Althouse: Sunrise — 7:01, 7:08, 7:08, 7:09.

December 24, 2025

Sunrise — 7:01, 7:08, 7:08, 7:09.

It's Christmas Eve. What are you up to?

123 comments:

Big Mike said...: It's Christmas Eve. What are you up to?

Hoping our grandkids, who were supposed to be here already, are recovered enough from their fevers to come by Friday or Saturday.; 12/24/25, 5:34 PM
narciso said...: Its a very vivid photo what explains the red tint; 12/24/25, 5:35 PM
john mosby said...: Finally watched Trump's Kennedy Center honors. Was apparently difficult to figure out what to do for Stallone - they rejected my idea to put a ring onstage and have boxers inspired by his movies go a few rounds. Instead, they had musicians (including his brother Frank!) do songs from the movies. Whatevs. No mention of Copland, which might be his best work.

For Michael Crawford, various Broadway types sang nearly half of Phantom. No falling chandelier, though.

Gloria Gaynor - various disco-themed acts, and also some people doing her gospel stuff.

At this point, the GQ (Gayness Quotient) was getting pretty high.

Things calmed down for George Strait, with conventional country types doing his songs.

KISS was saved for last. Centerpiece of the tribute was Garth Brooks doing one of their songs. No surprise if you saw his own Kennedy Center honors - he closed that one with a 20-minute musicology lesson, where he did snippets of all kinds of styles in the history of country music. He's always better doing stuff outside the rather bland corporate Nashville music that made him famous. Guess that's why he tried the Chris Gaines thing.

At the very end, Cheap Trick (with Rick Nielsen's son Daxx drumming in place of Bun E Carlos, continuing the tradition of nepo-boy drummers) did Rock n Roll All Night.

Weirdly, Trump, even though he was in attendance, had prerecorded videos from the Oval introducing each honoree. He did get on stage for a very short closing speech right before Cheap Trick.

Overall, at least as good as any other KenCen honors. CC, JSM; 12/24/25, 5:39 PM
Curious George said...: Just chilling browsing the web. Watching a lot of the video of the Williams to Moore game winning TD catch Saturday night. The network stuff was good, the fan's stuff was awesome; 12/24/25, 5:40 PM
BG said...: Just got home from the daughter's; had prime rib dinner. Always good. Our whole family was together for a convivial afternoon. All politics was avoided. Tomorrow will be just me and the hubby. Church in the morning and roast chicken for noon dinner. Quiet day for us.; 12/24/25, 5:43 PM
Eva Marie said...: President Trump Saves Christmas!
https://youtu.be/CT_O2X7CEeo?si=cwIYtuozHuP8XXpZ; 12/24/25, 5:52 PM
Narr said...: Staying out of the way of mi esposa, who is putting up a small selection of a vast collection of Christmas decorations . . . I did my part earlier by plugging in the colored light strand that hangs unlit year-round on a set of heirloom room dividers near our patio door.

Looks like our traditional late lunch tomorrow will not include son's gf, who is busy with work (she's a photographer) and her own large families' festivities. Too bad, I was looking forward to it. But we may see my wife's youngest niece, who has only been here once, with her recently deceased father, some years ago.; 12/24/25, 5:54 PM
Michael Fitzgerald said...: Merry Christmas to Althouse and Meade and everybody here who comments and who lurks without comment. God bless us, every one!; 12/24/25, 5:55 PM
narciso said...: Merry Christmas all; 12/24/25, 5:56 PM
john mosby said...: Interesting self-defense case, taking place at an HBC, so all sides are the same race. No true bill for the armed citizen:

https://lawandcrime.com/crime/you-will-die-mob-of-30-people-attacked-college-student-for-reporting-a-burglary-leading-his-father-to-shoot-one-of-them-dead/

Pull quote: "Franklin County Commonwealth Attorney Larry Cleveland suggested he was conflicted by the case. He told the outlet that he "felt that Mr. Bard could meet the requirements of defense of others, but at the same time, a young man was killed, and another young man was seriously injured.""

Hunh!? CC, JSM; 12/24/25, 6:09 PM
narciso said...: So the second season of the night manager is airing on new years its largely set in south america like the book
Whereas the first miniseries concerned the middle east becausr it had to be timely (re the arab spring: a vivid ballucination as it turned out); 12/24/25, 6:16 PM
YoungHegelian said...: A quiet night in tonight as the girlfriend is just out of the hospital yesterday after a bout of RSV, which can be nasty shit at our age.

