There it is. The world's richest man cutting funds for the poor in order to try to justify huge tax cuts and gifts to him and others. Not to mention more contracts and business deals that will benefit him I'm sure.

As someone who trained in history, I try to take the long view of things. Sometimes that leaves me optimistic. But today, watching President Carter's farewell and funeral, I feel like I'm watching a funeral for the country I knew and believed in. The timing of his death could not be more poignant.

Nibbles the cat hopes everyone is having a cool Yule.

Another aspect of the president's commutations I haven't seen covered is the race breakdown of those death row inmates affected. So I made this chart. Interesting visual. Regarding the three guys who remain on death row, they're 100% white terrorists.

My little guy, Morty, is a rescue dog who has been my companion for 12 years. He's slowing down, he can't see so well and he tends to wander the house a lot at night. However much time we have left, I'm grateful for him.