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DUSHANBE (Reuters) - A young man dressed as "Father Frost" - the Russian equivalent of Father Christmas - was stabbed to death in Tajikistan on Monday in an attack police believe was motivated by religious hatred, two police sources said. A crowd attacked 24-year-old Parviz Davlatbekov and stabbed him with a knife as he visited relatives in the early hours of Monday dressed as Father Frost, who by tradition brings Russian children presents at New Year. Russian cultural influence remains strong in Tajikistan, a former Soviet republic. "We have witness statements that say the crowd beat Parviz and stabbed him...
Published on Wednesday 8th of February 2012 02:44:44 PM
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Why is it that most people eventually abandon the idea of Santa Claus … and yet so many never abandon belief in an omnipotent government? Santa Claus is magic. His toy sack never empties, he traverses the globe faster than lightning, his reindeer never tire, his elves never strike, and he’s never too fat for the chimney. Awed by his powers, young kids approach the Jolly One clutching wish lists that itemize the objects of their “unbridled avarice,” as a popular Christmas movie put it. And why not? Santa’s little supplicants are prodded by plenty of parental encouragement. No toy...
Published on Wednesday 8th of February 2012 02:44:44 PM
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Islamic honor killing in Texas: "Santa" who murdered family on Christmas morning was Muslim who didn't like his daughter dating a non-Muslim Aziz Yazdanpanah, a Muslim, didn't like his daughter's non-Muslim boyfriend and was exhibiting stalker behavior. “She couldn’t date at all until she was a certain age, but when he was going to let her date she couldn’t date anyone outside of their race or religion.” Again and again we have seen honor killings in which fathers kill daughters who are dating non-Muslims or have supposedly besmirched the family honor by some sexual indiscretion. Lt. Todd Dearing says that...
Published on Wednesday 8th of February 2012 02:44:44 PM
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Where's Santa Claus at?
Published on Wednesday 8th of February 2012 02:44:44 PM
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<p>You may think you know Santa, but there's a lot more to the legend than a bag full of presents. What follows is a selective history of St. Nick and how he came to be known as the jolly round man in the iconic red suit.</p>
Published on Wednesday 8th of February 2012 02:44:44 PM
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HE WAS the young Scot who sailed to America to seek his fortune and ended up becoming the first department store Santa. Now the memory of James Edgar is being revived in an effort to boost the fortunes of his adoptive home of Brockton, Massachusetts. Born in Edinburgh in 1843, Edgar escaped the poverty of his childhood by moving to Brockton in 1878, where he set up a department store. Known for his progressive ideas, the entrepreneur was the first in the city to introduce electric lights and cash registers. Edgar was also known for his philanthropy, paying for local...
Published on Wednesday 8th of February 2012 02:44:44 PM
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As a non-Christian with a deep affection for Christmastime, I've always felt a little left out around this time of year, but not in the way you might think. I've always felt a bit out of place with the venerable conservative tradition of denouncing the "war on Christmas." I should offer some background. When I was a kid, my parents cut out a jokey headline from a local newspaper that read "Santa Knows We're Jewish" and put it on a cardboard Christmas tree ornament. My father insisted I be raised Jewish. (I went to a Jewish day school and was...
Published on Wednesday 8th of February 2012 02:44:44 PM
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SOUTH STREET SEAPORT — Thousands of drunken Santas terrorized Lower Manhattan when they flooded into the neighborhood for SantaCon earlier this month, openly flouting public drinking and urination laws, locals say. Angry residents attended Community Board 1's Monday night meeting to complain about the latest incarnation of the annual pub crawl, whose participants have been allowed to grow more rowdy every year, they say. "There was public urination, people vomiting all over the place, open containers and no police," said John Fratta, chairman of the Seaport/Civic Center Committee which plans to send an angry missive to Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Police...
Published on Wednesday 8th of February 2012 02:44:44 PM
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I just wanted to share this link with everyone, someone gave it to me and I think it's the neatest thing! It's a site that generates a video for your child, can include their name, upload pictures, etc. and is COMPLETELY FREE! As far as I know, there's no spam either, as I did not check the box to have more information on other stuff sent to me but you can choose either "nice" or "naughty" where the child will still have time to work towards nice but receives a reminder from Santa. The only thing a bit odd is...
Published on Wednesday 8th of February 2012 02:44:44 PM
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Springfield Secret Santas Pay Off Layaway Bills for Needy FamiliesDecember 17, 2011 | Mary Moloney, KSPR News Reporter SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Good Samaritans have found a way to help needy Springfield families this holiday season. About a dozen people walked into the South Campbell Kmart and paid for the presents of strangers whose gifts sat on layaway. "One young man came in who had gotten a $500 bonus from work. He just thought it was a great thing. He's even posted it online challenging his friends to do the same thing and he's come in and paid off several people's...
Published on Wednesday 8th of February 2012 02:44:44 PM
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