USA NEWS NETWORK: 12/25/12

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Google vs. Microsoft: Santa-tracking systems go out of sync

For one month a year, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) converts this area into holiday central for NORAD's Santa Tracker, a half-century-old program that has become a thing of legend -- a curious juxtaposition of warfare

(KTVI) - It's Santa's big day! You can track Santa on his travels Christmas Eve on several sites, but the most well-known is the NORAD Santa Tracker. Here are some links to keep you up-to-date on all things Santa this

NORAD's Santa Tracker shows Santa over Russia and having delivered over 2 billion gifts. Google's Santa Tracker shows Santa over Thailand and having delivered just over 600 million presents. Why the difference? Let's talk who tracks and how.

IGN's 2012 'Twas the Night Before Christmas

When First Lady Michelle Obama stopped by earlier this month with Bo, she took some time to read the holiday classic, "A Visit from St. Nicholas", which is better known to many Americcans as "Twas the Night Before Christmas". To see the complete White

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the world, all the gamers were stirring, every boy, every girl. You see, gamers don't sleep much, especially not tonight, just one more quest, one more level, before St Nicholas dropped by. The 'rents

Now with Xmas finally here, Lee has performed a very spirited performance of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas, which has made the rounds all over the 'Net, as well as a very humorous animated Twelve Days of Christmas Parody that you can watch on his

I know this picture has nothing to do with Christmas, but I don't have a lot of options here. - Howard Smith-US PRESSWIRE. Everyone's favorite radio announcers read us a story. On this, the day before Christmas, enjoy Scott

It won't fit under the Christmas tree, but there might be one last-minute gift to make the geekiest of little ones happy: A personalized email, video message or phone call from jolly old St. Nicholas. Previously, parents had to take

Osi: Champs lack swagger, confidence

Tennessee High claimed its second consecutive TSSAA Class AAA state football championship on Dec. 1, 1972 by dispatching Chattanooga Baylor 39-6 at the Stone Castle. The final touchdown of Tennessee High's season came on David Bibee's 5-yard

Runners of Saint Joseph Notre Dame High School were awarded a proclamation by Alameda's Mayor Marie Gilmore for winning the school's first-ever State Cross Country Championship.

By Sevan Muradian. December 22, 2012. WorldTeamsOpeninglead.jpg The opening ceremony of the World Cities Team Championship was held on December 21st at the Al Ain municipality building. After a number of local custom

Pop punk took a huge leap in popularity back in 2010. The revival of the genre brought a handful of original and great bands, unique in their own way. Unfortunately, it also brought hundreds of copycat bands, as pop punk was the new genre every band

Happy holidays from the Theater Loop

And a happy new year! Trending – Facebook Pushes “Gifts” Hard in Time for the Holidays · New Dates - D: Dive Into Mobile Happy Holidays, Instagram! Here, Have a Class-Action Lawsuit. December 24, 2012 at 11:00 am PT. Tweet

Dec. 24, 2012 - It seems there's a Google Doodle for everything nowadays -- from Star Trek's 46th anniversary to the zoopraxiscope -- so nice when we get to Christmas and.

Google is featuring a Google logo, aka Doodle, for the holiday season this morning. The logo is incredibly happy and festive, with lots of colors and Christmas like characters and activities within the logo that makes up the letters in Google's name

A very happy and peaceful holiday, dear reader, from the Theater Loop at the Chicago Tribune. Thank you for all the visits in 2012 and we send you our best wishes for a peaceful, healthy and productive coming year. From Chris Jones and Doug George

Happy Holidays, Instagram! Here, Have a Class-Action Lawsuit. December 24, 2012 at 11:00 am PT. Tweet. Share. Print · lawsuits_380 'Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the Valley, not a creature was stirring — except for Lucy Funes and

A Pleasant Surprise Amid the Sure Things

Russell Wilson added four touchdowns to his rookie resume in Week 16. We break down the fantasy implications.

With three first-year quarterbacks helping carry their teams to the playoffs, it's easy to forget these guys haven't actually been here before.

Lynch scored again on Seattle's second drive, coming wide open to haul in a Russell Wilson pass from the 9-yard line. His teammate, Red Bryant, then swatted a 21-yard David Akers field goal and Richard Sherman took the

Indianapolis's Andrew Luck and Seattle's Russell Wilson secured their playoff spots Sunday, and Robert Griffin III has Washington positioned to win its first N.F.C. East title since 1999, if the Redskins beat Dallas at home on Sunday night in the

From the blog Shutdown Corner: Russell Wilson, quarterback, and Marshawn Lynch, running back, Seattle Seahawks - Wilson continued to pad his "Offensive Rookie of the Year" resume by completing 15-of-21 attempts for

Cowboys get chance to script alternate ending

The Cowboys defense ranks seventh-best in the NFL this season with an opponents Total QBR of 32.9 when sending at least five pass rushers, but Griffin is good enough to handle the best of the best. He has an NFL-best 97.7 Total QBR (remember this is on