Tomorrow, out in the evening for a Christmas buffet with her son. Between her illness and all the prep I had to do to get my Christmas candies** out to my clients, there's no time to put together a Christmas dinner.

** Some years back, I began a Christmas tradition of making the clients of my IT firm homemade candies for Christmas. I make them chocolate fudge, nougat, peanut brittle and shortbread cookies. It is so popular now, my clients start bugging me about it in November!; 12/24/25, 6:17 PM
Achilles said...: john mosby said...

Interesting self-defense case, taking place at an HBC, so all sides are the same race. No true bill for the armed citizen:

I just read the article.

It is pretty obvious that people are getting sick of the Democrat party protecting and organizing groups of animals to attack people like this.

It is too bad the father only shot 2 of them. Our country would be better if every one of those animals and the city/college officials involved in supporting them were publicly executed.; 12/24/25, 6:27 PM
Quaestor said...: IMG_5387. Suitable for framing. It's hard to imagine a better winter sunrise over Lake Mendota.; 12/24/25, 6:31 PM
Mea Sententia said...: We went to the children's Christmas Eve service at church, then bought popcorn and drove through a park with lots of Christmas lights.; 12/24/25, 6:32 PM
Beasts of England said...: Finished roasting pecans and did some wrapping. First Friendsmas tomorrow, then family the next night, and then another Friendsmas on Sunday. Thankfully I’m only cooking for two of those events. :); 12/24/25, 6:44 PM
lonejustice said...: Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
Born is the King of Israel.
-------
No mention in the Bible that Trump is the King.; 12/24/25, 6:45 PM
Leland said...: All set to celebrate the wife's birthday tomorrow. For the rest of you, Merry Christmas.; 12/24/25, 6:46 PM
narciso said...: Luke as a greek trained doctor was remarkably precise on the date of the Saviors arrival; 12/24/25, 6:47 PM
narciso said...: With Moses they arranged for him to be raised in the Pharoahs palace; 12/24/25, 6:49 PM
narciso said...: https://x.com/blckriflecoffee/status/2003881002121548260; 12/24/25, 6:52 PM
Laslo Spatula said...: RE: john mosby said... HBC case --

Feral.

"The mother of the deceased student has openly posted on social media calling for Jacob's son to be murdered for revenge, has appealed to criminal gangs, specifically naming the Vice Lords..."

There is a substantial portion of this society that cannot live under the terms of civilization.

We know this.

We know who they are.

The police and government know that we know.

Monsieur Creosote is being offered a final wafer-thin mint.

I am Laslo.; 12/24/25, 6:54 PM
Josephbleau said...: Great grouper and lobster ravioli at rosebud. But I miss the old Essen Haus.; 12/24/25, 7:02 PM
narciso said...: Two different shells right; 12/24/25, 7:03 PM
narciso said...: nativitysceneminiature.jpg (1000×600) https://share.google/xNbrlIxYfurMjw03o; 12/24/25, 7:07 PM
Clyde said...: Clyde's Top 15 Favorite "New" Songs of 2025 - Part 10 of 16
#7 - The Candy Skins - "Submarine Song" - Space I'm In (1991)

The Candy Skins (also styled The Candyskins on later records) were an English rock/Britpop band formed in 1989. Space I'm In was their first album, and this song was first issued as a single and then included on the album. The whole album is really good, and I listened to it a number of times during the year. The follow-up album, Fun?, had creative differences with their record label, Geffen, and didn't appeal to me as much. Their two later albums went in a different direction and also weren't really my thing, but that first album was great, and I recommend the whole album, if you like this song.

https://youtu.be/3r-RkW4YzCg?si=MgVhYqL2AHN1WfbI; 12/24/25, 7:11 PM
Clyde said...: Today I found out that if you go on Amazon and look at gaming chairs, all of the ads on your Facebook feed suddenly are for gaming chairs.; 12/24/25, 7:14 PM
Clyde said...: Red sky in the morning, sailors take warning...; 12/24/25, 7:16 PM
Gospace said...: Achilles said...
...
It is too bad the father only shot 2 of them. Our country would be better if every one of those animals and the city/college officials involved in supporting them were publicly executed.

It's Christmas Eve, and if you really want Peace on Earth and Good Will Towards Men, first thing you've got to do is get rid of the evil men...

On that cheery thought- Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to one and all. And may you never have to encounter evil men intent on harming you or your family or even a complete stranger.; 12/24/25, 7:27 PM
narciso said...: Some say why is there more records of Jesus sans the accounts of his followers in tacitus and josephus

Well the Roman chroniclers would not really focus on an obscure backwater like bethlehem that would be like tatooine; 12/24/25, 7:30 PM
narciso said...: Just as 'the poor will always be with us' a misinterpreted phrsse, as long as there is sin in the world there will be acts of violence; 12/24/25, 7:34 PM
Breezy said...: Bread making struggle session.

