CALIFORNIA YANKEE

Apollo 8's Christmas Eve greetings from lunar orbit -12/24/1968

While orbiting the moon, the crew of Apollo 8 made a Christmas Eve television broadcast in which they read the first 10 verses from the Book of Genesis. At the time, the broadcast was the most watched TV program ever.

President Ronald Reagan's Christmas address (12/23/81)

We still call President Reagan the great communicator for good reason. Watch his 1981 Christmas address:

The digital version of story of the Nativity

The good folks at ExcentricPT show us how the story of the nativity is told using popular social media:

Merry Christmas from Afghanistan

Marines of CAAT 1, WPNS CO, 2nd Battalion 2nd Marines wish us a merry Christmas from Afghanistan.

Here are the lyrics so you can sign along:

"Merry Christmas From Afghanistan"

Merry Christmas from Afghanistan, oh man, it's that time of year,
and the birth of Jesus doesn't seem to please the terrorists down here;
I'd like to take a moment for you folks at home to make it clear;
Merry Christmas from the Eastern Hemisphere.

Merry Christmas from Afghanistan, way back in the USA,
You've got mistletoe and falling snow, we've got sandstorms and grenades
But what the hell, it's just as well we celebrate it anyway,
Merry Christmas from 5,000 miles away.
                               
And I remember many Decembers, sitting 'round that tree,
And now I'm in an outer cordon sitting 'round an IED,
I've traded yams and roasted ham for a chicken noodle MRE,
Merry Christmas from out here in the middle east.

So merry Christmas from Afghanistan, from our AO to yours,
I'll be watching illegal DVDs and defecating out of doors,
Put my pedal to the metal man, I'll settle for that medal of honor when I when the war,
Single-handedly from my armored drivers door.

Yuletide salutations from our vacation in the sand,
from this E-3 Lance Coolie and up the whole chain of command
Between Al Qaeda, Al Jazeera, Mujahadeen, and the Taliban,
It's a very merry Christmas in Afghanistan.

From south Montana, to northwest Indiana, to the shores of North Caroline,
From NYC to LA's beaches and down the Mason-Dixon Line,
It's that season where we're freezing, but all in all, we're doing fine,
So merry Christmas from Afghanistan tonight.
It's that season where we're freezing, but all in all, we're doing fine,
So Merry Christmas down the Final Protection Line!

Christmas in Afghanistan

American troops celebrate Christmas in Kabul, Afghanistan with religious services, Christmas carols and a special meal.

 

Miracle on 22nd Street

This New York Times video report evokes a whole range of emtions as two New York City men feel the spirit of Chrsitmas when they mysteriously receive hundreds of letters addressed to Santa Claus at their apartment.

 

Merry Christmas to America's warriors

A heartfelt Christmas greeting to all the American warriors that ensure we may enjoy our holidays with freedom, peace and liberty here at home. Thank you and Merry Christmas!

 

Merry Christmas

Wishing you and your loved ones a very merry Christmas.

 

Happy Hanukkah

Hanukkah began at sundown and continues for 8 days.

Paul Greenberg explains Hanukkah's heritage of hope. Writing in the Washington Times in December 2003, Greenberg asks what does this eight-day celebration celebrate? His answer, Hanukkah isn’t about ancient military victories, Hanukkah celebrates miracles and hope.

The central metaphor of all religious belief — revealing light — now blots out all the imperial intrigues and internecine warfare. And that may be the greatest miracle of Hanukkah: the transformation of that oldest and darkest of human activities, war, into a feast of illumination.

The historical message changes from age to age. The past we choose to remember may be the best reflection of any present.

But if there is one constant message associated with this holiday, it can be found in the weekly portion of the Prophets chosen to be read on the Jewish Sabbath. And over the centuries, the scripture for the Sabbath of Hanukkah has remained unchanged: Zechariah 4:1-7, with its penultimate verse:

"Not by might, nor by power, but by My spirit, saith the Lord of Hosts."

Happy Hanukkah!

Republicans take a stand to prevent the Obama tax increases

All 42 members of the Senate Republican Caucus sent a Dear Harry letter to Senate majority leader  Reid earlier today. The letter draws a line through the Democrats lame duck session and informs Reid nothing is going to happen until the impending Obama tax increases have been prevented: 

“We Cannot Agree to Prioritize Any Matters Above the Critical Issues of Funding the Government and Preventing a Job-Killing Tax Hike”

You can read the letter below:

Priorities Letter 12-1-10

It's good to see that the Senate Republican Caucus got that message from the "shellacking" the Dems took last month.