jarhead: A good friend who was a retired career Marine passed away two years ago, and is buried at the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell.  For the Wreaths Across America ceremony this year, his widow rode her Harley up there.  It was an awesome experience.

As KP said above, "It sure puts things in perspective." · _{4 hours ago}

Keith Preston: I did this a few years ago in my hometown of Alton, Illinois.  It was quite moving to do this for heroes of Iraq, Afghanistan, Vietnam, Saipan, Normandy, Chateau Thierry, Belleau Wood, Gettysburg, Shiloh, etc. etc.

It sure puts things in perspective and keeps one appreciating the ultimate sacrifice they made long ago so that I can freely belly-ache about the price of gasoline and the terror of a "fiscal cliff."  

I left feeling small...and grateful.  It's a good reality check. · _{6 hours ago}

Vald the Misspeller

Wait, what? Santa a myth? I suppose next you'll be telling me Obama's not really a White Sox fan. I'm leaving out milk and cookies anyway - whatever the jolly old elf doesn't take, the Cornish pixies can have. · _{11 minutes ago}

Mike McConnaughey: My oldest son is 21 and has Down Syndrome.  Part of the joy he brings to our home is his complete joy about Santa and Christmas 365 days a year.  We have Christmas movies and music all the time.  His brothers (16, 19) used to hate it, but as they have gotten older they have embraced their 'big' brother's love of Santa.  We put him to bed by 10pm on 12/24 so Santa can pick him up and he helps Santa in Colorado.  

One of my great joys is asking him on Christmas morning if he worked hard helping Santa.  His reply is "yes, busy!" · _{1 hour ago}

ConservativeWanderer: Even the mature, dependable adults of NORAD help with the Santa myth.

Check out the NORAD Tracks Santa website... and let your kids follow him around the world on Christmas Eve. · _{1 hour ago}

Indaba: Good luck, America.

The fantasy of "free medical care" is about to be seen. Here in Canada, we pay taxes, plus in Ontario, the govt. takes another $1,000 per employee for health care. Now Americans think that includes drugs, no. Birth control? No. Hearing aids? Physio? No. We could go on all day. You would be surprised by what we do not get.

My son had an operation with a six inch cut down his spine to remove a large cyst. Took 9 months to get the op. Hospital was dirty, blanket dirty, no sheets. He had to leave 2hours after his operation. I paid for his bandages, drugs and the nurse who he had to see every day to repack his wound.

Free health care is like going to your govt. vehicle licence place. Those people helping you can be nice, but let's be honest, they are more interested in getting back to their other conversation. There is no incentive to update old equipment. How much incentive is there to cure patients?

I now see the health care system as a mechanic shop. It ain't fancy. · _{30 minutes ago}

Paul Erickson

Echoing AnnaS at #4, what really worries me is that the people who were dumb enough to believe in the free-lunch-that-is-Obamacare and were dumb enough to reelect Obama, will not even make the causal connection between higher fees / premiums and Obamacare.  They will surely find something elseto blame it on. · _{7 minutes ago}

Schrodinger's Cat:  And trying to delay the medical device tax for something they wanted is classic!  Remember all of those back door deals??

Apparently not!

Dems Ask for Delay to Obamacare Med Device Tax They Voted for in the First Place
 http://atr.org/dems-delay-obamacare-med-device-tax-a7380#ixzz2Er1gwR6I

_{1 hour ago}