49ers (10-4-1): Clinched playoff berth. Need win vs. Cardinals to clinch West title and Packers loss for first-round bye. Seahawks (10-5): Clinched playoff berth. Can be West champs with win vs. Rams and 49ers loss. Redskins (9-6): Would clinch East

ARLINGTON – For a few hours, the Cowboys didn't control their own destiny. After a 34-31 overtime loss Sunday to the New Orleans Saints, the Cowboys needed help to reach the playoffs. They got that help when the Ravens

Washington quarterback Robert Griffin III scrambles away from the rush of Dallas linebacker Anthony Spencer (93) in the first quarter during the Washington Redskins vs. the Dallas Cowboys NFL football game at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington on Thursday,

While this is usually the time of year to spend with family, about a dozen Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders have a different agenda for Christmas and New Year's. A group of cheerleaders departed for the Persian Gulf for their annual holiday USO tour. It's

Larry L. King, 1929-2012

LARRY L. KING (NOT LARRY KING) HAS DIED: Larry L. King, a journalist, essayist and playwright, who left Texas as a young man but never abandoned it in his work — turning out profiles of politicians, articles on the flaws and foibles of American

Hollywood Life reports that journalist, essayist and playwright Larry L. King died from emphysema at the age of 83 according to his wife, Barbara Blaine. Larry wrote for Harper's Bazaar, Playboy and Texas Monthly in his

There's a man who's got the broad shoulders and the solid facial hair to really carry a starting staff I once visited Minneapolis at Christmastime. It was gorgeous and warm, nothing like everybody said, including my wife, who said, "Larry, this is

And Other Dirty Stories, and wrote that its author, a Texas Tech graduate-turned-journalist-turned-Congressional aide named Larry L. King, was a “social necessity.” He compared King to Honoré de Balzac, to H. L. Mencken

Larry L. King, a popular author who wrote the Broadway musical “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas," has died. He was 83. King was from Texas and often critiqued rural American culture in Playboy, Harper's, Texas Monthly and other publications, the

Using sabermetrics, Lions' Calvin Johnson was better in 2011 than 2012

From the blog Shutdown Corner: The Detroit Lions fell to 4-11 in a lost and disappointing season, but there's one thing this franchise can be proud of in 2012, and that's the performance of receiver Calvin Johnson. Despite the

Simon Samano, USA TODAY Sports1:25a.m. EST December 23, 2012. CommentsShare. 2012-12-22-calvin-johnson. Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson (81) runs after a catch during Saturday's game against the Falcons as part of his record-setting night.

(CNN) -- In a mega moment for the man called Megatron, Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson broke Jerry Rice's single-season record for receiving yards Saturday night against the Atlanta Falcons. Johnson set the record in the final minutes of the

Calvin Johnson entered Saturday night's game against Atlanta needing 182 yards to break Jerry Rice's single-season receiving yardage record. He blew past that mark with 2:57 left in the fourth quarter, on a 26-yard pass

This time, Vince Verhei of Football Outsiders takes Lions receiver Calvin Johnson's record-breaking season and compares it with performances from the past 20 years using DYAR – defense-adjusted yards above replacement. That metric “examines every

ABC's 'Sound of Music' ratings up 22% over 2011

The hills are alive with The Sound of Music, but only if those hills are the hills over at Toby's Dinner Theatre of Baltimore. The holiday season and new year are coming to life with the classical Rodgers and Hammerstein

23 -- and later that day, the Julie Andrews-starring holiday-season perennial "The Sound of Music" also returns. Monday, Dec. 24, sees repeats of the animated specials "Disney's Prep & Landing" and "Shrek the Halls." And Christmas itself is packed with

There's no Homeland or The Walking Dead tonight, so it looks like The Sound of Music at 7 p.m. on ABC. A wonderful film, but hardly as gripping as the usual Sunday night fare. Looking ahead to Christmas Eve, as far as the eye can see there is nothing

Twitter Follower Tom Odell responded to my tweet about “The Sound of Music,” noting: “Georg von Trapp walked away from every luxury of life b/c he would not join evil.” He asked if I could imagine Obama doing that today.

Social media users delight in one millionth viewing of holiday classic.

Melissa Nelson: Supreme Court rules OK for boss to fire woman he's attracted to

December 24, 2012: An all-male Iowa Supreme Court has ruled that dental assistant Melissa Nelson's termination for being 'irresistible', wasn't sexual discrimination because it wasn't based on her gender. A dentist acted legally when he fired his

An attorney for Melissa Nelson, the fired employee, said the decision was wrong. "We are appalled by the court's ruling and its failure to understand the nature of gender bias," said Paige Fiedler, the attorney. "For the seven men on the Iowa Supreme

ST LOUIS (LALATE) - The Melissa Nelson (photo above) ruling this week prompted similarities to Debrahlee Lorenzana's infamous Too Hot for Citibank case.

