diego.