From Tennyson's In Memoriam A.H.H.

XXVIII.

The time draws near the birth of Christ:
The moon is hid; the night is still;
The Christmas bells from hill to hill
Answer each other in the mist.
Four voices of four hamlets round,
From far and near, on mead and moor,
Swell out and fail, as if a door
Were shut between me and the sound:

Each voice four changes on the wind,
That now dilate, and now decrease,
Peace and goodwill, goodwill and peace,
Peace and goodwill, to all mankind.

This year I slept and woke with pain,
I almost wish’d no more to wake,
And that my hold on life would break
Before I heard those bells again:

But they my troubled spirit rule,
For they controll’d me when a boy;
They bring me sorrow touch’d with joy,
The merry merry bells of Yule.

THOUGHT CRIMES A REALITY?

Every civil liberties and progressive political group in the national is shitting a brick right now, as the US government is about to pass legislation essentially making thought crimes a reality through vague definitions of violent radicalism and homegrown terrorism. Progressive Democrats of America provide a pretty good summary here. Seriously guys, contact the Georgia senators and tell them to vote no. This may be the last chance we have to speak out on this issue...

PDA has a form for contacting the senate here: http://capwiz.com/pdamerica/issues/alert/?alertid=10616211&PROCESS=Take+Action

On a lighter note:


And

http://www.nbc.com/Saturday_Night_Live/video/index.shtml#mea=169811