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The Ravens (11-3) are just hours from departing Baltimore for a much-hyped Monday night matchup against the 49ers (11-3).Entering the Week 16 games, the Ravens own the AFC’s No. 1 playoff seed, holding a one-game lead over the Miami Dolphins (10-4), while San Francisco currently stands No. 1 in the NFC playoff race.With kickoff fast approaching, we’re looking at the NFL expert picks for Monday night.

GROVELAND, IL - Pierce County's District Attorney has opened prosecution against an eight-year-old boy who reportedly terrorized two burglars robbing his parents' mansion. The young boy by the name of Kevin McAllister was apparently home alone when the perpetrators attempted to sneak into the estate. McAllister sprang into action with a series of ingenious attacks, including blowtorches, paint cans, and a tarantula. "The child engaged in cruel, vicious behavior that could have seriously injured the two gentlemen known as the ‘Wet Bandits' ," said District Attorney Ansel Hayden. "McAllister literally smashed Marv's face with an iron, when Marv wished nothing...

It is an unfortunate truth this Christmas that, according to public polling, more Americans than ever before, and in particular young people, feel lonely, spiritually lost, and searching for meaning in a chaotic world. But the story of Christ’s birth and the angel of the Lord’s appearance to a group of shepherds is a reminder of where authentic hope and direction can always be found. We don’t know much about the shepherds who occupy a central place in the Bible’s account of the birth of Jesus. The Book of Luke tells us that they were the first who heard the...

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has been located in a prison colony north of the Arctic circle, his associates confirmed Monday, nearly three weeks after losing contact with him. Navalny, the leading critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, is current serving a 19-year sentence on charges of extremism, but his attorneys said they have not been able to reach him since Dec. 6. He was previously imprisoned in Russia’s Vladimir region, about 140 miles east of Moscow. But his spokesperson, Kira Yarmysh, confirmed on X, formerly Twitter, that he is now imprisoned further north in the Yamalo-Nenetsk region.

Daily Readings from the USCCBSo they went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child. All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds. And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart. Luke 2:16–19Merry Christmas! Our Advent preparations have been completed, and we are now invited by our Lord to enter into the glorious celebration of His birth! How well do you understand the awe-inspiring mystery of...

Mmm dd, 2023 TITLE St. Anastasia , Troy, MIReadings at MassLiturgical Colour: White. Year: B(II).These are the readings for the Vigil Mass, celebrated during the afternoon or evening of Christmas Eve.These are the readings for the Midnight Mass, celebrated during the night before Christmas Day.These are the readings for the Dawn Mass, celebrated at dawn on Christmas Day.These are the readings for the daytime Mass on Christmas Day.These are the readings for the Vigil Mass, celebrated during the afternoon or evening of Christmas Eve.First readingIsaiah 62:1-5 ©The bridegroom rejoices in his brideAbout Zion I will not be silent,about Jerusalem...

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From The 1997 Epic CD Release, "Merry Axemas: A Guitar Christmas", Here's "The First Nowell".

Georgia Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene was swatted for "like the 8th time" on Christmas at her Georgia home. "I was just swatted," the congresswoman wrote. "This is like the 8th time. On Christmas with my family here. My local police are the GREATEST and shouldn’t have to deal with this. I appreciate them so much and my family and I are in joyous spirits celebrating the birth of our savior Jesus Christ!"

Jailed Russian opposition politician Alexey Navalny has been tracked down to a prison north of the Arctic Circle, his spokeswoman says after supporters lost touch with him for more than two weeks. Kira Yarmysh on Monday said Navalny is in the IK-3 penal colony in Kharp in the Yamal-Nenets region, about 1,900km (1,200 miles) northeast of Moscow. -snip- The district of Kharp is home to about 5,000 people and is located about 60km (40 miles) above the Arctic Circle. His new home, known as the “Polar Wolf” colony, is considered one of the toughest prisons in Russia. Its inmates are...