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Melissa Nelson spent 10 happy years working as a dental assistant until she was fired because her boss said she was too tempting and a threat to his marriage. On Friday, the all-male Iowa Supreme Court unanimously agreed that

What We Learned: Airing some NHL grievances in the tradition of Festivus

The Airing of the Grievances - Though many Christmas celebrations include this, Festivus makes it official by setting aside a time to let family members know how much they have disappointed you during the past year. 3. Festivus Dinner - In keeping with

In 1997, Dan O'Keefe cowrote a Seinfeld episode introducing the world to a holiday called Festivus, observed Dec. 23. "My dad, who died Aug. 29, actually invented Festivus," says O'Keefe. "He took a Latin adjective that roughly means 'rambunctious' and

Christmas shopping got you down? Have a few sports complaints from 2012?

To all of you die-hards making your way back from M&T Bank Stadium, be safe when driving home and remember that the combination of Natty Boh and euphoria does not give you the right to drive like a Colombian drug-lord

It's A Festivus Miracle: The Ravens Win The AFC North! By Zachary Beard on Dec 23, 7:48p 33. The gang enjoying a glorious festivus victory. - Patrick Smith. With a convincing 33-14 win over the New York Giants the Baltimore Ravens have won the AFC

NRA Takes Fire for Stance on Mental Illness

NRA President David Keene appeared on CBS's Face The Nation to weigh in on the gun control debate. Unsurprisingly, he came out swinging against tighter laws on guns.

Former Republican presidential hopeful Ron Paul has rejected calls from the National Rifle Association to put armed patrolmen in every school across America.

In the wake of the unfathomable horror of the Newtown, Connecticut, elementary school massacre, public discourse has rightly focused on the incredibly disturbing perception of gun homicides in the United States. In particular those done by mass

Former Republican presidential hopeful Ron Paul has rejected calls from the National Rifle Association to put armed patrolmen in every school across America.

Suggestions On "Take Two" For The NRA

Longtime NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre, eager to keep the rank-and-file "mothers and fathers" among his membership from going soft, sounded themes critical to maintaining gun owners' collective identity and solidarity. These themes

At his much-commented-upon news conference on Friday, National Rifle Association (NRA) Executive Vice President and CEO Wayne LaPierre ripped the media for overblowing incidents of mass murder, thus allegedly inspiring copycat crimes. On the

NRA President David Keene appeared on CBS's Face The Nation to weigh in on the gun control debate. Unsurprisingly, he came out swinging against tighter laws on guns.

Former Republican presidential hopeful Ron Paul has rejected calls from the National Rifle Association to put armed patrolmen in every school across America.

NFL Playoff Scenarios, Week 17: Two spots left in NFC race

The Washington Redskins simply need one more victory next week to clinch their first division title since 1999.

The NFL playoff picture continues to move ever closer to being 100 percent clear — we'll be there by next Sunday night, if not before. All of this week's playoff scenarios can be found here, but we will be keeping track below of

For all the scenarios that we've picked through over the past few weeks, the situation heading into the NFL's final Sunday is pretty straightforward. All six AFC playoff berths have been claimed with two teams, No. 5 Indianapolis and No. 6 Cincinnati

Vehicle crashes through Kids Footlocker in north city

When officers arrived in the area, they located a car which went out of control on Dr. King, drove over a sidewalk and into the front of the Kids Footlocker location in the 3600 block of Page. Rescue workers were dispatched to assist the driver of the

Police responded to 911 calls for shots fired in northern St. Louis last night. Whey they got there they didn't find any evidence of guns but they did find this car that had driven plum through the front of a Foot Locker store. Thankfully the incident

“It is such a sense of accomplishment to qualify for Foot Locker nationals,” Fischer said. “With Hannah having a year of cross country already under her belt, a successful track season, racing well at Great American definitely makes an impression that

Her car left the road, drove up a small hill and into the front of a Kids Footlocker store at Grand Avenue and Page. Building inspectors were trying to determine the extent of damage to the structure. © Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights

The Nike Hyperdunk 2012 retails for $160. The two new colorways are available at Foot Locker, House of Hoops by Foot Locker, and online at Footlocker.com. A link to buy online can be found below. Nike Hyperdunk 2012

David Nelson: Happy Holidays Belltown, see you in 2013!

It's that most wonderful time of the year and we at TV by the Numbers wish you and yours a happy holiday season. With both Christmas and New Years falling on a Tuesday, with the exception of the preliminary broadcast fast national ratings - which we

Amazing weekend sweep for Phantoms, TItans and Royals. Happy Holidays indeed.