Merry Christmas to all!; 12/24/25, 7:38 PM
Christopher B said...: Looked up the KSU shooting story to see how the No True Bill was reported here in Louisville. Found one on the local Fox affiliate WDRB. Of course, it leads off with a focus on the two students being shot with absolutely no reference to the fact Bard is not some random thug but the father of a threatened student. Somewhat to their credit they did put in a fairly detailed explanation of the situation that lead to the shooting as provided by his lawyers.

The article ends with a typically smarmy statement from the KSU administration that has absolutely nothing to say about a student who is being assaulted and threatened because he reported the burglary of his own dorm room. What a load of bilge

"Kentucky State University continues to mourn the tragic loss of life that occurred on December 9, an event that has deeply affected our entire Thorobred family. Our hearts are with everyone who is grieving, and our focus remains on caring for our students and supporting the survivors, families, and all members of our campus community impacted by this loss.

The University is aware of today’s grand jury decision. This development does not lessen the pain our community continues to feel, nor does it change our priorities. Our commitment remains centered on supporting our students and ensuring Kentucky State University is a safe place to learn, live, and work.

As questions and public discussion continue in the days ahead, we want our campus community to know that the University is cooperating with law enforcement and investigators as appropriate and will continue to do so. Our focus is on care and accountability within the scope of our responsibilities as an institution.

“We remain centered on our students’ safety and well-being,” said Dr. Koffi C. Akakpo, President of Kentucky State University. “We will continue working closely with our partners, strengthening our safeguards, and providing the care, compassion, and support our Thorobred family needs as we move forward together.”

The University is enhancing security measures and continuing internal reviews, while taking steps to help ensure our campus environment remains one where all can pursue their education safely. In accordance with University policies, when conduct within the University’s jurisdiction is found to violate our standards, appropriate action will be taken through established processes.

Counseling and support resources remain available to any student, faculty, or staff member who needs assistance. Kentucky State University remains committed to caring for one another and moving Onward and Upward together with compassion, strength, and purpose."

WDRB article link; 12/24/25, 7:39 PM
john mosby said...: 'ciso, yesterday I listened to a Rest is History podcast that emphasized we have more historical documents attesting to the reality of Jesus than we do to the reality of Alexander. CC, JSM; 12/24/25, 7:40 PM
narciso said...: https://youtu.be/p_SrIk6W0Ig?si=9k2XkXhUULcCj6rW; 12/24/25, 7:45 PM
narciso said...: Tom holland (the other one) is a uncommomly resolute researcher; 12/24/25, 7:46 PM
Narr said...: For the first time I can remember, my wife has not even mentioned baking holiday breads and cookies, for which she has great aptitude.

Everything has been so weird this season that I haven't thought about it until others mentioned it. OTOH she is committed to a side for the ham our son is bringing--a dish that makes brussels sprouts palatable with the help of an apple, some sweet potato, and bacon.; 12/24/25, 7:47 PM
john mosby said...: Ref KSU: It's to be expected that when a system desegregates, the best people from the former out-group will flock to the newly-opened in-group institutions. Jews going to the Ivies. Women later on going to the Ivies. Women going into professions besides K-12 education and nursing. And blacks going to state flagship colleges.

As a result, the formerly segregated out-group institutions may undergo a diminishment of their quality. K-12 education, anyone? The Seven Sisters seem to be holding their own, but probably because college in general has become tougher to get into. Colleges that historically let in Jews, such as CUNY, GWU, BU, etc, lost a lot of their best prospects to the Ivies. And of course many HBCUs which had provided the AA community with an educated class suffered from the exodus.

But this is almost unimaginable. An organized burglary (really dorm-invasion) ring consisting of students, bold enough to give out beatings in front of campus police. Why bother going to college at all, if you're going to do that?