On Christmas Eve, The New York Times published an opinion essay from mayor of Gaza Yahya R. Sarraj. Writing from Gaza City, Sarraj condemns Israel's battle against the Palestinian terror group that appointed him mayor in 2019. He details the former glory of Gaza City, and laments its destruction under the same terror group that he has been faithfully serving for four years.

This will brighten your day.

Much that is happening in the spectacle of America’s legal-political life today reminds me of some pages in Johan Huizinga’s great book Homo Ludens: A Study of the Play-Element in Culture (1938). In a chapter on “Play and Law,” Huizinga distinguishes the unfolding of legal proceedings in advanced cultures, where strict adherence to process and abstract notions of right and wrong prevail, from the situation in more primitive cultures, where the ultimate criterion is victory. “Turning our eyes from the administration of justice and highly developed civilizations,” Huizinga writes, “to that which obtains in less advanced phases of culture, we...

Pope Francis called for the end of military operations in Gaza and the release of Israelis being held hostage in the area in his annual Christmas message. The pope in remarks at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican in front of thousands of people gathered to pray said that the world should work toward the coming of the day when “nation shall not lift up sword against nation.” He called for it to come to Israel and Palestine, where the war has been “devastating the lives of those peoples.”

The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that it obtained a temporary asset freeze, restraining order, and other emergency relief against Mmobuosi Odogwu Banye a/k/a Dozy Mmobuosi and three affiliated U.S. based entities of which he is the CEO in connection with an alleged multi-year scheme to inflate the financial performance metrics of his companies and key operating subsidiaries to defraud investors worldwide. The SEC’s complaint, filed on Dec. 18, 2023, alleges that, since at least 2019, Mmobuosi spearheaded a scheme to fabricate financial statements and other documents of the three entities, Tingo Group Inc., Agri-Fintech Holdings Inc., and Tingo...

A legal dispute in a tiny Texas town unexpectedly reveals how Chinese nationals can move money to the U.S. without drawing the attention of authorities in either country. Jerry Yu has the trappings of what the Chinese call second-generation rich. He boasts a Connecticut prep-school education. He lives in a Manhattan condominium bought for $8 million from Jeffrey R. Immelt, the former General Electric chief executive. And he is the majority owner of a Bitcoin mine in Texas, acquired last year for more than $6 million. Mr. Yu, a 23-year-old student at New York University, has also become — quite...

“From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” chant myriads of Jew haters and their airheaded acolytes in academia. It is meant to be offensive, provocative, and intimidating, and is a not-so-subtle call for the genocide of the Jews of Israel. It has become a staple at rallies and on college campuses, where analogous calls for ethnic cleansing anywhere else in the world but Israel and to any other ethnic group but Jews would be met with swift retribution. By the modern standards of the loony left, this is protected free speech. There are those who argue that...

The city of Huntington Beach, California, one of the last conservative strongholds in the deep-blue state, has voted to cancel all of the separate month-long celebrations for various identity groups in favor of a celebration of the common history of the town. Huntington Beach, also known as “Surf City USA,” has opposed the left-wing State of California on a variety of policies, such as beach closures during the coronavirus pandemic; mask and vaccine mandates; “sanctuary state” laws; and mandatory low-income housing.

The struggling German population should be forced to pay a Ukraine tax to continue funding the war against Russia, a top economic advisor to the government has argued. Monika Schnitzer, the chairwoman of the German Council of Economic Experts, an advisory body to the government known locally as the “five sages” of the economy, declared this week that a special tax to send money to Ukraine should be added to the already hefty income tax levied against to population.

This is not a faith that conquers through persuasion, a fact we’re now seeing throughout the West. Of the three great religions, Jews have been disinterested in converting people; Christ urged his disciples to spread his message through words and good deeds; and Mohamed told his followers to conquer the world with fire and sword. Since October 7, while we’re not seeing fire and sword in the West (yet), we’re certainly seeing standard Islamic efforts to intimidate the West into accepting Islam’s genocidal antisemitism and overall colonialist impulses. Islam burst out of the Saudi desert in the 7th century A.D....