At the end of every week, we round up the best and most popular news stories, exclusive features, and insightful columns published on Massively and then present them all in one convenient place. If you missed a big MMO or

I just wanted to take the time to thank everybody for reading and supporting Inside Belltown in 2012. This was Inside Belltown's biggest year since being started by SeattlePI.com in 2009. We had 176 posts in Inside Belltown, not including this one, in

We've got loads of holiday cheer this year and couldn't help but share it with you in the best way we know how: putting the whole gang, a mischievous Santa, and buckets of glitter into a video card. Special thanks and credit due to our photographer

Jack Klugman, star of 'The Odd Couple' and 'Quincy,' dead at 90

Jack Klugman, an american actor best know from his work in televsion playing Oscar Madison in The Odd Couple and the starring role in Quincy, M.E., passed away today at age 90. Here are the opening sequences to both

Jack Klugman wurde vor allem durch seine Rolle als Gerichtsmediziner in der Fernsehserie "Quincy" und als Sportreporter Oscar in der Sitcom "The Odd Couple" bekannt , die in Deutschland unter dem Titel "Männerwirtschaft" lief. Aufgrund von

Sino-Japanese relations. News›World. Jack Klugman's son Adam says the veteran actor has died in Los Angeles. Tuesday, 25 December, 2012, 7:07am. In Pictures. Mayan prophecy: a new beginning · Photos: Doomsday preparations and celebrations

El actor Jack Klugman falleció a los 90 años. La noticia la dio a conocer el abogado del veterano artista. Según señaló, el artista murió tranquilo en su casa en Northridge, California, al lado de su esposa Peggy. Klugman deja a sus hijos, David y Adán

Counterparties: Merry Christmas

A choral group from the Baptist Church in Jerusalem performed carols on one side of the square, handing out sheets of lyrics and encouraging others to sing along with songs such as "We Wish You A Merry Christmas." Vendors sold balloons, cotton candy

Pope Benedict XVI used the opportunity of his annual Christmas address to amp up his opposition to gay marriage Friday, calling homosexuality a “manipulation of nature.” He denounced people who “deny their nature” and “make it for themselves.

In competing Christmas greetings published this week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is touting the freedoms enjoyed by Christians in Israel, while the PLO is slamming Israel for oppressing Palestinian Christians.

Dota 2's Frostivus holiday festival turned sour when Greevils stole all the presents, and you can hunt them down for both naughty and nice rewards. Heroes of Newerth was hit by a real-life Grinch this week as hackers breached the game's security and

Daily Press Briefing

VENTRELL: Indeed, it's definitely December 21st and some of us are still here. (Laughter.) QUESTION: Those of us who are left behind, so to speak. Just on this Russian adoption bill, I mean, frequently in the Russian press and elsewhere it's described

Twin Falls, Idaho (KMVT-TV) December 21, 2012 has come and gone and we're all still here. A local anthropology professor says the people concerned about the end of the world happening early this week took the Mayan Long Count calendar out of context.

Astrophoto for December 21, 2012: Stars over the Temple of Quetzalcoatl. by Nancy Atkinson on December 21, 2012. Want to stay on top of all the space news? Follow @universetoday on Twitter. Templo de la Serpiente Emplumada / Temple of Quetzalcoatl.

1, 2000, would mark the apocalypse, then changed his prediction to 2006. All those doomsdays passed without incident. But the prediction that the world will end on Dec. 21, 2012, has deeper roots and has taken on a particular fascination within our

Week 16 MVPs: Russell Wilson makes his case for Offensive Rookie of the Year

Russell Wilson added four touchdowns to his rookie resume in Week 16. We break down the fantasy implications.

Seattle Seahawks rookie quarterback Russell Wilson was nearly flawless in the red zone Sunday night in the team's 42-13 romp over the San Francisco 49ers. But we loved this deep strike to Doug Baldwin even better. When Wilson sees single coverage,

SEATTLE -- Fueled by its deafening home crowd, the Seattle Seahawks locked up their spot in the postseason Sunday night. They also reinforced the notion no one in the NFC wants to see them when the playoffs begin, even if they are a wild card. Russell

Week 16 MVPs: Russell Wilson makes his case for Offensive Rookie of the Year

The Seahawks completely dominated the first half, as the combo of Wilson and Lynch has been an unstoppable duo for Seattle thus far.

Russell Wilson threw a career high four touchdown passes to move into second place for most TD passes by a rookie. Marshawn Lynch scored two first-quarter TDs, and the Seahawks blew out the San Francisco 49ers 42-13. Richard Sherman returned a

Russell Wilson's 4 TD throws lead Seahawks past 49ers. Updated at 08:11 AM today. Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson throws against the San Francisco 49ers in the first half of an NFL football game in Seattle. ( (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson))

David Nelson: Happy Holidays Belltown, see you in 2013!

shutterstock-119468578 As the year draws to a close and we are all thinking about family, friends, and winding down for the holidays, it's time to reflect on the past year. 2012 threw us quite a few curve balls but as usual we came together to overcome

NORAD Santa Tracker 2012 Lets You Follow Claus Online Christmas Eve

This year, there are even more ways that you and your little ones can follow Santa's progress on Christmas Eve.

