Monthly Archives: December 2024

Syria eyes ‘strategic’ ties with Ukraine, Kyiv vows more food aid shipments

Posted on December 31, 2024 by TTG

Syria hopes for “strategic partnerships” with Ukraine, its new foreign minister told his Ukrainian counterpart on Monday, as Kyiv moves to build ties with the new rulers in Damascus amid waning Russian influence. Russia was a staunch ally of ousted … Continue reading →

Posted in Russia, Syria, Ukraine | 21 Comments

The federal debt limit suddenly reappears on January 2, 2025, but it is no Happy New Year. The limit is already reached and the game is on to raise it.

Posted on December 31, 2024 by willmann

By Robert Willmann There’s no business like show business. The United States Congress passed a law signed on 21 December 2024 to “appropriate money” to keep the federal government operating without being shut down until 14 March 2025. Misleadingly called … Continue reading →

Posted in Administration, Current Affairs, government, Policy, Politics, The economy | Tagged , | 9 Comments

Russia-linked cable-cutting tanker seized by Finland “was loaded with spying equipment”

Posted on December 28, 2024 by TTG

RUSSIA-LINKED dark fleet* tanker Eagle S (IMO: 9329760), seized by Finland on December 25 for damaging an undersea cable, had transmitting and receiving devices installed that effectively allowed it to become a “spy ship” for Russia, Lloyd’s List has learnt. … Continue reading →

Posted in Baltics, Russia, TTG, Ukraine Crisis | 58 Comments

A new manifest destiny?

Posted on December 27, 2024 by TTG

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — First it was Canada, then the Panama Canal. Now, Donald Trump again wants Greenland. The president-elect is renewing unsuccessful calls he made during his first term for the U.S. to buy Greenland from Denmark, adding to the list of allied countries with … Continue reading →

Posted in government, Policy, TTG | 63 Comments

Pope Francis on the Nativity Scene, reposted 2024

Posted on December 25, 2024 by TTG

The enchanting image of the Christmas crèche, so dear to the Christian people, never ceases to arouse amazement and wonder. The depiction of Jesus’ birth is itself a simple and joyful proclamation of the mystery of the Incarnation of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Christmas, Religion | 5 Comments

The Huron Carol – reposted 2024

Posted on December 24, 2024 by Pat Lang

“When we’ve been there ten thousand years,Bright shining as the sun,We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise,Than when we first begun.” Amazing Grace http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhc7MEYY-Ho&feature=fvwrel ____________ “Twas in the moon of wintertime, when all the birds had fled,That God the … Continue reading →

Posted in Christmas, Religion | 138 Comments

“The story of ‘Carol of the Bells,’ a Christmas classic born in Ukraine”

Posted on December 23, 2024 by TTG

“Shchedryk” (from Ukrainian: Щедрий вечiр, “Bountiful Evening”) is a Ukrainian shchedrivka, or New Year’s carol. It was arranged by composer and teacher Mykola Leontovych in 1916, and tells a story of a swallow flying into a household to sing of … Continue reading →

Posted in Christmas, Nature, TTG | 2 Comments

“Joe at Christmas” by Basilisk

Posted on December 23, 2024 by TTG

“He’s a plasterer,” we used to joke, “unless he’s plastered.” The subject of our youthful mirth was a guy named “Joe.” I’m not sure I ever knew his other name.  Some called him “wino Joe.” He was a fixture in … Continue reading →

Posted in Christmas, Prose | Comments Off on “Joe at Christmas” by Basilisk

An ‘Alid Christmas in Amman

Posted on December 22, 2024 by TTG

It was  snowing heavily in Alexandria, Virginia when I first wrote this.  The moment reminded me of the time in the ’80s when I was in Jerusalem and Amman on government business at Christmas time.  It had snowed heavily there as well, an unusual … Continue reading →

Posted in Christmas | 2 Comments

A Season for Memories

Posted on December 21, 2024 by TTG

Throughout this Christmas season, I will be posting mostly old postings from Colonel Lang along with a few of my own. Christmas crept up on me quickly this year. In essence, I was damned near ambushed. A lot of that … Continue reading →

Posted in Administration, Christmas, TTG | 14 Comments