Very puzzling. CC, JSM; 12/24/25, 7:47 PM
john mosby said...: 'Ciso, yes, that's the episode. CC, JSM; 12/24/25, 7:49 PM
narciso said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 12/24/25, 7:50 PM
narciso said...: This is what the state of nature looks like even in a red state; 12/24/25, 7:50 PM
john mosby said...: Bleau: is that the Rosebud in Chicago? CC, JSM; 12/24/25, 7:51 PM
narciso said...: He examined the three monotheisms in the shadow of the crescent guess which one drew most agita; 12/24/25, 7:51 PM
john mosby said...: Still haven't gotten round to reading Holland's book, but he summarizes it often enough on the podcast. He says there's no evidence at all for Mohd or the Quran until over 200 years after their (to him) purported existence. CC, JSM; 12/24/25, 7:55 PM
Political Junkie said...: I fear the 2026 election will be an R wipeout, as I have shared.
The last 24 to 48 hours, however, my gut is telling me there is a 20% chance for 5% GDP growth over the next year with lower inflation, higher stock market, job growth, even lower oil prices, and earnings growth. Also chances for positive Venezuela and Ukraine outcomes and progress in Middle East. Chance it will be Morning In America. Small chance, but a chance.; 12/24/25, 7:55 PM
narciso said...: You see what i mean, thats a lot of agita; 12/24/25, 7:57 PM
Iman said...: Merry Christmas!

A Liberace Christmas… my gift to you!!!

https://x.com/DannyDeraney/status/2003154917889122505?s=20; 12/24/25, 7:57 PM
narciso said...: We're expected to be skeptical even sneering of all faiths except one (funny that); 12/24/25, 7:58 PM
narciso said...: Margaret Sullivan Says Journalism's Goal Is to 'Afflict the Comfortable and Comfort the Afflicted' – Twitchy https://share.google/59DMd8RFVNYa2eIR9; 12/24/25, 7:59 PM
john mosby said...: Heck, there's no evidence for the historicity of Moses or the Exodus. The only mass migration involving Egyptians and Hebrews was of Egyptians fleeing Canaan ahead of the Sea People. The cultural memory telephone game apparently transmogrified this into the other people exodus'ing in the other direction. CC, JSM; 12/24/25, 8:01 PM
Big Mike said...: Picture #2 made me think of the hymn "In the Bleak Midwinter."; 12/24/25, 8:01 PM
narciso said...: The grauniad tries standup (oh they are cereal); 12/24/25, 8:01 PM
Jaq said...: The Israel Stele says that a lot of Jewish people were involved in a Sea People type raid on Egypt, along with some Danites, and taken prisoner and enslaved when the raid went tits up. This is also mentioned in The Odyssey, as one of Odysseus's "Cretan Lies" but that might have come from Homer having known of the stele. Exodus also mentions the "Danites returned to their ships"

So this is highly speculative, but one explanation would be that they didn't want to record that they were taken prisoner during a failed raid. The other thing that happened about this time, the time of the Bronze Age Collapse, was that there was a huge volcanic eruption not far from Egypt, on the Island of Crete, which probably caused some phenomena that were unusual.; 12/24/25, 8:11 PM
Aggie said...: The Catholic Church is still a pretty big deal in the Caribbean. Took the grandkids to an afternoon kid's Christmas Mass. It always feels weird to be in the tropics celebrating the winter holiday - every locale has its own strangely foreign Christmas traditions and foods and customs - but these island priests are still pretty hard core. Tonight, preparing a whopper of a ribeye roast for tomorrow's feasting, and some side dishes and wrapping presents. The feast will be with local relatives, about a dozen and a half. Merry Christmas to all, be of good cheer, and as always humble thanks to Ms. Althouse and Meade who do so much to make this place special.; 12/24/25, 8:13 PM
mongo said...: Watching the Mormon Tabernacle Choir annual Christmas concert. Boy, do they know how to do it.; 12/24/25, 8:23 PM
Rocco said...: Went with the family to Christmas Eve mass at the church that my grandparents were married in a century go, then to my niece’s house just two blocks away for a fine buffet of Indian food for Christmas Eve. I had vegetable pecora for an appetizer and then saag paneer and garlic naan for the main meal.

After dinner we retired to the parlor to exchange gifts when the hostess yelled out from the kitchen “Who wants some raspberry sorbet?” Without missing a beat, her mother yelled back “Is it the type you find in a second hand store?” The Boomers and Gen X crack up laughing. The Millenials and Zs did not get the reference.; 12/24/25, 8:45 PM
Rocco said...: narciso said...
“Margaret Sullivan Says Journalism's Goal Is to 'Afflict the Comfortable and Comfort the Afflicted' – Twitchy”

So the people dragging her on X are doing journalism.; 12/24/25, 8:49 PM
Political Junkie said...: Rocco - that is funny. Of course I am 55, so I lived it.; 12/24/25, 8:51 PM
Eva Marie said...: Merry Christmas!
https://youtu.be/PVgdiX7w8oI?si=BvjbGQLNhZstiKPz; 12/24/25, 9:02 PM
RCOCEAN II said...: Merry Christmas Everyone. Just saw a movie "Mr. Saturday Night" with Billy Crystal. Verdict? Avoid with extreme prejudice.

