XL. 'Tis the Season...

We have once again reached that wonderful season known as Christmastime. This is the time we push our cares to the side, and celebrate life, giving, and good company. Delightful food and music are standard fare. In honor of the season, I present a list of ten songs that brighten my spirits around this time of year.

X. Do You Hear What I Hear?
This Whitney Houston interpretation hits the spot.


IX. Christmas in Hollis
Holiday cheer (hip-hop style!) from Run-DMC.


VIII. Step into Christmas
Elton John.


VII. Santa Baby
The late, great Eartha Kitt.


VI. Do They Know It's Christmas?
I enjoy this song by the Band Aid charity project, although "thank God it's them, instead of you" is a rather curious attitude--especially given the season.


V. The Night Santa Went Crazy
Funny song by "Weird Al".


IV. This Christmas
Donny Hathaway.


III. O Holy Night
I really like this Mahalia Jackson version.


II. Thank God It's Christmas
The inimitable Queen.


I. Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)
This Darlene Love number is a Christmas legend.

XXXIX. Back for Good

For the past few weeks I've been back in NYC, readjusting to the pace of life here. It's a dramatic departure from the relative desolation of Buffalo, to be sure. But, it's home, and that knowledge is comforting.

I wonder what I'll call the site now that I'm technically no longer "in exile." Whatever developments happen in that area, though, won't take place for some time yet.

XXXVIII. Sanity on ICE

I was just watching a feature story on ABC World News about the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Flight Operations Unit, which is charged with the removal of illegal aliens to their countries of origin. According to the story, deportees are flown home aboard commercial-style jetliners, where they get complimentary food and are under the watchful eye of armed guards doubling as flight attendants. And this is done at a cost of approximately $680 each.

So, let me get this straight. The government is frittering away public money on jet flights--half of which are empty--carrying away people who will probably be back within the year? And, this is going on while this same government promotes conservation and wise spending?