Sure, Google's not in the Santa Tracking NORAD cabal anymore, but that's not stopping it from rolling out St. Nicholas-related goodies. It just launched.

Building the Santa story, one tracker and shelf-elf at a time. Email · print. Comments. 0. By Sarah Kickler Kelber The Baltimore Sun. 11:20 a.m. EST, December 24, 2012. This Christmas Eve, I find myself struggling with how much to feed the story of Santa.

Google has proven in the last couple of years it's very serious when it comes to tracking Santa Claus, and this year is no exception.

As Santa Claus makes his way across the globe, dropping down chimneys to deliver presents to children worldwide, the North American Aerospace Defense Command is giving viewers a chance to follow St. Nick's journey in real time. For the past 57 years,

DeMarcus Ware will face Redskins

Grading the New Orleans Saints' defense following the team's 34-31 overtime victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday in Arlington, Texas. Two fleur de lis out of four. Jimmy Graham recovers TD to setup win

IRVING – At this point, Cowboys linebacker DeMarcus Ware is just trying to get to the finish line. That's the predicament one of the league's best pass-rushers is in after battling hamstring, elbow and shoulder injuries most of

Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones, Head Coach Jason Garrett, QB Tony Romo and other Cowboys players spoke to the media following Sunday's 34-31 loss to the Saints.

IRVING, Texas -- A right shoulder injury that kept DeMarcus Ware out of most of the second half of Sunday's overtime loss to New Orleans will not keep the Cowboys' Pro Bowl linebacker out of this week's game at Washington that will decide the NFC East

Melissa Nelson: Supreme Court rules OK for boss to fire woman he's attracted to

DES MOINES, Iowa (CNN) — It may not be fair, but it's not illegal -- not in Iowa.Melissa Nelson, a worker fired for being "irresistible" to her boss, spoke out Saturday about a high court decision that said her termination broke no

After working as a dental assistant for ten years, Melissa Nelson was fired for being too “irresistible” and a “threat” to her employer's marriage. “I think it is completely wrong,” Nelson said. ”I think it is sending a message that men can do whatever

And what of Melissa Nelson's rights? Apparently the men of Iowa's cloth forgot that she matters too. They stripped her of her own right to have a leering boss stay away from her. It cannot possibly become her problem that he

Melissa Nelson was simply too attractive to work as a dental assistant in the Fox Dodge practice of 53-year-old D.D.S. James Knight.

Lexington County Mug Shots: December 21, 2012

Here's our daily recap of what happened in online marketing today, as reported on Marketing Land and other places across the web. From Marketing Land:

It's the TUAW Daily Update, your source for Apple news in a convenient audio format. You'll get all the top Apple stories of the day in three to five.

Throughout 2012 we brought you stories the networks don't touch — from grassroots recovery efforts in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy to the frontlines of the U.N. Climate Summit in Doha to inviting third party candidates

Y@ Speak: It's the end of the world as we know it

The Maya never predicted that 2012 would be the Year of the Cigar Box Guitar. They missed the most important story. The end of the world, which ought to be in a couple of hours, is not this year's crucial event.

(CNN) -- It's the end of the world as we know it. And yet the world feels fine. Friday was supposed to be the day life on Earth ceased to exist. The predicted apocalypse -- which spawned a disaster movie "2012," a TV show tracking "Doomsday Preppers

It was supposed to be a party to live for the moment and celebrate the apocalyptic 21/12/2012 but an 'End of the World' party in California turned deadly - with a man shot dead and two others injured. Felipe Jason Moreno, 20, was shot and killed at the

French police arrested two men who had gas masks and machetes in their car as they approached a mountain rumoured to be one of the few places where people will survive when the world supposedly ends on Friday.

Today is the last day on the Mayan calendar, which, according to some, means the world is going to end. This seems about as likely to occur as any economic forecast. And so in preparation, economists on Twitter have been

Mayan Calendar Predictions vs. Miami Reality

"It turns out that the Mayan calendar was true." Scientists scoffed. But in South Florida, a place so apocalyptic we see asteroid impact craters in our morning cortadito, Judgment Day has never seemed so real. As 2012 unfolded, the Mayan hieroglyphics

If in the run-up to Dec 21, media had a field day reporting the possible apocalyptic scenarios should the Mayan prediction come to pass; the failure of the forecast, in turn, is a field day for netizens to poke fun at the event in the form of jokes and

There were numerous articles about the 5,125-year-old Mayan calendar, the last day of which was Friday, Dec. 21. To some, this date also meant the end of time. Period. People the world over were stocking up on supplies in preparation for a potential

Mayans never predicted an Apocalypse. This is just when they got lazy with their record keeping and stopped updating the long-form version of their 5,172-year calendar. Just as our calendar starts the year fresh by repeating

If you believed, however, that the end of the Mayan calendar's 13th baktun would indeed signify the end of the world, you might not want to breath easy just yet. Matching up modern calendars with Mayan predictions is tricky, German researcher Nikoali

ABC's 'The Sound of Music' Rebroadcast is Up Year to Year

Director James Brennan also helmed the theater's last revival of “The Sound of Music” in 2003, and was a cast mate of Hibbert's during the 1980s Broadway run of “Me and My Girl.” Brennan, who saw “The Sound of Music” as

Lots of capital letters in the Twitterverse last evening as The Sound Of Music aired on ABC. THE SOUND OF MUSIC IS ONEdwina ಠAಠ. THE SOUND OF MUSIC IS ON ABC Lydia Burnam. EVERYBODY, EVERYBODY THE SOUND OF MUSIC IS ON!