I dunno what it is about showbiz folks. The actors want to be funny, the comics want to be actors, and the singers want to be all three.

Mr Saturday Night despite starring Billy Crystal is a serious movie. But Crystal doesn't have the serious acting chops. The rest of the cast is forgettable except for David Charles Paymer who plays Crystals younger brother.

With an unlikable lead character, mediocre script, acting, and direction, it was a long 2 hours. Maybe if they'd cast Dustin Hoffmann it would've worked. Maybe.; 12/24/25, 9:09 PM
RCOCEAN II said...: Strange thing about SNL is the "stars" usually come back and host. Short, Chase, Murray, Ackroyd, Carvey, Lovits, Sandler, Farley, etc. But Billy Crystal, despite being the star for Season 10, never came back. Dont know why. Crystal left on his own accord. NBC loved him and offered him the "SNL Permnant Host spot".; 12/24/25, 9:13 PM
Mark said...: Hope all have a great holidays.

Started the day with coffee and a puzzle with kiddo. Wrapped presents, played board games with family then played some carols on my mandolin in the living room.

Takeout Indian then we all started our new books and enjoyed the fireplace and twinkle tree lights.; 12/24/25, 9:39 PM
LibertarianLeisure said...: Beai; 12/24/25, 9:48 PM
LibertarianLeisure said...: Beautiful shots.; 12/24/25, 9:48 PM
LibertarianLeisure said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 12/24/25, 9:49 PM
Caroline said...: Merry Christmas to all! We have enjoyed an unusually chill Christmas with our kids and grandkids, due to flu amongst extended family members. An impromptu feast. I’m a fan!; 12/24/25, 9:51 PM
Kakistocracy said...: "The last 24 to 48 hours, however, my gut is telling me there is a 20% chance for 5% GDP growth over the next year with lower inflation, higher stock market, job growth, even lower oil prices, and earnings growth."

The data they released shows that the richest 10% are spending more due to gains from the AI boom in the stock market and falling rates. Meanwhile the bottom 90% are struggling more and spending less. This data only shows a healthy economy if you are a big fan of the letter K.

Look under the hood of the headline. The 4.3% is driven entirely by personal expenditures and exports. Everything else is flat, including fixed investment. Now figure in the AI CAPEX boom, which has been extremely positive. The implication is investment expenditures are down everywhere outside AI & data centers..; 12/24/25, 9:51 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: President Trump gets an A+ for consistency:

“Merry Christmas to all, including the Radical Left Scum that is doing everything possible to destroy our Country, but are failing badly. We no longer have Open Borders, Men in Women’s Sports, Transgender for Everyone, or Weak Law Enforcement. What we do have is a Record Stock Market and 401K’s, Lowest Crime numbers in decades, No Inflation, and yesterday, a 4.3 GDP, two points better than expected. Tariffs have given us Trillions of Dollars in Growth and Prosperity, and the strongest National Security we have ever had. We are respected again, perhaps like never before. God Bless America!!! President DJT”; 12/24/25, 9:52 PM
Kakistocracy said...: Percentages are nice and all, but let's look at the actual data.

US GDP
Q2 = $30.486 trillion
Q3 = $31.095 trillion
Q2 to Q3 = +$609 billion
https://fred.stlouisfed.org/graph/?g=1P5QZ

I just realized the FRED Federal debt number hasn't been updated recently so had to find an alternate source. This is directly from the US Treasury. You can get monthly reports there.
https://fiscaldata.treasury.gov/datasets/monthly-statement-public-debt/summary-of-treasury-securities-outstanding

US Federal Debt
June 2025 = $36.211 trillion
Sept 2025 = $37.638 trillion
Q2 to Q3 = +$1.427 trillion

So if we're looking at "real", unlevered growth, US GDP shrunk by $818 billion in Q3.

For a sign of things to come, November 2025 Federal debt stood at $38.396 trillion, up $758 billion from September. No doubt December will be up even more.

Current debt to GDP stands at 121%.

If we extend this to a year over year comparison...

