The time between Xmas and New Years is like a dead zone. But, since some people, including me, will sometimes have something to say, I'm going to fill it with open threads.

Here's one, all topics welcome.

What's Christmas Eve without Darlene Love?

It's the day before Christmas.....
We wish you all a happy and healthful holiday.

This is an open thread, all topics welcome. [More...]

Christmas is just around the corner. I hope that as you're putting a little something in the pocket of your babysitter, doorman, housekeeper, shoe shiner, hairstylist, secretary, whomever, you will remember the bloggers whose sites you visit and read day after day, whether for enjoyment or enrichment, and make a note to add them to your gift list. If you'd like to give to TalkLeft, just click on the graphic below. You can use paypal or a credit card.

All amounts are welcome, it's the thought and appreciation behind the gift that counts. [More...]

Update: For some reason, the "recent comments" in the sidebar have been disappearing. The only thing I can think of is perhaps some commenters used too many characters in the subject line of their comments, making them not fit in the space. So can you please try using short subject lines in your comments for a while so I can see if that's the problem? Thanks.

It's been days since our last open thread. Here's a new one, all topics welcome.

OMG, the announcer made a mistake announcing the winner of Miss Universe. He announced the winner was Ms. Colombia.

After the applause they crowned Ms. Colombia, and she was waving to the crowd with her flowers and little flag of Colombia when the show host came back to the stage and said "Ok Folks, I have to apologize, the First Runner is Colombia. Ms. Universe 2015 is Philippines."

He read the wrong name. Ms. Colombia, who doesn't speak English and used an interpreter all night, had no idea what happened. Either did Ms. Philippines, the intended winner, even though she does speak English.

[More....]

Argue about data theft here.

I've been doing it on twitter - @armandodkos .

Open Thread.

Here's a new open thread, all topics welcome. I may not be back online until sometime next week. Hopefully you find the open threads useful in my absence.

More thread.

Thread.

I like Army +22 versus Navy.

Open Thread

Time's person of the year is Angela Merkel (no link, autoplay audio/video.) You can read a summary of her career here.

Donald Trump is threatening to run as an Independent if Republicans don't treat him fairly. He cites some poll that says 68% of his Republican followers would vote for him as an Independent. (no link due to auto-playing videos on all links I could find.) [More....]

Your turn. All topics welcome.