I have completed my gift wrapping. Yay me! I've also managed to give myself a manicure and pedicure to help me get into the Christmas spirit. What can I say? I can do it all (<—sarcasm at its finest). I.

"The Sound of Music" returns for its annual holiday airing. 7 p.m., ABC. MONDAY. So you really, really love "A Christmas Story"? We double-dog dare you to watch the 1983 film over and over during its traditional 24-hour marathon. 8 p.m., TBS. TUESDAY

NORAD volunteers track Santa's progress

Few things in this world will reaffirm your holiday spirit faster than watching a dozen or so uniformed service people cover a room in Christmas.

Wealthy Chinese are buying bikes that cost more than the average citizen makes in three years, motivated by nostalgia for the days when two wheels were the primary means of transport. “It's like the Rolls-Royce of bicycles. Very classical, purely hand

Only on the Internet could you find two tech companies competing to track Santa. Last week NORAD, which has tracked Santa since 1955, announced its new Internet Santa service. While it still tracks Santa and his reindeer on Christmas, it replaced

The North American Aerospace Defense Command has been telling anxious children about Santa's whereabouts every year since 1955.

NORAD Tracking Santa's Journey. Email. Embed. Volunteers are pulling on their Santa hats, phone lines are in place and wall-size tracking screens are ready. NORAD Tracks Santa is primed for its 57th annual goodwill mission. (Dec. 24)

Week 16 MVPs: Russell Wilson makes his case for Offensive Rookie of the Year

We take a look at the coach's film of the Seattle Seahawks' rushing success in its third straight victory.

SEATTLE, Wash. – Russell Okung isn't worried about Aldon Smith's pursuit of history. Okung, the Seahawks' left tackle, is part of an offensive line group charged with keeping Smith off Russell Wilson Sunday night as Seattle tries to secure a playoff

The Seahawks completely dominated the first half, as the combo of Wilson and Lynch has been an unstoppable duo for Seattle thus far.

Lexington County Mug Shots: December 21, 2012

(Will Lester/Staff Photographer) The annual Chino Hills Boat Parade makes its way through the streets of the city Friday evening December 21, 2012. Close. Chino Hills Boat Parade - December 21, 2012. 1 of 14. ON22-HIL-BOATS-16-WL (Will Lester/Staff

FRONT PAGE. An article last Friday about the political future of Mayor Cory A. Booker of Newark omitted part of a comment he made on Twitter that provided the full context for his reference to the British businessman Richard Branson. After Mr. Booker

Like it or hate it, The Sound of Music trends on Twitter

Julie Andrews stars as Maria in the enduring family film The Sound of Music. ABC airs the movie from 6 to 10 p.m. today. It's no wonder that The Sound of Music has become a perennial holiday favorite. It has something for everyone.

This may seem longer than previous telecasts, and, if so, it's not just because you're getting older. It's because this 1965 musical has been restored to its original length, thereby gobbling up all four hours of ABC's Sunday night

WATCH: Happy holidays from the Morning Joe staff!

Happy Holidays and Merry Northern Winter (and Southern Summer) Solstice from everyone on the Planets Hunters team. In spirit of the holiday season, each day this month, the Zooniverse has revealed a new gift on the

Art Fag City will be posting lightly this week due to the holidays. I want to personally wish all of our readers a wonderful week with their loved ones. Hopefully you all can fit in a good party or two.

In celebration of everyone's diverse backgrounds: “Merry Christmas,” “Happy Holidays,” “Feliz Navidad,” “Sawadee Pee Mai,” “Wesolych Swiat Bozego Narodzenia,” “Nollaig Shona Dhuit,” “Buone Feste Natalizie,” “Joyeux Noël,” “Froehliche Weihnachten,”

No matter how busy we are around the holidays, it's impossible not to get caught up in the emotion and think back on all that has happened in the past year. As it was for most of you, this has been a year of great ups and downs in our Daily Herald family.