GDP
3Q2025 = $31.095 trillion
3Q2024 = $29.512 trillion
YoY = +$1.583 trillion (+5.3%)

Federal Debt
3Q2025 = $37. 638 trillion
3Q2024 = $35.465 trillion
YoY = +$2.173 trillion (+6.1%)

Unlevered YoY growth is a negative $590 billion.; 12/24/25, 9:53 PM
buwaya said...: An estimate of "unlevered" growth would apply to every period after the year 2000 or so, as the US has been running a deficit every year since then. And which will yield absurd results.; 12/24/25, 10:36 PM
Original Mike said...: Rich discovers that the US government spends too much money.
Nothing gets by that guy.; 12/24/25, 10:41 PM
Lucky John said...: Thanks to Ann for this site and Meade for assisting.
A quiet and wonderfully lonely Christmas near Sechelt Canada for the two of us. Rather balmy, compared to many other participants but we are habitually thin-blooded.
Merry Christmas to all!; 12/24/25, 10:41 PM
buwaya said...: https://fortune.com/2025/11/02/stock-market-wealth-effect-economic-growth-consumer-spending/
Part of the answer to the resilience of the US economy (or any other economy) to gdp/debt ratios is the role of assets. Since 2000 US asset valuations, public and private, have increased enormously, by explicit valuation or by implication, more than debt. This is btw a perennial question in macro classes, at least if one has a curious instructor. It is a perennial question in development economics too.
GDP is a handy metric, but its not the whole story by any means.
One old- timey factor in current gdp is the "wealth effect", which in theory and probably observable today has consumption increasing if asset values increase. Its one way assets can affect GDP. See the Fortune article above.
These are old Milton Friedman era arguments.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Permanent_income_hypothesis; 12/24/25, 11:27 PM
TickTock1948 said...: Chaos this evening as all of my wife's extended family, including many young grandchildren, unwrap presents from a massive gift exchange. Toys and torn paper everywhere.; 12/24/25, 11:33 PM
buwaya said...: Another important matter rarely mentioned is private debt. It bears a complicated relationship to inflation. The US has had a significantly falling private debt total since a peak in 2020, from 158.3% of gdp in 2020 to 142% in 2024 with a forecast of 138% in 2025
This is a major factor.
Underdeveloped countries tend to have low private debt-gdp btw.; 12/24/25, 11:48 PM
Whiskeybum said...: It’s Christmas Day - Merry Christmas, everyone; 12/25/25, 12:11 AM
buwaya said...: ZORIONAK ETA URTE BERRI ON!; 12/25/25, 12:35 AM
Chest Rockwell said...: Cool Cat; 12/25/25, 12:35 AM
john mosby said...: Not a great turnout for Anglo-Catholic midnight Mass here in DC. Weather is great, so that's not an excuse. Hope people haven't been scared away from big religious events by the recent terrorism. We do have the National Guard all over the neighborhood, too.

Maybe people are taking advantage of the low gas prices to go on road trips at the holiday. Nobody's really from DC anymore. CC, JSM; 12/25/25, 12:36 AM
Old and slow said...: Just another day. The magic disappeared years ago.; 12/25/25, 12:53 AM
Jim at said...: “Who wants some raspberry sorbet?” Without missing a beat, her mother yelled back “Is it the type you find in a second hand store?”

I read this aloud to my wife.
She's still laughing.; 12/25/25, 1:02 AM
Ralph L said...: "The kind you find in a second hand store."
Quick thinking by the MIL.

I thought the Rest is History guys copped out on their Jack the Ripper solutions, but it was a "fun" series, as usual. This 2014 program makes a pretty compelling case: The Missing Evidence; 12/25/25, 2:39 AM
Ralph L said...: This is a fun English Christmas discussion from the Daily Telegraph that mostly makes sense to Americans:
How to posh up your Christmas with Jacob Rees-Mogg I The Daily T
They have a different name for Mimosa cocktails.; 12/25/25, 2:44 AM
Mike (MJB Wolf) said...: Wife and I watched two movies for the first time, Home Alone and Fred Claus.; 12/25/25, 6:03 AM
Mike (MJB Wolf) said...: OMG “debt to GDP ratio” LOL comedy gold, Kak. Who knew you could do Ben Stein’s act and almost make it work. It would be funnier if you hadn’t waited until the first month after Trump set a new record in lowest number since his first term, that is actually reduced how much we borrowed for a change.

Still haven’t come to grips with the trend line from 2% to 3.8% to 4.3% to whatever 5ish number this record-setting holiday spending will end up being, have you? We enjoy watching you spin golden news into dross LOL!; 12/25/25, 6:21 AM
Old and slow said...: Thanks Ralph. I'm a huge fan of Rees-Mogg. Sadly, my Christmas morning will bear little resemblance to his.; 12/25/25, 6:21 AM
Mr. Forward said...: I’m ready to go Christmas shopping. What’s open?; 12/25/25, 6:27 AM
Eva Marie said...: According to Rees-Mogg the champagne coupe was modeled after Marie Antoinette’s breasts.; 12/25/25, 6:48 AM
Humperdink said...: The Power Ball winner from Arkansas will write a check, actually several checks, to various levels of government to the tune of $1 billion. Of course, it will probably just be withheld.; 12/25/25, 6:51 AM
Eva Marie said...: British buzzkill - fun sponge; 12/25/25, 6:57 AM
rehajm said...: This is btw a perennial question in macro classes, at least if one has a curious instructor.

…yes amongst economists, yes. I’ve lectured and been lectured to ad nauseam about the cautions of the conclusions to be derived classic metrics. A low unemployment number is good unless participation is low, GDP growth is good unless it’s government spending growth while productivity growth is absent, the only thing worse than inflation is deflation, etc etc

…the left seems to relish rehashing classic errors as a political bludgeon…; 12/25/25, 7:05 AM
Mr. Forward said...: Just judging from results the Average Somalian is smarter than the Average Minnesota Democrat.; 12/25/25, 7:05 AM
rehajm said...: We’ve never dealt with a lottery winner but we deal with big bonuses. Withholding is sometimes not the amount you owe so you still need to report and do your tax calcs. Sometimes people get in trouble when they believe they paid all the tax on the check they got.; 12/25/25, 7:11 AM
rehajm said...: It’s symbiotic. They cooperate so the Somalis get rich off the Federal tax payees and dooshbags what got Cs in grammar school keep MN blue…; 12/25/25, 7:14 AM
rehajm said...: s symbiotic. They cooperate so the Somalis get rich off the Federal tax payer and dooshbags what got Cs in grammar school keep MN blue; 12/25/25, 7:16 AM
Mr. D said...: Getting ready to drive to Kansas City. Word is everything's up to date, but we needed independent verification.; 12/25/25, 7:28 AM
Lloyd W. Robertson said...: Merry Christmas to Ann and Meade. I might say to the nice commenters, not the nasty ones, but in the spirit of the blog I'll say they're all welcome if they pass moderation.

My movie obsessions at Christmas. A few scenes from Home Alone. Inside the box of a truck, John C and Catherine O. Very early: I wouldn't let you sleep in my room if you were growing on my ass. Scrooged. The Ice Harvest. What I just watched all through was North Dallas Forty. An attack on the NFL for encouraging a cruel paganism and group think, but a kind of boomer resignation that some of this has to be accepted.; 12/25/25, 7:39 AM
john mosby said...: Yes, Rees-Mogg, the MP for the 18th Century, is a living treasure. He and David Starkey started doing an occasional podcast series called "Starkey and Mogg," using the "Starsky and Hutch" logo. That's the only action-adjacent thing about the show: it's just two cultured Englishmen in a parlor discussing current events from a rightie standpoint. Great stuff. CC, JSM; 12/25/25, 7:43 AM
narciso said...: Strickly its a Wonderful Life, which we had as a high school play; 12/25/25, 7:45 AM
Kakistocracy said...: "A “K-shaped” recovery emerged in the second half of the year, with the gap between higher-income and lower-income households most prominent in spending and wage growth. Plus, the small business job market cooled and the housing market remained tight."
https://institute.bankofamerica.com/economic-insights/2025-year-in-review.html

The graph of the share of consumer spending by the top 10% and bottom 80% of Americans is far more telling than the rather travelogue-y series of quotes and anecdotes in a few of the comments above.

I have rarely seen such a powerful piece of statistical evidence supporting the idea of increasing inequality in America. Clearly, the typical worker in the US has been struggling, especially since the financial crisis.; 12/25/25, 7:46 AM
rehajm said...: Ask them is they count government transfer payments…

…and on this holiday it’s worthwhile to share a classic tale on how the inequality fables told since time began are really a bit of political fairy tale. Instead of the Ives snowman the great Mankiw tells us the story kids… On Measuring Changes in Income; 12/25/25, 7:59 AM
boatbuilder said...: Remember way back in...April, when Trump's tariffs were going to crash the US economy, cause worldwide depression and runaway inflation, and tank the market?

We have our own Jim Cramer here at the Althouse blog.; 12/25/25, 8:11 AM
Eva Marie said...: A bit of bubble and squeak on Boxing Day; 12/25/25, 8:12 AM
Humperdink said...: Gee lookie at Fulton County and the fake ballots. As usual Trump was right all along. Rampant fraud! But the judges cry out “no evidence”.