Week 16 MVPs: Russell Wilson makes his case for Offensive Rookie of the Year

From the blog Shutdown Corner: SAMMAMISH, Wash. -- It's been quite a year for Skyline High quarterback Max Browne. The five-star Rivals.com recruit threw for 4526 yards, 49 touchdowns, and just five interceptions in a

It was the guidance that Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson got first from his family and then from a Virginia prep school that explains how he arrived in Seattle a fully formed leader with a rigorous work ethic and a fire hose of a right arm

Russell Wilson, quarterback, and Marshawn Lynch, running back, Seattle Seahawks - Wilson continued to pad his "Offensive Rookie of the Year" resume by completing 15-of-21 attempts for 171 yards with a career-high four touchdowns and one interception

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson led the Seahawks to a 28-6 halftime lead over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday Night Football. Wilson is 8-for-9 with 98 yards passing, two touchdowns and an interception. He also has four carries for 14

Wilson has four touchdown passes to move into second place for TD passes by a rookie, and Marshawn Lynch scores twice in the first quarter.

Gun owners vs. the NRA

NRA President David Keene appeared on CBS's Face The Nation to weigh in on the gun control debate. Unsurprisingly, he came out swinging against tighter laws on guns.

"As NRA Is Criticized On Shooting Response, Bullets Sell." (CBS News). — Woman In Afghan Police Uniform Kills U.S. Contractor In Kabul. (Reuters). — "Syrian Peace Envoy Lakhdar Brahimi In Talks With Assad." (BBC News). — Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho,

Leaders of the National Rifle Association said in television appearances that they would fight any new gun restrictions introduced in Congress. They also made clear that they were not interested in working with President

National Rifle Association executive vice president Wayne LaPierre blamed Hollywood, video games music, the courts and more on Friday for creating a culture of violence in the United States. “The only thing that stops a bad

Despite these objections, the NRA's proposal could be a good one for a number of reasons. Here are the arguments for it.

Astrophoto for December 21, 2012: Stars over the Temple of Quetzalcoatl

It's the TUAW Daily Update, your source for Apple news in a convenient audio format. You'll get all the top Apple stories of the day in three to five.

CNBC's Melissa Lee and the Options Action traders look at the past week's activity in the options markets, and discuss what they'll be watching next week.

by Nancy Atkinson on December 21, 2012. Want to stay on top of all the space news? Follow @universetoday on Twitter. Templo de la Serpiente Emplumada / Temple of Quetzalcoatl. Credit: César Cantú. Click on the image for access to a

Ex-MLB player Ryan Freel dead of apparent suicide

Report: Former Major Leaguer Ryan Freel Commits Suicide At Age 36 [Update] Former utility player Ryan Freel, who broke into the majors with Toronto in 2001 and played the majority of his eight-year career with the Cincinnati Reds, committed suicide today.

MIAMI (AP) — Ryan Freel, a former Major League Baseball player known for his fearless play but whose career was cut short after eight seasons by a series of head and other injuries, was found dead Saturday in Jacksonville

"The Reds family is deeply saddened to hear of the death of Ryan Freel. His teammates and our fans loved him for how hard he played the game, and he loved giving back to the community. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends." With the

During an eight-year major-league career that took him to five teams, Ryan Freel enjoyed a reputation among teammates as high-energy, outgoing and hilarious. That's why so many were shocked to learn that Freel, 36, was found dead Saturday in his

Former Cincinnati Reds utility man Ryan Freel, who believed he had at least nine or 10 concussions throughout his playing career, was found dead in his home on Saturday afternoon. He was 36. Details, after the jump.

China champs Guangzhou sign Elkeson

Weber was the perfect person to become the first to bowl the men's target scores four times in Beat the Champions, the charity bowling event co-sponsored for 52 years by the Sun-Times and the Chicagoland Bowling Proprietors Association. Kelly Kulick

IL High School Insider Joe Lombardi, the author of the “Lax with Joe” blog at LaxLessons.com, focuses on the New York/New Jersey/Connecticut tristate region. Joe is also an analyst for the MSG Varsity television network and

The Miami Heat are the defending champions for a reason. The overall talent on the roster, which includes the league's best player in LeBron James, is enough to beat most teams in the league with ease, but only when everyone is engaged, and interested

Bryce Brill knew all too well that a third title in Harlem's Al Dvorak Memorial Invitational would not come easy. The Mount Carmel junior would have to beat St. Edward's Edgar Bright in a clash of nationally ranked wrestlers at 145 pounds. Brill got a

The Cowboys got some much needed help from the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday afternoon, giving them a second chance to make the playoffs. The Ravens' 33-14 victory over the New York Giants means the Cowboys will win the NFC East with a victory next

Ex-MLB player Ryan Freel dead of apparent suicide

Ryan Freel, the colorful utility man who spent six seasons of his eight year baseball career with the Cincinnati Reds, has sadly taken his own life at the age of 36, according First Coast News in Jacksonville. Freel had been

Ryan Freel was found dead this weekend of a self-inflicted gunshot blast. The former baseball star was 36.

NORAD teams with Microsoft to track Santa this year

Reader comments on Sacbee.com are the opinions of the writer, not The Sacramento Bee. If you see an objectionable comment, click the "Report Abuse" link below it. We will delete comments containing inappropriate links, obscenities, hate speech, and

Microsoft got an official Christmas present from the big man himself. No, not Santa--Uncle Sam. The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), which ha..