Happened in Center County, PA., home to hard core lefty Penn State. I have seen screen shots of voter registrations where the same person registered 4 times at the same address, changing only their middle initial. The judges cried out “no evidence”.; 12/25/25, 8:33 AM
Iman said...: The promise of a bit of slap ‘n’ tickle at the end of his ride keeps Santa pushing ever onward.; 12/25/25, 8:35 AM
Lazarus said...: Mr Saturday Night despite starring Billy Crystal is a serious movie.

My parents were dumbfounded by The Comic. Despite the title and despite starring Dick Van Dyke, it was positively lugubrious. DVD made America laugh, yet here he was playing a not-nice guy with a shtty personality and a shtty life. With all the news about Dick turning 100, I've been looking for that picture but I haven't been able to find it yet.; 12/25/25, 8:52 AM
Eva Marie said...: The Comic on YouTube
https://youtu.be/q1nc9I1xJgM?si=_0q80fx4xJ0xtNWf; 12/25/25, 8:55 AM
rhhardin said...: Action novel confronts two congressmen, a Supreme Court justice and a governor kidnapped for ransom.

Still needs motivation.; 12/25/25, 8:58 AM
john mosby said...: Hardin, that sounds like the crashing-plane joke where the punch line is Jesse Jackson or Kissinger grabbing the hippie's backpack....CC, JSM; 12/25/25, 9:03 AM
Ronald J. Ward said...: Boatbuilder @ 8:11, I must have missed it. When did the fat lady sing?; 12/25/25, 9:38 AM
bagoh20 said...: Merry Christmas, people.
You are all a gift to me that I can enjoy everyday of the year. Stay healthy. Stay happy.; 12/25/25, 9:39 AM
Rusty said...: buwaya @ 12:25

Right back at ya, pal.; 12/25/25, 9:48 AM
bagoh20 said...: If the this GDP number came out under a Democrat President, even an unconscious Biden, I'd say: "Great news. We need that.", and so would Kak.
Other than that, we are not the same.; 12/25/25, 9:52 AM
Ronald J. Ward said...: Bagoh, as I argued yesterday, the GDP is far from a binary silver bullet.; 12/25/25, 9:59 AM
Peachy said...: Merry Christmas, Bagoh -
and all!; 12/25/25, 10:24 AM
bagoh20 said...: Even an actual silver bullet isn't.
But would you even make the argument under a Democrat? I know that nobody on CNN, MSNBC, ABC, CBS, or NBC would. So is it really true? "If a tree falls in the forest..."; 12/25/25, 10:32 AM
rehajm said...: Even when all the warnings and generalizations are caveated all the indicators are pointing in the right direction and many are quite robust. I have never witnessed a period where the experts (I was supposedly one at one time) got the growth number so wrong. The ‘consensus’ missed the quarterly number not by 2 basis points but two percentage points at the END of the quarter when all the data is in. It makes me think the ‘consensus’ forecasters are infected with TDS…; 12/25/25, 10:36 AM
Peachy said...: We do need to get a handle on our public debt.; 12/25/25, 10:59 AM
bagoh20 said...: "When did the fat lady sing?"
Predicting that show will end at some point is not impressive, even if you start saying it as soon as the curtain first opens.
Of course there will be a downturn and probably a few of them, and every time the end of the show will be predicted again as if the failed previous predictions never happened.; 12/25/25, 11:13 AM
rehajm said...: But would you even make the argument under a Democrat?

We all know they won’t. It’s like a handicap tournament where the left is spotted a stroke a hole or two goals. Under Obama persistent one and change growth and zero productivity growth was glossed over year after year, labeled as ‘The New Normal’ by all the propaganda media. US high growth was behind us, not because of bad policy but rather some
permanent structural maturity of human innovation…; 12/25/25, 11:52 AM
rehajm said...: …there could still be a bump from tariff impacts. Recall many were postponed until September while negotiations were ongoing. Imports were quickly pushed through the hopper. That ran out late in the year and could materialize in last quarter data. Of course nothing happens in a vacuum and any tariff headwinds will be tempted by lower energy costs and a robust consumer…; 12/25/25, 11:58 AM
NMObjectivist said...: Ann, I love all your photos. Keep posting them for us.; 12/25/25, 4:21 PM
RCOCEAN II said...: "My parents were dumbfounded by The Comic."

written by carl reiner, it was attempt to do a Dramedy based on silent movie stars like Buster Keaton and capitalize on DVD's talent for physical comedy.

Unfortunately, it was light on com and heavy on the Drama. And DVD for all his talents isn't a great serious dramatic actor.
I remember seeing it on DVD, and skipping a lot.; 12/25/25, 5:46 PM