Google has proven in the last couple of years it's very serious when it comes to tracking Santa, and this year is no exception. Besides letting you track Santa's whereabouts on an interactive map, Google has launched a couple of new games to keep you

Who's that ping on the radar screen? Must be Santa Claus. The North American Aerospace Defense Command, better known as NORAD, is firing up its Santa tracker again this year to keep track of the jolly old elf's path around the globe. Loading

Google launched its very own Santa Tracker tool this week after NORAD announced it would be working with Microsoft Bing this year to map Santa.

Larry King Tweets He's Still Alive After Playwright Larry L. King's Death

Larry L. King, a writer and playwright whose magazine article about a campaign to close down a popular bordello became a hit Tony Award-nominated musical "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" and a movie starring Burt Reynolds, died Thursday. He was

NEW YORK (AP) — Larry L. King, a writer and playwright whose magazine article about a campaign to close down a popular bordello became a hit Tony Award-nominated musical "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" and a

Larry L. King, a famed writer and Tony Award-nominated playwright, dies Thursday at age 83. King became famous for a magazine article he wrote about efforts to close down a bordello in Texas. This became the basis for the Tony Award-nominated musical

Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks blow out San Francisco 49ers

Wilson has four touchdown passes to move into second place for TD passes by a rookie, and Marshawn Lynch scores twice in the first quarter.

After destroying the San Francisco 49ers Sunday night, 42-13, Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson has catapulted himself into the Offensive Rookie of the Year conversation. Wilson was phenomenal against the Niners, completing 15 of 21 passes

NFL flexes Dallas Cowboys-Washington Redskins game

ARLINGTON – Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray didn't have any excuses for his third-quarter fumble after Sunday night's 34-31 overtime loss to the New Orleans Saints. The 24-year-old said he simply got twisted up

It doesn't get much better than this: The Dallas Cowboys and Washington Redskins will face off next Sunday night for the NFC East title. On NFL Network NFL Replay will re-air the Washington Redskins' 27-20 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles from Week

Admit it, Garrett Hartley kicked that field goal in overtime and all the air in your chest was taken from you instantly. The bit of optimism the Cowboys have allowed you to harvest took a serious shot. You wondered if this season was worth the fight

Arlington, Texas - Dallas Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones scoffed at a report claiming he has already made a decision to keep Coach Jason Garrett for next season while at the same time saying he has not even given a thought to

Saints move to 7-8 but eliminated from playoffs earlier Sunday.

End Of The World On Christmas Eve? Mayan Calendar's 13th Baktun May ...

With the end of the world upon us, we thought it was only fitting to say goodbye the best way we know how: with GIFs. Enjoy these bad boys as the planet melts.

FELIPE CARRILLO PUERTO, Mexico (RNS) Mayan pilgrims often come here to a simple church with a thatched roof to venerate the Cruz Parlante, or Speaking Cross, which gave their forefathers guidance during a

Fight at "end of the world" party may have led to man's death, police say.

I am writing this column on December 20. If you're reading this Pegged Right column that must mean the world didn't end on December 21. If you aren't reading it well… never mind. I tried to convince the editor that the end was near and so no sense

Police search for Footlocker crooks

Foot Locker (FL) has been posting strong growth for the last few years, which is reflected in the company's share price. Since the beginning of 2012, Foot Locker's share price has appreciated by 36%, beating the market by a large margin. In the last 3

Today, the “Thunder” makes its in-store debut at Foot Locker and House of Hoops by Foot Locker. Different than the 2006 release, the black upper has been made from nubuck instead of suede. Tour yellow accents all over

There are currently two colorways of the J Kidds available at House of Hoops by Foot Locker now. One, a tour yellow/mid navy-white colorway, is a clear shout out to Kidd's college colors where his #5 jersey is retired.

End Of The World On Christmas Eve? Mayan Calendar's 13th Baktun May ...

Police are investigating details of a fight at an “end of the world” house party in San Bernardino on Friday night that they believe led to the slaying of a man. Felipe Jason Moreno, 20, of San Bernardino was shot dead and his 22-year-old cousin was

I'm writing this well ahead of Friday's end of the world, in the absolute certainty that it will be published two days later. I've survived enough end-of-the-world scares to know them for what they are — ways to grab headlines, scare people and sell

Larry L. King, Texan Author and Playwright, Dies at 83

Former CNN anchor Larry King tweeted to his followers that he was still alive on Friday, despite some followers believing otherwise. Following the death of famed playwright Larry L. King earlier that day, many users on Twitter

Not to be confused with iconic CNN host Larry King, the playwright is affiliated with the Tony Award-nominated musical "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas." It was King's Playboy article about a Texas bordello that led to a musical, which was directed

NEW YORK (AP) — Larry L. King, . has died. He was 83. More at link 28393.